All Souls UU Church of Bellville, OH http://allsoulsohio.org Fri, 02 Apr 2010 03:45:47 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 Flower Communion on April 4th http://allsoulsohio.org/2010/04/flower-communion-on-april-4th/ http://allsoulsohio.org/2010/04/flower-communion-on-april-4th/#comments Fri, 02 Apr 2010 03:45:47 +0000 admin http://allsoulsohio.org/?p=90 This coming Sunday, April 4th, we will celebrate the Flower Communion, our unique Unitarian Universalist ritual for celebrating the diversity and beauty of our community. Each of us is asked to bring a flower to church and place it into a common container for the “communion” ritual. Like all rituals, it has a history . . . → Read More: Flower Communion on April 4th]]> This coming Sunday, April 4th, we will celebrate the Flower Communion, our unique Unitarian Universalist ritual for celebrating the diversity and beauty of our community. Each of us is asked to bring a flower to church and place it into a common container for the “communion” ritual. Like all rituals, it has a history that gives it special meaning. It began in 1923 with Rev. Norbert Capek (CHAPEK) who founded the Unitarian Church in Czechoslovakia. His congregation, much like ours, came from many different backgrounds and beliefs so he explained that the flowers symbolized the members, each unique and individual, yet gathered together in community, accepting each other despite their differences.

Eventually, when the Nazis took over his country, Rev. Capek was sent to the concentration camp at Dachau where he was killed to silence his message of the inherent worth and dignity of each individual. Yet, through this ritual he lives on, reminding us what it means to live in community. So, as we take part in our Flower Communion, may we be conscious of our commitment to diversity, our willingness to set aside differences, and to revel in the beauty of our human family despite the very real challenges we face.

The reality of life is that not one of us is exactly like anyone else; no two of anything are exactly alike. That’s what makes the world work, and like the world around us, we Unitarian Universalists also thrive on diversity, even when our differences make us uncomfortable. We are a community of shared hopes and joys, of burdens and sorrows. The flowers we use in the ritual symbolize that community. The flowers remind us that in spite of all the sorrow in our world, beauty and friendship also exist. May the flowers be for us a sign of the glory and variety to which we aspire, however difficult it may seem. 

By exchanging these flowers, we show our willingness to walk together in our search for truth, setting aside attitudes and actions that work to divide rather than unite us. Each person takes home a flower brought by someone else, thus symbolizing our shared celebration in community.

So, before you leave church on Sunday, please remember to take with you one of these flowers, a different one than the flower you brought. Take a flower as a symbol of your participation in the community of this church, of your participation in the community of human kind, of your participation in the community of all living things. If, by chance, you didn’t bring a flower, take one anyway. Take a flower as a symbol that beauty and grace and joy and love are not matters of reciprocity. In this world we cannot earn or deserve that which is most important. It comes to us as a gift.

Let us always remember that our faith has the potential to beautify and transform our world. Let us never fear to spread its seeds among all that we meet, despite differences of religion, nationality, politics or social status. Strengthened by the power of love, may we ourselves blossom into the people that we were meant to be and, in so doing, create the world we want for our children and grandchildren.

We all share this one small planet; let us make of it a garden.

Shalom, Blessed Be, Aloha and Amen.

]]> http://allsoulsohio.org/2010/04/flower-communion-on-april-4th/feed/ 0 Spring Meditation http://allsoulsohio.org/2010/04/spring-meditation/ http://allsoulsohio.org/2010/04/spring-meditation/#comments Fri, 02 Apr 2010 03:22:52 +0000 admin http://allsoulsohio.org/2010/04/spring-meditation/ As the snows of winter appear to be finally giving way to the inevitable spring, my mind turns to thoughts of the seeds that have lain dormant for the past few months, waiting only for the warmth of the sun to bring them to life and growth. Beneath the seemingly barren ice and snow . . . → Read More: Spring Meditation]]> As the snows of winter appear to be finally giving way to the inevitable spring, my mind turns to thoughts of the seeds that have lain dormant for the past few months, waiting only for the warmth of the sun to bring them to life and growth. Beneath the seemingly barren ice and snow that surrounded us for so long, the flowers of spring are waiting to blossom when the time is right, their being dependent on not themselves alone, but on the cycle of life that surrounds them. In like manner, we find ourselves often buried beneath the icy indifference of a world at war with itself and a society intoxicated by the sense of “I” at the expense of the “We.”

