1

BellringerM ay Monthly Newsletter of the Olmsted Unitarian Universalist Congregation. A beacon of religious freedom in the Western Reserve for 182 years.

Sunday, April 30: 'What Happens When We Die?' Rev. M ary will explore a diversity of beliefs and experiences about end- of- life and dying with dignity. At 1:00 p.m.: Death with Dignity. Join us for a program led by Julia Hanaway from Final Exit Network.Sunday, M ay 7: 'American Exceptionalism.' Led by Tom Beck. The concept of American Exceptionalism may be more closely related to Unitarian Universalist philosophy than you may have imagined. Our guest speaker will challenge us to think about how this concept relates to healing the heart of our democracy during a two part sermon titled ?American Exceptionalism 101,? and ?Advanced American Exceptionalism.? Tom Beck is a UU who is a retired professor of journalism at University of Akron, and a former radio host. Note: This is a Potluck Sunday. Sunday, M ay 14: TED Talk by Lara Boyd, PT, PhD - 'After Watching This, Your Brian Will Never Be the Same.' Led by Linda Rich. Dr. Boyd's studies have shown remarkable amounts of re- organization in the adult brain. And the ensuing research has shown that all our behaviors change the brain. What limits or creates neuroplasticity? How do we learn and why do some of us learn easier than others?Sunday, M ay 21: 'Celebrating the Inner M other.' Led by Rev. M ary Grigolia. Whether we raise human children or not, we are all asked to mother spiritually: To provide safe, loving space for something or someone to realize their potential and come to life. Note: This is a Stone Soup Sunday. Please bring something to add to our soup.

MAY PROGRAMS

Sunday, M ay 28: Some Things You M ay Not Know about M emorial Day. Led by Dr. Kay Potetz. For nearly 150 years, Americans have gathered in late spring to honor the sacrifice of those who have given their lives in service to their country. From its earliest incarnation, as "Decoration Day" to its modern- day observances, there is some interesting information about our holiday.

2

Religious Education

About Our Religious Education ProgramM andie Hamman, Director of Religious EducationThis month, we will continue our discussion of animals. We will also celebrate M other's Day and talk about conflict and peace.

April 30: Dinosaurs. In prepa-ration for our field trip, we will talk about dinosaurs. What can we learn from dinosaurs? How do we know so much about them? We will do a volcano ex-

periment. At approximately 12;30 p.m. we will meet at Carlisle Reservation in the Lorain County M etro Park for a di-nosaur field trip.M ay 7th: UU Kids Care About Our Planet Earth. We will talk about endangered animals, why they are endangered, and what we might be able to do to help. What might these animals say if they could talk?M ay 14th: M other's Day. We will share stories of our mothers and do a gratitude activity. We will also make a gift.

M ay 21st: Peace M aking. We will discuss what it means to be peaceful with one another. We will talk about different scenarios that we have witnessed or been part of that were peaceful or not. If not, we will discuss ways in which it could have been more peaceful.

M ay 28th: M emorial Day.We will talk about memories that we have of people/ animals we love who are still with us or not. We will also lightly discuss war and the cost of conflict.

May 2017

3

MARY'S MUSINGS WHEN TO LEADYou may have heard of the recent leadership transition in the UUA (the Unitarian Universalist Association). Our president, chief operating officer and several other leaders have resigned, in re-sponse to controversy about white privilege in our association, arising from the hiring process of a regional lead organizer. The controversy was raised by an applicant (a woman of color) who was not hired. Instead, the position was offered to a white man. M uch of the controversy escalated on social media. I have read columns and Face-book posts. And I lift up several things: (1) Our congregation and our association are committed

to racial justice. We have a long way to go. And our commitment is deep. The serious response of our Association?s leadership is a positive sign that justice in hiring, being accountable to examine and transform institutional White Privilege matters to us. (2) And it is an opportunity for us to accept the gap between who we say we are, who we in-tend to be and who we are. And to work in that gap, with courage and kindness. (3) It is important for us to learn how to cultivate safe- space for conversations which help us move closer to who would be, together.

May 2017

AN INVITATION FROM REV. MARYI invite you to a joint Oberlin/ Olmsted Visioning Retreat for Transforming Sunday Services, Saturday, June 10, 10- 3 p.m. The retreat will be held at Lewis House and M ultifaith Center, Oberlin College, 68 S. Professor St., Oberlin.Claire Ramsay, Katie Cross, M ary M elaragno and I attended an inspiring workshop last month. We'll share techniques to support us in creating Sunday morning experiences that touch us and teach us -

across all learning styles - and deepen our self-awareness and connections to each other. Please attend as you are able. Your voice, imagina-tion, energy and experience will be greatly welcome and appreciated. Also, please bring something to share for a potluck lunch. And please let me know if you're coming. Thanks! - Rev. M ary

ANNUAL OUUC MEETING SUNDAY, JUNE 4, 12:00 PMThis will be an exceptionally important meeting since we will be voting on changes to our by- laws. The Annual Report, including the by- laws and

proposed changes, will be emailed to members of the Olmsted Unitarian Universalist Congregation, and all members are entitled to vote.

