What’s going on...August 2006

Sunday Services

AUGUST 6 - Dr. Sadhvi Vrndaji Chaitanya:  "Inner Landscape and Social Change Efforts" 

Sadhvi Vrndaji says: “Ancient and indigenous spiritual traditions have always emphasized the connections between that which is ‘external,’ and that which is ‘internal.’ In contemporary society, however, when we consider putting effort towards impacting the society or the environment around us, we seldom contemplate on the factors that motivate us to engage in such efforts. All too frequently, when one is unable to achieve the outcomes one desires, one gets burned out and disillusioned.” In this talk, Sadhvi Vrndaji will explore the ways in which the inner landscape impacts social change efforts, and offer practical suggestions for gaining increased clarity, focus, and direction in one's efforts.

Acharya Sadhvi Sri Vrndaji Chaitanya is a Vedic Monk, and the disciple of Pujya Sri Dayananda Saraswati Swamiji, a world-renowned teacher of Vedanta and Sanskrit. Vrndaji has taught Vedanta at several institutions of higher education including the University of California , Berkeley , University of Oregon , Eugene , and Valdosta State University . Vrndaji has participated in several UN and international NGO initiatives for world peace and social justice, and is the convener of the Global Diversity Coalition, an international non-profit organization that is engaged in organizing interreligious dialogues between indigenous spiritual traditions and mainstream religions.  The Global Diversity Coalition also strives to preserve religious and bio diversity by supporting the practitioners of indigenous cultures, and traditional ways of being that are endangered by globalization. 

AUGUST 13 - Jane Osbourne:  "Living Wage, Affordable Housing (and the Lack of a Support System for Our Most Vulnerable Neighbors)" 

Jane Osborn is Associate Director of 2-1-1 of South Central Georgia and program manager of the HUD case management grant for the South Georgia Coalition to End Homelessness. As a professional social worker since 1978, she has served in many facets of social services including child protective services in Texas and Louisiana , Florida Sheriffs Boys Ranch, Children's Medical Services, Family Connection of Lowndes County, and Big Brothers Big Sisters of South Georgia. 

Her acquired skills include the arts of grant writing, fundraising, board development and public relations. She was instrumental in obtaining grants that resulted in the $1.3 million renovation of an unused school building which now houses many regional service agencies and activities.  Current grants in operation by South Georgia ! Coalition to End Homelessness include a three year $ 750,000 HUD grant for services to people who are homeless in Lowndes and 17 surrounding counties, Foster Grandparents and Retired and Senior Volunteer Program opportunities in 10 counties, four Volunteers in Service to America serving in 35 counties and funds to help with emergency housing in 18 counties.

A Valdosta resident since 1986, she publishes a weekly e-mail community calendar that now reaches nearly 500 people in 10 counties. For five years, she has served as a Federal Consultant to the Head Start program, participating in reviews of programs required to ensure compliance with funding guidelines. Last year she was a reader for Federal grant applications for two government agencies.  

AUGUST 20 - Dr. Michael Stoltzfus:  “Christianity:  A Look at Catholic Social Teachings” 

Dr. Stoltzfus will introduce modern Catholic social teachings as they articulate a normative theory relating the social vision of the Christian faith to the concrete social, political, economic, and cultural conditions of the twentieth century.  Catholic social teaching refers to the body of papal literature beginning with Pope Leo XIII’s 1891 encyclical Rerum Novarum (The Condition of Labor) which emerges in response to inhuman working conditions connected with the industrial revolution.  These teachings form the radical hub of what has come to be known as liberation theology in its many forms around the world.

Michael Stoltzfus, religion professor at VSU, continues his monthly discussions with us on world religions with this presentation

AUGUST 27 - Dr. Louie Schmier: "Difference, Not Better, Not Worse" 

Dr. Louie Schmier is Professor of History at Valdosta State University . Having just returned from a trip to China he will address some of the differences and similarities of different cultures.   Louie has spoken often at our services.  He is a leader in the Valdosta synagogue. 

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Help Revive Religious Education for Our Children

Some of our members have recently shown interest in bringing back a Religious Education (RE) program.  They wish to nurture in their children an understanding of our faith and principles.  However, help is needed.  Only with enough involvement from our members can we revive an RE program.  Appropriate materials are available, but we need experienced UU members as teachers and helpers.  If you are interested, please contact any Board member.

            An active RE Program for children and young people is often an avenue of growth for congregations.  Parents seeking a liberal religious education for their children come to the church for that reason and then become involved themselves.  We need a critical mass of children and adults willing to work in the program.  For many years Virginia Branan kept this program alive, initially for her own children and then for the children of others.  Wonderful materials are available from the UUA some of which we already have in Valdosta .

