The Beacon

B I S M A R C K - M A N D A N U N I T A R I A N U N I V E R S A L I S T F E L L O W S H I P & C H U R C H

818 E. Divide Ave.

Bismarck, ND 58501

701-223-6788

WEBSITE: www.bismanuu.org EMAIL: office@bismanuu.org

April 2016

Sunday Services & Children’s Programs: 10:30 AM

Fellowship & Refreshments: Following Service

Church Calendar An asterisk (*) indicates related article

SUNDAY, APRIL 3 Sunday Service & Children’s RE, 10:30 am

SUNDAY, APRIL 10

Sunday Service & Children’s RE, 10:30 am

Social Action Working Group Meeting, 11:45 am

SUNDAY, APRIL 17

Sunday Service & Children’s RE, 10:30 am

People, Place, & Program Meetings, 11:45 am

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 20 Board of Trustees Meeting, 5:30 pm

THURSDAY, APRIL 21

Men’s Get-Together at Blarney Stone, 5:30 pm

FRIDAY, APRIL 22—Earth Day

UU Women’s Lunch at Minervas, 12:00 noon

SUNDAY, APRIL 24 Sunday Service & Children’s RE, 10:30 am

FRIDAY, APRIL 29 *Live Streaming 2016 Regional Assembly Event, p. 4

SATURDAY, APRIL 30 *Live Streaming 2016 Regional Assembly Event, p. 4

The BisMan UU Monthly Newsletter—Sharing Unitarian Universalist Values in the Capital City Area

Sunday, April 3 PEDAL POWERED PHILOSOPHY

Tayo Basquiat

Tayo will read from a collection of creative nonfiction essays

based on his bicycle journeys west of the Missouri River, expe-

riences that have expanded his understanding of community,

self, and the cosmic kinship of all that exists.

Tayo is Professor of Philosophy at Bismarck State College and

he has served as chair of the North Dakota Humanities Council.

Tayo is a farmer, a grateful cultivator of delicious gifts from the

earth.

Sunday, April 17 IF YOU LOVE THE EARTH WITH ONE HAND

Karen Van Fossan, Minister

With reverence for the interdependent web of all existence,

many of us wonder about the future of our planet. What might

a world based on reverence look like? What's the connection

between our healing and the earth's?

A long-time member of our congregation, Karen Van Fossan

began serving as our minister last fall. She also serves the larg-

er community as a pastoral counselor and advocate for the pre-

vention of childhood abuse.

Sunday, April 10 ART IN THE COMMUNITY

Andrea Ficek and David Martel

In our community, we enjoy the diverse talent of creative indi-

viduals who share their original art and music, improving the

quality of life for everyone. Drawing from years of experience

as professional artist-musicians, Andrea Ficek and David Martel

will reflect on what this expressive life is like and how it impacts

the lives of others.

Sunday, April 24 WOMEN IN ISLAM

Nadia Javaid

Nadia Javaid will discuss women in Islam, especially the

many misconceptions. She is from the Bismarck Muslim Com-

munity Center and is a staff attorney at Legal Services of North

Dakota.

The Earth does not belong

to us. We belong to the

Earth.

—Chief Seattle (1786-1866)

The Beacon

Our Monthly Newsletter Sharing Unitarian Universalist Values in the Capital City Area

Page 2

Our UU Happenings

Candles for the Journey

*Congratulations and best wishes are extended to Anessa Pfeifer-Johnson who has announced her engagement to Audun Mikkelson. Anessa is planning for a winter wedding. *And the same congratulations and best wishes to Laura Knudson who will be marrying Josh Aleson this summer. We rejoice in the happiness of our members and long-time friends.

Thanks again to everyone

who turned in their 2016

pledge cards!

Also, HUGE thanks to eve-

ryone who fulfilled their

2015 pledges and to those

who donated!

Your gifts are essential and

appreciated.

Child Dedication: Eleven children were dedicated in our UU church as beloved members of our community on Sunday,

March 20th. Each child received small gifts from the church, some of which were from the UUA bookstore.

