The Flaming Chalice - UU Valdosta

What’s going on.…February 2004

Sun	Feb. 1	10:45 AM	Service – "Leonard Schlain’s book The Alphabet and the Goddess,” Eleanor Bowman Meet & Greet Coffee after the service
Fri	Feb. 6	7:00 PM	Games Night at the church
Sun	Feb. 8	10:45 AM 12:00Noon	Service – “The Rhythm Of Health: Drum Circles as a Healing Tool,” Dr. Lynn Bell Special Lunch (see further information)
Mon	Feb. 9	11:00 AM	Break Bread delivery
Tues	Feb. 10	6:00 PM	Board of Trustees Meeting at the church in the R.E. wing
Sun	Feb. 15	10:45 AM	Service – “The Iraqi War From The Inside,” Captain Rhonda Crawford Newsletter deadline Meet & Greet Coffee after the service
Sat	Feb. 21	6:30 PM	Saturday Supper at Betty Derrick’s Home
Sun	Feb. 22	9:30 AM 10:45 AM	Adult R. E. – “What to expect at the Sweat Lodge,” Hue Jacobs Service – “ Our Compass: Where Do We Want To Go, And How Do We Want To Get There?” Mike Carmichael Meet & Greet Coffee after the service
Wed	Feb. 25	5:00 PM	Social Action Committee meeting at the church in the R.E. wing
Sat	Feb. 28	2:00 PM	Sweat Lodge at the church
Sun	Feb. 29	10:45 AM	Service – “A Congregational Time Capsule,” member participation Meet & Greet Coffee after the service

February… A Leap Year! An Election Year! Though this is often our most dismal month

weather-wise here in south Georgia, spring really is just around the corner by the end of the month! Mike Carmichael, who has just taken over our programming, has an exciting time capsule program planned for that last unusual day in February. What are your hopes for our church? What are your hopes for our community and the world? What are your hopes for yourself and those especially close to you? Come when you can to join in the many programs at the church. Let our Board members know your thoughts on issues being discussed. Participate with the Social Action Committee and the Ministerial Search Committee as we affect change in our world and in our congregation. This year we all hope to get back on track with a minister and a program for growth.

Sunday Services

The first day and Sunday in February Eleanor Bowman will hold forth on the subject “Leonard Schlain’s book The Alphabet and the Goddess.” Eleanor is one of our members with a theology background. Welcome her back to our pulpit for a provocative and interesting discussion.

On February 8 Dr. Lynn Bell will present, “The Rhythm Of Health: Drum Circles as a Healing Tool.” She invites us to bring drums!!!!! Lynn is a faculty member in the College of Nursing at Valdosta State University. Her background is in nutrition and she has interests in non-traditional medicine.

Captain Rhonda Crawford will reveal her insight with “The Iraqi War From The Inside” on February 15. Rhonda and her husband have attended our church while they have been stationed at Moody Air Force base. Rhonda soon will be returning to Iraq. She and her husband may be leaving Valdosta at the end of this tour of duty. See Rhonda’s article elsewhere in this newsletter and come on the fifteenth to hear more of her observations about Iraq.

On February 22 Mike Carmichael will present the program, “Our Compass: Where Do We Want To Go, and How Do We Want To Get There?” Mike has just agreed to take over the Vice Presidential/Programming duties for the remainder of this year. Come participate and thank him for taking on this major task for our church. Mike has planned another interesting program for the last day in this Leap Year, which happens to fall on Sunday this time On Sunday, February 29, 2004 the entire Congregation will bury a time capsule. Each member will have a chance to leave something for the future, and explain its personal meaning. This should be an interesting way to share with each other our hopes for the future. Give it some thought and participate in this unique service.

Meet & Greet Coffee after the Service: After each service, except when there is a special lunch planned, there will be coffee and other beverages along with snacks available. Don’t miss this opportunity to engage in friendly and interesting conversation and particularly to greet visitors and newcomers. Volunteers are needed to host particular Sundays. See the list on the refrigerator and sign-up for your choice of Sunday(s) to make coffee and bring a snack. Please note, those of you who have been missing a before service cup of coffee, this will also be available on a regular basis.

Special Lunches: Second Sunday potlucks are being discontinued; however from time to time there will be special Sunday lunches. The first of these will be on February 8, following the Drumming Program. Finger-food, sandwiches, fruit, and cookies, are needed. Please sign up for what you can bring.

Childcare during the Sunday service is once again available. We had discontinued providing childcare until the repair work from the vandalism had been completed. We are still working on re-equipping the room, but we are ready to once again provide this service.

Religious Education Program

· Youth R. E.: We are seeking a leader for this group and more participants! Get in touch with Lars Leader if you have some ideas. Planning is on-going, but for now this group will not meet until further notice.

· Adult RE –On Sunday, February 22 at :30 AM Hue Jacobs will lead a session to ensure that all participants in the Sweat Lodge are aware of the demands of the ritual. Hue says that if you intend to participate in the sweat, you should attend this RE session.

Sweat Lodge Ceremony

We will have a sweat ceremony in the field behind the church on Saturday, February 28. The ceremony is a tribal-ritual of the early Native Americans. Hue Jacobs will be conducting the ceremony, which was taught to him by Tony Sedillo, a shaman of the Sik-Sisa peoples. The ritual will begin sometime in the early afternoon (about 2 PM) and will conclude around dusk.

A sweat is a physically demanding ritual and should not be entered into lightly. People with heart conditions, high blood pressure, extreme obesity or other health issues should seriously consider whether they can participate. To ensure that all participants are aware of the demands of the ritual Hue will conduct an RE session on February 22. Please mark your calendars and prepare to attend this RE session if you intend to participate in the sweat.

This will be a demanding (but rewarding) ordeal for those who choose to undergo it, but because of the nature of the ritual Hue must have an estimated count on participants so he can know how large to build the lodge. If you are interested, please contact Hue.

President’s Portion

My daughter Kathy, who attends the UU Fellowship of the Emerald Coast, called to share with me a humorous writing she had received from a fellow UU. The article began, “How many does it take to change a light bulb’? and proceeded to answer the question for each religious denomination. When it reached the Unitarian Universalists, it read: “We choose not to make a statement either in favor of or against the need for a light bulb. However, if in your own journey you have found that light bulbs work for you, that is fine. You are invited to write a poem or compose a modern dance about your light bulb for the next Sunday service, in which we will explore a number of light bulb traditions, including incandescent, fluorescent, three-way, long-life and tinted, all of which are equally valid paths to luminescence.” So, there you have it. One interpretation could be that UUs take too long to reach a decision or to complete a project. Or could it be that UUs are open to the ideas of others, that we don’t think we have all the answers and that there are different paths to finding some of the answers? Sounds, too, that UUs have a sense of humor, at any rate the UU who wrote, “How Many Does it Take to Change a Light Bulb.”

Newsletter Staff

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 Dee Tait.

During January, the Social Action Committee advertised and encouraged members to attend events honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Several church members and friends participated in a march in Valdosta on Saturday, January 17 sponsored by the Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemoration Association. The Committee also collected the Guest at Your Table boxes after the service on January 25. A report on the results of our GAYT efforts will be in the March newsletter.

The Social Action Committee's February project will be a non-partisan campaign to encourage church members and friends to "get out the vote". This will involve an e-mail campaign, a display in the front of the sanctuary, and possibly a discussion forum on ways to get our community more involved in electoral politics. Look for updates by e-mail and in the weekly Order of Service. The February meeting of the Social Action Committee will be February 25 at 5:00 PM in the RE building. Please attend if you are interested in Social Action or have ideas for future projects. Contact: Anna Mitchell Hall, Committee Chair.

Thank You! Thank You!

For hosting a joyous holiday party: Betty Derrick

For many hours working on the mass-mailing campaign: Dee Tait

For creating a wonderful church brochure: Julie Halter.