“No man is an island,” wrote John Donne. And it’s clear to even the most novice of gardeners that a single daffodil does not a garden make. Only when we come together in all our glorious diversity of thought, opinion and experience do we bring forth any semblance of the beautiful potential that lies within our collective lives. Only in community can we truly display all the wondrous gifts that each of us brings to the altar of humanity.

Our UU Principles lay the foundation for the ways in which we, as Unitarian Universalists relate not only to one another, but to the world around us. They are far more than a list of nice sounding phrases that we sometimes recite during worship services. They, in fact, serve as a statement of who we, as individual Unitarian Universalists, aspire to be in order to live out our collective vision of the “Beloved Community.” On deeper reflection, we find that the Principles, taken seriously, provide a major “plumb line” by which to measure ourselves on a daily basis.

I affirm and promote the inherent worth and dignity of every person.
Is there any person whom I have disrespected? Who have I failed to forgive or acceptance forgiveness from? Is there anyone whom I have treated with less than the dignity and respect that I would hope to be treated?

I affirm and promote justice, equity, and compassion in human relations.
Is there any person whom I have treated unfairly? Have I taken the time to be compassionate with every person I have encountered? Have I made an effort to broaden my concerns to those who may not be among those whom I consider my own family and friends… especially among those with whom I disagree?

I affirm and promote acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth in our congregations.
Have I compassionately offered others the opportunity for growth, and have I truly accepted people, even those who are not like me and those who do not fit my idea of “okay”? Have I shown disrespect toward anyone else’s religious beliefs?

I affirm and promote a free and responsible search for truth and meaning.
Is my life a reflection of a search for truth and meaning, or am I stuck in the “getting and having” place which deadens people? Can I move a little further from “getting and having” and a little closer to truth and meaning today? How will I do that today?

I affirm and promote the right of conscience and the use of the democratic process within our congregations and in society at large.
Have I listened to others, and tried to think the way they think, see their point of view? Have I encouraged consensus and connections so that democracy is an everyday fact of life, or have I tried to stack the deck in my own favor? Have I allowed the “tyranny of the majority” to silence anyone?

I affirm and promote the goal of world community with peace, liberty, and justice for all.
What have I done today to promote peace, understanding, and freedom throughout the world, and in my own corner of the world? Have I done anything to loosen the bonds of oppression in the lives of those “others” who have not shared in my own privilege? 

I affirm and promote respect for the interdependent web of existence of which we are a part.
How have I reduced the negative impact of my living on this planet? What could be done to restore the balance of nature and to make the world that our children will inherit better than the one I have received?

May we in the privacy of our own hearts meditate upon these words of our principles so that we might live them more fully and thus allow the sunshine of our own lives to brighten the way for those around us and enable them to blossom into the people we would have them to be. Only then will the spring time come for all of us.

Aloha,


John

]]> http://allsoulsohio.org/2010/04/spring-meditation/feed/ 0 As winter wanes… http://allsoulsohio.org/2010/03/as-winter-wanes/ http://allsoulsohio.org/2010/03/as-winter-wanes/#comments Sat, 06 Mar 2010 03:19:12 +0000 admin http://allsoulsohio.org/?p=88 As the snows of winter appear to be finally giving way to the inevitable spring, my mind turns to thoughts of the seeds that have lain dormant for the past few months, waiting only for the warmth of the sun to bring them to life and growth. Beneath the seemingly barren ice and snow . . . → Read More: As winter wanes…]]> As the snows of winter appear to be finally giving way to the inevitable spring, my mind turns to thoughts of the seeds that have lain dormant for the past few months, waiting only for the warmth of the sun to bring them to life and growth. Beneath the seemingly barren ice and snow that surrounds us, the flowers of spring are waiting to blossom when the time is right, their being dependent on not themselves alone, but on the cycle of life that surrounds them. In like manner, we find ourselves often buried beneath the icy indifference of a world at war with itself and a society intoxicated by the sense of “I” at the expense of the “We.”

