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Florida District Connections
November 5, 2009 | |
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Notes From Our District Executive
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 In the fall of the first year I lived in Florida, a friend asked, "Have you opened up yet?" I had no idea what she meant. I learned and came to appreciate that there comes a time in Florida when you just open all the windows and leave them that way until spring. As November comes 'round, it remains hot here and I've yet to "open up," I am impatient for cooler weather.
This set me to recalling a long ago "For All Ages" moment discussing "warm fuzzies" and "cold pricklies," a fable of how people relate to one another, who's "in" and who's "out." With time, I've come to see a paradox in all groups: the very factors that make any group a warm fuzzy experience to its members -- informality, shared norms, ways of speaking and doing things, even jokes, deep loving connections -- all these are felt as cold and prickly-ish to those first arriving on the scene.
I encounter this phenomenon repeatedly as I travel to our various congregations: There is so much warmth, so much mutual enjoyment among those who are already part of the congregation. Yet, I am not alone in feeling I've trespassed on a private party, at times. I'm not alone in feeling the cold pricklies of being ignored or treated as a "visitor" [meaning just passing through]. My ears have been blistered by complaints from others who also came to one of our congregations only to be looked right through before and after the service -- notwithstanding gracious words of welcome from greeters or the pulpit. Too often, in our delight to see one another, we inside-members often forget to open up the windows and doors for those looking in.
A ministry of hospitality is a first step toward creating a truly different kind of community our congregations aspire to be. It ought to be part of our self-identity that we don't proclaim friendliness unless it includes the stranger as well. A ministry of hospitality ought to be a core ideal for our beloved communities.
As the season changes, take a look and see if you remain still closed up to our guests. And do all you can to open up, welcome the breezes of news faces, voices, and interests.
Blessings on all your ministries.
Rev. Kenn |
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Notes from our Lifespan Program Consultant
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 Season of Gratitude and Generosity
It is the beginning of the holiday season. This is often a time of reflection and gratitude for the everyday miracles. Something to ponder; the miracle of the parable of the Loaves and the Fishes is not that any one human being made more bread and fish out of nothing but rather; people who had next to nothing shared the little they had and together all had enough. We have lived so well so long. We are lucky. We are graced, graced with good fortune and more than enough. I wish for each of us humble gratitude and continued generosity so that all may have enough.
Upcoming Events - Mark your calendars
This is the district calendar link:
http://www.floridadistrict.org/?page_id=87
Please pay close attention to the wonderful programs that are being
offered by your Florida District UUA.
Thursday November 5th - Faith Development Webinar - Foundations of Faith Development - for every size congregation - we will begin at 7:00 and end at 8:00.
When children come to our congregations they and their parents need to feel welcomed into the community. What are the simple things we can do to make sure that happens? What are the next steps we must take to make sure everyone finds something?
Plan now to join us for next year's Southland Unitarian Universalist
Leadership Experience
Now is the time to budget for Southland Unitarian Universalist Leadership Experience. This is an opportunity for current and future leaders to deepen their understanding of congregational leadership and to develop their abilities with other Unitarian Universalist leaders. This five-day program will be held August 8-13, 2010, at The Mountain Retreat and Learning Centers. The Thomas Jefferson, Mid-South and Florida Districts and Southwestern Conference organize this experience. SUULE offers participants an opportunity to combine practical leadership tools with spiritual and theological grounding to maximize their congregational leadership potential. We are asking that congregations send teams of leaders who will learn and develop together. If your congregation is small, please develop a relationship with other Unitarian Universalist congregations in your cluster so that you can still send a team. This team approach helps individuals to deepen their experience, get support and advice from other leaders who have the same knowledge and helps them to keep their focus on the reality that this is congregational leadership. For more information visit http://www.uusouthland.org/
Connie Goodbread |
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The Smart Church #33 |
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Transformative Power of Love
By Connie Goodbread
 Unitarian Universalism is a covenantal, not a creedal faith.
Unitarian Universalism has no struggle with the word covenant.
We are born in love.
We are born in goodness and light. We are stardust. We are golden!
It is just as easy to cultivate compassion and love as it is suspicion and hate. All are human traits.
Manipulation and coercion are not part of Unitarian Universalism.
We come together as a covenantal faith tradition to build a better world.
