1. Note from Board President regarding upcoming discussion on polyamory.
2. From the minister
3. Minister office hours for week of Feb 6, 2012
4. 11am Service on Feb 5, 2012- Issues of Race in NWA
5. 10am Adult RE offerings for Sunday, Feb 5
6. 10am Children/Youth RE offerings for Sunday, Feb 5
7. Meetings this week
8. Roy Zimmerman Concert at UUFF- February 6th!
9. Support public radio and UUFF: It’s a win-win plan for all!
10. New Beacon Editor needed!
11. Canvass Training Party-Feb 26th!
12. Religious Education Information
13. Spring Leadership Development Conference
14. SWUUWomen’s Conference
15. Parking at UUFF
16. February 2012 Beacon link

1. Message from Marty Faitak, UUFF Board President:

Dear Members and Friends, every week we hear that we are a “Welcoming Congregation”, that we believe in the “dignity and worth of every person”, that we “stand on the side of love”, and that we embrace all members “no matter whom they love”. Lately the issues of “polyamory” have tested whether or not we truly believe those words. When I first heard about polyamory, I was scared that it would lead to some people resigning, or alienate new visitors, or get our Fellowship labeled as “weird”. I did some research on the UUA website and thought about how my fears were interfering with putting my beliefs in the UUA Principles into practice. I believe that exploring and learning from those who are different than me can help me grow. Please join me for a discussion about polyamory after the service on Sunday, February 12, at the Fellowship. Childcare will be provided.

2. From the minister- Hospitality Committee Redivivus. We’ve been relying on Tom Sawyer way too much. He’s been utterly faithful in putting out the food and drink for months and months. This is not UU Standard procedure. We need to re-create the healthy and happy Hospitality Committee we once had. We need 5 volunteers who will share the job, so nobody has to do too much. That’s one for each Sunday a month, plus a floater. Since the Hospitality Chair is vacant, please speak with me. I’m open to changing most every aspect of how we ‘do coffee.’
Please see President Marty Faitak’s announcement above of a meeting of all parties interested in discussing polyamory, next Sunday 12/12, after services. I urge everyone who cares about this subject, particularly those who may be opposed, but are interested in learning more about this issue that is slowly gaining recognition. Even if one is going to remain opposed, it’s better to know what it really is.

3. Minister’s office hours this week- Feb 6th
Tuesday 2/7 following staff meeting at approximately 1-5pm
Wednesday 2/8, 12-5pm
Other times by appointment (call 442-7903)

4. Our service this Sunday: Issues of Race in NWA. Led by Rev. Lee, this is a sermon in an occasional series of Uncomfortable Subjects. This is also Adult Choir Sunday!
The 11am Service will be WABIS (we all begin in sanctuary), followed by In-Gathering at 11:30. In-gathering is a special child-centered, UU-styled service with a chalice lighting, welcome hymn, meditation, joys and sorrows, homily, and offering–all just for kids and led by the Director of Religious Education, Joy Berry.

5. 10am Religious Education for Adults this Sunday: The discussion group will meet in Sanctuary and will talk about “Do UU’s Pray?”
**Adult meditation will take place in the minister’s study.

6. 10am Religious Education for Children/Youth this Sunday: Regular 10am RE classes will be in session, so Families, plan to arrive at 9:45 to make sure your kids are where they need to be before heading to adult RE offerings. All classes will end at 10:45, when children who are willing and able will join their families upstairs for the service. Nursery care is available from 9:30-12:15 for babies and toddlers up to age four, and from 11-12:15 for children 7 and under (or those with special needs, for whom attendance in service would be a hardship) when programming is not available.

7. Choir will meet at 10am on Sunday, Feb 5, for rehearsal prior to performing in service.

The New UU Class will meet at 12:30pm (after services) on Feb 5th. Contact Teresa Youngblood (teresa.youngblood@gmail.com) or Brooke Eldredge (brooke.eldredge@yahoo.com) for details.

Stewardship Committee will meet at 6pm on Thursday, February 9th.

8. Roy Zimmerman Concert at UUFF – Monday, February 6th!
Satirical songwriter Roy Zimmerman’s brings his show, “Live From the Starving Ear” to Fayetteville on Monday, February 6 at 7 pm for a performance at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Fayetteville, 901 W. Cleveland Street. Admission for the show is $18 (or pay what you can).
Here are a few reviews:
*The Los Angeles Times says, “Zimmerman displays a lacerating wit and keen awareness of society’s foibles that bring to mind a latter-day Tom Lehrer.”

*Tom Lehrer himself says, “I congratulate Roy Zimmerman on reintroducing literacy to comedy songs. And the rhymes actually rhyme, they don’t just ‘rhyne.’”

*Joni Mitchell says, “Roy’s lyrics move beyond poetry and achieve perfection.”

9. Support public radio and UUFF: It’s a win-win plan for all!
Wouldn’t it be great if everyone believed our Seven Principles? We could change the world in a positive way. Here’s one way: KUAF is our local station of National Public Radio programming. Many of us already donate to KUAF because they share our liberal values. If we pool our resources, we can support public radio and also promote our Fellowship. For just $290 per month, the UUFF can be Sponsors. KUAF will announce our programs and Sunday services several times during the month. Then more people will know about us and can come check out the spiritual freedom and universal acceptance we experience here. Instead of donating directly to KUAF, write your check to UUFF and place it in an envelope with KUAF written clearly on the envelope and memo line of your check. We’ll gather the donations and send one check from the Fellowship to become a Sponsor.

10. Wanted: Beacon Editor
We need someone to gather the submissions each month and create the Beacon, our monthly newsletter. It takes only 5 hours per month. Current editor Linda Peck has structured the format so well, the task is pretty clear. Susan Takigiku will do the March issue, but we need someone after that. Training will be provided. We use Microsoft Publisher. Please contact uuff@sbcglobal.net

11. Free food! At the party to train canvassers for the upcoming pledge drive. Come check out what it means to be a canvasser, learn how to canvass with confidence and ease, eat some free home cooked food, and generally have a good time. There is no obligation to canvass to attend. Childcare is provided. Sunday Feb 26th 12:30pm-2:30pm in the sanctuary. All those who can canvass will be given materials and a few names of congregants to visit. We are hoping to have enough canvassers that no one has to canvass more than 3 people. For more information email Starr Austin starrthinks@gmail.com

12. Religious Education Information: Families whose children are attending but unregistered in RE should pick up an enrollment form on the RE table in the foyer and do so immediately. We need enrollment forms on file after the initial visit to UUFF, in order to better serve the program and especially your children, in case of special needs, allergies, or emergency.

13. Spring Leadership Development Conference is happening in Dallas on the last weekend in March. Tracks are available in Healthy Congregations, Pastoral Care, OWL facilitator training (Jr. High, High School, Young Adult, and Adult levels), Leadership Experience (suggested prep for DBLE), and Non-violent Communication. We plan to take a van and a group of folks—will you join us? Contact Fawn at 521-8422, speak with Rev. Lee, or check the bulletin board for more information.

14. SWUUWomen’s Conference. We are making sure that all the women of our district know about the 26th annual Women’s conference coming up. More information can be found @ www.swuuw.org . The conference will be happening February 24-26, 2012 in Houston, TX

15. Parking is still available at UUFF. Only a few spaces remain!
Spread the word! Off-campus parking! The rate is $50 per semester.
Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Fayetteville
901 W. Cleveland St., between Oakland and Storer Streets
You can describe our location as being on the north side of campus near the new bookstore
479-521-8422, uuff@sbcglobal.net

16. To view the February 2012 Beacon (our monthly newsletter) please use the following web address: http://fayettevilleunitarian.org/wp-content/uploads/Feb2012BeaconCombined.pdf