Sunday Services

Sunday, May 4 – “Beltane”

April's showers have given way to rich and fertile earth, and as the land greens, there are few celebrations as representative of fertility as Beltane.  Join us for this traditional celebration of the growing spring.  The service will be layled.

Sunday, May 11 - Dr. Michael Stoltzfus, “The Existentialism of Jean-Paul Sartre”

Jean-Paul Sartre, a twentieth century French existentialist, offers a critical analysis of human responsibility from the ashes of German occupation and the many other conflicts that make the twentieth century the most violent in human history.  Sartre develops a sense of human meaning without recourse to idealism, theism, or blind faith in human progress.  We will investigate his call for “optimistic toughness.”  Once we stop waiting for God or fate to take action, we may be more inclined to act for ourselves, according to Sartre. 

Sunday, May 18 –  Rev. Jane Page , “A Visit from Elizabeth Cady Stanton ” 

Today we welcome Elizabeth Cady Stanton (portrayed by Rev. Jane Page ) to our pulpit. Stanton devoted her life to freeing women not only from legal constraints, but also from superstition and the teachings of the church regarding women. This “sermon” was composed by Rev. Jane using excerpts from various speeches and letters, etc. written by Stanton .  

Sunday, April 27 – Rev. George Bennett, “Reflections on China " 

George Bennett reflects on his China experience.  George and Martha Bennett have returned from 21 days in China .  Their visit included Beijing , Imperial China, Tibet , Hong Kong and a four day small boat trip on the Yangtze River .   While in Tibet they took tea with a local family, visited the Potala Palace and spent a day in the DeJi Orphanage.The Bennetts stayed in the home of a family and shared several meals with other families.

 

Rev. Jane A. Page, Minister, Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Statesboro, serves our congregation in Valdosta each month.  She is available for conferences and special services when she is in Valdosta .  Contact information: Phone:

 

 

 

INVITATION TO MEMBERSHIP If you are interested in becoming a member of our fellowship, we encourage you to talk with our President, Mya Storey, or Membership Director, Lars Leader.  We welcome your questions, and we extend an open invitation to all who want to join our liberal community of faith.          Rev. Jane Page also welcomes your questions about UU membership.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Religious Education for Children

            The R.E. program continues in the New Year with the We Believe: Learning and Living Our UU Principles and stories by Dr. Seuss. WE BELIEVE... focuses on the seven  UU principles.  The RE program for children meets at 10:45 AM concurrent with the Sunday morning service.  Volunteers to help in the classroom are needed. Contacts: Mya Storey or Susan Bailey.

Collecting Recyclables for RE Projects

Please bring in your recyclables to be used for arts and crafts projects in RE. The kinds of things we need are clean bleach bottles, dish detergent bottles, 2 liter soda bottles, single size water and soda bottles, plastic tubs (such as margarine tubs), empty oatmeal boxes, potato chip canisters (like Pringles), and paper towel tubes. I will post a more complete list at the church. Then watch for the cool creations we come up with in RE over the coming months.

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Ministerial Muusings  Rev. Jane Page

In a recent article on the UUA website,President Bill Sinkford encouraged Unitarian Universalists to engage in the long overdue conversation about race that received stimulation from Senator Obama’s speech on race. While politics may have brought the conversation to the forefront in America , I was personally challenged to engage in some communication regarding race and racism while planning my class reunion. This open letter is a beginning point in reconciliation with many of my classmates. It was written before the Obama speech and is, therefore, is not a reaction to it. However, I do believe that in order to engage in the long overdue conversation, it helps to begin with self-examination.

An Open Letter to Erma, Mattie, Homer, Alvin, Elaine, Charlene, Jeanette, Runell, Mary Linda, Johnny Sue, Billy, and Catherine. (March 17, 2008)

Dear Classmates,  In the fall of 1965, I entered Statesboro High School as a sophomore.  This was only the second year in the existence of this new school building on Lester Road .  But more was new than the lockers and desks awaiting me that fall. There were also new faces – darker faces than those I had been accustomed to in my Statesboro schools.  Some of you were students who began Statesboro High School that year, the first year that the high school was integrated.  And some of you remained and graduated with my class in 1968.  Others decided to leave and return to William James.  And others of you joined the class our junior or senior years.  But all of you were my classmates.  And one of you is no longer with us.  This letter comes too late for Homer. 

