What

What’s going on.... November 2000

Sat	Nov 4	7-10 PM	Coffee house at the church
Sun	Nov 5	9:30 AM 10:45 AM	Youth R.E. Service –Dennis Bogyo and Luana Goodwin, “Taoist Tai Chi”
Tues	Nov 7	7:00 PM	Women’s Group at the church
Sun	Nov 12	9:30 AM 10:45 AM 12:15 PM	Youth R.E. Service – Rev Harold Hawkins, “What do we really know about Jesus? “ 2^nd Sunday Potluck and Board meeting
Mon	Nov 13	11:00 AM	Break Bread delivery
Sun	Nov 19	9:30 AM 10:45 AM	Youth R.E. Service – Youth RE Service, “Starwars: The Spiritual Aspects of the Force “
Tues	Nov 21	7:00 PM	Women’s Group at the church
Thurs	Nov 23	All day!	Happy Thanksgiving in every home and throughout the land!
Sun	Nov 26	9:30 AM 10:45 AM	Youth R.E. Service - Diane Holliman, “Who We Are and What We Eat: Spirituality, Communion and Consumption"

November ……. The month begins with a return of the Doug and Molly Coffeehouse, which promises to be a hard act to follow, but Diane Holliman has some wonderful programs lined up too. The Rev. Harold Hawkins, a UU minister, will be visiting during the month. Our own Youth R. E. young people are planning a program highlighting what they see about spirituality in Starwars. Diane herself will talk about “eating, spirituality, and communion “ during a post-Thanksgiving service. And everyone have a wonderful Thanksgiving with family and friends.

Come, join in, and participate in as much as you can.

UU Coffeehouse

November 4 from 7-10 PM

$5.00 at the door for this popular fundraiser at the church. The Molly and Doug Revue featuring: Molly and Doug, Mike and Margo Cline, Jim Hornsby, and The Strings of Fire. We are also expecting singer-guitarist Alan Keith, readings/singing by Teresa Thompson, and much more. There will be two stages this time so no irritating set-up changes between acts (its hoped). The Coffeehouse stage will be hosted by the ever-popular Tom Hallock as M.C. Coffee, of course, as well as lasagna and desserts. René Kerr is organizing the menu, tables, etc. Mark your calendar and help when asked.

Games Night canceled this month to bring you THE COFFEEHOUSE. Games will be back on schedule for the first Saturday of the month in December.

Women’s Group

Join us for good food and great company, the 1^stand 3^rd Tuesday of each month at 7:00 p.m. Bring a snack, ideas for discussion, or just yourself! Contact Julie Halter for more information.

R.E. Program

Youth R.E. The young people will be presenting one of the Sunday services this month. If you want to be involved contact Ann Kasun.

Visiting UU Minister

The Rev Harold Hawkins from Tallahassee, FL will be visiting our church on November 12. His topic will be “What do we really know about Jesus? “ Rev. Hawkins, who is the minister of the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Bay County in Panama City, FL, has visited our congregation frequently in the past. We welcome him back.

Rev. Hawkins was originally ordained as a minister in a mainstream Protestant denomination and for a number of years worked as a hospital chaplain. Through the years he came to realize that Unitarian Universalism best represented his religious convictions. After retiring from his position as a chaplain he became a UU minister and now serves the Panama City church.

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 Virginia Branan.

Stream Clean-up

You will remember that the church adopted a stretch of the Withlacoochee River as part of the local stream clean-up project. Tom Hallock says there will be a stream cleanup event within the next month. Listen for announcements soon from Tom and Jim Ingram. The exact date is not available in time for the newsletter. You’ll get word though. Help if you can.

VIRGINIA'S

VISION

I have found our UU association website at www.uua.org to be very helpful in expressing our vision for living a spiritual, meaningful life. "We believe that religious wisdom is ever changing. Human understanding of life and death, the world and its mysteries is never final. Revelation is continuous. We celebrate unfolding truths known to teachers, prophets, and sages throughout the ages. We affirm the worth of all women and men. We believe people should be encouraged to think for themselves. We know people differ in their opinions and lifestyles, and we believe these differences generally should be honored."

A young person who had been visiting a UU church in another state commented that he thought they were "anti-Christian" because of some comments and jokes. How easy it is for a remark to be misinterpreted, as I feel sure that congregation is not against Christians. While expressing our personal opinions openly and honestly, we must hold to our principle of acceptance of one another and demonstrate by our actions our principle of belief in the inherent dignity and worth of every person.

Christmas Parade

Saturday, December 2 at 5PM

UUs Will Parade – the board voted to participate for the second year in the community Christmas Parade. Albert Slone has our float from last year, which celebrated diversity with symbols from all of the major religions painted on the sides. UUs rode on the float and one member even ran alongside to distribute treats to the children at streetside. (Rene would probably welcome co-runners this year!) Let Albert or Virginia know if you can participate.

VSU Interfaith Alliance

The Interfaith Alliance, a student group at VSU, is really kicking into gear. Below is a schedule of future activities, which include a chalking, showing of the movie PI, canoe trip, and potluck. The group is getting T-shirts. If you'd like to be on the listserve, or if you'd like more information contact Tom Hallock.

Treasurer’s Report

September Budget

Outstanding Debts

Mortgage: $42062.43

UUA $1071.00

FL. Dist. $510.00

$43643.43

Savings: $2500.00

Income:

Pledge: $1278.00

Plate $104.00

Fundraising: $19.00

Rent $340.00

$1741.00

Expenses:

Mortgage: $700.00

Speaker/Service: $282.51

Utilites: $196.03

UUA: $119.00

Postage: $45.50

Maintenance: $47.13

Parade Fee: $40.00

$1430.17

Your Treasurer, Rene' Kerr

Did YOU KNOW? Protestant desenters from the doctrine of the Trinity coined the term Unitarian in the 16^th century. (Trinitarianism became church doctrine on a vote in 375 AD.) Michael Servetus, who was burned at the stake in Geneva in 1533 for his beliefs, is generally viewed as the founder of modern Unitarianism. His followers had established 425 Unitarian churches in Transylvania by 1600. During the 17^th Century in England men like John Milton, John Locke, and Issac Newton were involved with the Unitarian movement. From their beginnings Unitarians have been willing to question and be outspoken about issues of freedom and justice.

A Report on UU & You

Fifteen kindred souls circled up their chairs after church on 9 October for an Introduction to Unitarian Universalism. Call it what you want -- UU & You, UU 101 -- but the point was to provide a background in our faith and to determine our place in it. Lots of people got to talk about their religious lives, and the gathering was enriched by the participation of a searching, theologically diverse group. Thanks go to Virginia Branan and Dee Tate for reviewing the Principles, Jim Ingram for discussing our congregation's history, Tom Hallock for the history of UUism, and Theresa Thompson for explaining our services.

Joys and Concerns:

Our thoughts are with members and friends who are recovering from health concerns.

KNOW OUR MEMBERS

Do you know who

§ Picks up the church mail and gets it to the proper people;

§ Makes sure reports are completed and mailed on time;

§ Knows where the attic is and made several trips up there to store things that had been "sitting around" since last Christmas!

§ Organized and cleaned the church office so we can once again see the tops of the furniture;

§ Quietly and effectively takes part in all our church activities;

§ Is our "Woman for All Seasons," doing these things which are not even in her officer job description;

§ And takes care of our money!!!!

Thank You, René Kerr! We appreciate you!

Thank You, Thank You

For delivering Break Bread Together meals: Rosie Asbury and Virginia Branan

For posting the newsletter to the website and maintaining the website: Earl Daniels and Carol Stiles

For arranging Valdosta Daily Times publicity in the Church Briefs column: Dee Tait

For organizing UU and You: Tom Hallock and For Helping Tom out with UU and You: Jim Ingram, Theresa Thompson, Dee Tait, and Virginia Branan

For Updating New Members and Visitors Welcome Packets: Doug Fraser

For Hosting last month’s Book Discussion last month and agreeing to coordinate this activity: Joan Cline

Pledging Our Time

We still need volunteers to:

> Clean bathrooms in R. E. Building weekly

> Coordinate Break Bread

> Historian(scrapbook and records)

At the Church-in-the-Woods:

Gay-Straight Network –second Wednesday each month for a potluck social, 7:00 PM.

Cardio Karate – Tuesdays and Fridays, 7:00 – 8:15 PM. Call Albert and Delane Slone.

Tai Chi – Monday and Thursday

evenings, The group expects to start a new beginner’s class in early January. Dennis Bogyo and Luana Goodwin, both Tai Chi instructors, will present a program at the church on Sunday morning this month. Contact Vicki English.

Newsletter Staff

Editor: Betty Derrick

Production: Virginia Branan

Membership database: Doug Fraser

Website: Carol Stiles and Earl Daniels

November 12, deadline for the December issue. Your editor thanks you for meeting this slightly early date so that the November newsletter can be prepared before the Thanksgiving university break.

VOTE this month! Democracy works only if we exercise our right to vote. Vigilance is required to protect the freedoms we cherish. Educate yourself about the issues and participate in the process.

UU Activities and Announcements

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

November 4 Northeast Cluster Picnic, Juniper Springs, FL

November 5-11 Florida Leadership School, Ovieda, FL

November 18 Florida District Board Meeting, Melbourne, FL

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 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. If you are interested in competing for this publication more information is available through Mary Benard, Editor, Skinner House Books mbenard@uua.org

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!

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

Freedom, Glorious Freedom: The Spiritual Journey to the Fullness of Life for Gays, Lesbians, and Everybody Else

From Queer to Eternity: Spirituality in the Lives of Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual People