What’s going on...November 2005

Sunday Services

 

November 6 – “Maintaining An Ethical Equilibrium,” Dr. Ari Santas

Dr. Ari Santas is Chair of the Valdosta State University Philosophy Department.  He will explore how moral traits and dispositions may become vice as a result of a loss of balance in conduct. In much the same way, a muscle often overcompensates for its damaged counterpart, which then weakens further through disuse. Have you ever known people who pour their hearts, souls, and resources into a national cause while ignoring the needs of the indigent in their own communities, or even their own families? As physical therapists prescribe exercise for balanced healing, so we can chart a course of evidence-based self-diagnosis and ethical exercise to bring ourselves back into equilibrium.

 

November 13 – “The Persistent Need For Freedom” Rev. Harold Hawkins

Throughout human history, humans have had a persistent need to challenge unjust authority, to look for the evidence that religious or political dogmas are well founded on a compassionate perception of reality and human nature. Rev. Harold Hawkins will show the evidence of this need in the actions of our own UU pioneers.  Rev. Harold Hawkins is a Unitarian Universalist minister who lives in Tallahassee , FL.   He has spoken often in the past to our congregation.  Welcome him back to our pulpit.

 

November 20 - “Buddhism: Combining Wisdom and Compassion,” Dr. Michael Stoltzfus

This presentation on Buddhism is one of our Constellations of Faith: a Year-long Exploration of World Religions series with Michael Stoltzfus, who is a religion faculty member at VSU in the Philosophy Department.  In this service we will explore the practical implications of Buddhist teachings regarding personal responsibility, freedom of thought, tolerance of other religions, interdependence, and emptiness.  Buddhism helps us to link wisdom and compassion in each present moment so that we can participate more fully in the beauties and vulnerabilities of our shared lives and experiences. 

 

November 27 – “Giving Thanks: A Thanksgiving Service,” Dr. Betty DerrickBetty Derrick, one of our longtime members and retired VSU faculty member, will revive a service that once was a tradition for our congregation at this Thanksgiving time of year.  During the service the congregation will share traditional stories and songs and participate in our own Thanksgiving Love Feast of pumpkin bread and spiced apple-cranberry punch.  One of Garrison Keillor’s monologues has been part of this tradition.  Come prepared to share with others what you are most thankful for in your life this year.

 

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.

 

 

 

Congregational Meeting

Sunday, November 13

Immediately following the Sunday Service

Although no action was taken by the congregation at its meeting in October, members of the Board in attendance composed two motions to bring to members at a brief meeting in November.  The Board voted in October to donate $2000.00 from the Restoration Fund to the UUA-UUSC Gulf Coast Relief Fund.  In addition the Board recommends the following two motions for congregational action at the November meeting.

1. Up to $1000.00 from the UU Valdosta Restoration Fund will be used to match any donations from individual members of our congregation to the UUA-UUSC Gulf Coast Relief Fund during the period from August 29 through December 31, 2005 provided individuals notify the church treasurer during this period of their donation.
2. In the future the remainder of the Restoration Fund, that has not been otherwise committed at this time, will be used as a source of matching funds for contributions from members for the repair of UU churches damaged by vandalism or natural disasters until the funds are exhausted.   The Board will designate projects for the use of such matching funds to the congregation.

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Beloved Community Wednesday Potluck and Discussion

Wednesday, November 16

6:00-8:00 PM at the church

We have chosen "Small Group Ministry" as a topic for our November potluck. Since we need feedback and input from you, the congregation, I would like to suggest that you please visit the following website to gain more information:   www.hzmre.com/sgm/.  Please help us get this project started by attending the potluck. We need your suggestions.

Joan Cline, Director of RE

Music Director Needed

As many of you know, Randy and Betsy Thompson are soon heading for the bright lights of Atlanta . We will be very sorry to see them go and we're very grateful for all they've done for the church.  Betsy has been our faithful music director, choosing hymns and recording music to fit the various services. We now very much need someone to step into this role. Please contact Helen Gerhardt if you believe you could take on this task.  