4

Ah, Spring! The daffodils have bloomed, the tulips are starting to bloom, and all the summer flowers are coming soon. Here at OUUC, our busy Spring

has begun, with our annual Pledge Drive and our Service Auction. Also coming soon: the RE trip to Dinosaurs!, walking with the M arch of Dimes, our Flower Communion, end- of- year

barbeque, and our Annual M eeting. We still have a few Big Question Discussions, Ted Talks, and ser-vices to go. Soon we will have new plants in our patio, new paint on the outside of our church, an updated website, and new members in our Con-gregation. I love Spring!Let's Get Growing!

Claire B. Ramsay, Board President

May 2017

THE PRESIDENT'S CORNER

Olmsted Games N ight, Friday, M ay 126:00 - gather for pizza and potluck7:00 - play your favorite board game, card game or whatever you choose to bring.NOTE: a POKER TABLE will be available led by Bob WilliamsPLEASE BRING: cash for a good will offering for the pizza, snacks for the game tables and/ or a potluck item to share, your favorite game.

Fun with Friends Dinner, Saturday, M ay 20, 6:00 pmIn lieu of Circle Suppers, we have decided to host a quarterly dinner at the church. In M ay, we'll pro-

vide a chicken entree, and ask you to bring an ap-petizer, drink, side dish or dessert. RSVP: Add your name to the sign- up sheet in Coe Hall or call the office and leave a message.

Shrinkydink Jewelry M aking WorkshopSunday, M ay 21, 1:00 pmThere's still room for more in this Service Auction workshop being offered by Evelyn Sobczak for $5 per person. M ake jewelry for yourself or donate what you make to be sold at Summer Institute this year to benefit OUUC. All ages welcome. Contact Evelyn at eslioness1@gmail.com.

JUST FOR FUN!

5

SOCIAL ACTION NEWS

HOSPICE OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

For the month of April, OUUC has been collecting food for the North Olmsted Food Pantry. Claire and Lee had fun hunting for cans of food outside, on a beautiful Easter Sunday, and were rewarded with some Easter treats. We will be collecting non-perishable food until the middle of M ay, boxes are in Coe Hall. We will also be donating the April of-fertory share to the food pantry.For M ay, our offertory share will benefit the Ronald M cDonald House. Our church has volun-teered to provide brunch for the families of hospi-talized children on Saturday, June 17. The offertory money will help pay for food for the brunch for

about 50 people, any additional money will be do-nated to Ronald M cDonald House. Volunteers are needed to cook brunch at the House, and to serve the families. We have done this service in the past. It is an enjoyable event and much appreciated by the families who have so much on their minds while their children are seriously ill. If you are able to volunteer for the brunch, please contact Evelyn Sobczak, who is coordinating the event. Her email is eslioness1@gmail.com. Or see her at church. Thanks for your generosity, all year long. OUUC stands on the side of love!! !

May 2017

Hospice of the Western Reserve, a 501c3 non-profit agency that provides compassionate end of life care to patients all over northern Ohio, is seeking community assistance with two efforts.Touch a life...Become a Hospice Volunteer. Hospice provides care wherever their patients call home. Volunteers come from all walks of life, and have a variety of skills, talents and abilities. Opportunities to serve are diverse: visit patients and families, help with legacy work, sit vigil with dying patents, pro-vide transportation to patients being served at home, and more. Volunteer education is held fre-quently throughout northern Ohio. Teen and most volunteers not having contact with patients take 4

hours of training while patient care volunteers take 16 hours. Visit the Hospice at http: / / www.hos-picewr.org/ volunteer for more information or to fill out an application or call 216- 255- 9090.Hospice of the Western Reserve warehouse Sale. Donations for the next sale, Friday, M ay 12th, 8 am - 4 pm and Saturday, M ay 13, 9 am - 3 pm at Hospice of the Western Reserve Headquarters, 17876 St. Clair Ave., Cleveland. All are welcome to shop. Proceeds support patients and families. They accept gently used indoor and outdoor furniture, other household items. collectibles, framed artwork, and holiday items. To donate, call 216- 255- 9090 or email warehousesaledonation@hospicewr.org.

6

May 2017

SundaysM editation with M udras - Sunday, M ay 21, 12:45- 1:45 p.m. M udras calm the mind, relax and empower the body and spirit. Facilitated by Emily Williams. All are welcome.

