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E-mail UU-Valdosta at uuvaldosta@yahoo.com
Phone: 229-242-3714
New U.S. mailing address is
Page down or click the links to go to specific sections:
Thank You! Thank You! | Religious Education | |
Board Notes | Social Action | UU Activities and Announcements |
Minister's Muusings - Rev. Fred Howard | ||
President's Corner - Doug Tanner |
Sat |
July 4 |
|
Happy
Birthday |
Sun |
July 5 |
10:45AM |
Religious Education for children Service
– “Choosing
One’s Self," Rev.
Fred Howard Meet & Greet Coffee after the service |
W |
July 8 |
6:00 PM |
Board of Directors meeting in the R.E. wing at the church |
Sun |
July 12 |
10:45AM |
Religious Education for children Service
– Watch for
announcements Meet & Greet Coffee after the service |
M |
July 13 |
11:00AM |
Break Bread delivery |
W |
July 15 |
|
Deadline for August Newsletter |
Sat |
July 18 |
7:00 PM |
Games night at the church |
Sun |
July 19 |
10:45AM |
Religious Education for children Service – “The Search for Truth, Identity, and Family,” Dr. Ann Marie Smith Meet & Greet Coffee after the service |
Sun |
July 26 |
10:45AM |
Religious Education for children Service
– “The Question of Guilt,” Rev. Fred Howard
Meet & Greet Coffee after the service |
F |
July 31 |
6:00 PM |
Potluck and Book Discussion at the church |
July… Our fifth principle is “The right of conscience and the use of the democratic process within our congregations and in society at large.” As we celebrate the birth of our country perhaps we can hold in our hearts how special it is, even with all its flaws, and celebrate one of our faith’s principles at the same time. In our country we are the government; in our church, we are the church. Your support and presence are both needed. Volunteer as you are able. It is a responsibility of our small, free church. What each of us does is what gets done! Welcome Fred Howard as he assumes the role of minister to our church for the coming year. Attend the various activities and services as you are able. We miss you when you are absent. Invite a friend.
v
If
this “diamond” appears on the mailing label, please let the
editor know if you wish to continue receiving the UU Valdosta
newsletter. To defray
costs we would appreciate a small donation of record. (It costs
about $12/year.) Thank
you for your interest and support. |
Sunday, July 5 - Rev. Fred Howard, “Choosing One’s
Self”
Freedom in
the personal realm is not automatically bestowed on us by simply being an
American. It requires
courageous self honesty and a deep understanding of the world around us.
I thought it would be interesting to explore the realm of
psychological freedom as we celebrate Independence Day weekend.
Sunday,
July 12 – Watch
for announcements.
Sunday, July 19 – Dr. Ann Marie Smith, “The
Search for Truth, Identity, and Family”
Applying
feminist theology, Dr. Ann Marie Smith will analyze gender and UU
principles in two adolescent novels for girls published by the UU
press. Ann Marie
is a member of our congregation.
Welcome her to our pulpit this Sunday.
|
Sunday,
July 26 – Rev. Fred
Howard, “The Question of
Guilt”
Many people
have gravitated toward Unitarian Universalism because we do not seem to
have all that guilt that many other faith traditions seem to emphasize.
Guilt seems to be a much maligned word in liberal religious faith.
But have we thrown the baby out with the bath water?
Is there a need for a certain sense of guilt for human beings to
live well? This morning I will
explore this question.
Religious
Education for Children
During this spring the RE children worked on Earth Day lessons and continued learning about the similarities and differences between a variety of religious traditions. The RE program for children meets at 10:45 AM concurrent with the Sunday morning service. Volunteers to help in the classroom are needed. Contacts: Mya Storey; Susan Bailey.
Governor’s
Honors Program
As in past summers, the Governor's Honors
summer program for gifted high school students will be held at
We may have 12 or more students who want to attend our services,
beginning in mid-June. We'll
need volunteers to pick them up and take them back.
As in the past, they will be able to stay for the service, and the
discussion if they wish. But
they must return to VSU for lunch.
Directions: Pick up will be at Georgia Hall at 10:20 AM.
To get there, go north on
If you can volunteer to transport students, let Lars Leader know.