 

INVITATION TO MEMBERSHIP If you are interested in becoming a member of our fellowship, we encourage you to talk with our President, Lars Leader .  We welcome your questions, and we extend an open invitation to all who want to join our liberal community of faith.

from General Assembly  contributed by Lars Leader

Universalists, [writes LB Fisher in 1921,] are often asked to tell where they stand. The only true answer to give to this question is that we do not stand at all, we move. Or we are asked to state our position. Again we can only answer that we are on the march.

We do not stand still, nor do we defend any immovable positions, theologically speaking. We grow and we march, as all living things forever must do. The main questions with Universalists are not where we stand but which way we are moving, not what positions we defend but which way we are marching. Our main interest is to perceive what is true progress, and to keep our movements in line with that, and not to allow ourselves to move round and round in circles, like a squirrel in its cage.

[Religious] words and phrases take on new meanings, and therefore need new definitions, in each succeeding age. Nothing is clearer than the fact that the old definitions do not meet the needs of the new day, or that the old theologies do not function for the new occasions. Our worn phrases are always losing their old meanings, and must forever be finding new meanings in the light of new experiences.

What may probably be more disturbing to minds that tend to inertia, which are dreading changes, and stoutly demanding final and authoritative statements and definitions, is that they will never get what they want in this or in any other possible world. No human word has ever reached or ever will reach finality of meaning. Each living age always has defined religion in the light of its own experiences, and all ages to come will do the same.

[We are often asked to tell where [we] stand. The only true answer to give to this question is that we do not stand at all, we move.

Written by Lewis B. Fisher, Universalist minister, Dean of Ryder Divinity School , author of Which Way? A Study of Universalist and Universalism , Boston , 1921, 9-11.  Ernest Cassara, Universalism in America , pp. 253-4

 

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New Members recently formally recognized:  Please e-mail Betty Derrick, our editor, a short biography for publication in the newsletter by August 15. It has been our custom to include short biographies of new members in our newsletter so that we can all get to know each other better.  Just include what you would like for us to know about you and, if you are comfortable doing so, something about your  personal religious journey.  

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 About Our Members and Friends....

v  Helen Gerhardt – Good Bye and Good Luck!

   Keep in your thoughts …

v   Our members and friends experiencing health concerns or caring for others….

 

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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 Frank Asbury.

 

JUUST Change Grant Project

A report from Sue Lacy , our JUSST Change consultant, is now available.  She makes a number of comments and suggestions which we will be sharing with the congregation.  A possible return visit for Sue will possibly occur in September.  Watch for further announcements.  Three of the Sunday speakers this month, Dr. Sadhvi Vrndaji Chaitanya, Jane Osbourne, and Dr. Louie Schmier, were among those interviewed by Sue Lacy when she visited us in April.

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UU Board News: July 2006 In attendance were Lars Leader , Dee Tait , Doug Tanner , and Sue Bailey.  Dee informed the Board that a member of the congregation is interested in planning a Religious Education program for children.  Materials available for use in the program were discussed.  We decided to put a notice in the next newsletter asking interested persons to contact any Board member about involvement in an RE program. An update concerning advertisement for rental of our building by suitable groups was discussed.  Dee presented the programs report for August.  Doug presented the budget report.  The June budget report was approved.  Doug will investigate options for our message on the bench near Colonial Mall. Planning for the July 16th service was discussed.  New members will be acknowledged at the service.  New member packets available from the UUA Bookstore were approved for purchase. Lars pointed out the short supply of UU pamphlets available in our building.  The Board perused a variety of pamphlets brought by Dee .  New members will be asked about their preferences among the pamphlets.  An order will then be made at a future Board meeting for additional copies of those approved.  At the next meeting, the Board will review their functions as defined in the UU Valdosta By-Laws.  The next Board meeting was tentatively set for August 7, 2006.

   

Newsletter

Editor:  Betty Derrick

Website:  Carol Stiles

August 15: deadline for the September newsletter

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Treasurer's Report

Doug Tanner

FUND BALANCES at June 30, 2006            

General Fund                $19,337.27

Restoration Fund                      $14,015.64

Total (Cash in Bk Accts)          $33,352.91

OUTSTANDING DEBT                                

Mortgage                     $20,529.25        

         

                                               

OPERATING RECEIPTS AND DISBURSEMENTS:                                   

                                                                     June                 YTD  Twelve Months

Receipts:                                                    

  Plate                                                          107.30                           1,228.49

  Pledge                                                        785.00                         11,282.00

  Rent                                                           440.00                           3,280.00

  Interest Income                                               0.00                             721.77

TOTAL REPT                                           1,242.30                        16,512.26

Disbursements:                                    

  Mortgage                                                   500.00                           6,000.00

  Reprs & Maint.                                              0.00                           3,834.61

  Repairs                                                          0.00                              326.00

  Supplies                                                         0.00                              562.91

  Insurance                                                       0.00                           1,314.00

  UU Conf.Att.                                             800.00                              993.78

  UUA Dues                                                     0.00                           1,960.00

  Utilities                                                       190.64                           2,025.62

  Advertising                                                     0.00                              434.80

  Other                                                             0.00                              156.00

TOTAL DISBURSEMENTS                    1,490.64                          18,276.72

NET RECEIPT (DISBURSEMENT)          (248.34)                       ($1,764.46)

 

 

 

At the Church-in-the-Woods  

New Hope Christian Fellowship - Sunday evenings: Choir practice at 5:00 PM. Service at 6:00 PM.  

