The REPORTER
Articles & Columns for
February 2007
C From Your Minister c
Rev. Howard N. Dana
Four Good Options: Option Two
In April our congregation will take the next step in determining its future. We will meet with
architect Harrison Bink to think about how we might better serve the physical needs of our growing,
thriving church. Members (and only members) of the church will have an opportunity at that meeting to
vote on a variety of questions related to mission, vision, and growth.
To accommodate our growth and to fulfill our mission in the world, I think we have four viable
options. Of course each option comes with its strengths and weaknesses. Each option costs money, some a
lot of money. And the only option I could not accept would be to do nothing. The Unitarian Church of
Harrisburg is again at a crossroads. We are again at a place as significant as the church’s move from
Harrisburg’s Front Street to Swatara Township’s Clover Lane. What we soon decide will determine the
nature of the church for easily the next 40 years.
Option One: stay at our Clover Lane site and build an additional new building. Option Two: stay
at our Clover Lane site and start a new congregation elsewhere. Option Three: buy a building and/or land
and move there. Option Four: buy an additional building in the City of Harrisburg and be one church with
two campuses. This month I will focus on Option Two.
The opportunity to found a new congregation is an exciting one. The presence of more Unitarian
Universalist churches in America can only be a good thing. From our current position of health, we could
found a new church (complete with a building, minister, church school, and music program) in a variety of
locations nearby. Demographically the greater Harrisburg region could easily support two or three UU
churches. If the Methodists and Mormons are not content to stop at one church per city, why should we?
We could found a suburban church in Palmyra or Camp Hill. We could found an urban church in the City
of Harrisburg. An additional congregation would give UU’s in Harrisburg more options for worship,
fellowship, and service. It would make our presence stronger.
The downside of founding a new church is that it is a temporary solution. It would ease our
crowding for only a year or two. Even if 200 of us left UCH to start the new church, that many new people
would join UCH in the next few years. Whenever a congregation is doing exciting work, it will attract new
people. Even with founding a new congregation, we would need at least two worship services at UCH. We
would have the same crowding issues in the Sunday School and the parking lot. And there is also no
guarantee that the new church would grow and flourish. Each of our options comes with its share of risk. I
would classify option two as low cost and high risk.
I think founding additional churches in the Harrisburg area should be part of our congregation’s
long-term goals. Whether it is our best next step or not is the question. For people who like a smaller
congregation, attending a new church might be a wonderful option. For those who would like us to have a
presence in the City of Harrisburg, founding a new congregation there might be a way of gaining that
presence. It takes a mother congregation of a certain size to successfully found new churches. We are only
now reaching that size. We would be in a better situation to found additional congregations after we have
been at 500 to 600 members for a few years. An intentional church founding looks very different than
supporting a spin-off group. We would pay for the building, the minister, and the other staff for at least 5
years. If done right, this option would require a capital campaign. It would require a mortgage and a
ministerial search. And it is exciting to think about what Harrisburg might be like with two strong UU
churches.
Over the next two months I will describe my ideas about our two other good options. While I
might personally favor one of the options over the others, they are all four viable routes we might take. I
am most interested in helping our congregation determine what it wants to do in the world and move
forward with it accordingly. It is your church and your decision. Whichever one you pick is fine with me. If
you are not a member of the church yet, I urge you to consider joining any second Saturday or Sunday of
the month. Only members who have contributed money or time in the past year will be allowed to vote on
these important decisions. These are exciting times. I feel honored to walk with you boldly into your future.
Love, Howard
Clover Lane Coffee House
This month at the Clover Lane Coffee House, on Friday, February 16, at 8:00 pm, we will present
an evening of the Classics - performances of classical music by many talented members and friends of our
church.
You can expect to hear beautiful vocal and instrumental classics performed on a variety of
instruments, including piano, guitar, horn, flute, and many others. What a marvelous way to spend a cold
February evening, being warmed by the amazing musical talent within our own church.
Admission to the event is $5.00, and includes complimentary coffee and tea, with goodies
available for a donation. Remember, the Clover Lane Coffee House is the 3rd Friday of every month,
September through April. Every concert is unique and enjoyable - we hope to see you there!
For more information, see Donna Hoskins-Helm, Music Ministry Coordinator.
Submitted by Donna Hoskins-Helm
Those Winter Time Blues
By Intern Minister Susan Kirkchaney
Both January and February can be hard months, emotionally. It is hard to be outside, what with the
cold and the weather. There are few diversions like school vacation or the holidays that can help us pass
some of the other time of early winter and late fall. And it always seems, at least to me, to be a time full of
the necessary, but never fun, “life business” – bills coming due, annual appointments like my physical and
eye exam, all the day-to-day things I had put off until the holidays were over, and so forth.
Mental health experts tell us that depression is the “cold” of mental illnesses, meaning it is very
common. We always need to be alert to depression or what looks like a possible beginning of depression,
especially if it becomes debilitating or there seems to be a potential for suicide. But for most of us who do
have a harder emotional time in the winter, the word “depression” seems to be too much to describe our
winter feelings. Maybe they are better described as the doldrums, or the blues. But why is it that it is so
common for folks to have a hard time with their winter feelings?
