Christmas
Parade
Albert Slone will provide the truck for our float in
the Christmas parade again this year. He
needs three people to help assemble the float on Saturday, December 2 about 1
PM. Others will be needed about 3
PM to complete the decorations. The
float must be in position in the VSU parking lot between 3-4 PM and the parade
begins assembling about 4 PM. The
actual parade is from about 5-7 PM. Those who participated last year thought
we were important in adding diversity to the parade and besides that, from all
reports, they had a great time! Come
help if you can in this community venture for our church.
Games
Night!
Bring
$1.00, a dish, and your favorite game to the church on Saturday, December 2 at
7:00 PM or as soon as everyone can gather after the parade.
Call René Kerr
or Julie Halter if you need further information.
Women’s Group
Join us for good food and great company, the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of
each month at 7:00 p.m. Bring a snack, ideas for discussion, or just yourself!
Contact Julie Halter for more information.
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 Virginia
Branan.
Donations for our Christmas bags for the
Break Bread recipients we serve may be brought to church December 3, 10, and
17. Small personal items and healthy snacks suitable for the elderly will be
appreciated. If you prefer, a monetary donation for the committee to purchase
needed items can be given to our treasurer, Rene' Kerr.
Tree
Trimming/Movie party
Wednesday,
Dec. 6, 6 PM
Bring a snack,
help trim the tree and decorate the church, and enjoy a movie.
We’ll have a large screen TV to show the film “It’s a Wonderful
Life.”
VIRGINIA'S
VISION
Well, I guess I have "visions of sugarplums"
dancing in my head this month of December! We certainly have a full calendar
of diverse events for our UU congregation and friends.
We hope to see everyone in or at
the Christmas parade Saturday, December 2. I venture to say ours will be the
only float wishing Happy Holidays for celebrants of all religions. After the
parade you may want to continue the festivities with Games Night at church.
Wednesday, December 6, we'll have
our second movie night with the classic "It's a Wonderful Life."
Bring a snack to share at 6 PM and we'll enjoy decorating our church tree and
sanctuary for the holidays.
German Advent Coffee and Book
Discussion
Saturday,
Dec. 9
Plan to
gather between 4:30 and 5 PM at Joan Cline’s house for high tea German
style. We'll be reading aloud O’Henry's short story, "The Gift of the
Magi." Please note the Saturday afternoon time and that this will not be
a potluck. If you’ve ever been
to a late afternoon German coffee you know this will be a real holiday treat.
Formal
Welcome of New Members
Sunday,
December 17
Didn’t we just welcome new members?
Yes, we did, but we’re excited to have others to welcome this month.
Robert Atkinson has recently joined and there are several others who have yet
to be formally welcomed into our church family.
We’ll do this during the Solstice Service on the seventeenth.
Christmas Eve
Service
Julie Halter will be leading the Sunday morning
service on the 24th. She
says to think about traditions that you or your family have during the
November to January holiday season and share them in the service that day.
She suggests that you bring in traditional treats to share also.
New Year’s Eve
Bonfire and Potluck
Julie
and Sam Halter invite everyone to a bonfire and potluck to celebrate the
coming of the new year. Come
about 7:00 PM for the potluck and stay as late as you can.
Julie says bring a sleeping bag if you plan to sleep over.
R.E.
Program
Winter
Solstice R.E. Campout
Thursday,
December 21
At
the church
R.E. young people and their
parents are invited to a winter solstice campout at the church.
Check with Ann Kasun about the plans.
Let Ann know if your children plan to participate.
Youth R.E. The young people this year
are working on a “big event” each month, spending each Sunday getting
ready for the event. Last month
they prepared a Sunday service. This
month they are planning a Winter Solstice Campout.
If you want to be involved
contact Ann Kasun.
Adult R.E. There is
continued discussion about Adult R.E., although there is no on-going program
at the moment. If you are
interested, all you need to do is volunteer to lead a discussion and it can
happen. Ann Kasun should be
notified if you have something about which you would be interested in leading
a discussion. Ann says you
don’t have to volunteer for life---just for as long as you would like---one
or several Sundays or indefinitely.
Childcare
We are delighted that we have had several newcomers
recently with young children. At
the moment childcare is provided as needed.
If you are willing to help out in this regard please let Virginia
Branan know. The Board is in the
process of rechecking to make sure our facilities are safe for the very young.
We
would like to make sure our newcomers know that children are welcome in our
services. In fact we really
expect that school age children will attend our intergenerational services.
We think the presence of the young, our elders, and the in-betweens
enhances our sense of family in our congregation.
A baby’s gleeful giggles or healthy, hungry cry helps remind all of
us of our humanity and the continuation of life.
Program
Committee
The Program Committee composed of Diane Holliman, Julie
Halter, Theresa Thompson, Charles Green, Ann Kasun, and Lea Atkinson met in
October. They welcome ideas and
volunteers to preside at or present services. They will meet again in February
and April.
December
Board Meeting
The Board decided at its November meeting that it would
meet in December only as needed. It
will resume its usual 2nd Sunday meetings in the new year.
Maori
Coastal Build:
Contact Ann Bennett at for more information.
The build is scheduled for New Zealand in May
2001 for 16 days.
It sounds like a wonderful opportunity to work with Habitat
International and see New Zealand while you live in the Maori culture there.
Did YOU KNOW? Edith
Hunter, a former curriculum editor for the Beacon Press Series in religious
education said: “ Many of us religious liberals have not given sufficient
thought to what we believe. We
recite no dogmatic creed. We
have no finished faith, once revealed and now neatly packaged and sealed.
Are we in danger of the opposite extreme of being hopelessly vague
about what we believe? Perhaps
we should realize that our need is not to find something to believe but
rather to discover what our lives indicate that we believe right now.
… To bring our attitudes, our convictions, our practices, out into
the open and to look at them systematically is to find out what we actually
believe.” Marshall, Challenge
of a Liberal Faith
White Elephant Christmas Gift Party: Watch for more details later about date and time.
It will be at Betty Derrick’s house after Christmas, probably January
6. If you’ve been before you
know it’s a lot of fun. Bring a
gift you don’t want to swap with someone else and any leftover holiday
goodies. Celebrate old Christmas
and have a lot of fun as folks gather after the holidays.
Volunteers
Still Needed!
Contact
Virginia Branan
Ø
Mowing
Ø
Delivery
coordinator for Break Bread
Ø
Scrapbook/history
Ø
3
people to alternate Sundays for childcare
Pledging Our Ti
me - THANK YOU!
As is true with your own home, it takes a lot of effort to
keep our church home livable. We
appreciate these volunteers:
·
Dee Tait-refrigerator
·
Molly Scholz-kitchen trash
·
Ann Kasun-sweep & mop kitchen
·
Julie Halter-supplies, plants & kitchen bathroom
·
Lea Atkinson-Vacuum sanctuary
·
William Atkinson & Albert Slone-sweeping walk &
entrance
·
Doug Fraser & William Atkinson-Building & grounds
repair & care
·
René Kerr-bulletin boards and foyer material
·
Bobbie Dixon-R.E. building bathrooms
Thank
you! Thank you!
To our Program Committee: Diane Holliman, Julie Halter,
Theresa Thompson, Charles Green, Ann Kasun, & Lea Atkinson. They welcome
comments, suggestions and offers to lay lead a service.
To our Telephone committee: Fran Phillips, Virginia Branan,
& Dee Tait
For assistance with copying of the newsletter:
Charles Green
For coordinating the book discussion group:
Joan Cline. She encourages suggestions and more participation. (See separate
article for Dec. plans.)
For delivering meals in November:
Rosie Asbury, Virginia Branan, Joan Cline, Dee Tait
UU Valdosta on
Public Radio?
Calling all listeners of Peach
State Public Radio (NPR)! Many UU congregations encourage members who want to
donate to NPR to get double their money's worth by giving their pledge
directly to the church. The money is used to buy advertising spots on the NPR
station in the area. Spots cost $20-$25. The station still gets all of the
money, and the church gets positive publicity with an ideal target audience.
Many
NPR members are being asked by NPR to renew their pledge at the $35 or higher
donation. If you will choose to make a donation through the church, please
contact Virginia Branan or René Kerr.
Beginner’s Tai Chi Class
If
you were intrigued by watching the Tai Chi several Sundays back when Luana
Goodwin and Dennis Bogyo talked
about Tai Chi, and they and several of our members demonstrated Tai Chi, plan
to join in a new beginner’s class this winter.
The classes will start the second week in January and meet on Mondays
and Thursdays at the church from 5:30-6:30 PM.
It takes about three months to learn the set.
Speak with Betty Derrick, Ann Bennett, or Holly Smith if you want to
know more. You might also want to
check out the Taoist Tai Chi website at www.taoist.org.
Congratulations to the father/son team of Frank and Andre Asbury who
have
placed in both tennis and bridge in regional competitions this fall!
Joys and
Concerns
Our
thoughts and prayers are with our members and friends who are battling illness
or who have lost loved ones.
At the Church-in-the-Woods:
Gay-Straight
Network –
The Valdosta GSN will host a
dessert social to celebrate the holidays, on Sunday, Dec. 10, 2:30 – 5:00.
All are welcome. Coffee, tea, juice and some desserts will be provided.
You are welcome to contribute a dessert, too, if you like.
Cardio Karate – Tuesdays
and Fridays, 7:00 – 8:15 PM. Call
Albert and Delane Slone.
Tai Chi – Monday
and Thursday evenings.
A new beginner’s class will begin the second week in January.
It will meet on Monday and Thursday evenings at the church at 5:30 PM.
Contact Vicki English or Betty Derrick.
Newsletter Staff
Editor: Betty Derrick
Production: Virginia
Branan
Membership database: Doug
Fraser
Website: Carol
Stiles and Earl Daniels
December 15, deadline for the
January issue.
UU
Activities and Announcements
Further information is posted on the bulletin board at the
church.
December 1 President’s Council Meeting, Orlando, FL
December 1 Florida Leadership School: Advanced Workshop and Reunion,
Orlando, FL
December 1-2 Meet the Candidates for President and Moderator of our
Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations, Orlando, FL
Candidates
for President:
·
Rev.
Diane Miller, Director of the Department of Ministry
·
Rev
Lawrence Palmieri Peers, Director of Extension Education & Research for
the Department of Congregations, district and Extension Services
·
Rev
William Sinkford, Director of the Department of Congregational, District and
Extension Services
Candidates for Moderator:
·
Patsy Sherrill Madden, St. Louis, Missouri
·
Diane
Olson, Phoenix, Arizona
December 26, 2000-January 1, 2001 SWIM 2000, This is the Southeast Winter Institute in Miami, a
one week Unitarian Universalist intentional community which provides
religious, inspirational, educational, growth orientated programming in
Homestead, FL. There’ll be plenty of time to play too! This year’s theme
is Circle of Life. Contact the
registrar Marty McAnulty or visit the website at www.swimuu.org.
December 8 deadline -Skinner House Books, the imprint of the Unitarian
Universalist Association, invites members of UU congregations to submit ideas
for the annual UUA Meditation Manual series. Past meditation
manuals have included traditional meditations, prayers, and
reflections on life and nature. Meditations
can be serious or funny. They should be suitable for both private reflection
and public worship. you. If you are interested in competing for this
publication more information is available through Mary Benard,
Editor,
Skinner House Books mbenard@uua.org
January
12 Deadline for nominations for Trustee Election. The Florida District and Mid-South Districts share a Trustee
on the UUA Board. Margaret Sander
of the First Unitarian church in Orlando currently holds this position
Now
through January 14 “Intimate Rituals and Personal Devotions: Spiritual Art
Through the Ages,” Harn Museum, Gainesville, FL
December…….The
Winter Holiday Season is here. Many
of our members will be traveling, visiting family and friends, and having
guests and family visiting during the next month.
We welcome guests and old friends when they are in town and encourage
our members to include participation in our programs in their busy schedules.
You have the opportunity on Sundays to welcome a visiting UU minister
and hear our own members as they share ways that they celebrate the season.
There are several parties in the works too.
Come when you can. Happy
Holidays to all!
