[Lekooks] January Newsletter

Fri Jan 5 16:51:34 CST 2018

Here's the MidAmerica UU News for UUs~!~!

---------- Forwarded Message ----------
From: MidAmerica Region UUA <tech at midamericauua.org>
To: gymbeau at netzero.com
Subject: January Newsletter
Date: Wed, 3 Jan 2018 16:31:34 -0500 (EST)

A rockin' start to the New YearHaving trouble viewing this email? View online  MidAmerica Messenger
Volume 5 Issue 6 | January 2018 
The MidAmerica Region is where UUs visibly live our faith, create connections, grow our membership, and welcome all persons who share our UU values.In this issue:Welcome and Happy New Year 
Andrew Zallar Welcome 
Courage for Racial Justice, Courage for Collective Liberation 
Chalice Lighters Winter Call 
Social Justice Webinars 
Camp UniStar Summer Jobs 
MidAmerica Regional Youth Events 
Brilliant Bits from Boston 
Jobs in MidAmerica Region 
Calendar 
Contact Us 
Welcome and Happy New Year! 
Sharon Dittmar, Congregational Life Consultant
 Welcome and Happy New Year! In this new year, our MidAmerica Fieldstaff and Administrative team have continued with a team resolution, to explore systematic racism and white supremacy in greater depth. Why do I/we do this work?  A Baptist colleague of mine recently asked me this question and I immediately responded "Because racism costs me my humanity." I believe this to the core of my being. When I see anyone (including myself) as 'less than" based on some category, and/or ignore the uniqueness of each person, we all lose. I lose the gifts from other people (or myself), and I then live a smaller life.  I know I will be struggling with internalized racism and other "isms" and "obias" for the rest of my life, and I know the struggle is worthy because my humanity is at stake. I love this work and how it leads me towards wholeness.

This year one of the UUA Common Read books is Centering: Navigating Race, Authenticity, and Power in Ministry. Centering, edited by Mitra Rahnema, shares stories, analysis, and insights of UU religious professionals of color. The discussion guide for Centering was written by Aisha Hauser and Gail Forsyth-Vail. Our team read and discussed this book together which led to rich, vital, and unexpected conversations. Perhaps a group from your congregation would like to do so as well in order to deepen relationships, listen to others, and process complex stories and voices? Our Fieldstaff team also hired a consultant, Reverend Darrick Jackson, to coach us in our work of centering multiple stories and voices, rather than just a dominant voice and story.

Here's to a new year that deepens humanity and wholeness.

In Love and Faith,

SharonAndrew Zallar Welcome
Introducing our New Regional Administrator

It is with great delight that we announce the hiring of our new Regional Administrator, Andrew Zallar. We had a pool of more than 35 candidates, and we ended up interviewing 5 of them. Andrew rose to the top in our considerations. 

Andrew is very excited to join the MidAmerica Regional team!
Prior to his appointment as MidAmerica Regional Administrator, Andrew served as Congregational Administrator at Second Unitarian Church of Chicago where he oversaw all aspects of administration, financial operations, and facility management. Andrew also previously served as Operations Manager at Chicago Center for Music Education and as Enrollment Coordinator at Merit School of Music.
In addition to his administrative background, Andrew is also an accomplished musician. Raised in Milwaukee, WI, Andrew studied classical percussion and jazz studies at the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music, Milwaukee Youth Symphony Orchestra and Milwaukee High School of the Arts before moving to Chicago to obtain his Bachelor of Music degree in Jazz Studies from DePaul University. Andrew has performed overseas at the North Sea Jazz Festival, Umbria Jazz Festival and Tuscany Jazz Festival and has also received numerous awards from the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music, Berklee College of Music and the Luminarts Cultural Foundation in Jazz Improvisation, Jazz Composition and Jazz Arranging.
Andrew believes that we are here to love one another, serve our community and strive to be the best person we can be every day.

Please join us in welcoming Andrew. He can best be reached at azallar at uua.org.Courage for Racial Justice, Courage for Collective Liberation February 17, 2018, Louisville, KY
A Workshop Offered In Collaboration With UUA MidAmerica and Southern Regions 
Adults: $64.00  -  Youth: $24.00
Childcare: available upon request

Unitarian Universalist and social justice facilitator, Chris Crass, will offer a ONE DAY workshop entitled "Courage for Racial Justice, Courage for Collective Liberation." This workshop will begin with brief worship and include small and large group discussions, storytelling, theological reflection, and participatory exercises. Concluding segment will focus on "What are you bringing back to your congregation?" and "How will you be accountable for your plan?" The purpose of this workshop is to help build Social Justice communities and cultures rooted in UU values with the courage to do racial justice work.  Chris encourages activism and leaders, building capacity, and putting Unitarian Universalist congregations in touch with one another.
Register Now!Chalice Lighters Winter Call 
The members of the MidAmerica Regional Chalice Lighter Committee are pleased to announce that the applications of two congregations been approved for our Winter 2018 Chalice Lighter Call.
The Beacon UU Congregation in Troy, Michigan is replacing the old, single pane, energy inefficient windows in their historic building. This will save money and conserve energy while making their sanctuary and meeting spaces safer, warmer and more inviting during the cold months in Michigan. This renovation will help to promote and nurture growth and prosperity year round, in a warmer, more comfortable and welcoming space.
The Community UUs in Brighton, Michigan hopes to recruit a full-time professional minister to join their staff in the summer of 2018. Their purpose is to grow in capacity and serve more members and friends. The congregation has a current strategic plan to fund and hire a full-time professional minister and has a ministerial search team in place and ready to go.
You can donate to the Winter 2018 Chalice Lighter call by going to the Chalice Lighter webpage and clicking on the Donate option of your choice.Social Justice Webinars 
MidAmerica Region is proud to announce a series of social justice webinars that are being done in collaboration with the Minnesota UU Social Justice Alliance and the UU College for Social Justice.