Don’t forget to sign up in the SPARC notebook on the counter in the vestibule. Please take time each week to check the sign up sheets and volunteer to help make our services meaningful for all. 

 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.  

JUUST Change Consultancy Grant

We received this e-mail in late October.  “Thank you for your application and we welcome the Valdosta Unitarian Universalist Church to the JUUST Change Consultancy.  JUUST Change Consultants are committed to ‘meeting congregations where they are’ and helping them to define next steps and gain access to anti-oppression resources.  We are impressed with the social justice efforts of your congregation and your level of community engagement.  We will contact you soon to connect you with the consultant who will assist you.  Congratulations and we look forward to working with you.  Paula Cole Jones, Lead Consultant, JUUST Change,  Unitarian Universalist Association” Thanks to Lars Leader for alerting us to this possibility, to Betty Derrick for completing the application and Helen Gerhardt for her encouragement and support.  Now we are all going to have to get to work on this project as part of our Difference Project.

UUSC Earthquake Relief Opportunity : UUSC and the Unitarian Universalist Association have created a joint fund to respond to this disaster, and UUSC's Rights in Humanitarian Crises Program has kicked into high gear. Please make as generous a contribution as you can to help the thousands of people in desperate need in the earthquake-affected areas. Your donation, together with UUSC's expertise in responding to humanitarian crises, can make a difference. UUSC is already working with organizations in the area.  Donations to the UUSC-UUA South Asia Earthquake Relief Fund can be made online or by mail at P.O. Box 845259 , Boston , MA 02284 -5259. For more information about the UUSC-UUA response to the earthquake or to make a donation online, visit www.uusc.org.  

UUA Hurricane Relief:  A generous challenge grant has been offered by the UU Congregation at Shelter Rock to benefit the UUA-UUSC Gulf Coast Relief Fund.  Beginning with contributions dated October 2, 2005, Shelter Rock will match each dollar given to the fund, up to a total of $500,000.  As we begin to assess the scope of the damage in the Gulf Coast region, it is clear that the recovery process will need to continue for many years.  If Shelter Rock's challenge is met, the combined gifts will increase the fund by an additional one million dollars.  This is money that is sorely needed.  The destruction left by the hurricanes is staggering, especially so in the most marginalized communities in the region. Additional contributions to the UUA-UUSC Gulf Coast Relief Fund will allow us to provide ongoing assistance to those most in need.  Furthermore, three UU churches in the New Orleans area have been badly damaged, and at least one is beyond repair.  A Relief Fund Panel, made up of ministers from local UU congregations and staff from the affected areas and both sponsoring organizations, are making grass roots grants to those directly impacted by the disaster, with an emphasis on needs not addressed by the larger relief organizations.  The Unitarian Universalist Trauma Response Ministry is also active in the Gulf Coast area, providing aid to those who need support, as are individual UU social workers, ministers, and other relief workers.  Information on the Relief Panel and how to contribute is available at www.uua.org.  Checks may be mailed to "UUA-UUSC Gulf Coast Relief Fund", P.O. Box 843155 , Boston , MA 02284 -3155.  Call 1-888-792-5885 toll-free if you have questions.

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UU Valdosta Fall Clean-Up Day

Saturday, November 12

9:00 in the morning to lunchtime

Let’s get our outstanding building in shape for this year’s outstanding programs.  Bring anything you’d like to use: brooms, rakes, picture-hanging tools, things needed for general clean up and window washing.  Pizza will be provided at the end of our efforts.

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Newsletter

Editor:  Betty Derrick

Website:  Carol Stiles

November 23: deadline for the December newsletter.  This is later than usual, just for this month, due to your editor’s travel schedule; so don’t get use to it!

 

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About Our Members and Friends

v   Keep in your hearts our members and friends experiencing serious health concerns or caring for loved ones….

v   Betsy and Randy Thompson and Emily Segrest have moved to Atlanta .  We will miss them and their contributions to our congregation, but wish them all the best in their endeavors. 

 

       

UU Board News:  October 13, 2005 attendance: Lars Leader, Jim Ingram, Helen Gerhardt, Joan Cline, and Rosie Asbury.  The Board approved the minutes of the September Board meeting.  Lars will check with Doug Tanner about the posting of church childcare opportunities at VSU. The approved budget for childcare is $25 per Sunday, not exceeding $600 a year. After we find somebody for the position, we need to let the parents with children know about the availability of childcare on Sundays.  The VSU Philosophy/Religion Club, which is interested in intellectual discussions related to philosophy and religion, has contacted our church about involvement in our activities. Helen, the program coordinator, had already planned on inviting the group to do a program.  The Board approved the Treasurer’s report.  Helen has the Sunday service programs covered until the end of December, with a variety of topics and speakers.  Joan is informing everyone that the Wednesday night RE is still going on, but attendance has been low. The next meeting will be November 16 at 6 P.M.  The Board suggested that we have a fall clean-up.  The date has been set as Saturday, November 12.  The next Board meeting will be on November 10, 2005, at 6 P.M.

Wondering what happened to our sign?  You no doubt have noticed our damaged sign.  One of our VSU student visitors on his way to our service swerved to miss a dog on Park Avenue and almost wound up in the ditch.  Our sign stopped him.  The dog and he survived but his car and our sign suffered.  He told us about the accident and offered to pay for the sign as soon as he got to the service.   Some of our Board members see this as an opportunity to give some serious thought to on-going discussions about issues related to our sign.  Some of our members and people in the community have asked that we light our sign from the top so that we reduce glare for drivers at night and reduce light pollution generally.  The sign needs increased visibility also.  Let the Board know if you have ideas.     The following news item from the UUA may spark some thought.  

Ideas for Wayside Pulpit Quotations?

The Unitarian Universalist Association has provided congregations and communities spiritual refreshment in the form of the Wayside Community Pulpit for several decades.  We are now working on a new series of quotations for the Wayside Community Pulpit that will be available on the UUA's website.  We'd like your suggestions.  If you know of memorable, thought-provoking words that you would like to share, please send them to:  Mary Benard, Unitarian Universalist Association Publications Department, 25 Beacon Street , Boston , MA 02108 -2800.

       

 Treasurer's Report

Doug Tanner

FUND BALANCES at August 31, 2005                  

General Fund                                                    $20,934.41

Restoration Fund                                              $17,214.64

Total (Cash in Bank Accounts)                         $38,149.05

OUTSTANDING DEBT                          

              Mortgage                                            $24,151.74      

OPERATING RECEIPTS AND DISBURSEMENTS:                    

                                                               July                  Year to Date

Receipts:                                                       

 Plate                                                     58.00                  183.19

 Pledge                                                920.00               1,855.00

 Rent                                                   240.00                  380.00

TOTAL RECEIPTS                       1,218.00               2,418.19

Disbursements:                                                                     

  Mortgage                                           500.00               1,000.00

  Repairs & Maintenance                      197.00                  326.00

  Supplies                                               66.33                    66.33

  UU Conf. Attendance                             0.00                  189.00

  Utilities                                               253.13                  399.17

  Advertising                                             0.00                    84.80

  Other                                                   12.00                    24.00

TOTAL DISBURSEMENTS       $1,028.46             $2,089.30

 

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At the Church-in-the-Woods  

Tai Chi – Monday and Thursday Evenings: Beginner’s Class 5:30-6:30 PM.  Continuing Class 6:30-8:00 PM.  Contact Dennis Bogyo.   

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

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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. 

