What’s going on...September 2005

Sunday Services

September 4 - Henry Calhoun, "The Living Wage Campaign in Valdosta , GA. ” Henry Calhoun is a long time community activist, worker leader of the Living Wage Campaign, VSU worker, and elder at the River St. Church of Christ.  He will share his experiences working for local economic justice with the Living Wage Campaign here in Valdosta . 

September 11 - Jack Ford, “Economic Justice on the Local and Global Levels.”  Rev. Jack Ford is a Fellowshipped UU minister who lives in Jacksonville , FL.   Some of our newcomers may not know that Jack served our congregation as minister for several years in the recent past and was ordained at our church.  Welcome him back to speak from our pulpit.  He will speak about the role of the UU church in laboring for economic justice on the local and global levels. 

September 18 - Michael Stolfzfus, “World Religions.”  Dr. Michael Stofzfus is a faculty member in the Department of Philosophy and Religion at Valdosta State University .   He has agreed to bring a series of services during the coming months considering world faiths and philosophies.  Michael has spoken a number of times from our pulpit, most recently several presentations on Buddhism.  Welcome him back for this series which promises to inform and provoke thought. 

September 24 - Dan Bremer, “Advocating for Economic Justice.”   Dan Bremer is a Lake Park City Councilperson.   Until about five years ago he worked with the US Department of Labor. He retired to south Georgia and began AgWorks, which is a supplier of guestworkers, mainly for agricultural harvesting, in Georgia and other states. Dan will speak about his experiences and help us better understand how our congregation might advocate for economic justice.  

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SPARC - Sunday School With a Purpose

The Service Planning and Reflection Committee (SPARC) will be meeting two Sunday mornings each month at 9:30 AM in the Religious Education Building  to reflect on our church’s ministry to each other and the wider community. The group will be reading a series of books and articles on lay ministry, discuss beliefs and ideas members feel are most critical to our church, and develop layled services to present those reflections to our congregation. Please join the group to shape the path we walk together.  

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. 

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Beloved Community Wednesday Potluck and Discussion:

September 21(?):  6:00 PM Potluck-7:00 PM Discussion

This group has usually met on the third Wednesday of the month; however since Joan Cline, who coordinates these gatherings, is traveling, please watch for announcements or e-mails about whether and when this group may meet this month.  

 

 

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 Helen Gerhardt.  

 

President’s Portion

Lars Leader

At the end of June, I had the privilege of attending the 44th Annual General Assembly of UU Congregations in Fort Worth , Texas .  GA 2005 had many sessions devoted to raising awareness of particular issues and informing attendees of ways to improve their congregational life.  We were inspired by the general sessions held in a huge arena with thousands of us UUs joining in song with Pete Seeger, applauding UUA President Bill Sinkford as he described the impact our relatively small numbers have had on the social issues in our nation, and immersing ourselves in the worship services that deepened our sense of the wide and deep community our UU faith can be.

Throughout the many activities and interactions, two aspects of this experience held my attention during the days of the assembly.  One was the strong presence of small congregations in our association.  UU Valdosta is certainly not alone.  During a session attended by congregational presidents, a count of raised hands indicated that over a third of those present represented congregations of fewer than 100 members. A workshop, “Small is Beautiful,” focused on the challenges and opportunities experienced by small congregations like ours. At a booth in the exhibit hall, Rev. Jane Dwinell, editor of the Small Talk newsletter (www.nhvt.uua.org/publications.htm), answered questions and offered resources about strengthening small congregations.

The diversity of our common faith also impressed me at this gathering.  This General Assembly was an assembly of an extraordinary range of individuals and groups with different interests, viewpoints, proposals, and programs.  Sessions I attended ranged from a lecture by a famous linguist on how the use of language frames the way we think about issues to a workshop on ways to move a church towards becoming a beloved community.  At the annual meeting of the UU Service Committee, I listened to reports on the many people and places that our social action work has reached and affected.  In the exhibit hall, attendees could visit booths to look at and buy religious art, listen to songs from the recently released contemporary addendum to the UU hymnal, browse the books of UU publishers and meet some of the authors, talk with representatives of special interest groups, and sign petitions to bring different study/action issues to the assembly floor for a vote.  The atmosphere at the events and venues of this assembly certainly reflected the seven principles of our diverse UU faith.

I wish to thank the members of our congregation for supporting my attendance at this year’s General Assembly.  It definitely inspired me.  I left Fort Worth with resources and ideas to bring back to UU Valdosta .  I would be happy to talk with any of you about this experience and some opportunities for our church to take advantage of the support that the UUA offers.

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.

