|
UU News
Monthly Newsletter of
The Unitarian Universalist Church of Greensboro
An Intentional Liberal Religious Community October, 2011
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Greetings!
| 
Welcome to the October edition of our church Newsletter!
This month you'll find our newsletter packed with treats both "sweet" and "spooky". This month we've got some great guest sermon speakers, several new adult RE offerings, as well as many opportunities to just come together with your favorite ghouls and goblins!
If you have any submissions for the newsletter or questions for the editor, please send them to commuucg@bellsouth.net.
Have have great October!
Katie
|
|
Liberal Religious Community
|  ALL ARE WELCOME IN THIS CHURCH
Distinctions of power, privilege, and estate, which apply outside these doors, do not apply within them. Women, men, and children; persons of any color, culture, age, ability, economic status, or affectional orientation; skeptics and those pursuing common or unorthodox religious paths...
All Are Welcome Here!
|
|
|
|
|
Worship Services, Join us for Service each Sunday
| Sunday, September 25 marked the first "Beginnings" worship service at UUCG.
Beginnings is designed as a starting point for learning about Unitarian Universalism and is especially accessible for families with younger children. For 30 minutes, each Sunday at 10 am, we will share songs and a story relating to one of our seven principles as well as the joys and sorrows in our own lives. We are grateful for the opportunity to support new generations in their spiritual journey while nurturing the future of our faith tradition with this engaging worship experience.
Traditional Service 11am
October 2 "Days of Awe" Rev. Eric Posa
October 9 "Vitreous Floaters: To a Dancing God" Rev David Johnson. Guest Minister
Author Sam Keen observes, "Once upon a time there was an unchanging God who was king over an orderly world. Then something happened. Some say God died. So what is there left to trust?" In our secular age, how might we re-claim wonder and reverence -- for all that is our life?
October 16 "Coming Out to Hope" Rev. Eric Posa and the UUCG GLBTQ group
October 23 "Perspectives on Community" Steven Reinhartsen
October 30 "Samhain: When the veil is thin." Jac Grimes
Alert! Please dress in your best spooky, creepy, pretty or funny costume so you can take part in the Costume Parade during the Oct 30th service!
|
|
Expressions
| |
Expressions is a 25 minute service on Wednesday nights where the Music Committee helps us explore the connections between the arts and spirituality. Join us this month to enjoy the offerings by these friends and members:
October 5th: Vance Archer
October 12th: TBD
October 19th: Greg Eldred
October 26th: Mark Freundt and The Ezermans
|
|
From Rev. Eric Posa
| |
Reflections
I've spoken before about the "interim tasks" - the five developmental tasks that most every congregation faces during a time of transitional, or interim, ministry. Over the next few months, in the columns of this newsletter, I hope to share with you some more about each of these tasks, one each month, and particular aspects of this church that may relate to it.
One of these tasks - and often the first one to be addressed - is for the church to "come to terms" with its own history. "The interim period is a time to celebrate a congregation's success and joy," notes interim minister Rev. Bonnie Bardot, "but also a time, if the members are willing, to deal with the painful stories from the recent or distant past that haunt a congregation and keep it from functioning at its best." Both sides of this historical examination are equally important. We do ourselves no good by self-aggrandizing our church, and self-deprecation of the congregation is equally problematic. Owning our sorrows, hurts, and angers - whether 6 months old or 6 decades old - help us to understand their influence on how we have worked together in the time sense, thus better equipping us to limit their negative impact on our future. Honoring our joys and triumphs highlights the congregational strengths on which we can build to move forward even more effectively together.
In UUCG, which has just celebrated its 60th anniversary, we have a rich history, filled both with joys and sorrows. From its beginnings as a small, lay-led congregation, UUCG has grown to a vibrant, mid-sized congregation with full-time professional ministry, a history of positive engagement in local issues of social justice, and a music program that is unanimously beloved. At the same time, there have been difficult partings with some past settled ministers, past struggles within the choir, and the recent pain of a church split.
As I've said before, coming to terms with these, and with other past events, is not simply about knowing our history, but to evaluate our legacy - those elements of our past that still impact us in the present, and can continue to affect our future (for better or worse) in ways we may not intend, unless we reflect intentionally on them together.
During the month of October, you will begin hearing announcements of upcoming gatherings to meet together and share the joys and struggles of our past, in an intentional way. The goal will be to create safe space for us to share our perspectives on the distant and recent past, and to hear the diversity of perspectives on our history and legacy. Please stay tuned for more details; we hope you will join us.
On a different note, I'm pleased to report that UUCG now has a formal relationship with another UU minister. Rev. Holly Lux-Sullivan was ordained to the ministry in August, at the Eno River UU Fellowship in Durham. She has begun serving as a chaplain at Moses Cone Hospital here in Greensboro. Rev. Lux-Sullivan has just affiliated with UUCG as a "community minister," to provide her a formal relationship with a UU church, to be in relationship with the UUA congregation closest to her place of service. As our affiliated community minister, she will meet monthly with a support team of UUCG members and friends (Stephanie Blake, Leslie Kalinowski, Julie Potts, and Steve Reinhartsen). In return, she will preach twice per year for us, and be "on-call" for pastoral care emergencies when I am out of town. Plus, whenever any of us, or our loved ones, are patients at Moses Cone, we can feel confident in seeking out a chaplain, that we will have a UU chaplain available to us. While we will not see Rev. Lux-Sullivan regularly on Sundays - she retains her membership in the UU Congregation of Hillsborough - I trust Rev. Lux-Sullivan's ministry will enrich our congregation.
|
|
From the Board President Jim Kalinowski
|
 To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under the sunIn this case, the season I'm thinking about is Nominating Season. Our Nominating Committee is hard at work preparing for this season. They will also be offering leadership training for those who think this might help them prepare to undertake a leadership role in the congregation. I do understand the reluctance to get involved in "church politics". But, this is how we govern our church. We have no hierarchy to tell us what to do (Just think how frustrated they would be!), we are self governing. If something isn't working, we can't point at an outside source, we can only look to ourselves. I will tell you that I recently asked Board members how they felt about work on the Board. They responded that they believed the work to be meaningful, to be worthwhile. I won't pretend that the work is easy. There is a lot of material to read and consider. There are, at times, difficult decisions to be made. There is also a sense of satisfaction in knowing how important this work is to our community. So, if a member of the Nominating Committee approaches you about serving on the Board as a Trustee or an officer, I ask that you give it active consideration. Our community may succeed today without you but the community of tomorrow needs new leadership to remain an active force for good in the wider community we seek to serve. In covenant, Jim Kalinowski
|
|
Adult Religious Education
| |
This year we have a number of offerings in our Adult RE program. There are three different Compassionate Communication classes currently running on Thursday nights and Sunday mornings (these are already full).
On September 25 we will begin a series of book discussions starting with the Death of Josseline, immigrant stories from the Arizona Desert. This book was selected by the Unitarian Universalist Association for a common read leading up to General Assembly 2012 in Arizona. For more info on this book, see
http://www.uua.org/religiouseducation/multigenerational/read/josseline/index.shtml
There will be other discussions to follow.
We have a number of other offerings coming up later this Fall and next Spring. In addition to our traditional offerings, we would like to expand to other areas. Examples might include practical skills (Making a home budget, resume writing, etc...), artistic skills like painting or origami, physical disciplines like Yoga or T'ai C'hi, or whatever we want. If you have interest in any of these or ideas for others, please contact Steve Pearsall, Laura Graham, or Sue Beck.
Schedule so Far:
Compassionate Communication (RE 4-5)
Thursday September 1 - Thursday November 20 7:00-9:30 PM
Sunday September 4 - Sunday November 24 8:30-10:00 AM
Book Discussions September 25-December 18 (Frank Lloyd Wright - RE 1)
Death of Josseline: Chellie Mason, September 25-October 16 9:00-10:00
Steven Reinhartsen, Various Topics for Discussion October 23-November 13 9:00-10:00
Marshall Rosenberg Nonviolent Communication Video, 4 Sundays starting late November 9:00-10:00
Upcoming offerings
Tapestry of Faith
(see http://www.uua.org/religiouseducation/curricula/tapestryfaith/)
Harvest The Power - 12 - 2 hour sessions
Dates, Times and Leaders TBD per Nominating Committee
New UU - 6 - 90 minute sessions
Dates, Times and Leaders TBD per Membership Committee
Spirit in Practice - 10 - 1 hour sessions
Dates, Times and Leaders TBD (Possibly Spring 2012)
Here I Stand
Nelson Stover Sunday Afternoons February 12 - April 1, 2012
This is Nelson's Adaptation of the Here I Stand Curriculum.
|
|
Donate Peanut Butter
| 
Thanks to everyone at the Unitarian Universalist Church who contributed to the 55 pounds of peanut butter collected for August 2011 for the Greensboro Food Bank. Let's keep up the good work for September.
|
|
mUUsically speaking
|
Editor's note: mUUsically speaking is a new occasional series by the Music Committee where they can share the events, inspirations and insights of the musical life around our church.One of the great joys of being in our choir is attending our annual retreat - September 23rd and 24th this year.  We arrived at St. Francis Springs Prayer Center near Stoneville in Rockingham County, our third time there. Father Louis is always welcoming and gracious. We were given our room keys on bracelets and we checked into our rooms in one long hallway where silence was requested.