TuesdaysTuesday M editation at the Oberlin Fellowship. Guided meditation to live from the beautiful heart. Led by Rev. M ary. 1- 2 pm, M ay 2, 16 and 30 6- 7 pm, M ay 9 and 23Care- Givers Support Group - Tuesday, M ay 9, 2:30- 3:30 p.m. at Oberlin UU Fellowship. Do you care for a spouse, partner, parent, friend or child? Join us. Led by Rev. M ary. (2nd Tuesdays) Living with Grief - Tuesday, M ay 16, 2:30- 3:30 p.m., at Oberlin UU Fellowship; a monthly support group. While we grieve differently, we heal through listening to each other and sharing. Led by Rev. M ary (mary@marygrigolia.com). (3rd Tuesdays)SOS - Tuesday, M ay 23, 7:15- 8:30 p.m. at Oberlin UU. A support group for those with loved ones living with addiction and/ or mental illness. (4th Tuesdays)

Wednesdays BOOK Gruup - Wednesday, M ay 3, 7- 8:30 pm at Olmsted UU. We're discussing 'H illbilly Elegy' by J.D. Vance. All are welcome. Yin Yoga - is on hiatus while our instructor, M ary Baird, recovers from surgery. (2nd Wednesdays)

UUnderstanding Jesus - Wednesday, M ay 10, 4- 5 p.m. at Olmsted UU. Using Amy- Jill Levine's, Short Stories by Jesus: The Enigmatic Parables of a Controversial Rabbi, we'll explore Chapter 3, "The Kingdom of Heaven Is Like Yeast." Bring a Bible, if you have one. Led by Rev. M ary (2nd Wednesdays)Neuro- Spiritual Reflection Group - Wednesdays, 8:30- 9:15 a.m. via Zoom. Exploring the intersec-tion between meditation and medicine, mind and body, spirituality and neuroscience. We?re practic-ing with Rick Hanson?s, Just One Thing. Led by Rev. M ary. Here's how to connect on Zoom:Join from PC, M ac, Linux, iOS or Android: https: / / zoom.us/ j/ 169157897Or iPhone one- tap (US Toll): +14086380968,169157897# or +16465588656,169157897#Or Telephone: Dial: +1 408 638 0968 (US Toll) or +1 646 558 8656 (US Toll)

M eeting ID: 169 157 897ThursdaysWISE Women - Thursday, M ay 18, 2- 3:30 p.m. at Olmsted UU. This spring we explore 'Dream Work as Spiritual Practice,' using techniques from Jeremy Taylor. We form a dream group, to open collectively to the wisdom of dreams, To learn more, read any of Jeremy's texts (Opening to the Wisdom of Your Dreams, Dreamwork, Where People Fly and Water Runs Uphill). We'll share how to remember your dreams, ways to work with them and how a dream group may support us. Had an interesting dream? Bring it to our meeting. Led by Rev. M ary. (3rd Thursdays through June)

ADULT PROGRAMMING

7

MAY CALENDAR

OLMSTED UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST CONGREGATION

Sunday, April 30 11:00 Sunday Service 11:00 Sunday School 12:30 Dinosaur Field Trip 1:00 Death with Dignity ProgramTuesday, M ay 2 1:00 M editation at Oberlin*Wednesday, M ay 3 6:30 Alcoholics Anonymous (closed)++ 7:00 BOOK GruupThursday, M ay 4 10:00 M editation at West Shore UU* *Sunday, M ay 7 9:30 R.E. Committee 11:00 Sunday Service 11:00 Sunday School 12:00 Potluck Lunch 12:30 Social Action CommitteeTuesday, M ay 9 2:30 Care- Givers at Oberlin UU* * 6:00 M editation at Oberlin UU* 7:00 The M ankind Project++Wednesday, M ay 10 4:00 Uunderstanding Jesus 6:30 Alcoholics Anonymous (closed)++Thursday, M ay 11 10:00 M editation at West Shore UU* *Friday, M ay 12 6:00 Games N ightSunday, M ay 14 11:00 TED Talk 11:00 Sunday School 12:00 Coffee HourTuesday, M ay 16 6:00 M editation at Oberlin UU* 2:30 Living with Grief at Oberlin* * 6:30 Board of TrusteesWednesday, M ay 17 6:30 Alcoholics Anonymous (closed)++

Thursday, M ay 18 10:00 M editation at West Shore UU* * 2:00 W.I.S.E Women 4:00 M embership Committee Saturday, M ay 20 6:00 Fun With Friends Dinner Sunday, M ay 21 9:15 Sunday Services Committee 11:00 Sunday Service 11:00 Sunday School 12:00 Stone Soup 12:45 M editation with M udras 1:00 Shrinkydink Jewelry M aking Tuesday, M ay 23 6:00 M editation at Oberlin* 7:00 The M ankind Project++ 7:15 SOS at Oberlin* Wednesday, M ay 24 8:30am Neuro- Spiritual Reflection Group via Zoom (see pg. 6) 6:30 Alcoholics Anonymous (closed)++Thursday, M ay 25 10:00 M editation at West Shore* *Sunday, M ay 28 11:00 M emorial Day Program 11:00 Sunday School 12:00 Coffee HourTuesday, M ay 30 1:00 M editation at Oberlin*Wednesday, M ay 31 6:30 Alcoholics Anonymous (closed)++

* Oberlin UU Fellowship: 355 E. Lorain St., Oberlin* * West Shore UU: 20401 H illiard Blvd., Rocky River++ Non Olmsted UU program

Deadline for the June issue of 'The Bellringer' is Tuesday, M ay 23 at 10:00 a.m.

May 2017

Minister: Rev. Mary GrigoliaDirector of Religious Education: Mandie Hamman

5050 Porter Road, North Olmsted, Ohio 44070440-777-6622 office@olmsteduu.org www.olmsteduu.org