Newsletter

Greetings to you all from flat Number 1C at the Edinburgh Central Apartments. I thought I'd take advantage of Lisa and Thomas' return from Scotland by sending this message with them. These first few weeks have yielded more experiences and connections than I could have anticipated. I began by making contact with people at Edinburgh University's School of Scottish Studies, the Unitarian Churches in the area and the Netherbow Scottish Story Telling Centre. These interviews led to seminars, classes, more books to read and people to interview.

One of the common threads developing from my study is the complexity of Scotland's religious and folklore history. Various threads from the Picts to the Celts, Angles to Normans and Pagans to Christians have created a diversity that resists generalizations. In some ways I feel I've stepped into a whirlpool as I begin to understand the different perspective of advocates from the various traditional communities and newer arrivals.

While my family was here they joined me as I began my field work in the various regions of Scotland. Following the suggestion of Professor Gary Smith I began to explore contemporary expressions of Scottish Culture, especially in the realm of folktales. This led us to peruse the displays and watch a presentation at the Scottish Museum. We also traversed the Castle and other significant sights. From these explorations we gained an appreciation for the kind of 'face' Scotland wants to put forward to the world.

During our first full weekend together we headed south of Edinburgh for the Borders where England and Scotland waged near constant warfare for two centuries. We engaged in more peaceful acts as I participated in a Small Pipe teaching weekend. An unexpected bonus of this trip was the amount of discussion of traditional culture and language from the course leaders that accompanied our travels to historic sites.

After a few days for laundry and classes in Edinburgh, we caught a train for the Highlands. While enjoying the beauty around us we also experienced programs in small communities aimed at passing traditional culture to the next generation. I also connected with the curator of the Highland Folk Centre (as well as a fantastic storytellers), Ross Noble.

From the University of Edinburgh to the pipers and story tellers everyone has been very kind and helpful. Here in Scotland there is a strong appreciation of the importance of traditional stories and arts. In many cases the folk traditions are merged with the religious sensibilities to create an engaging amalgamation that began more than 2000 years ago.

Music, stories and theology all surround me here in my little flat. I look forward to returning home and beginning to make some sense of it all. But, for now I'll continue to swim in it. Take care.

Brian

We're looking forward to the Prairie Star District meeting in Kansas City on April 23-25 to exchange ideas, take in conference sessions on a number of topics, and take care of business. These will all help in Prairie Star's mission to achieve:

• Healthy, vital congregations in the district
• Strong related UU organizations
• An interconnected web of Unitarian Universalists
• A world which lives by the UU principles

To do this the district acts to:

• Assist congregations as they work to meet their own needs
• Promote cooperation and communication among congregations and groups
• Serve as a bridge between the UUA and the local congregations in the district
• Assist in establishing new congregations
• Support healthy lay and ordained ministry in the district
• Offer educational programs to assist district members

Among the ways these goals are carried out are leadership conferences, stewardship workshops, RE training institutes, consultants, a resource library, Stonetree Spiritual Resources and others. The district web page is at www.unitarian.org/pstar.

I haven't mentioned the many resources available from the UUA. One that I wasn't aware of is the Veatch Program at Shelter Rock congregation. It was established in 1959 with funds provided by Mrs. Caroline Veatch to foster the growth and development of the denomination and increase the involvement of Unitarian Universalists in social action. It also supports non-denominational organizations whose goals reflect the principles of UUism.

Last year Veatch Grants totaled $10,500,000 of which $3,112,000 went to UU projects. One project that caught my eye was the "plant" of a large church in the Dallas-Ft. Worth area. This is a new approach for our denomination. Perhaps they could be persuaded to help "plant" a church in Johnston, identified by a recent UUA survey as a prime area for a new UU congregation.

It could be an exciting and worthwhile project for the UUFA and First Unitarian Church of Des Moines to work on together with the PSD and UUA.

So there's something to think about!

Rich

Two extremely popular movies, Whale Rider and The Lord of the Rings,explore the myth of the lone journey of heroism. In each one a singular figure, Pai or Frodo, senses a looming purpose for themselves and ponders how to fulfill their destiny. Like any heroine/hero, the final action of personal transformation is grounded in the context of saving orhealing the community.

As their sense of destiny comes clearer, Pai and Frodo seek guidance and comfort from family and friends. Pai intuitively knows she has to prepare herself and seeks her uncle to teach her native fighting skills, her father to understand hope and sorrow, her grandfather to learn the native myths, her grandmother to learn compassion and strength.

Frodo does the same — Gandalf provides wisdom and clarity of vision, the Hobbits the strength of friendship and resolve, and Bilbo provides the historical perspective and sense of adventure that enlivens life.

Their decisions to take "the road less traveled" with bittersweet bravery awakens the respective communities — the wastelands are healed and the people live again.

These themes of vision quests, accomplishing difficult tasks, personal discovery and transformation, and returning with gifts for the community are universal. These are, or should be, the themes that contribute to a successful youth program.

We have the heroines/heroes — our children. We have the friends and family — all of us at the UUFA. We have the history and mythology of Judaism and Christianity and UUism and other world religions. The Coming of Age program addresses these ideas. When we send the teens into the woods for a time of reflection and visioning we send these questions with them: Who am I? What are my gifts? What can I give back to my community? We hope they see images of you as keepers of wisdom and as steadfast friends while they look and listen for insight or a Call.

