UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST CONGREGATION OF MIAMI

JUNE 2011

CONNECTIONS
Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Miami

11am- Sunday Services & Children’s Programs

June 5, 12,: Rev Drew Johnston (Check at www.uumia.org)

June 19: Worship Committee
We have a very exciting line up of guest speakers for our Summer Worship Series beginning
June 26th with Afsaneh Noori and ending Labor Day September 4th with a “backyard” potluck
picnic. Keep your eyes on the newsletter and the weekly e-blast from the UUCM office.

Some of our guest speakers will need overnight accommodations. WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE A
HOST? If you can be a one night Bed & Breakfast, please contact Raquel Reyes, Worship
Committee Chair, via phone 305-754-6095.

June 26: “The Gift Of Forgiveness and

INSIDE
Letting Go”- Afsaneh Noori
PG. 1
SCHEDULE Guest speaker, Iranian born, Afsaneh Noori of
UUC Tampa will deliver her message of
PG. 2
DREW’S NEWS forgiveness. Afsaneh tells her story of childhood
abuse and her journey from victimhood to
PG. 3 claiming her power through forgiveness. She
GROUPS & invites the gathered to explore where in their
PROGRAMS
lives, they see themselves as victims and how they
PG. 4 too can begin the process of changing that
CHILDREN’S perception and giving themselves the gift of
RELIGIOUS
EDUCATION letting go.

PG. 5
NOTE FROM June 26: Change Thrivers Women Circle with Afsaneh Noori
THE BOARD
Change Thrivers Circles are conversations using Change Thrivers concepts,
PG. 6 where participants share personal stories. The circles discuss life changes and ask
BOARD CONT. & questions, and lead to powerful transformations about change. The group
SOCIAL JUSTICE
COMMITTEE discusses change with Afsaneh, an expert with 20 years experience in managing
organizational and personal change. Although every person’s circumstances are
PG. 7 unique, everyone learns from the discussion and can apply the techniques to
CALENDAR their situation as well as having the opportunity to find solutions involving their
particular change. 2-4pm, Emerson Room
For more information about Change Thrivers : www.ChangeThrivers.com

You must r.s.v.p. to the office by June 18th as a minimum of 10 participants is

required. Cost : $20
 DREW’S NEWS
JUNE 2011
The Reverend Drew Johnston
June
Leaving isn't easy, but then arriving isn't too
easy either! My time with you seems both brief
and plentiful and in some important ways we've
done some great work together. There will be
more details of my thoughts on those matters
in my report for the annual meeting, so I won't
fill my final newsletter column with those
matters. For me the best parts of arriving and
beginning work somewhere are the beginnings
of discovering what will be possible; with the
optimistic faith that carries me from place to
place I arrived last July and quickly set about
discovering the realities of what had only been
abstract before. I knew there was a great deal of repair to attempt following the previous year’s
messiness, and that gave me a good opportunity to be in deep conversation with many people, a pretty
good way to enter a new community.

Exiting is important, too, and also not easy. I was laughing the other day about the number of people
who “were gonna” do one thing or another; take me to coffee, have lunch together, or a whole list of
intentions. Who knows, there's a little time left, maybe I'll be going out to many lunches.

But I've also recently learned of grudges and judgments that a few people hold and, in some cases,
have held for months without bothering to address me directly. These things are more important than
going to lunch. These are the things that leave gaping wounds in your community and lead to hostile
stories, the kind of blaming that comes across only as cowardly and discursive when it is done after the
fact. I'm not interested in hunting down every person who holds secret judgments, that would be
putting the responsibility in the wrong place.  But I do remain available for those who have had
something to say and haven’t gotten around to it yet.  It is not trivial, in fact it is one of the healthiest
choices people can make - to speak honestly and in a timely manner.  The time for me is almost
passed!

My last day of work here is June 15th. Between then and August first, I can be called back in the event
of an emergency.  The office and leadership will have a list of nearby colleagues who can be called
upon as well (basically to do triage and determine the scope of what might be needed).

I leave here with many fond memories, and you probably know if you are part of those memories.  Of
course there is that small group of people for which you are well known, the ones who do not involve
themselves in fond memories.  Your interim ministers keep mentioning this, and it is not a quality with
much appeal.  If there is one more thing I want to leave you with, it is the observation that there is
about a 20 to 1 ratio of warm and open people to those who fracture community.  Simple math will
tell you that your warm and open behaviors can prevail. The most useful thing you can do to tend to
your congregation is to recognize that you deserve the best behavior, that divisive behavior need not be
tolerated, and that you are worth the effort it will take to show up and make sure that little group does
not continue to act with impunity.

