Dr. Susan Eischeid Speaks on Music of the Holocaust

The spring, 1999 VSU Perspectives on Research had a 14-page article about this program and research:  Music of the Holocaust is a multi-media presentation, which explores the uses and abuses of music and the arts under Adolf Hitler and the Third Reich. Presented as our 10:45 AM service September 23 by Dr. Susan Eischeid, Valdosta State University Associate Professor of Music, the program incorporates a lecture with slide and video examples detailing a brief overview of the Nazi rise to power and specific musical activities and artists in the ghettoes, concentration and death camps. Dr. Eischeid has presented this program since 1987 in cities across the country including Cincinnati; Norfolk; Baton Rouge; Tulsa; Harrisonburg, VA; Greensboro, NC; Columbus, Macon, and Valdosta, GA.

Concurrent with her oboe activities, Dr. Eischeid has pursued an active interest in promoting the fight against racism through the medium of music. She completed her doctoral dissertation on the subject in 1992, and received many grants supporting her research and recitals in Europe. Last year she recorded her CD of Holocaust wind and vocal music entitled Mystic Chords of Genocide--Music of the Holocaust. Currently she is writing her book, Art or Obscenity? Music in the Concentration Camps and Ghettos of Hitler's Regime. Eischeid is particularly concerned about historical revisionists who claim the Holocaust never occurred.  "It remains a telling point of the current world climate that a newly democratic Poland continues to experience racial strife as exhibited by the escalating 10-year-old controversy of the 230 crosses placed at Auschwitz by Catholics claiming a Jewish conspiracy to take Poland away from Christians."

Please invite your friends to attend this very special service. It comes in the middle of Rosh Hashanah (Jewish New Year) and affirms our UU covenant "grateful for the religious pluralism which enriches and ennobles our faith, we are inspired to deepen our understanding and expand our vision."

Water Service

On Sunday, September 2, bring the water you collected during the summer.   As part of the service we will pour our water together to symbolize the reunion of our selves in community and share stories of our summer experiences from close at home and far away.  Charles Green has found a sermon written by Jack Donovan to share with us during the service. 

Anniversaries!

Jack Ford, former minister to our church and recently fellowshipped UU minister , will visit us the second Sunday in September.  Jack will help us celebrate two anniversaries.  We will celebrate our 4^th birthday in our new building and the 35^th anniversary of our fellowship in Valdosta.  Welcome Jack Ford back to our pulpit and help celebrate these church events.

Religious Education

Youth and Adult R.E.: Sunday, Sept. 9, 9:30 AM there will be an organizational meeting for Religious Education. After a summer hiatus, adults and youth will meet to decide their courses of study/discussion for the year. Some of the ideas suggested thus far for adults are World Religions, discussion of the videotapes with Bill Moyers and Joseph Campbell, "The Power of Myth," UU curricula "Building Your Own Theology" and "Spirituality in Everyday Life." Youth will be considering Life in the Universe, Learning and Living our UU Principles, and World Religions. 

Joys and Concerns

 Our thoughts are with those in our church community who are in difficult times with health and other concerns.

 A note was received from Molly and Doug who have arrived safely in their new home!   

President’s Column

Diane Holliman

This month I would like to share this message, "Why go to Church,"  (Words toward an answer) from the Rev Dr. Ralph Halverson.

“We go to church in expectancy, to find the missing part, to relate what we can never explain, to live with unanswerable questions.

“We go to church because we are looking for something of life's fulfillment, a fleeting sense that we wish to make life whole, to find the point of our existence, what the great religions have called God, however we state it.

“We go to church because we are looking for human fellowship, a community where we think of helping one another rather than exploiting one another.

“We go to church seeking composure to face a world of confusion with its problems, some of which may be solved, and the predicaments that may have resolutions but not solutions, and must be faced over and over in life, calling for courage and decision.

“We go to church to find the strength to go the second mile, to offer forgiveness, to make amends, to find the good within evil, the healing beyond hurt, to rise again after we have fallen.

“We go to church suspicious of its obvious weaknesses, but still feeling the pull of many centuries of humans who have found faith and renewed their lives, who have moved beyond the hobbling traditions and renewed their minds with a vision of what life may be.

