GAIA COMMUNITY | COMMUNITY CALENDAR

"Caring for the Earth and each other because our lives depend on it."

Contact List:
President
Membership Chair
Adult Education
KidSpace
Ombudsman
Finance
Communications
Webmaster

An Earth-based Unitarian Universalist Pagan-themed Congregation.

Community Calendar

Current Moon Phase, courtesy of the U.S. Naval observatory

Date/Time	Title of Event
April
Please remember that we collect non-perishable food for Harvesters Food Bank every week, and are challenging members and friends to do environmental activities and then tell us about them so we can place them on our 'tree' through Earth Day (April 20th). Please contact David to find out more about this project, or if you have ideas for further places we could go to volunteer or help the planet.
Sun, Apr. 13th 2:00 - 3:30pm	Voices of Gaia
	Voices of Gaia is currently operating as a women's choir -- soprano, second soprano, and alto (until some musically strong and dedicated tenors and basses decide they want to join us). We are practicing songs and chants to present at Gaia Community rituals. If you're interested in joining Voices of Gaia, contact Kitty for more information or to join.
Sun, Apr. 13th 3:30 - 4:00pm	Sacred Rhythm Group
	If you're able and willing, come early before rituals/classes on Sundays to our Sacred Rhythm group. As the name implies, this is not purely a drumming circle, but any type of percussive sound is welcome. Bring your drums, bring your shakers, or just bring your hands and feet. No previous experience necessary! Contact Jeff for more information.
Sun, Apr. 13th 4:00 - 6:00pm	Ritual — Going with the Flow (Elements of Ecstasy series)
	The first in an arc called "Elements of Ecstasy", this ritual will look at the idea of Life as a River. Do you know where you're going? Do you even want to know? What are your goals? Are you fighting the river, or letting it take you downstream?
Tues, Apr. 15th 7:00 - 9:00pm	Religions of Kansas City (Covenant Group)
	The recently formed Religions of Kansas City Covenant Group will be meeting each month on the third Tuesday of the month, in the Jefferson/Franklin rooms at SMUUCh formerly occupied by our Adult Education program. Please contact Lizzy to find out more about what this group has planned, or just show up!
Sat, Apr. 19th 10am - 4pm	EarthFest (at Shawnee Mission Park, 7900 Renner Road)
	Almost every year, Gaia Community has held a booth at EarthFest (formerly called Party for the Planet) in honor of Earth Day, and this year will be no different. We are sharing a booth this year with folks from the Heartland Spiritual Alliance, but more volunteers are still needed! Both kids and adults can help with the activity we'll be presenting, which is making biodegradable egg-carton planters for seeds. Pleasecontact Linda if you are interested in helping out.
Sun, Apr. 20th 3:30 - 4:00pm	Sacred Rhythm Group
	If you're able and willing, come early before rituals/classes on Sundays to our Sacred Rhythm group. As the name implies, this is not purely a drumming circle, but any type of percussive sound is welcome. Bring your drums, bring your shakers, or just bring your hands and feet. No previous experience necessary! Contact Jeff for more information.
Sun, Apr. 20th 4:00 - 6:00pm	Ritual — The Cauldron of Abundance
	We will draw into ourselves the abundance of the Universe, enjoy the hospitality of the Irish hearth, and drink from the ever-full cauldron of The Dagda. We will open ourselves to abundance in health and energy, abundance in relationships and community, abundance in ideas and inspiration, and abundance of money, land, and material goods. Abundance flowing in, abundance flowing out. To help get the flow started, please bring a generous donation of non-perishable food items for the Harvesters Food Bank.
Fri, Apr. 25th 7:00 - 9:00pm	Friday Night Supper Club
	Join your fellow Gaians for food, friendship, and frivolity, typically in support of a locally-owned business. April's Friday Night Supper Club has not been decided yet (mainly due to Stroud's being unavailable); check this space or the e-list for more information on where it will be held; let Linda know if you have a good suggestion, as she is the new coordinator for this event!
Sat, Apr. 26th	~~Spring Bazaar~~ (CANCELLED!)
	The Spring Bazaar will not actually be happening this year; not enough vendors registered to make it a viable event. Thank you to everyone who did sign up; the coordinators will be in touch with you very soon in order to refund your registration fees, and let you know their future plans.
Sun, Apr. 27th 2:00 - 3:30pm	Voices of Gaia
	Voices of Gaia is currently operating as a women's choir -- soprano, second soprano, and alto (until some musically strong and dedicated tenors and basses decide they want to join us). We are practicing songs and chants to present at Gaia Community rituals. If you're interested in joining Voices of Gaia, contact Kitty for more information or to join.
Sun, Apr. 27th 3:30 - 4:00pm	Sacred Rhythm Group
	If you're able and willing, come early before rituals/classes on Sundays to our Sacred Rhythm group. As the name implies, this is not purely a drumming circle, but any type of percussive sound is welcome. Bring your drums, bring your shakers, or just bring your hands and feet. No previous experience necessary! Contact Jeff for more information.
Sun, Apr. 27th 4:00 - 6:00pm	Forum - An Inconvenient Truth
	This week, we'll be viewing the 2006 award-winning documentary An Inconvenient Truth, and discussing global climate change and related topics. Join us for a energetic, but hopefully not too 'heated', debate.
May
Please remember that we collect non-perishable food for Harvesters Food Bank every week, and will soons be starting a new Social Justice project. Please contact the SJ committee to find out more, or just stay tuned!
Sat, May 3rd 1 - 4pm	Crafting Group
	A group of Gaians are trying to form a covenant group focused around arts, crafts, and other ways of "making things" in a sacred context. Contact Kimberly for more information.
Sun, May 4th 2:00 - 3:30pm	Voices of Gaia