Like many of you, I was born here in Bulloch County in 1950.  And like you, I grew up in the days of Jim Crow laws.  But unlike you, these laws did not affect me in obvious ways.  My white privilege allowed me access to every store, restaurant, and entertainment spot in town.  And for the most part, I was pretty naïve about the evils of racism.  Oh, I did notice things – as all children do.  I remember when I was 5 or 6, standing in the “Whites Only” line at the Dairy Queen with my dad, waiting to get a cone.  It was a hot day and there were lines at both the (Ministerial MUUsings cond.) “white” and “colored” windows.  Perhaps that’s why I noticed the differences.  So I asked my dad why all of the white people were in our line and all of the colored people were in the other line.  My father shared this explanation with me.  He told me that we were white – and that we stood in our line to get vanilla ice cream, while the colored people stood in the other line to get chocolate ice cream.  Well, of course, I immediately told him that I wanted chocolate.  And he said, “No, you are white, so you get vanilla.  That’s just the way it is and you have to accept it.”  Well, I didn’t realize that vanilla was the only flavor served at Dairy Queen.  (That was even in the days before dipped cones.)  But his unusual answer stuck with me.  And it has served as a metaphor for what happened in my life.  Indeed, I just accepted the differences and did not question them further.  Yet, I still took notice – like when boxes were being filled at my elementary school (Mattie Lively) with our old worn-out textbooks.  I asked what was going to happen to them and was told that they were being taken to the “colored school” for the children to use there.  “Separate but equal” was never the case in Bulloch County .     

To be fair to my parents, they never overtly taught me to be a racist.  They didn’t have to.  Everything in my society, from the Dairy Queen windows on, taught me that white folks and black folks should function in separate social environments.  And my society not only taught me that “separate” was right, it also taught me that I was in the superior group.  All I had to do was look at the water fountains.  The “whites only” fountains were clean with cool, refrigerated water.  Not so for the “colored” fountains.   And of course, my church reinforced these standards.  In the 60’s we also were witnesses to television news programs showing activities of the Civil Rights movement.  But these were presented in ways that made me fearful.  I’m sure it must have been covered, but I don’t remember seeing much of the peaceful demonstrations that I can now view in documentaries of that time.  The emphasis on our news seemed to be on riots and angry black people wanting to “destroy our way of life.”  The propaganda worked.  I was afraid and fearful of the possibilities of integration.  And I did not understand why in the world you would want to leave “your” school and come to “our” school.   

The Brown Decision, virtually outlawing segregated schools, was handed down by the courts in 1954.  Yet the schools in Statesboro had managed to remain completely separate for the next 10 years.  The latest effort to satisfy the courts had been the school system’s “Freedom of Choice” plan.  This plan was one in which parents could “choose” their children’s schools.  Everyone knew what choice was supposed to be made, though, and the schools remained separate till you and others made the bold decision to be pioneers in the effort to integrate our schools.  So there you were, walking through our halls with your heads held high and a determined look in your eyes.  And there I was, afraid of you, mad with you, yet curious about folks like you.

For the next three years, we did our high school activities and really had very little interaction with each other.   I found out later that there were lots of folks who were interacting, though very negatively with you – trying to run you down with their cars and hurling insults and rocks.   I didn’t know about these occurrences because I never attempted to really get to know you.   I did make a connection with one girl that was life changing.  I used to be one of the folks at school that was a “cut-up” and class clown – someone who would make jokes about things and try to lighten up everyone’s attitudes.  When we were in the hallways, one of you would “cut up” with me in similar ways.  And we became friendly with each other.  I would like to say we were friends.  But I never invited you to my house and you never invited me to yours.  We were about as friendly as a white girl and black girl could be in those days I suppose.  And I remember thinking that I was more LIKE you than I was my white friends.  We were both from middle class families with parents who owned small businesses in town and who emphasized a strong work ethic, and we were both so fun-loving.  We were “kin” in many ways.  But I kept that thought to myself – not daring say it aloud.  That thought of our kinship, however, cracked through the armor of racism that I had built around me.  And I began to open my mind to the possibilities of a wider world of humanity.  I never thanked you for that. 

This year I have been involved with others in planning the 40^th class reunion for the Class of 1968.  We haven’t had one in 30 years and I’m very excited about seeing folks again.  Focusing on my high school classmates and high school years has been a time of joy and sorrow for me.  One of the sorrows that I have is that I missed out on a real opportunity to get to know some fantastic people.  And I missed out on an opportunity to provide a welcoming hand of fellowship.  This was my loss and I can’t retrieve it.  But I can apologize.