“We go to church because we believe that there is the possibility of having a living faith, aware that we may not understand all that we believe, nor believe all that we understand, but even so, we may confront life with a  ready mind and an open heart.

“We go to church because we wish to find channels to help us express faith and hope and love.”

Social Opportunities!

ª©¨§Bridge Group

Charles Green says there are enough interested people to organize a bridge group.  He has agreed to teach beginners to play this fascinating and intellectually challenging game.  Meet with Charles after the service the first Sunday in September to make arrangements for a regular meeting time.  Contact Charles Green for more information.

Women’s Group

Join us for good food and great company, the 1^st and 3^rd Tuesday of each month at 7:00 p.m.  The group is involved currently in a discussion about its purpose and future direction.  If you have been a participant in the past in this group, please come and participate in these important discussions.  Bring your personal needs as well as an open mind and help formulate a mission for this group that will meet your needs as well as those of others.  Bring a snack, ideas for discussion, or just yourself! 

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. 

Treasurer’s Report

(for June and July)

June

Outstanding Debts

   Mortgage:    $39997.69

                $39997.69

Savings:  $2544.81

Income:

   Pledge:         $778.00

   Plate:           $98.00

   Fundraising:     $00.00

   Rent:           $240.00

                  $1116.00

Expenses:

   Mortgage:       $700.00

   Utilities:       $152.90

   Speaker:        $243.00

   LAMP:            $25.00

   Postage:         $39.78

   Maintenance:     $81.07

   Membership:      $39.34

                  $1281.09

July

Outstanding Debts

   Mortgage:    $39606.01

   UUA:          $1496.00

                $41102.01

Savings:  $2546.97

Income:

   Pledge:         $970.00

   Plate:          $112.00

   Fundraising:     $00.00

   Rent:           $440.00

                  $1522.00

Expenses:

   Mortgage:       $700.00

   Utilities:       $173.10

   Postage:         $61.20

                   $934.30

Your Treasurer, René Kerr

A Note from the treasurer: Our Mortgage Note has a maturity date of June 12, 2002.  I would like everyone to be aware of this.  We started with a loan of $50,075.00 and have brought it down to approximately $39,600.00.  We have one year before we have to refinance the loan.  It would be great if we could pay off the mortgage or put a major dent in it before the maturity date.  If anyone has a fundraising idea to raise mortgage money let me know.  Or if you want to give extra money above and beyond your pledge, just designate it for the mortgage pay off and it will get to the right place. Thank you all for your support.

René Kerr

P.S.  Out of the 20 pledge units last year 50% met or exceeded their pledges.  Thank you all!

ARTISTS/POETS/THINKERS

Our Bench Advertisement (Near Pier One Imports) is coming up for renewal in December.  The Board would like your ideas for a new slogan.  The slogan that is on the bench now is:

Unitarian Universalist

A Liberal Alternative

1951 E Park Ave.

We would like to have a contest.  If you would like to submit a new slogan to compete with the old one, give it to René and she will post it on the Sanctuary’s bulletin board - in the middle section.  The congregation will vote during the next few months for the slogan we want to put on the bench when we renew it.  THE CATCH!  It will take $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ to vote (bet you can't guess who's idea this was).  The vote will be tallied on the basis 1 vote = 1 cent.  The money will go toward paying for the bench itself and if we have extra, the treasurer will pay a few bills with it.  There will be containers under the bulletin board or just designate a check for a certain slogan and give it to René.

THINK HARD AND GOOD LUCK - MAY NO ONE HAVE WRITERS BLOCK!

P.S.  I hope no one is offended by this fundraising idea.  The winning slogan will be Board approved.  

UU and the Democratic Process

Charles Green

I was honored to be asked and appreciated the opportunity to be your delegate at the General Assembly in Cleveland, OH from June 21 thru June 25, 2001.

I kept a notebook diary of my trip and it is deposited in the church office as recourse for members to read if you desire.

            I approached the assembly with three goals in mind.

·        Examine the assembly process and look for weaknesses. The voting process was sound and I found no weaknesses.

·        Meet the candidates face to face and hear their message. I met, shook hands with and interacted with all the major candidates.

• Meet and network with others from the Florida District. I met a few of the Florida UU delegates and enjoyed meeting Rev. Mary Higgins.