 About Our Members and Friends

v     Please keep in your hearts our members experiencing difficult health concerns or caring for loved ones….   Contact Josette Ingram to volunteer for a day on the food calendar.   Note the chalice burning brightly on our main page and above, as we keep these members in our hearts and send love to each and every one....  please assist as you are able.

v     Kimberly Godden – Congratulations to Kimberly who  received the 2005 Excellence Award in Service for Classified Staff at VSU on August 8, 2005 at opening ceremonies for the university. This is a highly competitive award and she was one of the first staff to receive this award.  Kimberly is the Director of the Access Office for Students with Disabilities.  Notice elsewhere in the newsletter that this is a big month for Kimberly and Doug Tanner!

v     Anna and Jim Hall -  Anna and Jim are now in Atlanta beginning their new adventure together.  Jim will be teaching in the Atlanta area while Anna begins her studies at the Chandler School of Theology at Emory University .  Anna promises to send along some of her reflections about her experiences for the newsletter from time to time.  

v     Congratulations to Jason and Sean who were in the group of eleven Lowndes High School students who attended the Technology Student Association National Conference in Chicago in July.  Many of them placed high in the conference competitions.  The Lowndes High chapter was named a Chapter of Excellence for 2004-2005.

Wedding Announcement Doug Tanner and Kimberly Godden are thrilled to announce that they will be married on September 3.   They want to thank everyone for their good  wishes and support on this joyous occasion.

 

 

 

 

UU Board News:

·        The board voted to accept Betty Derrick’s proposal that we publish a notice in the next newsletter requesting inactive, non-contributing members to make a small annual donation of [$10] to cover mailing costs if they wish to continue to receive the newsletter. These members’ newsletters would be marked with a star or label on the address page.

·        For Betty Derrick’s “Accepting Difference” Project, Lars proposed that we work with JUUST Change Consultants to develop a community wide workshop for community and church leaders to promote anti-racist, anti-oppressive multicultural transformation and social action. Costs are estimated at between $1250 to $1450. The board voted to accept Lars’ proposal.

·        Josette Ingram has taken over coordination of food delivery for our home-bound members.

·        Break Bread Delivery – Helen will coordinate deliveries, starting in September.

·        Jim Ingram will hire someone to examine and repair the air conditioner.

·        Pest control: Spraying for $25 a month was suggested, but cost and adverse health effects were a concern. Helen will buy roach motels

·        Childcare: Helen discussed the concerns of several members that lack of child care is discouraging growth. Helen proposed that we use money from programming if necessary to help pay for childcare. The board voted to post one childcare position in the sign-up book and pay $20 each Sunday during the academic year from September to May, excepting the December academic vacation, to a second person, preferably a student from the VSU early childcare or elementary education program. No more than $640 would be redirected from the current programming budget to pay for childcare.

·        The next board meeting will be held on 9/15/05 at 6 PM in the RE building.

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Newsletter Staff

Editor:  Betty Derrick

Website:  Carol Stiles

September 15: deadline for the October newsletter. Your editor will appreciate members sending information about thank yous, member needs, as well as announcements, programming, and columns for this newsletter.  

 

Treasurer's Report

Doug Tanner

July 31, 2005

                               

General Fund                                        $20,784.47             

Restoration Fund                                 $17,214.64             

Total (Cash in Bank Accounts)         $37,999.11

OPERATING RECEIPTS AND DISBURSEMENTS:

July                         Year to Date

Receipts:                                                                                                               

             Plate                      $125.19                   $125.19

  Pledge                  $935.00                   $935.00

  Rent                      $140.00                   $140.00

TOTAL RECEIPTS              $1,200.19            $1,200.19         

                 

Disbursements:                                                                                  

  Mortgage            $500.00                   $500.00

  Repairs and

     Maintenance    $129.00                   $129.00

  UU Conference

    Attendance       $189.60                   $189.60

  Utilities                $146.04                   $146.04

  Advertising           $84.80                     $84.80

                Other                        $12.00                      $12.00

TOTAL

DISBURSEMENTS       $1,061.44             $1,061.44        

NET RECEIPT

(DISBURSEMENT)               $138.75                   $138.75

 

At the Church-in-the-Woods  

Tai Chi – Monday and Thursday Evenings: Beginner’s Class (beginning August 15) 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.

  “To Gather with a group of people who share a like-mindedness of positive vision about themselves and the world.  To cancel out all of the negative thoughts that were collected throughout the week and be reminded that we are all collectively sharing in the process of life and what that truly entails.”  ---- a member of our congregation about worship  

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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.  Please also check the Florida District, UUA, and The Mountain Web sites.  Your editor has not received updated information from these groups in recent months.