I’m sorry that I did not make an effort to understand why you were coming to SHS.

I’m sorry that I did not meet you outside of the school and say hello.

I’m sorry that I was afraid of you and avoided being in places where several of you were gathered together.

I’m sorry that I avoided sitting by you in class.

I’m sorry that I was involved with negative conversations about you and did not speak up when you were put down.

I’m sorry that I didn’t encourage you to join the clubs that I was in or join the flaggette team.

I’m sorry that I didn’t invite you to my 16^th birthday party.  It would have been a lot more fun with you there.

I’m sorry that I didn’t find ways to get to know you – really know you and understand you individually, rather than seeing you as “one of those black students.” 

I’m sorry that I didn’t recognize the remarkable opportunity that I had in that place and time in history to be a part of something special with you.

And I’m sorry – oh SO sorry, that it’s taken me 40 years to say, “I’m sorry.”

I hope you can forgive me.  Who knows?  Maybe it’s not too late for some of us.

Sincerely,  Jane Altman Page 

 

 

 

 

ABOUT OUR MEMBERS AND FRIENDS

Congratulations to

v   Kimberly Tanner who has successfully defended her dissertation and on May 3 will receive her Ed.D from VSU.   Congratulations Dr. Tanner!

v   Ann and John Tait who were married several months ago.  It was great to see them again at the church in recent weeks.

 

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Let’s Have Some Fun!!

 

Tanner Celebration

May 3 – from 2:00 PM

Congratulations, to Dr. Kimberly Tanner.  She successfully defended her dissertation in March and will be hooded at VSU’s graduation ceremony on May 3, 2008.

Kimberly and Doug would like to invite all of their friends from the UU Church to celebrate with them and their families at their home beginning at 2:00 on May 3, 2008.  There will be plenty of food and lots of fun throughout the afternoon and early evening so stop by any time you can.  If you need directions please contact Kimberly or Doug.  

Games Night

Saturday, May 17   7:00 PM

At the church

Bring some finger foods and munchies to share, libations if you’d like, the kids, a friend, a favorite game and let the games begin.  See Sue Bailey for further details.  Come enjoy the fun!  

Book Discussion

Mark your calendar: the next book discussion and potluck will be June 20.  The book we have selected is "The Preacher's Son" by Marc Adams, who spoke at our church in April.  In this book he shares part of his life story growing up gay, the son of a fundamentalist Baptist minister, and later attending Jerry Falwell's Liberty University .  We are selecting books which deal with different cultures, religions, and life styles.  Let Betty Derrick know your suggestions.  

 

      

 

Florida District Meeting

Carol Stiles represented UU Valdosta at the Florida District meeting April 18-19 at the UU Fellowship of Gainesville.   The plenary speaker was Ms. Paula Cole Jones from All Souls Unitarian Church , Washington , D.C., lead consultant of the Unitarian Universalist JUUST Change Consultancy.  She led the gathering of 160 attendees in discussion about racial justice and spiritual growth.  These discussions led to many reflections among those attending about questions of diversity in our congregations.

                UU Valdosta received a certificate of appreciation and gratitude for our Honor Share Contributions.  Each congregation was also given a set of UUA-produced DVD and CD-ROM videos with resources for leadership, membership and visitors.  The Florida District meeting is a great way to re-connect with our neighboring congregations, including the Tallahassee , Buckman Bridge , and Jacksonville congregations and to meet new people from more distant congregations.  Carol encourages anyone who has an opportunity to do so to attend a district meeting or even GA (General Assembly), coming up in June!

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Social Action Activities  

Marc Adams event: Our UU church and the Accepting Difference Project and the VSU Philosphy and Religion Department cosponsored Marc Adams, founder of HeartStrong, Inc. and Author/Activist, April 15 at the church.  About 40 people attended the event, many students from VSU.  Thanks go to Carol Stiles for the original suggestion for the event and to Doug and Kimberly Tanner and Dee Tait for arrangements and advertising as well as the reception after the talk.  Mike Stoltzfus helped with the advertising at VSU and introduced Marc Adams at the event.  Advertising was placed in the Valdosta Daily Times, The Spectator(VSU), and the Moody Air Force Base newspaper.

