Joe Walsh

Suzanne Matlock and USG RE Youth produced this mural of Civil Rights leader Bayard Rustin

I hope you’ll tune in and choose to get involved.

I have taught the 7^th & 8^th grade kids religious education for quite a few years now.  The course used to be called “About Your Sexuality.”  Now it’s called “OWL” which stands for “Our Whole Lives.”  OWL isn’t nearly as cool of a name.  People who are new to Unitarian Universalism might wonder when they hear us talk about the OWL class as religious education.  “What are they teaching these kids,” they might ask, “ornithology?  Perhaps Bird Watching is a new spiritual practice that the kids are being schooled in.” 

The course is called “Our Whole Lives” because we are all sexual beings from birth to death.  Even babies, middle-aged people, old people, and disabled people have sensual thoughts and feelings and engage in intimate activities alone or with others.  The OWL curriculum was developed by the Unitarian Universal Association as an age-appropriate program.  There are different segments that can be taught to children as they progress through the school-age years.  However, the 7^th and 8^th graders receive a comprehensive program of sexuality education, the “full Monty” so to speak. 

The OWL curriculum is not just a course in “plumbing.”  We don’t just teach the anatomy and mechanics of sex.  We talk about intimacy in the context of respect, caring, self-disclosure, and trust.  Our discussion of sexual health and reproduction includes factual information; it also includes an exploration of feelings and attitudes.  

We discuss issues in frank and open discussions.  How do you decide whether or not to have sexual intercourse?  What is the best form of birth control and disease protection?  How do couples discuss these issues?  What if what is right for me is not right for my partner?  How do the opinions and ideas of boys and girls differ and how are they alike?  We also talk with people who are gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender.  We practice a process for dealing with peer pressure and making wise decisions.  And we use these activities and discussions to show young teens that they are not ready for adult sexual activities until they have mastered the ability to communicate and act in responsible adult ways with a potential sexual partner.

In our church, the OWL course is paired with another course called Coming of Age.  The two courses together are a right of passage as our young people transition from childhood to adulthood.  In Coming of Age, the kids explore issues of faith and spiritual beliefs.  It culminates with each young person’s presentation of his/her “credo” or statement of beliefs.  Completion of both courses, we believe, is a “coming of age” process akin to the Bar- or Bat-mitzvah of Judaism or Confirmation in Christian faiths.  I believe there is no better way to help our kids develop into mature responsible adults than by helping them explore spiritual beliefs and responsible decision making about sexual issues.

Andrea Barsevick
Member, Unitarian Society of Germantown 

I’ve signed up for adult RE classes and I did a short stint in a small group ministry when the concept was first launched. And, of course, the many musical events — such as Spring concerts, two Christmas services yearly, special event music like Carmina Burana with instrumentalists, not mention the choir’s participation in memorial services and the JP district’s grand music service hosted right here at USG that brought UU’s from other churches in the city and state.

Let me not forget the yearly MLK day of service and making P& J sandwiches for shelter bag lunches, or cleaning up a park in Nicetown and this year’s organizing of Linglebach’s school library. Hard work is always mixed with good food and fun. There’s the end of the year choir picnics and this year’s first “Altos Night Out’ while watching then Senator Obama at teh DNC after he won the nomination as the Democratic candidate for president. Then there were not one, but two, trips to Europe singing glorious music in Austria and then France. The cathedrals were magnificent and a little challenging due to ther cavernous sizes which resulted in unexpected sound delays, but we wowed our audiences with gospel and Americana music. Singing at the Normandy D-Day Beach Cemetery, I was proud to be both a UU and an American.

I co-sponsored a mid-life women’s workshop, with my friend Helene Tucker, to explore health, spirituality, and financial issues facing women in their mid-life journeys. I am also deeply appreciative of the “Share the Plate” Sundays and the generous donation given to my adopted grassroots organization in Kenya. KMET is a strong advocate for women’s reproductive health issues and rights. This organization works in a country with few resources and minimal governmental support. I was so proud to give them ‘non-grant’ monies to use as they need without restrictions or regulations. Asantee Sana.