Sept. 6-9 or 11-14 Elderhostel Program about Appalachians, The Mountain Retreat and Learning Center , Highlands , NC

Sept. 14-18  Gay spirit Visions, Fall Conference, The Mountain, Highlands, NC

Sept. 18-23 Elderhostel Women’s Hiking Program, The Mountain, Highlands, NC

Sept. 21-23 UU Womenspirit Institute, The Mountain, Highlands , NC

Sept. 23-25 UU Womenspirit Gathering, The Mountain, Highlands , NC

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Other Unitarian Universalist activities and events:

October 14-16,  Vermont Fall Foliage Escape,  11th annual B&B weekend offered by the UU Church of Rutland, VT.  A wide variety of activities: hiking, canoeing, historical tours, tours of quaint towns. All are guided by UU hosts.  Fees, if registered by September 1, for single, $225; for double, $425.  Includes two nights lodging with a church family, all meals, entrance fees, local transportation. For information email:  uufoliagevermont@yahoo.com or call 802-293-2510.

Please visit the Florida UU Women and Religion website for news of our upcoming women's retreat, to be held this year at DaySpring!       Nov. 11-13, 2005, at Dayspring in Ellenton, FL

The theme is "Laughing at Sacred Cows" and will focus on humor and healing.  Registration is limited to 45, and the deadline for registration for this retreat is due by September 1, 2005 for this retreat. www.floridawomenandreligion.org

Tour the Sites and Meet the Veterans of the Southern Civil Rights Movement
Meadville Lombard Theological School is offering an eight-day bus tour of southern civil rights sites March 18-26, 2006. This course will give students an experiential look at some of the social, religious, and political dimensions of the Civil Rights Movement. A key feature of the tour will be conversations with veterans of the Movement, with scheduled stops in Birmingham, Marion, Selma, Montgomery, Hayneville (in Alabama), Meridian, Philadelphia, Jackson, Greenwood, Money, Ruleville, Oxford (in Mississippi), and Memphis, Tennessee. Additionally, audio and video presentations will be given on the bus and there will be stops at several Unitarian Universalist congregations. 
The tour is designed as a credit course for theological students and can serve as continuing education for ministers, but is also open to anyone interested in learning more about the Civil Rights Movement.  The instructor, the Rev. Dr. Gordon Gibson, first encountered issues of race in the South as a Unitarian teenager. As a newly ordained Unitarian Universalist minister, he was a participant in the early phases of the 1965 Selma voting rights campaign and from 1969 through 1984 he was the Unitarian Universalist minister in Mississippi .  For more information, visit www.meadville.edu or contact Pamela Williams (pwilliams@meadville.edu ).  

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UUA TRUSTEE TIDBITS

Joan Lund

We often hear about the Veatch legacy and program and that the UUA is partially funded by Unitarian Universalist Veatch Program at Shelter Rock. The history of this Program dates back to 1945, when the North Shore Unitarian Society (now named the Unitarian Universalist Congregation at Shelter Rock) in New York ’s Nassau County was incorporated. Eventually the congregation came into a great deal of money, which has been shared with the UUA for use in social causes reflecting our mutual religious ideals. It has been said this ongoing generosity saved the UUA as an organization, revitalized the Association’s witness, strengthened ministerial training, and has funded much to grow and extend Unitarian Universalism.

In 1941, long before the UUA existed, Caroline Veatch became the widow of a man who was a major stockholder in the North European Oil Corporation. While Veatch was still living this Corporation was forced to sell its holdings to other oil companies to other oil companies thus leaving him in possession of promising royalty rights and stock. After Veatch died, Ms. Veatch became a friend of the North Shore U. Society because of her interest in the society’s work insuring children have the benefit of a liberal religious education and through the efforts of N.S.U.S. minister Gerald Weary. Ms. Veatch and her sister began making cash gifts for the original meeting house and as the society grew continued contributing ever increasing financial gifts. Eventually Ms. Veatch joined the society and re-wrote her will to assure that Unitarianism would have a “splendid” future. She promised if she was able to secure the oil royalties accumulating in Germany she would give half to N.S.U.S. Ms. Veatch died in October, 1953 leaving all the royalty rights to the Society.

The N.S.U.S. continued showing Ms. Veatch’s and their generosity and vision by funding new churches and needed supplies for others. The history of the Veatch Program’s financial support goes on with the sound thinking and dedication of many visionary UUs. Today the Veatch Program at Shelter Rock income for the UUA is approximately $20 million per year and a portion of this money is in the form of grants by the UUA made available to UU congregations.

For a detailed, interesting history of this example of progressive philanthropy and the current ways the UUA uses the Veatch program money I encourage you to read We Started With Children by Robert Sunley and/or Funding Justice by Warren Ross, the latter currently available from the UUA bookstore. Again I thank you for reading the Trustee column and solicit your suggestions and concerns regarding my work as a Trustee. You can contact me at jlund@uua.org. Happy “fall season” everyone; may we be spared the severe weather of just a year ago. Stay in touch.