 
Rev. Manish Mishra  

"The Politics of Gender"

May 4 at 5:00 pm.

Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Gainesville ( NW 34th Street , Gainesville , FL )

Carol Stiles brings our attention to another issue for the LGBT community.   The Reverend Manish Mishra, Minister of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Saint Petersburg, Florida shares a sermon on YouTube about transgender discrimination. Rev. Mishra led efforts to publicize the discrimination against Susan Stanton, a transwoman who was fired from a post as city administrator for Largo , FL.  Rev. Mishra and other liberal religious leaders in Tampa organized an interfaith coalition that demonstrated in front of the Largo city hall.  He also co-sponsored a resolution at General Assembly last year which became the first UUA resolution to confront gender identity discrimination (Florida District newsletter, July 2007).  You can view the YouTube videos:

Pride and Prejudice in Paradise Part One    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3T7n28PN4uI   and
Pride and Prejudice in Paradise Part Two    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QOtmepgoW0I

The UU Fellowship of Gainesville will host Rev. Mishra for the annual Stan Erickson lecture series.  Contact Carol Stiles if you would like more information.

 

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.

 

Accepting Difference Project

The Accepting Difference Project has funded a grant proposal from Matthew Richards, VSU professor, on behalf of the “Causes” film festival.  The Board concurred in this proposal.  Dr. Richards recently spoke at our church about this community effort by his students.  The initial grant will be $500.00 with the possibility for similar contributions from our Restoration Fund for two additional years.

                Community members of the Accepting Difference Project have been challenged to match our UU contribution to the Pavo Hindu Ashram.  Members of this group also were invited to participate in the Accepting Difference Project cosponsored Marc Adams event.

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UU Church of Valdosta Board of Directors

April Meeting News:  Attendance: Mya Storey, Doug Tanner, Chuck Giese, Rosie Asbury, Sue Bailey and Lars Leader.

Old Business:The Board approved the minutes of the March meeting.  Board approved the expenditure of $400 for the Advertising bench.  Status of roof repair is unknown.

New Business:  Treasurer Report received. This does not include the expenses for the Marc Adams presentation. Program report – Looking for a speaker for the first Sunday in May with topic being the Beltane Festival. It appears that Fred Howard is available this summer. George will be here through June. Board discussed speakers for next year. RE report – Sue will structure the RE sessions to make them more appealing to adults who want to volunteer to help. Both Mya and Sue encourage others to help out on Sundays so that they can occasionally attend services.  We will have a table at the Earth Day celebration in Drexel Park on Saturday, April 19. Doug will coordinate.  Board approved sponsorship of the “Causes” film festival. UU World subscription list. Time to once again adjust subscription list based on membership and “contributions of record.”  Students bikes left on premises – Board policy is that the police department will be informed when bikes are abandoned on our property.  Carol Stiles will represent us at the Florida District Assembly in Gainesville , FL.   The annual congregational meeting will be May 18, 2008. Items to be voted on at the meeting will be in the May newsletter.  The next board meeting will be on Wednesday, May 14 at 6:00 in the RE Building.

Nominating Committee:  Dee Tait, Chair, Sue Bailey, and Jim Ingram served as a nominating committee this spring.  

Following are the Committee’s nominations for 2008-2009:

 Doug Tanner, President

 Vice President/Programs, Bill and Valerie Webster (We can narrow this to one person if the board members think that is better)

 Treasurer, Rosie Asbury

 Secretary, Kari Wells

 Director of Membership, Lars Leader

 Director of Religious Education:  Susan Bailey

 Director of Building and Grounds, Jim Ingram

Thank you to those who have agreed to serve and to those who have served on our Board this year.  The congregation will elect the new officers, who will begin their service July 1, 2008, at the May 18 Annual meeting.

 

      

 

 

Newsletter Editor:  Betty Derrick Website:  Carol Stiles Local Publicity: Dee Tait May 15: Deadline for the June newsletter.