The current Coming of Age teens would like to share their experiences with you on Sat., May 22 at 7:30 PM at the Fellowship. This is the first time we are holding the COA recognition ceremony at night and it is a ceremony that all of us should attend — to honor their journey, to welcome them as members of the adult community, and to renew ourselves. Imagine their delight and self-affirmation when they return to our welcome.

At least seven members of the high school youth group and two adults will travel to a Habitat for Humanity site (not quite finalized yet) in July to help build a home.

This is the first "mission trip" that we have undertaken and we hope to make it successful in many ways. But we need your help!!! During the next two months we're attemptingto fully fund our trip through car washes, bottle and can drives, grants, social events and more.

We hope that if you see us fundraising in the Fellowship you'll offer some amount of financial support while receiving something in return.

Other youth groups claim that mission trips are the most meaningful part of their church experience — we hope that's true for us too.

Benette

Because the world is rapidly running out of fossil fuels, it is imperative that governments, industries, and all of society conserve on consumption and look for alternative renewable sources of energy. The Iowa Association of Municipal Utilities (IAMU) is actively engaged in both of these arenas. IAMU, directed by fellowship member Bob Haug, represents Ames and 550 other member cities with municipally-owned gas, electric, water, and telecommunications utilities. Bob and his staff actively work on a variety of projects designed to help the association's members conserve energy. And, IAMU is involved in research and development of new technology for storing and delivering energy from wind.

IAMU's training and office complex is in Ankeny, housed in a building that is an incredible example of cost-effective energy efficiency. Constructed in 1997, a variety of technologies and design elements resulted in a reduction of up to 45% of the energy used by a typically constructed commercial building.

The building is insulated with an air tight insulation system and designed to use sunlight to its maximum capacity. Office windows allow outside light to easily reach desks and work places while light painted walls reflect and diffuse the daylight, thus reducing the need for electric lighting. Electric lights automatically rise and fall to maintain a balance with natural lighting from the outside.

The IAMU complex is heated and cooled with a geothermal system that uses the natural and constant temperature of the earth to provide heat in winter and cooling in summer. The system employs eight pumps that distribute water and antifreeze through over two miles of piping connected to 33 wells drilled 175 feet into the ground. The system provides energy savings of 40% over traditional heating and cooling systems.

Located near Carney Marsh, a 40-acre protected wetland managed by Polk County, IAMU's building is surrounded by a reconstructed native prairie and wetlands that help to control soil erosion and filter storm water. Fellowship members will have the opportunity to visit IAMU's office complex on Sunday afternoon, May 16, when Bob Haug will give us a personal tour of the building and grounds. Don't miss it.

Remember that April 22 is national Earth Day. Plan to join various organizations in Ames on Sat., Apr. 24 for a community-wide clean up. Watch The Tribune for schedules.

Erv Klaas

An in-house ribbon cutting ceremony will be held between Sunday services on April 4. A more elaborate community-wide dedication will take place in the fall after Brian returns.

You know this tune, so sing these words in your mind.

Come, sing a song with me,

Come, sing a song with me,

Come, sing a song with me,

That I might know your mind.

And I'll bring you hope,

When hope is hard to find.

And I'll bring a song of love,

And a rose in the wintertime.

Brian and I have confided to each other, more than once, that we seldom get through all four verses of this UU hymn without being overcome by emotion.

So what does this song have to do with milestones, that sometimes controversial element of services and programs in UU congregations around the country?

Everything!

Come, dream a dream with me.

Come, walk in rain with me.

Come share a rose with me.

Milestones afford us the opportunity to share joy and grief with our Fellowship community. Yet they are controversial for some when they interrupt the "flow" or "mood" of a particular service (program) or become a political announcement. I suspect milestones will always have some controversial aspect. After all, we affirm the "right of conscience and the use of the democratic process within our congregations and in society at large".

Discussion about milestone content comes up periodically in Sunday Morning Program Committee meetings. Our last major discussion several months ago brought out several heart-felt stories that I regret that I didn't get written down. One was related by Linda Barnes. Linda, then pregnant with Emma, shared her first milestone. It was that milestone, for the Barnes-Runquist family, that provided the transition from being and feeling like "outsiders" to being welcomed and accepted by this fellowship community.

Wayne Beal notes, "Anita and I seldom light candles for Milestones, but recently we did and were very pleased with what followed--further bonding with the community and acknowledgment of our sorrow and joy."

Others related about how important it was (and is) to be able to share their stories with the Fellowship.

When Rev. Dr. Carol Hepokoski spoke to us on March 21 about "Theological Pluralism and the Wings of Nemesis", she pointed out that we are "charged" with respecting the "inherent worth and dignity of every person" and the "acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth in our congregation"... theists and non-theists forming a "spiritual" community together... not without its Nemesis!

We "allow ourselves to be vulnerable" forming a "community of trust".

We share the dreams - Come, dream a dream with me

We share the introspection - Come, walk in rain with me

We share the beauty in life - Come share a rose with me

Some have so much joy they could "fill the whole Fellowship Hall with candles"!

And we give each other support. These are the things that milestones are about. As Brian says, "they [milestones] connect us to each other and to our broader community" and to the whole human family!

And I'll bring you hope,

When hope is hard to find.

And I'll bring a song of love,

And a rose in the wintertime.

Sam Wormley
co-chair of the Sunday Morning Program Committee