"When we quit thinking primarily about ourselves and our own self-preservation, we undergo a truly heroic transformation of consciousness." - Joseph Campbell
All congregations in every denomination exist to transform individuals so that they might transform the world. Unitarian Universalist congregations are by nature counter-cultural and also in the business of transformation. We need to be the counter cultural religion for our time. We need to have vision and insights into the needs of our neighbors and the world. Then, with the needs of others in mind, we must fight for a just and loving world community. It is easier by far to stand with others to do this work. We are so much more together than we are apart.
We are standing on the side of love! Love is counter-cultural; love of humanity; love of creation; stewards of the Earth; caretakers of the world; this is all counter-cultural. Having been a teenager in the 60s and knowing that the two best things that came out of that era (other than the music) are love and peace, I am very comfortable standing on the side of love. The fact that we as a religion are taking our stand for love makes me feel a part of something principled and important. Most people, regardless of their faith tradition, will tell you that they believe that love is better than hate. But humanity does not behave that way. We invent more and more creative ways to kill one another every day. Cruelty and fear are tools used to manipulate the young so that they will hate. Too often fear preaches and teaches hate, and injustice keeps us from loving. In our congregations we all too easily fall into bickering, manipulation, name-calling, vilifying and conflict. If we are to transform the world we must begin with ourselves and our faith. How can we all work for the common good?
We are standing on the side of love! Because the Beatles' songs have been remastered I have heard them everywhere. Their music reminds me of the values I still hold most dear; peace and love.
All you need is love...
Love your enemies. Love your neighbor. Love the person you don't agree with. Love the person next to you in the pew. Love your family. Love yourself. Not soft, mushy, romantic love but rather the love and respect of each individual pilgrim on the path alongside us struggling for human wholeness. Love for the planet. Love for the wonder of creation and the miracle of life. Love, love, love.
What the world needs now is love sweet love. That's the only thing that there's just too little of. |
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Trustee Tidbits |
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 Many of you have read Michael Durall's new book, The Almost Church Revitalized, the "sequel" to Almost Church. Both provide valuable information and Durall's opinion of who we are, and our faith's numerical lack-of-growth over a number of years. What struck me is his message that although we, as Unitarian Universalists profess a status of being a "public" faith, one whose primary purpose is to serve the public good, in reality many of our congregations may not be addressing the significant issues of our wider world. Durall believes that most of our congregations are inward focused, thus "private" in nature. His writing prompted me to research UUA grants that congregations can receive for outreach beyond their four walls. One is featured this month.
The Fund for UU Social Responsibility offers grants to UU organizations to increase their direct involvement in service, advocacy, and/or community organizing to create justice in the larger world; to increase linkage between UUs and the larger community; and to foster a spirit of generosity and action in all aspects of UU communities. Priority is given to new programs, groups who are growing, and those involved in creating social and economic growth. Matching grants are available to congregations considering participation in a Congregation-Based Community organizing group. The maximum grant is $20,000; the average grant is $8,800. The grant is made for one year; a second year may be possible after submitting a new proposal and a report about the funded grant year. Although a third year may be possible it is not likely; the Fund is not sustaining. Applications are accepted twice a year, March 15th and September 15th; complete application information is available on our UUA web site.
The grant is diverse in nature, and recent ones include: a community garden that will provide fresh produce daily for 1000 at-risk children; a program that ensures transportation for clients of a Healthy Start initiative which provides in-home mentoring services to struggling families at risk for child abuse; and the creation of an alliance between the religious community and the homeless community.
There are some restrictions. This grant is not made to individuals or for activities that are part of the ongoing work of UU institutions. The grant cannot be used as a pass-through from a UU congregation to a local non-profit organization, but can go towards enhancing UU involvement in a project.
On a personal note, I wish each of you a blessed Thanksgiving and peace in your heart as we approach the holiday season. I can be reached at jlund@uua.org or 813-931-9727 and always look forward to hearing from you.
