Unitarian Universalists in the Media

A frequently updated guide to stories about Unitarian Universalists from other sources around the web.

Thursday, September 21, 2006

Churchless congregation continues to gather, Holocaust museum honors Unitarians, and more

by uuworld.org

The church is gone but the congregation lives on
For 136 years members of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation at Rock Tavern, N.Y., (also referred to in the press as the UU Society of Orange County) have gathered every Sunday to worship together. Last Tuesday a fire destroyed their church, but they aren't going to let that stand in the way of tradition. Proving that the people, not the building, make a church, the congregation will continue to meet, first outdoors and eventually somewhere else. The Rev. James Bridges says they will certainly keep meeting each Sunday: "Where, we haven't decided yet." (Times Herald-Record - Middletown, NY 9.15.06)

See also: "New Windsor church regroups after fire" and "No word yet on how New Windsor church fire started" (Times Herald-Record - Middletown, NY)

Previously: "Fire destroys Rock Tavern UU church" (uuworld.org - 9.15.06)

Holocaust museum honors Unitarian couple
The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C., posthumously honored Martha and the Rev. Waitstill Sharp on September 14 for their work saving refugees from the Nazis in World War II. During the ceremony a plaque in memory of the Sharps was unveiled on the museum’s “Rescuers Wall." (Washington Post - 9.14.06)

See also: "Honoring a 'righteous' pair" (Providence Journal - RI 9.15.06) and "Couple honored for saving Jews" (Monsters and Critics.com - Glasgow, UK)

Previously: "Righteous among the nations" (UU World - Summer 2006)

Church works to save historic chapel
The Northlake Unitarian Universalist Church in Kirkland, Wash., is hoping to save a historic chapel from demolition by moving it to their property. Mounting costs and miscommunication with city representatives threatened to derail the effort to save the 80-year-old building, but Thursday the city agreed to discuss ways to allow the plan to go through. "There's still a huge uphill battle, but there was absolutely no way yesterday, and today things are looking different," said church member Sue Werner. (King County Journal - Bellevue, WA 9.17.06)

Starr King 'worthy of being remembered'
Writing about the recent decision to replace a statue of Thomas Starr King with one of Ronald Reagan in the National Statuary Hall in the U.S. Capitol, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette executive editor David Shribman opines: "It's not quite fair to accuse the California legislature of tinkering with history, but what the lawmakers did earlier this month came awfully close." Starr King was a Unitarian and Universalist minister and orator who is often credited with keeping California in the Union during the Civil War. (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - 9.16.06)

Empty Bowls feed the hungry
Volunteers at the ninth annual Empty Bowls event, sponsored by the Prescott Unitarian Universalist Fellowship and Granite Peak Unitarian Universalist Congregation, served more than 100 galllons of soup on Sunday to benefit local food banks. For $15 people received two servings of soup in a handmade bowl of their choice. The bowls were made by local artists and high school ceramics class students; local chefs prepared and donated the gourmet soups, and local stores donated rolls and bottled water. (Prescott Daily Courier - Prescott, AZ 9.18.06)

Pagan Pride sparks controversy
The First Unitarian Church in Providence is hosting a daylong Rhode Island Pagan Pride Day to educate the public on the realities and misconceptions of Paganism--but at least one church member isn't happy about it. In a letter, the critic described the day's scheduled activities as "a potpourri of flaky spiritualities and ancient occult practices resembling a medieval Dungeons and Dragons festival." (Providence Journal - Providence, RI 9.15.06)

UU pagan blogger Jason Pitzl-Waters is tracking blog reaction--and stories about other UU congregations hosting Pagan Pride Day events. (The Wild Hunt - 9.17.06)

Man could receive 116 years for attack at church
A 47-year-old man, Melvin Kellam, was convicted last week of raping and robbing a woman at the Bradford Community Unitarian Universalist Church in Kenosha, Wisc., in May 2005. He could receive up to 116 years in prison. (Duluth News Tribune - Duluth, MN 9.16.06)

posted by uuworld.org at 5:20 PM

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