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E-mail UU-Valdosta at uuvaldosta@yahoo.com
Phone: 229-242-3714
Page down or click the links to go to specific sections:
| Thank You! Thank You! | Religious Education | |
| President's Portion | Social Action | UU Activities and Announcements |
| Social Events!! | Board Notes | |
What’s going on... September 2004
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Sun |
Sept. 5 |
9:30 AM 10:45 AM |
Young Children and Adult R. E. Service - "Democracy and Muslim Tradition,” Dr. Yahya Mat Som Meet & Greet Coffee after the service |
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Tues |
Sept. 7 |
6:00 PM |
Board of Trustees Meeting in the R.E. wing at the church |
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Sun |
Sept. 12 |
9:30 AM 10:45 AM |
Young Children and Adult R. E. Service –"What Would You Take for Your Journey?” Rev. Barbara Child Meet & Greet Coffee after the service |
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Mon. |
Sept. 13 |
11:00 AM |
Break Bread delivery |
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Sun |
Sept. 19 |
9:30 AM 10:45 AM |
Young Children and Adult R. E. Service – "At-One-Ment: The Jewish High Holidays Through UU Lenses,” Rev. Barbara Child Meet & Greet Coffee after the service |
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Sat |
Sept. 25 |
6:30 PM |
Last Saturday Supper – Betsy and Randy Thompson’s home |
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Sun |
Sept. 26 |
9:30 AM 10:45 AM |
Young Children and Adult R. E. Service – "Affirming and Promoting our Faith," Charles Judah Meet & Greet Coffee after the service |
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Wed |
Sept. 29 |
6:00 PM |
Social Concerns Committee at CiCi's Pizza |
September… Okay! Summer is about over, although in our area it’s sometimes hard to tell with the weather still hot. Fall does arrive this month though. More importantly our new minister, Rev. Barbara Child, arrives. And perhaps even more importantly, we as a congregation embark on a year of great promise for the growth of our congregation. With Rev. Child’s encouragement, now is when we need to make those special efforts we have talked about wanting to make for a number of years to move our small congregation to a more stable size through growth in the number of members on our rolls. We know we have much to offer our community and that our community needs what we have to offer. We’ve been practicing talking about our faith to others and investigating too why our faith is so special to each of us ourselves. Welcome Barbara Child to our church; participate in as many events, services, social action, and social activities, as you are can. Try to make time in your busy schedules to volunteer for the special effort we have dedicated ourselves to for this church year. Let our Board members know how you can help. Let it be a wonderful dance together as we strive to meet our shared goals.
Rev. Barbara Child arrives September 8 to begin her ministry
with the UU Church of Valdosta.
My first Sunday service with you this fall will be on September 12. My move south from New Jersey will still be fresh in my mind, when yet again I discovered that I had lots more to pack up and move than I thought I had. You too may be newly arrived from summer travels. As we reflect on our journeys all over the place, including inward, it seems a good time to ask: “What Would You Take for Your Journey?”
September 19 comes this year in the middle of the ten “Days of Awe” between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. The Jewish High Holidays invite us all to take a fresh look at the turns we have made, or might have made, in our lives. Whom do we need to forgive? Do we allow ourselves to be forgiven? In honor of the Jewish teachings that enrich our living Unitarian Universalist tradition, I will speak on “At-One-Ment: The Jewish High Holidays Through UU Lenses.”
Other Sunday Services
On September 5 Dr.Yahya Mat Som will be our guest speaker. His topic will be "Democracy and Muslim Tradition." Dr. Mat Som will explain how the Islamic perspective about the concept of democracy is based on justice for all that follows the guidelines provided by The Supreme Lord. From an Islamic viewpoint, the concept of modern democracy only addresses the physical well being of man, but not the spiritual aspect. The implementation of democracy in Islam can be characterized as holistic and contextual. Dr. Mat Som is an associate professor in the Adult & Career Education department at VSU. Originally from Malaysia, Dr. Mat Som is a leader in the Muslim community in Valdosta.