Treasurer's Report

Rosie Asbury

March 2008

Receipts                March                                    July -present

  Plate                     $    44.00                 $   853.83

  Pledge                    1330.00                    8370.00

  Rent                         240.00                    2160.00

  Memorial donation    0.00                      10000.00

Total Receipts      $1614.00               $21383.83

Disbursements  

   Mortgage            $  500.00                 $ 4500.00               

   Speakers’ Fees       750.00                    6010.00

   Repairs & Maint.        0.00                     1260.84

   Newsletter                  0.00                      420.68

   Termite Control       290.00                       568.00

   Postage                       0.00                        39.17

   Supplies                    23.79                        78.27

   Utilities                     264.00                   2165.16

   UU Dues                     0.00                    1500.00

   Others                       34.00                      262.65

Total  Disbursements                        

                                $  1827.79                               $16804.77

Net Receipt           $  - 213.79                               $  4579.06

 

Contributions of Record: Our church bylaws require that members, in order to maintain their rights of membership, must make at least one contribution of record by a certain date each year.  A contribution of record is one that can be identified as coming from an individual—a personal check or a cash contribution in an envelope bearing a name will accomplish this requirement.  While we appreciate all of your contributions, only those so identified can be credited toward your pledge and toward confirmation of your continuing membership with voting rights and UU World subscription.   Our congregation as a member of the Unitarian Universalist Association and the UUA Florida District also pays annual dues based on our membership.  Our Board is in the process of confirming our active members.  If you are not sure of your status, you may contact our Treasurer for further information.

 

Pledges: It’s time as in Rev. Jane Page ’s recent sermon “to light the flame” for the coming year.  If you have not already pledged for the coming year beginning July 1, 2008 or if you did not receive a pledge letter, let our treasurer know.  Now is when our Board must plan for the coming year’s programs and budget.  They need to know what resources they can count on as they plan.  As a congregation we will vote on their recommendations this month at our annual congregational meeting.  Although we are a small congregation we have been able, for over 40 years, to keep a well lit flame at the Valdosta UU Church.  In order to maintain the quality of programs and services as well as our building and out-reach in the community we must have your financial support, as well as your presence and your volunteer efforts.  Do your part to keep our chalice bright!

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.

May 1 Northeast Cluster West Melbourne, FL

May 28 West Central Cluster, UU Revival Service, Clearwater , FL

June 24-25 UUUniversity, Fort Lauderdale , FL

Dr. Nick Carter, President of Andover Newton Theological School, will be the keynote program as congregational leaders work on what Dr. Carter calls “interfaith border crossing skills — the ability to communicate with, work with, and care for people who think differently and pray differently.” Universalist University is an educational event just before General Assembly for congregational leaders of all kinds.  If you want to increase your knowledge and ability to serve your congregation and community then UU University is for you!

June 25–29 47^th UUA GENERAL ASSEMBLY, Fort Lauderdale , FL

GA Program & Registrations available on-line March 1st at www.uua.org

 

UUA TRUSTEE TIDBITS                    Joan Lund

Recently I acquired a little book which explains how and why we Unitarian Universalists function as we do: The Cambridge Platform, edited by Peter Hughes. Even though we are different in theology from other churches we share a common tradition of polity that originated with The Cambridge Platform. The 1648 signers of this document established how churches defined membership, chose leaders, came to decisions, handled dissent, and acted together despite disagreements. The Platform set forth a non-hierarchical congregational polity which meant churches would be independent both of outside authority and of each other. It explained and justified how congregational churches work. Both Unitarians and Universalists evolved from early New England churches governed by the Platform.

                The framers of the Cambridge Platform continuously referenced the authority of the Bible which makes it a foundational document for our UU polity, and other faiths molded by Puritanism. The Puritans had tried to reform the Church of England in the direction of a more personally experienced spiritual life. Their experience of being persecuted and punished persuaded them something had gone awry and led them to look in the Old and New Testaments where very different patterns of authority were to be found. The New England Puritans believed all religious authority to be in the members of each congregation. The Platform, based on the biblical second commandment, declared that the substance of the free church is the spirit of neighborly love.

                The authors of the Platform did not see themselves as “separatists” and insisted the autonomy of free churches did not imply isolation from other free churches. Churches were to be concerned about other’s welfare. In the 1600s churches founded by the Puritans engaged in pulpit exchanges. Lay members sometimes attended services in their own churches and then, if visiting friends, went to another in the afternoon. These early Puritan churches sent letters of recommendation to a congregation in a town to which one of their members was moving; sometimes they helped with money and/or officers if need arose; and they assisted in starting new churches.

                Even though the framers held Scripture in great reverence they believed not all that is necessary in the free church is indicated by the bible. In addition there is a very strong statement on the importance of covenant made by each member of a church to walk together with other members, in love. There were some drawbacks in that the framers assumed a tiered level or privilege and authority in churches was a natural thing. There is so much more to be learned about our history in the Cambridge Platform.