I think it is hard in winter for more than one reason, and probably there are different reasons for
different folks. But a large part of it has to do with how we live. People do not live disassociated from
nature. We all know the terrors that have been visited upon the environment by ignoring this fact. But I
think we don’t want to live as if winter were really here. Winter is the time in the cycle of the year for rest,
for laying fallow. It is a time for the coldness to have its day. There is no extravagance of spring, no
expansive laziness of summer, no harvest. This is the time of freezes (at least usually!), of the bleakness of
the trees, of deep hibernation, even of death. We know this on a cellular level, on a subconscious level. We
know this because we are of Nature; we are animals who can never fully extinguish our collective memory
of the fear of winter. Despite its beauty and potential restful, cozy feeling, winter is for many – some
human, some not - a time of fearing that we won’t make it until spring. We may run out of food, or our
shelter may not insulate us sufficiently.
When I think of the physical difficulties of surviving winter, I can’t help but think of some of the
guests that I met while I did orientations at the homeless shelter with our generous UCH volunteers. Will
some of them be some of the many who won’t make it through the winter? What about W., or Q., or any of
the others who seemed to have substance abuse problems? I worry sometimes that they will get too drunk
or high one night and not make it to the shelter. Will they freeze to death one cold, February night? I hope
not. And I think there may be some hard questions I need to ask myself and contemplate during this season:
if I am truly concerned, what else, besides a few nights at the shelter, do I do to make the plight of the
homeless better? What might be at the root of homelessness and how might I do my part to help?
But of course, for most of us at UCH, winter does not really bring a risk of true physical danger. It
is more about emotional challenges. I think of how we tend to live our lives at breakneck speed – or in guilt
that we aren’t, and therefore are not doing as much as we “should.” I think this is some of why winter is
hard too. It is a time of storms, of ice, of rain and other elements (they tell me this includes snow here – I’ll
have to see it to believe it). All of this slows us down, making it harder to get around. It keeps us from
hanging out on the front stoop or in the garden. It often keeps us at home, not wanting to brave the elements
or the cold and dark once evening comes. So we not only potentially get less done, but we also may do
fewer things with friends or get away from home less often. We who are, as a culture, about doing, going,
being busy – we have trouble with this. I think the spiritual season of Going Within that the Winter Solstice
often marks the beginning of, is one that no longer feels natural to us. It seems frustrating or too slow. We
may feel an aversion to doing the emotional and spiritual work of this season – introspection, resting,
holing up at home and renewing our strength for the coming times of expansion and growth. But winter is a
season; hibernation and renewal are natural; and “slow” is a speed. It’s just not one we are used to.
I invite you to spend some time slowing down this season. We need to honor the natural call for
some contemplation, some fallow time. And maybe we need to take the time to notice that not all of our
neighbors are doing OK this time of year. Perhaps there are some who are suffering from more than just the
doldrums. And they need help. But possibly more urgent, perhaps we should spend some part of a cold
night thinking of our homeless neighbors, whom many of us met volunteering at the homeless shelter.
What happens to those at physical risk in the winter? And what designs for help may be lying fallow within
our hearts and minds? If we don’t give ourselves the time and the space for such contemplation, I wonder
what possible solutions, or at least help, won’t have time to take root and gain strength. And if that doesn’t
happen, how can the landscape of homelessness ever hope to change and bloom into something more
beautiful than its current desolate winter?
It’s something to think about. I hope you will.
- Susan
President’s Message
Throughout my life I’ve generally been a reluctant leader. I’m basically shy (yeah, right!),
especially in situations where I’m not certain I know much about a subject. I make up for my shyness, I’m
told, by being opinionated…just because I don’t know about something doesn’t mean I can’t form an
opinion about it! But in the past I was usually more comfortable letting others set the agenda.
So I’ve found being President of the Board a bit of a challenge, one that stretches my abilities as
well as my mind. I find it rewarding in part because of that need to stretch and learn new skills. This is the
first time I’ve seriously studied church administration – not a topic that sounds like fun, but actually has
been very interesting. I’ve tried to strengthen my skills at leading meetings, exploring options, making
decisions, developing consensus, working with others, communicating effectively, and following through
on implementations.
A “secondary” benefit has been that, since becoming much more active in the church, I’ve been
taking my own spiritual growth much more seriously. I’m reading a lot more about Unitarian Universalism,
other faith traditions, and our connections to the world. In some ways, this has been the best part of taking
an active leadership role. I have a growing confidence in my own relationship to the world and my position
in it. Ten years ago if you had asked me about my spiritual convictions, I would have been somewhat hard
pressed to articulate them. Today, I’m pretty much ready to discuss the topic at length.
So what does any of this have to do with you?
There is a constant need in any church for new leaders, for a number of reasons. First, in many
churches there are built-in term limits for some positions. Here at UCH, for instance, there is a two-term
consecutive limit for being on the Board. This creates an automatic turnover, and a constant need for new
Board members. Second, all of the church committees, lay-led ministries, etc., need periodic new leaders –
people move away, acquire new commitments, change interests, are ready for a different challenge, need a
break, or need additional help when the activity grows. Finally, there are always new opportunities for
church activities that need leaders to help them take shape, e.g. a new lay-led ministry.
Leadership is not confined to just those who are in charge of some group, however. Just being a
committee or group member is the first level of leadership. And the church needs your participation in
those committees and groups – without you, little gets done toward accomplishing the goals of this church.
Volunteering is a great way to get to know more people in the church. In addition, it will help you
build new skills and the confidence to use them. For those who already have developed leadership skills but
have been reluctant to apply them within the church, I invite you as well to contribute your talents to the
pursuit of our goals. New members should also not shy away from joining a committee just because they’re
new – fresh perspectives are always welcome!
Being a member of a church requires two things beyond just attending services and events: a
willingness to help shoulder the load of the church’s work and a commitment to its financial support. The
latter is done primarily through annual pledging to the church. The former means that everyone needs to
regularly provide some time to the church. Just as you regularly set aside a certain amount of your money
to support this church, please also consider setting aside a certain amount of time each month to help
support the work of your congregation. And in both cases, please be generous.
I’ve noticed for myself that, as I’ve given more time and money to the church over the last several
years, the church means a lot more to me and I take my spirituality a lot more seriously. I’ve formed
lasting friendships with fellow volunteers. And I feel like I’m making a real difference in the world.
Blaise Liffick
Summer Vacation Planning
Imagine a family vacation full of opportunities
planned for you with other UU families!
“THE POWER OF FAMILY VALUES IN
LIBERAL RELIGIOUS COMMUNITIES”
is the theme of the
Unitarian Universalist Mid-Atlantic Community
Summer Institute, UUMAC, this summer.
Fill your days with activities, games, crafts, music, workshops, day trip options
including whitewater rafting, swimming, amusement parks, museums and more!
Visit www.UUMAC.org for information.
Religious Growth for Children & Youth
Dear Friends,
Do you have an “elevator speech” describing Unitarian Universalism? An “elevator speech” refers
to explaining something within the time it takes one to ride in an elevator. Articulating what Unitarian
Universalism is with brevity is something all UUs should be able to do. Upon hearing about a
denomination that many people are not familiar with, a question such as “What is Unitarian Universalism?”
is not uncommon. You may have your opportunity to share your UU elevator speech during coffee hour.
Our middle school youth will be asking adults at coffee hour to share their explanation of what Unitarian
Universalism is as part of their Coming of Age program.
The process of developing your own statement describing our denomination can be challenging
and rewarding. I encourage you to think about how you would briefly answer the question “What is a
Unitarian Universalist?” and share it with our youth at church if asked.
Parents may need to provide their children with a simple explanation their child feels comfortable
using until they are developmentally ready to modify it themselves. Fortunately there are resources
available to support us in articulating our faith. Resources include links on our UCH web page, our
denomination’s web page (www.uua.org) site, the Church of the Larger Fellowship’s Between Sundays site
http://www.uua.org/clf/betweensundays/, the Religious Growth and Learning resource center at church,
recommended books available to borrow in the Dix room, and most importantly, classes at church and
other UUs.
Experience is one of the best teachers, especially hands-on opportunities to experience our faith in
action. It can be a memorable way to grow to understand what it means to be a Unitarian Universalist.
There are opportunities for faith in action monthly, details are in The REPORTER. This month I hope to see
you and lots of UCH youth and children standing up for equal rights at the RALLY downtown on
Valentine’s Day!
In Faith,
Trish
CHILDREN AND YOUTH PROGRAM
VOLUNTEER PARTY
It takes a lot of dedicated volunteers to teach, facilitate, chaperone, plan, coordinate and handle all the
details of programming in our church. It’s time to come together and celebrate our successful ministry this
church year!
Please join fellow children and youth program volunteers at an Appetizer Potluck Party at church on
Friday, February 9th at 7:00. Beverages will be provided. There will be plenty of delicious food and best
of all great company! Volunteers are welcome to bring a guest. Please make your own child care
arrangements. If that is not possible, please contact Merry Barnas.
The snow date is the following night, Saturday, February 10 th at 6:30.
This annual volunteer thank you celebration is known for the wonderful sampling of appetizers. Please let
us know you’re coming by signing-up at the RGL resource center near the lower level entrance or
contacting Merry Barnas. Our sign-up will also include what appetizers others are bringing to help you
decide what you would like to bring to share.
Hope to see you there!
REGIONAL MIDDLE SCHOOL EVENT
Middle School youth in 6th to 8th grades are invited to participate in a fun activity with other area UU
middle schoolers twice a year. The second event this church year will be in Lancaster on Sunday February
25th. We will attend the youth led service in Lancaster, have lunch, play games, and go skating. Details and
sign-up information are available in the Dix room at church.
