Winter 2006 Newsletter

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From the Editor

This is an exciting time of the year. The holidays are in full swing and though they might be hectic (and too commercial), it is still a magical time where people come together and celebrate.

We are celebrating here at the OMD UUYAN as well – there are several exciting events coming up in the next few months that will bring UU young adults together. And the newsletter will be coming to you more frequently – twice as often as in previous years – but in a different format. Beginning with this newsletter, you will receive a postcard in the mail indicating that the newsletter is available for download and viewing on our website. You can download a PDF copy of the newsletter or simply read it online.

We hope that this new way of distributing the newsletter will allow the OMD UUYAN Steering Committee to save money (and trees) while at the same time allowing us to stay in touch with the young adults in the district on a more regular basis.

Of course, I am always willing to hear your opinions on the newsletter and other communication vehicles we use. Please send me your comments and questions – I like to hear what you think!

Have a great holiday season!

Liz Heltman
Newsletter Editor
jademren@usa.net

YA/CM Consultant Update

Hello! I just want to give you all an update on my work. I've spent the last few months meeting more of you, helping organize future events, and mostly helping communication happen. There are two special projects I'd like you to pay particular attention to!

The first is the upcoming Groundwork Anti-Racism Anti-Oppression training in Pittsburgh on February 9-10th. We are still pulling together details to make this happen, but I guarantee it will be well worth it. I've worked with many of the Groundwork trainers and they are unbelievably awesome, compassionate, funny, and inspiring. If you've been around UU anti-racism work before you know we continue to work on ways to help these efforts grow more useful, loving, and spiritually grounding and I truly believe that this generation of training is the best!

The second is that we are working on planning young adult events around the District Assembly in April 20-21 in Rocky River, Ohio. Unlike recent years, this is going to be like a mini-General Assembly including music, worship, and workshops--and you can make that happen! I'm looking for young adults interested in helping with worship Friday night for the whole gathering, particularly musicians. I'm looking for young adults to sit on a panel about how churches can best integrate young adults. And I'm looking for some young adults to plan some fun social activities into the weekend--maybe a coffee house, maybe a game night, what about frisbee? Email me!

Stay in touch. Email or call me to let me know how your group is doing and what you need. Really--I like to hear from all of you. And stay warm!

Ellen Carvill
Young Adult and Campus Ministry Consultant
Ohio Meadville District of the UUA
ellen@carvill.net

What's Happening in the OMD YA District and in the Larger UU YA Community

2006 Winter Conference – Cozy Con

This winter, come join your fellow young adults at Cozy Con! Put on your jammies and join us for a relaxing weekend of movies and video games! See your friends while they're home on break, and make new ones! And enjoy loads of winter comfort food! The conference will be held at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Akron, Ohio from the evening of December 29th through the morning of December 31st. Cost is $10-$20 (sliding scale) – to register, or more details, go to the events page or download the conference flyer. We can’t wait to see you there!

Be part of creating a radically inclusive, spiritually alive and justice centered community! A GROUNDWORK anti-racism training session will be held in Pittsburgh at First Unitarian Church on February 9-10, 2007. This training will be an experiential and spiritual exploration of the effects of racism and oppression on all of us and how we can dismantle racism and oppression in our congregations, young adult groups, and lives--it will be fun, it will be transformative, and it will be deeply rewarding. Our liberal religious faith calls for wholeness and justice in our life, and anti-racism transformation is at the heart of building healthy relationships, between humanity, creation and the sacred universe.

GROUNDWORK is a Unitarian Universalist youth and young adult anti-racism training program, authorized by the Young Religious Unitarian Universalists (YRUU), the Continental Unitarian Universalist Young Adult Network (C*UUYAN) and the Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations (UUA). The GROUNDWORK training and education program was created and developed in partnership with a number of community and faith-based organizations.

Cost is on a sliding scale under $40 – no one will be turned away due to lack of funds! For more information and to register, please go to the events page.

2007 Spring Conference

The 2007 Spring Conference will be held from April 27-29, 2007 at the First Unitarian Church of Cleveland in Shaker Heights, OH. More details will be forthcoming in the Spring newsletter, but make sure you save the date!

2007 District Assembly

The Ohio-Meadville District will hold its annual District Assembly on April 20-21, 2007 at the West Shore Unitarian Church in Rocky River, OH. Ellen Carvill, our YA/CM consultant, is working on several activities that will help to increase the visibility of young adults throughout the rest of the OMD. But in order to do this she needs your help! Volunteers are needed to assist with worship on the night of the 20th and also to be part of a panel to discuss how churches can be more inclusive for young adults. Please contact Ellen if you are interested in helping to bring young adult needs and voices to the forefront of the minds of the OMD!

Your Thoughts

Solstice Thought 2005

It’s darker. I light candles every night

I can. I can hold my palm

out and let a single flame brighten

its pink surface, moist with life.

The hand is a landscape of soft folds

sculpted to hold a cupful of dirt. We are old

man's bones, mud muscle, young skin

stretched across this generation's drum.

Looking out my window into the cold

white dazzle of December, my palm

trembles, lines and scars crossing,

the fire's tongue calm

as any wave on any

seas.

- by Erik A. Johnson

OMD Fall Con in Columbus

I know that a lot of times UU young adults talk about having amazing experiences at continental events like GA and Opus... but not so much at our local district events. But I just have to share that I had an amazing time at OMD fall con in Columbus.

My partner and I actually weren't sure if we should go. Like everyone, we sometimes question whether we fit in with all the cool UUs. But as soon as we got to con, people were so welcoming! Someone said hi and greeted us by name every time we turned around. My friend dragged me off to show me something he knew I would love. And everyone was so loving to our toddler (even when he woke up in the middle of the night) and did not make us feel out of place for being the ones with a child.

The more I get to know the YAs of the OMD (more and more of them, as new people bridge in), the more I'm impressed and just feel so lucky to have such wonderful people in my life. Thank you for being a huge blessing!

Alyssa, Joe & Jakey