For selecting hymns, recording music, and leading singing: Anna Mitchell Hall

For presenting programs and providing us with social actions opportunities: Anna Hall and the entire Social Actions Committee

For building cleanliness and maintenance: John Tait and Jim Ingram

For delivering meals in January: Virginia Branan and René Kerr and Madison

For printing and mailing the newsletter in January: Jim Ingram and Dee Tait

For working with church publicity: Virginia Branan

For working to organize child care at the church: Virginia Branan

For all the Board positions he has held and committees on which he has served over the past ten years: Charles Judah

For accepting the Board’s appointment to serve as Vice President/Program Chair through June 2004: Mike Carmichael

For meeting and working consistently to keep things on track: All committee members and officers

For taking down, packing up, and storing Christmas decorations: John Tait, Ann Zipperer, Mike Carmichael

For all the work you do that might go unnoticed: You know who you are!

Social/Fellowship Activities

Hue Jacobs is reviving the long dormant tradition of Games Night. Games night will be held the first Friday of each month at the church at 7:00 pm. Our first games night will be held February 6^th.

Bring your favorite game (cards, dominos, board games, etc), snacks, beverages and libations and enjoy the fellowship. Children are welcome and invited. Hue will be bringing some board games, a Mah Jong set, decks of cards and some other games but please bring more. Hue is also bringing some CDs to provide music, but if you’d like to bring your favorite tunes please do. We look forward to seeing you at games night.

Last Saturday Suppers have been reinstated after a holiday break for several months. Because of the Sweat Lodge scheduled at the church for the last Saturday in February, this month this event is scheduled for the next to last Saturday. Call Betty if you need directions or see the January newsletter. Let Betty know that you are coming and find out what she needs for you to bring. Betty will furnish a main course and non-alcoholic beverages.

Remember these social events are intended not only as social occasions, but also as a way for newcomers to our group to have an opportunity to meet some of our members and to meet each other. Come have fun, volunteer to host an event, either in your home or at the church, and participate in this membership-building event. Come have a good time too!

Treasurer’s Report

		YTD
OPERATING RECEIPTS AND DISBURSEMENTS:	December	Six Months
Receipts:
Pledge	855.00	6,677.12
Plate	54.91	660.91
Rent	240.00	1,640.00
UUA Annual Dues	0.00	1,495.00
Chamber mailing	0.00	100.00
Postage	37.00	97.31
Supplies	19.14	463.83
Al Boyce	0.00	380.00
Repairs and Maintenance	0.00	613.55
Other	0.00	65.00
TOTAL DISBURSEMENTS	841.51	9,014.21

NET OPERATING RECEIPT (DISBURSEMENT)	308.40	498.82

The committee has been meeting regularly and has had several responses to its advertisement.

OPPOSE THE REPEAL OF GEORGIA’S CONSTITUTIONAL PROTECTIONS FOR RELIGION: We have received an e-mail from Maggie Garrett, Staff Attorney/Legislative Counsel American Civil Liberties Union Foundation of Georgia. She states that you may know that our Governor has proposed a constitutional amendment to the Georgia Constitution that would permit taxpayer money to go to faith-based social services and would allow school vouchers. At the national level, the UUA has officially come out against "charitable choice." She indicates that a coalition has been formed which is looking for clergy and houses of worship to join the effort. She included a fact sheet and encouraged UUers to contact their state legislators.

For more information about "charitable choice" and the UUA's position on this issue, click here to go to the UUA's Washington Office for Advocacy website to read the letter of opposition:

The Board of Trustees held their monthly meeting January 6, 2004 in the Religious Education Building. In attendance were: Dee Tait, Randy Thompson, Lars Leader, Mike Carmichael and Rosie Asbury. Board President Dee Tait called the meeting to order. Secretary Rosie Asbury read the December 2003 minutes and the board approved the minutes. Treasurer Randy Thompson gave the December Treasurer’s Report, which is attached to the record copy of the January 2004 minutes. (A brief report is elsewhere in the newsletter.) The board empowered the treasurer to reimburse Betty Derrick for losses on utility bills during the use of her home for pastoral residence. The board also approved paying Classic Art and Frame for estimating restoration and repair costs on various artwork damaged in the vandalism of the church and storage of the pieces while we waited for settlement with the insurance company. The board approved Mike Carmichael as Vice President/Program Chair, to complete the term through June 2004. This appointment fills the position previously held by Charles Judah who recently resigned the position. Mike shared some ideas he has for the Program Committee. Randy Thompson gave an update for the Ministerial Search Committee, stating that four candidates have shown interest in the minister position. Mike Carmichael has been looking into more visible signs for the church, and stated that the current sign blends very well with the church, but that it is not very visible to the public. Mike suggested congregation involvement in designing a sign for the church, and the possibility of a design contest. Dee Tait gave an update on the status of the church pamphlet for bulk mailing and stated that the U. S. Post Office has notified that the church has been approved for non-profit status and that our application for bulk mail rate is approved. The board approved the resuming of a monthly Games Night at the church. Also, the board approved the plans for a Sweat Lodge. Hue Jacobs is the contact on both these projects.

The next meeting of the Board of Trustees will be Tuesday, February 10, 2004, at 6 P.M. in the Religious Education Building.

February 1 Pines Drumming Circle, The Pines Conference Center, Brooksville, FL

February 28 “The Spiritual Eldering Conference A.K.A. “The Tao of Aging,” Vero Beach, FL

March 13 Membership Practices Workshop with Rev. Anne Odin Heller author of Churchworks, Jacksonville, FL

March 20 Treasurer and Finance Chair’s Workshop with Rev Ralph Mero, St Petersburg, FL

A First Hand View of Iraq

Most people believe what they are told. If the only thing you are ever told by the media is what is wrong with the world you only get a small and sometimes distorted piece of the story. In Iraq small miracles happen daily. Where CNN shows you only death there are also amazing stories of life. There are so many ways to criticize what is going wrong with Iraq that looking for what is right is a daunting task. However, with the hardship and danger, US Forces, Foreign Forces and aid workers are working hard at meeting the needs of the Iraqi people. Here are a couple of small miracles:

On my second day in Iraq I went to Al Mukaseb village. There I found a school with dirt floors, and torn thatch roof, three classrooms and 128 children. It broke my heart. So I did the only logical thing…called my mom. My mom (an Assistant 4-H Agent) organized a volunteer effort. 4-Hers from Volusia County Florida collected clothes, shoes and school supplies to donate to Iraqi schools. The Volusia County Extension Service and the University of Florida paid the postage to ship the supplies to me in Baghdad. My unit here at Moody AFB also sent supplies for a girl’s school in Al Hillah. The first day of school was a blessing to many.

By the time I left Iraq my unit finished the renovation of 12 schools, supplied schools with desks, chairs and paper supplies, built water purification plants, and worked with villages to reduce unemployment by using Iraqis to rebuild Iraq. It will be an arduous journey in the reconstruction of Iraq with many challenges along the way. What I want people to remember is that for those that have never been there the picture may not be as clear as the media would leave to believe. It is a far more complex story. The perspective you gain from seeing the suffering and oppression of people firsthand leaves an indelible print on your soul.

Rhonda, an Air Force Captain stationed at Moody Air Force Base, is one of our members. She will be returning to Iraq soon. She and her husband are hoping for assignments at the same base. It’s possible they will be leaving Valdosta. Rhonda will be presenting a program this month.

Tai Chi – Monday and Thursday Evenings. A new beginner’s class will begin in February. Contact Dennis Bogyo if you are interested or need further information.

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

South Georgia Coalition for Peace The Board has given this grassroots community group permission to use our building for its meetings as needed.

Thank you for reading our newsletter!
The Newsletter Team (click here to meet us!)

Sunday Services	Thank You! Thank You!	Religious Education
President's Portion	Social Action	UU Activities and Announcements
Social Events!!	Board Notes
	Special Event: Sweat Lodge!