What’s going on...December 2005

Sunday Services

 December 4: Billy Thomas – “Life Coaching”

Strategies for Living Well is a unique life coaching program designed to help individuals and groups replace painful, non-productive patterns of reacting to difficult situations with healthy and successful conflict management skills.  Billy Thomas helps not only identify the behaviors, beliefs and habits of thinking that need changing, but provides a clear method to accomplish that change. A 25 year student and a retired professor of world religions, Bill Thomas is able to comfortably discuss the difficulties experienced in the practice of the world’s faith systems.

December 11: Michael Stoltzfus – “Engaged Buddhism in Thailand and India ”

VSU Religious Studies professor Dr. Michael Stoltzfus continues his year-long exploration of world religions. Socially engaged Buddhism is a growing phenomenon throughout the world. Dr. Stoltzfus will discuss how Sulak Sivaraksa relates traditional Buddhist teachings to the problems associated with international economic markets and consumer capitalism in Thailand.  We will also investigate how Ambedkar incorporates Buddhism into the struggle for political freedom and economic justice in modern India.

 December 18: Van Fox – “The Evolution of UU from Christian to non-Christian Group”

UU is a unique religious tradition for a number of reasons. One of the most fascinating things about UU is that it began, 

in the separate entities of Unitarianism and Universalism, with a pronounced Christian identity, and has evolved, 

in the short space of 200 years or so, into a group that is decidedly non-Christian in its identity. Religious scholar 

Van Fox will discuss this remarkable occurrence, and pose a few questions about how denominations self-identify 

theologically.  Van Fox is a life-long Unitarian Universalist. He holds a B.A. and an M.A. from the University of Florida, 

where he studied American religious history with a focus on the Unitarian Universalist tradition. He currently lives 

in Tallahassee with his wife and son, and is working on a graduate degree in the College of Social Work at Florida State.

December 25: “The Etruscan Pals”: an all-musical service to celebrate Hanukah and Christmas

Talented duo Dave Leporati and soprano Carrie Hamby, versatile world folk musicians with gospel roots, will play piano, accordion, guitar, and base as they perform and lead a cornucopia of Christmas and Hanukah songs.

Music Director Needed: Please contact Helen Gerhardt if you believe you could take on this task.

Don’t forget to sign up in the SPARC notebook on the counter in the vestibule. Please take time each week to check the sign up sheets and volunteer to help make our services meaningful for all.   

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 Dee Tait.

Newsletter

Editor:  Betty Derrick

Website:  Carol Stiles

December 15: deadline for the January newsletter. 

Keep in your hearts our members and friends...

UU Board News:  November 17^th Board Meeting

Treasurer’s report

• Doug Tanner advertised for a child care position at VSU but there has not been a response yet.
• Receipts have improved since September. Receipts were $1596 for October and expenses were $1006.95.
• Our congregational meeting did not achieve a quorum to vote on the use of the Restoration Fund for use for future natural disasters, but the board had voted to use its discretionary powers under the by-laws to spend up to $2000 and the Church donated $1999 to the UUA Katrina relief fund.

Program report:

• Helen Gerhardt met with students from the VSU Philosophy and Religious Studies Club, and the VSU Atheists and Freethinkers Club (AFT). Both groups are interested in planning joint community service activities as well as educational services starting in 2006. Helen will be meeting with their boards after Thanksgiving.
• Starting in January, Helen will begin a new series of programs, “Ethics in Action,” inviting speakers that will focus on community service, social action, and joint efforts to act on philosophical and religious values. She hopes to give VSU students in the Philosophy Club and AFT a leadership role.
• Helen is trying to arrange more live music for programs and will ask one of our recent performers, VSU Music professor Nephtali Santiago, for names of students who might perform on a regular basis. The board suggested $50 a week as a potential honorarium.
• Helen has rush-ordered “Guest at Your Table” Packets from the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee for the holidays, and will set aside part of a service to address these issues.

Building and Grounds report.

• Jim Ingram, Lars Leader, and Helen Gerhardt met to help clean up the church parking lot on Nov. 12. Jim cut down several trees and cleared out lots of brush to make our grounds safer to park.
• Jim called our insurance company, and none of the board members are currently bonded. Lars will call the company to find out the standard monthly fees.
• An insurance adjuster looked at the damaged sign this month and will contact us with information on the payment.
• Lars presented building plans for a “roadside pulpit” featuring a $12 packet of quotes that help represent Unitarian Universalism and the board will vote on this next month after estimating costs and finding out the insurance payment for the damage to our old sign.
• Jim placed four lights to mark our driveway at night, but will add four more since they are harder to see on rainy nights.
• Jim will also rebuild the church sign on the other side of the driveway, painting it white to contrast with the black letters, and including our usual service time.

The board scheduled its next meeting for Dec. 8 at 6PM.

Treasurer's Report

Doug Tanner

FUND BALANCES at October 31, 2005                          

General Fund                                                                                    $21,015.16             

Restoration Fund                                                                             $15,215.64             

Total (Cash in Bank Accounts)                                                     $36,230.80  

OUTSTANDING DEBT                                     

Mortgage                                                                                           $23,445.18  

                                                                                                         YTD

OPERATING RECEIPTS AND DISBURSEMENTS:          October  Four Months

Receipts:                                                                               

  Plate                                                                                          226.00       463.19

  Pledge                                                                                    1,030.00    3,300.00

  Rent                                                                                           340.00       860.00

  TOTAL RECEIPTS                                                               1,596.00    4,623.19

Disbursements:                                                                   

  Minister Expense                                                                         0.00         75.00

  Mortgage                                                                                  500.00    2,000.00

  Speaker's Fees & Expenses                                                    200.00       722.40

  Repairs and Maintenance                                                           0.00       326.00

  Postage                                                                                      185.60       185.60

  Supplies                                                                                       77.82       221.97

  UU Conference Attendance                                                       0.00       189.00

  Utilities                                                                                         43.53       459.60

  Advertising                                                                                   0.00         84.80

  Other                                                                                              0.00          27.00

TOTAL DISBURSEMENTS                                                   1,006.95    4,291.37

NET RECEIPT (DISBURSEMENT)                                           $589.05   $331.82

UU Activities and Announcements

Further information is posted on the bulletin board in the R.E. wing at the church.  Also check your Sunday Order of Service for announcements. 

Dec. 15 West Central Cluster Holiday Service: Symbols of the Season, Clearwater

Jan. 7 District Board Meeting, Gainesville , FL

Jan. 22-28 Florida Leadership, School Oviedo

UUA TRUSTEE TIDBITS

Joan Lund

Happy holidays everyone. This is the time of year when the various ways of giving may be in our plans and practices. As you know our UUA President, Rev. Bill Sinkford, believes strongly in giving and that our religion’s future lies in reclaiming our rightful place as the preeminent voice of a giving, liberal religion. Our message is of liberating, hopeful, and justice-making love and we are about vital work in these areas. This month’s and next month’s column will be about the resources it will take to make our faith grow a vital, strong, liberal religion.

        To this end we need to encourage the health and vitality of our congregations in their ministries. This is our Association’s first priority. Specifically we need to create more programs and ministries for children, youth and young adults so that diverse interests are respected within our congregations. Free, on-line, cradle-to-grave religious education curricula and resources for all congregations must be developed. Our Association needs to continue nurturing relationships and promote spiritual growth through new programs and small group ministries. Of course lay-leadership, staff training, and improved congregational management will continue to be important

        We also need to open our doors to folks who desire a liberal religious community… children and all families plus people of all backgrounds and cultures. This will mean advertising and marketing at several levels to make our congregations known. We will need to attract young adults through campus ministry programs and significantly financially support start-up congregations.

        We also have to continue being a respected public voice for liberal religious values, going beyond resolutions to visible participation in the public controversies of our society. This will include establishing partnerships with other religious groups so that we may work together in our shared values. Congregations and individuals will need training on how to engage in important public discourses. We will need to provide training for our religious professionals and lay leaders on engaging with the media so our positions on issues may be shared. Our partnership with the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee (UUSC) needs support and strengthening as we advance justice throughout the world.

        Next month I will write about the UUA Comprehensive Capital Campaign’s strategic plan to achieve the “dreams” of our President and Association. Rev. Sinkford is asking for our thoughts and care as “we” move into the coming years and beyond. You know I relish hearing from Florida UUs and can be reached at jlund@uua.org. May one and all be safe and healthy during the holidays and into the new year.

Hear the roar!  Feel the mist!  See the mighty Falls! July 16-29, 2006  Come experience the wonder of Niagara Falls including some great educational opportunities while being taken care of like royalty.  The UU Church of Niagara is conducting a four day UU Niagara Experience which is a lifetime opportunity to encounter the Falls up close from every prospective, even safely riding beneath a tethered balloon.  Spend four days with us exploring the rich historical and natural wonders around the Falls.  For information visit our web site :http://www.uunex.net/ Email : info@uunex.net

THE MYSTIC'S WHEEL OF THE YEAR 2006
...a Multifaith Wall Calendar  reflecting Eco-Egalitarian Spirituality  and Unitarian Universalist Principles and Sources
25 U.U. dates included...focusing on Unitarian, Universalist, Transcendentalist, Deist, and Humanist events and notables! Check out our website to see these photos and to see the holidays we include in the calendar from all the various traditions.www.WheeloftheYear.com.

At the Church-in-the-Woods

Tai Chi – Monday and Thursday Evenings: Beginner’s Class 5:30-6:30 PM.  Continuing Class 6:30-8:00 PM.  Contact Dennis Bogyo. 

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