The Flaming Chalice - UU Valdosta

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

Phone: 229-242-3714

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President's Column	Thank You! Thank You!	Religious Education
Did you know?	Social Action	UU Activities and Announcements
Board Notes!	UU response to Sept. 11 - Rev. William Sinkford

What’s going on.…February 2002

Sun	Feb. 3	10:45 AM	Service –“Exploring Dimensions of Terrorism,” Jim Hill
Sun	Feb. 10	9:30 AM 10:45 AM 12:15 PM	Youth and Adult R.E. Service – “Reality,” Jim Ingram Second Sunday Potluck and Board meeting
Mon	Feb. 11	11:00 AM	Break Bread delivery
Sun	Feb. 17	10:45 AM	Service – "I Love You," Charles Judah
Sun	Feb. 24	9:30 AM 10:45 AM	Youth and Adult R.E Service – Ines Hoster, Atlanta area lay minister

February ……. Our services this month will include several of our own member’s thoughts as well as two guest speakers. Dr. Jim Hill has visited us often and we look forward to meeting Ines Hoster from Atlanta. If you haven’t been in the last several weeks, come and enjoy the improvement in our music for services. We have a pianist now and volunteer song leaders.

“I believe that we are called to stand on the side of love.

Love strains to know the other, not shut the other out.

Love opens its eyes to a larger vision, struggling not for victory, but for justice.

May these sheltering walls be strong, to keep hate out and hold love in.”

Rev. William G. Sinkford, UUA President

Jim Hill will continue our discussion about terrorism. His topic on February 3 will be “Exploring Dimensions of Terrorism.” Dr. Hill is Head of the Philosophy Department at Valdosta State University. He is always a provocative speaker when he visits our congregation. Ines Hoster will lead our service on February 24. She is currently traveling in Germany, her country of origin. She is a lay minister from the Atlanta area. Diane Holliman arranged for her visit to Valdosta and reports she is looking forward to meeting us.

Music Again!

The Board has arranged for Shannon Hesse to provide piano music for our Sunday services twice a month. Some of us have heard Shannon play in concert at VSU where she is on the piano faculty. Remember that “upside down” performance at the Coffeehouse! Cindy and Albert Roesel have volunteered to act as song leaders for our services. Cindy says they need some warning to lead the music. Those planning services, please contact her if you want her participation.

Religious Education

Youth R.E.: Youth meet on second and fourth Sundays, 9:30-10:30 a.m., which is the same schedule as Adult R.E. Lead teacher: Virginia Branan.

Adult R.E.: Adults meet on the second and fourth Sundays of each month. Joan Cline is coordinating the Adult R.E.

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.

President’s Column

As a small congregation the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) provides us with a lot of support. Rev Mary Higgins, District Executive of the Florida District, is always available to consult and assist us. There are internet resources such as http://www.uua.org and web pages for small

congregations. The Unitarian Universalist Association also has many workshops and meetings for worship and education. We try to keep you posted of these in the newsletter. And, there is General Assembly that Charles Green attended last summer in Cleveland, Ohio. We will inform you of the plans for General Assembly this year as the time gets closer.

In this message I want you to know that even though we are a small congregation we aren't alone. The UUA offers us support, information, and opportunities to serve and grow. These are valuable resources.

Did you know?. The largest church within the UUA is the Church of the Larger Fellowship. CLF has more than 2800 members and provides a ministry to isolated religious liberals. Charles Leonard, who some of us knew, had been a member of CLF here in south Georgia for years before there was a church here. He was one of the founding members of our church and edited this newsletter for years. CLF has a lending library of books, audiotapes and videos as well as large print sermons for its members. There is a monthly newsletter, Quest. Rev. Jane Rzepka is CLF’s senior minister and RE Director Betsy Williams provides materials for family use. CLF members stay connected through e-mail and on-line discussion groups. You can find out more about CLF at www.uua.org/clf.

Florida District Congregational Membership Survey for 2001-02: René Kerr began distributing surveys to those present at the service on January 20. If you did not get one, please contact René. Complete them as soon as you can and return them to the Florida District Office. The address is on the form. In case you were not aware, our church is a member of the Florida District. (Actually we are the only Georgia church in the Florida District!)

Thank You! Thank You!

For keeping our building clean and our grounds neat: Joan Cline, Sharon McKenzie, Bobbie Dixon, Dee Tait, Jim Ingram, William Atkinson, Julie Halter, Charles Green, the Asbury family

For delivering meals in December: Dee Tait

For taking down and storing holiday decorations: René Kerr, Virginia Branan, Betty Derrick, Dee Tait, Clay Daub, Steve Roncskevitz

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 1^stand 3^rd Tuesday of each month at 7:00 p.m. Bring a snack or potluck dish and ideas for discussion, or just yourself! Contact René Kerr.

“Songs for the Earth” Jim Scott in Concert. The UU Church of Tallahassee’s Green Sanctuary Committee is sponsoring the concert. Proceeds beyond those required to compensate the performer will be devoted to more outreach activities in the community to raise the consciousness of residents to the critical significance of our natural environment. Advanced tickets will be on sale at the Church Office during business hours (385-5115)- $10.00 for adults, $5.00 for children and students with ID. "Jim Scott is an exciting acoustic guitarist, singer, and composer of powerful music that furthers the ideals of ecology, justice, and peace. Jim makes an impact on hearts and minds across the world. Jim Scott concerts are a celebration of the common humanity of all cultures - our connections with each other and with the earth. His music has taken him around the world as he makes his case for harmony with well-crafted, intelligent and humorous songs, poetry and stories. His guitar fluency comes from classical and jazz background, and he uses it well with classical and steel string acoustics."

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Florida District Annual assembly, Oviedo, FL, April 12-14 Rev. Dr. Rebecca Parker, President of Starr King School of Ministry will be the keynoter speaking on “When the Ground Gives Way: Will Unitarian Universalism Harbor Me?”

Summer, “Whale Coast Alaska,” trips sponsored by WUURLD – see the brochure for details

Treasurer’s Report

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