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US 4701233 A Abstract A method for folding and sealing sheets comprises feeding a sheet forward along a path, bulging a portion of the sheet, folding said bulged portion, adhering a portion of the sheet face to face to a portion thereof trailing backward of the fold, and passing the formed fold forward. Apparatus for folding and sealing sheets comprises means for feeding a sheet, means for bulging a portion of the sheet, means for folding the bulged portion, and means for adhering a sheet portion face to face to a portion thereof trailing the fold. Apparatus for enhancing the security of information on a front side of a sheet comprises said apparatus for folding and sealing sheets, where a plurality of folds are provided and the front side of said sheet is concealed from view inside said folds, said folds being sealed along the lateral side edge portions thereof. Address information may be applied adjacent the trailing edge of said sheet, and the trailing edge portion is folded to expose the address information to view.
Claims(5) 1. A method of folding and sealing a sheet having parallel lateral edges, comprising:
(a) feeding said sheet forward along a path for folding and sealing said sheet upon itself; (b) while so feeding said sheet, buckling said sheet in a first localized area to form a first bulge; (c) while continuing to so feed said sheet, applying an adhesive within the first bulge parallel with said latertal edges; (d) forming a first fold in the first bulged portion of the sheet as the sheet is progressively advanced along said path; (e) bringing the inner surfaces of the first bulged portion rearward of the first fold into contact with each other, thereby causing said inner surfaces of said first bulge to adhere to each other; and (f) continuing the feeding of said sheet with the formed fold as the new leading edge of the sheet. 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
(a) while so feeding said sheet, buckling said sheet in a second localized area to form a second bulge; (b) while continuing to so feed said sheet, applying an adhesive within the second bulge parallel with said lateral edges; (c) forming a second fold in the second bulged portion of the sheet as the sheet is progressively advance along said path; (b) bringing the inner surfaces of the second bulged portion rearward of the second fold into contact with each other, thereby causing said inner surfaces of said second bulge to adhere to each other; and (e) continuing the feeding of said sheet with the second formed fold as the new leading edge of the sheet. 3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:
(a) while so feeding said sheet, buckling said sheet in a third localized area to form a third bulge; (b) while continuing to so feed said sheet, applying an adhesive within the third bulge parallel with said lateral edges; (c) forming a third fold in the third bulged portion of the sheet as the sheet is progressively advanced along said path; (d) bringing the inner surfaces of the third bulged portion rearward of the third fold into contact with each other, thereby causing said inner surfaces of said third bulge to adhere to each other; and (e) continuing the feeding of said sheet with the third formed fold as the new leading edge of the sheet. 4. A method according to claim 3, further comprising during the third folding step laying a trailing end portion of the sheet extending backward from said third fold into the folded portions of the sheet.
5. The method of claim 4, wherein the adhesive applying steps further comprise:
(a) before said first folding step, sensing the presence of the leasing edge of a sheet being fed at a point in said path; and (b) responding to said sensing to apply adhesive to the sheet in timed relation to the movement of the sheet along said path. Description (1) Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method and device for folding and sealing sheets, and more particularly to a method and device for enhancing the security of information applied to a front side of a sheet by folding it face to face and sealing the folds along the lateral edges of the sheet so that the information is concealed and sealed inside said folds. In a preferred embodiment, address information is applied adjacent the trailing edge of the sheet, and the last fold leaves the address information exposed but conceals and seals the other information within said folds. The present invention is designed to fold and seal one sheet of paper at a time. If the communication involves more than one sheet, each sheet or page will be folded separately. (2) Description of the Prior Art Devices for folding sheets are generally known in the prior art. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,516,655 to Schmeck, U.S. Pat. No. 3,510,122 to Gavaghan, and U.S. Pat. No. 3,416,785 to Sherman all show devices for folding sheets, which include feeding rollers for feeding a sheet, a buckle chute for receiving the sheet and causing it to buckle or bulge, and folding rollers for grasping the bulge in the nip thereof and creasing the sheet to fold it as the sheet is pulled through. A second buckle chute can be disposed after the folding rollers for receiving the folded edge of the sheet, bulging it a second time, and folding it by further rollers to form a second fold. U.S. Pat. No. 3,570,335 to Marin discloses a folding machine for paper sheets that includes a paperworking assembly for performing operations such as perforating, scoring, or slitting each folded sheet. However, these patents do not disclose the sealing of the folded sheet. The use of adhesives to bind sheets together is also generally known. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,473,425 to Baughman et al. describes applying a line of adhesive to one surface of a sheet adjacent one side edge of the sheet as the sheet is moved along a path. A plurality of sheets are moved to an assembly station where they are jogged to align the sheets of the set. Pressure is then applied to the sheets over the line of adhesive to form a booklet, but this patent does not show the application of adhesive to the inside portions of a fold on a single sheet of paper for sealing the folds face to face of said single sheet. Facsimile machines, such as the Pitney Bowes Model 8400, operate by receiving facsimile information which is reproduced onto a sheet of paper and which is then fed into a storage tray for retrieval. Other Pitney Bowes Facsimile machines are the models 8100, 8600, 8800, and 8900. Security may be a problem, because the sheet is readily available for any passerby to read. This problem may be particularly acute where the information is received in off business hours, such as messages received in the United States from Europe in the early hours of the morning. U.S. Pat. No. 4,321,703 to Schwaertzel et al. describes a transmission system for electronic transmission of in-house mail, which is said to fulfill security requirements that the transmitted documents in fact reach the properly designated recipient terminals. Yet this patent is not directed to ensuring the security of an information-bearing sheet once it has been deposited at the proper recipient terminal. In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a method is provided for folding and sealing sheets comprising feeding a sheet into and along a path for folding and sealing it, and while so feeding the sheet, bulging transversely out of the plane of the sheet a portion of the sheet trailing its leading edge, folding the bulged portion of the sheet, passing the formed fold forward in a direction opposite the direction of the formed bulge as a new leading edge, and adhering a portion of the sheet face to face to a portion thereof trailing backward of the fold. The feeding, bulging, folding, and adhering steps can be repeated to form second and third folds. In one aspect of the invention, during the third folding step, a trailing end portion of the sheet extending backward from said third fold is laid onto the folded portions of the sheet. Apparatus is also provided comprising means for carrying out the method of the present invention, said apparatus comprising means for feeding a sheet, means for bulging the sheet, means for folding the bulged portion of the sheet, and means for adhering a portion of the sheet adjacent said bulge face to face to a portion trailing said bulge. Additional such means can be spaced along the path of travel of a sheet to form further folded and sealed portions. Further in accordance with the present invention, apparatus is provided for enhancing the security of information applied to one side of a sheet emanating from an information reproduction means, the apparatus comprising means for accepting a sheet from the reproducing means, means for feeding the sheet along a path, means for bulging the sheet in a direction opposite the information side, means for applying adhesive to a portion of said sheet adjacent the formed bulge, and means for folding the sheet so that the information is concealed inside the sheet, a portion of which is adhered face to face to a portion thereof trailing the fold. Also provided is a housing for containing the feeding, bulging, adhesive applying, and folding means therein. Apparatus is also provided for printing address information adjacent the trailing edge of the sheet, and the final fold is formed in an opposite direction so that a trailing edge portion of the sheet is sealed face to back to leave the address information exposed. It is an object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for folding and sealing sheets. It is a further object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for folding and sealing sheets for use in conjunction with an information reproduction means to enhance the security of information reproduced thereby on sheets of paper. It is a further object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for folding and sealing a sheet containing confidential information and address information, whereby the confidential information is folded and sealed inside the folds and the address information is exposed on an outside panel. Further objects and advantages of the present invention can be seen from the accompanying drawings and detailed description of the preferred embodiments set forth below. FIG. 1 is a front perspective view showing the apparatus of the present invention mounted adjacent a facsimile machine; FIG. 2 is a top view of FIG. 1, showing the apparatus of the present invention in engaged and non-engaged positions with the facsimile machine; FIG. 3 is a side view with partial cutaway showing structural details of the apparatus of the present invention; FIG. 4 is a side view of the adhesive applicator system of the present invention; FIG. 5 is a timing chart for the application of adhesive; FIGS. 6, 8, and 9 show further aspects of the adhesive applying system; FIG. 7 shows the drive train for the present invention; FIGS. 10, 11, 12, and 13 are schematic diagrams describing the method of the present invention; FIGS. 14, 15, and 16 show the preferred folding pattern for the present invention; and FIGS. 17 and 18 show perspective and side views respectively of an alternative arrangement of the apparatus of the present invention with respect to a facsimile machine. The apparatus of the present invention for folding and sealing sheets is indicated generally by the numeral 10 in FIG. 1 and is shown mounted next to a tabletop facsimile machine 12, such as for example the Pitney Bowes Model 8400. Machine 12 is a well known standard facsimile machine for receiving information transmitted from a remotely located sending unit over a suitable transmission medium and reproducing said information at the receiving unit, here machine 12, by