                Perhaps I have tweaked an interest in learning more about the Cambridge Platform. The book can be purchased through Skinner House at www.UUA.org/skinner for those of you who would like to learn more. I always look forward to hearing from you at jlund@uua.org.

 

Greetings Florida District Friends and Leaders

Friends, Look for the next Now Is the Time campaign ads, this week in Time magazine.  We’re pleased to announce the continuation of the UUA’s well received national marketing campaign.  The second phase of the campaign will include 2 more ads in TIME Magazine, the most widely read news magazine in the United States , with over 3 million subscribers and 21 million readers. The first ad will run in the April 14 issue - on newsstands April 4. This will be a new full-page ad, with the thought provoking headline, "When in Doubt, Pray. When in Prayer, Doubt" This ad includes an offer for a free copy of our popular DVD “Voices of a Liberal Faith”. 

                The May 12 issue of TIME (available on newsstands May 2) – the highly popular “TIME 100” issue — will carry the UUA ad with the headline, "My God is Better Than Your God," (a version of this ad ran in the Time December 31st Person of the Year issue).  This full page ad will also include the free DVD offer. The TIME 100 issue features 100 people whose power, talent or moral example help to transform our world.  It is one of the most heavily read issues of the year; it’s a perfect issue for our ad. 

                The UUA's national advertising campaign is supported through the generosity of Unitarian Universalist congregations who contributed to Association Sunday, held last fall. Funds earmarked for marketing are being used for the TIME print ad campaign, as well as an internet campaign that includes Google Adwords program.  A test Google Adwords campaign in Fall 2007 attracted thousands of new visitors to UUA.org and the “Find a Congregation” page.

                The UUA’s national marketing campaign has energized congregations and individual UUs.  Please direct congregations to the UUA website – Leaders – Leaders Library – National Marketing Campaign for further details.  All updated information, sample graphics, generic ads for congregational use, and hospitality and welcoming tools for congregations are available there. For assistance with these resources please contact Susanna Whitman at swhitman@uua.org.

                It is hoped that seekers who yearn for a religious home will discover welcoming UU congregations committed to supporting their spiritual journeys.

What a great day!

Tracey Robinson-Harris, Director, Congregational Services

Valerie Holton, Marketing Outreach Director, UUA

 

The Smart Church #18 - Connie Goodbread

Laying a Foundation for Change

Human systems function best when there are certain things we can depend on and certain things that are open to evolution and change. Systems can be too orderly, which leads to an oppressive atmosphere. Systems can be too disorderly, unable to function at a high level, unable to fulfill their full potential.

As the world turns, so do you. When you change for the good, you change the world too.
Wings of Change

Stability and innovation are a polarity that must coexist and be in balance for change to be possible. If the stability is not there, if there is no solid foundation for us to stand upon and then build upon, no amount of creative thinking or actions can bring about real change.

What are the foundations we must lay before we can begin to build the truly beloved community?

Who are we?
What are our values?
How will we be together?
What is our vision?
Who and what do we serve?

Creativity and openness to new ideas and a deep understanding of our fears will help us to answer these questions.

Do members feel safe, honored, in the know, well informed and part of the vision? Or does leadership act as gatekeepers barring the way of new leadership and new ideas? Is fear far too often driving the bus? Are we too concerned with keeping things clubby and just the way we like it to serve any higher purpose? This often happens out of a sense of defending the holy ground. Understand me – much of what we do that is unproductive, unhealthy and detrimental, is done for the noblest of reasons and with the best of intentions. However, these good intentions may keep our congregations from being all that they could and should be.

Is new information sought out, considered for its usefulness with care but fearlessly? How is it put to use? Are changes accepted and well thought out? I am not talking about change for change’s sake. That is unhealthy too. I am talking about the congregation being open to and capable of processing innovative ideas and using them to make needed changes for the good.

Death is rigid; life is fluid.

 

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 – Monday and Thursday: Continuing Class, 6:00-7:30 PM.  Contact Dennis Bogyo or Luana Goodwin 

 

ONLINE   HARVARD SQUARE LIBRARY BOOKSTORE

A worldwide bookstore has been initiated by LULU, the printer of our new series of HSL paperback books lulu.com/harvardsquarelibrary. 

 

        

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