Retreat at the Shrine      Imagine please, waking up on a Saturday morning not because the alarm went off or as a result of a demanding child or pet, but because the day light was gently nudging you. You get up slowly, admiring the view out the lodge bedroom windows, put on comfortable clothes, and go in search of some coffee. Maybe you go for a stroll and soak in the beauty that surrounds you. Maybe you walk the labyrinth and welcome whatever surfaces within you. You’re in no hurry. No phone messages or emails to answer, no radio or TV noise to compete with the waves meeting the shore or the eagles calling out to greet the day. You sit quietly and take inventory of the many things you are grateful for. It’s an opportunity to be contemplative, to meditate. It’s a gift that you are most deserving of.     Our Fellowship will hold a retreat at the Shrine of Saint Therese on Friday, April 30 through Sunday, May 2. Friday evening and Saturday until 3 are for adults only. The lodge is accessible with 2 bedrooms and a bath down- stairs.      JUUF Chili Feed! (Adults only.) Friday night, April 30, 6 p.m. at he main lodge at the Shrine of St. Therese. Chili will be provided. Please bring something to drink and something yummy to share, i.e., salad, cornbread, chips, salsa, dessert, etc.         Reflection and Planning with Reverend Sarah - On Saturday, May 1, for four short hours - 10 to 2 - (including a break for brown-bag lunch), we will talk about and plan for JUUF’s future with professional help from Reverend Sarah. Please don’t miss this opportunity to weigh in with your two, four, or eighty cents’ worth.      Family Fun and Entertainment Saturday evening, May 1st 5 p.m. at the main lodge at the Shrine. Share a meal (Is your talent cooking?) -- then sing, dance, tell stories, recite poetry, play an instrument. Magic anyone? How about lip synching with sock puppets? Baton twirling? (Tight quarters; maybe not.) Let's get together and have some fun!     We hope that you will take advantage of this time to pamper yourself a little and connect with other members of our fellowship. A donation of $24.00 is requested for each over night adult guest.If you are just coming for food and fun, a donation of $10.00 is requested. No one will be turned away if unable to pay   Whale Coast 2010      Have you told Karragh what you can do to help with WhaleCoast? July 18-20+ are the dates. The sooner you volunteer, the sooner we all sleep better.

Register Now For GA 2010 & Other UUA Notes        Join thousands of fellow Unitarian Universalists from across the country as we gather this June 23-27 in Minneapolis, Minnesota.       Experience wonderful and uplifting worship services - morning and night - led by some of our best worship leaders, with glorious music and inspiring messages.       Participate in our democratic process. General Assembly is the way that our faith does business, bringing together the distinctive character of our individual congregations.       Choose from hundreds of dynamic, entertaining, spiritually nourishing programs and informative workshops featuring terrific speakers.       Connect with craftspeople and artisans, social action groups, professional and educational resources, theological schools, UUA organizations and staff, Beacon Press, and the UUA Bookstore in the GA Exhibit Hall.       Network with other congregation leaders, share best practices, and learn from one another. Return to your congregation reinvigorated and inspired to put your values to work.       Witness for our faith in moving and exciting ways. GA in Minneapolis coincides with the Twin Cities' Pride Festival & Parade and our Public Witness this year will be part of that event.       To learn more go to www.uua.org/ga.   Volunteer with UUSC at General Assembly. If you are planning to attend General Assembly in Minneapolis in June, UUSC wants your help! Volunteers are needed to distribute flyers, staff UUSCís booth and workshops, and help with other tasks. This is a great opportunity for you to meet UUSC staff and help other UUs learn more about our work. If you are interested, please contact Lauralyn Smith at lsmith@uusc.org You can take a UUSC experential learning trip, ìFreedom Summer: A Civil Rights Journeyî that travels to Georgia and Alabama July 10ñ17. Cost of each trip is $800 per person, which includes lodging, local transportation, and meals. For more information about UUSC's experiential learning programs, please visit the website: www.uusc.org/learn_by_doing Standing on the Side of Love Campaign Yes, campaign. There is a national campaign, and you can take a look at www.standingonthesideoflove.org You can also get involved, donate money, interface thru Facebook - lots to do.