E-mail UU-Valdosta at uuvaldosta@yahoo.com  

Phone:  229-242-3714 

 

Page down or click the links to go to specific sections:

President's Column	Thank You! Thank You!	Religious Education
Social Events!!	Social Action	UU Activities and Announcements
Board Notes!	Special Note  - A report on General Assembly (Dee and Virginia)!
Programming Plans	Ministerial search update

What’s going on.…August 2002     

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Sunday Programs

Jack Ford, a Unitarian Universalist minister, who served our congregation for several years as an intern, will be here on August 4.  Jack and his wife Kathy live in Jacksonville, Florida.  Jack’s sermon topic was not available when we went to press, but he always has something of interest to bring us when he visits. 

On August 11 Charles Green, Charles Judah and René Kerr will bring us a one act religious parody entitled “Sucking up to Hank."  You’ll have to come to find out more about this program, but the title is definitely intriguing.

August 18 marks the anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution which gave women the right to vote in 1920. Dr. Viki Soady, Director of Women's Studies and Acting Head of the Department of Modern and Classical Languages at Valdosta State University, will be our speaker. She will help us celebrate and remember the suffragettes who worked so many long years for the basic right of the ballot for women. Her talk will also be a consciousness-raising update on the place of women in today's society and the challenges she sees ahead. Dr. Soady always welcomes discussion and debate, so come prepared to participate in the service, Sunday, August 18.

On August 25^th Halim Faisal and Diane Holliman will bring us what surely will be another of their provocative and interesting programs.  This one is entitled, “Moving Beyond the Perils and Pitfalls of Identity Politics." 

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Sheila T. Harty, theologian, and our guest speaker last month (July 21, 2002) has provided a list of books for us.  Click here to see the list!

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Religious Education

Youth R.E meets the second and fourth Sundays.  Contact Virginia Branan for information.    

Adult R.E. The series led by Hue Jacobs will continue on the 2^nd and 4^th Sundays.  The group is doing exercises from the book “Quantum Psychology” by Robert Anton Wilson.    

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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. 

Prison Book Donations

Frances Paterson has been doing volunteer work at the Valdosta State Prison.  Inmates are very grateful for donations of books and express a great hunger for reading materials of various kinds, especially undergraduate college textbooks (here's a excellent place to donate those textbooks the bookstore wouldn't buy back or that you kept and found you never used).  Novels are also welcomed, particularly mysteries and suspense.  Readers' Digest condensed books would also be good.  They are also partial to works of nonfiction, especially history.  If you go to garage sales and can spare a dollar or two, you might be able to pick up an armful of books suitable for donation. The only types of books not permitted are chemistry books and true crime stories.   

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Wednesday Support Group

In the near future a Wednesday Support Group  will begin meeting at 8 PM.  The group will be open to everyone, members as well as non-members. Using a 12-step format the group’s mission will be to build a community of acceptance and love.  Contact person: Charles Judah.

GHP Students

If you’ve been around during July you know that once again the Georgia Governor’s Honors Students at Valdosta State University have been attending our services.  Some of them have attended Unitarian Universalist services before, but a number of them are experiencing our openness and responsible search for truth for the first time.  This summer they seem to have most enjoyed the discussion after the presentations. This has turned out to be one of our most successful outreach programs in recent years.

Programming Plans

Charles Judah

As Chairperson of the Program Committee, I invite all who have been connected with this church in any way to consider rededicating part of your time and energy to this progressive, accepting and loving congregation. My life has been enhanced by the seven and one half years that I have been coming and I would hope that in some way yours has been also.

I know that from time to time my feelings have been hurt and that there have been times when I was ready to throw up my hands and say, “I’m not coming back to that church,” and on occasion I have stayed away for a period of time. But, alas, what drew me to this congregation in the first place is still here. I personally am sending this invitation to everyone to show up and I for one will welcome you with open arms and a hug even if I am the one that may have offended you. You can help make this a better congregation and community by your presence and participation.

My job as program chair is to facilitate programs that are, as our mission statement declares, helpful to people in seeking intellectual, emotional and spiritual enlightenment. Our UU tradition draws from many sources and the utilization thereof will be the paradigm of our Sunday services with emphasis on positive messages that celebrate religious and secular holidays.

The program committee, comprised of volunteers, will meet the second Sunday immediately following our potluck meal. (The time may be changed because of the planned Board Meeting.  Check with Charles Judah.) All people with input are invited to share their ideas.

