Partner Church Blog

January 20, 2012

Planting the seed:
Village caretaker program started in Szentgerice spreads throughout Romania

One of the things we wrestle with in the Partner Church Circle is how being a partner is fundamentally different -- requiring a deeper commitment and mindset -- than that of a funder alone. Sharon Van Duizend often uses phrases such as a shared relationship, or planting a seed, or, simply, friendship.

A recent note (below) from Rev. Sandor Balazs of the Unitarian Church of Szentgerice, describes one way UUCF's partnership efforts were successful in planting a seed that is now making a difference not just for Szentgerice but for villages throughout Romania, through the development of a rural network of social workers.

We never could have imagined how UUCF's initial support could have grown into such a beautiful result!

You were leaders in UUCF's efforts to help Szentgerice when the medical clinic was built and when we bought the school bus, with which we started a country-wide movement: the village caretakership.

Today, there are 30 such services operating in Romania, and three additional ones are currently being organized. Each year, we are holding one or two conferences to train village caretakers. In 2011, we had a lecture series entitled "Violence-free Conflict Resolution," in which we were seeking solutions to the Roma issue. Among the presenters were Rev. Maria Pap and Rev. Bela Botond Jakabhazi. These programs are being organized by the Society of Village Caretekers in Romania, of which I am the founding president.

Here is a brief summary of the role of the village caretaker. The village caretaker is the merciful Samaritan of the entire community: he/she helps everyone who is in need. He/she is leading the child and youth on a good path, lifts up the spiritually broken, supports the sick on the road toward recovery, enables persons nearing the end of their lives to smile back on their hardship-wrought past. Have you ever experienced the holy, peaceful message of the setting sun shining back from the storm clouds? It is this peace that the village caretaker creates in the souls of the elderly. The village caretaker represents the eyes, the heart, and the mouth of the community.

Thank you to all the supporters -- past and present -- of UUCF's Partner Church efforts.

For more:

  • European Centre report: Basic social services in rural settlements - Village and remote homestead community care-giving

Author: pm
Tags: Szentgerice, village caretaker
Translation: Emery Lazar

 

 

January 17, 2012

Partner Church Pancake Breakfast - This Sunday!

Bring your appetite 'cause we're cooking up a huge breakfast this Sunday, January 22 from 10:30 am - 1:00 pm in the Social Hall!

The pancake breakfast is an annual fundraiser for the Partner Church program. The cost is $10 per person and $30 per family. There'll be pancakes, bacon, bagels, fruit, juice, coffee, pastries and assorted egg/casserole dishes plus some Romanian and Indian dishes to try.

Author: pm
Tags: breakfast
Photo credit: Some rights reserved by sajia.hall

 

 

January 16, 2012

Message from Our Brothers and Sisters in Faith in UgandaRev. Mark Kiyema

Rev. Mark Kiyema spoke to a full and appreciative congregation at UUCF this past Saturday to talk about human rights, particularly LGBT rights, in Uganda. His talk, presented on a chilly Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday weekend, advocated for non-violence and change.

Rev. Kiyema is the minister and founder of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Kampala, Ugunda and is currently in the U.S. on a “Standing On the Side of Love” speaking tour to raise awareness of the persecution of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people in Uganda.

The Unitarian Universalist Church of Kampala is a partner church with All Souls Unitarian Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Please see the article in Examiner.com for a good summary of Rev. Kiyema's message. He described growing up in the Catholic Church, then becoming a pastor in a Christian evangelical church and then founding and leading the first Unitarian church in Ugunda. This journey was based on his trouble accepting the lack of status for women and also on his church's condemnation of gays and lesbians.

In addition to founding the Unitarian church, he also founded the New Life Children's Home for children who are HIV positive or have lost parents to AIDS and started the New Life Primary School.

At UUCF, Rev. Kiyimba noted that upon Nelson Mandela’s release from prison, the people of South Africa feared riots and retribution. Mandela, though, with just a few words, set the tone for reconciliation when he said “South Africa is a rainbow nation.” South Africa has allowed same-sex marriage since 2006.

Rev. Kiyimba concluded his remarks by quoting Steve Jobs: "Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma —which is living with the results of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of others' opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition."

For more:

 

Author: pm
Tags: Uganda

 

 

January 5, 2012

Warm greetings from Rev. Balazs Sandor to UUCF

Dear Fairfax Congregation!

In the name of the Szentgerice congregation, I wish you all blessed Christmas holidays and a happy new year. 

Thank you for the scholarships, the Christmas present to the village's elderly citizens, and also the money that you sent for my use, which will make it easier for us to buy each other presents. 

What we in Szentgerice can offer in return is our hospitality.  We would welcome you with joy and love again in 1912, in June or July, if possible. 

With our gratitude and love,

Sandor, his family, and the congregation


    

(Photo from the UUCF trip to visit Szentgerice, July 2011. Rev. Sandor is second from left.)

Author: pm
Tags: Szentgerice
Photo credit: John Landis
Translation: Emery Lazar

 

 

January 3, 2012

Monthly meetings and links we like

Did you know that Unitarian Universalist churches in the U.S. are partnered with UU churches in Indonesia, Nigeria, Kenya, the Phillipines, Mexico, India, Hong Kong, Transylvania and many other places around the world? Each congregation shares the same seven core principles and determines together what being in partnership means.