The Giving Tree
The Middle School students and their parents who organized the Giving Tree this year would like to thank
the congregation for its generous and beautifully wrapped contributions. You helped make the holidays
brighter for over 75 women and juvenile offenders in Woodside Family Center and Promise Place, plus a
handful of their small children. On the Friday before Christmas we loaded our cars with more than 300 gifts
and, in a pouring rain, drove only several miles to deliver our gifts in Steelton. The women received our
gifts and us with open arms. We were welcomed with a spiritual song and some of us were able to stay for
a bit and visit. Promise Place and Woodside Family Center are a part of our church’s lay led ministry on
Women in Prison. All of us would like to make Christmas special for a child, however these women have
very little, and gifts, such as pajamas or sweet smelling bath products, communicate that we believe in their
right and ability to make a better future for themselves and their families. You helped make a
difference. Additionally, our mid-school students, fulfilling their community service commitment for their
Coming of Age program, found out that they could help make someone’s life just a little better with a bit of
their effort. Thanks to all who participated in the 2006 Giving Tree.
Submitted by the Wright, Gregg, Davies, Brown and Abcouwer families
New Board Members
At it’s January 10, 2007 meeting, the Board of Trustees reviewed a list of qualified candidates
provided by the Nominating and Leadership Development Committee for possible appointment to two open
Board positions. The Board is pleased to announce the appointment of Shanna Filizzi and Chuck Bowser
for the remainder of this fiscal year (June 30) – as is always the case with such appointments, the positions
must stand for election at the next congregational meeting.
Shanna has been a member of our church for 3 years. She has a B.A. in psychology and a Masters
in Social Work (Community Organizing and Management of Human Services). Her work experience
includes positions with Planned Parenthood and WITF in addition to working in human services
departments. This experience includes working with boards.
Chuck has also been a church member for about 3 years. He has significant experience as a labor
union organizer and spent 13 years on the board of NARAL-PA, which he served as Secretary.
The Board is excited about the expertise that these new members bring to the Board, and is
looking forward to their contributions! A big “Thank you” to Shanna and Chuck for being willing to serve
this congregation in such an significant way!
Submitted by Blaise Liffick
Amrit Yoga Group
The Amrit Yoga Group meets every Monday night from 6:30 to 8:00 pm in the UCH Conference Room. It's
free. Bring a yoga mat and a blanket, and wear loose-fitting comfortable clothes. Amrit yoga is a form of hatha
yoga. The entire process moves and stretches every part of your body, for an energetic workout, and includes a
calming, meditative relaxation at the end. If you have any medical conditions that restrict exercise, please seek
out the advice of your physician before coming. You will be asked to sign a release form for injury liability at
the first session.
Yoga is a great way to exercise, offering stress release and relaxation for those of us with busy schedules. Come
join the fun. For more details, contact Donna Plummer at 545-8833 or Ed Sykes at 975-9946.
Submitted by Donna Plummer
The Philosophy & Literature
Group
The Philosophy and Literature Group will meet on Sunday, February 11, at 7:30 pm, at the home of
Dorothy Brown, 304 Indian Creek Drive, Mechanicsburg, to discuss The Things They Carried by Tim
O'Brien. Please call Dorothy at 763-1082 to let her know that you are coming.
Submitted by Dick Hoke
Craft Group News
The Craft Group cleared a bit over $800 by creating and selling center pieces at Christmas. Thank you so
much for buying them! And thank you to all the devoted crafters who gave their time and talents to make
these decorations and then gave up their coffee hour to sell them.
Did you know that in the past the Craft Group made the money with which to buy the appliances in the
church kitchen? Well, they did. The last purchases were the wonderful refrigerator and the small freezer
next to it.
Thanks again for supporting the Craft Groups' efforts!
Submitted by Nathalie Hoke
Penny-a-Pound
a Coming of Age class fundraiser
The “Coming of Age” class is conducting a fundraiser called “Penny a Pound” to raise
money for our trip to Boston this May. We are going to raise 2,000 pounds (yes, a ton!) of
food for the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank. There are two ways the church can help.
One is to sponsor our class with a $20.00 donation to our class. Twenty dollars is 2,000
pennies – a penny a pound! Another way you can help is to bring some food to add to our
total.
At the end of Penny a Pound, the Food Bank will get a ton of food and our class will get to keep the money
that we raise for our trip. (If only fifty people sponsor our trip we will be able to raise $1,000.00!)
By now you have probably noticed our “Donation Station” in the Common Room beginning in January.
You can sign up there to donate to our class, leave your donations of food with us, or both! We hope you
will consider helping not only our class, but also the hungry in our community. Thanks!
Submitted by Olivia Hayes and the Hayes family
Mindfulness Meditation Group
During the month of February we are drawn to remember those we love. Metta is a Pali word that means
loving-kindness. With it comes a strong intention for the welfare and happiness for others. During a metta
or loving-kindness meditation warm-hearted feelings are extended toward yourself, family, friends,
enemies, the community, and then to the world at large (to all creatures great and small, so to speak). In the
spirit of loving-kindness the members of MMG send our heartfelt wishes to you. May you be well, may
you be peaceful, may you be happy, may your life be filled with ease.
Please join us Tuesday evenings at 7:00 pm for readings, discussion, and meditation. As always the third
Tuesday of the month, February 19th, is reserved for silent meditation. You need no prior experience to
join us as we are all beginners together. Feel free to call Jeanne at 774-1479 with any questions.
Submitted by Jeanne Shellman
COUCH
Have you wondered what COUCH (Connecting Our Unitarian Church of
Harrisburg) groups are really all about? Our COUCH facilitators will have
small group ministry sessions at the church the last Sunday of each month
from February through May for anyone not yet a COUCH member, but who
would like to try a session to see what it's like before making a commitment.