Remember these programs, already planned, which you need to help make happen!

Water Communion service

The Water Communion service, which is quickly becoming a tradition for our congregation, is planned for September.   Collect some water from a place that you visit this summer(or from your own backyard).  Save it to bring to the Water Communion service where we will pool our samples to symbolize a reconnecting of community this fall.  You will have the opportunity to share the intellectual, moral, spiritual or other story that makes the water special for you.  (Instead of throwing that plastic film container away, use it to collect your water sample!) 

Musical Communion Service

 A Musical Communion service is in the planning stages for later in the year. You will be asked to bring your favorite song, along with the story about why it is your favorite, to the service.  See Charles Judah to get your song on the program.  Charles says: “No, you don't have to sing it, just bring it on CD or tape.” (No 8 tracks or 78”s though as the church sound system can’t handle those.  Can we do 45’s?)

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Sunday Service Music

The Board hopes to soon arrange for a pianist for our Sunday services.  We have had someone express interest in the position.   Ab and Cindy Roesel continue to be willing to work with the pianist to lead singing and provide much needed specials during the services. If you have musical talent and would like to be included see them or Charles Judah. Don't let your talent lay dormant.  Program presenters should please take these resources into consideration and provide our music leaders with the program topic ahead of time. Two hymns and one special would fit nicely in our morning worship service. 

Ministerial Search Committee

Dee Tait and Virginia Branan attended General Assembly in June. They made contacts with UUA officials and ministers to get the word out about our position.  Virginia, with the committee’s input, has completed the UUA’s Congregational Survey so that our position can be listed on the UUA Website. Contact a member of the committee if you have questions or suggestions. Jim Ingram (Chair), Rosie Asbury, Virginia Branan, Betty Derrick, René Kerr, and Dee Tait.

!!!Social Events!!!

The job of the Program Chair, in addition to Sunday service programming, is also to facilitate social events.  Charles Judah plans, along with the Programming Committee, to see that we have one or two gatherings a month in someone’s home. This will be an excellent time to show people that we truly are an accepting and loving congregation and that our pluralism is a beacon to people that are seeking a truly inclusive church. You may even be asked to host.

Invitations!

Saturday August 3, 7:00 PM

Reading Party of Charles' favorite author

Kurt Vonnegut's "God bless you DR. Kevorkin." Charles Judah's Home 

Bring your favorite beverage. Charles is catering the pizza.

 Saturday August 17, 7:00 PM

Games party at Joan Cline's Home

Bring snacks. 

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Wedding Plans

Lea and William Atkinson’s son Robert will be married in our church in August.  The reception will be at the home of the bride’s parents following the ceremony. You are invited to celebrate with them.

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Book Discussion and Potluck Planned

Add “Year of Wonders” by Geraldine Brooks to your summer reading.  A book discussion and potluck is scheduled for Saturday evening, September 21,  7-10 PM at the Branan’s home.

There are some handouts about the book available at the church.  A copy is being passed around.  Speak to Charles Judah if you would like to borrow that copy.   An Amazon.com reviewer states that it is the "story of ordinary people struggling to cope with extraordinary circumstances." The reviewer goes on to say that Geraldine Brooks  describes the "17th-century plague that is carried from London to a small Derbyshire village by an itinerant tailor. As villagers begin, one by one, to die, the rest face a choice: do they flee their village in hope of outrunning the plague or do they stay? This is a skillfully constructed story of the village inhabitants' struggle to retain their humanity in the face of the disaster."

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Congratulations­¯¯­

v     To Julie Halter who was inducted into the Alpha Iota Chapter of Alpha Epsilon Lambda, which is an honor society of graduate and professional school students. 

v     To Betty Derrick who has recently been elected from the American Association of University Professor’s Council for an at large position on the Association’s Executive Committee.  Betty is a Councilor from District V, which covers most of the southeast.

v     Cliff Landis who graduated Magna Cum Laude from Landae University in May.

Keep in Your Thoughts

Ø      Our members and friends who are dealing with the loss of loved ones or personal illness. 

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President’s Column

Charles Green

ON THE THRESHOLD OF A RENEWED COMMITMENT

2002/2003 GOALS

I’ve been planning the first board meeting after being voted President of UU of Val fellowship. I thought it wise to set down some modest goals that are a stretch but achievable for the coming year. I started a list and was prepared to ask for additions, comments and discussion at our July meeting. The goals I had started were:

1. Maintain an emphasis of our mission statement.
2. Continue to practice the seven principals.
3. Spend the fellowships funds very carefully.
4. Motivate the committees to be active and meaningful.
5. Continue new and quality programs.
6. Continue to reach-out to our community, region and world in search of the truth.
7. Grow the membership.
8. Continue to make a difference with support of LAMP and meals for the needy.
9. Continue in support of the UUA.
10. Encourage a team of members to attend General Assembly next June.