Joan Lund
UUA Trustee Report, October 2009
A year ago October I wrote that the UUA Board of Trustees (BOT) was in the process of being on the path to becoming a policy governance BOT. We are there, and continue to be in the learning process of how to meet as a Board and make decisions in this form of governance. Thus it is my plan to report differently with less of my observations and detail, and the report will be shorter. If you are interested the entire UUA Governance Manual can be found at http://uua.org/aboutus/governance/policy/index.shtml. Briefly, our deliberations and responsibilities on behalf of our Sources of Authority and Accountability will be to ensure the UUA achieves appropriate results for appropriate personas at an appropriate cost, and avoids unacceptable actions and situations. As always if you have questions or comments in general, please email/telephone me at jlund@uua.org or 813-931-9727. In addition you can go to the UUA website www.uua.org for Staff and President Morales reports, and the October Board of Trustees (BOT) Packet which was posted before the meeting. The BOT will govern with an emphasis on outward vision, an encouragement of diversity in viewpoints, strategic leadership, a clear distinction between the roles of the BOT and President, collective decisions, the future, pro-activity, and an open, transparent process. The BOT will inspire, direct and read more |
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November District Packet |
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 The November 2009 monthly packet has been posted to the District website and may be viewed at the following link:
http://www.floridadistrict.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/fld-uua-november-2009-packet.pdf
Please share the information contained in the monthly packet with individuals in your congregation. This edition of the District packet contains the following items:
· District Executive message, page 1
· District Calendar, page 2
· Potential Implications of Pandemic Influenza, page 3
· Faith Development Webinar, page 4
· Southwest Cluster Workshop and Meeting flyer, page 5
· Workshop on Growing Congregations, page 6
· Jubilee Workshop flyer, pages 7-8
· Third Tuesday Webinar series flyer, page 9
· West Central Cluster Holiday Service flyer, page 10
· IARF Conference Flyer, page 11
· OWL Teacher Training flyer, page 12
· Choral Festival Flyer, page 13
· District Directory Announcement, page 14
· Standing on the Side of Love flyer, page 15
· Alban Institute Stewardship Webinar info, page 16-17
Looking for a single event flyer? District event flyers are linked to the calendar page on the District website (see http://www.floridadistrict.org/?page_id=87). Simply click the event listed on the calendar and the flyer will open. UUA, Congregation, Cluster, and Affiliated Organization event listings are linked to those entities websites whenever possible.
The complete packet is also linked to the website calendar (go to the calendar link at www.floridadistrict.org and click the "entire monthly packet" notation above the calendar). Please note this is a multi-page download and may take a few minutes to open if you are working with a dial-up connection and/or older computer. |
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Around the Florida District - News and Events to Note |
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The updated Florida District Directory 2009-2010 is now available. This year, in an effort to conserve resources, our directory will be offered only electronically via web access. Please contact the district office (FloridaDistrictUUA@cfl.rr.com or 407-894-2119) for the web link and password.
Upcoming Florida District Events - Save these Dates
District Board Meeting - November 20-21 - Canterbury Retreat Center, Oviedo
Cluster, Congregation & Affiliated Organization Events
Creating a Jubilee World Workshop - November 13-15 - UUF Gainesville . This workshop is designed to help Unitarian Universalist congregations dismantle racism by guiding participants to examine both personal and institutional racism, and by empowering them to develop a realistic plan that can move their congregations forward in working for racial justice. Registration has been extended until November 8. Please contact Bonnye Greene at bcgreene@bg.cfcoxmail.com if you are planning on attending but have not yet registered.
S.W.I.M. (Southeast Winter Institute Miami) - Dec. 26-Jan. 1 - Miami
The annual District Assembly is in Miami April 9-11, 2010. UUA Moderator Gini Courter is our guest presenter on the theme of "What next for Unitarian Universalism." You are invited to submit a no more than 50 word summary of a presentation you might like to offer at the DA's workshops. Topics broadly relevant to Unitarian Universalists, of course, are welcome. Most welcome are those that give congregational leaders practical tools for strengthening our ministries. Apply by January 5, 2010, directly to the District Executive: khurto@uua.org. |
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Buckman Bridge UU Society Teens Lead Stand Up, Take Action |
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"We are a group of thirteen kids who have been told by the adults in our congregation that we can make a difference in the world. We've decided to find out if they are right."
With these few words, the Teen RE Class at Buckman Bridge Unitarian Universalist Society invited all Unitarian Universalist congregations in North America to join them in supporting the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) on Sunday, Oct. 18th. The 18th was the culmination of a weekend global effort called Stand Up, Take Action, which focused the world's attention on the need for the 197 countries (including the US) who agreed to meet the MDGs by 2015 to keep their promises.
The BBUUS teens saw their extended Unitarian Universalist community as the place to start their 2009-10 faith in action efforts for the MDGs, especially since the MDGs and our Unitarian Universalist Purposes and Principles are so closely aligned. They hand-addressed and glued stamps onto over 1,000 letters to Unitarian Universalist congregations asking them to Stand Up on the 18th and read the pledge of support for the MDGs, and then Take Action to help achieve the goals.
The responses from Unitarian Universalist congregations have been "awesome!" according to Jillian C., one of the teens. They continue to receive emails daily from congregations supporting their action and affirming that they can make - and have made - a difference.
