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Rev. Child’s December Visit  

Our minister, Rev. Barbara Child , will be in Valdosta in December for two services, one on a Sunday morning and the other a Christmas Eve service.     

Sunday, December 19: "Feeding the Hungry Ghosts"

Along with the joys of the holiday season come the temptations of over-work, over-achievement, and perfectionism.  Rebecca Parker includes these among what she calls "the lesser gods" we worship in the vain hope of feeding the "hungry ghosts" in us that seem to be insatiable.  Let's have a look at those ghosts and see about a different way to satisfy them. 

Friday, December 24:   7:00 PM  "Imperfect Gifts"

We will celebrate Christmas Eve with story and song.  Please come and share this special time with your beloved community of faith.

Other Sunday Services

December 5:  Anna Mitchell Hall will present a program entitled “A UU Winter ‘Advent’ure.”  Advent means “Coming.”  At this time of year, many of us are eagerly anticipating (or dreading) the coming of the holiday season.  and although we try to be present in and enjoy the Winter season, we can’t help but look forward to the return of Spring.   We will explore the Pagan and Christian historical roots of the Advent wreath, and experience an Advent ritual that will help us explore aspects of the Advent tradition that I believe are spiritually uplifting even to those UUs with no connection to these two traditions.

 

December 12:  Betty Derrick will share some thoughts she has entitled "Unconditional Gift Giving.” Betty says that she has been thinking about giving and receiving gifts for a while and in this season of gift giving would like to share some of her thoughts.  How would you feel if a gift you gave showed up at Betty’s White Elephant Gift Party next year?  When you are given a gift, do you feel an obligation to the giver? Does the giver have a right to assume you have an obligation because you accepted the gift?  What, if anything, does this possible sense of obligation have to do with charitable giving?  Bring your thoughts with you as Betty shares some of her thoughts.  Betty is a recently retired member of the Chemistry faculty at Valdosta State University , a longtime member of the church, and editor of the newsletter.

 

December 26:  Video viewing and discussion of Larry King’s “ in the Name of God” show with Deepak Chopra (author of “How to Know God”), Rabbi Harold Kushner (author of “Living a Life that Matters” and “Why Bad Things Happen to Good People”), Rev, John MacArthur (syndicated fundamentalist radio host and pastor of Grace Community Church in Sun Valley), Imam Maher Hathout (senior adviser for Muslim Public Affairs Council) and Father Michael Manning (host of “The Word in the World”).  They present very different and controversial views of God, religion, and humankind in the war-torn world today.  

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.   

Childcare is available during the Sunday service. Sarah Tait and Emily Segrest are providing this service to the church.

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Religious Education

Adult and Young Children Religious Education meet on Sunday at 9:30 AM in the R.E. wing.  Contact: Anne Zipperer.

R.E. for Young Children: The lessons taught each Sunday during R.E. 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.  Our teachers/childcare givers Emily Segrest and Sarah Tait will alternate teaching the R.E. class.

R. E. for Adults: Please watch the Sunday Bulletins in December for announcements about specific topics and speakers.  The group is involved in lively and interesting discussions concerning current global, political, and religious situations and policies. 

Our minister, Rev. Barbara Child will be leading Adult R.E. on the second Sundays of her weeks in Valdosta .  She will continue this practice in the New Year; however note that she will not be in Valdosta for a second Sunday in December.  At the "Talking Turkey" session in November she suggested that the discussion at these sessions be centered on Tom Owen-Towle's book, "Growing a Beloved Community: Twelve Hallmarks of a Healthy Congregation" ( Boston : Skinner House), 2004.  If people would like to buy it, they can order it from the UUA Bookstore at 800-215-9076 or online at http://www.uua.org/bookstore.  Rev. Child says though that she doesn't want people to think they need to buy and read the book in order to come to the sessions.  She says that she will just be working with ideas from that book.  Her Child’s Play column in this newsletter on Alice Blair Wesley's ideas about healthy congregations is also designed to keep people's attention on these matters.  

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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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.

 

Worship is to “celebrate joys and share concerns, challenge the intellect and stir the soul, moving one another  to action to benefit the world and ourselves.”