applying said information in a suitable format to a sheet of paper, which is typically either 81/2�11 inches or 81/2�14 inches in size. A sheet 24 bearing said information is then ejected from said machine 12 from an exit chute indicated as 26 in FIG. 1. The sheet 24 will be 3 inches longer than the original sheet transmitted through the machine 12. An original 81/2�11 inches document thus transmitted will be 81/2�14 inches and an 81/2�14 inches original will be 81/2�17 inches after having been folded and sealed in the machine 10. Apparatus 10 can be used in conjunction with a copier, a printer, or in general any information reproducing or sheet handling type of equipment where sheets are to be folded and sealed. In addition to operating as an integrated system with a facsimile, copier, or printer unit, apparatus 10 can also operate as a stand-alone sheet folder and sealing machine. However, because apparatus 10 is particularly useful in conjunction with a facsimile machine, the preferred embodiment herein will be described in terms of cooperation with facsimile machine 12. As seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, apparatus 10 is movably supported adjacent facsimile machine 12 on frame 14, which has a pivoting support means 16 enabling apparatus 10 to be displaced to and from an engaged and secure locked position 18 with machine 12 as shown in FIG. 2 for accepting sheets from the facsimile machine 12, which are ejected from exit chute 26. The unengaged position 20 is shown in phantom. Handle 22 facilitates displacing apparatus 10 to and from the engaged and secure locked position 18. Also provided is an adjustment (not shown) for facilitating alignment between apparatus 10 and machine 12. When engaged in position 18, apparatus 10 receives sheet 24 as it exits from machine 12. Apparatus 10 receives the sheet 24 directly from exit chute 26, and apparatus 10 is closely aligned therewith to ensure confidentiality. It is intended that the physical communication between machine 12 and apparatus 10 be so close as possibly to eliminate the opportunity to view the sheet 24 as it passes from machine 12 to apparatus 10. A shield 44 is placed between the two devices for covering the path of travel to further ensure this capability, and locking means such as key-lock device 46 is included at the junction of machine 12 with apparatus 10 so that apparatus 10 can be locked into the engaged position 18 shown in FIG. 2. Further toward the goal of achieving security, apparatus 10 comprises a housing 48 for enclosing the folding and sealing apparatus described in detail below. Apparatus 10 also has a tray 52 for receiving the folded and sealed sheets after they pass through apparatus 10. Apparatus 10 has a keylock device 54 included on the access cover 56 to restrict unauthorized access to the internal portion of apparatus 10. Information may be applied to sheet 24 by the facsimile machine 12 in any number of different formats. One particularly preferred format is shown in FIGS. 14, 15, and 16, which depicts a sheet 24 that has been folded in accordance with a preferred aspect of the present invention. Sheet 24 exits from machine 12 with the first or leading edge 60 and the last or trailing edge 45. Sheet 24 has information on a first or front side 38 thereof, this information being indicated generally by lines 40. Sheet 24 ordinarily would have no information on the back side 39. Sheet 24 has been folded into four panels 30, 32, 34, and 36 by folding the sheet three times along the three folds 31, 33, and 35. It can be seen from FIG. 14 that folds 31 and 33 are in a first direction, or toward the information side 38, while fold 35 is in the opposite direction, or away from the information side 38 and toward the back side 39. In accordance with the present invention, information 40 may be formatted to fall into two categories. The first category is for information applied to panels 30, 32, and 34, which panels are taken together to define a region 42 on sheet 24. Said information in region 42 will be covered or concealed from view when panels 30, 32, and 34 are folded in a face to face relationship as indicated by the directions of folds 31 and 33 shown in FIGS. 14 and 15. Accordingly, information on panels 30, 32, and 34 may constitute confidential information to be hidden from view inside the folds. By contrast, panel 36 and the information applied thereto will be exposed to view because of the direction of fold 35 shown in FIGS. 14, 15, and 16. In the preferred embodiment, the information on panel 36 may constitute address information identifying the intended recipient of the message or confidential information received at facsimile machine 12 from a remotely located sending unit (not shown). In accordance with the present invention, machine 12 comprises means for printing address information in a zone 43 defined by panel 36 in FIG. 14, said zone 43 or panel 36 trailing the information panels 30, 32, and 34 and being adjacent trailing edge 45. The means for printing address information on panel 36 can comprise an address printing function built into the central controller of the facsimile machine 12, such as a microprocessor. The microprocessor controls the information receiving and printing functions of machine 12. On the sending end of the facsimile system (not shown), there is provided an appropriate operator keying device to input the address through a keyboard or other operator control directly linked to the sending facsimile device. The microprocessor in the receiving unit or facsimile machine 12 is programmed to retain the desired address information, which is then printed on panel 36 adjacent the trailing end 45 of sheet 24. Accordingly, as shown in FIGS. 14, 15, and 16, the last panel 36 bears the address on the outside of the finished document when the folding pattern is such as to lay the trailing end portion or panel 36 extending backward from fold 35 onto the folded portions of sheet 24. In this way, the front side of said trailing end portion ends up outside the folds, because the last fold 35 is in a direction opposite to the direction of the previous two folds. The basic operation of apparatus 10 for achieving the results shown in FIGS. 14, 15, and 16 is best understood with reference to the schematic diagrams of FIGS. 10, 11, 12, and 13 and a description of the method of the present invention for folding and sealing a typical single sheet 24 as it progresses through apparatus 10. The structural details of the apparatus 10 will then be described further below. FIG. 10 shows sheet 24 exiting from facsimile machine 12, the machine 12 being indicated only generally by break lines. The information or front side 38 of sheet 24 faces upwardly. Sheet 24 is urged by the exit rollers of machine 12 (not shown) along a paper guide 58 in communication with exit chute 26. Sheet 24 is protected from outside view by shield 44, as shown in FIG. 1. The leading edge 60 of sheet 24 encounters lever 62 of trip switch 64 and depresses it, thereby activating apparatus 10 by energizing the feeding and folding rollers 66 through 80, the details of which are described more fully below. Trip switch 64 also activates a timing means (not shown) for measuring time periods important for synchronizing the adhesive application system, as described below. The sheet 24 is fed along a path indicated only generally by numeral 82, which path 82 is defined generally by the nips of cooperating rollers in the following order: 68 and 66, then 68 and 70, then 70 and 72, then 70 and 74, then 74 and 76, and finally 78 and 80. The sheet 24 is folded and sealed at various stations along path 82, as will be described now in detail, to achieve the result shown in FIGS. 14, 15, and 16. The leading edge 60 of sheet 24 is picked up in the nip of rollers 66 and 68 and is fed forward until edge 60 encounters paper turn around guide 84, which is a curved surface 86 disposed in the path of travel of leading edge 60 to deflect sheet 24 upward into the nip of rollers 68 and 70. Curved surface 86 is mounted on pivotable arm 88, which in turn is supported on pivot point 90. Arm 88 is connected to solenoid 92 through linkage means 94 and is displaceable to and from the engaged position shown in FIG. 10. In the engaged position, surface 86 deflects leading edge 60 into rollers 68 and 70. In a second position [shown in phantom in FIG. 10], surface 86 is pivoted upward to permit sheet 24 to continue through roller pair 66 and 68 more or less horizontally, bypass rollers 68 and 70, and pass along a bypass chute 93 into a bypass stacking tray 95. In effect, solenoid 92 can be operated by the key-lock operator to remove apparatus 10 from the output of machine 12 to permit direct exit of those sheets not requiring folding and sealing. When the surface 86 is disposed in path 82, as shown in FIG. 10, leading edge 60 is deflected upwardly and backwardly into rollers 68 and 70, and, while being so fed, enters a first buckle chute 96. Buckle chute 96, and also the second and third buckle chutes 98 and 100 to be further described below, may be of any desired or known construction for the purposes of this invention. However, for illustration purposes only, as shown in FIG. 10 buckle chute 96 comprises a pair of closely spaced parallel plates 102 and 104 having between them an adjustable stop element 106. Stop element 106 provides an abutment that stops the movement of leading edge 60 as it moves through chute 96. The stop 106 is shown in an extreme position for accommodating the 81/2�17 inch sheet. When the stop 106 is pushed to the alternate position, an 81/2�14 inch sheet is folded to the desired size. Stopping the motion of leading edge 60 when it abuts stop 106 and simultaneously continuing to feed sheet 24 causes a portion of sheet 24 backward of edge 60 to bulge transversely out of the plane of the sheet in the direction shown in FIG. 10. It is understood that any means for bulging sheet 24 could be used as well, such as for example a blast of compressed air or an extendable arm. Buckle chute 96 is disposed so that the direction of formed bulge 108 in sheet 24 is toward rollers 70 and 72, which grasp bulge 108 in the nip therebetween, crease or fold bulge 108, and pull the sheet 24 therethrough to form the first fold 31. It is further to be noted that, because bulge 108 has been formed in a direction away from the front or information side 38, any information on what is to become panels 30 and 32 will be concealed inside the fold. As bulge 108 is formed and folded, adhesive is simultaneously applied to a portion of the side of sheet 24 lying opposite the direction of the bulge 108, here the information side 38. This adhesive is applied by a mechanism described in detail below; with respect to FIG. 10, this adhesive applying means is represented only by dot 110, which is darkened to indicate its being in an operative state to apply adhesive at this point in the cycle of apparatus 10. The adhesive is preferably applied to both lateral edge portions of the side of sheet 24 bearing information and can be applied to both panels 30 and 32, as denoted by numeral 112 in FIG. 14. However, other patterns are also possible so long as the adhesive is applied to a portion of sheet 24 that is to be inside the first fold. The adhesive applying means represented by dot 110 is operated to apply adhesive at the correct time to sheet 24. Trip switch 64 senses the presence of leading edge 60 when lever 62 is depressed, and a timing means such as a clock (not shown) begins a time out period. Because sheet 24 is advanced along path 82 at a substantially uniform average speed, whether said advancement is continuous or stop and go, it is possible to time when leading edge 60 will form bulge 108. At the proper time after the leading edge 60 is sensed by switch 64, the adhesive applicator 110 spaced adjacent the roller pair 70 and 72 is moved in response to the timing means into alignment with a lateral edge portion of the side 38 of sheet 24 opposite to the direction of bulge 108. The adhesive is dispensed onto the sheet 24 as the sheet feeds along path 82 and is drawn into the rollers 70 and 72, thereby accomplishing the deposit of a thin strip of adhesive along the edge portions. However, the sheet 24 could also be subjected to periodic, or stop and go movement, and the adhesive applying means could move in and out to apply small dots of adhesive. In the preferred embodiment, at a further time after the leading edge 60 is sensed, such time being chosen to permit application of a strip of adhesive corresponding to the length of the fold to be formed, the adhesive applicator 110 is withdrawn from alignment with sheet 24 and the dispensing of adhesive ceases. As the bulged portion 108 is folded by rollers 70 and 72, the formed fold 31 is then fed forward by rollers 70 and 72 as a new leading edge 116 with the portion of the sheet 24 to which adhesive was applied at 110 sealed face to face to a portion of the sheet backward of fold 31. Consequently, any information inside said fold is concealed from view. Depending upon the length of sheet 24 and the size of the first fold, which can be adjusted by positioning stop 106, the folding and sealing operation may be complete at this point, and the folded and sealed sheet with the one fold therein can be passed on to a storage or stacking tray. However, it may be desirable to form a number of successive sealed folds in a sheet, and any number of such folds can be formed by adding further sets of buckle chutes and feeding and folding rollers along path 82. A second folding step, with accompanying adhesive applying means, is depicted in FIG. 11. Rollers 70 and 72 continue to feed sheet 24 forward, and new leading edge 116 feeds into buckle chute 98, is stopped, and forms a bulge at 118. Adhesive is applied by adhesive applicator 114, and rollers 70 and 74 grasp bulge 118, fold it into a second fold 33, and pass the second formed fold 33 forward as a next new leading edge 122. As the sheet portions with adhesive thereon pass through rollers 70 and 74, the face to face adhered portions formed by rollers 70 and 72 are sealed face to face to a further backward portion of the sheet 24. The direction of bulge 118 is chosen to be opposite to the information side 38 of sheet 24, so the second fold 33 also conceals a further portion of the information therein. FIG. 12 depicts a third and, in the preferred embodiment, the final folding and sealing step of the present method. Rollers 70 and 74 feed sheet 24 forward with a next new leading edge 122 feeding into buckle chute 100, where its forward motion is stopped. A third bulge is formed at 124, adhesive is applied at 120, and folding takes place between rollers 74 and 76. The further formed or third fold 35 is now passed forward as a further new leading edge 127, with the face to face sealed portions of the sheet 24 from previous folds adhered face to face to a further backward portion of the sheet. If the length of the three folds combined is chosen to be approximately equal to the total length of the sheet, as in the preferred embodiment, then in the third folding and sealing operation the said face to face sealed portions of the sheet from the previous two folds are adhered face to face to a trailing edge portion of the sheet. Additionally, while the third fold 35 can in accordance with the present invention be formed in the same direction as the previous two folds, if the address information as described above is applied to panel 36 adjacent the trailing edge of sheet 24 and is to remain visible after the third folding and sealing step, as depicted in FIGS. 14, 15, and 16, then the third and final fold is formed in a direction opposite to that of the previous two folds. As shown in FIG. 12, buckle chute 100 is disposed for forming a bulge 124, this time in a direction opposite to the direction of the previous two bulges, whereby the information side of sheet 24 adjacent the trailing edge of the sheet on panel 36 is exposed to the outside of said fold. After adhesive is applied at 120 and bulge 124 is folded by rollers 74 and 76, then the next formed fold is passed forward as a further new leading edge with said face to face sealed portions of the sheet adhered face to back to a trailing edge portion of the sheet, thereby leaving the address information exposed. After the folding and sealing steps have been performed as shown in FIGS. 10, 11, and 12, the folded and sealed sheet 24 is passed forward as shown in FIG. 13 along a path further defined by paper guide 126 to exit roller pair 78 and 80 for being pushed outside housing 48 into the tray 52 shown in FIG. 1. It is understood that this folding and sealing process can be carried out a theoretically unlimited number of times, although as a practical matter three such folds are preferred. Otherwise, the thickness of the folded sheet may increase to awkward and unworkable proportions as the number of folds increases. The structural details of apparatus 10 for carrying out the folding and sealing steps described above are shown in FIGS. 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, and 9. Apparatus 10 comprises a pair of parallel upstanding side plates 130 and 132, shown partially in FIG. 6, which define a frame supporting the folding and sealing components. Housing 48 shown in section in FIG. 3 further encloses and supports said components. Feet 136 and 138 support housing 48 for placement on a suitable surface, such as tabletop 140. Housing 48 can be formed of metal or other material for securing apparatus 10 against tampering. A sheet inlet chute 134 or paper guide 58 comprises a pair of guide surfaces 142 and 144 for receiving sheets from machine 12 through shield 44 from the exit rollers of machine 12 (not shown) through an opening 50 in housing 48. Shield 44 is designed for close communication with machine 12 to restrict the outside visibility of sheet 24 as it exits from machine 12. Lever 62 connected to trip switch 64 is disposed in inlet chute 134 for sensing the leading edge of a sheet as it is fed along chute 134. The roller system comprises cylindrical rollers 66, 68, 70, 72, 74, 76, 78, and 80 as described above in terms of their cooperating function with respect to FIGS. 10, 11, 12, and 13. Said rollers are mounted on their respective shafts 146, 148, 150, 152, 154, 156, 158, and 160, which shafts are supported by appropriate bearings in side plates 130 and 132 for appropriate rotating motion. The rollers are selectively placed in side to side abutting relationships in various combinations for forming nips therebetween to grip sheets for the desired folding or feeding actions. Rollers 80, 76 and 66 are spring loaded by a spring member 79 against their corresponding rotatably fixed roller 78, 74 and 68 respectively. Rollers 68, 72 and 74 are rotatably fixed in engagement with the roller 70. The drive train for said rollers is shown in FIG. 7. A 20-30 r.p.m. electric gearmotor drive 162 when activated by trip switch 64 supplies rotational kinetic energy at substantially constant angular velocity via sprocket 166 and timing chain 168 to sprocket 164 coaxially mounted on shaft 150 for turning main support roller 70. Gear 170, also coaxially mounted on shaft 150, further engages gears 172, 174, and 176 for turning rollers 68, 72, and 74 respectively. Roller 74 is in side to side abutment with roller 76 for frictionally engaging same and causing it to rotate. An O-ring driving belt 178 in combination with O-ring pulleys 179 and 181 drive roller 78. Roller 80 is frictionally engaged by roller 78. Gear 172 engages gear 180 for turning roller 66, which in turn drives bypass roller 182 through an O-ring drive belt 184 and matching pulleys 183 and 185. Flexible belt 184 also acts to convey a sheet along said belt and out bypass exit 186 in housing 48 when paper guide 84 is moved to the bypass position by pivotable arm 88 and solenoid 92, as described above. As shown in FIG. 3, shafts 146 and 148 supporting rollers 66 and 68 are placed adjacent the termination of inlet chute 134 for receiving seriatim sheets fed into chute 134 by machine 12. Guide surfaces 142 and 144 guide said sheets into the nip of rollers 66 and 68. As described above, guide surface 86 is for turning the leading edge of the sheet around and directing it into the nip of rollers 68 and 70 mounted on their respective shafts 148 and 150 adjacent and in alignment with surface 86. Shafts 148 and 150 and their respective feed rollers 68 and 70 are disposed adjacent the inlet end 188 of buckle chute 96. Stop element 106 is slidable back and forth by adjusting means 190 positioned thereon for changing the desired length of the first fold. Buckle chute 96 causes a fed sheet to bulge, as described already above. Roller 72 is mounted on shaft 152, roller 72 being in a side to side abutting relationship with roller 70. Rollers 70 and 72 are positioned adjacent and aligned with buckle chute 96 to cooperate therewith to form a first fold as each buckled sheet feeds between them; rollers 72 and 70 then feed the folded new leading edge of the paper sheet to the inlet end 192 of a second buckle chute 98. Stop element 194 likewise has adjusting means 196 to select the desired length of the second fold. Buckle chute 98 causes the fed sheet to buckle a second time, as already described above. Rollers 70 and 74 are mounted on shafts 150 and 154 positioned adjacent and aligned with buckle chute 98 to cooperate therewith to form a second fold as each buckled sheet feeds between them; rollers 70 and 74 then feed the next new leading edge to the inlet end 198 of the third buckle chute 100. Stop element 200 has adjusting means 202 to select the desired length of the third, and in the preferred embodiment, final fold. Buckle chute 100 causes the fed sheet to buckle yet a third time, as already described above. Buckle chute 100 is further aligned with rollers 70 and 74 so that the third buckle forms in an opposite direction to the other two buckles, as already described above. Rollers 74 and 76 are mounted on shafts 154 and 156 positioned adjacent and aligned with buckle chute 100 to cooperate therewith to form a third fold as each buckled sheet feeds between them; rollers 74 and 76 then feed the folded further next new leading edge forward adjacent guide surface 126 to the nip of exit rollers 78 and 80 mounted on shafts 158 and 160. Rollers 78 and 80 feed the folded sheet out through discharge opening 204 in housing 48 to tray area 52. The adhesive applying system of the present invention comprises six adhesive applicators, three for each side of the sheet. If fewer folds are contemplated, then fewer applicators could be used. Three of the applicators are indicated as the adhesive applying means 110, 114, and 120 shown in FIG. 3 mounted on pivotable arms 206, 208, and 210, respectively. FIGS. 8 and 9 show these structural features, plus the additional applying means 212, 214, and 216 mounted on pivotable arms 218, 220, and 222 respectively. As seen in FIG. 3, the adhesive, such as a liquid glue or other suitable material, is provided from reservoir 224 through tubes or lines 226, 228, 230, 232, 234, and 236 to the six applicators. The glue reservoir 224 is routinely filled by a key operator who has access to the internal portion of apparatus 10 when the exterior cover lock 54 is opened. In the preferred embodiment, the gluing system is a pressurized system having a manifold 217, which equalizes the pressure in individual lines to the respective applicators. A pad-heater 221 is used to maintain the glue in a flowable condition, and a weighted member 219 rests on top of the liquid glue reservoir 