Games Night
Saturday,
July 18
7:00
PM at the church
Bring a snack to share, the kids and yourself, and your favorite game and be prepared to have a fun fellowshipping time! Contact: Susan Bailey
Book Discussion and Potluck
Friday,
July 31
At
the church
Potluck: 6:00 PM –
Discussion: 7:00 PM
The book, a
Pulitzer Prize winner, is “Middlesex” by Jeffrey Eugenides.
The books cover states: “[The book] tells the story of Calliope
Stephanides and three generations of the Greek-American Stephanides
family, who travel from a tiny village overlooking Mount Olympus … to
Detroit, witnessing its glory days as the Motor City, and the race riots
of 1967, before [moving] … to suburban Grosse Pointe… . To understand
why Calliope is not like other girls, she has to uncover a guilty family
secret, and the astonishing genetic history that turn Callie into
INVITATION
TO MEMBERSHIP If you are
interested in becoming a member of our fellowship, we encourage you
to talk with our minister, Rev.
Fred Howard or our President, Doug Tanner or Membership Director,
Mya Storey. We welcome
your questions, and we extend an open invitation to all who want to
join our liberal community of faith. |
Doug
Tanner
Another summer has arrived in full force the
temperature has reached the extreme and vacations are in full force.
As you go about your busy summer remember that this is only
temporary and in a couple of months summer will give way to cooler weather
and all of the possibilities that it brings.
Speaking of Fall, another thing we have to look forward to besides
moderate weather is an increased connection with Rev. Fred Howard and
hopefully a more prominent presence and connection to our community during
the upcoming year. Rev. Howard
and the board came to an agreement in June to have him serve as our half
time minister for 2009-2010. In
his role as our half time minister Rev. Howard has agreed to conduct two
services each month, provide ministerial service to congregation members
and represent the congregation in community and UUA activities.
Please join me in officially welcoming Rev. Howard to our
congregation.
Rev. Fred Howard
July 2009
Mary Turner
was an African American woman who, along with her unborn child, was
brutally murdered in 1918 as a part of a lynching rampage in the
During the memorial ceremony, descendants and relatives of Mary
Turner gave emotional testimony to the far reaching legacy of pain and
scars that this family bears from this act of terrorism.
One family member rose to speak but was too overcome with emotion
to continue. Another young man
recited a rap style poem that was an eloquent and forceful act of self
definition in the face of this and other demeaning actions against African
Americans. Others sang
spirituals of hope in the midst of despair.
It was so moving for me to be there to witness the beginning of a
catharsis that has been so needed for 91 years.
In any system, whether it is a family, or a community, or a nation,
when we try to forget the truth of the past and move on, the secret is
still there, causing all manner of pathology, or disease, in our
relationships. It stays there
hidden under the surface and festers, like a slowly growing boil or
abscess. When a community has
the courage to come forth and acknowledge the truth of past injustices we
can lance this boil that has festered just underneath the surface of our
collective lives and has prevented us from being together in healthy ways.
Crude as it is, that is the best metaphor I can use to describe
what I was a part of in this memorial service for Mary Turner.
May the truth of what happened to Mary Turner be told again and
again, so that we remember, and resolve to be reconciled with each other,
black and white. May we have
the courage to face the horrors of our past together, so that we begin to
be together in new and respectful ways in the present.
The members of the Mary Turner Project will be planning another
commemorative service this fall to dedicate the permanent historical
marker to be put in place at the site of her death.
I would encourage all members and friends of our congregation to
join us and be a voice for the work of this project that is making real
strides in improving race relations in
ABOUT
OUR MEMBERS AND FRIENDS
Happy
Birthday in July to
v
Anyone with a birthday this month
Congratulations
to
v
Lars Leader’s
sons. Kevin is a recent honor
graduate from high school, headed to college in the fall.
Sean has just finished his first year at Georgia Tech and is in
Keep in your
thoughts
v
Members and friends who have recently lost loved ones…
v
Marcia Bauer, a
former member, who we see occasionally at our services.
Dee Tait recently heard from Marcia and learned that she is in the
process of moving to
v
Carol Stiles who
has just been employed by
Good
Bye to
v
Pete Mahan who has
just moved to
v
Helen Gerhardt who
is here for the summer. Helen
was a very active member of our congregation until she left several years
ago for graduate school at the
At
the Church-in-the-Woods
Tai
Chi – Monday
and Thursday: Continuing Class: 6:00-7:30 PM.
