Easter celebrations, church etiquette, and more
Celebrating Easter the UU way
Nothing says Easter like a good old-fashioned canned food hunt. Kids at the First Unitarian Society of Rockland County, N.Y., hunted for cans instead of eggs this year. The food will go to People to People, a nonprofit organization that provides help to county residents in need. Most of the children seemed to prefer the cans to eggs because they are harder to find and harder to break, though one boy said he missed throwing the eggs at people. Hopefully he won't start throwing cans. (The Journal News.com - Westchester, NY 4.17.06)
The Union of Grass Valley takes a look at the ways denominations choose to celebrate Easter. Joy Atkinson, interim minister at the Unitarian Universalist Community of the Mountains in Grass Valley, Calif., said, "I think it is probably safe to say that most Unitarian Universalists don't believe that Jesus literally got up and walked away. But for many, his life is a model for leading a loving and moral life." (The Union of Grass Valley - Grass Valley/Nevada City, CA 4.15.06)
Alaska church wants to pay
Churches may be exempt from taxes, but that hasn't stopped members of the Anchorage Unitarian Universalist Fellowship from pitching in to help pay for local police, fire, and road maintenance since the '60s. They call it their "payment in lieu of taxes" program and say it represents two things: Unitarians believe firmly in the separation of church and state, and they believe they should pay their fair share for city services. (Anchorage Daily News - Anchorage, AK 4.17.06)
See also: "Anchorage church pays extra" (KTVA - Anchorage, AK 4.17.06)
Miss Manners's words of wisdom for the joyful and concerned
One "gentle reader" writes to syndicated columnist Miss Manners to ask advice about handling disrespectful behavior during Joys and Concerns. (Chicago Tribune - 4.6.06 registration required)
UK Unitarian minister supports faith schools ban
The Rev. Chris Wilson, a Unitarian and Free Church minister at Cambridge Regional College, backed the decision by the third largest teachers' union in opposing government plans to create more faith schools. Wilson said he is concerned faith schools promote segregation. (Telegraph.co.uk - United Kingdom 4.12.06)
See also: "Chaplain slams plans for more faith schools" (Cambridge Evening News - Cambridge, UK 9.18.06)
Rhode Island church makes an impression
EastBayRI.com presents this substantial profile of Unitarian Universalism and Channing Memorial Church in Newport, R.I. (East Bay RI - RI 4.14.06)
Nothing says Easter like a good old-fashioned canned food hunt. Kids at the First Unitarian Society of Rockland County, N.Y., hunted for cans instead of eggs this year. The food will go to People to People, a nonprofit organization that provides help to county residents in need. Most of the children seemed to prefer the cans to eggs because they are harder to find and harder to break, though one boy said he missed throwing the eggs at people. Hopefully he won't start throwing cans. (The Journal News.com - Westchester, NY 4.17.06)
The Union of Grass Valley takes a look at the ways denominations choose to celebrate Easter. Joy Atkinson, interim minister at the Unitarian Universalist Community of the Mountains in Grass Valley, Calif., said, "I think it is probably safe to say that most Unitarian Universalists don't believe that Jesus literally got up and walked away. But for many, his life is a model for leading a loving and moral life." (The Union of Grass Valley - Grass Valley/Nevada City, CA 4.15.06)
Alaska church wants to pay
Churches may be exempt from taxes, but that hasn't stopped members of the Anchorage Unitarian Universalist Fellowship from pitching in to help pay for local police, fire, and road maintenance since the '60s. They call it their "payment in lieu of taxes" program and say it represents two things: Unitarians believe firmly in the separation of church and state, and they believe they should pay their fair share for city services. (Anchorage Daily News - Anchorage, AK 4.17.06)
See also: "Anchorage church pays extra" (KTVA - Anchorage, AK 4.17.06)
Miss Manners's words of wisdom for the joyful and concerned
One "gentle reader" writes to syndicated columnist Miss Manners to ask advice about handling disrespectful behavior during Joys and Concerns. (Chicago Tribune - 4.6.06 registration required)
UK Unitarian minister supports faith schools ban
The Rev. Chris Wilson, a Unitarian and Free Church minister at Cambridge Regional College, backed the decision by the third largest teachers' union in opposing government plans to create more faith schools. Wilson said he is concerned faith schools promote segregation. (Telegraph.co.uk - United Kingdom 4.12.06)
See also: "Chaplain slams plans for more faith schools" (Cambridge Evening News - Cambridge, UK 9.18.06)
Rhode Island church makes an impression
EastBayRI.com presents this substantial profile of Unitarian Universalism and Channing Memorial Church in Newport, R.I. (East Bay RI - RI 4.14.06)
posted by Sonja L. Cohen at
5:32 PM
