E-mail UU-Valdosta at uuvaldosta@yahoo.com  

Phone:  229-242-3714 

 

Page down or click the links to go to specific sections:

Sunday Services

Thank You! Thank You! Religious Education
President's Portion Social Action UU Activities and Announcements
Social Events!! Board Notes
 

Rev. Child's column!  "Child's Play"


What’s going on... October 2004

Sun

Oct. 3

 9:30 AM
10:45 AM

Young Children and Adult R. E.
Service - “Emerson Lives!  Transcendentalism for the Twenty-first Century,"  Fred Howard 
Meet & Greet Coffee after the service

Sun

Oct. 10

9:30 AM
10:45 AM

12:15 PM

Young Children and Adult R. E.
Service –" The Rules We Are Sure to Forget,”  Rev. Barbara Child
Meet & Greet Coffee after the service
Leadership Retreat with Reverend Child for board members (past and present), committee chairs, website manager and newsletter editor-bring your lunch and be ready to begin immediately after the service

Mon.

Oct. 11

11:00 AM

Break Bread delivery

Wed.

Oct. 13

  5:30 - 8:30 PM

Special Evening for Members and Friends: Potluck and discussion with Rev. Barbara Child (details in the flyer at the end of the newsletter)

Th

Oct. 14

6:00 PM

Board of Trustees Meeting in the R.E. wing at the church

Sun

Oct. 17

9:30 AM
10:45 AM

Young Children and Adult R. E.
Service " Differences That Make a Difference: Life in a Company of Strangers,”  Rev. Barbara Child
Meet & Greet Coffee after the service

Sun

Oct. 24

9:30 AM
10:45 AM

Young Children and Adult R. E.
Service "Dick Saeger's Quadrennial Election Sermon," Dr. Dick Saeger 
Meet & Greet Coffee after the service

Sun

Oct. 31

9:30 AM
10:45 AM

Young Children and Adult R. E.
Service " A Day of  Stepping Over Thresholds,”  Rev. Barbara Child
Meet & Greet Coffee after the service

OctoberAs I look out across the Pamlico River in eastern North Carolina on this glorious, early fall morning it is difficult to imagine envying anyone. Indeed it is you who should envy me!  However as I have been putting this October newsletter together, with information from various people about your first days with out new minister, Rev. Barbara Child, I am indeed envious that I was not there to also enjoy, what sounds like, wonderful beginnings for our congregation.  This month promises to continue what has begun, with plans for a leadership retreat, an evening potluck, and a Sunday religious education session with Rev. Child along with three intriguing Sunday sermons.  Two Sundays in October speakers, we have enjoyed in the past, will bring us, once again, interesting and thought provoking presentations.  Plans are afoot too for, what sounds like, several interesting adult religious education experiences with Stephanie Kiyak, linking art, creativity, meditation, and spirituality.  Join in when you can and invite your friends to experience what our small congregation has to offer south Georgia.  I am coming back soon to join in myself, even though part of me wishes to stay in this idyllic place where my soul resides.  MED

Welcome Rev. Barbara Child!

Rev. Child Visits Three Sundays in October

 

On October 10 the title of her sermon is “The Rules We Are Sure to Forget.”  Some rules are really orders or directions.  Others are down-home truths.  They just are.  And it may not matter whether we remember them or not.  Then again, it may.   

October 17 Rev. Child will speak on “Differences That Make a Difference: Life in a Company of Strangers.”  It is common these days to talk about “our church family.”  Let’s explore some of the effects of regarding a congregation as a family, and then let’s consider a perhaps surprising alternative, proposed by the Quaker teacher Parker Palmer – a congregation as a “company of strangers.” 

A Day of  Stepping Over Thresholds”  will be her topic on October 31.  The Halloween costumes most in keeping with the holiday are skeletons and ghosts, since Halloween, like All Saints Day and All Souls Day on different people’s religious calendars, celebrates a day devoted to the dead.  On the Day of the Dead, Mexicans pay tribute to their lost loved ones while at the same time they put death in its place.  Today’s service will bring to Valdosta the spirit of the Mexican celebration.  Please bring a picture of your dead loved one or some other memento to share during the service. 

Other Sunday Services 

Fred Howard, one of our members who has spoken often in the last several years, will speak on October 3.  His presentation is entitled “Emerson Lives! Transcendentalism for the Twenty-first Century.”   Fred says if you have ever wondered how transcendentalism fits into Unitarian Universalism and what Emerson might say to us today, if he were still around, then this program may interest you.           Dr. Howard will portray  Emerson, weaving together some Emerson quotes with some of his own ideas about how Emerson might speak to these questions. Fred says this presentation was inspired by reading “Emerson  - The Mind on Fire” by Robert Richardson.  Dr. Fred Howard is currently a student at the Emory School of Theology.  He is a physician.  

On October 24 Dr. Richard Saeger,  Valdosta State University Political Science professor will deliver "Dick Saeger's Quadrennial Election Sermon." Dick says that the Puritan “divines” used to deliver an annual election sermon, so the idea is hardly original. What Dick says he will try to do is to handicap the relevant federal, state, and local elections with rational-albeit highly speculative-analysis of each.  Needless to say many of us have enjoyed Dr. Saeger’s insightful observations through the years. 

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. The nursery is now equipped with new furniture. UUA policy recommends that it is prudent to have two people providing childcare for each age group on any given Sunday.   Sarah Tait and  Emily Segrest are providing this service to the church.


INVITATION TO MEMBERSHIP

If you are interested in becoming a member of our fellowship, we encourage you to talk with Betsy Thompson, Membership Ministry Committee Chair, or any of our church officers. We welcome your questions, and we extend an open invitation to all who want to join our liberal community of faith.


CHILD’S  PLAY

Rev. Barbara Child

 When I drove into the church parking lot my first day here in September, I noticed right away the sign that says:  “Welcome” and then indicates the direction of “traffic flow.”  At first I chuckled at the thought that you would want to avoid directing people to go “one way.”  But the more I think about it, the more I think that sign is after all a reflection of an important truth about Unitarian Universalism as well as about this church. 

                After all, the Universalist part of who we are recognizes that there isn’t just one way, one truth, one right belief – and that new truths may come our way any day and even from some surprising direction.  That is one of the reasons Unitarian Universalism is truly a liberal religion.  It saddens me that these days “liberal” is a common term of derision.  One of my favorite books about our faith is Being Liberal in an Illiberal Age by Jack Mendelsohn.  It’s in its second edition now, but it may give us some perspective to notice that he first wrote it in 1964.  In other words, this “illiberal age” is not new.   

                Still, with Jack Mendelsohn, I celebrate and practice “the importance of persons: their inherent freedom to think, speak, associate, hear, read, see, and learn…”  The liberal spirit calls us to be open and generous, to be curious about others, even those very different from ourselves, and to keep the latch open on our own minds and hearts, so that we might discover change in ourselves as well.   

                I must tell you that something in me cringes when I hear people say they come to a Unitarian Universalist church to be with people “of like mind.”  Yes, I do understand how it feels to feel yourself in a minority, even a dismissed or persecuted minority, and to be grateful for safe harbor.  And I am glad if our church can serve as harbor when harbor is needed.  But it is also true that boats aren’t made to stay in harbors. And it is also true, thank goodness, that not all Unitarian Universalists are alike.  As the November election approaches, that may be an important reminder – just as it is important to keep in mind that liberal religion does not necessarily imply liberal politics.  Yes, there does seem to be a traffic flow, but a truly liberal church knows better than to direct its people to behave – or vote – any one way.

                 This church has a profoundly admirable mission:  a commitment “to building a community of acceptance and love, where all people may strive for intellectual, moral and spiritual enlightenment.”  I believe such a mission gives us a special obligation to take care not to make assumptions about each other and to treat each other with respect, especially when we differ. 

                 As the election approaches, we also have particular rights and obligations as a tax-exempt religious organization.  Here are some of them: 

Partisan activities relate specifically to supporting or opposing candidates for public office.  There is no prohibition of our speaking and acting consistent with our values on issues rather than candidates.  This is a tough but important distinction always to keep in mind.  If you would like to read more detailed coverage of our rights and duties at election time, I have posted on the bulletin board in the Religious Education Building a detailed Action Alert from the UUA Washington Office for Advocacy.  You can also read there about how you can receive these Alerts yourself online.   

This is an important time in our national life to be a religious liberal, whether or not you are a political liberal.  Noting how the traffic flows is indeed quite a bit different from ordering people to go one way! 


 about our members

From Halim and Diane: “We would like you to know that we had a wonderful time "exchanging vows" after the service on August 8, 2004.  The service was more wonderful than we could have ever imagined.  We would like to thank you all for supporting us and supporting a place where we can do this.  We especially want to thank Charles Judah, Betty Derrick, Virginia and John Branan, Betsy Thompson, and Joan Cline. We know we are leaving someone out, but we appreciate you all for letting us share this time with you.”   For those who could not be there Halim and Diane led the service after which they exchanged vows and we all celebrated together with a reception after the service.


President’s Portion

Dee Tait 

Well, pat yourself on the back! We certainly had a productive 12 days of September. from the 8th through the 19th. We met one-on-one and in groups with Rev. Barbara Child, our new minister. We got to know her better as we talked with her and listened to her sermons, and she learned more about us. 

It occurred to me that these 12 days were a little bit like the anticipation of the 12 days of Christmas, when many people look forward to the next day and what it brings. We are welcoming some new faces and the faces of some of the people we have been missing for a while. We are talking about ideas for the coming year. 

There is something special in the air. Working together and listening to each other is such a good thing. Thank you for being part of the process.


Religious Education

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

R.E. for Young Children: Religious Education and childcare are now being provided during Adult R.E. and church services. The lessons taught 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 want to take this opportunity to invite all children to join in.  Emily and Sarah will alternate teaching the R.E. class.

R. E. for Adults: Stephanie Kiyak, our resident artist, will facilitate the first two and last two classes of the month.  Rev. Barbara Child will lead the October 17 class.  Stephanie says "Contemplating Your Faith" describes the Religious Education classes for adults October 3 and 10.  She will facilitate a class where participants will use clay for relaxation and meditation.   The last two classes of the month, October 24 and 31, will be "Molding Your Faith," also with Stephanie Kiyak. In the middle of the month, on October 17, Barbara Child will teach a class on reflections.    Come join in.  Bring a friend .    


Leadership Retreat

Sunday, October 10:  A Leadership Retreat with Reverend Child for board members (past and present), committee chairs, website manager and newsletter editor will be Sunday, October 10 directly following the service.  Pack your own lunch, bring it with you and be ready to begin. 


Social Action Activities

Break Bread Together

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

FLORIDA DISTRICT HURRICANE RELIEF FUNDS

 From Rev. Barbara Child:  I mentioned during the Sunday service on September 12 my gratitude to the congregation for your contributions to the Florida District for the benefit of the victims of the recent hurricanes.  You might like to know more about how the funds are being distributed.  Rev. Mary Higgins, the District Executive, and a needs-assessment team have gathered as much information as possible about both churches and individual Unitarian Universalists who are in need of financial assistance.  The collected donations are being distributed in view of the needs assessment.  Therefore, you can know that your donations are being distributed wisely and thoughtfully by going through the District rather than directly to individuals or groups in need.

                The District is managing a separate fund for aid to the Florida farm workers who have not only suffered their own personal losses from the hurricanes but have also lost their work because of the damage to the citrus crops.  Anyone who would like to contribute to that relief is encouraged to send a check to the District office with the notation on the memo line that it is for hurricane relief for farm workers. 

                Checks for both the UU fund and the farm workers fund may be sent to UUA Florida District, 1901 E. Robinson St, Suite 18, Orlando, FL 32803.  Those devastated by the hurricanes will doubtless appreciate every penny you can send.  

Social Action Committee

The Social Action Committee met on September 29th at CiCi's Pizza to discuss and plan social action activities for the upcoming months.  As this meeting was after the newsletter went to press, please watch your email box and the orders of service for social action announcements and the date of the next meeting.  All who are interested in social action are invited to be a part of this committee.  Contact Anna Mitchell Hall. 

Act for Election Integrity!  Following up on the Action of Immediate Witness on Electronic Voting passed at the GA this June, www.UUvv.org  has suggestions for how UU's concerned about the integrity of the 2004 election can act to promote a fair election. There are two focuses: 1) to demand verifiable election equipment, creating intensive pressure on legislators via phone calls and faxes asking for paper ballots this November 2) to have sufficient technical and legal observers, as well as ordinary poll workers, to monitor the election in November. 

Thank You! Thank You!

For working so hard to clear the overgrowth around the church: Jim Ingram

For building cleanliness and maintenance: John Tait,  Rosie and Frank Asbury, and Jim Ingram

For lay leading services in September: Randy Thompson, Lars Leader and Virginia Branan

For providing music support for church services: Anna Mitchell Hall and Betsy Thompson

For printing and mailing the September newsletter:  Virginia Branan

For delivering Break Bread meals: Christopher Tait and Dee Tait

For setting up Reverend Child’s full September schedule of meetings with members and friends: Virginia Branan

For organizing a reception to welcome Reverend Child:  Betsy Thompson and Dee Tait

For providing and for and organizing Meet and Greet following Sunday service: Joan Cline

Special THANK YOUS from Barbara Child

o        For welcoming me that morning I arrived and staying around for hours to help me get settled into my office:  Dee Tait

o        For assembling the wonderful new office furniture in my office: John Tait

o        For making sure my compensation arrangements were taken care of right away and taking care of office expenditures so that I could easily get to work.  Also for serving as Service Leader at my first service and taking special care to have things go smoothly: Randy Thompson

o        For making me beautiful business cards and letterhead, and for getting a  copier set up in the church office: Betsy Thompson

o        For providing delicious refreshments for the reception for me after my first service: Betsy Thompson and Dee Tait

o        For their participation in a productive meeting to get the Religious Education program well underway for the year:  Anne Zipperer, Sarah Tait, Emily Segrest, Dee Tait, Jennifer Glapion, and Betsy Thompson

o        For taking on the larger agenda my presence brings and working through it with good will and good humor: The Board

o        For arranging my calendar for my time here in September to include lots of conversation meetings for me to get to know as many people as possible as quickly as possible: Virginia Branan

o        For taking special care to choose music for Sunday services that fits with the theme of the day: Anna Mitchell Hall

For all that you do that goes unnoticed: Mention it to a board member or our newsletter editor.

 

 

Restoration Funds

Board and Special Congregational Meetings Announcement

 

Your Board of Trustees has called for a special Board meeting on November 4, 2004 to hear from all concerned members about the spending of the Restoration Fund.  All members are invited to come to the meeting and be heard.  The meeting will therefore be formatted as a hearing.   The Board of Trustees will be in a listen only mode. 

 Any member who has submitted a written proposal by the deadline of November 1, 2004 is invited to come before the Board and make a verbal presentation.

Any member, whether they have submitted a written proposal or not, is invited to come speak to the Board.   The Board wants to hear your opinions; however, if you have a proposal for the use of the Restoration Fund, please make sure you get in a written proposal by the deadline. 

Any member who would like to see all of the proposals received to date may request a copy of the written proposals from Dee Tait.

There will be a Congregational Meeting on Sunday November 7, 2004 immediately following the service, to consider the proposed budget for the Restoration Fund.

November 1 – written proposal deadline

November 4 – Board meeting presentations and discussion

November 7 – Congregational meeting to vote on Board proposal

 Additional Board News: The Board met on September 9th.  Items discussed included the Restoration Fund proposals, furniture purchases, insurance reimbursements, Ministerial Discretionary Fund, improvements to the church sign, dates for special programs that will be presented by Rev. Child, and the Christmas Parade.  The Board decided at this meeting that all the money that was donated to the Restoration Fund is available to fund proposals, which will be considered at the Board Meeting on Nov. 4th and voted on by the congregation the following Sunday.  The Board decided to publish a reminder to get proposals in ahead of that meeting for consideration.  The Board moved Rev. Child's program on stress to November due to conflicting district training, and added an adult RE program on October 13th on Unitarian Universalism that will be a covered dish supper.  The Board authorized Rev. Child to collect special offerings on occasion and accept donations for a Discretionary Fund, which will be used by Rev. Child to help members and others in the community who are in need.  All assistance given will be confidential, but the board will receive general reports on the fund balance and how the fund is used by Rev. Child (not including names or identifying information of recipients).  The Board agreed that we would reserve a spot in the Christmas Parade, and that we would table the church sign discussion until a later date.  The next Board meeting will be Thursday, Oct. 14th at 6:00 PM.      

Please Note: Reverend Child has just completed during September a full 12 days of dedicated work for us here at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Valdosta.  At the request of our minister, it is essential that we remember that she works for us part-time and is "off the clock" when she returns to Gainesville, FL each month.  She will be available to us again when she returns on October 10.  She will be here through October 17.  Thank you for meeting and talking with Reverend Child on business and personal levels, for your support of her during her first segment of work here, and for your continuous support of the UU Church of Valdosta.  

In appreciation, Dee Tait, President


Bhagavad Gita Classes: Dr. Vrnda Chaitanya, Valdosta State University Louie Brown Scholar for this year, has began on “August 29 weekly classes, which will share insights from the Bhagavad Gita. The Bhagavad Gita is an excellent treatise for understanding the vision of the self as limitless joy and compassion. Additionally, the text also provides everyday strategies and wisdom for stress relief, for release and healing of habitual human patterns of despair or being overwhelmed by responsibilities. The Gita is a treatise on human growth and complete acceptance of oneself. Finally, the Gita offers invaluable practical advice for striking harmony with all aspects of creation. The classes are an eclectic sharing of wisdom culled from the Vedic civilization, and are open to people from all faiths and walks of life. The classes which are free are meeting on Sundays from 4-6 pm at the house of Dr. Sudhir and Ms. Poonam Goel. The classes began August 29.  If you are interested you might want to contact the Philosophy Department at VSU to see if the classes are still available.


UU NOTABLE NEWS: Unitarian Universalist ministry via Harvard Square Library now provides new offerings being seen by viewers in 65 nations on six continents via www.harvardsquarelibrary.org 1. More than 100 color illustrated Notable American Unitarians, 1740-1900 are celebrated for their contributions to civilization. They include John and Abigail Adams (government), Susan B. Anthony (women’s suffrage), Ralph Waldo Emerson (literature), Charles W. Eliot (education), and William Ellery Channing (religion).  2. Nineteen other People of Power now honored online include: Marian Anderson, Robert Frost, Rachel Carson, Duke Ellington, Marilyn Monroe, Eleanor Roosevelt, Howard Thurman, and Abraham Lincoln.  3. We have just released an online color illustrated edition of the first biography of Charles Hartshorne (the Unitarian Universalist philosopher) by Donald Viney. Also new is our presentation of A New World View by Hartshorne, plus a 481 item bibliography of his writings.  4. Three additional new projects now available with color illustrations are (1) Tagore: Poet of  Power; (2) Bright Heraclitus, celebrating the pre-Socratic philosopher whose liberating wisdom shaped Western civilization; (3) a glimpse of Cambridge on the Charles by Alan  Seaburg. 


 

GETTING TO KNOW UU 

A Special Evening for Members and, Friends

of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Valdosta 

Wednesday, October 13

5:30-8:30 p.m.

 

See how many of the statements below
are true about you – 

·        You would like to make a deeper connection with others in the church.

·        You have been attending services or other events or activities here for awhile and wish you knew more about Unitarian Universalism.

·        You are not sure whether becoming a member of any church is for you, but you are wondering about joining this one.

·        You attended the recent Sunday morning series here on “Articulating Your Faith,” and you would like a chance to practice what you learned.

·        You have been a Unitarian Universalist, or a member of this congregation, for about a thousand years, but you still aren’t sure what it means to be a Unitarian Universalist. 

·        You would like to get to know the new minister, Rev. Barbara Child, better and get her “take” on this radical faith. 

If any of these statements applies to you, then this special evening is for you!

Here’s the plan – 

          5:30   Pot luck supper

          6:00   “Getting to Know UU” facilitated by Barbara Child

          8:30   Leave for home in time to watch the Presidential Debate at 9:00 

To plan for the evening, Barbara needs to know if you’re coming – and so does Betsy Thompson, who is organizing the potluck supper.  So please sign up on the sheet on the bulletin board in the Religious Education Building.  And please do come for this special evening in the life of this church! 


 

 

Newsletter Staff

Editor:  Betty Derrick        

Production/Mailing:  Virginia Branan

Website:  Carol Stiles

October 15: deadline for the November newsletter


 

UU Activities and Announcements

 Further information is posted on the bulletin board at the church.

September 26-October 2  Florida District Leadership School,  Oviedo, FL 

October 16 Managing Differences led by Mary Higgins, Community UU Church, Daytona, FL

Oct. 22-24 “Creating Harmony, A Musical Rendezvous with Spirit,” Florida UU Women and Religion Retreat, UU in the Pines, Brooksville, FL (Oct.8registration deadline-there is limited space)  Kathy Ford, Retreat Registrar, www.floridawomenandreligion.org

Nov. 13 Fall Leadership Conference facilitated by Wayne Clark, UUA Congregational Fundraising consultant  


 

At the Church-in-the-Woods

Tai ChiMonday and Thursday Evenings.  Beginner’s Class 5:30-6:30 PM; Intermediate 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.

 


UUA TRUSTEE TIDBITS-Joan Lund

October is the time I make two trips to Boston, the first for the UUA Trustee meeting during the middle of the month, and then because I am the Board’s liaison to the Annual Program Fund, the last weekend of the month I will be there for an executive committee meeting of that group. The old saying, “it is better to ask forgiveness than permission”, may apply in the timeliness of getting a BOT report to you. October also sees me traveling to visit relatives and having company at the beginning of the month so you may not read about the BOT meeting until December.

This month I am writing about the Commission on Appraisal, referencing the UUA Annual Report, 2004. The COA was created in 1934 by a resolution of the American Unitarian Association at its annual meeting. The first question the seven members of the COA decided was whether the organized movement known as Unitarianism had any real function to perform in the modern world, and if not, would it be better to liquidate the organization and resources? In 1936 the Commission presented a comprehensive evaluation of the state of the denomination and a series of specific recommendations for the reorganization of the AUA. Their report put forth a bold vision and program for the future and became a blueprint for the resurgence of American Unitarianism for many years.

With the 1961 consolidation of the AUA and the Universalist Church of America, new by-laws instituted an ongoing internal review process by establishing a standing COA, with its broad charge to “review any function or activity of the Association which in its judgment will benefit from an independent review and report its conclusions to a regular General Assembly”. As a Standing Committee, the COA’s nine members are elected by the delegates to the GA and funded from the UUA budget. The President of the UUA serves in an ex officio role. Since 1961 the COA has delivered a major report approximately every four years; the most recent report, Belonging: the Meaning of Membership in 2001.

The current COA study question is “Where is the Unity in Our Theological Diversity?”, and although it can be seen as a continuation of the previous two reports, it is more explicitly religious in its focus as it seeks to address a fundamental and ongoing issue of religious liberalism. In other words, what holds us together as a religious movement considering the extent of our theological diversity? Or, if we are a religious movement, should we be able to articulate what we hold in common in religious terms? Without going into detail, the COA has initiated discussions at G.A. and in regional hearings, plus last winter a survey was sent to every congregation and returned by well over one third of our societies. A draft report will be published from the distillation of gathered information and presented at our next General Assembly in Fort Worth.

I look forward to hearing from you at my email address, jlund@uua.org, if you would like to talk with me. Thanks for your continued support and communications.

 


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