This list could go on and on, this litany of USG and me. I’ve realized that my life is intricately involved with this church. My church, My choir, My friends. I have committed significant time and energy here, receiving support, kindness, laughs and hugs, thoughtful conversation, insightful musings, joyous singing and a general sense of belonging. I have community here, a place to develop my beliefs, act on my values and goals, and share kindness and caring.

People spend their time and money on what is of value to them. I have found value here with you. So I’ve decided to increase my pledge to give more back to USG, to help sustain this church during these economically challenging times. If you’ve been coming to USG, ask yourself: What do I get out of being involved in this diverse, liberal church? And then ask what that is worth to you. If you are a new visitor, keep coming back; it just gets better. I’ve taken stock and I will give more generously to this wonderful church that so nourishes my soul. Thank you, USG.

A few years ago, I read in some cooking magazine about a couple who hosted “soup nights” at their home.  I don’t remember how often they had them, but they were a regular event; people could just drop in and have a bowl of soup and homemade bread.  They would stop by before going to other events, come afterward, or just stay for the evening.  Individuals, couples, or families would attend.  This started me thinking about how January is a slow month after the holiday rush.  Most people are tired, often cold, and sometimes lonely.  Wouldn’t it be nice to have Friday Night Soup Nights during the month of January.  
 
The USG Church Auction is always looking for events to auction off.  So my husband Rudy and I auctioned our soup nights every Friday in January.  People could come to one or all of them.  There would be a changing menu of soups and people.  Well, that was a several years ago, and we have been hosting soup nights every January since then.  We have a whole repertoire of soups that we rotate and we’re always discovering new recipes.  We always serve at least one vegetarian soup; and there are always 3-4 pots of different soups available to choose from (something for everyone and some people sample everthing).  Rudy often makes bread in the bread maker or we buy several varieties of fresh bakery bread.  This event has become like the Bible story of the loaves and fishes.  Somebody will turn up with an appetizer; another person will bring a salad or dessert (even though we try to impress upon people that there is no obligation to bring anything).  There’s always enough food even though we may be licking the pots by the end of the evening.  
 
Soup nights are a good way for people in our church community to break bread and push away the mid-winter blues for a few hours.  We’ve had some great laughs about the shades in our dining room that open from the top or the bottom (picture Kathy Bonanno demonstrating the shades just like Vanna White).  We have also shared a poignant moment with a young couple who showed off their tiny new daughter.  We have shared sadness over losses and medical diagnoses.  We have also commiserated or rejoiced over political events such as elections and inaugurations.  But beyond food and fun, Friday Night Soup Nights help to build our church community by bringing people together who might never talk to one another before church or in coffee hour.  Soup nights provide an informal setting where people can really talk or just be with other people when they don’t want to be alone.  By the time this is posted, soup nights will probably be over for 2009.  I hope you will consider signing up for them next year…

Andrea Barsevick
Member, Unitarian Society of Germantown 

Several mornings a week, I swim laps at a pool near my home. Sometimes, to pass the time, without losing count, I recall one memory from the year of my life that represents the number of the lap I am swimming.  But when I get to 60, I usually start thinking about retirement, and how nice it would be to spend my days walking the Wissahickon, reading books, learning to Tango – as opposed to working 12-hour days as a nurse on a busy labor and delivery unit at Pennsylvania Hospital.

But the truth is, I’m not so anxious to reach retirement.  The years are sort of like my lap count – they’re moving fast enough.  I don’t want to spend the rest of my life wishing any particular segment to be over.  I want to be awake, aware, and appreciative of the day, for, at 60, I get it now:  days end.  The trick, I am learning, is to get report on my patient in the morning, and then pause briefly before opening the door – with gratitude for life, for work that matters, and for whatever I am about to receive.

May we be reminded not to wait, lest we miss the moments, the fragments, the intimations of love, hope and joy, here, now, in our ordinary days.

Debbie Ward
Member, Unitarian Society of Germantown