Photos: Andrea Grigsby, March 20, 2016

Thank You to Our Volunteers Many thanks to Mary Rennich,

Dean Conrad and Pat Conrad for

fulfilling our congrega-

tions offer of service to

the Ruth Meier's Hospi-

tality House on Thurs-

day, March 31st.

Congregational Meeting Nubs: 3-13-16

*$57,590.00 pledged for 2016 so far;

thank you, this is the highest record

*Discussed moving to a healthy giving

pattern; some increase individually

across the board; more pledging units

in solid middle is desirable; no longer

can rely on oil royalties

*Fundraising for matching grant ideas:

art auction, service auction, garage

sale, online crowdfunding, bulletin ads

*UU endowment, tax benefits

*Community conversation: secular and

religious co-existence, will be ongoing

discussion

Page 3 The Beacon

Our Monthly Newsletter Sharing Unitarian Universalist Values in the Capital City Area

Our UU Happenings

Dedicated Donations: Donor Messages

*Donation to Vision Fund by Pat & Dean Conrad

in honor of Jean King for her musical talents and

diligence from week to week.

*Donation to Vision Fund by Pat & Dean Conrad

in honor of Dennis Nunberg.

The Bismarck-Mandan UU Social Action Working Group (SAWG) Announces New Ministry

Beginning April 1st, The Bismarck-Mandan UU congregation will have an opportunity to directly help newly arrived refugee families in the Bismarck/Mandan area.

The Social Action Working Group (SAWG) will be collecting furniture and personal care products that will be distributed to refugees through Lutheran Social Services.

Each month a different, much needed, personal care or household item will be posted in the church foyer along with a plas-tic tub in which to deposit the item. Simply bring the needed items to church with you and you will have made a positive impact on someone's new life in this community.

Also, if you have any furniture in the basement or spare room that you no longer need, we will arrange to have it picked up and delivered to a refugee family. Just contact Tamera at the church office at 701.223.6788 or office@bismanuu.org.

We will be developing a pool of volunteers to help pick up and deliver the used furniture, help refugees learn English, and help with transportation needs. If you can spare an hour every once in a while or have a pickup truck, please let Tamera know.

This is an opportunity to put our UU principles into action! Please help make this new ministry a success!

Thanks,

Wayde Schafer, Social Action Working Group

- body wash, men's and women's

- dish soap

- dishwasher soap

- spray cleaner

- toilet bowl cleaner

- toilet bowl brush in stand

- key chains

SAWG DONATION WISH LIST

FOR MONTH OF APRIL:

Spontaneous Easter Brunch serenade: Elicia &

Monte Faul, Michaela Alexander, Karen Van

Fossan, Ann Knudson, Jean King

Photo: T. Markel, 3.27.16

Colleen Reinke & CJ Larsen celebrate after serving the Easter Brunch!

Photo: Paul Markel, 3.27.16

Children search for Easter eggs; look

closely—eggs even in between logs

Photo: Paul Markel, 3.27.16

THANK YOU to our

numerous volun-

teers who helped

with the Easter

Brunch! Many hands

make the work light.

Special thanks to

our brunch coordi-

nator, CJ Larsen;

egg hunt organizer-

Pat Conrad; Jean

King-music; Karen

Van Fossan-service.

Page 4 The Beacon

Our Monthly Newsletter Sharing Unitarian Universalist Values in the Capital City Area

MidAmerica Region

Regional Assembly 2016: The WHO in the New Era of Unitarian Universalism

As you may recall, last spring’s Regional Assembly had the theme of “The ‘New’ in the New Era,” building on our MidAmerica tag line of “A New Era in Unitarian Universalism.” We heard from Rev. Rosemary Bray McNatt and Rev. Marlin Lavanhar. They told stories and discussed the racism we are attempting to dismantle in all aspects of our culture, especially focused on our UU values and the role our congregations can play in this important work.

Feedback from participants told us that a logical next theme for our 2016 RA in St. Paul, Minnesota (April 29-May 1) would build on the New Era theme, looking at WHO we want to be as faith communities in the coming years. Who will we Unitarian Univer-salists need to be, to be relevant? How will we get there? Who will be joining us on this journey?

It is with great excitement that we announce our keynote presenters to help us explore these questions.

They will each present highlights of their own work as they look forward to the future of Unitarian Universalism. There will be conversations with each other, and they will take questions from participants.