Taoist Tai Chi – The group will continue to meet on Monday and Thursday evenings in August 6:00-7:30 PM at the church.  The group is discussing whether it will continue meeting at the UU Church in the fall and will let the congregation know its plans as soon as possible..

 

UUA TRUSTEE TIDBITS                            Joan Lund

Thanks to all the Florida District UUs who journeyed to St. Louis for the 2006 General Assembly (GA). I enjoyed meeting and talking with you. It seems that there is much to write about following GA. A five-page report on my observations/doings while there should be on the District web site now (or soon) and of course there is “all you ever wanted to know” on the UUA website. Of importance now: 1) how you could serve our Association, and 2) “Congregations Come First” (CCF) Initiative.

      1) Our UUA Nominating Committee is seeking candidates who offer a balance of skills, life experiences, cultural competencies, abilities, and geographic representation for the Committees, Commissions, and Positions elected by the delegates at GA. The Nominating Committee is eager to draw volunteers from the rich diversity of our movement. Consistent with resolutions of GA, our Association is intentional about becoming an anti-racist/anti-oppression/multicultural institution, and we want our UUA groups to embody that intention. If you are interested in helping carry out the mission of the Association contact me at jlund@uua.org. I will direct you accordingly. Applications (can be found on line) must be received by August 15, 2006. We need you!

      2) CCF is an initiative of our UUA Moderator, Gini Courter. The purpose of CCF is to find ways to remove organizational obstacles to congregational health and vitality and the goal is to recommend actions that will ensure equitable allocation of resources for service and support of our congregations and their missions. A team of elected and appointed lay leaders, religious professionals, our Moderator, and several UUA staff will consult with congregational, district, and national leaders, both lay and professional. This team wishes to take a comprehensive systems approach to address the inequities, inefficiencies, and bureaucracies that impede service and support of congregations and has been asked to report their findings and recommendations to the January, 2008 UUA Board of Trustees meeting.

      How it is…And how it should be: Although our UU covenant calls us to be equitable, open, and in right relationship, staff support for congregations is inequitable and insufficient. Geography, access, and design vary enormously among districts. The way we fund our faith is cumbersome, commercial, and divisive. Now is the time to remember, refresh, and revitalize our UU covenant and strengthen the connections within our UU community.

      What you can do: Visit www.uua.org/administration/committees/ccf/, which will be updated as materials are received and/or developed, and review the materials. Send the CCF Team your best thinking at ccf@uua.org. Answer surveys that are posted on this site. Respond to invitations to conversations. Talk with me if you wish. Happy August everyone.

 

   

UU Activities and Announcements

Further information is posted on the bulletin board in the R.E. wing at the church.  Also check your Sunday Order of Service for announcements. 

August 6 - 11 Elderhostel — Appalachian Whitewater and Hiking Adventure, The Mountain, Highlands , NC 

August 7 - 12 Interfaith Visions for Peace, A Conversation in Community, The Mountain, Highlands , NC

Peacemaking resides in the heart of spirituality.  Through dialogue, the arts, worship, reflection and experiencing nature, we’ll gain understanding about others with whom we might not normally be in community. This experience incorporates peacemaking into daily life, and inspires individual actions both great and small.  Participants help create the program as it unfolds, becoming a collaborative interfaith community envisioning – and creating – peace.  In these turbulent times . . .

• when political cartoons spark riots and bombings;

• when there is unspeakable violence all over the world in the name of religion; and

• when homicide among our youth (ages 10-24) is the leading cause of death for African Americans, the second for Hispanics, and the third main cause of death for American Indians, Alaska Natives, and Asian/Pacific Islanders (CDC report, 2006) . . . there is an urgent need to learn to explore religious pluralism and how diversity can strengthen non-violent social action as we work to achieve peace and positive community building throughout the world.

August 20 - 25 Elderhostel — Hiking Adventures in the Southern Appalachians, The Mountain, Highlands , NC 

August 27 - Sept. 1 Elderhostel — Wildflowers and Natural History; Southern Appalachian Music and Culture: "Will the Circle Be Unbroken"; and History and Culture of Appalachia: The First and Last Frontier, The Mountain, Highlands , NC