It seems in the more than thirty years of history of our fellowship, the peaks and valleys of interest and attendance partnered with having a part-time ordained minister (although he/she commuted from nearby). The years that a minister was active in our fellowship were also the times of best participation by the members and community. In the past two years our Board has often discussed the need for a minister but the budget simply would not support the cost. And then in May, a landmark offer was made by one of our charter member families. Mr. Jim Ingram issued the following offer from Josette:

• She is willing to fund the cost of a part time or partial time minister for the next two to three years with a limit of approximately $40,000.00. He suggested the minister be allowed to pursue additional part-time income as a community professional in the area, examples could be VSU, Moody, SGMC, etc. He feels the minister should be an ordained Unitarian Universalist and the search should be open with respect to age and gender.
• He suggested a clear requirement be developed to hire a minister (and this has been accomplished – see our website). He suggested that the process be initiated immediately and acted upon as promptly as possible. A condition of the offer is that the minister position be filled by September 1, 2002.

A committee was formed in May and currently is diligently working to the find and recommend the right person. Virginia Brannan and Dee Tait attended General Assembly in June in Quebec City, Canada. They received valuable information and spread the invitation for applicants.

As Charles Judah warned, without strong support and participation by the membership, the minister would not be successful. He challenged all members to become more active and interested in growing the fellowship.

I believe we are at a crossroad in the history of the fellowship. All members can and must help as they are able, with this new initiative. I feel we are on the threshold of a renewed commitment by attracting and keeping a permanent minister.

The challenge is on the table. Are we able to make use of this opportunity? September will be here soon. I trust you will be mindful of the task at hand and lend your support where you can.

The first ten goals that I drafted are important, but think how we need a permanent minister to help guide us in attaining these and other worthwhile goals. I’m excited and I trust you are also. Send me your thoughts and ideas. As always, we will follow our bylaws and implement the democratic process in all matters. 

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Virginia Branan And Dee Tait Report from General Assembly

The Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) concluded its annual five-day General Assembly this year in Quebec City, Canada, June 24.  Delegates from the Unitarian Universalist Church of Valdosta, Virginia Branan and Dee Tait, were among the more than 4,100 Unitarian Universalists from across North America attending this year's gathering, which included worship services, workshops, and business meeting of the UUA.

Delegates voted on by-law amendments that will enable Canadian Unitarians and Universalists to become responsible for their own movement in Canada.  Under the ratified agreement, the Canadian Unitarian Council and the UUA will become separate national denominations while preserving the bonds of faith and friendship that have existed for more than 170 years. 

The delegates to the General Assembly passed a groundbreaking Statement of Conscience calling upon the United States to explore alternatives to the "war on drugs."  The General Assembly also passed resolutions in support of the International Criminal Court, endorsing the Earth Charter, calling for peace and justice in the Middle East, supporting legislation to create a U. S. Department of Peace, and celebrating Quebec's recent passage of a law legalizing same-sex unions.

Other highlights of the General Assembly included the Service of the Living Tradition, a worship service recognizing new members of the Unitarian Universalist ministry and honoring those ministers who died in the preceding year, and the Ware Lecture, delivered this year by Stephen Lewis, former Canadian ambassador to the United Nations, who spoke passionately about the need for increased educational resources for the world's poor, especially women and children.  During the General Assembly closing ceremony, a Quebecian representative thanked the UU delegates for contributing $31,370 for feeding the hungry and the homeless of Quebec City.

Dee and Virginia presented the June 30 Sunday service about their experiences at General Assembly. They included some humorous anecdotes and an interactive virtual tour of the gathering.  As part of the local ministerial search committee they attended and asked questions at a meeting for all congregations looking for ministers, contacted the three district executives in the southeastern U.S. to personally seek their assistance, networked with many UU delegates and ministers, distributed flyers about our ministerial search. As we continue our active search for the right minister for this congregation, we are reminded that we are all lay ministers in one way or another.

