What’s going on...February 2005

February…  

We began our church year some months ago, in the fall, with the first services with our part-time minister, Rev. Barbara Child.  She has been trying to help us understand who we are and what we would like to become.  We have said we would like to grow, but there have not been many visitors this year, so far, and some of our regulars have not been attending.  What do we need to do to change things?  What do we want to do to change things?  As we experiment with Adult RE on several Wednesday nights in the coming months under Rev. Child’s leadership, let’s see if we can’t answer some of these questions.  We have a few more months to “take advantage of” her expertise and wisdom.  Volunteer to help as you can.  Attend as many programs as your other activities will allow.  Volunteer to take on a job for next year when the Nominating Committee asks and pledge what you can to the ongoing endeavors of our congregation.  We know we are an important voice for liberal religion in our south Georgia community.  Together we must keep our presence alive for our sakes and for the sake of our larger community.

The Worship Service is a time set apart for centering and focusing on that which is uplifting and valuable to us in our lives, i.e. love, beauty, music, friendship, free thought, spiritual practice….                  (anonymous from one of our members at a recent workshop)

Rev. Child’s February Visit

Our minister, Rev. Barbara Child, will be in Valdosta for two services in February:  

Sunday, February 13  "Thinking Differently, Loving Alike"

The day before Valentine's Day seems a good day to explore the famous statement of Francis David, chaplain to King John Sigismund of Transylvania :  "We need not think alike to love alike."  We talk a lot about our thinking differently from one another.  That's the pluralism we're proud of.  But what about loving alike?  What does that mean?  And what can we do when it's mighty hard to do it?  

Sunday, February 20 "Telling the Truth About Who We Are"

This is the first Sunday after the kickoff of the "Creating the Beloved Community" series last Wednesday evening (otherwise known as UU 102), when we had a fresh look at who we are these days as a congregation and what we have to say about it.  A Unitarian Fellowship?  A Unitarian Universalist Church ?  A "Beloved Community"?  This morning I will reflect on what happened Wednesday evening and what it says to me about the congregation's future.  

Other Sunday Services

Sunday February 6    Sheri Kling will present her music and a message. She is based in Marietta , GA , and her music “is built on rich vocals and dynamic guitar and resonates with a certain organic authenticity through compositions that are heart-rooted and spirit-seeking.” Sheri has produced and released a solo CD of her music, “Let It Unfold.”  If you would like more information about Sheri she has a website: http://www.sherikling.com/default.htm

February 27: Dr. Jim Hill will speak on "Need there be a conflict between religion and science? Answer: yes and no." It is vital for all of us to get involved in confronting recent incursions into science education by scientific creationists. There is a way of showing that there should be no conflict between them. But there is a deeper reason, deeper than just the scientific ignorance of scientific creationists, for the conflict, which Dr. Hill intends to address and try to resolve.  Dr. Hill is a Valdosta State University Professor Emeritus and recent Head of the university’s Philosophy Department.   He is teaching several courses during spring semester.  Dr. Hill has spoken to our congregation a number of times through the years.  His presentations are always provocative.

 

INVITATION TO MEMBERSHIP If you are interested in becoming a member of our fellowship, we encourage you to talk with our minister Rev. Barbara Child.  We welcome your questions, and we extend an open invitation to all who want to join our liberal community of faith.

 

 

 

 

 

Religious Education  

Religious Education programs, both adult and children, have been discontinued at 9:30 AM on Sundays.  Children's RE will be at 10:45 AM during Sunday services.  Children are also WELCOME in the Sunday services. Contact: Anne Zipperer for further information.  

R.E. for Young Children: Children’s R.E. will meet at 10:45 AM during the Sunday Services.  This is a change from the previous schedule recently made by the Board. The lessons are from Chalice Children, a UU curriculum. The lessons include material about our planet, imagination, and the interdependent web in which we live. Along with the lessons children will make crafts, read stories, sing songs, and play games.  Emily Segrest will continue as teacher.  

R. E. for Adults: The Board has recently decided to discontinue R.E. for Adults on Sunday morning.  In its place various programs will be scheduled for other times that may be more convenient for adult members.  Watch the newsletter and Sunday Bulletins for announcements about specific topics.   

Meet & Greet Coffee after the Service: Don’t miss this opportunity to engage in friendly and interesting conversation and particularly to greet visitors and newcomers.  Volunteers are needed to host particular Sundays.   