“No man is an island,” wrote John Donne. And it’s clear to even the most novice of gardeners that a single daffodil does not a garden make. Only when we come together in all our glorious diversity of thought, opinion and experience do we bring forth any semblance of the beautiful potential that lies within our collective lives. Only in community can we truly display all the wondrous gifts that each of us brings to the altar of humanity.

Our UU Principles lay the foundation for the ways in which we, as Unitarian Universalists relate not only to one another, but to the world around us. They are far more than a list of nice sounding phrases that we sometimes recite during worship services. They, in fact, serve as a statement of who we, as individual Unitarian Universalists, aspire to be in order to live out our collective vision of the “Beloved Community.” On deeper reflection, we find that the Principles, taken seriously, provide a major “plumb line” by which to measure ourselves on a daily basis.

I affirm and promote the inherent worth and dignity of every person.
Is there any person whom I have disrespected? Who have I failed to forgive or acceptance forgiveness from? Is there anyone whom I have treated with less than the dignity and respect that I would hope to be treated?

I affirm and promote justice, equity, and compassion in human relations.
Is there any person whom I have treated unfairly? Have I taken the time to be compassionate with every person I have encountered? Have I made an effort to broaden my concerns to those who may not be among those whom I consider my own family and friends… especially among those with whom I disagree?

I affirm and promote acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth in our congregations.
Have I compassionately offered others the opportunity for growth, and have I truly accepted people, even those who are not like me and those who do not fit my idea of “okay”? Have I shown disrespect toward anyone else’s religious beliefs?

I affirm and promote a free and responsible search for truth and meaning.
Is my life a reflection of a search for truth and meaning, or am I stuck in the “getting and having” place which deadens people? Can I move a little further from “getting and having” and a little closer to truth and meaning today? How will I do that today?

I affirm and promote the right of conscience and the use of the democratic process within our congregations and in society at large.
Have I listened to others, and tried to think the way they think, see their point of view? Have I encouraged consensus and connections so that democracy is an everyday fact of life, or have I tried to stack the deck in my own favor? Have I allowed the “tyranny of the majority” to silence anyone?

I affirm and promote the goal of world community with peace, liberty, and justice for all. What have I done today to promote peace, understanding, and freedom throughout the world, and in my own corner of the world? Have I done anything to loosen the bonds of oppression in the lives of those “others” who have not shared in my own privilege?

I affirm and promote respect for the interdependent web of existence of which we are a part.
How have I reduced the negative impact of my living on this planet? What could be done to restore the balance of nature and to make the world that our children will inherit better than the one I have received?

May we in the privacy of our own hearts meditate upon these words of our principles so that we might live them more fully and thus allow the sunshine of our own lives to brighten the way for those around us and enable them to blossom into the people we would have them to be. Only then will the spring time come for each and every one of us.

]]> http://allsoulsohio.org/2010/03/as-winter-wanes/feed/ 0 You Are Not Alone http://allsoulsohio.org/2010/01/you-are-not-alone/ http://allsoulsohio.org/2010/01/you-are-not-alone/#comments Sat, 30 Jan 2010 23:08:06 +0000 admin http://allsoulsohio.org/2010/01/you-are-not-alone/ You Are Not Alone

 I once knew a man named Bob Keller and he was perhaps the most incredible person I’ve ever met. He was a very high powered individual, heading up his own non-profit organization and even served as the executive producer of his own cable television show. Bob wasn’t the most highly . . . → Read More: You Are Not Alone]]> You Are Not Alone

 I once knew a man named Bob Keller and he was perhaps the most incredible person I’ve ever met. He was a very high powered individual, heading up his own non-profit organization and even served as the executive producer of his own cable television show. Bob wasn’t the most highly intelligent or the luckiest person in the world. In fact, he had more problems than most of us could ever dream of dealing with. Still, Bob was able to channel his energies into living and doing those things that he was capable of doing… and he did them well! He had a wonderful knack for getting people to help out with getting things done and to feel empowered by it. He was phenomenal when it came to organizing his vast network of friends and associates to join together for getting things accomplished that none of them could have done by themselves. He knew the value and importance of having a community to help share the load in times of difficulty. He really knew what it meant to trust in others when it was impossible for him to do things for himself.