And, as always at Regional Assembly, we will have worship services to inspire us and workshops to stimulate our thinking, along with plenty of opportunities to have fun with new and old UU friends. Click here to read more!

*Early bird registration is CLOSED.

*Final registration deadline Friday, April 22

*Registration will be possible at the door with no meals

Rev. Elizabeth Nguyen

Leadership Development Associate for Youth and Young Adults of Color at the

UUA

Rev. Jeremy Nickel

Minister of the Mission Peak UU congre-gation in Fremont, CA

Kenny Wiley

UU World senior editor and Director of Faith Formation at Prairie UU Church in

Parker, CO

*LIVE STREAMING OF REGIONAL ASSEMBLY

WILL BE AVAILABLE ONLINE!

Segments to be live-streamed: welcome, banner parade, first

presentation by keynote speakers (Friday evening); second

keynote speaker (Saturday morning); and business meeting

(Saturday morning). Watch for more information this month in

our electronic announcements and Sunday bulletins, or check it

out yourself at

https://www.midamericauua.org/events/regional-

assembly/2582-live-streaming.

Who from our congregation is going this year to the 2016 Region-

al Assembly? Here’s the line-up!

Liz Anderson (delegate), Jean Anderson (youth), Janis Cheney (MidAmerica

Region Board of Trustee), Stephen Crane (Board President & delegate), An-

drea Grigsby (member-at-large), Carol Jean Larsen (member-at-large), and

Karen Van Fossan (ministerial delegate)

Page 5 The Beacon

Our Monthly Newsletter Sharing Unitarian Universalist Values in the Capital City Area

Good to Know

Advanced Health Care Directive Assistance

Sanford Health has established an Advanced Care Planning office to assist their patients, and other members of

the community, to formulate their decisions regarding their future health care. Sanford has trained almost 30 of

its staff to facilitate these 45-60 minute discussions to help individuals formulate what their wishes are regarding

end of life decisions. The Sanford staff wish to help you articulate the goals of your care or the treatments you

wish to receive or not receive. The staff will help you explain your values and wishes so you are comfortable

completing a questionnaire detailing those wishes and authorizing someone else to speak for you when you can

no longer speak for yourself.

For people who use the Sanford clinics and hospitals over a 3 state region, they will make a copy of your signed

document and annotate their automated medical record to show that it is on file. They will also scan your docu-

ment into their electronic system so an ER doctor, or the one treating you in a nursing home, can see what your

wishes are. You will also be provided with multiple copies of your document, so you can distribute them to fami-

ly members. For people who do not use the Sanford system, you will just be provided with as many copies of the

paper document as you need so you can provide them to your family and health care providers.

The best time to make an advance care plan is while you are healthy, of sound mind, and not worried about a

health problem. Sanford provides this service at no cost. Call Sanford's Advance Care Planning office at 323-

1ACP (1227) for an appointment, or to request a copy of their brochure Speak Up Now.

—Pat Conrad

Glimpse at our Church Finances

The following figures are from financial statements

from our monthly UU board meetings.

As of March 9, 2016

*2016 pledged income $57,690.00

2016 pledges paid: $24,775.00

Offering basket: $ 85.00

Building use donation: $ 80.60

Extraordinary expense: $ N/A

*Reflects additional pledges

Thanks to Mike

Knudson for in-

stalling this stained

glass window in our

new library and giv-

ing this piece of art a

home! Beautiful.

Photo: T. Markel,

3.25.16

Easter Egg Hunt at UU: Derek & Claire

Lowstuter with daughter

Photo: Paul Markel, 3.27.16

Our own Betty Mills (far

right) was one of the wom-

en featured during the

2016 Leading Ladies

Luncheon—along with

Traci Finneman, Betsy Dal-

rymple, and Col. Jackie

Huber— on March 23rd at

the Ramkota in Bismarck.

Photo: Christine Kujawa,

3.23.16

The Beacon

Our Monthly Newsletter Sharing Unitarian Universalist Values in the Capital City Area

Page 6

As noted in the March newsletter, the 1,649 pairs of socks

from the UU Youth Social Justice Project were sent to No Más

Muertes (humanitarian aide branch of the UU Church of Tuc-

son) in Tucson, Arizona on March 1st. NMD sent us pictures,

some of which show the socks being placed in the desert.

High school seniors, Julia Veach (BHS) and Evan Markel

(CHS) had articles in their high school publications featuring

the Sock Drive. Hard copies of both articles are posted on the

bulletin boards at church. The CHS article was also featured

in the Bismarck Tribune on Monday, March 28 (pictured on

right).

Below and right is a direct message from NMD volunteer co-

ordinator, Laura von Dohlen.

Once again, HUGE THANKS TO EVERYONE FOR SUPPORT-

ING AND DONATING TO THE SOCK DRIVE EFFORT!

NO MAS MUERTES/NO MORE DEATHS

http://bismarcktribune.com/lifestyles/high-

school-senior-supports-immigration-

movement/article_a5348b9e-f237-5949-8f23-

9c8f7eadbe8b.html

Evan Markel translates care package instructions.

Photo: Activate Southwest 2015 FB page

“Here are some pictures of NMD volunteers receiving the sock donation and volunteers putting them out in the desert. We put the socks in the buckets so they don't get wet :) Thanks again!”

—Laura von Dohlen Volunteer Coordinator

No More Deaths • No Más Muertes Unitarian Universalist Church of Tucson

Photos submit-

ted by Laura

von Dohlen,

NMD volun-

teer coordina-

tor, 3.15.16

Thanks to Wayde

Schafer for ship-

ping the socks to

Arizona!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9tXzlVjU1xs

To be humble, to be kind.

It is the giving of the peace in your mind.

To a stranger, To a friend

To give in such a way that has no end.

We are Love

We are One

We are how we treat each other when the day is done.

We are Peace

We are War

We are how we treat each other and Nothing More

To be bold, to be brave.

It is the thinking that the heart can still be saved

And the darkness can come quick

The Dangers in the Anger and the hanging on to it.

We are Love

We are One

We are how we treat each other when the day is done.

We are Peace

We are War

We are how we treat each other and Nothing More

Tell me what it is that you see

A world that’s filled with endless possibilities?

Heroes don’t look like they used to, they look like you do.

We are Love

We are One

We are how we treat each other when the day is done.

We are Peace

We are War

We are how we treat each other and Nothing More

The Beacon

Our Monthly Newsletter Sharing Unitarian Universalist Values in the Capital City Area

Page 7

Song & Inspiration This song, Nothing More, was per-

formed by our UU choir on March

20 during the service. You can lis-

ten to this song performed by The

Alternate Routes by clicking on

the You Tube link on the left.

Thanks to Jean King for providing

the link and lyrics!

UU PROGRAMS ARE RECORDED!

Televised Sunday Programs

5:30 pm cable channel 12 or 612

HD or via internet

www.freetv.org. Programs will

be announced in our bulletin and

electronic announcements.

You can also access recorded

programs on our You Tube chan-

nel or search You Tube for

“Bismarck Mandan Unitarian Uni-

versalist Fellowship”.

The Beacon

Our Monthly Newsletter Sharing Unitarian Universalist Values in the Capital City Area

Page 8

EVENT REMINDERS

INTERESTED IN FUNDRAISING?

If you are interested in joining a fundrais-

ing task force to help with our Chalice

Lighter matching grant award for our min-

isterial fund, please contact of-

fice@bismanuu.org or call 701.223.6788.

PHOTO DIRECTORY PROJECT

The UU is wanting to have a small directory in the front entrance to make it easier for members and

friends to get to know and contact each other. If you are anything like me, names sometimes escape

you. Maybe you don't get here every Sunday. Maybe you do, but you only remember a person's face. Maybe you just

remember the first name, and had a connection, but now you don't know how to get a hold of them. Maybe you just

want to pass on Grandma's secret recipe. That is the point of this project. The directory is completely determined on

YOUR preferences. We would like to have a picture of members and friends, but if you don't want that, your name is

just fine. There will be a last name alphabetized photo directory list as well as first name glossary. It will be YOUR pref-

erence and choice to add your picture, phone number, email, or address. Maybe you just want your email listed, or may-

be you just want your phone number. It's completely up to you.