We will have one session from 10-12 and one from 12-2 on these Sundays,
and child care will be available for the early session. Each group is limited to
10 participants and will be co-hosted by two current COUCH facilitators. If
you are interested in “COUCH-tasting”, please sign up on lists that will be
available in the Common Room on a first come basis.
Submitted by Joan Hellmann,
COUCH Coordinator
TOGETHER IT WORKS
The income from our grocery store gift card fundraiser has increased as more and more of our member
households have started participating. Approximately 115 households now use the gift cards, and generate
about $3,000 of income per month for the church. UCH buys the gift cards from Giant, Weis and Karns at
a discount and resells them to members and friends at face value. We make ten percent on the Giant and
Weis cards, five percent on the Karns cards—at no cost to you. Together we can watch the graph below
rise even higher.
GIANT, WEIS, KARNS
Monthly Gift Card PROFITS
Profit
$3,500
$3,000
$2,500
$2,000
Aug
Sept
Oct
Nov
Dec
2006
Please contact Michael Mark at 566-6055 or michaelmark@paonline.com for information on how to get
started using the cards. It is really simple and easy.
Submitted by Michael Mark
Wanted:
UU Penpals for UU Prisoners
Looking for a social justice project that UUs can do alone or in groups, in their own homes, whenever it’s
convenient? Almost 300 prisoners have joined the UU Church of the Larger Fellowship (CLF) seeking spiritual support
by mail, and dozens are still waiting to be matched with a (non-incarcerated) UU penpal through CLF’s “Letter Writing
Ministry.”
All letters to and from prisoners are sent through the mail (so UUs without web access or email can participate) and all
letters from prisoners are forwarded through CLF’s prison ministry (prisoners are told only their penpal’s first name).
The CLF’s prison ministry staff makes the penpal ‘matches’ and remains available to all penpals for advice and support.
Individual UUs are welcome, or a group of UUs from the same congregation can apply and ask to be ‘matched’ all at the
same time (if they want to form an ongoing study/support group).
Please visit CLF’s website at www.clfuu.org/prisonministry to review the Guidelines for the Letter Writing Ministry and
Sessions
A cHOSEN
FAITH
One—February 26th—7 pm
Awakening & Experience
Two—March 5th—7 pm
Deeds Not Creeds &
the Known and the Unknown
A six Week reading course with
Three—March 12th—7 pm
The Cathedral of the World
& Dialogue
Rev. Howard Dana
Four—March 19th—7 pm
Neighborhood & Expectations
Five—March 26th—7 pm
Beyond Idolatry & Mind and Spirit
Six—April 2nd—7 pm
For the Beauty of the Earth &
Returning to the Springs
Together we will read and discuss the book A Chosen
Faith, given to all new members when they join the
church. All are welcome for this lively discussion of
Unitarian Universalism and our place in it. Just read
the corresponding chapters and show up any session
night, UCH Sanctuary.
request an info-application packet, or write to the CLF Prison Ministry, 25 Beacon St, Boston, MA 02108 or by email to
PrisMin@clfuu.org.
Submitted by Jim Cavenaugh
COUCH
If you yearn for deeper discussions and closer connections, COUCH
(Connecting Our Unitarian Church of Harrisburg) is meant for you. A COUCH
Coordinator will staff a table on Sunday, February 4, 11, and 18 and
Saturday, February 3, in the Common Room during the coffee hours to
answer any questions you might have about COUCH, our small group ministry
program, and to take your application form. Additionally, you may mail, fax or
phone the application information to the church administrator or place it in the
COUCH box in the lobby or the COUCH mail slot over the coat rack by February 18. We will then place
you in a group, based on availability and location, by March. Our groups of 6-10 presently meet Sunday,
Monday, Wednesday, or Thursday evenings twice a month. We have one daytime group (which is full). If
you are currently in a group, we encourage you to change groups to make other connections. If you live in
the Hershey/Palmyra/Lebanon area, Laura Shemick will be starting a new group in that general vicinity.
For groups to succeed we ask participants to remain with their group for six months and give COUCH
meetings high priority. Contact Joan Hellmann at joan_elizabeth@comcast.net or 236-6749 for additional
information.
Submitted by Joan Hellmann, COUCH Coordinator
Helping Women in Prison and Their Families
Our Success Story for February is about a woman who grew up in a faith community with strong beliefs in God,
morality and rules for living. But she asked difficult questions, and her underlying question, what that morality looks like
in a complicated world, was never addressed. Vivian became rebellious and ended up using drugs, spending money wildly,
and pilfering to pay for these habits. Being incarcerated gave her time to slow down, calm down, and listen – to find a
personal relationship with God, in which she realized she was guilty and saved at the same time. As are most of the people
she encounters. She then found her calling to share her ministry, and so Vivian Nixon became an ordained African
Methodist Episcopal minister. She is working on a book with the working title Guilty and Saved: Revelations of a
Previously Incarcerated Preacher Woman, and will speak both at the Community Connection breakfast and Community
Forum on Saturday, February 24.
Rev. Nixon is featured speaker at our Special Events on
February 24.
Help us make them a success!
Please come to our Tuesday, February 6
planning meeting at 7:30 pm
Guess who’s coming to Breakfast!
COMMUNITY CONNECTION
REENTRY BREAKFAST
AT
9 AM ON SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 24
This is UCH’s turn for a regular monthly event which is held at one of various local churches in rotation,
sponsored by the Prison Action Committee (PAC) of Christian Churches United (CCU). We will serve 40
to 60 men and women from halfway houses like Promise Place and various work release centers. We need
two people to drive, as we do every month – DRIVING involves picking up a few women at Promise Place
or Woodside Family Center at 8:30 am on the scheduled Saturday to get them to the designated church by
9:00 am, with the return trip beginning at 10:30 (when the breakfast is over) so they can be back by 11:00
am. The PURPOSE of these ReEntry Breakfasts is to help soon-to-be-released women and men get in
touch with supporting people, ministries and agencies. Please! Help us to do our share by helping us with
this event. Other churches do this regularly. This will be the first time we have taken a turn.
COMMUNITY FORUM
SATURDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 24
Come hear Rev. Vivian Nixon speak about what incarceration means at 7:00 pm at
UCH. Read her essay in Getting on Message (which also includes UUA President
Bill Sinkford’s article on marriage equality). We will have copies of this book on
hand for sale and signing. This will be an educational and inspirational evening for
all of us, with a reception afterwards.
We are doing things that help the women,
and they really do make a difference!
 Donations of winter workplace clothes, clean and on hangers, are needed by the women, and winter
coats/jackets are especially popular. Large sizes are needed: 1XL, 2XL and 3XL. No shoes, please,
unless they are new with the size clearly marked. Please fill in the donation form when you drop off the
clothes, so we can thank you and document the tax deduction for you – and track what’s going on.


The Sunday classified “help wanted” ads you bring to church play an important part each week in
helping the women find jobs. There is a basket inside the downstairs door by the name tag rack, and
another in the alcove opposite the name tags upstairs. UCH members John Quimby and Dick Hoke take
turns delivering them to Woodside Family Center (next to Harrisburg Mall). Because we do this, each
woman looking for a job gets her own copy of the classified ads to work with. We truly need another
person to take turns in the rotation – can you help?
Keep on supporting our “Undercover Fund.” When new women arrive at Promise Place they often
have only the clothes they are wearing. Just put your check in the collection plate, and on the memo line
put Undercover Fund. It isn’t difficult, and a woman just out of prison will be really happy to get new
underwear.
We continue working on
 Life skills training for the women at Woodside family center. Joan Hellmann continues to teach the
“money management” course she began in May. She encourages student involvement and provides
information on paychecks, fringe benefits, banking services, payment of bills, credit use, and
development of a budget. Mary Henninger-Voss and Lisa Acri and Niurka Reyes (a friend of Lisa’s)
have had several sessions of their “reading and creative writing” class. Other UCH members can
improve the women’s lives by offering life skills training the women need, like (to offer random
examples): shopping on a budget, assertiveness, dressing appropriately in the workplace, balancing your
checkbook, parenting, etc. Training is still our focus this year, as that is the way we can make a
difference.

The women at Woodside have been promised a free computer if they complete a computer training
class, like the one Jim taught in May and June. No matter how much they want a free computer, the
course completion certificate is the ticket to get one. Teaching it isn’t a one-person show, however. For
the next offering of Computer Basics, Jim can teach if others can pitch in to plan what will be covered,
develop the handouts, and help teach the ten evening sessions. Please say you’ll help them become more
employable, AND get a free computer.
 Another excellent opportunity to meet the women we are helping: Alice Winner’s “Paperwork & Time
Management” training session at Woodside Family Center is planned for the last Friday each month. She
needs a volunteer assistant for each class, and helping her is an excellent way to meet the women. If
you’d like to help or just want to know more, check with her at 533-2775 or info@awinnersos.com or
you can check with recent volunteers Lisa Acri, George and Joan Hellmann, Marilyn McHenry or Dick
Hoke to find out what it’s like.
Questions? Contact Margaret Carrow, Chris Dutton, Dick Hoke, Jim Cavenaugh or John Hargreaves.
Submitted by Jim, Margaret & Dick
Volunteer Connection
WHAT´S NEW?
Since the organization of the new Brew Cruu-Coffee Hospitality Team in early November, we
now have 31 volunteers who have offered to host the coffee hour following services. The goal is to have
enough volunteers that can be on a rotating schedule so each individual would only need to host once every
2 months or so. So far the new schedule is working out nicely, and in order to keep it going smoothly, we
are looking for about another 10 volunteers.
Hosting coffee hour is relatively easy. Based on your availability, you are on the calendar for an
agreed upon date that can be switched with someone if needed. There is a coffee making observation
training that is scheduled for Sunday, January 28, or another observation/shadowing date can be arranged at
a time convenient for you. Basically, the duties are to make and set up the coffee, assist with serving while
smiling and greeting, and some cleanup. It’s a wonderful way to meet members of the congregation while
giving of your time and talent to the church. (and if one of your new year resolutions is a little excercise,
then there’s a bonus feature!)
Please consider helping once every two months. You can contact Dianne Martin, Shared Ministry
Coordinator, and let her know what service time you would like to help, or ask any questions you may have
about volunteering.
The new Membership Committee met for the first time in October to organize and brainstorm
ideas. Several tasks have been broken down into smaller subcommittee work groups. Activities include:
events to connect new members and the congregation, ideas for the fulfillment of members, new member
mentors, and UU information sharing. We are looking for a few additional people who are interested in
helping to close the “stranger” gap between longer time members and new, integrate new members into the
congregation, and assist with ideas for welcoming events, new connections, and meeting the needs of
members. Both newer members with recent new member experiences to share and seasoned members are
needed on the team. Contact Dianne Martin if you are interested in being a part of this important aspect of
UCH.
THANK YOU
Winter Solstice volunteers: Ann Stillwater, Sandy Eckert, Mary Ann Rhoads, Leslie
Abcouwer, Clover Grove and Queen Spirit for all their help in coordinating, organizing, and service to
the congregation for the Winter Solstice event.
Darren Sage and Rob Golden for their work in taking down the Christmas tree, packing away the
materials and taking off the ornaments for distribution to the children of the church.
All the volunteers who gave of their time at the shelter.
Members of the new Brew CrUU, December and January Coffee Hosts: Anita Mentzer, Erica
Lambert, Don and Linda Brown, Darren Sage, Nathalie Hoke, Rima Bowser, Mike McCullough,
Robin Stillwater, Ann Stillwater, the Board of Trustees and volunteers who helped out where needed.
--Dianne Martin, Shared Ministry Coordinator
r
Clover Grove
Clover Grove is the Pagan group of the Unitarian Church of Harrisburg. We come from a wide range of
backgrounds. Anyone who is interested is welcome to come and share and/or learn about earth centered
spirituality.
A Solstice Thank You!
Thank you to all the people who assisted in the solstice ritual on December 20th. Approximately 100
people joined in this contemplative ritual and a roaring bonfire afterwards. QueenSpirit, Clover Grove, the
church youth, and many others all helped to make this event a renewal for the spirit. Thank you for the
great teamwork.
Party for the Groundhog!
You are invited to a Candlemas Ritual/Groundhog Day party! It will be held in the common room, on
Friday, February 2, 2007. Candlemas is an ancient celebration of the return of the sun, even in the coldest
part of the year. The promise of Spring is more apparent at this time than it was at the solstice. We rejoice
that the days are getting longer and Spring will soon be here!
6:00 Candlemas ritual
6:30 Potluck and Taffy Pull - groundhog-themed items welcome but not necessary
8:30 Watch the movie Groundhog Day. Not appropriate for small children.
I urge you to find child care for kids aged 12 and younger. Feel free to contact Ann if you want more
information about the adult themes in this movie. The movie Groundhog Day has some delightful comedy
along with deep messages about the meaning of life. This yearly reminder is good for the soul as well as the
funny bone!
No need to RSVP- just show up! Silverware, plates etc. provided. A blanket and/or an extra warm layer of
clothing suggested.
Grove Meeting on February 21
Join Clover Grove members for a circle of sharing about Paganism. A variety of topics/questions will be
presented and we will each have a turn to give our perspective or pass. This is a great way to get to know
others in the group and also to learn from the diversity of Pagan backgrounds we are fortunate enough to
have. As the sun will have already entered Pisces, the mutable water sign, this is a good time to let words
and feelings flow. We will meet Wednesday, February 21 from 7-9 pm in the high school classroom on the
lower level. A blanket and/or warm layer of clothing suggested.
Submitted by Ann Stillwater
QueenSpirit
presents
POTLUCK & CIRCLE
Please note the 1st Wednesday date!
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2007
6:00 TO 9:00 PM
Unitarian Church of Harrisburg, Common Room
 Bring a favorite dish, dessert or beverage to share
 Bring your place setting and serving spoons and plates
RITUAL FOR FEBRUARY
 Bring your favorite symbol of love
 Bring your thoughts about how you want love to manifest
 in your life and the world
Stephanie Kew, Anne Moore, Mary Ann Rhoads and Julianna Sillett will lead the ritual and the continuing exploration
of women’s spirituality circles by considering “What is spirituality?” and “What makes women’s circles unique?”
They will use the following books as information and inspiration:
 Sacred Circles: A Guide to Creating Your Own Women’s Spirituality Group by Robin Deen Carnes
and Sally Craig
 The Millionth Circle: How to Change Ourselves and the World by Jean Shinoda Bolen
QueenSpirit Sisters co-create a Circle with a spiritual center.
Submitted by Mary Ann Rhoads
Cc
An Inspiring Workshop with
Donna Henes
THE QUEEN OF MY SELF:
STEPPING INTO SOVEREIGNTY
IN MIDLIFE
Based on her award-winning book from Monarch Press
SATURDAY, APRIL 14, 2007
10:00 AM TO 4:00 PM
Unitarian Church of Harrisburg
Cost: $85.00 ($75.00 for UCH members)
Are you in your middle years, or about to enter them? You know you’re not a maiden anymore, but the term
“crone” doesn’t seem to fit your dynamic, accomplished self! Join renowned spiritual practitioner Donna Henes and
discover the Queen in your Self – that wonderful middle stage of mastery, moxie and power that is rightfully yours to
enjoy.
