August 1998

What’s going on....

A Note on Building Usage and Maintenance - Help!

We need you to help with preparing for our weekly services and maintaining our wonderful facility, also known as the church-in-the-woods! Sign-up sheets for weekly cleaning are provided by Josette Ingram on the door of the refrigerator in the kitchen. There is also a list of items that need to be taken care of each week, such as vacuuming, cleaning the bathrooms, preparing coffee and tea, etc. But don’t wait to sign up!! Sounds just like home, but someone needs to do it, and this is a volunteer organization. Also, we need to make sure that all doors to the facility are locked after each use. Each group that uses rooms in the R.E. building and sanctuary needs to make sure that the room is clean and the outside doors are locked when they leave. Don’t just think that someone else will do it - you, be that person! Look and listen for a church-wide clean-up work day, coming soon.

August Games Night

Games Night returns! - First Saturday of each month.

Saturday, August 1, 7:00 p.m. Bring a friend, a game, a snack to share if you wish, and a dollar donation. The games begin around 7:00 p.m. and will continue until….? Call René or Julie for more information.

Next Board Meeting

Sunday, August 23, after the service, bring potluck lunch. After lunch, Janet Andersen, R.E. director, will meet with parents to plan the year’s R.E. curriculum and activities for the youth.

Coordinator for Break Bread Together

We need someone to volunteer as coordinator for our participation in the Break Bread program!! We deliver the meals the 1^st and 5^th Tuesdays of each month beginning about 11:00 a.m. Actual delivery only takes about an hour of your time, and is rewarded by the appreciation of those receiving the meals. The coordinator will be responsible for making sure two people (or a family) volunteer for those days to pick up and deliver the meals. If you would like to be coordinator for this very important social action program, please contact Carol Stiles.

Meditation Group

A group has gathered informally at the church for meditation. If you are interested, please call Ann Bennett.

Pool Party!! End of the summer, Welcome Back - social event at the Slone’s, Saturday, Aug. 29, 6:00 p.m.

Delane, Albert, Fleming and Eric will host a pool party. Bring food and drink for potluck, your swimsuit and a towel. For directions call Delane or Albert or contact the newsletter editor. A great evening of fun and relaxation - pool, hot tub, and good company!!

Women’s Group

Women’s Group continues to meet this summer, the 1^st and 3^rd Tuesday of each month at 7:00 p.m. We gather for good food and company and sharing, in the presence of women, various activities such as reading a book (suggestions welcomed!) or writing activities. Join us, Aug 4 and Aug 18, 7:00 p.m. Open for suggestions for fall activities!!

Tai Chi

The Tai Chi group will have a new beginners’ class starting in August or September. Contact Dennis Bogyo or Luana Goodwin, for more information and future schedule. Dennis and Luana gave us a very interesting and interactive presentation on July 26!

Religious Education news

R.E. classes continue to meet this summer at 10:00 a.m. Elementary and Youth R.E. will be finishing the summer with various crafts:

Aug. 2 and 9 - wood and rope signs; Aug. 16 and 23 - leather belt making. R.E. will resume with UU curriculum lessons in September - parents should plan to attend the meeting after the potluck lunch on August 23 to help plan the year’s activities.

Youth group meets at 10:00 a.m. every Sunday, and will be presenting some of their music during the services. They also will be participating this summer in various activities such as helping deliver meals for the Break Bread program. Contact Jessica Soady, President, for more info.

For more info, contact the following individuals:

Elementary and youth R.E. - Janet Andersen

Youth Group - Doug or Rhett Fraser, Laurel Hahlen;

Adult R.E. - Hue Jacobs

	Deadline for September newsletter issue: August 15
Contact:	Carol Stiles, c/o UU Church 1951 E. Park Ave., Valdosta, GA 31602 e-mail: cranfun@peachnet.campus.mci.net

UU Activities and Announcements

Check the bulletin boards in the church and R.E. building for more announcements and information on the following events:

August 28 - 30, 1998
Youth Advisor Training, Orlando, Fl

Sept 19
Northeast Cluster meeting, at UU Society of Daytona Beach, Ormond Beach, FL, 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. The topic is fundraising.

Oct 31 - Nov 7, 1998
The Florida Leadership School, Canterbury Retreat Center, near Orlando.

Newsletter questionnaire: Have you returned yours? See last month’s issue, or simply let Carol know which of the items in the newsletter are most helpful and interesting to you. All comments appreciated!

The General Assembly of the UUA. The largest General Assembly in the history of the UUA completed on June 30th after meeting for six days in Rochester, NY. More than 4,000 Unitarian Universalists participated in this General Assembly, surpassing the previous record of 3,600 at the General Assembly in New Haven, CT, in 1989. ... Among the most heavily-attended presentations were Prof. Robert Bellah's lecture which placed Unitarian Universalism within a wider cultural perspective, and the Rev. Clark Olsen's analysis of the recently-completed denominational survey, Fulfilling the Promise.

General Assembly offers an opportunity for delegates from each member congregation of the Unitarian Universalist Association to cast their vote in UUA policy-making and institutional processes. This year delegates focused on issues of how congregations can effect positive change in society through interfaith efforts; how church members can nurture family life; and how to better understand the links between economic injustice, poverty, and racism. (Ed. note: This was a brief report taken from the UUA’s website, where there is a complete list of activities and news: http://uua.org/ or look for more info in the next issue of World Magazine.)