Executive Director Rev. Ashley Horan and Statewide Organizer Pastor Danny Givens will help all our congregations prepare themselves better for social justice work. These 75 minute webinars will be monthly, on the second Tuesday. Make sure to register, as space is limited!
Details of the webinars (along with other MidAmerica webinars) are available at https://midamericauua.org/events/webinars. Each starts at 7:45 pm Eastern, 6:45 pm Central, 5:45 pm Mountain times.
If you are unable to attend the live webinars, please note that they will be recorded and available for viewing later.Camp UniStar Summer Jobs 
Camp UniStar is looking for staff to spend the summer of 2018 where memories are made and community is cherished. Ideal candidates are responsible individuals who will work in partnership with campers and staff, and serve as role models in leadership with children and youth. Camp UniStar offers competitive pay and lifeguard training reimbursement. Room and board included. Applications open through January 31st at www.campunistar.org/jobs. To learn more about Camp UniStar, which is owned by the Camp UniStar Foundation and affiliated with the MidAmerica Region of the Unitarian Universalist Association, visit www.campunistar.org, or check out their latest newsletter.MidAmerica Regional Youth Events 
For more information or registration links go to: https://www.midamericauua.org/resources/yaya  

inCONsistent Senior High Cluster Con - Kalamazoo MI
January 26-28

HAYC Social Justice Con, CONscience - Bloomington, IN
February 23-25

Chaplaincy Training Workshop
Unitarian Universalist Church of Indianapolis
615 West 43rd Street, Indianapolis, IN 46208
February 9-11

OWL Facilitator Training (grades K1/4-6 and grades 7-9/10-12)
Unitarian Universalist Church of Columbia, Missouri
January 13-15

OWL Facilitator Training (grades 7-9/10-12)         
First United Church of Oak Park 848 Lake St. Oak Park, IL 60301
January 25-27Brilliant Bits from Boston
Kickoff the New Year with More Love!

The UUA/UUSC initiative, Love Resists (www.loveresists.org), equips congregations and all people committed to resistance to protect their community.  Deepen your understanding of how criminalization is at work in our communities to become a more effective ally in the movement. By intentionally reaching out in our communities, we can strengthen our connections and help organize focused efforts to protect one another.  Sign up for more guidance on community building, spiritual resources for inspiration and resilience, and timely calls to action from Love Resists

Start a Love Resists Team

Begin making or strengthen and grow your connections in your community. Get our newest resources for starting a Love Resists team and get help creating a Love Resists worship service, initiating community conversations, and planning who and how to invite people into relationship.Jobs in the MidAmerica Region
This page on our website is for listing job openings in our Region's congregations: https://www.midamericauua.org/about-us/jobs. If you have a job opening to post, please e-mail it to jobs at midamericauua.org. Open positions will be listed for 90 days or until the application deadline. You may also contact our "jobs" administrator at that email address if your listing can be taken down early. Here are a few of the jobs currently listed: AdministratorsCongregational Administrator, UU Military Ministry at Great Lakes  
Congregational Administrator, Second Unitarian Church of Chicago 
MembershipMembership Coordinator, North Shore Unitarian Church, Deerfield IL 
OtherCamp UniStar 2018 - Summer Jobs Open
Religious EducatorsDir of Children and Community Programming - All Souls Unitarian - Indianapolis  
DRE - Miami Valley UU Fellowship in Dayton OH
Calendar  Jan 9
 WEBINAR: Breaking Down the Silos: An Assessment Model for Social Justice-Rooted Congregations - PART 1/2 hosted by MUUSJA

Jan 13-15
OWL Training in Columbia MO

 Jan 18  7:45 - 9:00PM
 Coffee Hour Conversations with Lisa Presley
 Jan 23  7:45 - 9:00PM
 WEBINAR: Covenants 101 
Jan 26-28
inCONsistent Senior High Cluster Con in Kalamazoo MI     Live events are local time. Webinars are Eastern time.See our full calendar We are seeking to covenant with each other to find new ways of partnering and standing together on the side of love for the flourishing of our world, our communities, our congregations and our members.STAY CONNECTED
midamerica at uua.org
312-636-9724
www.MidAmericaUUA.orgMidAmerica Region UUA, 2355 Fairview Ave. #312, Roseville, MN 55113SafeUnsubscribe™ gymbeau at netzero.comForward this email | Update Profile | About our service providerSent by tech at midamericauua.org in collaboration withTry it free today
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