In this workshop, you will learn to read the signs of entering this sacred life change and to recognize it for the
spiritual opportunity that it is. Donna will help you to identify the pitfalls that keep many of us from becoming the
Queens that we were meant to be. And you will get plenty of upbeat, practical and ceremonial inspiration for caring for
your own inner Queen from cultures and mythologies around the world.
For more information, visit Donna Henes’ website at www.thequeenofmyself.com or Vicki Fox Productions at (717)
774-1275 or www.vickifoxproductions.com. or call Randa Todd at 732-6576.
Submitted by Randa Todd
Cc
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
The Facilitators’ Circle of the Joseph Priestley District Women and Religion
invites the women of UCH


Saturday, March 3, 2007  10 am to 2 pm
at the UU Church of Delaware County (Media, PA: easy access from Route I 95 or I 476)
Join Marcy Francis, Minister of Healing through Music, Movement and Touch at The Christian
Association at Penn, as she and her professional team lead a drumming circle  Bring your sister, daughter
or granddaughter over 10 years, a friend or neighbor to join you in learning the rhythms and sounds of the
African traditions of drumming and whole-body involvement as a way to shake out unhappiness and suck
in the unbridled joy of celebrating life!  Pack a brown bag lunch (drinks will be provided), wear loose
clothes and comfortable shoes and bring your own hand-held rhythm or percussion instrument. If you
don’t own one, Marcy will provide instruments for you to use. Enjoy hours of drumming, dancing, and
movement designed to imbue you with a happy, healthy spirit
Advance registration and payment (mail by February 21 st), $15 per person, $10 for your guest under
16 years; At the door, $20 for adults, $15 for 16 and under. Space limits us to 50 participants: sign up and
pay now to be sure of your place!
Send your check made out to The JPD of the UUA to Anne Slater, 2753 Morris Road, Ardmore, PA
19003.
Questions? call Anne at 610-896-6468. Contact Randa Todd for more information or to carpool
irrt1946@yahoo.com or call 732-6576.
Submitted by Randa Todd
Freedom to Marry
We will kick off Freedom to Marry Week on Sunday, February 11 at 7:00 pm with:
Secrets and Promises
A One-Woman Story Performance by
Jo Tyler
“What if one of your earliest memories was keeping a gigantic secret? What if your life was shaped by a
risky promise? This is a story about walking fine lines, about love and loss. It is a universal tale of personal
struggle with, against, and for truth. It is a witness to dreams and loss converging into hope.”
Come to the Third Annual
Freedom to Marry Rally
on February 14, 4:00 to 6:00 pm
In keeping with the UUA slogan, “Standing on the Side of Love”, we’ll be standing on the corners of Market & Front Streets again,
holding up our signs of support for same-gender marriage rights. Check with Alanna Berger on Sundays – we’ll be signing
valentines for our state reps expressing our support for marriage equality.
BGLT Media/Organizing Workshop
March 3
We will be hosting a community-wide conference, GET BUSY, GET EQUAL CENTRAL PA at UCH for individuals interested in
learning how to effectively communicate our message of support for BGLT equality.
Anyone interested in helping to plan these events, please contact Alanna Berger – alannaberger@hotmail.com, or call 361-2992.
Get Busy, Get Equal Central PA
Stand up for BGLT equality!
Saturday, March 3, 9:00 am to 3:30 pm
Unitarian Church of Harrisburg, 1280 Clover Lane, Harrisburg, 17113
Keynote speaker: Stephen Glassman, chair, Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission
And featuring workshops on the following topics:
 I care...Now what? How to organize in your community
 Meet the press: How to deal with the media: With Mike Lavers of the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation
(GLAAD)
 Youth speak: With Michelle Simmons, executive director, Common Roads
 Youth! Know Your Rights!: With Mary Catherine Roper, staff attorney, ACLU of PA
 The religion question: Dealing with faith and LGBT issues: With Reverend Paul Fullmer, chaplain, Lebanon Valley
College, and Susan Kirkchaney, intern minister, Unitarian Church of Harrisburg
 What's happening now? An update on the issues: With Stacey Sobel, executive director, Equality Advocates Pennsylvania
(formerly the Center for Lesbian & Gay Civil Rights), and Larry Frankel, legislative director, ACLU of PA
 How to lobby: With Stacey Sobel and Larry Frankel
 Plus, a screening of The ACLU Freedom Files: Lesbian and Gay Rights (visit http://www.aclu.tv, click on Gay & Lesbian
Rights)
How to register: $5 registration fee, free for high school and college students. To RSVP, please contact hbginfo@aclupa.org or
717-238-ACLU. Registration deadline is Monday, February 26.
Co-sponsors: ACLU of PA; Common Roads; Equality Advocates Pennsylvania (formerly the Center for Lesbian and Gay Civil
Rights); Freedom to Marry Lay-Led Ministry of the Unitarian Church of Harrisburg; NOW Harrisburg chapter