My greatest fear was I would find a national association that did not reflect our local fellowship in its approach and principals. My fears were unfounded. I found the democratic process used was fair; the youth caucus was active and involved, a new youth seat on board of directors was created and the election was a model of fairness. The democratic principals were used in the business of running the nationwide association in every detail of the assembly.

I attended Friday’s candidate forum and then personal interviews at hospitality suites at the Renaissance Hotel. General Assembly exemplified this principal by delegates voting with a ‘yellow card’, which was raised to indicate intentions.

            Saturday afternoon was written ballot; most of those I voted for lost… but I voted…. And it counted. There were no hanging ‘chads’, since it was a ‘crayon on cardboard’ computer read format. Ha!

            The national organization is led from the bottom-up by grassroots participation. Example: Last winter UU churches were sent a list of SAI to evaluate. The STUDY/ACTION ISSUE or SAI was decided by delegate vote.  ECONOMIC GLOBALIZATION received the most votes. The issue will be studied for two years.

      Delegates voted for the new statement of conscience for 2001-2002. Responsible consumption is to be a STATEMENT OF CONSCIENCE (SOC) for all churches this year.

            I was fortunate to participate in several useful workshops at GA.

 “Green sanctuaries” is a call for UU members and member churches to follow responsible consumption principals. UU of Valdosta should join in this program and be designated a Green Sanctuary. Local projects could be:  Create ways to use less energy, resources, generate less waste, clean-up the environment (river adoption), use electronic communication where possible as a substitute for paper; promote community awareness of Green Sanctuary Issues, plant a tree to replace the one lost, recycle and many more.

Other seminars:

“How to write a good newsletter” We are already doing it! Keep a scrapbook. Keep good records.

“PR on a shoestring” Yellow pages. Face to face invitation. Get newspaper to cover special event like a tree planting.  Host a community special event at church.

“Worshipweb” by Rev. Diane Miller. Not linked, released in the fall, we will be contacted about registering for newsletter. www.uua.org/worshipweb

FREE Database for ministers, laypeople, and public to read sermons and understand the teachings of our faith. No copywriter infringement. Search engine. Allows lay led services to be based or modeled after quality sermons of the past. Allow novices to provide a lay led service including related congregational hymn selections and related readings and order of service with suggested related chalice lighting and extinguishing readings.

Lastly about the General Assembly: I started noticing at the hotel breakfast before delegates displayed their UU badges, you could pick-out the UU delegates in the dining hall. You could see it at night in the restaurants and on the sidewalks downtown when passing delegates on the street. There was an indescribable twinkle in their eyes. I observed that most UUs at the assembly had a peace and a quiet confidence about them that distinguished them from the others in a mixed crowd. My journey is in progress and I seek to find that tranquility that I felt at GA in my daily life and I seek to continue to search for the truth.

• I recommend you find time for a UU General Assembly in your future. Let’s get a group together and go to Quebec City, Canada in June of 2002.

Notes from BOARD MEETINGS

July 8, 2001: Present: Diane Holliman, Charles Green, René Kerr,  Joan Cline. Visitor: Rev. Mary Higgins

1. Call to Order by President Diane Holliman at 12:30pm.
2. Secretary's Report – minutes May meeting approved with no changes

3. Treasurer's Report – last offering not received; report incomplete.

4. Pres. Elect's Report on Programs-Ann was not present; no youth RE in summer..

5. R.E. Report – Joan is disappointed in the lack of interest

6. Old Business –Possible fundraisers: Casino night; coffee house; newsletter slogan contest. Discussion of music for services after Molly & Doug leave.

7. New Business:

• The Board discussed the change in officers reported in the August Newsletter.
• Charles is to ask Doug for the music CD.
• Charles volunteered to have a photo of the church framed for Doug/Molly’s gift.
• Charles volunteered to have roof leak repaired. He will discuss with Jim Ingram.
• Charles volunteered to send Jack Ford an inquiry about future services/duties.
• Concern was raised about IRS taxes from rental income.  Mary gave the board a summary of church IRS decisions rendered by UUA consultants. Charles offered to read and study. Charles asked if the UU of Valdosta had an attorney René said NO. He expressed a need for  local council.
• Mary presented information on insurance needs for the church and board. Rene said she had the most resent insurance certificate and would bring to the next meeting for study.
• Charles asked about record keeping and René reported that there was a file cabinet in the office with all past records. Mary suggested the church purchase a small fire resistant safe or a safe deposit box for important documents.
• Joan asked that her wishes for her funeral be kept at the church. Discussion was offered as to the need for the church to be a depository for such requests. The board tabled the issue for further study.
•  UU General Assembly -Charles Green was asked to submit a written report for the next newsletter.
• Virginia Branan will coordinate transportation for Governor's Honors students.