Watch for a new Beginners Class probably beginning in mid-August.
Contact
PFLAG
Meeting – 4th
Tuesday each month, 7:00PM
Contact:
Doug Tanner
The web page for PFLAG Valdosta:
http://pflag-valdosta.web.officelive.com/default.aspx
For
his service to our congregation as a member of the Board of Directors
for a number of years: Lars
Leader, who has served as our Director of Membership the past several
years, and before that as our President and as our Vice President.
He has decided to step down from this responsibility for this
coming year. He has also
been a major contributor to our congregation’s social justice work.
We thank him for his service and look forward to his continuing
presence in our faith community in other roles.
For
agreeing to serve as Director of Membership: Mya
Storey
For
coordinating the Governor’s
For
picking up Governor’s
For
layleading services: Dee
Tait, Betty Derrick, Doug Tanner
For
speaking at Sunday Service: Al
Hunt
For
help with Sunday Service music: Bill
Webster, Keith Johnson,
For
Sunday Service flowers: Betty
Derrick
For
serving as Meet and Greet Hosts:
Betty Derrick, Doug Tanner, Valerie Webster, Julie Halter
For
assisting with Children’s RE:
Mya Storey, Susan Bailey, Kari Wells, Kimberly Tanner
For
greeting visitors: Betty
Derrick, Lars Leader, and others who made our visitors welcome
For
delivering Break Bread meals:
Frank Asbury
For
cleaning the church:
Lars Leader, Frank Asbury
For
keeping our grounds: Jim
Ingram
For
all you do that we may not have thanked you for in person. Let
your editor know your contributions so that others can know!
It takes all of us and we appreciate you
Special
thanks to Eva Rucker!
Eva Rucker, a member of the Taoist Tai Chi Society which meets at our church, has been taking care of our plants for some time. She waters them when they look neglected,(often the case) and recently has planted scheffleras from her home in the large pots which once housed palm trees. Many thanks to Eva for helping keep our sanctuary green!
Our date
for meal deliveries with the Break Bread Together program is the 2nd
Monday (and 5th when there is one) of each month.
If you would like to help deliver meals beginning about 11:00 AM,
please contact Frank or Rosie Asbury.
Project Harvest Hope:
Fred Howard has been elected to the Board of
Directors of Project Harvest Hope (PHH.)
PHH works for a sustainable rural life in the Unitarian homelands
of
Community
Thanksgiving Service:Put this event on your calendar!
This year the Community Thanksgiving Service will be on Sunday
afternoon, November 22, 2009 at 4:00 P.M. at Iglesia Christiana Getsemani,
located in old Theatre on
UU
June
3, 2009
Attendance:
Doug Tanner, Sue Bailey, Kari Wells and the Search committee: Pat Wells,
Ann Marie Smith and Dee Tait
Old
Business:
·
Voting from Congregational meeting
on May 24 was confirmed. We will not need to have another
Congregational meeting.
New
Business:
·
Board approved contract for Fred Howard.
·
Discussion of a pledge drive to raise additional funds for
ministerial expenses.
·
Membership Board Member needed for upcoming year.
Next
meeting with be July 8 at 6:00 PM.
Note
from President Doug Tanner: Unfortunately,
Lars Leader has had to resign from his position Director of Membership on
the UU Valdosta Board of Directors. We
are grateful for the service that Lars has provided to the board and the
UU church and we will miss his participation in Board Meeting.
I am pleased to report that Mya Story has agreed to step in and
take over as the Membership Chair for 2009-2010.
We look forward to Mya joining us for the upcoming year.
.
Newsletter Editor:
Betty Derrick Website:
Local
Publicity: Dee Tait Photographer:
Mya Storey July
15:
Deadline
for the August newsletter. |
UU
Activities and Announcements
July
5-10- RE Week at The Mountain,
July
19-24- Southeast Unitarian Universalist Summer Institute(SUUSI),
See
www.uusi.org
for information. Rekindle the Flame Within is the theme this year.
July
19 – 24-Southland Unitarian Universalist Leadership Experience, The
Mountain,
August
29-District Wide Congregational Teacher Training, UU Congregation of
Sept.
4-7 – Labor Day Weekend at The Mountain
Note: July 4 registration deadline!
Recently reduced cost.
Treasurer's
Report – Rosie Asbury, Treasurer
May
31, 2009
Receipts
May 2009
July 2008-present
Plate
$ 113.00
$ 1387.17
Pledge
945.00
13665.00
Rent
240.00
2780.00
Misc. donations 0.00 500.00
Total
Receipts $ 1298.00
$ 18332.17
Disbursements
Speakers’ Fees $
900.00
$ 9750.00
Repairs&Maint.
0.00
1710.16
Newsletter
0.00
69.92
Insur&PestCtr
35.00
1586.00
Postage
0.00
556.48
Supplies
33.75
238.32
Donations
0.00
500.00
Membership Prog. 0.00
127.00
UUA Dues
0.00
1422.00
UU Conference
0.00
1232.78
Utilities
210.08
2570.65
Advertising
0.00
495.80
Others
0.00
176.00
Total
Disburs. $ 1178.83
$ 20435.11
Net
Receipt $
119.17
$- 2122.94
UUA TRUSTEE TIDBITS
Joan Lund
July
2009
It would
seem reasonable to write about the General Assembly in
Last month I wrote about the proposed terms of the President and
Moderator changing from four years, with the possibility of serving two
terms, to one six-year term for each office. There will be a Presidential
Search Committee (PSC) who will submit at least 2 nominations for UUA
President at the end of a presidential term or when a vacancy occurs in
the office prior to October of the year before the election. The report of
the PSC will be announced at GA one year before GA at which there is to be
an election, except in the case of an election to fill a vacancy occurring
after that date.
For the election of the Moderator the Board of Trustees (BOT) will
submit one or more nominations for the office at the end of the
Moderator’s term or when a vacancy occurs in the office prior to October
of the year before the election. The report of the BOT will be presented
at GA one year before the GA at which there is to be a Moderator election,
except in the case of an election to fill a vacancy occurring after that
date.
To run by petition for the Office of President or Moderator, or to
fill a vacancy in an unexpired term which occurs prior to December 1st
of the year before the election the petition may
be signed by no fewer than twenty-five certified member congregations,
including no fewer than five certified member congregations located in
each of no fewer than five different district. The proposed change in
Section 9.6 is in the word “may”. The Bylaws currently states “shall”.
Certainly the proposed Bylaws changes for President and Moderator
are significant and important ones which should prompt much discussion. I
hope each Florida District congregation will devote time and energy to
debate/discussion concerning the changes. Please know I look forward to
hearing from you at jlund@uua.org.
I wish a relaxing summer to you all!
Greetings Florida District Friends and Leaders
Journey
Toward Wholeness Team Forms
"Florida
District congregations, working together to become more welcoming,
transform themselves and their communities to achieve racial, economic,
and environmental justice."
Florida
District End “E”
As this statement suggests, our Florida District is committed to an
inclusive, justice-focused ministry. Accordingly, we have organized a
Journey To Wholeness (JTW) team to implement this challenging goal. The
team met for the first time at the
Our deliberations led to identifying seven over-all goals for the
team:
·
Identify Tipping Point Congregations:
We are seeking 1/3(15) of
·
Collect Congregational Summaries: Working with the JTW team,
these congregations will set goals and conduct an annual
self-identification audit to track institutional change as they move
toward becoming multicultural and inclusive in their ministries.
·
Compile a District Summary:
·
Hold Annual JTW Team Retreat:
·
Host an Annual Multi-Cultural Conference:
·
Become Active Participants at the District Annual Meeting:
The team will take the lead in ensuring the annual Assembly
provides support and encouragement to broader engagement in racial justice
& multi-cultural ministries.
·
Encourage JTW Sundays & Sermon Contests: The team will
ask all
What
does this mean for you and your congregation? Immediately, we hope you
will raise the question with your Board of Trustees and/or Minister to
consider volunteering to be an identified JTW congregation. What that
entails will be forth-coming. It will help, however, to have early
interest so we may include self-identifying congregations in the shaping
of just how we'll go about this ministry.
**********
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