Changes in Childcare Children's RE will be at 10:45 AM during Sunday services    Children are also welcome in the Sunday Services.   For the immediate future there will be no nursery care during the services.

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February 16 – UU 102

Telling the Truth about Who We Are, or “What’s in a Name?”

potluck supper at 5:30

followed by reflection, personal sharing, and discussion

What does it mean to be a Unitarian Fellowship?  A Unitarian Universalist Church ?  A “Beloved Community”? Which are we, or are we something else? What difference does it make?

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Sunday Service Planning  Service Strategy Group has placed a notebook on the counter in the vestibule where members and friends may indicate their willingness to help in creating the services we all enjoy. There is a page for each Sunday.   Please sign up under the various categories where help is needed. Don't worry if you lack experience or don't know what is required of a certain job.   Several workshops are planned that will equip you with the expertise you need. Some tasks like childcare assistant, greeter, meet & greet host and flower donation just require a willing spirit!  Please take time each week to check the sign up sheets and volunteer to help make our services meaningful for all. With a congregation as small as ours is, we need everyone to help!

 

CHILD’S  PLAY

Rev. Barbara Child  

            The January Board meeting was a hard one, friends, but it was a good one too because we took a clear-eyed look at the state of the congregation right now.  In standard interim ministries, this is the time for a mid-year inventory of progress on the interim tasks that the congregation has contracted to undertake.  Since I am here as a consulting minister, we didn’t focus on the standard interim tasks but instead on the priorities that the group set at the Leadership Retreat back in October: Worship, Commitment & Involvement, and Outreach. 

                There was much to applaud in the congregation’s attention to worship services this year.  We had a Sunday afternoon workshop on “The Art of Sunday Services,” and out of that workshop a Sunday Services Strategy Group formed and has met twice. Members of that group are working with me to compile a Lay Leader’s Resource Notebook.  We had a potluck supper and workshop on January 26 for people wanting to participate more meaningfully in putting on worship services. However, Sunday morning attendance has averaged about 15; there were 12 at Christmas Eve service.

                With respect to congregational commitment and involvement, the Membership Committee has done notable work.  They worked with me on an ingathering celebration for new members and renewal of the commitments of membership for all members in our worship service on January 23.  There is now a refurbished bulletin board, marker boards for noting needed supplies, and a sign-up notebook for the tasks of keeping the church running.  A bylaws revision group is hard at work on proposals to make outdated articles in the bylaws consistent with present realities. The nature trail and memorial walk have been cleared of hurricane debris, and we are planning for a dedication of the trail on March 20. We had a Thanksgiving dinner at church with 27 people attending. 

In relation to the wider world, there has been representation from the congregation at two Florida District events:  the fall conference on “Managing Our Differences” and the winter one on “Integrating World Religions into Liberal Spirituality.”  Members have made contributions to the Florida District Disaster Relief Fund and the UU Service Committee’s “Guest at Your Table” program.  With special effort from the children, there was also a congregational contribution to the Limbs for Life Foundation.  We wrapped the church in rainbow ribbon to participate with other Georgia UU congregations in support of gay marriage and in opposition to the constitutional amendment banning gay marriage.  The fact is that a few people have been doing a great deal!

                In the realm of outreach, we continue to have a fine newsletter and website.  However, the only advertising in the community of Valdosta has been the bench ad on Norman Avenue and the newspaper’s publication of two of my sermons plus the interview with me.  I was a reader at the Valdosta Interfaith Thanksgiving service.  There have been very, very few visitors here on Sunday mornings.

                So what is the state of the congregation right now, and how best can my remaining four weeks with you in February through May be spent?  These are the questions the Board and I rolled up our sleeves to work on at our January meeting.  I was blunt.  I said that too few people are carrying too much weight.  I said that if the congregation is to thrive – not just sit here until it expires from a combination of burnout and atrophy – more of the current members and friends are going to have to show up regularly and take active part in the life of the congregation.   I said I believe you are at a critical turning point, and I want our remaining time together to count.  This congregation is too full of wonderful, valuable souls for you to allow yourselves to wither! 

                With all that said, we remembered what a good evening we had at the Wednesday potluck and workshop last fall that I called “Getting to Know UU” and that came to be known as “UU 101.”  So we decided to have the Wednesday evening during each of my remaining four weeks be UU 102-105.  I’m calling the series “Creating a Beloved Community Right Here, Right Now.”  Look for the description of the whole series elsewhere in this newsletter.  Put the dates on your calendar.  Start thinking about what you will bring to the potluck on February 16 and what commitment you will make to support the congregation for the coming year. Is Unitarian Universalism in Valdosta , Georgia , going to be an abstract idea that doesn’t have enough substance for anybody to notice, or is it going to be real?  It’s up to you, folks.  It really is.  

 

 

President’s Portion

Dee Tait 

By the time this newsletter is published, we will have turned in our "Guest at Your Table" gift boxes to the UU Service Committee,  begun making contributions to the Asian Tsunami Relief Fund, and once again delivered meals to our Break Bread friends. 

We will have cleared the walking trail behind the church.  We will have joined in the community Martin Luther King march and I hope it will be accurate to say that we found time to take part in the Global Diversity Coalition Planning Convention.  

                We will have met for a potluck and workshop on Sunday Service planning.  January will have ended with joining with people from around the Florida district for a workshop on Integrating World Religions into Liberal Spirituality.

                Our efforts in January might seem miniscule in view of the need in the world.   But, a reminder of the words of Charlie Clements, President/CEO of UUSC, are encouraging.  In his appeal to UUs to give to the Tsunami relief, he said "In a time such as this I find it helpful to keep in mind some words from the Talmud: 'Do not be daunted by the enormity of the world's grief.  Do justly, now.   Love mercy, now.  Walk humbly, now. You are not obligated to complete the work, but neither are you free to abandon it.'

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Volunteer Always Needed!  There are always jobs to be done and opportunities to volunteer one's time for the church.  Look for sign-up book for Sunday Services and sheets on the bulletin board in the RE building for that purpose.  If you see something that needs doing volunteer.  Has anyone noticed the Christmas decoration in late January?!  If you didn’t help put them up, what about volunteering to take them down!     

VALDOSTA 'S SUPPORT FOR FLORIDA DISASTER RELIEF    Counting contributions sent to the Florida District last August plus collections taken at Thanksgiving dinner and the Christmas Eve service, our congregation has sent contributions of record to the Florida District for hurricane disaster relief totaling $848.00.  There may have been additional contributions sent directly to the District Office by individuals in the congregation.  All the contributions are greatly appreciated by the District and the Florida congregations who have benefited from them.  

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About Our Members

v      Please let those folks who have experienced health concerns know you are glad they are feeling better: 

v    Welcome our new members who were recognized in a special service in January:  Stephanie Kiyak, June Fisher, Jennifer Glapion.  

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Celebrations of Dr. Martin Luther King:  You will find a special message of hope and inspiration from President William Sinkford in honor of Martin Luther King entitled "Martin Luther King, Jr.: Remembrance, Reflection, and Renewal at http://www.uua.org/.  President Sinkford reminds us of the tragedies and setbacks that occurred in 1963 before the victories of 1964 and what we can learn from that today.

Did you know that Dr. King addressed the UUA General Assembly in 1966?  His Ware Lecture was called "Don't Sleep through the Revolution" and you can read it at http://www.uua.org/news/2005/050115_ware66.html,

 

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Treasurer's Report

Randy Thompson

FUND BALANCES AT DECEMBER 31, 2004

General Fund*				$27,754.07
Restoration Fund				18,015.64
Total (Cash in Accounts)				$47,155.94
OUTSTANDING DEBT
Mortgage				$26,391.53
					YTD
OPERATING RECEIPTS AND DISBURSEMENTS:				December	Six Months
Receipts:
Plate				101.00	644.20
Pledge				1,390.00	7,850.00
Rent				290.00	1,490.00
Interest Income				0.00	420.47
TOTAL RECEIPTS				1,781.00	10,404.67
Disbursements:
Minister Expense *				2,221.95	8,888.34
Mortgage				500.00	3,000.00
Speaker's Fees & Expenses				0.00	499.00
Repairs and Maintenance				0.00	483.01
Child care expense				0.00	430.00
Ministerial Music				0.00	50.00
Postage				86.58	160.92
Supplies				154.53	359.63
RE Programming				105.00	480.00
UUA dues				0.00	2,208.00
Utilities				139.90	1,030.57
Other				12.00	194.00
TOTAL DISBURSEMENTS				3,219.96	17,783.47
NET RECEIPT (DISBURSEMENT)				($1,438.96)	($7,378.80)

^*The balance in the General Fund is reserved for paying a minister.  In December 2003, the church received $17,500, which is the balance of a $40,000 pledge made by Josette and Jim Ingram.  All ministerial donations and expenses have been accounted for in the General Fund.  It is anticipated that the church will incur monthly deficits during the employ of a part-time minister.  This expense has been prefunded and is in the general fund.  

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At the Church-in-the-Woods

Tai Chi – Monday and Thursday Evenings  A new Beginner’s Class will begin January 10, 5:45-6:45 PM.   The Continuing Class will meet 6:45-8:15 PM.  Contact Dennis Bogyo.   

New Hope Christian Fellowship - Sunday evenings: Choir practice at 5:00 PM. Service at 6:00 PM. 

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Social Action Activities

Break Bread Together

Our date for meal deliveries with the Break Bread Together program is the 2^nd Monday of each month.  If you can deliver meals on this day beginning about 11:00 AM, please contact Virginia Branan. 

Social Action Committee

In January, the Social Action Committee coordinated our congregation's participation in the MLK Day March in Valdosta on January 15.  We had a nice group marching together, which was made up of both UUs and South Georgians for Peace and Justice, including Lars Leader, Virginia Branan, Betty Derrick, Laurel Hahlen, Vicki Pennington, Paul Brooks, Susan Wehling and her kids, and Jim and Anna Hall.  Lars and Betty carried our sanctuary banner. 

                The Guest at Your Table boxes were collected on January 2 and we had 8 boxes returned and collected $281.37.  These donations also went toward 8 UUSC memberships for members of our congregations.  This is twice as many boxes, twice as many UUSC members, and more than twice as much money as last year during GAYT.  Three boxes contained at least $60, which will be matched by the Unitarian Universalist Congregation at Shelter Rock, Manhasset , New York , bringing our total support of GAYT to $461.37.  A big thank you to all those who participated.  Great Job!

                For the next few months, the Social Action Committee will focus on informing the congregation how best to assist with tsunami relief and unmet needs in the Valdosta area as reported by our local 211 social services clearinghouse.  Please be on the lookout for emails to this effect and help in any way you can with both, as the needs here and abroad are great and will likely remain that way for the near future.  There will be no social action meeting in February as there are no projects to plan at this time.  Please contact Anna Mitchell Hall to get involved with social action or suggest a future project  

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News From the Board: 

The Board met on January 6, 2005, at 6:00 PM.  In attendance were Dee Tait, Randy Thompson, Barbara Child, Lars Leader, and Anna Hall.  Items discussed included R.E., district and national UU events, Certification Reporting to the UUA, Ministerial Housing Allowance Statement, LAMP donations, Chamber of Commerce membership, District Awards, Appointing a Nominating Committee for Next Year's Board, funding a guest musician/speaker for a Sunday service, transportation of people to church activities, Annual Canvass, and the Road Sign.  Randy Thompson presented the Treasurer's Report for December 2004, which was accepted as entered.  It was decided that for Adult RE Barbara will present a series of monthly potluck workshops during her weeks with us on topics relating to being a part of our UU community, one of which will tie in to our annual canvass for pledges. (See details elsewhere in the newsletter.)    The Board decided that Children's RE will be held during the Sunday service, although children are welcome in the service as well.  The Nursery will not be available for the time being.  9:45 RE before Sunday services will be discontinued.  The Board approved funding the registration fees for those attending the district workshop in Jacksonville on January 29 and funding some assistance with General Assembly travel expenses for our next President.  The Board approved a resolution indicating how much of our payments to Barbara are for her housing expenses for IRS purposes.  It was agreed to discuss the proposed budget for next year including donations to LAMP at the March meeting.  In the meantime, Anna will forward unmet needs reports from 211 to the congregational email list for people to donate individually as desired, as these are clients whose needs were not able to be met by LAMP.  Dee informed all present of the categories of District awards and asked everyone to think about any possible nominations.  The Board approved Dee , as President, to obtain all keys to the minister’s office and work with Barbara to determine the appropriate location for said keys in order to maintain confidentiality as prescribed by ministerial ethics.  Dee reported that she had contacted John Tait and Jim Ingram about the Church sign.  Randy and Dee agreed to coordinate the tabulation of membership numbers and report them to the UUA.  The Board approved the funding of the guest musician/speaker to play music but not to do the sermon, as that is more expensive. However, Lars was able to negotiate both for a lesser amount and the Board approved that expenditure.  Dee will recruit a Nominating Committee for next year's Board.  Transportation to church activities will depend on volunteers to do it, and anyone wanting to volunteer should contact Dee .  Chamber membership was tabled due to the need for further information to make a decision.  As you might imagine, this was quite an extensive Board meeting but your trusty Board members put their collective noses to the grindstone and got a lot done.  The next Board meeting will be held on February 10 at 6 PM in the RE building.  