The rooms were large with huge windows that overlook a beautiful landscape. Some of us walked the trails along the brook on 140 acres of rolling terrain during free time.
Father Louis always invites us to sing a prayer before mealtimes. He enjoys our music. He'd be seen working in the kitchen singing bits of what we sang. We sang to the volunteers and other retreatants included in our large circle of friendship.
The food at the center is always healthy, plentiful, and tasty. This is the time to chat with choir members and getting to know each other better, thus strengthening our bond. At Coda we shared the drinks and snacks we brought and enjoyed our good time together.
Most of our time was spent in five or six rehearsals where our fearless leader Mark Freundt presented new music. By Saturday evening's final rehearsal we had fine-tuned the songs. Mark brought Karla the Keyboard to accompany us while he so ably directed us.
The theme of this retreat was "Love and Compassion." Each of us found a piece of Mother Nature and placed it in the glass chalice where a votive candle was lighted during our Saturday worship service in the Chapel. Mark read inspirational writings and we participated in circle activities. Later in our rehearsal hall we wrote our thoughts about love and compassion, worked in small groups and presented them to our larger group. We read our choir covenant in unison which reminded us what love and compassion truly is.
Saturday afternoon Rev. Eric Posa met us in the Chapel where we discussed the history of our choir and how we see the choir as a strong support in our church community. The rest of the time we socialized, read, napped or practiced yoga.
At our final rehearsal Saturday evening we evaluated what we did at the retreat. We packed up and left Father Louis and the prayer center with warm memories of the time we shared in music and fellowship.
Submitted by Janet Plummer
|
|
From the Worship Committee
| |
You might have noticed a new notation in the weekly Order of Service that identifies each week's Worship Committee Liaison. If you did, you might be asking "What is that all about?"
This person will be there to make sure the Sunday service runs smoothly. He or she will be the official representative of the Worship Committee and is there to help if problems arise for the speaker or service leader (or to fill in for the service leader if a last minute cancellation was necessary), to locate missing items or troubleshoot problems, to help the ushers if needed, etc.
And, in the spirit of transparency and openness in the governance of UUCG, the Worship Committee wants to make sure that there is an avenue through which you can share your thoughts about the worship services. The Worship Committee works very closely with Rev. Posa and is his conduit to the nuts and bolts of each service. If, for instance, you have ideas or comments to share in this regard, wish to volunteer on Sunday mornings in some capacity or have an idea about a speaker for Rev. Posa's days off, the person listed in the OOS is the proper person to speak to. However, if you have ideas and thoughts to share with Rev. Posa about the content of his sermon, please engage him directly. He loves to and is quite willing to debate ideas.
|
Regular Events
|
Feeding the Hungry at Urban Ministries
On the first Monday of each month a group of volunteers from our church shop for and cook a meal for the homeless at Urban Ministries. We are in the process of building a new team to carry out this important project. If you would like to be part of the action, contact Ken Knight at oldpeacenik@gmail.com or at 288-0103.
Men's Night Out, Monday, October 10
Join us at our next at Men's Night Out beginning at 6:00 p.m. at Ham's Restaurant on Wendover and Hwy 68 (5840 Samet Drive).
Ladies' Night Out, Monday, October 31st
The last Monday in October is Halloween. The ladies have voted to have Ladies' Night Out that evening. It's at 6:30 at the Saigon Restaurant at the corner of High Point Road and Merritt Drive. A room is reserved for our group. The Vietnamese cuisine is tasty; the fellowship is delightful; the humor is uplifting and the conversation is enlightening. Newcomers are welcome. Please contact Mary Davis (586-0188) or Janet Plummer (294-6364) if you plan to attend this evening of laughter and good food.
Men's Night Out 2, Monday, October 31st
A second Men's Night Out is held the last Monday of each month. We will meet at the Applebees at 3200 Battleground Ave at 6 p.m. for dinner and fellowship.
Healing Touch Circle
A new group calling itself the "Healing Touch Circle" will offer energy healing at the church on the first and fourth Wednesday's of each month for all who wish it. We will be available from 6 pm until 7:30pm. All are welcome. Bill Haney, facilitator Morning Yoga with Phoenix Harmony Beginning October 16th. 9:45am for 7 weeks Tone the body, calm the nervers, free the mind, fred the soull -- all in a half hour of Level I YOGA. Meet in the 6/7 RE rooms (Emerson). Dress to move and bring a yoga mat. Space is limited to 7. Signing up commits you to all 7 weeks. