What’s going on....

November 1998

Downtown Valdosta Happening, Oct. 31 - Halloween!

Albert Slone has asked us to provide refreshments and attend the ‘Green Room’ for the four bands playing at this huge musical event, sponsored by ASA Engineering and Surveying and Downtown Merchants Association, to raise food for the Valdosta Food Bank. Call Doug Fraser if you would like to help. Music begins late afternoon, bring canned food for admission, located in parking lot across from City Hall.

UU Coffee House - Friday, the 13^th!

Our next coffee house will be held Friday, November 13, 7:00 - 10:00 p.m. Call all your friends! $3.00 donation for entrance, coffee or tea. Light entree, desserts, other beverages available for purchase. The Board voted to donate a portion of the proceeds of this coffee house to LAMP. Lowndes Associated Ministries to the People provides food and other support for homeless persons. Contact Molly Scholz regarding potential performers. Contact Rene Kerr to help with other details. We will need tables, desserts, help with serving food - in other words, the usual!

Adult Forum

If arrangements can be made we will have an opportunity to view and discuss an 8-minute video on the Georgia Heritage Fund, Sunday, Nov. 1 during R.E., 9:30 a.m. This video concerns Amendment 1 which is on the Nov. 3 election ballot. Contact Betty Derrick for more information.

November Games Night!

Saturday, November 7, 7:00 p.m. Call René or Julie for more information.

Women’s Group

Women’s Group meets the 1^st and 3^rd Tuesday of each month at 7:00 p.m. Articles/books/project suggestions are welcomed - please bring them with you!

We gather for good food and company and sharing, in the presence of women, various activities. Join us, Nov 3 and Nov 17, 7 p.m.

Break Bread Together

If you can deliver meals the 1^st and 5^th Tuesdays of each month beginning about 11:00 a.m., please contact Carol Stiles. Meal delivery only takes about an hour of your time.

Board Meeting

Sunday, Nov. 15. Time to be announced.

Thanksgiving Service, Nov. 29 This year, a Thanksgiving tradition will be renewed: Betty Derrick will present the service on Nov. 29, with cider and pumpkin bread.

Survey Request

Our minister requests and invites everyone in the congregation to fill out a "Needs and Aspirations Survey" during November. He will provide copies during adult education classes and at worship services. This is the survey that the U. U. A. provided last year for all members. Please complete one even if you did it last year. This is for our own church's evaluation and use. We will review results at a later time this year together. Thanks!

UU Activities and Announcements

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

• Nov 13-15, Create a Jubilee World, anti-racism workshop, UUF - Gainesville, 352-377-1669. Presented by the Jubilee World Task Force of the UUA.
• Nov 13-15, Social Action #1 - YRUU, UU-in-the Pines
• Nov 27-29, Fish Eating Creek - YRUU
• Dec 26 - Southeast Unitarian Universalist Winter Institute of Miami (SWIM), Camp Owissa Bauer, Homestead, FL
• Jan 7 - 9, A Multicultural Renaissance Module, Jacqui James, UUA diversity specialist, and Andrea Lerner, DRE, Orlando, leaders, UU - Gainesville.
• Jan 15 - 17, Transition Con #2 - YRUU, Gainesville
• Jan 23, Social Justice Conference, Rev. Meg Riley, Ft. Myers
• Jan 29 - 30, Small Congregation Growth Conference., Vero Beach
• Feb 26 - 28, Women and Religion Spring Conference, "Women, Religion, and Power," featuring Donna Woolfolk Cross, author of Pope Joan. UU - Gainesville.

Jack-in-the-Pulpit

Last Sunday I met with the internship committee to receive my final evaluation. In attendance were Virginia Branan (chair), Steve Andersen, Dave Gibson, Jim Ingram, Josette Ingram, Rene Kerr, and my intern supervisor, Rev. Harold Hawkins. I give thanks to and for these people who were willing to work the past two years evaluating, supporting and guiding me in ministry. Virginia is commended for her invaluable leadership. The committee evaluated the ministry I provide to you in many of its aspects, such as professional abilities, work style, organizational under-standing, personal qualities and spiritual development. It was not a test, but a learning process with critical feedback of my strengths and weaknesses. Nevertheless, I think one could say I passed with flying colors. I am excited and humbled by this report. Ministry in Valdosta is central to my life’s calling. My internship fulfilled one of the requirements by our U. U. Association for all ministerial candidates. It was my final major step before next year’s appointment with the Ministerial Fellowship Committee in Boston. The M. F. C. will determine if I qualify to be a U. U. minister, judging from the information they receive and from my personal presentation to them in the Autumn of 1999. All of the experience so far has been challenging, and most of it has been fun. Thank you for caring. Thank you for sharing in the life and energy of the U. U. Fellowship of Valdosta.

Love and Peace,

Issues of Serious Note:

Protests in Valdosta

Organizational meetings and rallies continue to be held in Valdosta, to bring attention to the death of Willie James Williams while in custody at the Lowndes County jail. Alma Williams, a leader of this movement, will speak at the church service, Nov. 1, 1998. Jack Ford, Laurel Hahlen, Janet and Steve Andersen and others have attended these meetings and can provide more information.

Laramie, Wyoming

The UUA has circulated an e-mail message to UU congregations following the violent death of a young gay man, Matthew Shepard, near Laramie. A portion of the message follows: "The UU Fellowship of Laramie is playing a key role in providing support to the local gay and lesbian community....[and] has established a memorial fund in Matthew’s name to help carry on the social justice and human rights work to which he dedicated, and ultimately sacrificed, his life. We have already begun organizing a public education and grass roots lobbying campaign in Wyoming, where the state legislature has voted down anti-bias bills the last three years." Messages of support or donations may be sent to Rev. Stephen M. Johnson, Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Laramie, PO Box 3401, University Station, Laramie, WY 82071, e-mail: stephenmeadjohnson@juno.com

Deadline for December newsletter issue:

Nov 15

Contact:

Carol Stiles

e-mail: cranfun@peachnet.campus.mci.net