Charles Judah, one of our members and a frequent speaker at our services will present "Affirming and Promoting our Faith" On September 26. Charles will provide us, in his entertaining and informative style, thoughts and suggestions on how techniques of salesmanship can inform our UU faith and our communication of it to others.
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.
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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. |
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.
Rev. Barbara Child
Here we are, you and I, in the betwixt and between time, the end of vacations for some, the beginning of a new school year perhaps for many, and right on the edge of the new church year. For you, it is a time between having no minister and having one who is new to you. For me, it is a time between being the interim minister at the Morristown Unitarian Fellowship in New Jersey and being your consulting minister.
I want you to know how much I am looking forward to my time with you. When I visited Valdosta last March, I formed a strong impression of the congregation as vibrant and open-hearted, a caring and committed community who invest real energy into your life together. I was drawn to you because you are willing to take on the challenges involved in moving toward full-time called ministry.
And you clearly know how to welcome someone on the threshold. I look forward to crossing it very soon. I am grateful to Dee Tait for her speedy responses to my questions over the past few months, and also to Jim Ingram for managing to move my boxes of books and other office gear into the minister’s office. Some of those boxes were mighty heavy, I know.
In the meantime, I was doing my best to lighten my load for my trip south. Some things went to a congregant’s yard sale and some to the Market Street Mission’s thrift store. Some were fit for nothing but the dumpster. It got to the point where every time I walked into my New Jersey apartment, the empty spaces reminded me I was moving. Home wasn’t home any more. It was an apartment in the throes of transition.
Then came the day I gave back my keys to the Morristown Fellowship. Soon after that I left my apartment keys on the kitchen counter and walked out the door for the last time. My car key was the only one on the key ring. It’s an eerie feeling to feel that light. It can make you anxious. It occurs to me that you may be feeling some anxiety now. Anxiety thrives in periods of uncertainty, times when we can’t quite name how we feel about what is over and we don’t have a clear enough picture of the future to know how we might feel when it happens. At such times, it’s a good idea to realize that others around us might be anxious too and thus perhaps acting a little strangely. It’s a good time for not rushing to judgment or making any more big decisions than necessary. It’s a good time to slow down every chance we get, and to remember to breathe.
We can rejoice in the opportunities that betwixt and between times give us to notice who we seem to be these days and how we seem to do things. There is much to be thankful for in the meantime.
REMINDER:
Dee Tait
We await with excitement the arrival of our new minister, Rev. Barbara Child. She arrives in Valdosta Wednesday, September 8 and her first sermon here will be Sunday, September 12. Watch for her Sermons of the Week in the Valdosta Daily Times and an interview by VDT reporter Dean Poling. If you haven’t found the time yet, I suggest that you can get to know her by browsing the story of her ministry in the binder she submitted to the search committee. You will find it on the shelf in the church foyer.
Meanwhile, our church has just experienced a month together with so much to remember and so much to move us forward.
v Hue and Chris were married. Diane and Halim exchanged vows. Jennifer Lawrence’s children were dedicated.
v Three very interesting church services were brought to us by members. Our former minister, Rev. Jack Ford, brought us a sermon and Dr Mike Stoltzus was our guest speaker again.
v We completed a five-Sunday course, with the encouragement of Virginia Branan, to share ideas on how to best articulate our Unitarian Universalist faith to each other and to others.
v Two big cleanup days leave our church buildings looking good.
v Raymond Glapion updated our sound system.
v Earlier, John Tait assembled and installed new storage cabinets in the children’s RE room. Ten new chairs make the adult RE room more pleasant.
v Betty Derrick’s and Halim Faisal’s photography resulted in beautiful wall decorations.
v Another of our resident artists, Jennifer Kyak, shared her expertise with a group, including the children, in making a chalice.
It’s been a very good month. A wealth of experience and wise leadership are ours with the arrival of Reverend Child. Let’s enjoy every moment as this chapter of our church history continues.
