April 2012 Newsletter
Spring is here, and hopefully April has showered you with more than rain. This time of year makes us feel alive, from the new plant growth, to the onset of the wedding season, and of course, one of the only sure things in life - taxes. For our latest newsletter we've assembled some great articles tailored for the season. This is always an exciting time to be an ordained by the Monastery as our church grows to welcome many new wedding officiants and ministers.
Are you new to the Monastery or an involved clergyman? Either way, we want to hear from you. Join your peers in declaring your participation with the ULC; tell us about your ministry or wedding and share helpful insight with other ordained ministers. We are proud of all our ministers - make yourself heard by joining us on our blog, Twitter, and Facebook pages.
In honor of Autism Awareness Month, the Universal Life Church Monastery would like its ministers to help them raise money for the National Autism Association (NAA), an advocacy group that provides information, grants, and resources for the families of autistic children.
All you have to do is click the "Like" button at the top of our Facebook page, and the ULC Monastery will donate $1 for every "Like" received by May 20th, up to a total of $1,000. Our donation will go directly to the National Autism Association to fund autism-related causes. If we reach our goal of 15,400 total likes by the end of April, then the Mayer-Johnson company will match our donation dollar for dollar, raising a total of $2,000 for this important cause!
If you would like us to donate $1 in your name, simply visit our Facebook page and click the "Like" button under our main banner. You can also help our campaign reach a wider audience by sharing this page with your friends!
Professional skateboarder and reality television star Rob Dyrdek has recently officiated a wedding for his sister using his 2009 ordination from the ULC Monastery. The ceremony and his ordination were featured on an episode of his MTV show Fantasy Factory. "This isn't a joke," said Dyrdek as he showed off his official ordination credential, wedding officiant certificate, "Minister" T-Shirt, and parking hanger. "The State of California recognizes me, Robert Dyrdek, as a man of... divinity."
Congratulations to his sister Denise and her husband Jason, and to Rob for getting to be a part of this great moment for his sister. Dyrdek is the latest celebrity to dedicate a television episode to being ordained by the ULC Monastery in order to officiate a wedding. He follows in the footsteps of Kathy Griffin, Conan O'Brien, and Fran Drescher.
The next several months are the peak of the wedding season, and we want to make sure all our officiants are prepared. Wedding experts at The Knot have compiled some great resources in The Knot Wedding Collection.
It contains three books, and can help you out if you are overwhelmed by the process. Inside you'll find checklists, worksheets, insider advice, and in-depth sections on everything from ceremony scripts to creating a budget. These books are invaluable for ministers who have created their own all-encompassing wedding businesses, and a great introduction for first time celebrants. All three books are also available individually from our store.
Each year, Hindus and people of the Indian subcontinent celebrate the end of Winter with a wild splash of color. Representing the flowers and light, bright pigments are sprinkled all over crowds as friends and family come together in fellowship. The festival, known as Holi, has many incarnations between the regions of India, and a rich history. Read more about this beautiful celebration at our sister-site's blog.
We move from the celebration of new life in Spring, to a scientific discussion on very new life - a second genesis. Under what circumstances could life begin on another planet, and has it already? Scientists have been in search of a "Goldilocks" planet for some time; a celestial body with conditions that are "just right" for such a phenomenon. How would our world be changed if we made such a discovery? Find out more on our blog.
In our closing benediction, we want to encourage our ministers to be good stewards of their bodies. The work we do can be greatly affected by our state of health; after all, how can we effectively help others if we are in great need ourselves?
Many faiths share this notion, but participation in churches doesn't seem to be curbing the rising obesity pandemic. We ordain ministers to pursue and share the good life, and since the inception of the ULC, for us that has included eating well, exercising, and staying informed. Take advantage of the sunnier weather to cultivate fresh foods, break a sweat, and breath the fresh air. To learn more about the problem, check out our blog article.
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April 2012