Charles Green, Secretary

August 12, 2001: Present: René Kerr, Diane Holliman, Sharon McKenzie, Virginia Branan.

President Diane Holliman called the meeting to order. Secretary's report given by Sharon McKenzie. Sharon is taking care of mailing labels. Board discussed need for forming policy concerning official and non-official church groups. Treasurer's report given by René Kerr.  She will be moving $500 from checking to savings account. René showed a notice from another UU church that allows a free three-month newsletter subscription then charges $10 annually for non-members. Virginia Branan suggested we send out a notice again in our newsletter asking people to respond if they want to continue receiving it. Music budget was discussed including paying a potential musician $25 per Sunday for however many times she wants to come a month. René has dispensed keys. Men's bathroom door repair is still pending. Old Business: OWL training August 24-26. 4 meals to take care of. Possible menus were discussed. Prepaid legal services discussed. Insurance packet tabled. Volunteers still needed for certain chores.  Diane adjourned the meeting.

Sharon McKenzie, Secretary.

J  J  J  J  J  J  J  J  J  J  J

HOW MANY CHURCH PEOPLE DOES IT TAKE TO CHANGE A LIGHT BULB? Unitarians:  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 personal relationship with your light bulb, and present it next month at our annual light bulb 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.

UU Activities and Announcements

Further information is posted on the bulletin board at the church.

Sept.1-6 Hiking in the southern Appalachians, The Mountain

Sept.9-14 Appalachian Home Theme week, The Mountain

Sept.14-16  YRUU Con, Tampa, FL

Sept.15  Florida District Board Meeting, Sarasota, FL

Sept.23-28 Appalachian Fun: An Adventure for Active Women, The Mountain

Sept.29 Covenants and Conflicts Seminar, Northeast Cluster Meeting, Gainesville, FL

Sept.30-Oct.5 Early Fall in the Southern Mountain, The Mountain

Oct.21-27 Florida Leadership School, Ovieda, FL

Oct.26-28 The Church Retreat You Don’t Have To Plan at The Mountain

IMPORTANT UU SEMINAR:

COVENANTS & CONFLICT

SATURDAY SEP 29, 2001   9AM -3PM

UU FELLOWSHIP OF GAINESVILLE

4225 NW 34^th Street, Gainesville, FL

Leaders of faith communities need a big picture to have some understanding of the prevalence and causes of uncivil behavior and behavior inappropriate for healthy communities so that they can stop asking the personal questions of “ Why are these people doing this to me?” and help the whole congregation to ask: “Is this the way we would want our faith community to behave?

In this workshop you will have an opportunity to develop a written covenant and take home materials for your congregation to use.

Facilitated by Sandra Pollock, President of the First Unitarian Church of Orlando and past-President of the Florida District’s President council and by Margaret Sanders, past UUA Trustee for the Florida and Midsouth Districts.        

COST: Fifteen dollars ($15) if mailed (postmarked) no later than Tuesday September 25.  [Twenty dollars ($20) at the door]Make your checks payable to ‘Northeast Cluster’, and send to:

JOHN LEWIS, PRESIDENT, NORTHEAST CLUSTER, PO BOX 372180, SAT BEACH, FL 32937  [Carol Stiles has offered home hospitality to anyone who would like to stay over and visit with her.]

At the Church-in-the-Woods

Tai Chi – Monday and Thursday Evenings.  Contact Vicki English .

The Taoist Tai Chi Society will start a Beginner’s Class on September 10.  The class will meet at the UU church on Mondays and Thursdays 5:30-6:30 PM.  The continuing Intermediate Class will meet 6:30 –8:00 PM.  Contact Holly smith if you are interested.  Tai Chi is also being taught by Holly through the Learning in Retirement Program at VSU.

Metropolitan Community Church - Sunday evenings: Choir practice at 5:00 PM. Service at 6:00 PM

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