News and Announcements

Sermon by Rev. Samuel Schaal, Transition Minister: “To Preach the Truth: A Sermon About Sermons” - The capital secret of ministry, said Emerson, is to “convert life into truth.” The sermon, which is the center of our worship experience, proclaims the word - not one specific truth claim to define truth for all time, but of universal truths which are found in our own experience and in our wells of wisdom. How can the free pulpit and the free pew lead us to deeper truth?

The First Unitarian Church Choir sings this morning.

Adult Education, 9 a.m.
- Transcendentalists (Clark Room)

Green Sanctuary Committee Meeting, 9 a.m. (Classroom C8)

Sandwich-making for the Homeless, 9:15 a.m. (Fellowship Hall)

Religious Education classes for children, 10 a.m.

OWL Classes, 10 a.m. (Classroom C8)

Youth Sunday Rehearsal, 11 a.m. (Sanctuary)

Hope Children’s Choir, 11:15 a.m. (Choir Room)

Adult Education, 11:30 a.m.
- Bible Study (Classroom C1)

Holy Conversations, 11:30 a.m. (Hope Chapel)

Memorial Service, 3:00 p.m. (Sanctuary)

Tags: Adult Education, Children, Green Sanctuary, Ministry, Music, Religious Education, Sandwich-making, Sermons, Social Responsibility, Sunday morning, Worship by admin

Sermon by Rev. Samuel Schaal, Transition Minister: “Faithful Doubt” - Maybe doubt is not an enemy of faith, but a key to help us go deeper and discover more nourishing springs. Can agnosticism be a spiritual practice?

Adult Education, 9 a.m.
- Transcendentalists (Clark Room)
- Bible Study (Classroom C1)

Religious Education classes for children, 10 a.m.

Sandwich-making for the homeless, 9:15 a.m. (Fellowship Hall)

Hope Children’s Choir, 11:15 a.m. (Choir Room)

Spring Teacher Mini Orientation, 11:15 a.m. (Clark Room)

Care and Concern Committee, 11:15 a.m. (Classroom C1)

Covenant Group, 12:15 p.m. (Classroom C8)

Tags: Adult Education, Children, Ministry, Music, Religious Education, Sandwich-making, Sermons, Social Responsibility, Sunday morning, Worship by admin

Sermon by Rev. Samuel Schaal, Transition Minister, for Jazz Sunday: “Our Improvisional Lives” - Jazz is the sound of surprise - often requiring a play-as-you-go skill. Like our lives. We will explore improvisation as a spiritual tool in navigating the challenges of life. We welcome jazz musicians Rick Haydon and Friends.

Adult Education, 9 a.m.
- Transcendentalists (Clark Room)
- Bible Study (Classroom C1)

Religious Education classes for children, 10 a.m. (Children’s Chapel Sunday)

Fair Trade Coffee Sales, 11 a.m. (Fellowship Hall)

Hope Children’s Choir, 11:15 a.m. (Choir Room)

Knitting Ministry Group, 11:15 a.m. (Classroom C1)

Free Speakers, 7 p.m. (Clark Room)

Tags: Adult Education, Children, Fair Trade coffee, Knitting Ministry, Ministry, Music, Religious Education, Sermons, Sunday morning, Worship by admin

NOMINATING COMMITTEE SEEKING NOMINATIONS
FOR MINISTERIAL SEARCH COMMITTEE

Do you know someone who would be an excellent member of the
Ministerial Search Committee? Who has a deep roots in Unitarianism and
is committed to our church? Who collaborates well in groups? Who can
devote 20 hours a month to this task for the next eighteen months? If
so, complete a nomination form and submit it to Nominating Committee
for the Ministerial Search Committee by Homecoming Sunday, September
13.

Forms are available on the Web site
(http://www.firstuustlouis.org/MinisterialSearch_2009.html) and in the Church office.

Completed forms should be given to Margaret Weck, Nominating Committee
Chair.

Tags: Ministerial Search Committee, Ministry, Transition by admin

Margret O’Neall, a long-time church member, who served as a choir member, past Board President, and Student Minister in 2007-08, recently completed her ministerial internship at the Jefferson Unitarian Church, Golden, CO.

Margret is coming back home to be ordained. Many friends and local area ministers will be present. The Reverend David Bambaugh will give the sermon.

Please join us for Margret’s ordination ceremony on Sunday, July 19, at 4 p.m. in the Sanctuary. Following the ceremony of celebration, there will be a reception in Fellowship Hall, which will be a potluck meal. We are asking members of the congregation to contribute their good food for this celebratory feast. For more information, please contact Kathy M., Chair, Ordination Committee. More details and updates will follow. [Read more →]

Tags: Member News, Ministry, Worship by admin

As part of our transition ministry, the Board has named six church members to serve on the Transition Team. The members of the team are Joan Kindleberger (chair), Helen Cadoret, Brian Deason, Emily Gray, Susan Mueller, and Joe Polman.

According to one UUA document, the team’s role is to provide the transition minister with “insight, organization and facilitative talent, and willing hands as the ministry proceeds.” Please feel free to speak with any of the members and to Sam about the progression of our transition time. At the end of our transition ministry, they will plan Sam’s good-bye party and then disband.

Tags: Board, Ministry, Transition by admin

We are in the process of arranging for the Rev. Dr. James Daugherty, who well served our church during two ministerial sabbaticals — one in 1982 and one in 1988 — to be our minister on a part-time, temporary basis until we have an Interim Minister.

He earned an accounting degree before earning graduate degrees from Union Theological Seminary in New York City and Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, Calif. A United Methodist minister, Rev. Daugherty has, since coming to St. Louis in 1973, been a hospital chaplain and pastor. Now he is semi-retired.

He will deliver a sermon once a month and work one day each week, making himself available for pastoral care and counseling, as well as supporting staff, officiating at rites of passage, and collaborating with the Worship Committee.

It is expected that he will begin service with us the week of Oct. 6 and will preach on October 26, November 16, and December 7.

Tags: Board, Ministry, Transition by admin

The Board has accepted, with regret, the resignation of the Rev. Mary Hnottavange-Telleen, AIM, as our Interim Minister, due to medical reasons. In the past few months, she has come to know some of our history, dynamics, and talent. Her ability and experience have shown in her quick, sound insight into group and individual behavior and what makes for healthy congregational life. We regret that she is unable to be with us this year, and we wish her all the best.

Tags: Board, Ministry, Transition by admin

The Board is pleased to announce the Rev. Mary Hnottavange-Telleen, AIM (Accredited Interim Minister), as our Interim Minister. Her ministry with the church, based on a one-year, renewable agreement, officially begins August 15. (To help you welcome her, the pronunciation of her family name is not-uh-VANJ tel-LEEN.)

A forthcoming letter will provide more information about her and the coming year of interim ministry with her.

Tags: Board, Ministry, Transition by admin