In the coming weeks, Dee and Virginia will be sharing religious education resources, outreach projects, songs, and dramatizations with the congregation and the church board. General Assembly offered 105 options of workshops and worship services to attend. Some of the topics were: Articulating our Faith; Spirituality, the Environment and Future Generations; Nature of Racism; Women's Voices of Liberation; Envisioning the Beloved Community; Economic Justice Jive; Theology of Ecology: Faith for Healing the Earth; Drug Policy Alternatives; Unity in our Diversity; Religious Liberty Under Siege; Nurturing Christian Spirituality in a UU Context; Transgender and Our Faith; Understanding the Challenge of Globalization; Interfaith Relations and Challenges; Poetry as Equipment for Living in Troubled Times.  

They brought back brochures and pamphlets about Unitarian Universalism which you may want to share with friends and visitors,  *Chances go up 50% that a visitor will return if he or she is contacted by someone from the congregation. the chances decline sharply if contacted by the minister only. Surprising?    *Each member might invite 10 people for a Sunday service. See what your results are.   *Tell the people you invite to attend what it is about them that makes you believe they would like the UU church.    *Tell your children and grandchildren that you would like for them to grow up Unitarian Universalist, not "whatever."  *Sharing--not shoving" was a slogan used by the presenter who expressed that UUs, in order not to shove, sometimes don't even share. A couple of suggestions for members is to know our mission statement and principles (they're on the back of this newsletter). 

"It was really thrilling to me, said Dee, to be among more than 4,000 UUs and to present the Valdosta church banner in a parade of more than 1,000 congregations."

Virginia's comment on returning was, "Start planning now to attend General Assembly in Boston next June. You'll be a 'born again Unitarian Universalist!'"  Registration has already started for next year's General Assembly in Boston, MA, when 10,000 Unitarian Universalists are expected to gather in the city where the UUA has its headquarters.

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The Godwin family have recently written to let us know how they are doing.  They moved earlier this year to Virginia.  Check the bulletin board in the RE wing for their letter.

Welcome Back Cliff Landis:  James Clifford Landis is back!  Cliff has been away for a while completing a Bachelor’s degree with a concentration in religious studies.  He graduated Magna Cum Laude from Landae University in May.  He was an Honors Scholar and had his undergraduate thesis published through Auburn University.  He was ordained through the Church of the Spiral Tree in Auburn, AL.  Cliff will be attending Florida State University this fall working on a Master’s degree in Library and information Science.  Cliff expects to be seeing us more regularly now that he is back in this area.  Add Cliff back to our members and friends list. 

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Treasurer’s Report

June

Outstanding Debts

   Mortgage:               $35802.21

   UUA:                                $0.00

                                    $35802.21

Savings:  $3071.80

Income:

   Pledge:                    $1378.00

   Plate:                          $180.00

   Rent:                             $315.00

              $1873.00

Expenses:

   Mortgage:                $500.00

   Utilities:                     $147.11

   Speakers:                     $200.00

                                     $847.11

Your Treasurer, René Kerr 

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UU Activities and Announcements

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

July 21-27 Southeastern Unitarian Universalist summer Institute(SUUSI), Blacksburg, VA www,suusi.org

August 16-18 YRUU Con for University UU, East Orlando

August 23-25 Mountain Ambassadors Weekend (Could someone from our congregation go!?)

August 23-25 “Awakening the Storyteller,” The Mountain

August 30-Sept.1 “Yoga-A Journey Within,” The Mountain

September 22-28 Florida Leadership School 2002, Oveido, FL

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At the Church-in-the-Woods

Tai Chi – Monday and Thursday Evenings.  Beginner’s group-5:30 PM; Continuing group-6:30 PM.  Contact Dennis Bogyo. Tai Chi plans to start a Saturday class in late August. 

Metropolitan Community Church - Sunday evenings: Choir practice at 5:00 PM. Service at 6:00 PM

Women’s Group Those who self-identify as female are invited to join this group for good food and great company.   The group will resume its regular gatherings, after a summer break, on the 3^rd Tuesday in August at 7:00 PM.  The group will begin its regular schedule of the 1^st and 3^rd Tuesday of the month in September. Bring a snack or potluck dish and ideas for discussion or just yourself!  Contact René Kerr.

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Newsletter Staff

Editor:  Betty Derrick

Production/Mailing:  Sharon McKenzie, Charles Green,

Website:  Carol Stiles

August 7: deadline for the September newsletter.  The early deadline is because your editor will be traveling in August and September and only has a small window of time in Valdosta before taking off again.  Thanks for helping out by meeting this early deadline.

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