224 to provide sufficient pressure to cause the glue to flow to the applying means 110, 114, 120, 212, 214 and 216. Alternately, a parastaltic pump (not shown) may be used to provide a relatively low pressure to the manifold distribution system. And, alternatively, glue stick applicators could be used at the various application points. These glue sticks could be easily replaceable by the key machine operator, who has access to the interior of the apparatus 10. FIGS. 4, 5, 6, 8, and 9 depict the details of the adhesive applicator means. Each applicator is substantially similar to every other applicator, differing only in orientation. As best seen in FIG. 6, a dispensing tip or nozzle 121 is mounted on an arm 210 pivotably mounted on supporting member 223 for in and out movement. A spring 225 affixed at one end to post 227 and at the other to tab 229 urges arm 210 away from the paper path to an inoperative position. The tip 121 is fed by adhesive or glue tube 226, and adhesive is dispensed under slight pressure at tip 121 when valve means therein (not shown) is operated to an open position by a pressing action on button 231. As shown in FIG. 9 with respect to tip 110, the tip may form two orifices, one on either side for dispensing adhesive to both portions of the sheet on either side of the fold line. The pressing action for operating the valve means is achieved when a cam surface such as surface 233 mounted on rotatable cam 235 pushes against button 231 as cam 235 rotates about its axis during one cycle of machine operation, as described below. Also, when cam surface 233 rotates into engagement with button 231, pivotable arm 210 and likewise nozzle 121 are moved inward toward the paper path into an operative position for dispensing adhesive onto a portion of the sheet as it bulges into engagement with a roller pair. This operative position is observed in FIG. 9, where cam surface 237 is shown engaging button 238 to move pivotable arm 206 inward to dispense adhesive from nozzle 110 onto a lateral edge portion of sheet 24. When cam 235 has continued in its rotation, such that surface 237 has passed button 238, then pivotable arm 206 will return to its inoperative position, the valve means activated by pressing button 238 will shut off nozzle 110 and wait for the next sheet to pass through. It can be appreciated from a review of FIG. 3 in conjunction with FIGS. 6, 8, and 9, that the adhesive application mechanism of the present invention comprises three pairs of applicators, one pair for each buckle chute. One applicator of each pair is positioned on the right side, the other applicator on the left. The applicators are mounted on pivotable arms that move in and out in matched left-right pairs in sequence to apply adhesive to an edge portion of the sheet as it passes along the folding and sealing path. Accordingly, it is clear that the applicators must be synchronized or timed with the feeding of the sheet along the feeding and folding path. The timing of the applicators is achieved by means of two cam wheels 235 and 242, one wheel 235 for the right side and one wheel 242 for the left. Cam wheels 235 and 242 are coaxially, rotatably mounted on shafts 261 and 262. The cam wheels have raised cam surfaces spaced around the perimeter thereof for engaging the pivotable arms to move them into position for dispensing adhesive at the appropriate times. FIG. 4 shows a side view of cam wheel 242, along with the associated applicators 212, 214, and 216 mounted on pivotable arms 218, 220, and 222. Three raised cam surfaces, 244, 246, and 248, each said surface being disposed for contacting its corresponding pivotable arm, are positioned at the perimeter of cam wheel 242 and travel around shaft 262 to engage their respective pivotable arms as the cam wheel 242 rotates. Cam wheel 242 is driven by timing belt 268 and pulley 270, which in turn is driven by timing gear 264 receiving power from a mating gear 266 mounted on shaft 150. Cam wheel 242 rotates only periodically as each sheet passes through the apparatus 10 and is timed to make one complete revolution for each sheet. That is, as a sheet enters the apparatus and is sensed by trip switch 64, a time out period begins. At the appropriate time, the cam wheel 242 is released for making one complete revolution to permit cam surfaces 244, 246, and 248 to engage each and only one of the adhesive applicators in the appropriate order on each lateral end of the machine 10. At the end of this one revolution, wheel 242 is stopped until a next sheet is properly sensed. The timed release of wheel 242 is achieved by means of a spring clutch mechanism shown generally as 252 in FIG. 4. At the appropriate point in time as determined by the clock, an enabling signal is transmitted to solenoid 250 via cable 254. Solenoid 250 is enabled and retracts rod 256, which releases stop 260 to engage the spring clutch assembly to deliver rotational kinetic energy from timing gear 264, which receives power from main shaft 150. Then, after the cam wheel 242 has completed one revolution, the rod 256, which has returned to its extended position, engages stop 260 to release spring clutch 252 and stop the rotation of cam wheel 242. FIG. 5 is a timing chart for the cam mechanism showing the timing of activity of each adhesive applicator. Along the vertical axis, R1 corresponds to the first adhesive applicators 110 and 216 and to cam surface 244 on cam wheel 242; R2 corresponds to applicators 114 and 214 and to cam surface 246 on cam wheel 242; and R3 corresponds to applicators 120 and 212 and to cam surface 248 on cam wheel 242. The time t is indicated along the horizontal axis, the time t being chosen to accommodate both 14 inch and 11 inch paper. The trip switch 64 is tripped at approximately time t=0 and, after an appropriate time delay period corresponding to the speed of the sheet along the path of travel, the spring clutch is engaged or energized. The cam wheel begins to rotate and, after a further time delay, cam surface 244 moves into engagement with and activates applicator 216 for a fixed time period as indicated by numeral 294 in FIG. 5. Thereafter, in succession, surface 246 activates applicator 214 as indicated by numeral 296, and then surface 248 activates applicator 212. The length of the active cycles for each applicator pair R1, R2, and R3 as depicted in FIG. 5 is chosen in conjunction with the speed at which the sheet moves along the path 82, so that an appropriately long strip of adhesive corresponding to the panel to be sealed is deposited on a lateral edge portion of the sheet. There is an offset 221 in the applicator arms 220, 222, 206 and 208 which allows the appropriate cam surfaces 244, 246 to pass by the respective arms 220, 222, and 206 and 208, thereby limiting glue application to one bulge area per sheet in timed and predetermined sequence. Other means for activating the adhesive applying means that are well known to those of skill in the art could equally well be used. For example, the pivotable arms could be moved to and from their operative position for applying adhesive by means of appropriately placed solenoids also responsive to a timing means. While the present invention has been described in terms of the pivotable mounting arrangement of apparatus 10 onto machine 12 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, other arrangements are possible. For example, FIGS. 17 and 18 show an alternative arrangement for a facsimile machine 13 where the sheet 24 exits at the top rear of machine 13 instead of the bottom front as shown in FIG. 1. In FIGS. 17 and 18, the apparatus 11 of the present invention is modified for mounting on the top rear of machine 13 on frame 290. The sheet 24 exits from machine 13 via exit rollers 280 and 282 and enters apparatus 11 through shield 284 into roller pair 286 and 288. The apparatus 11 then functions in essentially the same manner as apparatus 10 described above, with the folded and sealed sheet exiting at 292. It is also to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and arrangement of parts specifically described or illustrated, and that within the scope of the appended claims it may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described or illustrated. Patent Citations
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SURAT: A 15-year-old boy was stabbed to death by two unidentified youths in Pandesara area on Tuesday night.
Pramod Rajbalam Das died during treatment at the New Civil Hospital on Wednesday.
Das, living in Karmayogi Society I, had gone out with his two friends on Tuesday evening. His friends were walking a little faster and Das following them slowly listening to music on his mobile. Suddenly, two youths on bike stopped him and asked him to handover his mobile. Das refused and started walking.
The youth then stabbed him to snatch the phone. Before his friends could nab the accused, the duo escaped from the location with the phone.
Das belonged to Bihar and worked as a labourer in a dyeing mill.
In another murder, body of Musir Aziz Shaikh, 25, was found from Soniya Nagar near Satyam Shivam Apartment near Sahara Darwaja on Wednesday morning. Shaikh's hands and legs were tied when the body was found. He was thrashed before death.
Shaikh used to work as labourer in Agriculture Produce Market Committee (APMC) wholesale vegetable market. On Wednesday early morning, he had gone for work and his body was recovered within few hours.
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We will nationalise the sea: EFF
Comment on this storyCape Town - The Economic Freedom Fighters would nationalise the ocean to ensure South Africans benefit from the country's natural resources, the fledgling party's Western Cape premier candidate said on Friday.
"We need to end the limited access people have to natural resources," Nazier Paulsen told the Cape Town Press Club.
"We will nationalise the ocean, the abalone, the perlemoen."
Paulsen said the EFF's aims included total gender parity, free education up to post-graduate level, minimum farm workers' wages of R5 000, and creating a provincial construction company that would provide 100 000 jobs.
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Culture and Heritage: Oral History
Australia: State of the Environment Technical Paper Series (Natural and Cultural Heritage), Series 1
Louella McCarthy, Paul Ashton, and Hamish Graham
Department of the Environment, 1997
PDF file
About the Technical Paper
This paper presents the results of a study commissioned to undertake qualitative research into the utilisation of oral history techniques in both contemporary heritage practice and in the assessment of heritage significance over the last decade. The study indicates the extent to which organisations and groups involved in oral history ranging from local amateur societies to national institutions use oral sources in heritage work. It also shows that many of those engaged in oral history projects are not fully aware of the importance of recording the relationships between people and places/sites in the natural, built or Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander environments. The paper makes a number of recommendations including: further development of the pilot questionnaire; investigation of the needs of oral historians; development of and training in methodology; and resources to support work needed to understand, protect and conserve cultural and heritage places and sites in our environment.


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7:43 am
Thu February 27, 2014
Once Again, North Korea Fires Missiles To Send Message
By Mark Memmott
"North Korea fired four projectiles believed to be short-range ballistic missiles off its southeast coast Thursday," South Korea's Yonhap News Agency reports, citing a "South Korean defense ministry official" as its source.
Reuters notes that "the firing came days after the beginning of annual joint U.S. and South Korean military exercises which the North routinely denounces as preparation for war."
The Guardian adds that "North Korea regularly carries out short-range missile tests, and has used them before to display its anger at the annual military exercises. Observers said the tests were unlikely to trigger a significant rise in military tensions."
The missiles fired Thursday are believed to have had a range of about 125 miles.
Copyright 2014 NPR. To see more, visit http://www.npr.org/.


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Archives The Hindu's coverage of Palghat Mani Iyer was extensive. Excerpts of a few articles…
Palghat Mani Aiyar thrills world audience
EDINBURGH, Sept 13, 1965: Palghat T.S. Mani Aiyar, the renowned mridangam player, established himself as a great world artist when he thrilled an international audience with his wizardry for an hour and a half here, last Wednesday.
The packed hall repeatedly applauded the Indian percussionist's performance, the second Indian item in the Edinburgh Festival.
The magic of Mani Aiyar's hands was evident from the start of the recital in which K.V. Narayanaswamy provided vocal music, Lalgudi Jayaraman violin accompaniment, and Mani Aiyar's son Rajamani second mridangam.
Proficiency in music: Palghat Mani Aiyar's plea
MADRAS, Dec 18, 1966: In his presidential address, Mr. Mani Iyer referred to the methods of learning music and said that one should be put under a teacher even before he attained 10 years. And he should never take to it with a view to acquiring wealth.
The period of training should last for 10 years at least. He should acquire a listening habit and must cultivate an ear for good music, by attending top-class performances for at least five years.
Music Academy honours Palghat Mani Aiyar
MADRAS, Jan 1, 1967: The title and insignia of Sangita Kalanidhi were to-day conferred on Sri Palghat Mani Aiyar at the Music Academy sadas. A number of musicians and musicologists felicitated Sri Mani Aiyar on the honour done to him by the Academy.
Mridangam maestro Palghat Mani Aiyar felicitated - NMN
MADRAS, Feb. 15, 1973: The mridangam maestro Palghat Mani Aiyar made his advent in the field as a boy nearly five decades ago when it was ruled by giants and stunned audiences wherever he went not only by the enormous prowess he showed but by the fight and fire he displayed in matching up to the giants. Now he is past 60 and with his dedication and artistry undiminished, can look back on a career during which he has made history both by his amazing techniques and creative musicianship which have projected the mridangam as a dynamic unit of the concert ensemble in a manner never heard of before him.
Mani Aiyar was felicitated on his Shastiabdapoorthi at an impressive function by an influential committee of leading rasikas and musicians on Tuesday at the Krishnamurthi Centre, Adyar.
Take it from me, it's the musicians' low pitch which is the culprit - NMN
MADRAS, Jan 22, 1978: With his rich experience of Carnatic concert music, Palghat Mani Aiyar, the great mridangam vidwan, in an interview, presents his frank comments on the contemporary standard of classical music.
In his opinion, Ariyakudi Ramanuja lyengar combined in him all the virtues of an ideal gayaka. He is firm in his view that the lowering of the pitch is the basic reason for the poor showing by performing vocalists.
According to him, the mike is the culprit luring classical singers away from the painstaking path into the lethargic comfort of low and lack-lustre pitches. They desperately seek the amplification "rebound" creating a false atmosphere on the concert platform in which it is difficult for clarity to survive.
Greatest of all mridangists
MADRAS, May 30, 1981: For over 50 years, Palghat T.S. Mani Aiyar, the man who had held rhythm in his fingers, remained unequalled. He had accompanied several front-rank singers, helping them embellish their performance. He had boosted the quality of several concerts. His touch on the instrument was feathery but glittering.
Shocked at the sudden demise of one of his contemporaries and close associates, Sri Semmangudi Srinivasa Aiyar said: "The world of music and particularly the science of Laya, has lost a stalwart I feel so lonely now."
During his visit to the United Kingdom Mani Aiyar stunned the audience which gave him a thunderous ovation wherever he played. Yehudi Menuhin, described him as "the greatest of all mridangists."
He started at the top and stayed there - S.Y. Krishnaswamy
Madras, June 7, 1981: Palghat Mani Aiyar, like the late Tiger Varadachariar and Veena Dhanammal, was one such artiste to whom a period of study was merely a technical preliminary for the expression of an inherent creativity. Mastery and control over an instrument is one aspect of an art. It provides the grammatical background of it.
But in the hands of a genius it recedes into the background and in fact, is taken for granted, and becomes nothing more than a medium for the display of a vast treasury of musical wealth.


text: Members of the 2013 Planning Committee pictured with Kenneth Kraegel's book, include front row from left, Ruth McInnis, Karla Bennett, Jennifer Wirthwein, Gloria Bauermeister and Dawn Kitchell. Back row: Chris Stuckenschneider, Jane Haberberger, Ann Loesing, Valerie Jankowski, Judy Straatmann and Penny Heisel. Not pictured: Pat Frank, Ann Joyce and Danielle Snider.


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ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) – One of the tickets sold in Pennsylvania for the Powerball game Saturday evening matched all six numbers drawn, which were: 13-19-23-33-57
Powerball: 28. The player matching all five numbers and the Powerball won the $127 million jackpot. The prize goes to an estimated $40 million for Wednesday. Tickets that match the first five numbers, but miss the Powerball, win $1 million each, and there were three of those. They were sold in: Florida(1) and Michigan(2). There was one Power Play Match 5 winner in Iowa(1). Online: Multi-State Lottery Association: http://www.powerball.com/
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Top 40 UK news websites list puts BBC top
The Mail Online comes a close second, with the Guardian website taking third place.
The Mail Online comes a close second, with the Guardian website taking third place.
by Press Gazette Published
New figures from UKOM/Nielsen suggest that the BBC is still well ahead of the Daily Mail when it comes to online news readership in the UK.
Figures compiled for Press Gazette state that the BBC news website had 11.14m online readers/viewers in May compared with 6.3m readers across the month for Mail Online in the UK.
The UKOM/Nielsen data is based on a survey of 50,000 website users across the UK and tends to provide lower figures than ABC - which bases its website traffic numbers on server data revealing the number of different computers (or unique browsers) which have logged on to a site.
Read more at the Press Gazette.


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Tue, Jul 15, 14 at 17:02
Hi there! I recently purchased this plant. The individual from whom I purchased it said that it's part of the fuchsia family but that it will not produce any flowers. I want to be sure to care for it properly as it has become a new favorite of mine but I can't find any similar fuchsia plants. Thanks for your help! |
Follow-Up Postings:
- Posted by gardengal48 PNW zone 8 (My Page) on Tue, Jul 15, 14 at 17:17
Looks like a fuchsia....maybe an austromontana hybrid. And ALL fuchsias flower :-)) |
Compare with Fuchsia autumnale. It does flower. Yours has some buds far left against the white block. |
- Posted by aftermidnight Z7b V. Island B.C. (My Page) on Tue, Jul 15, 14 at 17:28
Compare to Fuchsia 'Autumnale" a fuchsia with a spreading habit grown more for its colorful foliage than it's flowers which are red and purple, rosy red sepals, purple corolla. Annette |
- Posted by MilanCairoBella (My Page) on Tue, Jul 15, 14 at 17:31
Bingo! Thanks a ton to you all! |
This post was edited by MilanCairoBella on Tue, Jul 15, 14 at 17:32
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March 24 (Bloomberg) -- U.S. Senator Mark Warner, a Virginia Democrat, talks about federal budget negotiations and prospects for an agreement. Kevin Mandia, chief executive officer of Mandiant Corp., discusses Chinese hacker attacks on the U.S. and general cybersecurity threats. Bloomberg's Robert Litan reports on U.S.-Mexican border security and prospects for an overhaul of U.S. immigration law. They speak with Peter Cook on Bloomberg Television's "Capitol Gains." (Source: Bloomberg)
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Will DRM Exterminate Spore?
Re:Hey (881 comments)
Technically, you probably have no right to play the game on WINE. What's the license say about reverse engineered systems? So in this case, DRM is doing what it's supposed to. (Though granted, it's a lame restriction and it sucks.)
Wine simply implements a win32 API in linux. This allows windows applications to make native calls via the wine API. This in no way reverse engeineers win32 applications.


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General Assembly 2000 Event 403
The 55th annual Service of the Living Tradition opened to a packed auditorium of more than 4,000 people in the Nashville Convention Center with a call to worship given by Rev. Diane Miller, director of the Department of Ministry. The music of J.S. Bach and Arthur Foote, as played by Barbara Wagner, minister of music from the Buffalo Unitarian Universalist Church, followed, as the well-loved hymn Rank by Rank, Again We Stand marked the procession of ministers, led by Rev. Ralph Mero, into the convention hall.
Mr. Howard Brown, partner of the late Rev. Fred Russell who last served the First Unitarian Universalist Church of Milford, MA, lit the chalice to the following words: "We light this chalice in memory and hope with gratitude for enduring love and service."
In "A Litany of Remembrance," Rev. Rhys Williams, minister emeritus of First and Second Church of Boston, MA, led ministers and congregants in a responsive reading giving thanks and appreciation to our ministers.
Rev. O. Eugene Pickett, chair of the Ministerial Fellowship Committee, welcomed new ministers to the Association and explained the difference between Parish, Religious Education, and Community Ministry, and that between Preliminary and Final Fellowship. In welcoming the new ministers, he offered some advice, which he found in a book of quotations by children:
"If you want a kitten, start by asking for a horse." "It's not really giving if you give away all the animal crackers without the heads and feet." "Your Grandmother will always listen to a story over and over again—no one else will." "It doesn't matter how fast you're running with the football if you're running the wrong way." "Hitting the kid with the ball may get you the ball but it won't get you anyone to play with." "If you go to all the trouble of wetting the sink, bar of soap, and the towel, you may as well wash your hands."
This year, a total of sixty-four Parish Ministers, thirteen Community Ministers and three Ministers of Religious Education received their preliminary fellowship. In addition, thirty-five Parish Ministers, ten Community Ministers and three Ministers of Religious Education received their Final Fellowship. They were welcomed into fellowship by Rev. Ellen Brandenburg, director of Ministerial Education, Rev. Diane Miller, Rev. Pickett, Rev. Gary Smith, president of the Unitarian Universalist (UU) Ministers Association, and Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) President Rev. John A. Buehrens. Certificates of appreciation were presented to the twenty-four ministers who have completed full-time ministries.
Rev. Ralph Mero, director of the UUA Office of Church Staff Finance, explained the purpose of the Living Tradition Fund, which is to provide UU ministry students and ministers with scholarships, grants and financial assistance in times of need. Some of the monies from this fund go to help ministers pay back their student loans. The total amount of loans faced by student ministers is over $3 million with an average of about $30,000. Some ministers accrue debts of $40,000-$50,000 by the time they graduate. Last year, the fund gave grants averaging $1864 to recipients. Last year's offering at the Service of the Living Tradition raised nearly $80,000, $16,500 of which were in the form of pledges written on scraps of paper or paper torn off the programs. A call was made to double last year's total, and a pledge card was included in the program. Following the service, it was announced that a record high amount of $56,777 was collected during the Service to aid ministry programs.
The Offertory was provided by the 132-member Children's Honor Choir, conducted by Nick Page, and sponsored by the UU Musicians' Network. The children sang an original arrangement of G.F. Handel's Thanks Be To Thee, arranged by Mr. Page.
Two readings were offered, one read by Marilyn Sewell and another by Rev. David P. Hubner, director of Continuing Education for the Department of Ministry.
"Imagining a New World" was the title of the sermon delivered by this year's preacher, Rev. Dr. Marilyn Sewell, senior minister at the First Unitarian Church of Portland, OR. Our "living" tradition, Sewell reflected, "calls upon us to respond, to be responsible. What are we as UUs called to be or to do at the turn of this millennium? What kind of world would we be handing to our children?" Sewell spoke passionately against economic injustice, abuse of economic power, greed and classism.
She shared the experience of spending one day living the life of a homeless person, part of an "emersion experience" program organized by the Social Action Committee of her church. She and sixteen members of her congregation spent one night sleeping on the floor of a shelter in their crumpled clothes, cramped together with strangers. The next morning, they were fed a simple breakfast of a bagel and some juice, then given $1 for lunch. They decided to go to the Salvation Army Soup Kitchen, which was two-and-a-half mile away. Sewell recalled the dose of reality she got when she suggested that the group drive to the shelter—and then was reminded that homeless people don't have cars.
The Children's Honor Choir delighted congregants with a song from South Africa, Thuma Mina, with four of the youngsters taking turn conducting the choir.
UUA President John Buehrens led a solemn prayer and roll call to honor those UU ministers who had passed away since the last General Assembly.
After the recessional to the hymn For All the Saints, the Rev. John Weston, Director of Ministerial Settlement, gave the benediction and the Children's Honor Choir closed the service with an original composition by Nick Page entitled, Sing and Shine On. The choir's delightful performance gave everyone a taste of what was yet to come during their next scheduled performance at the Closing Ceremony and served as a reminder of Sewell's message about what our deeds are, and what we tell our children.
"The religious community is essential, for alone our vision is too narrow to see all that must be seen, and our strength too limited to do all that must be done. Together, our vision widens and our strength is renewed." —Mark Morrison-Reed
Fantasie in G Johann Sebastian Bach (18th c.) Cantilena in G, Opus 71, Number 1 Arthur Foote (19th c.)
Reverend Dr. Diane M.W Miller
Congregation rises
John Huntley Skrine Recast by Reverend Carl G. Seaburg, 1990
Rank by rank, again we stand, From the four winds gathered hither. Loud the hallowed walls demand Whence we come, and how, and whither. From their stillness breaking clear, Echoes wake to warn or cheer; Higher truth from saint and seer Call to us assembled here. Ours the years' memorial store, Honored days and names we reckon, Days of comrades gone before, Lives that speak and deeds that beckon. From the dreaming of the night To the labors of the day, Shines their everlasting light, Guiding us upon our way Though the path be hard and long, Still we strive in expectation; join we now their ageless song One with them in aspiration. One in name, in honor one, Guard we well the crown they won; What they dreamed be ours to do, Hope their hopes and seal them true.
Rank by rank, again we stand, From the four winds gathered hither. Loud the hallowed walls demand Whence we come, and how, and whither. From their stillness breaking clear, Echoes wake to warn or cheer; Higher truth from saint and seer Call to us assembled here.
Ours the years' memorial store, Honored days and names we reckon, Days of comrades gone before, Lives that speak and deeds that beckon. From the dreaming of the night To the labors of the day, Shines their everlasting light, Guiding us upon our way
Though the path be hard and long, Still we strive in expectation; join we now their ageless song One with them in aspiration. One in name, in honor one, Guard we well the crown they won; What they dreamed be ours to do, Hope their hopes and seal them true.
Mr. Howard V. Brown
Adapted from Reverend Ralph Norman Helverson
Reverend Dr. Rhys Williams
Minister: We are gathered in remembrance of all ministers who sought the light of understanding, who extended the fellowship of freedom, and whose words and deeds remain as a living memorial. Congregation: We lift up thankful hearts for all ministers who dealt out to others their lives passed through the fire of thought. Minister: We remember ministers who sought wisdom and reached across barriers of belief and doctrine, who affirmed in the spirit of truth the healing hand of argument, who served the needs of others-lifted the fallen, upheld the weak, established community, and preached the living word. Congregation: We lift up thankful hearts for all who carried on the tradition of asking questions, who went beyond false stopping places that stifled growth and weakened faith. Minister: We remember ministers who embodied goodness, embraced the love of all people, encompassed differences of color and creed, age and sex, and surmounted every circumstance of hobbling tradition, to push back ignorance and declare the glory of God and the human spirit. Congregation: We lift up thankful hearts for the ministry of beauty, for all who have quickened our love of nature and of ourselves, who by line and color, music and ceremony, and the spoken word, helped us to rejoice in life. Minister: We remember every minister who taught living religion, who helped us to see the limits of unexamined orthodoxies, and while standing in a particular tradition declared the religion universal, and who led us in the dedication of ourselves to the church of all souls. Congregation: We lift up thankful hearts for the ministers who have set before us examples to follow. May the work and the purpose of our calling show forth in the living and those yet to come, the ministry they proclaimed.
Minister: We are gathered in remembrance of all ministers who sought the light of understanding, who extended the fellowship of freedom, and whose words and deeds remain as a living memorial.
Congregation: We lift up thankful hearts for all ministers who dealt out to others their lives passed through the fire of thought.
Minister: We remember ministers who sought wisdom and reached across barriers of belief and doctrine, who affirmed in the spirit of truth the healing hand of argument, who served the needs of others-lifted the fallen, upheld the weak, established community, and preached the living word.
Congregation: We lift up thankful hearts for all who carried on the tradition of asking questions, who went beyond false stopping places that stifled growth and weakened faith.
Minister: We remember ministers who embodied goodness, embraced the love of all people, encompassed differences of color and creed, age and sex, and surmounted every circumstance of hobbling tradition, to push back ignorance and declare the glory of God and the human spirit.
Congregation: We lift up thankful hearts for the ministry of beauty, for all who have quickened our love of nature and of ourselves, who by line and color, music and ceremony, and the spoken word, helped us to rejoice in life.
Minister: We remember every minister who taught living religion, who helped us to see the limits of unexamined orthodoxies, and while standing in a particular tradition declared the religion universal, and who led us in the dedication of ourselves to the church of all souls.
Congregation: We lift up thankful hearts for the ministers who have set before us examples to follow. May the work and the purpose of our calling show forth in the living and those yet to come, the ministry they proclaimed.
Reverend Dr. O. Eugene Pickett
The congregation is asked to hold applause until each group of ministers has been recognized.
Reverend Ms. Ellen Brandenburg
Reverend Dr. Diane M. W Miller
Reverend Dr. John A. Buehrens Reverend Mr. Gary E. Smith Reverend Dr. O. Eugene Pickett Reverend Dr. Diane M.W Miller
Reverend Mr. David P Hubner
Reverend Dr. John A. Buehrens Reverend Dr. O. Eugene Pickett Reverend Mr. Gary E. Smith Reverend Mr. Alexander Meek Reverend Dr. Diane M.W Miller
Reverend Dr. Ralph Mero
"Thanks Be To Thee" G.F. Handel, arr. Nick Page Children's Honor Choir
"To Softness" by Laurie Sheck Excerpt from Holy the Firm by Annie Dillard
"Imagining a New World" Reverend Dr. Marilyn Sewell
Thuma Mina (South African) Children's Honor Choir
Reverend Dr. John A. Buehrens Congregation rises
"For All the Saints" (Adapted) William Walsham How Congregation remains standing.
For all the saints who from their labors rest, Who thee by faith before the world confessed, Thy name, most holy, be forever blest: Alleluia, Alleluia! Thou wast their rock, their shelter, and their might; Their strength and solace in the well-fought fight; Thou in the darkness deep their one true light: Alleluia, Alleluia! And when the strife is fierce, the conflict long, Steals on the ear the distant triumph-song, And hearts are brave again, and arms are strong: Alleluia, Alleluia!
For all the saints who from their labors rest, Who thee by faith before the world confessed, Thy name, most holy, be forever blest: Alleluia, Alleluia!
Thou wast their rock, their shelter, and their might; Their strength and solace in the well-fought fight; Thou in the darkness deep their one true light: Alleluia, Alleluia!
And when the strife is fierce, the conflict long, Steals on the ear the distant triumph-song, And hearts are brave again, and arms are strong: Alleluia, Alleluia!
Reverend Dr. John H. Weston
"Sing and Shine On" Mr. Nick Page Children's Honor Choir
This is the fifty-fifth annual Service of the Living Tradition of the Unitarian Universalist Ministry, which recognizes those ministers who have been granted preliminary fellowship, achieved final fellowship, or completed full-time service and commemorates those ministers who died between May 20, 1999 and May 24, 2000. The service is prepared and led by the Department of Ministry of the Unitarian Universalist Association: Diane Miller, Director of Ministry; Ellen Brandenburg, Ministerial Education Director; David Hubner, Ministerial Development Director; Ralph Mero, Church Staff Finances Director; and John Weston, Ministerial Settlement Director.
The offering received today supports the Living Tradition Fund, which provides UU ministry students and ministers with scholarships, grants, and financial assistance in times of need.
The preacher for the service is Reverend Dr. Marilyn Sewell, Senior Parish Minister at First Unitarian Church in Portland, OR. Rev. Sewell has served the Portland congregation since 1992. During her ministry, she has also served congregations in Cincinnati, Ohio and Napa, California. She is the editor of two Beacon Press books, Cries of the Spirit and Claiming the Spirit Within.
Other worship leaders are:
Representing the surviving families of ministers who have died during the past year is Howard V Brown, partner of the Reverend Fred Russell (1925-2000), along with other members of the Russell family.
The organist for the service is Barbara Wagner, Minister of Music at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Buffalo, NY.
Choral music for the service is provided by the Children's Honor Choir under the direction of Nick Page. The accompanist is Susan Snyder. Co-chairs for the Choir are Lynne Beasley and Elizabeth Norton.
The flaming chalice was crafted by Robert Duprey, a member of the Universalist Unitarian Church of Brockton, MA.
Interpreting at today's service is Kathryn Deal of Santa Monica, CA. Ushers for the service are ministers who received Preliminary Fellowship in 1999.
We are grateful to Suzanne Morgan of the UUA Publications Department for the design of this Order of Service, and to Reverend Douglas Morgan Strong of Plano, TX for hall arrangements and for the flaming chalice "stained glass" window used in this service. We would also like to thank Robin Bartlett, Administrative Assistant to the Ministerial Fellowship Committee, Jane Greer, Administrative Assistant to the Director of Ministry, and Chris May, Administrator of the Ministerial Education Office, for their help in putting the service together.
A brief reception will be held for all participating ministers and guests in room 206 of the Convention Center after the service.
Reported by Kok Heong McNaughton with Jessica Wright-Lichter, edited by Debbie Weiner
By the Rev. Dr. Marilyn Sewell
We are gathered here today at what is known as the Service of the Living Tradition. It is an auspicious time, for it is a time when our larger community comes together to affirm our strength and our purpose, our values and our ideals. We look back with thanksgiving for ministers who have gone before, and we look ahead to those who will bring new life and vigor into our movement.
Note that we do not call this service merely the "service of tradition" nor do we refer to it as just "the traditional service." No, it is the Service of the Living Tradition. It's the word "living" that makes all the difference. Living implies response. All living organisms respond to their environment, to their context, and so it is with a living institution-we are called as a religious people, as we have been called all through our history, to respond-to be responsible to the contemporary moment. The question that I want to pose today is, what are we, as Unitarian Universalists just now in this particular day and time, at the beginning of a new century, called to be and to do? We have just heard the beautiful voices of these children—what kind of world are we going to be handing over to them when we are gone?
I know this: something new is coming. Something new is stirring in the collective psyche. It starts with the beginning of an intuition, a new consciousness pushing from within, waiting to be born. It has to do with our spiritual being. And it has to do with justice.
For me it began with a kind of restlessness and uneasiness. I have been increasingly agitated by what I see happening in this country-the social and economic indicators that I follow in the newspaper-and in fact the very real flesh and blood examples that I see all around me every day as I minister in an urban church. I had to ask myself, why are so many of our mentally ill wandering the streets? Why did the Oregon food bank have a 17% rise in requests last year? Why are so many teenagers cast away, sleeping in the very doorways of our church? Why, in a time of plenty? Seeing all this, I was led to examine the larger structures of oppression which bring so much suffering to so many lives. And the more I have learned, the greater my outrage has grown. As one of our congregants wrote to me, "The spiritual part of my being calls for a personal response."
I have come to believe that economic inequity-in theological terms, greed-which has become steadily worse over the past few decades-is the root problem which must be addressed. The abuse of economic power manifests itself not only in the lives of the poor, but in the lives of the middle-class as well. How many of us are working longer hours than ever before? Which one of us does not know of individuals who have been "downsized" after years of faithful service? How many families must have two or more breadwinners, just to survive?
But as I said, change is in the air. Alternative voices are being heard now. Voices like social critic Howard Zinn1, whose lecture so packed a hall at Portland State University that hundreds had to be turned away. His book, A People's History of the United States, shook me and changed me. Voices like Michael Moore, the union advocate and documentary film maker who gave us "Roger and Me," again speaking to an overflow audience that caused his talk to be postponed 45 minutes until room could be found. I'm sure you read about the World Trade Organization protest in Seattle, which drew an estimated. 40-50,000 people. All these people to protest unfair trade agreements? All these people that informed about complex issues and that angry? Environmentalists, trade union workers, human rights activists, people of many different ethnic groups -all standing together, as we have never before stood. For the more than' 100 people that our church sent to Seattle, it was a life-changing event. We knew that we had made a difference. And we came away convinced that major social changes are underway. [1: I highly recommend Zinn's A People's History of the United States: 1492-Present, HarperCollins, 1995.]
People are waking up. What is the part that Unitarian Universalists will have in this new awakening? We can learn, and we can reach out to others in creative coalitions—one might say, entrepreneurial—coalitions. We can work with the Catholics on the death penalty. With the trade unions for a living wage. With people of color to effect racial justice. What do al these issues have in common? Class struggle. We need to stand together not on our own. Not my issue but our issues are at one with the other. We can be the bridge that is so sorely needed. Unitarian Universalists have always had power far beyond what our numbers would suggest-so many of us have the substance and skills to lead. A new day is at hand. Where will we be in shaping that future?
I want to examine in more detail what I see happening to Americans in this time of vaunted economic prosperity. Have you ever wondered why there is so much anxiety in the workplace? In these days of mergers and acquisitions, no one's is really safe.
Let me tell you Ruth's story. I'm taking this account, incidentally, from Texan Jim Hightower's book There's Nothing in the Middle of the Road but Yellow Stripes and Dead Armadillos. Ruth Shaver is from small-town Texas, a community known as Mesquite. She worked for Safeway for 22 years until the company was sold to Kohlberg Kravis Roberts, a Wall Street firm that specializes in raiding corporations. To lighten their debt load, they began getting rid of some big chunks of Safeway, including the 141 stores and 8,814 Safeway workers. Just like that. entire Dallas division., Out the door.
Now no one was a more cheerful and dedicated worker than Ruth. Not only did she check groceries, she trained others and helped remodel stores. She had such pride in her work that many customers asked for her by name. Over time, she had worked her way up to earn $12.06 an hour, or about $24,000 a year. Then she was dumped, with no golden parachute. Because of her union's contract, she got a small severance payment, but it lasted only a few weeks. The market for grocery clerks was glutted, and the new job she found paid only $5.70 an hour The other 8,813 Safeway employees had trouble finding good jobs, too, and when they did find work, almost everyone had to take pay cuts 30-60%. Four committed suicide. The divorce rate among these families has been unusually high.
But Kohlberg, Kravis, and Roberts are doing OK. They each had personal incomes of more than $40,000,000 the year they dumped Ruth and her co-workers. Henry Kravis became one of the 400 richest people in America. In fact he has now become a philanthropist-and not a modest one. He donated $10,000,000 to New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art. In gratitude, the museum named a wing of its building after him.
Hightower ends this account by saying: "So Henry Kravis got the glory as well as the gold. But, you know, there are bricks in that wing of the Metropolitan Museum of Art that belong, to 8,814 Safeway employees, including Ruth Shaver, who still lives in a trailer house in Mesquite, Texas."
You know, as Unitarian Universalists, we don't often meet the Ruth Shavers of this world-most of our friends don't live in trailer parks. But we can't do justice work in a vacuum. We need to learn from people who live on the edge: people who are poor, people who are transgendered, children who are homeless, migrant workers—people who make us feel shaken and uneasy because their lives are not like our own. We will learn what we must do only when we risk not knowing at all what to do, when we listen to voices we have not yet heard. We have to "leave home," in a sense, leave our comfortable ways of being, to find ourselves and our calling. We need to develop a passionate discontent, an anger that picks us up and shakes us by the neck and will not let us go. The Holy Spirit, you know, is not on the side of order and stability.
I had a recent experience that taught me some things. Because it's easy for me to intellectualize "poverty," I asked our Social Justice Director_ at the church, Kate Lore, who has worked with homeless people for years, to help some of us understand what it's like to be homeless. So she arranged what she called an "immersion experience," which 20 congregants signed up for. We were to sleep in a shelter in sleeping bags and then the next day replicate as much as possible the homeless experience. Well, people kept calling Kate and dropping out, the closer we got to the deadline. More than half the people dropped out, and others took their places, then they started dropping out. Those of you who work with people who are homeless probably remember how apprehensive you felt the first time you got involved. I, for sure, wanted to drop out. I was telling myself, "What was I thinking? I've got important stuff to do! I've got to write the sermon for the Service of the Living Tradition. Besides which, my back is not going to do so well sleeping on the floor." We ended up with 16 church members, and I of course did go. After all, I'm the minister. I couldn't weasel out.