November 5 Southwest Cluster Meeting – “Diving Deep...and Surfacing: Engaging Racial and Cultural Diversity in our Congregations and Communities” with Rev. Marjorie Bowens-Wheatley, Sarasota , FL

November 12 Fall Leadership Conference 2005 First Unitarian Church Orlando ; Facilitated by Gini Courter Moderator of the UUA “That I Might Know Your Mind….. Identity and Diversity in Unitarian Universalism”

November 11 – 13 Florida Women and Religion’s Annual Fall Retreat,  DaySpring Episcopal Conference Center, Ellenton, FL, “LAUGHING AT SACRED COWS”

November 13-18 “Exploring Florida ’s Ecosystems from the Water Up: Canoeing Two Rivers,” an Elderhostel Program at UU in the Pines,  check out this and other programs at uupines@bellsouth.net

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UUA TRUSTEE TIDBITS

Joan Lund

By the time you read this column I will have returned from the October Trustees meeting but in keeping with newsletter deadlines I am not able to write about the meeting now. Thus another subject that has interested me for some time: The International Association for Religious Freedom (IARF). The IARF is the oldest international religious foundation, and it now has more than 100 member groups. It is a 105 year old association with an interesting history. Founded in 1900 as an organization to bring together people “striving to unite ‘Pure Religion and Perfect Liberty’”, today the IRAFs purpose is to work for freedom of religion and belief because it is a precious human right that potentially enables the best within our religious lives and/or our search for truth or enlightenment.

Originally the IARF was called the International Council of Unitarian and Other Liberal Religious Thinkers and Workers (quite a title). The Council evolved in many steps from a mostly Unitarian, North American organization to one with global and interfaith representation. One “turning point” occurred near the end of the 1960s when, spurred in part by shifts in Roman Catholic teaching, there was a growth in the institutional representation in inter-religious activity around the world. One outgrowth of this was the founding of the World Conference on Religion and Peace (WCRP). Today, the IARF and the WCRP work together in a collegial relationship. Another turning point was in 1993, with the centennial observance of the 1893 Parliament of World’s Religions, which showed great interest in interfaith organizations. There has been concern expressed about the ease in which organizations like the IRAF to become a marketplace where religious conviction and spiritual wisdom become commodities. This is why the UUA remains strongly supportive of the IARF and the WCRP, but maintains cautiously apart from other interfaith organization that are not of an international nature. For interfaith cooperation to be genuine, it needs to contain the liberal spirit, which has always encouraged tolerance and critical thinking about religion, often not found in what today is being promoted as “interfaith”.

I remember at General Assembly in June, the Rev. Abhi Janamanchi, minister in Clearwater, introducing the guests from the IARF, including the Rev. Dr. Daryl Balia, General Secretary of the IARF who, with the IARF Council, is planning a March, 2006 IARF Congress. If my information is correct UUA President Rev. Bill Sinkford will be in Taiwan for this important meeting. The Congress will focus on the role of religion in family, community life, and politics.

Thanks again for your support and comments each month. I always enjoy hearing from Florida District UUs, and can be reached at jlund@uua.org.

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"Witness to the Holocaust" program organized by Dr. Louis Schmier, VSU History Professor and sponsored by the Department of History and the Valdosta Hebrew Congregation invites the public to attend the continuing series, which is part of a Perspectives Course at VSU this semester. 

·        October 30 at 6:30 p.m. at Temple Israel and October 31 at 1:00 PM in the VSU Library auditorium - Dr. Susan Eischeid of VSU's Department of Music will talk of Jewish resistance in the camps to Nazi attempts at dehumanization through the composing and playing of music.

·        November 2 at 1:00 PM in the VSU Library auditorium -  Dr. Lavan Robinson, Professor Emeritus of Music, will talk of his experiences caring for inmates, alive and dead, while stationed in Dachau for a year beginning in May, 1945. 

·         November13/14 the last presentation in the program is presently scheduled.  For further information, contact Louis Schmier at Valdosta State University .