 You see, Bob was paralyzed from the neck down in an automobile accident. This was certainly a life changing situation, but not a life STOPPING one. Rather than be consigned to a back seat in life, Bob created the Disabled Americans Rights Network (DARN) and went on to produce a series of programs for cable television, show-casing people who had risen above their disabilities to achieve more than anyone would have ever thought possible. Further, he was a powerful advocate for the rights of disabled people to have access to public accommodations and to be treated fairly in society.

How was he able to do all this? He knew the strength of community. He knew the strength of relationships with people who, individually, may have had little to offer, but collectively could work miracles. He knew how to trust in and rely on other people, even in the most difficult circumstances. Bob Keller taught me much about life. He taught me that when I am tempted to feel overwhelmed and overcome by my own petty troubles, they are as nothing compared to those others may face. I, like most of us, forget this lesson from time to time. Most of our lives are nowhere near as difficult as Bob’s, but we far too often forget that and close ourselves off from our community rather than taking strength in our community, religious or otherwise.

 Still, it’s hard to keep it all in perspective. This is MY life we’re talking about, right? Well, there is not one human being that can live out their life without facing adversity. Troubles have a way of finding us, despite our best laid plans. Sometimes they are self-inflicted; other times they come through someone else; still, most often, troubles simply come through the “luck of the draw.” Health issues, money problems, marital instability, difficulties with raising children, all of these may touch our lives at some point or other.

 We cannot choose our life challenges, but we can choose how to get through it. Will we become better or bitter? That choice is up to each of us. Will we reach out to those around us and become more involved in living, or will we retreat into sadness and depression? As we go through our life tests, we can emerge stronger and wiser. We may unearth a part of ourselves that until now remained concealed deep within us. We may discover our hidden potential. That is the miracle of life.

 When going through difficulties, instead of being miserable and sinking into despair, let us ask ourselves, “What can I learn from this? Am I truly as bad off as I think I am? What can I do to make things better, if not for myself, then for someone else?” Make use of your connections with other people. Let them into your life and take part in theirs. That is what community is all about, be it a church, a club or a family. Seek out others going through difficult times and see what you can do together that might help all of you. That’s what Bob Keller did. That’s what I can do. That’s what you can do.

 We here at All Souls are here for you in whatever situation life has dealt you. Find the strength only to be found in a spiritual community that asks only that you be who you are and do what you can. In that way, we all grow, despite our limitations.

 In closing, strive to be happy despite life’s tribulations. As Rev. Wayne Arnason wrote, “Take courage friends. The way is often hard, the path is never clear, and the stakes are very high. Take courage. For deep down, there is another truth: you are not alone.”


]]> http://allsoulsohio.org/2010/01/you-are-not-alone/feed/ 1 Sunday's Service http://allsoulsohio.org/2010/01/about-our-next-service/ http://allsoulsohio.org/2010/01/about-our-next-service/#comments Sun, 17 Jan 2010 15:30:00 +0000 admin http://allsoulsohio.org/?p=53 On Sunday, June 27th at 10:30 am, our speakers will speakers will be Renie Maginniss and Ken Arthur.

Topic: “Mask, Not Mask”: A way of looking at human faces literally, symbolically, and metaphorically.

Please join us afterward for coffee and conversation. We always enjoy spending time meeting with everyone.

]]> On Sunday, June 27th at 10:30 am, our speakers will speakers will be Renie Maginniss and Ken Arthur.

Topic: “Mask, Not Mask”: A way of looking at human faces literally, symbolically, and metaphorically.

Please join us afterward for coffee and conversation. We always enjoy spending time meeting with everyone.

]]> http://allsoulsohio.org/2010/01/about-our-next-service/feed/ 0 We're Branching Out! http://allsoulsohio.org/2010/01/were-going-viral/ http://allsoulsohio.org/2010/01/were-going-viral/#comments Tue, 05 Jan 2010 01:53:26 +0000 admin http://www.allsoulsohio.org/2010/01/were-going-viral/

All Souls is now on Facebook and Twitter! We invite you to join us… somethingsomethingsomething

]]>

All Souls is now on Facebook and Twitter! We invite you to join us… somethingsomethingsomething

]]> http://allsoulsohio.org/2010/01/were-going-viral/feed/ 0 Spirituality Class http://allsoulsohio.org/2010/01/spirituality-class/ http://allsoulsohio.org/2010/01/spirituality-class/#comments Mon, 04 Jan 2010 21:48:39 +0000 admin http://www.allsoulsohio.org/2010/01/spirituality-class/ Just a reminder about the Spirituality Class… it starts on Wednesday night, January 27th at 7pm. It’s designed to explore the nature and meaning of spirituality in our lives, based on an adult RE curriculum authored by Wayne Arnason. It’s appropriate for groups of 15-18 year-old youths, college-age people, and adults, so let’s get . . . → Read More: Spirituality Class]]>

Just a reminder about the Spirituality Class… it starts on Wednesday night, January 27th at 7pm.
It’s designed to explore the nature and meaning of spirituality in our lives, based on an adult RE curriculum authored by Wayne Arnason. It’s appropriate for groups of 15-18 year-old youths, college-age people, and adults, so let’s get some of you young people involved, too!
The program requires a minimum of six participants and the ideal group size is for 8-12 participants. No books or supplies will be needed other than maybe a notebook for keeping a journal.
Here’s a breakdown of each session:
In Session One: About Your Spirituality, participants explore definitions and understanding of spirituality, experience a meal and guided imagery as spiritual experiences, and plan and experience a worship service.
In Session Two: The Ways of the Spirit, participants experience a deep relaxation activity, hear several authors’ definitions of spirituality and discuss them. They explore journal writing as a spiritual experience.
In Session Three: Body and Spirit, participants experience yoga, tai’chi, Sufi dancing, or another spiritual discipline related to the body, and discuss experiences of the spiritual.
In Session Four: Exploring Spiritual Disciplines, participants experience meditation as a spiritual discipline, explore other spiritual disciplines, and choose to practice one for a while.
In Session Five: God/dess and Prayer, participants explore concepts of God/dess and understandings of prayer, and experience prayer as a spiritual activity.
In Session Six: Obstacles and Detours, participants explore hindrances and barriers to a spiritual life and the seductions of “cheap grace.”
In Session Seven: Loss, Crisis, and Healing, participants explore the concept of personal crisis and the relationship of spirituality to experiences of loss and healing.
In Session Eight: Spirituality in Every Day Life, participants explore the role of spirituality in everyday life and learn ways to increase a sense of the spiritual in everyday life.
In Session Nine: The Common Cosmic Journey, participants explore the image of life as a spirital journey.
In Session Ten: Vision Quest and Closing, participants experience a personal and group “vision quest.” They reflect on and evaluate their experience of the program, and experience a sense of closure to the program.
In keeping with our covenant to “affirm and promote acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth… a free and responsible searth for truth and meaning,” it is hoped that participants will gain an understanding of what spirituality is and will learn that people can be spiritual beings without holding any particular set of beliefs.
Here’s hoping that this will be a good way to get started in the New Year.
John
ps – Let me know if you plan to be there so I can plan accordingly.
]]> http://allsoulsohio.org/2010/01/spirituality-class/feed/ 0 Questions http://allsoulsohio.org/2010/01/why-we-come-to-all-souls-2/ http://allsoulsohio.org/2010/01/why-we-come-to-all-souls-2/#comments Mon, 04 Jan 2010 02:39:57 +0000 admin http://www.allsoulsohio.org/2010/01/why-we-come-to-all-souls-2/ Q: Will I be welcome?

A: Yes. We mean that welcoming statement on the Home page. Over the years we have had members who were rich and poor, black and white, young and old, walking and wheeling, straight, lesbian and gay. We have had people of different heritages; Down-east Yankee, Old Virginia, Hispanic, . . . → Read More: Questions]]>

Q: Will I be welcome?

A: Yes. We mean that welcoming statement on the Home page. Over the years we have had members who were rich and poor, black and white, young and old, walking and wheeling, straight, lesbian and gay. We have had people of different heritages; Down-east Yankee, Old Virginia, Hispanic, Hmong, Huguenot, Iranian, Italian, Portuguese and English, to name a few. We’ve had doctors, lawyers, carpenters, teachers, newspaper editors, computer programmers, unemployed people, house wives, house husbands, students and retired people. We welcomed them all. We will welcome you.

Q: Will I be welcome even if I’m gay or lesbian?

A: Yes. A few of our members are one or the other. We didn’t do an exact count for the FAQ page.

Q: Will I be pressured to join or to be saved?

A: No. In fact, people sometimes think we are being aloof because we don’t approach our visitors as if we were selling used cars. We’ll welcome you at the door. We’ll send you our newsletter for a while, if you ask for it. We’d be happy to have you join us, but we won’t try to push ourselves onto you. We will never ask you to join on a first visit; we recommend you visit for a couple of months before you consider joining. We’ll never pressure you to be saved, either. We don’t believe in salvation by grace. That is where the “Universalist” part of “Unitarian-Universalists” comes in. A Universalist refers to universal salvation, always already.

Q: Does your congregation have diverse beliefs?

A: We have some mild differences of opinion. Most of us started out as Jewish, Catholic or Protestant. Some of us are still Christian or Jewish. Some of us are agnostics or atheists. Some of us believe in an earth-based spirituality. Some of us are Buddhists. We all believe in the search for truth and a deeper meaning in life. We asked our members to answer the question “What do you believe?” in 50 words or less. You can see the responses on our Beliefs page.

Q: How can an agnostic go to church?

A: By private automobile, bicycle or on foot.

Seriously, this is one of the things about us that puzzles people. Why would an agnostic (atheist, humanist…) go to church? We give people a place to explore and grow spiritually, even if they grow in different directions. We provide religious education for their children, so that they can make an informed choice when it comes time for them to choose a religion. Finally, there is the social aspect of church. Even agnostics like potlucks.

Q: What do adults wear?

A: You are welcome to come in whatever makes you comfortable. If you are a gentleman who feels most comfortable when he looks like the rest of the guys, then navy blue Dockers and a dress shirt (no tie) will put you right in the middle of the crowd. Most, not all, of our ladies wear a dress or dressy pants and a nice blouse. On any given Sunday at least six men and women will be in jeans and two men will be in a coat and tie.

Q: What do children wear?

A: Children will be fine in sneakers and jeans. They will probably spend part of the Religious Education class sitting in a circle on a carpet, and another working with paste, glue, paint or crayons. They play in our back yard, or go wading in the creek from time-to-time, too..

Q: What goes on during the worship services?

A: We usually have:

  • The call to worship
  • Announcements, Joys and Concerns are shared
  • The Prelude music
  • Opening Words, which are usually a short reading.
  • Chalice Lighting
  • An Opening Hymn.
  • A Responsive Reading and Affirmation
  • The Offertory.
  • A few moments for silent meditation/prayer/reflection
  • A Sermon or Message.
  • Another Hymn.
  • Closing Words
  • Closing Hymn
  • Postlude Music
  • Coffee and Conversation.

The services are designed around the ‘theme’ of the speaker’s topic for the week.

Q: Is Unitarian Universalism a cult?

A: No. Cults have three hallmarks. They are relatively new, they have a single, charismatic leader, and they share a single mindset. We have been around for 200 years. President John Adams and his son, President John Quincy Adams, were Unitarians. Our leader, the president of the UUA, changes every ten years. Sometimes we elect a person with charisma, sometimes we don’t. As to our mindset, some of us believe in God, some don’t. We have other differences. We are not a mainline protestant denomination, but we are far from being a cult.

]]> http://allsoulsohio.org/2010/01/why-we-come-to-all-souls-2/feed/ 0 What a Wonderful Start! http://allsoulsohio.org/2010/01/73/ http://allsoulsohio.org/2010/01/73/#comments Mon, 04 Jan 2010 02:16:16 +0000 admin http://www.allsoulsohio.org/2010/01/73/ . . . → Read More: What a Wonderful Start!]]>
The New Year got off to a terrific start this morning. Brian led the service and had a few great suggestions for ‘resolutions’… something worth seriously considering as we all begin a brand new year. Melanie had arranged an amazing presentation by free-lance photographer, writer, and Ashland University professor David FitzSimmons who projected 350 images of nature, from rivers and rainbows in Ohio to wildlife and waterfalls across the United States while Greg Bell and Scott Brown play original compositions from Bell Acoustic’s “Music for the Mandolin” The music also featured a didgeridoo and sitar. The theme of the presentation brought attention to the recently established 350 parts per million standard for acceptable levels of atmospheric CO2 and reminded everyone that we are all a part of the interconnected web of existence, sharing the beauty of a fragile world that all must take steps to nurture and protect. David’s website is www.fitzsimmonsphotography.com where those with interest can join the mailing list and be advised when a DVD of the presentation is available. I, for one, can not wait! Carol and friends added their own beautiful music to our spiritual journey this morning and the weather outside was chilly (to say the least) but there was a warmth that was palpable inside and much good sharing before, during and after the service. Many familiar faces were present along with a few new faces and ‘a grand time was had by all’. Let’s see if we can keep this rolling as the year unfolds.
After discussion at the previous board meeting we are going to try something new for the monthly board meetings. As we are gather on Sunday for church, let us try to have our monthly meetings on that day as well. This will combine uses, eliminate the need to heat the building on a separate day, save travel and fuel on another day and also reduce the need to use energy to clean the building after another day of use. These steps can lessen our impact on the environment and hopefully help us reduce costs. I know that I will be happy to help with any car-pooling that might be needed due to this change. One further benefit of this combined usage is that those members of our church family that wish to attend the meetings will now be able to do so without making special plans for a trip to church later in the month. The previous meetings were on the fourth Tuesday of the month, so we will begin by rolling back to the fourth Sunday of the month. That will make January 24 the date for the next meeting. We have plenty of time so I would appreciate any and all input regarding whether we should meet at 9:00 am before the service or at 12:30 after the service. All board members and officers please let me know your feelings and input from our church family is desired as well. John’s spirituality class and the Coffee House have also been combined into a one evening schedule along these lines, so explore your spirituality and then enjoy some wonderful entertainment as a treat during the week.
I’ve already rambled a bit long, and as I am NOT an accomplished typist this has taken me close to my bedtime (I’m not as young as I once was). Let me close (hurrah, they say) by again wishing all a wondrous New Year as we continue our shared journey toward our own individual truths and growth. I wish you all Peace,
Doug
]]> http://allsoulsohio.org/2010/01/73/feed/ 0 The Organ http://allsoulsohio.org/2010/01/the-organ/ http://allsoulsohio.org/2010/01/the-organ/#comments Mon, 04 Jan 2010 01:58:20 +0000 admin http://www.allsoulsohio.org/2010/01/the-organ/

Our historic pipe organ was built in 1873 for a Pennsylvania church by the A. B. Felgemaker Organ Company in Erie, Pennsylvania. It was purchased and shipped via Lake Erie to Port Clinton and then by wagon to Bellville in 1910. Having served the congregation for many years, the time had come for . . . → Read More: The Organ]]>

Our historic pipe organ was built in 1873 for a Pennsylvania church by the A. B. Felgemaker Organ Company in Erie, Pennsylvania. It was purchased and shipped via Lake Erie to Port Clinton and then by wagon to Bellville in 1910. Having served the congregation for many years, the time had come for the instrument to have a complete renovation. After several years in setting aside monies from rummage sales, concerts, memorial gifts, and a pledge drive in November, 2001, the $30,000 was raised to complete the project. The James Leek Organ Company in Oberlin, Ohio, was contracted for the restoration. Work on the organ began in January, 2001. The process involved replacing all worn leather components, thoroughly cleaning the organ, and restoring the hand pump mechanism which had not worked since 1935 when the electric blower was added. Joyce Fenton, a church member, carefully repainted the highly decorated front pipes. By the first Sunday of June 2002, the organ was fully reassembled and again able to be played.

The organ has a complement of 396 pipes, included in the following manuals:

  • Open Diapason 8′
  • Melodia 8′
  • Octave 4′
  • FLute D’Amour 4′
  • Fifteenth 2′
  • Dourdon 16′
  • Manual to Pedal Coupler
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