Prairie UU Society, 2010 Whenona Drive, Madison WI 53711–4843 (608) 271-8218 admin@uuprairie.com Located off the south frontage road (West Beltline Hwy Rd.) near the Seminole Hwy exit. PRAIRIE FIRE BULLETIN "As the prairie stretches out until it becomes one with the sky, let us reach out to touch and be one with the natural world and with one another." January 6, 2009 In this issue: -calendar -programs Calendar Saturday, January 10, 2009 9:00 am - WOW meets at the home of Barb Park. Sunday, January 11, 2009 9:00 am - Choir rehearsal. 10:00 am - service - "Journey to Selma," presented by Rev. Darrel Richey of James Reeb Unitarian Universalist Congregation. 11:45 am - Prairie Board meeting. Potluck lunch at 11:45, meeting begins at noon. 12:15 pm - First Society will be holding a discussion on the UUA 2009 Statement of Conscience on Peacemaking, in the Landmark Auditorium. Thursday, January 15, 2009 Prairie Fire article deadline today (calendar, program items, and articles.) Sunday, January 18, 2009 9:00 am - Choir rehearsal. 9:00 am - RE committee meets. 10:00 am - service - "Coincidence and Ambiguity," presented by Rev. Ralph Tyksinski. 11:45 am - Prairie Book Club meets to discus Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking by Malcolm Gladwell. 2:00 pm - Humanist Union outing to see Blasphemy: an Unholy Trinity of Musicals at the Bartell Theater. Contact Bob Park for more information. Wednesday, January 21, 2009 7:00 pm - Program Committee meets at Prairie. Thursday, January 22, 2009 7:00 pm - Movie group meets to view "Ride the High Country." Bring snacks to share. Sunday, January 25, 2009 9:00 am Choir Rehearsal 10:00 am - Service - "The Pain of War, the Joy of Peace," presented by Pat Watkins. 11:45 am - Parish Meeting. 12:00 noon - All-society potluck lunch. Tuesday, January 27, 2009 2:00 pm - Prairie Elders meet at Oakwood. Topic TBA. Announcement: We will have a brief Parish Meeting at 11:45 am, Sunday, January 25, 2009. The only agenda item to discuss and then vote on is the UUA Statement of Conscience on peacemaking. The draft is available online at http://www.uua.org/socialjustice/issuesprocess/currentissues/peacemaking/121606.shtml and is also posted at the back of the church. Upcoming Programs Sunday, January 11, 2009 "Journey to Selma," presented by Rev. Darrel Richey of James Reeb Unitarian Universalist Congregation. Rev. Richey will share his understanding of the work of Social Justice in our UU congregations, shaped, in part, by the transformational journey that he took to Selma, Alabama, the site where on March 9, 1965, UU minister, James Reeb, was brutally beaten by a mob of white men. James Reeb died two days later, March 11, 1965. Rev. Richey explains: "A lot of what I call Social Action, is actions, that though well intended, are done in ways that allow the 'doer' to remain in their comfort zone, and avoid personal transformation, while 'reaching out,' at a good arms reach, to help some 'other.' What are the sacrifices and opportunities for personal transformation that result when we engage ourselves in authentic Social Justice actions?" Sunday, January 18, 2009 "Coincidence and Ambiguity," presented by Rev. Ralph Tyksinski. On this day we observe the birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr., (born Jan. 15, 1929) and in anticipation, the Inauguration of Barack Obama as President. I will be exploring some coincidences and ambiguities that their lives shared and suggest. Both men received their graduate education in Boston. Both men walked the streets of Chicago and experienced first hand the insults of racist temperaments. Both men share a comfort level with a discourse that finds deep meaning in religious terms like Hope, Faith, and Sacrifice. Sunday, January 25, 2009 "The Pain of War, the Joy of Peace," presented by Pat Watkins. A literary and musical service, with much congregational participation, consisting of readings, songs and quotations about war and the emotions and pain it engenders, and also the hope for peace. This service will then segue into the congregational vote on the UUA's Draft Statement of Conscience on Peacemaking. Input Deadlines: Calendar items and program descriptions are due on the 1st and 15th of each month. Feature articles for the full Prairie Fire are due on the 15th of each month. Please send to Kate Liu at admin@uuprairie.org or call 271-8218. The full featured Prairie Fire, including calendar items, programs, and articles, is published on the 21st of every month.The Prairie Fire Bulletin is a calendar- only newsletter that is published on the 6th of every month. Both are published by Prairie Unitarian Universalist Society of Madison, WI. View past issues at www.uuprairie.org Contact Us: Minister Rev. Ralph Tyksinski minister@uuprairie.org 873-6041 Youth Coordinator Rebecca Malke-Eliganti youthcoordinator@uuprairie.org 695-3435 Editor/Administrator Kate Liu admin@uuprairie.org 271-8218 President Rachel Long 608-328-4899 Calendar Upcoming Programs Input Deadlines: Calendar items and program descriptions are due on the 1st and 15th of each month. Feature articles for the full Prairie Fire are due on the 15th of each month. Please send to Kate Liu at admin@uuprairie.org or call 271-8218. Prairie UU Society 2010 Whenona Dr. Madison, WI 53711 608-271-8218