In a bit of serendipity, one of the emails from a Pennsylvania Unitarian Universalist congregation may lead to the next action by the BBUUS teens. The Pennsylvania congregation supports a school in Uganda founded by their minister, and, since universal primary education is one of the MDGs, it seems a natural choice for the BBUUS teens to make.
"There's definitely a feeling of interconnectedness with other Unitarian Universalist churches now," says high school junior Mercita C., one of the teens who led BBUUS in Standing Up and reading the pledge on the 18th. The teens urged members to Take Action by contacting seven leaders in Washington and by spreading the word about the MDGs to seven people outside of BBUUS.
As it turns out, they were far from alone in their efforts. The Unitarian Universalists that participated were part of "173,045,325 citizens gathered at over 3,000 events in more than 120 countries, demanding that their governments eradicate extreme poverty and achieve the Millennium Development Goals. 'Stand Up, Take Action, End Poverty Now!', has been certified by Guinness World Records as a new world record and remains the largest mobilization of human beings in recorded history", according to www.standagainstpoverty.org
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Things to Know in Our Extended Unitarian Universalist World |
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 Association of UU Administrators (AUUA) Announces Membership Drive!
The AUUA is kicking off its membership drive by announcing that paid, professional, lay congregational administrators can join the AUUA for just $40, regardless of church size!
The AUUA Board realizes that in these challenging economic times, many congregations have had to "tighten their belts," which usually impacts the professional expense line for ministers, religious educators, musicians, and administrators.
The AUUA offers peer support, invaluable information, and continuing education through the AUUA listserve (Church-admin-UU), our website (www.auua.org), district/cluster meetings, and Professional Day at General Assembly.
Soon we will be unveiling our new "members only" section on the AUUA website, which will offer a collection of documents, forms, and other resources for church administrators.
As part of this membership drive, the AUUA list serve (Church-admin-UU) will be closed to nonmembers on January 1, 2010.
We are asking all UU congregations to encourage their administrators to join their professional organization, just as other church staff belongs and participates in the UUMA, LREDA, and the UUMN.
For questions or more information, please contact Chuck Rosene, AUUA President, at crosene@uua.org, or Mary Ellen Morgan, Membership Coordinator, at businessadmin@uucb.org.
Membership applications may be found on the AUUA website at www.auua.org.
 Standing on the Side of Love Friday Conference Call Webcasts
Standing on the Side of Love campaign now offers weekly 45 min. webcast conference calls on Fridays at 1pm. EDT. We will share best practices, highlight resources, and discuss major initiatives. Calls will feature different presenters. You do not have to have web access to join the calls. To get more information and to register for the calls simply follow the link below for the day(s) you wish to attend, go to: http://www.standingonthesideoflove.org/fridaycalls
New Resources for Congregational Stewardship and Giving "Giving & Generosity Set" includes: Giving-the Sacred Art, Lauren Tyler Wright The Abundance of Our Faith, Terry Sweetser & Susan Milnor Beyond Fundraising: A Complete Guide to Congregational Stewardship, Wayne Clark Get all three books-a $52.00 value-for only $45.00. Order UUA Book store item #7425, available at www.uuabookstore.org/productdetails.cfm?SKU=7425. useful Website links: http://www.uua.org/giving http://www.uua.org/cde/fundraising/ www.uua.org/spirituallife/worshipweb/ (search keyword: stewardship)
 Thanksgiving at The Mountain
Our 31st annual Thanksgiving weekend will be a simple and joyful holiday, as we gather in community to share our gratitude while making new memories. All are invited - singles, families, empty nesters and couples. Our abundant buffet feast this year will be featuring free range turkey, with the freshest of traditional trimmings, as well as delightful and healthy vegan and vegetarian options. We will have time in nature, time to tell stories, time to sing and time to reflect. Call (828) 526-5838 ext 0 for more information or visit our website at www.mountaincenters.org. The Thanksgiving flyer is at http://www.mountaincenters.org/2009_thanksgivingflyer.pdf and the registration form is http://www.mountaincenters.org/2009_thanksgiving_RegForm.pdf Thank you and we wish you a wonderful Thanksgiving, wherever you spend it!
 The Monthly Bulletin for Congregations is a collection of announcements and updates from the staff groups and committees of the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) of Congregations, and from the Church of the Larger Fellowship (CLF). This bulletin is compiled by the UUA Office of Information & Public Witness, is posted on-line monthly and can be found in the Leaders' Library resources (search for Congregational Monthly Bulletin). Read the November 2009 Congregational Monthly Bulletin
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