If you'd like to learn more about UUCF's Partner Church program, we welcome you to join us at an upcoming meeting! We get together every second Sunday in the teen center at 12:45 pm. Or feel free to contact one of the committee chairs -- Dick Van Duizend, Betsy Bicknell, Rosalie Clavez, Al Swett or Martha Ades.

Here are some info links we like:

And here are links to UUCF's partners:

 

Author: pm
Tags: links

 

 

December 1, 2011

Minister of UU church in Uganda to visit UUCF in January

We're so pleased that Rev. Mark Kiyemba, the minister of the UU Church in Kampala, Uganda, will be preaching at UUCF on Saturday, January 14 and speaking at an all-age event that evening.  Rev. Mark has been a leader in fighting legislation in Uganda that would impose the death penalty for homosexual acts as well as prison sentences for not reporting that a person is GLBT. We very much look forward to hearing Rev. Mark's perspectives, news and insights.

Although UUCF does not have a formal partner church relationship with a church in Uganda, several other U.S. congregations do and we care what is happening with our UU friends there.

We hope you'll make a point to come hear the service. There's also a rumor that the evening event will feature some East African food. =-)

Author: pm

Tags: Uganda

 

November 20, 2011

Group travel to visit UU partners overseas

Did you know there are several trips planned next year to visit UU partners overseas? The Unitarian Universalist Partner Church Council (UUPCC) is offering group trips to the Khassi Hills and "Golden Triangle" areas of India, to Transylvania and Hungary, and to the Philippines. We know of at least one couple from UUCF who is planning to go on the India trip. If you are planning to go, would you let us know? 

Author: pm

Tags: travel

 

 

November 19, 2011

An international meeting of UU women

Planning is underway for the Second International Convocation of Unitarian*Universalist Women, which will be held next year on October 4-7, 2012 in Transylvania, about 15 kilometers from UUCF's partner village of Szentgerice. The conference will be held in both English and Hungarian. Check out the website for more information!

Author: pm

Tags: Transylvania, women

 

 

November 15, 2011

YouTube videos from Puriang

We couldn't be more delighted with the flurry of news we've received recently from our partners at the Puriang Unitarian School!

Last month, the school had a special Parent's Day that featured guest speakers plus dances and songs by the students. Here are four YouTube videos featuring the student dances:

Aren't these videos great?! One of them features dancing to what sounds like an American gospel song (I'm not sure which it is) and two of them are dances to current pop songs. You might find the music familiar but the dance movements, bright outdoor setting and demeanor of the students are quite different from what you'd see in American students. YouTube makes the world seem so close but also far at the same time.

One of our contacts at Puriang is Rev. Mohrmen, who posted the videos and also wrote an article about the Parent's Day celebration. He noted that the guest speaker urged parents to make sure their children are computer literate. The speaker told the parents that "they may not be aware with terms like internet, email etc. but your kids will have to know all these things, or maybe they already know." That sounds familiar, too!

P.S. — Scholarship donations from UUCF members and friends helped create a computer lab at the school and has helped pay for Internet access.

Author: pm

Tags: Puriang, video, students, dance

 

 

November 14, 2011

A charitable trust to meet individual needs

One of the ways UUCF has assisted our partner village of Puriang is by helping with the set up of a charitable trust. The trust (called the Nangroilang Charitable Trust) was started in 2007 and is administered by the Unitarian Church of Puriang to help meet individual needs that come up in the community.

UUCF recently sent $2,000 to replenish funds in the trust. (Much of the money came from proceeds from the annual Partner Church brunch, which is held each January).

Earlier in November, the Unitarian Church of Puriang distributed a portion of the funds in $50 increments to 20 residents of Puriang at a public meeting. The recipients included mentally disabled children, elderly suffering from chronic ailments, and individuals who lost their homes to fire or storm. Please see Rev. Mohrmen's blog post for more details and photos.

The Partner Church Circle is grateful to the generous members and friends of UUCF. We are also thankful for our partners at the Unitarian Church of Puriang, who make it possible for this money to go directly to villagers who need it, regardless of religious affiliation.

  

Author: pm

Tags: Puriang, trust

 

 

November 13, 2011

Puriang teachers are key

The managing committee for the Puriang Unitarian School school met on October 1 and presented UUCF with information and a budget for how UUCF scholarship funds will be used during the 2012-13 school year.

The committee noted that the good performance of the students depends largely on the abilities of the teachers. (This must be a universal law of nature!).

Most of the funds contributed by UUCF members and friends this year will go to pay the salaries of ten of the school's teachers. Each teacher will receive about $450 a year. The salaries of the other nine teachers are paid for by the government. The UUCF scholarship funds will also be used to purchase reference books, to pay for school building repairs, and to purchase a winter gift for the teachers and students.

The committee expressed sincere gratitude to UUCF sponsors for supporting the teachers' salaries.

Author: pm

Tags: Puriang, budget

 

 

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