Nominating Committee: Dee Tait has appointed Virginia Branan to chair the committee.  Betty Derrick and John Tait will serve with her.  Expect conversations with these folks in the coming weeks asking you to serve on the Board next year.  Consider saying yes, especially if you have not served recently.  In out small congregation we need everyone’s help and we also need to give our hardest workers a chance to rest occasionally.  What about considering what you can contribute and volunteer! 

Get in the habit!  Check the bulletin board in the R. E. building regularly.  Postings there announce activities at the church with sign-up sheets and advertise Florida District activities.  You’ll find interesting information about Unitarian Universalism and about our members too.

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Newsletter Staff  

Editor:  Betty Derrick

Website:  Carol Stiles  

February 15: deadline for the March newsletter.

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UUA TRUSTEE TIDBITS

Joan Lund

Welcome to February. This is the time of year when we are very satisfied to be Floridians and when those northern visitors tend to appear at our doors hoping to find refuge from the cold. Sometimes it is difficult for me to find topics I think will be of interest to you but when I thought about all the folks who want to stay well during the winter, and who wish to receive the flu vaccine but have not been successful I thought you might be interested in our Association’s social justice public policy statements made at various times in regard to healthcare. Because we affirm the worth and dignity of every individual we affirm access to quality healthcare as a basic human right, and believe it is the responsibility of our government to meet healthcare needs in an equitable, just, and compassionate manner.

Our Association supports quality, affordable healthcare through a national, single-payer plan for all people regardless of age, race, geographic location, or immigration status. This includes full coverage for mental healthcare, preventative care, long-term care comprehensive treatment, access to medications, family planning, and the freedom for individuals to choose their healthcare providers. Our Association supports Medicare and Medicaid which meet the healthcare needs of people who cannot afford health care and senior citizens. Our Association believes in the right to self-determination in dying and in honoring the right of terminally ill patients to select the time of their own deaths. Our Association supports medically-accurate, age-appropriate comprehensive sexuality education in the nation’s public schools, which includes heterosexual, gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender orientations. Our Association supports eliminating social stigma and discrimination for people living with HIV/AIDS, and adequate funding for prevention and treatments of these conditions.

What I have written is a very simplified version of some of our positions regarding healthcare. If you are interested in complete versions of these and more, or other social justice issues/statements I suggest you see www.uua.org/actions. Next month I hope to write about the January UUA Board of Trustees meeting. Even though I will have returned from Boston when you read this, it will not be in time to make most church newsletter deadlines. I am always interested in hearing from you at jlund@uua.org. Stay well and warm this winter.

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UU Activities and Announcements

 Further information is posted on the bulletin board in the R.E. wing at the church.  

Feb. 13-18 and Feb. 27-Mar.4 Elderhostel at UU in the Pines, “Explore Florida ’s Ecosystem From the Water Up: Canoeing Three Rivers”

 

Feb. 18- 20 Conference featuring Margot Adler “Healing The Interdependent Web ~ Let it Begin with ME!” UU Church of Fort Myers, FL  For more information and registration: visit www.oocities.org/uuconference/index  

March 1 Deadline for congregational input on The Treat of Global Warming, which was the topic chosen at General Assembly to be the 2004-2006 Study/Action Issue.  

April 8-9 – District Annual Assembly with Bill Sinkford  

Tsunami Relief: The UUA & UUSC have joined together to raise aid for the communities harmed by the tsunami disaster.  We have already raised over $400,000 and expect that we will raise $1 million.  I am moved by the generous response of the UU community.  For more information, see www.uua.org and www.uusc.org.  Thanks to Rev. Nancy Palmer Jones for her report and efforts of the South Nassau UU Congregation in Freeport NY .  They have already raised $3500 and started an interfaith coalition that will witness together one month after the tsunami on January 26.  For more information see our Monthly Feature: Congregational Social Justice Story at http://www.uua.org/programs/justice/index.html.