The same high standards that burden my life also led me to high hopes about your future.  Many
blessings on the beginning of a time of settled ministry! I think you’ll find that good behavior and
accountability will serve you well.
Love - Reverend Drew
 GROUPS AND PROGRAMS
JUNE 2011

Iris Massey Nanette Bartels

Spiritual Reality Buddhist Group
Spiritual Reality offers an opportunity for spiritual Dr. Peggy Rios, Program Director of the Cancer Support
exploration and growth through selected readings and Community and a practicing Buddhist will be our guest at
commentary by the group. Those who attend are the Buddhist Meditation on Tuesday, June 7 at 6:30pm in
encouraged to comment on the readings and/or share their the Emerson Room. All are invited. If you are looking for a
personal concerns. We are not a therapy group, but a group pause in your busy week why not come and experience
of caring friends who come together to listen and to learn. Buddhist Reflections? We meet every Tuesday evening from
Please join us on Sunday mornings at 9:30AM in the 6:30 - 7:45 PM in the Emerson Room (the second Tuesday
Emerson Room. of every month is in the sanctuary). Discover your
Bodhicitta. We begin with a seated 15 minute meditation, a
Alice Lingswiler reading or two, followed by engaging discussion. We close
Grief Support Group with a second 15 minute meditation. No commitment is
The Grief support group meets on the 1st and 3rd Sunday necessary; come whenever you like. Everyone is welcome
of each month in the Emerson Room at 1:15pm. You are and no experience is necessary. Come and refuel for your
welcome to join us whether your loss is recent or long ago. busy week. “Enlightenment is intimacy with all things.” -
See Connie Bartels or Alice Lingswiler. Jack Kornfield

John Bost Carol Reiter

Humanist Group Lotz Committee
Meeting June 14, 2011, 8pm in the Emerson Room. The music can't happen without the support and effort of
Featuring  "Philosophy & Intellectual History” by Professor many people. The following Lotz Concert members have
Patrick Grim, State University of New York at Stony faithfully and tirelessly made the brownies, served the
Brook. We will be viewing Lecture 6 "Thoughts on coffee, poured the wine, made the cheese plates, greeted
Religion and Values" Join the discussion. and welcomed the audience, and turned up the sound. This
wonderful team is Sally Vann Pyle, Rosemary Timmony,
Beth Wiggert, Andrea Mustelier, Mary Gonzalez, Marilyn
Alice Lingswiler Rutgers, Marvin Baumel, Jeff Reiter, and Thelma Tucker. I
Lunch Bunch am grateful to them all. Because they are so easy to work
Bring a bag lunch and join us as we enjoy a friendly lunch with, so loving, so ready to show up and help, because of
and discuss a reading from an inspirational book each their team spirit, we had a great jazz series this year. If you
Wednesdays from 12pm-2pm in the Emerson Room. Every missed any of our series we repeat the artists' names here so
3rd Wednesday is Poetry Day so bring your favorite poems you can see what a great series we had.
to share. Hope to see you there.
In September the Klezmer East band played featuring Paul
Margaret McAlister & Sandy Howard Green on clarinet. October brought us Jamie Ousley. Ira
PFLAG Sullivan, vocals by SAMM, with Joe Davidian on piano
PFLAG Kendall meets at 12pm on the 2nd Saturday of and Austin McMahon on drums. November's concert was
each month at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the magical Vince Maggio (piano), and Randall Dolahon
Miami. PFLAG Homestead meets at 12pm the fourth (guitar). In January we had two concerts, Nicole Henry on
Saturday of each month at St. John’s Episcopal the 9th and Ira Sullivan on the 30th with violinist Glenn
Church, 145 NE 10 Street in Homestead. For more info Basham, Brian Murphuy on piano and Jamie Ousley on
contact [email protected] bass. February brought us the lush Wendy Pedersen (vocals)
and the incomparable Jim Gasior (piano). What a concert
that was! We closed out our official 2010-2011 series March
Marilyn Rutgers 27 with the Grammy winning master percussionist Sammy
Welcoming Cong regation Figueroa and guests Nicky Orta (bass), Daniel Sussinger
The Welcoming Congregation Committee, is scheduled to (drums) and Silvano Monasterios on piano.
meet on the 1st Sunday of each month, at 1:00 PM  The
Lavender Salon, which we sponsor, is an Intergenerational As you know from this column, we supported two
Event for Miami's LGBTQ Community.  It is held on the additional concerts: the May 15th Stacey Berkley Concert
2nd Saturday of the month, at 6:30pm, in the Emerson (harp) with Tim Devine (keyboard), Ed Calle (sax), Chuck
Room. We start with a Potluck, followed by an evening of Bergeron (bass), and Mike Harvey (drums) and the June
fun & educational events. Please join us! Everyone is 12th Miami Unplugged Concert featuring our own Susie
welcome! For more info contact Marilyn Rutgers or Dave Green, vocalist, arranger, and composer, along with other
Roelant. talented writers. We look forward to this up-coming concert
of young musicians this month. We do hope you will come
Susan Hangge out and support our last concert (until the fall). What a
The Alliance great beginning to the week. Sunday afternoon June 12th at
Come join us on June 4th at 12pm for lunch followed by a 4PM. See you all there. Tickets at the door: adults $15.00,
hilarious film featuring Victor Borge at 1pm. Visitors are minors, $10.00. There's nothing like live music.
greatly welcomed. Come meet a community of friendly
women and find out how we serve our congregation and
city.
 CHILDREN’S RELIGIOUS EDUCATION
JUNE 2011

Summer Joke:
Teacher: Henry, what is the chemical formula for water?
Henry: H I J K L M N O.
Teacher: What are you talking about?
Henry: Yesterday you said it's H to O.

Monica Rizzo- Director of RE Religious Education (DRE), at [email protected]

June Classes to chat by email, set up a phone call or schedule a
Classes throughout the summer will be an all ages face-to-face meeting.
format (age 4-12) with volunteer teachers from the
congregation.  Summer session is light programming Trial Book Club
for kids designed to give them a place to be with their Beginning in May, the Religious Education
peers in a safe environment while learning new and department began a trail book club and are reading
exciting ideas from members of the congregation.  the book Religious Literacy: What Every American Needs to
Sign up is underway for teachers, and I encourage Know--And Doesn't by Stephen Prothero.  The first
parents that are not able to volunteer during the year meeting was held May 21 in the Emerson room and
to sign up and help over the summer, along with any we had some great discussion and some good food
other adult that loves to work with children.  The sign too!  If you want to catch up with us and join the next
up sheet is on neon pink poster board and can be meeting, please email Monica
found on the name tag table every Sunday. at [email protected] for more info on the
  meeting!
Our first Sunday, June 5, will be a very special day
with the bridging for Kayla and Nick in the sanctuary OWL Training
during the service.  We are very excited for them and Last month, four members of the UUCM were
the new journey that they will be on, so we look trained to teach OWL grades K-1 and grades 4-6. 
forward to the ceremony.  After the children have left At uua.org, the program is described as follows: Our
the service that day, the 7-10 year old class will be Whole Liveshelps participants make informed and
leading a Children's Chapel with the younger kids.  responsible decisions about their sexual health and
They have been preparing for weeks and are very behavior. It equips participants with accurate, age-
excited to share their service with a "Nature" theme.    appropriate information in six subject areas: human
development, relationships, personal skills, sexual
Also, each Sunday the nursery is open at 10:45 for behavior, sexual health, and society and culture. 
infants-3 years old.  Please note the age change.   
Children ages 4 and up will stay in the sanctuary with More details will follow as the training has not been
their responsible adults until after the Story for All completed before the newsletter deadline, but the
Ages.  Classes meet their teachers in the breezeway Religious Education department is very pleased to
and then go to their individual classrooms for a have the opportunity to send participants to the
lesson.  Please pick your child up promptly after training hosted by the United Church of Christ in
service. Coral Gables.  The OWL classes have increasingly
become a priority for RE over the past few years and
 RE Meeting we are very excited to be able to offer the classes next
The Religious Education committee meeting will be year.  Many, many thanks to our members who are
Sunday, June 5 at 12:45PM in the Religious giving their time, energy, teaching skills and their
Education Office.  This meeting we will discuss the hearts into making this program a success!!!
closing of our budget year and about summer
Maya Pacheco-Evoy
programming.  All parents, teachers and anyone else
Reading Group for All Ages
in the congregation are invited to help plan and let
your voice be heard for Religious Education. Do you love to read? Last month we met together
   to read quietly and share what we read with one
New to the Program? another. Come join us on Sunday June 5th, from
If you are new to the program and would like more 12:45pm-1:45pm in Room 4. where we will
information about Religious Education, please feel discuss ideas about writing a book together.
free to contact Monica Rizzo, the Director of LET'S READ! See you there.
 NOTE FROM THE BOARD
JUNE 2011

Individual commitment to a group effort - that is what makes a team work,

a company work, a society work, a civilization work.










~Vince Lombardi
David Traupman- President of the Board
Coming Full Circle
At last month's board meeting-the final one for the majority of our current board- we opened the
meeting by reading "Eagle Poem" by Joy Harjo. The poem calls upon us to open our whole selves to the
steadily growing circles of motion of all that we know as well as that which we don't. We used this circle
analogy to recognize that although the time of our board service together is coming full circle, our
leadership experiences can now ripple out and flow back into the larger circle of congregational life.
Several board members shared what they have felt most proud of accomplishing, and what they look
forward to doing within other aspects of congregational life in the future:

From Martha Harrison:
Carol Klopfer has been involved and supportive of this work, both in
For me, the thing I especially appreciate putting helping with the workshop as well as her willingness to sit with me on some
time and energy and care into during my time Sundays after service to practice NVC. Carol and I do hope and intend to
serving on the Board was the 2 day NonViolent have opportunities to practice NVC in our congregation in a supportive
Communication Workshop we had last October small group environment in the future. This important work continues…
at the congregation.  I had become interested in
Marshall Rosenberg’s NonViolent I have served on the Board for three years and am finishing my time this
Communication (NVC) work for professional month.  I deeply thank the congregation for the honor of electing me to serve
and personal reasons and then in my work on the on the Board, David Traupman and Irv Loibman for their continued,
Board concerning right relations and creating prodigious, sustaining efforts as Presidents, my fellow Board members who I
covenants, realized how important and useful it now know very well and appreciate and love, the two caring and
would be for our congregation to learn skills to contributing ministers, Rev Kathy Schmitz and Rev Drew Johnston, and for
navigate our way through the inevitable conflicts the many many lessons the experience has pushed me toward.  Along with
that arise in any community or relationship.   some other projects that I feel motivated to pursue in the congregation, I
intend to be as supportive and respectful and grateful and compassionate as
We had at least 75 people come to the workshop I can be to our new Board.  I salute and thank them for their grace and
(half of whom were not members of the generosity and willingness to serve.  
congregation including many young people) many
thank you emails and expressions of appreciation
and hope that we will do other similar
workshops.  I am still meeting people who tell me
that they were there.  It showed me that there is a
genuine need and interest in this important work.
I had hoped to get an NVC practice group started
at our congregation after the workshop, but was
unable to do it at that time because of previous
commitments and then energy taken by strenuous
Board concerns. 

I have since found a small practice group that

has welcomed me and now Carol Klopfer when
she is available, to their meetings in North
Miami.
 NOTE FROM THE BOARD CONT. & SOCIAL JUSTICE COMMITTEE NEWS
JUNE 2011

Bill Turner- Social Justice Chair

The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be The Appeal of Social Justice
useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate, to have Work to Our Congregation
it make some difference that you have lived and lived Members
well.





~Emerson
We UU members and friends
continually respond with an opinion or
From Barbara Nelson: else participate in action for “just”
causes that affect our families, our
I'm glad the by-laws have been updated.  I do remember my asking  at occupations (jobs) and our communities.
our first meeting why there were so many Vice Presidents — when all It is what defines UU members and
we needed to have as executive officers were  President,  Vice President, friends: caring and feeling a
Secretary and  treasurer.  Perhaps at some point my other suggestion responsibility to take a stand and to
that  the vice-president transition as the future president of the board make a difference when confronted with
(sort of in-house training) will be developed.    injustice, discrimination or downright
evil.
Although this has been a very difficult year for the Board, the big plus
for me was getting to know my fellow board members and  realize we On Friday evening, May 20, our Social
were a cohesive unit.  A special thank you to Gisela who did a Justice Committee (SJC) will meet in the
wonderful job of keeping the minutes under very trying circumstances. Emerson Room at 7PM for potluck food
Looking forward to a new year with a settled minister! and beverage sharing, and at 7:30PM to
From Dick Burnside: conduct our committee meeting, that
will continue to explore where to focus
I believe what I would say that I am most proud of that the board has our energies, to make a difference, and
accomplished during these last three years that I have served would be the to engage our congregation and the
covenants and behavior policies we have worked on, despite the stress, Social Justice Committee in
controversy and the usually unplanned tremendous amount of time and collaboration with other churches and
energy it took. organizations in our communities, to
struggle for economic justice.
I would say that the most memorable thing I learned about our
congregation, in relation to the board, is not especially positive (or too One overriding issue, in my opinion, is
negative either)---it's just that my perception is that there are several the need to unite with parents, teachers
members, mostly former board members or other leaders, who have a and students, throughout our
pretty good idea of what the board is doing. Then, I feel that there are communities to save our education
quite a lot of members that don't really know much at all about the system from destruction by those
board, but really don't care, as long as there are Sunday services and politicians who are only interested in the
everything seems to be running smoothly.  Sadly, I think that there are profits of the corporations and are not
also a few members who either do not understand what the board is concerned with the well-being of our
trying to do, or prefer to believe assumptions of secrecy, partiality or communities and the education and
biases etc. that are just not valid.  development of our children.
Come and participate with us and
I hope that my experience on the board will help me to be able to clarify, strengthen us with your commitment to
explain or help to answer questions about congregational issues that justice, your ideas, your experience and
might come up various meetings or conversations.  your energies.

