Newsletter

Let me begin by saying, "VOTE!". Be sure that you vote, encourage your friends to vote and be sure they tell their friends to vote, too.' I'd say vote early and often, but this isn't Chicago. So, just vote.

Then, having done your part, let it go for a while. Go for a walk. Go to the woods or a park or downtown and walk. Enjoy the fresh fall air - if it's raining, let some of the droplets fall on your head and get wet. If walking is not for you, sit and listen to the wind as it wrestles the dry leaves from their branches and be sure to watch the sun set. Whatever you do, choose something to allow you to let go of the months of pent-up anxiety. Let the rainwater or wind or beauty of a fall day wash over you and rinse away whatever ill will you've built up inside.

Then stop for a minute and see if you can feel the earth turning under your feet. Yes, it is. As much as we might think the whole world will stop for this election, it won't. It might be holding its breath.

Whatever happens on November 2, the world will go on. We will wake up in the morning and the sun will rise in the east. Lisa and I will need to walk the dogs, and Thomas will need a ride to school. Each one of us will celebrate or mourn as our conscience dictates and then go back to living. Our lives will be altered by the election's outcome, whatever it may be. I guarantee you that for whomever is promised the keys to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue for the next four years, there will still be homeless needing shelter, hungry needing food and violence needing to be stopped. This is not an expression of a fatalistic outlook toward life. It is an affirmation that whoever sits in the Oval Office, our role as religious liberals will continue.is an assertion of the importance of what we do in every area. People of our faith created public schools to fight the ignorance of the 18th century. In the 19th century they fought against slavery and for women's rights. Many of our faith stood shoulder to shoulder in marches for civil rights; and these struggles for the rights of others and the health of our planet continue today. By expressing our deeply held belief that we have the power to create a better world, we are constantly challenging the systems of injustice. This is because our faith tells us that hope is always present.

On the morning of November 3 despair or rejoice as you need. Then breathe deeply and return to the life that is your own. No election is the total solution or dissolution of life in our nation. New life is created every day by the acts of kindness and compassion each of us chooses to take. Or, as Woody Guthrie reminds us, "This land is your land, this land is my land."

See you on Sunday.

Brian

Recently, Mark mentioned that a colleague from Kansas would be in town and asked about bringing him home for dinner. "Great, but you're on your own for food and hospitality," I said, brusquely noting that I was already needed in two places at a time until 7:30. By midday, though, I broke down and cleaned part of the house and the bathroom, cooked lasagna that they could reheat and then tried to reach Mark. Too late, the effort wasted, as it were. But our family enjoyed lasagna and pleasantly de-cluttered living spaces for a few days.

Thankfully, our fellowship space never suffers from the lack of attention my house often endures. And while many people work to keep the UUFA comfortable and presentable year-round, it felt some added attention in October.
Just knowing we had invited the wider community to the Fellowship Festival gave us new energy. People organized and decorated, created displays, dusted off photo albums, shared musical talents and led engaging activities. We not only welcomed guests; we were able to really relax and enjoy our space and each other while celebrating how we live our mission.

The thank-yous would overflow the official newsletter thank-you slot, so here's a start. Planning committee: Peggy Earnshaw, Brian Eslinger, Sue Haug, Rich Van Valin and Suzanne Zilber. Hosting/displays: Barb Abbott, Terry Alexander, Roger Berger, Sarah Carlson, Peggy Earnshaw, Susan Franzen, Dorothy Lewis, Adin Mann, Lotus Miller, Cole Peiffer, Don Roberts, Cindy Scholten, Benette Sherman, Rich Van Valin, Bobbie Warman, and Liz Weber.
Program: Peggy Earnshaw, Brian Eslinger, Ken Lane, James Pritchard, and Liz Weber. Performers: the Blue Moon Players, Brian Eslinger, the Free Spirits, Reggie Greenlaw, Deb Kline, Tom Russell, and Pam Schwab. Promotion: Story Construction, Liz Weber, and Suzanne Zilber. Behind the scenes: Susan Franzen, Molly Nesbitt, and Annette Rowley. Hospitality: the Dupuis family, the Women's Spirituality Group, the Caring Committee and Ames Community Bank.

Many, many more people pitched in on the spot with everything from parking on Ross Road through learning to refill the dishwasher sanitizer and delivering leftover soup to the Emergency Residence Shelter.

And just because we were inviting visitors, Sue Ellen Tuttle was inspired to produce a large, framed copy of our mission statement, now hanging above the fireplace, and she had our own 6-foot banner made of the UUA slogan "Room for different beliefs. Yours."

So even though we're done dressing up for the party, we get to keep a few party favors to remind ourselves who we are and to better welcome the visitors we encounter every Sunday of the year.

Brenda

Stories aren't meant to be static—they change over the years and can be tweaked to fit the times and context of a particular place. Parents at home recite the stories of their birth family's heritage and participate in the creation of their children's stories. Children grow up hearing such things as "When you were 3 years old I remember....". These tales contribute to their identity and sense of belonging. Fellowship members do the same, don't we? We recall spiritually lean years and we recall uniquely inspiring years---we tell newcomers about our endeavors, of where we've come from and where we're headed. We remember those who've contributed in unique ways....the Hazel Hammer door, the Carmon Slater quilts, the Dustin Berger Library. We plant flowers or trees or shrubs to celebrate graduates of the Coming of Age Program. While all these are tangible things, the spirit of the story within them is what continually informs us.

In children's religious education most of the classes are finishing up with the story of UUism and UU folks like James Reeb, Samantha Smith, Hans Duetch, Beatrix Potter and more. The 11 AM class of Karol Crosbie and Jennifer Williams created a Web of Caring to illustrate the 7th UU principle. Susan Jasper and John McGuire's 3-4th grade class discovered there are UUs around the world---in the Philippines and in the Khasi Hills of India. This class is also responsible for the beautiful UU chalice sun catchers that you may see around the Fellowship. Many of us have also made our own chalice banners which will be displayed around the Fellowship.

The older elementary classes of Tammy Hartmann, Leslie Hanft, and Krista Weber focused on the 5th UU Principle which guides them to vote on issues that concern them and apply their efforts to doing something about those concerns.

The 9AM preschool classes under the care of Cheryl Lawson and Nancy Tepper have found treasures during their hike in the woods and have played different musical instruments, while preschool children in Peggy Earnshaw and Ann Pierce's 11 AM class are welcomed with music from Peggy's autoharp. They tell each other their stories of happiness or sadness, of their similarities and differences. Before snack they offer a blessing that reminds them of their connection with life's energies.

We give our children stories of the past, and we help in creating stories here and now.

The high school group continues to listen to and talk about how music affects their lives and how they use music to express their personal stories. We also took time in October to bless the room we inhabit on Sundays. We seem to move from year to year and want our classroom to feel special and sacred. We consecrated our space with sage/lavender smoke,chanting, and sharing our thoughts about the importance of the group in shaping our lives.

The Coming of Age group of 25 7-10th graders and their mentors participated in a low and high ropes course at the retreat mentioned above. The low ropes course required that we try to solve challenges together, while the high ropes course was a voluntary personal challenge to some. It was inspiring to see the high ropes participants summon their courageand meet their goals. It was also inspiring to see others cheer them on and offer their sincere support.

With such a large group we may see several story lines develop — of friendship; of revelations; of determination; of inclusivity. Many thanks to all the mentors who reserved this weekend for their mentees and to the parents who helped with transportation. (Alice Welch, Andrea and Rick Hill and Lisa Eslinger).

Benette