	Voices of Gaia is currently operating as a women's choir -- soprano, second soprano, and alto (until some musically strong and dedicated tenors and basses decide they want to join us). We are practicing songs and chants to present at Gaia Community rituals. If you're interested in joining Voices of Gaia, contact Kitty for more information or to join.
Sun,May 4th 3:30 - 4:00pm	Sacred Rhythm Group
	If you're able and willing, come early before rituals/classes on Sundays to our Sacred Rhythm group. As the name implies, this is not purely a drumming circle, but any type of percussive sound is welcome. Bring your drums, bring your shakers, or just bring your hands and feet. No previous experience necessary! This Sacred Rhythm session will take place at South Lake Park, across 87th Street, because of the Picnic to follow. Contact Jeff for more information.
Sun, May 4th 4:00 - 6:00pm	Beltane — Scaling The Peak (Elements of Ecstasy series)
	Beltane is one of the eight Sabbats of the year, the points at which the Wheel of the Year turns. But it's not just a waypoint on the path to "collect 'em all"; there's more to the journey than just the destination. This will be an outdoor and intergenerational (Shoots and above), so parents should be prepared to keep an eye on their own children. If the weather is poor, we will move the Maypole inside. Time permitting, there will be a second dance of the maypole "just for fun", so feel free to bring ribbons of at least 25' in length for that adventure, if you wish. The ritual team of the day will be supplying specific ribbons for the main event. As with all High Holidays, we will be holding a potluck afterward, so bring a dish, drink, or dessert for eight hungry people, and remember to label the ingredients for those with dietary restriction or allergies! In order to care for the earth and each other, we ask that you refrain from using disposable containers/tableware if at all possible.
Wed, May. 7th 6:45 - 9:00pm	Ritual Teams Meeting
	All current ritual team members are welcome to come critique and plan rituals past, present, and future. Attendance at one meeting per quarter is required to stay active. Comments from anyone in the general community about rituals are welcome as well; please communicate them to the Ritual Team Coordinator (Debbie), so we can hear your opinion. All future meetings (including this one) will be held at SMUUCH unless you hear otherwise. Please contact the RTC to find out more about this month's meeting, or if you are a past graduate of the Excellence in Ritual class and wish to start working with Ritual Teams again. Part-time openings are now available for former ritualists to help out, if you only have limited time but would still like to help with Sunday rituals.
Sat, May 10th 9:30 - 11:30am	Ritual for Business (Election month!)
	Our Ritual for Business is a time to conduct official Business for Gaia Community and listen to and attempt to decide solutions to concerns and suggestions that come forward. Please attend if possible, as all RfBs are open to members and friends of Gaia. Although only full active members can vote in the annual election or participate in the consensus process, anyone can speak and have their voice heard. Any questions or opinions can be transmitted to the Board of Trustees, especially if you will not be able to be present at the meeting yourself. We will meet at SMUUCH in the Jefferson/Franklin room downstairs.
Sat, May 10th	Twigs-n-Berries Campout (Men's Covenant Group)
	Gaia Community's Men's Covenant Group will visiting Camp Gaea this afternoon/evening for an overnight campout, including a vision quest. All those who see themselves as male and can agree to the group's covenant are welcome. Bring someone along, share the gasoline, share the fun. For directions or more information, contact Brian or Jeff.
Sun, May 11th 2:00 - 3:30pm	Voices of Gaia
	Voices of Gaia is currently operating as a women's choir -- soprano, second soprano, and alto (until some musically strong and dedicated tenors and basses decide they want to join us). We are practicing songs and chants to present at Gaia Community rituals. If you're interested in joining Voices of Gaia, contact Kitty for more information or to join.
Sun, May 11th 3:30 - 4:00pm	Sacred Rhythm Group
	If you're able and willing, come early before rituals/classes on Sundays to our Sacred Rhythm group. As the name implies, this is not purely a drumming circle, but any type of percussive sound is welcome. Bring your drums, bring your shakers, or just bring your hands and feet. No previous experience necessary! This Sacred Rhythm session will take place at South Lake Park, across 87th Street, because of the Picnic to follow. Contact Jeff for more information.
Sun, May 11th 4:00 - 6:00pm	Class — Alternate Families (Welcoming Congregation series)
	Continuing the work of our Welcoming Congregations series, this class will cover some of the unusual and innovative ways in which people define the modern “family”. Even (or especially) if you are familiar with or part of a non-traditional family, come with your questions, concerns, or ideas. No question is stupid, but the unasked one cannot be answered.
Tues, May 13th 7:00 - 9:00pm	Social Justice Committee Meeting
	The Social Justice committee has been re-formed, in response to some concerns and ideas raised among the community recently. The May meeting will be at Andrew's apartment, 11132 W. 76th Terr. #34 in Shawnee KS; e-mail him or find Andrew in person to learn more! We'll be working on the upcoming sustainable living/ local food project.
Fri, May 16th 7:00 - 9:00pm	Gaia's Games Night
	Games Night is a chance for Gaians to get together for fun, frivolity, and food, and NO OFFICIAL BUSINESS allowed! (We're not kidding - the Games Guru has spoken on this) Bring a game (or ten), bring a friend (or ten), or just bring yourself and a willingness to play and visit. Snacks are welcomed but not required, to help the gaming crowds keep up their strength! Games Night is generally held downstairs and/or in the Barn Chapel, weather and activities permitting.
Recurring Events	Overview of the Year

What to Expect at our Rituals? Where we meet: Shawnee Mission Unitarian Universalist Church 7725 W. 87th Street, Shawnee Mission, KS

To Contact us:
Gaia Community
PO Box 45307
Kansas City, MO
64171-8303
Phone: 816-931-9900
E-Mail for Information