On behalf of myself and my fellow board members, thank

you to the congregation for entrusting us with the task of
transitioning our structure and organization in order to
enable our future leadership and settled minister Rev. Wendy
Pantoja to focus on a renewed congregational vision and
mission. Looking forward to making it so!
 CONGREGATION CALENDAR
JUNE 2011

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1 2 3 4
12 pm- Lunch 7:30pm- Choir 10am- Alliance,
Bunch, ER Practice, S Luncheon, S

5 6 7 8 9 10 11
9:30am- Spiritual 5pm- Finance 12pm- Lunch 12pm- PFLAG, ER
Reality, ER Meeting, ER Bunch, ER 6:30pm- Lavender
11am- Service, S 6:30pm- Buddhist 7:30pm- Board of Salon, ER
12:45pm- Reading Reflections, ER Trustees, ER
Group for All Ages,
R4
1pm- Welcoming
Congregation, R3
1:15pm- Grief
Support, ER

12 13 14 15 16 17 18
*Reverend 12pm- Caring Flag Day 12pm- Lunch 7:30pm- Choir
Drew’s Last Committee, ER 6:30pm- Buddhist Bunch, ER Practice, S
Service at Reflections, S
UUCM 8pm- Humanist
Group, ER
9:30am- Spiritual
Reality, ER
11am- Service, S
4pm- Lotz
Concert, S

19 20 21 22 General 23 General 24 General 25 General

Father’s Day 3pm- Reiss 6:30pm- Buddhist Assembly, NC Assembly, NC Assembly, NC Assembly, NC
9:30am- Spiritual Memorial, S Reflections, ER 12pm- Lunch 7:30pm- Choir
Reality, ER Bunch, ER Practice, S
11am Service, S
12:45pm- Worship
Committee, R6
1:15pm- Grief
Support, ER

26 27 28 29 30
General 1pm- Worship 6:30pm- Buddhist 12:30pm- Lunch 7:30pm- Choir
Assembly, NC Committee, R6 Reflections, ER Bunch, ER Practice, S
9:30am- Spiritual
Reality, ER
11am- Service, S
2pm- Change
Thrivers Women’s
Workshop, ER

Legend:
ER= Emerson Room TBD= To Be Determined, See Calendar Online
S= Sanctuary for most recent information
R= Room G= Grounds
 UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST CONGREGATION OF MIAMI
NOVEMBER
JUNE 2011
2010

CONNECTIONS
Staff Schedule & Contact Info
Rev. Drew Johnston, Transitional Minister- 305- 667-3697, email:
[email protected]

Susie Green, Office Administrator- M-F 10am-2pm & Sun

10:30am-12:30pm, Ph: 305-6673697, Fx: 305-667-9585, Email:
[email protected]

Monica Rizzo, Director of Religious Education- [email protected]

The newsletter’s distribution is made possible by the Dr. Tim Buchholtz, Choir Director- [email protected]
help of John Asgeirson, Marc Green & Paul
McCabe. Thank you gentlemen for proofing, Zoltan Bakos, Custodian, Summer Hours Available upon request.
folding, labeling, stamping and distributing
Connections to our community!

Unitarian Universalist
Congregation of Miami
7701 SW 76 Ave
Miami, Fl 33143

May 2011
Deadline for July Newsletter Articles: 6/15/11
Suggested donation for annual subscriptions: $25

Sunday Service- 11am