CHILD’S  PLAY          

Rev. Barbara Child  

                At this season of giving, here is a present to all of us from the Rev. Alice Blair Wesley, one of Unitarian Universalism’s brightest lights.  It is her description of a spiritually healthy congregation, which I will paraphrase to shorten a bit.  May you drink it in with my best wishes to you all for the holidays – and my hope that you will join me at church for a special Christmas Eve service.

            Members of a spiritually healthy congregation love worship services, and so they attend regularly.  They love singing and other music.  They love having children in the service and enjoy the message for the children too.  A wide range of feeling gets expressed during a service:  tears are common and so is laughter and also silence.  The people treasure solid sermons and tell the minister (or other speaker) when something in a sermon has taught or helped them or hit some nail on the head.  Before and after services, lots of people greet each other with affection.

            Members care about the cleanliness and good order of their building and grounds.  They care how the place looks because they think what happens there is important.  It’s usual to see members pitching in, scouring the sink, picking up left-over orders of service, fixing something or sprucing something up.

            Almost everybody takes their turn and does their part.  They rotate every office and committee chair’s position at least every three years because they want always to be bringing on new interests, abilities, and talent.  They don’t want anybody “owning” leadership positions, and they have no “paper” committees that seldom meet.  They know what policies to follow to avoid “turf battles” and “burn-out” and to encourage freshness in all programs.

            They are alive to the special needs and challenges of their particular community and time.  They understand that people want and need depth but that time is in short supply.  So they work at being both tender and efficient, thorough but not long-winded or micro-managing or talking every issue to death.  Leaders, in office and out, make it clear that this congregation doesn’t do gossip, triangling, ridicule, or sarcasm because this is a community in which trust and trustworthiness matter.

            The people knock themselves out to be transparent.  Every committee posts its minutes.  The Board publishes its agenda before meetings, and afterward all carried motions, including a summary of pros and cons expressed during discussion.

            The people talk about money easily, expect financial facts to be delivered simply, and give generously without making a big deal of it.  There is an annual canvass, and it is wrapped up in one month. 

            The people care as much about justice and mercy as they do the church piano and the Religious Education curriculum, but they don’t take up every single cause anybody might suppose they ought to.  They work in a few focused areas in which a significant number of members know what they are doing, or are trying hard to learn.

            A spiritually healthy congregation is growing.  You couldn’t keep new people out if you tried.

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Social/Fellowship Activities

 Friday Social at Betty Derrick’s Home

December 3, 2004

5:00 – 7:00 PM

Valdosta UU’s are invited to attend the VSU Faculty First Friday Social Betty Derrick is hosting at her home in December.   Snacks are provided; bring your own drinks.  This is always a fun occasion, which some of our members have enjoyed in the past.  It is not a UU function but adult UU’s are welcome.  Contact Betty if you need more information.    

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 about our members

Keep in your thoughts.....

• Our members and friends experiencing health concerns, or the loss of loved ones.

Congratulations to....

• Anna Mitchell Hall who has been accepted to the Candler School of Theology at Emory University in Atlanta !  She hopes to start there next fall, if she and her husband Jim can make the necessary arrangements.  Jim will need to find a teaching position in metro Atlanta (high school social studies and he can coach golf) in order for them to move there.  If anyone knows of any Atlanta contact that would be helpful, let them know.

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Newsletter Staff

Editor:  Betty Derrick

Website:  Carol Stiles

December 12: deadline for the January newsletter. Please note the earlier than usual deadline.  Because of your editor’s holiday plans the January newsletter will have to go to press by December 15.  Thank you for helping get our New Year’s issue out on time. 

 

President’s Portion

Dee Tait 

                When our members and friends [have shared difficult times with us over the past few weeks…]. We expressed our concern and hopes that everything will be all right.   

            All these situations and others give us the opportunity to see how important it is that we can share with the people around us whatever is going in our lives.  It appears that one of our important missions is to be aware and supportive of the life events of one another. 

            Speaking of sharing, those of us who were in town shared a great Thanksgiving meal and conversation at church on Thanksgiving Day.  Now, again at the church, we are invited to share Christmas Eve together.  Sign up if you are going to be in town and bring your family and friends with you.   

 

Volunteer Always Needed!  There are always jobs to be done and opportunities to volunteer one's time for the church.  Look for sign-up sheets on the bulletin board in the RE building for that purpose.  See below for a special need.

Greeters and Meet and Greet Volunteers needed:  Betsey Thompson, Chair of our Membership Committee, asks for helping hands and happy hearts for the following:

·        Greeter:  arrives before 10:30 on Sunday morning to stand in the breezeway and greet visitors and members for the Sunday service. Gives a nametag, visitor information card and visitor "goody bag" to first time visitors.

Requires about 15 minutes of your time and a smiling face.

·        Meet & Greet Host:  makes coffee and provides a small snack for the after service Meet & Greet. It is best to make the coffee before the service so that it will be ready immediately after the service. The snack can be a simple pastry-type, easy-to-serve finger food snack. It doesn't have to be homemade. Also helps tidy the kitchen after the Meet & Greet.

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 Restoration Funds

The Board of Trustees heard proposals for use of Restoration Fund money at a special board meeting Thursday, November 4.  The congregation met Sunday, November 7, to vote on the recommendation of the Board.  The congregation approved the recommendation of the Board as follows:  To sponsor a series of programs in the Valdosta area designed to promote the acceptance of differences in all its many guises: racial, religious, ethnic, economic, gender, sexual orientation, etc.  Over a several-year period the UU Church of Valdosta, in cooperation with other churches, civic groups, public and higher education organizations and governmental agencies will sponsor these programs.   Ideally, these workshops will provide continuing education credit to schoolteachers and perhaps other groups in the community.  Various organizations, which already have consciousness-raising programs of this sort, such as the Southern Poverty Law Center, the ACLU and others will be solicited to help create each of the specific programs.  Each program will focus on raising the consciousness of the community and training leadership in a specific aspect of difference.  

            Half the Restoration Fund money, approximately $8,000, will be allocated as seed money for the project.  The hope is to to find grant money for the project for which the Restoration Fund money would be used as matching funds.  At the end of the first year, depending upon when the church gets it started, the project chair, with feedback from those working to make the project a success, will furnish a progress report to the board, and thus to the church.  At that time, continuation of the project and use of the remainder of the Restoration Fund money will be revisited.    

            Betty Derrick, director of the project, has been brainstorming with interested UUs and other potential community partners.  If you have ideas with regard to grant resources and/or other aspects of the project contact her.  You could brainstorm too with people you know in the community.  The more excitement we can build, the more likely we are to get full participation and even partnering from various parts of the Valdosta community, which is indeed one goal of this project.  

Other News From the Board: The Board met briefly after the Hearing on the Restoration Fund on November 4.  The Board decided to create a small committee to review the Bylaws and recommend changes.  Randy Thompson, Dee Tait, and Lars Leader will invite people they think would be good at this task to join this committee.  Dee reported that Carol Stiles had offered to purchase ads for the UU church in the VSU Spectator, and the Board voted to accept her offer.  The next Board meeting will take place on December 9 at 6 PM in the Adult RE classroom.

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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 Dee Tait. 

Children’s R. E. Christmas Project

The Children's R.E. class will be packing and delivering Christmas bags to our ten Break Bread meal recipients.  Please help by donating on December 5 and 12 small personal items and healthy snacks suitable for the elderly. If you prefer, a monetary donation for the class to purchase needed items can be given to our treasurer, Randy Thompson.   

Holiday Project!!     December 12 - Party

This year our beloved Unitarian Universalist community will adopt a family through the Lowndes County School System for the holidays.  We have done this in years past and had an overwhelming response. This year we will have a party after church on December 12 to decorate the church and to collect presents for this family.   Presents will be accepted either wrapped or unwrapped.  You may also   include names on the gift cards for the presents.  The presents will be delivered for this family on December 13. If you are interesting in assisting with or learning more about this project (and for details about the family’s needs), contact Diane Holliman.   This project is an excellent way to contribute to our community and to share our spirit and gifts over the holidays.  

Social Action Committee

The Social Action Committee successfully kicked off the Guest at Your Table Program (GAYT) at the Sunday Service on Nov. 21st.  If you did not get a GAYT box, they are on the counter in the sanctuary foyer, or contact Anna Hall and she will get you one.  Boxes will be collected after the Sunday Service on January 2.  

In December, the Social Action Committee will partner with Diane Holliman to throw a Holiday Party at the church and all members will be asked to bring a gift for a needy family that our congregation will adopt for the holiday season.  The next meeting of the Social Action Committee will be on Thursday, December 16 at 5:30 PM in the Adult RE classroom. At this meeting we will plan activities for the next few months, so please come if you have any ideas.

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At the Church-in-the-Woods

Tai Chi – Monday and Thursday Evenings.  Intermediate Class 6:00-7:30 PM.  Contact Dennis Bogyo.  A new beginner’s class is expected to begin in January.

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

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Treasurer's Report

Randy Thompson

Beginning in September our church began receiving the ministry of a part-time minister.  The expense related to the minister has created deficits in the operating account for the month of October and the four months year-to-date.  I anticipate monthly deficits due to the minister expense for the remainder of the year.  Your church currently has enough money to cover the anticipated deficits for a part-time minister for the next two years.

October 2004

OUTSTANDING DEBT
Mortgage	$27,555.41
		YTD
OPERATING RECEIPTS AND DISBURSEMENTS:	October	Four Months
Plate	56.00	439.12
Pledge	985.00	4,890.00
Rent	240.00	960.00
Interest Income	0.00	420.47
TOTAL RECEIPTS	1,281.00	6,709.59
Disbursements:
Minister Expense	2,370.67	4,444.44
Mortgage	500.00	2,000.00
Speaker's Fees & Expenses	0.00	499.00
Repairs and Maintenance	280.00	455.00
Child care expense	40.00	350.00
Ministerial Music	0.00	50.00
Postage	42.52	74.34
Supplies	63.77	205.10
RE Programming	70.00	235.00
UUA dues	608.00	2,208.00
Utilities	244.88	626.71
Other	170.00	170.00
TOTAL DISBURSEMENTS	4,389.84	11,317.59
NET RECEIPT (DISBURSEMENT)	($3,108.84)	($4,608.00)

Best Wishes

for the holidays!

 

 

 

UU Activities and Announcements

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

Dec. 4 – 10^th Annual UUA Florida District Social Justice Conference, Curious About Global warming? Has our hurricane season been intensified by global warming? Can we limit or control climate change through science? The UUA has chosen “the threat of global warming” as a study/action issue.  KEYNOTE SPEAKERS:

• Daniel A. Lashof, Ph.D. Science Director of the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) Climate Center, Washington, D.C. Holding degrees from Harvard University and U. of California, Berkeley, Dr. Lashof is an internationally known expert on global warming and energy policy.

• Hon. Harvey Ruvin earned degrees in bothEngineering and Law. Presently Clerk of Courts and formerly a long-time Miami-Dade County Commissioner, Mr, Ruvin has dedicated his life to service to mankind and the earth. As a Floridian he has a deep interest and knowledge of climate issues

• Rev. Katherine Jesch is the Director of Environmental Ministry for the Seventh Principle Project (SPP) of the UUA. The SPP actively promoted the selection of Global Warming for study at GA as a moral issue that calls for a religious response.

University UU Society, 11648 McCulloch Rd (near the UCF campus), 9 am to 4 pm. $20 advance registration includes lunch. Contact Joe DuRocher  for more information.  

Dec. 26-Jan. 1 – SWIM 2004  The theme for the Southeast Unitarian Universalist Winter Institute (SWIM) this year is “Everything Possible.”  Further information is available at www.swimuu.org.  

UU Niagara Experience:   Hear the roar! Feel the mist! See the mighty Falls! July 17-20, 2005

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

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The worship service is a time “to share spiritual insights and awareness.  I sit in the woods (nature) to commune with God (Goddess) but I sit in church to commune with other people.”” 

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UUA TRUSTEE TIDBITS

Joan Lund  

The winter holidays will soon be here as well as the end of a rather tumultuous year on several accounts. Hopefully our UU Floridians’ lives are again returning to a sense of normalcy, whatever that may mean. In the last column I indicated I would wait until this month to comment on the October UUA Trustee Board meeting. Guess I wasn’t telling the truth because after writing a lengthy summary of the meeting for both the District web page and November packet I decided on a different topic and, if you are interested, ask that you get a copy of the report either off the web page, from the packet, or telephone/email me. There has been one reported error in the Trustee report occurring when I summarized UUA President Rev. Bill Sinkford’s report to the Board. The UU Fellowship of Valdosta was one of the Georgia congregations who wrapped their building in Rainbow Ribbons and declared themselves Hate Free Zones as Georgia prepared to vote on a Constitutional Amendment banning same sex marriage.  I apologize to the Valdosta congregation.  

This is the time of year when the nominating process is underway for various UUA offices. Your church Board may be interested in participating in this process and to make certain if they nominate a candidate they have not committed themselves for voting for that candidate during the General Assembly election. According to Rev. Wayne Arnason, Secretary of the UUA Board of Trustees, these Boards can be assured they are stating their confidence that the “candidate in question is qualified for the job and should be on the ballot”. This does not obligate the delegates from a “nominating congregation” to vote for that candidate. He also indicated, “Since it is not a partisan activity that commits you to eventually voting for that candidate, congregations or individuals may support the nomination of more than one candidate for any office”. If your congregation is interested in nominating a qualified UU for an office please contact me and I will make certain you receive a petition and/or instructions for doing so.  

In order to comply with UUA By-laws 2005 will be a year in which our Florida District elects a UUA Trustee, for a term of four years, to begin immediately following the June General Assembly. If your congregation wishes to nominate a person for the Florida UUA position an Election Committee will be in place and a request for nominations will be, or has already been sent to your congregations. In addition to other Florida District By-laws qualifications, a member congregation in the District may nominate one qualified candidate for UUA Trustee. The nomination must be certified by the clerk or secretary and the president of the congregation and sent to the Election Committee so that its receipt is no less than ninety days before the District Annual Assembly. Of course no one may be nominated without his or her consent.  

As you know I continue to hope you will contact me with your comments and concerns, and can be reached at jlund@uua.org. I wish each one of you the best of holidays and a good year to come.  

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Defining 'Moral Values' For the Next Four Years

Rev. William Sinkford

Boston , MA -- November 9, 2004: In conjunction with a press conference sponsored by the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice, UUA president William Sinkford issued the statement which follows about Unitarian Universalist moral values. The press conference was held at the National Press Club in Washington , DC , and featured representatives from several denominations addressing the topic.

Statement from the Rev. William G. Sinkford:

Moral values are not just particular opinions on "hot button" topics in a divisive election year. Moral values grow out of our calling as religious people to work to create the Beloved Community. Moral values instruct us to "love our neighbors as ourselves" and always to ask the question, "Who is my neighbor?" They are fundamentally inclusive rather than exclusive, and they call on generosity of spirit rather than mean spiritedness.

In this post election season, let me express some of the moral values held dear by the Unitarian Universalist community, which I lead, and by many other progressive people of faith:

*    We believe that feeding the hungry and clothing the naked are moral duties, and we will continue to work on behalf of economic justice.

*    We believe that ensuring equal civil rights for gay and lesbian families is our moral duty, and we will continue to work for Marriage Equality nationwide.

*    We believe that serving as stewards of the earth is a moral duty, and we will continue to do everything in our power to protect the environment.

*    We believe that safeguarding a woman's right to choose is a moral duty, and we will vigorously oppose any efforts to eliminate or significantly compromise reproductive freedom.

*    We believe that providing affordable health care for all Americans is a moral duty, and we will continue to advocate for medical rights for the young, the old, the frail, and all of those in need.

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“Worship – silence, reflection, community, inspiration, hope, coming home, comfort, getting in touch with the seasons or my deeper self, being with those who care for me.”