Please contact Andrea Elder at Andrea7up@gmail.com or 701-202-2870 if you already have a picture you would like to

use. I can also scan one that you already would like to use, you can email it to me, OR, I can take pictures for you after

church at the UU. I hope you will all be encouraged to engage in this project so we can all have the opportunity to en-

courage our fellowship and community we have here at the UU.

—Andrea Elder

CAMP UNISTAR Summer 2016

registration is open!

Summer 2016

Remaining Available Weeks:

June 11 - 18 Work Week

Aug 20 - 27 Spring Forest Qigong

Aug 27 - Sep 3 Art & Asanas

Be sure to get your registration in soon!

More information and registration forms are available on

the UniStar website: www.CampUniStar.org

Photo from http://www.campunistar.org/

Summer Youth Programs This summer, the UU College of Social Justice is hosting several transformative programs for high school-aged youth. Answer the call for justice! (click on hyperlinked titles for more information)

Activate New Orleans: Racial Justice & Beloved Community —This program will run from Saturday, July 30 to Sunday, Au-

gust 7, 2016.

Activate Boston: Climate Justice—This program will run from Saturday, July 9 to Sunday, July 17, 2016.

Activate Tucson: Immigration Justice —This program will run from Saturday, July 23 to Sunday, July 31, 2016.

Andrea Elder with daughter, Hope

Photo: Ann Knudson, Dec. 2015

Vision Statement

We will be a vibrant, caring, spiritual community

for all who seek an inspirational and

religious home.

Mission Statement

We are a fellowship of free minds, welcoming

all, a beacon of enlightenment and sanctuary,

and offering a call to build a better self,

community and world.

Religious Education Mission Statement

The Bismarck-Mandan Unitarian Universalist

Fellowship seeks to provide a path for spiritual

inquiry for people of all ages.

Welcoming Congregation

We are a Unitarian Universalist Welcoming

Congregation that seeks to be a spiritual home

for people of free faith regardless of race, color,

gender, affectional or sexual orientation, age,

national origin, socioeconomic status,

physical or mental ability.

2016 Board of Trustees and Staff

President, Stephen Crane scrane@bis.midco.net

Vice President, Molly Goebel brooks.molly@gmail.com

Secretary, Christine Kujawa chriskuj@gmail.com

Treasurer, Lisa Omlid omlid.lisa@gmail.com

Trustee, Paul Markel paulmarkel68@gmail.com

Minister Karen Van Fossan

E-mail: minister@bismanuu.org

Office Hours: By appointment ; regular hours pending

Office Administrator/Communications Coordinator Tamera Markel

Church phone: 701-223-6788 Cell phone/text: 701-527-8899

E-mail: office@bismanuu.org

Bismarck Mandan UU Fellowship & Church

Check out our Website!

www.bismanuu.org

Mailing address:

P.O. Box 297

818 East Divide Avenue

Bismarck, ND 58502-0297

We are on Facebook!

NEW CHURCH OFFICE HOURS

Monday, Wednesday, Friday

8:00am—12:00 pm

It is ALWAYS a good idea to call first before stopping by:

701.223.6788 or cell/text 701.527.8899.

Very Useful Links Unitarian Universalist Association

www.uua.org

Mid America Region

http://midamericauua.org/

Quest for Meaning

(Church of the Larger Fellowship Young Adult Forum—VERY

cool!)

www.questformeaning.org

Openly Secular

http://openlysecular.org

E-mail: minister@bismanuu.org

Office Hours: By appointment; regular hours pending

Children’s Religious Education

Read about our Children’s RE programs on our website. We

have a dynamite group of RE teachers and volunteers.

Pre-K & Kindergarten: Chalice Children

Elementary: Faithful Journeys

Middle School: Riddle and Mystery

High School: UU Youth Social Justice Project: Sock Drive for

Migrants (ended February 29, 2016)

Our Children’s RE curricula is from Tapestry of Faith. It is

designed to nurture Unitarian Universalist identity, spiritual

growth, a transforming faith, and vital communities of justice

and love.

Newsletter: Tamera Markel

If you have newsletter items or ideas, please e-mail them

to office@bismanuu.org.