We had an orientation that Friday evening, and then prepared for the night. I hated sleeping in my clothes, crammed in with all these other people, most of whom I didn't really know—I had no privacy. And my back didn't do well on the floor. We were up early for a simple breakfast and I do mean simple: I had a bagel and a little juice. Each of us was given a $1.00 for lunch. We gathered to select sites for visiting, and I chose the Salvation Army. I said to the group of us who were going there, "Well, that's about two miles away and over a bridge. I guess we'll have to drive." Other people kind of smiled, and then someone said, "Uh, Marilyn -uh, excuse me, but people who are homeless don't have cars." That was only the first mistake made by their fearless leader.
At the Salvation Army we prepared lunch for the temporary residents. They came through the lunch line, and then each sat at a separate table and began eating in silence.
I pick up my tray, and I look around. Just like them, I guess, I don't want to risk rejection. I see a guy who said "Hi" to me earlier, so I take a chance: "Do you mind if I sit here?" I ask. He pauses and then says, "Go ahead." For a while I say nothing, and both of us have our faces in our food. Finally I say, "So how's it going?'' He looks up, and for the first time I really see him. He is a man of about 50, a Native American, I would guess, with neatly combed hair that is graying, and a clipped mustache. His features are coarse, and his nose has been broken at some time in the past.
We talk awkwardly, we chat. He wants to know who I am and why I'm there at the shelter. I tell him, and he seems to warm up to me a bit. I see the tattoo of a pair of boxing gloves on his forearm. "Are you a boxer?" I ask. "Used to be," he says. I can see from his strong build, a boxer. "I used to be the State Champion-started with welterweight, when I was just a kid." "Wow," I say. "Wow." "I got in trouble, though—because of my drinking. Got in trouble, and got in jail. I would get out, get drunk, and get in trouble again. I been in jail most of my adult life. I'm on parole now. Going to A.A. Trying to stay clean and sober." His eyes look hopeful, determined. "What's your name?" I ask. "My name is Willie," he answers, and he puts his hand forward, a hand surprisingly soft for a man of the street. "My name is Marilyn," I say. "Will you come back?" he asks. "Maybe," I say. "Maybe.
All of a sudden, it's not just numbers, not just statistics about "the homeless"—it's Willie. I'll always remember him. I see his face, feel his hand, hear his voice saying, "Will you come back?" And I know that, yes, in some form, in some way, I'll be coming back.
You have all seen the statistics on division of wealth in this country, and so I'm not going to spend a lot of time on that, But let me give you one figure that just flabbergasted me. It's just over the top. In the 80's and 90's practically all the wealth we generated as a people went into the pockets of the wealthiest among us. The income of the top 1% went up 61.6%. The bottom 80% of the population—and this includes almost all of us—gained 1.2%. But let's leave the numbers—let's translate this into shopping. These numbers reveal why one woman—who likely does not work at all—can go into Saks Fifth Avenue and pay $350 for a little black leather purse (on sale), while across town a minimum wage mom has to go to bed hungry so that her children can eat
She's one of the lucky ones. We are forming a vast underclass who are either wandering the streets or in jail. They have no stake at all in the society, and don't see a way out.
Fact: One out of 5 of our workers makes less than $6.00 an hour. That's barely $10,000 a year. Fact: The U.S. has a higher proportion of its citizens jailed than any other country in history. Fact: Over 20 million Americans cannot read the poison warnings on a can under the sink or a letter from a teacher or the first page of the paper. Fact: The fastest growing population among the homeless is families. The average age of a person who is homeless? You guess. Eight years old.
As I began learning about these issues, I realized that I needed to know more about economics, and I began reading. What a wasteland! As John Kenneth Galbraith said, "if all the economists in the world were laid end to end, that would be a good thing." The basic problem with economics today is that it's trying to be hard science, and it's not. Very human problems have been reduced to sets of elaborate mathematical formulas that have no philosophical or moral container-unless one could say the assumption is that people are totally self-interested and materialistic, and the fittest should survive. And our economic policies are based on this kind of thinking. As Unitarian Universalists, do we not believe that all people have worth, and that a society should be judged not Just by how much freedom it gives to the strong, but rather by how much care it gives to the most vulnerable among us.
This is not the first time in the history of the Republic that we have been up against big money and the abuse of power. Remember the Gilded Age, at the turn of the last century? This was a time of gross economic inequity-the time of the terrible injustices of child labor, unregulated corporations, appalling conditions in our prisons and mental hospitals, and the legal bondage of women. It was a time that begged for reform, and some of the great 19th century reformers were from our religious faith, people such as Clara Barton, Susan B. Anthony, and our friend and ally Jane Addams of Hull House-which incidentally was bankrolled by a Unitarian. It was a new day. People stepped out to lead, and others followed.
We are now in a second Gilded Age. I believe that the clear and compelling issue in contemporary life is the rise of big money and with that rise, the demise of democracy. "We have two governments," writes Lewis Lapham – the provisional government, which speaks to the people through pageants, parades, and the press. And then the permanent government, which is a secular oligarchy of the rich and powerful. This government goes about its work quietly. Free expression among the citizens is fine, so long as nothing interferes with the rule of money2. Whoever gets left behind, gets left behind. [2: Lewis Lapham, Harper's Magazine, August 1996.]
So what are we to do? We must begin to speak to one another and to listen—and then to imagine a different way. It's not just those others who are in trouble—it's all of us—we are al one body. We must gather in groups and tell one another about our fears for our own safety, about our loneliness and isolation, about the clutter in our lives, about the children we don't understand, about the job that sucks the life out of us, about the days going by in a blur with nothing to show for them. If we allow our hearts to speak, we will discover very quickly that we are not alone. And with that knowledge comes the sense of community and caring that will support us on our journey to a better place.
But it is not enough to speak of our pain. We must understand that our world is not irrevocably the way it is-our current economic structures, despite what some people believe—have not been divinely ordained. Human beings, just people have made choices, and we can make different choices. Let yourself imagine. Let yourself dream. If you could change your society, what would it look like? Who all would be included? Who would be in charge? What would your vision be?
I speak of imagination as being essential. I say this because the power of the human mind is both enormous and beautiful to behold. I believe that we can create a better way. And I speak of the imagination of common folks like you and me, because I no longer believe that the solution to our social problems will come from the top down. I do not believe that our politicians will lead us to this new world-mainly because our system of campaign financing forces them to feed at the trough of the rich. We must lead, and they will follow.
So solutions are not likely to come from Washington. Nor will they come through a particular political ideology. It's pretty clear that capitalism has won out over the planned economies of socialism-but the excesses of capitalism have led us to poverty—material poverty for many, and spiritual poverty throughout the land. We need a vision. The scripture doesn't say, "Without a program, the people perish"; it doesn't say, "Without a political agenda, the people perish"—it says, "Without a vision, the people perish."
You see, it is our vision, our changing consciousness, that will determine the shape of our world, will determine even what we are able to see. You know, every culture has a story, a kind of controlling narrative. Some wag has suggested that our cultural narrative is "BE BORN, CONSUME, OBEY, AND DIE." What a scenario! And we wonder why our children are confused and restless. This is not a worthy narrative, a worthy story, to pass on to them.
But there is hope. I will share with you some of the shifts I'm hoping for, and that I see signs of, already. A shift
It is our passion for justice that will rekindle the social imagination. But be wary. And I say this in particular to Unitarian Universalists, who so easily fall into the sin of pride. To transform ourselves and our society, to sustain us in that hard work, we must be grounded in something larger than our own egos. Ego will always fail us, because it is self-referential. It always asks the question, "How will my importance be raised up? What will I get out of this?" The way of the Spirit is different. It has to do with with humility, with relinquishment. The question becomes, "What brokeness needs to be made whole? What am I called to give?"
As Unitarian Universalists, we should be at the center of the conversation about this new world. Why? Because we have the character and the courage and the values for this task. We are wise and passionate people. There is only one thing that can stop us—ourselves. When we pull back from the Sacred and act as if our faith were not central to our being. When we remain comfortable for too long, so that we cannot hear the cries of the forgotten. When we obsess about individual freedom and fail to bind ourselves in community, toward common purpose. When our religious communities concern themselves with the trivial and fail to focus on a mission larger than themselves and their needs.
I guess the big question is, why do all this anyway? Why not just plug in our own computers, stay behind locked doors, away from all these troubling things? We must act because it is only through resistance that we become clear, energized, truly alive. And it is when we are creating something new, together, that joy springs up within us and gives us hope and strength.
A new day is coming. I see it everywhere I look. Where will Unitarian Universalists stand? Let it not be said fifty years, a hundred years, from now, "Look what terrible injustice was being done—and the church, the church said nothing." Much has been given us, and much is required. Let us love mercy and do justice. Let us walk humbly with our God. Let our tradition be truly a living tradition. Else what can we say to the children when they ask us about the world we have given them? What can we say to the children?
For more information contact web @ uua.org.
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Last updated on Thursday, September 8, 2011.
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Handmade Home
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Labor Day Walk
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SpongeBob goes green!: an earth-friendly adventure by Molly Reisner; illustrated by Stephen Reed
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Toxic Chemicals on Our Pets
For natural alternatives to pet care, read Pets and the Planet by Carol Frischmann.
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Greenpeace's Guide to Greener Electronics
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Do you wish you could change your life and make it just a little more environmentally sound? Many people do, but with so much information out there on how to go green, it can be overwhelming. Here are a few handpicked, current titles to help you work toward a more eco-friendly existence.