Our general arrangement with Rev. Child is for her to spend 10 days in Valdosta with us approximately every three weeks September 2004 through May 2005. If you would like to mark your calendar for Rev. child’s visits, the Board and she have developed the following tentative schedule: September 8-19, October10-17, October 31-November 7, November 21-28, December 19-24, January 2-9, January 23-30, February 13-20, March 20-27, April 17-24, May 8-15.
Elizabeth Butler and Dean Poling at The Valdosta Daily Times have information about Rev. Child as well as two sermons on Buddhist teachings she has prepared for the Sermon of the Week Saturday page. The paper has asked for a photograph so the Board is encouraged that the sermons as well as an interview may appear soon. Watch for them in the paper over the next weeks.
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: Chalice Children, a highly acclaimed UU curriculum will be the focus of religious education this year for the younger set. Reviewers have described it as being based on the premise that children learn best through experience. This program helps nurture spiritual growth, creativity and a sense of community through imaginative activities, rhymes, games, finger plays, stories, and crafts. There are 36 sessions (plus 5 alternates) that introduce children to concepts such as birth and death, dreams, and the natural world. Sarah Tait and Emily Segrest will alternate teaching the class.
R. E. for Adults: During September the topic Articulating Your Faith will continue. Plan to join the group, even if you were unable to attend the August sessions; August participants can "hone their skills." Participants will continue study and discussion of their UU beliefs, with emphasis on role playing and actual practice in articulating our UU faith in a positive manner. Leader: Virginia Branan and others.
about our members
o Emily Segrest, who has been one of our childcare providers during services this summer, is the 26 year old daughter of Betsy Thompson. She will also be co-teaching children's R.E. this year. Emily attended Thomas University in Thomasville and was training to be an esthetician in Atlanta when she moved to Valdosta. She has extensive experience in childcare having worked as a nanny for two families and loves to baby-sit as well. She has two "children" of her own whom she rescued after they were abandoned. Sadie is a 5 year old German Shepard mix and Shisho is a 7 year old Lab mix. Emily enjoys arts and crafts, especially making papier mache mobiles. She is a talented jewelry artisan and has begun selling her jewelry in several stores locally with plans to expand to internet sales with her own website. She invites anyone interested in seeing her inventory to call her. If customers have a particular style of jewelry that they would like, Emily designs custom necklaces, bracelets and earrings to coordinate with her customers' clothing and personal style at very reasonable prices.
o The children of Jennifer and Billy Tidmore were dedicated in August in a Child Dedication Ceremony conducted by Jack Ford as part of the worship service. Rev. Ford asked the parents to come forward with their children and speak a few words about their commitment to the upbringing and care. Their daughter is two and participated by holding a red rose presented to her by the congregation. She happily agreed also to hold the rose for her brother who is only 2 months old. The congregation, which included Jennifer's parents, sister, and friends, joined in a unison declaration of their commitment to the guardianship of these young lives. Virginia Branan had welcoming cards for the children, which everyone signed. Anna Mitchell Hall selected special music for the service and Jack's sermon on “The Splendor of Life” gave all present a warm, spiritual experience.
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.
Social Action Committee
Social Action Committee activities will resume this month! We will kick off the year by meeting for dinner Wednesday Sept. 29th at 6:00 at CiCi's Pizza. Anyone interested in social action (or pizza) is invited. At our first meeting we will strategize social action for the next year so bring all your good ideas and about $5 for the pizza buffet! Please come, at least to this first meeting, even if you only have ideas and not time to offer this year. Every little bit helps. If you have an idea and absolutely can't make it, email me your idea and I will make sure that it is discussed. Hope to see you there.
Hurricane Assistance for Florida UU Churches has been discussed by several of our members. Contact Lars Leader if you are interested in making a contribution.
For building cleanliness and maintenance: John Tait, Rosie and Frank Asbury, and Jim Ingram
For lay leading services in August: Anna Mitchell Hall, Diane Holliman, Halim Faisal, Charles Judah, and Lars Leader
For donating printing for the monthly newsletter at his office: Jim Ingram
For keeping the mailing list current: Virginia Branan
For keeping visitor information current: Betsy Thompson
For coordinating and providing refreshments for the reception for Diane Holliman and Halim Faisal in August: Betty Derrick, Virginia Branan, Joan Cline, Stephanie Kayak, Josette Ingram, Betsy Thompson
For the idea, coordination, copying of material, and teaching the Adult R.E. class “Articulating Your UU Faith” in August: Virginia Branan,
For co-teaching “Articulating Your UU Faith”: Dee Tait, Jim Ingram, and Lars Leader
For rewiring the sound system and advising on replacing the vandalized stereo system: Raymond Glapion
For special assistance in the child dedication service in August: Jack Ford, Virginia Branan, Anna Mitchell Hall, and the Tidmore family and friends
For all that you do that goes unnoticed! Mention it
to a board member or our newsletter editor.
Reminder-Restoration Funds
The Board has extended the deadline (originally June) through the end of September for proposals for the use of the Restoration Fund. The Board has one proposal, but would like to be aware of any other ideas before making a decision about the use of the funds. Proposals must be in writing and include a proposed budget. Send your proposal to Dee Tait, President.
Games Night!
Games Night is taking a vacation. If you
find yourself missing this activity, let Hue Jacobs know and he’s willing to
coordinate its resurrection.
Last Saturday Supper
Saturday, September 25, 6:30 PM
Home of Betsy & Randy Thompson
Join in this opportunity to visit with members and get to know our recent visitors and friends in a casual relaxed setting and to treat them to a great potluck dinner. Bring food for yourself and several visitors. Call Betsy and Randy to see what is needed and offer to bring a visitor.
Volunteers are needed to host these socials on the last Saturday evening of each month at different member's homes. In order to get the information in each month’s newsletter, you need to volunteer by the 15th of the previous month. (Yes, that’s a commitment 6 weeks ahead of time, but couldn’t you plan your life that far ahead at least occasionally?!) This is an important part of our membership growth agenda for the church and besides that its fun!!! Join in at Betsy and Randy’s home this month and get on the list for subsequent months right away. What a fun way to help us reach our goals.
Reminder from the Membership Committee Chair: Betsy Thompson would like to remind you that it is very important for all members and friends to keep email addresses current with her. If anyone has a new email address, please send it to Betsy. She maintains an email list of members and visitors.
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New Church Directory: A new church directory is in process. After some camera problems many had their photograph taken during August. If you still need yours taken, check with one of the officers to see if something can still be arranged. You need to send your updated information for the directory to Anna Mitchell Hall if you have no already done so: name, as you want it to appear, mailing address, home/business phones, email address. |
Additional Board News: At its August Board meeting the Board made several decisions, which are published elsewhere in the newsletter. In addition it decided to appropriate $50 for a congregational membership to the UU Musicians Network. This group provides resources and advice on how to improve music for worship services, as well as a mentor program for small congregations with no formal music program. Ways to increase the visibility of the church sign were discussed. Branches have been cut back, but the sign can still only be seen at fairly close range. The letters are too small to read from a distance. The Board will continue this discuss at a later date. The next Board meeting is September 7 at 6 PM at the church. Officers and interested members are invited to attend.
July 2004 - Treasurer: Randy Thompson
OUTSTANDING DEBT
Mortgage $28,496.33
OPERATING RECEIPTS AND DISBURSEMENTS
Receipts:
Plate $ 179.00
Pledge 2,170.00
Rent 340.00
Interest Income 191.06
TOTAL RECEIPTS 2,880.06
Disbursements:
Mortgage 500.00
Speaker’s Fees & Expenses 249.00
Repairs and Maintenance 175.00
Child care expense 110.00
TOTAL DISBURSEMENTS 1,034.00
NET RECEIPT (DISBURSEMENT) $1,846.06
Editor: Betty Derrick
Production/Mailing: Virginia Branan
Website: Carol Stiles
September 15: deadline for the October newsletter. Betty will appreciate your being her eyes and ears for these editions, please send all news and notes by e-mail.
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
Nov. 13 Fall Leadership Conference facilitated by Wayne Clark, UUA Congregational Fundraising consultant
At the Church-in-the-Woods
Tai Chi – Monday and Thursday Evenings. A new Beginners Tai Chi class began August 23 meeting 5:30-6:30 PM. Contact Dennis Bogyo if you are interested or need further information. It’s probably not too late to join the class.
New Hope Christian Fellowship - Sunday evenings: Choir practice at 5:00 PM. Service at 6:00 PM.
UUA TRUSTEE TIDBITS-Joan Lund
It’s September…where did the summer go? Actually many Florida students were back in school in early August. I remember the days growing up in the Midwest when we did not start the fall term until after Labor Day. Enough nostalgic digression, I’ll move on. All Unitarian Universalists are aware of, and concerned about our work as a denomination in the area of anti-racism/anti-oppression. This month I will write briefly about the UUA Anti-oppression Consultancy Program.
The UUA institutional commitment to become an anti-racist, anti-oppressive multicultural faith community has never been stronger. The AOCP honors and supports the work congregations are already doing, and offers more than one route in this work. Flexible and accessible resources that reach out to our ministers, religious educators and other leaders are being created. Anti-oppression consulting is being added to what is already available, so reaching out to congregations can involve working with them to identify their next steps, and to support them in expanding their capacity to engage the work of justice rooted in Unitarian Universalist identity, theology, and values. The UUA will continue to offer the Jubilee Path and the Social Justice Empowerment Program resources to congregations. The Anti-Racist Multicultural Welcoming Congregation will replicate components of the Welcoming Congregation program while addressing the specific concerns related to race and ethnicity. In addition, with the mandate of the UUA Board of Trustees, elected and appointed leaders of committees are receiving training, education, and consultation to enable them to bring an anti-racist, anti-oppressive multicultural lens to their roles and responsibilities.
The AOCP is creating new resources that are tailored to fit and are able to meet congregations where they are. These resources will encompass a broader range of voices and experiences. Engagement in this work will require that we as Unitarian Universalists, to paraphrase “Soul Work; Anti-Racist Theologies in Dialogue”, deepen our discourse, and reconsider how we live out our UU principles. The AOCP is committed re-invigorating congregational justice work, strengthening congregational involvement in the community, deepening personal and institutional faith, and engaging more congregations as partners with the UUA on the path to anti-racist, anti-oppressive, multicultural welcoming faith community.
Hopefully all our Florida congregations are actively involved in anti-racist, anti-oppression, multicultural work in their church communities and in the wider world. If I can be of assistance please don’t hesitate to email me at jlund@uua.org. I continue to thank you for the many congregation newsletters I receive, and look forward to hearing from you.
UU General Assembly 2004 The annual General Assembly concluded in Long Beach, CA on June 28, 2004 by passing a Statement of Conscience on civil liberties which calls for the resignation of U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft and the repeal of the USA Patriot Act. In addition to the statement on civil liberties, delegates passed five Actions of Immediate Witness intended to address recent events. The new resolutions voice opposition to a proposed federal marriage amendment, call for state and federal laws to require electronic voting systems to produce a voter-verified paper audit trail, urge renewal of the federal ban on assault weapons, and endorse the Alien Torts Claim Act. Responding to the war in Iraq, the Assembly also called on its members to hold the United States government accountable for its commitments under the recently passed United Nations Security Council Resolution 1546. In its final vote, the Assembly overwhelmingly passed a resolution condemning the use of torture and calling on all people of conscience “to hold accountable any individual, group, organization or nation that conducts, authorizes, condones, or covers up the use of torture.” More than 4700 UU’s from across the country attended the five-day meeting.
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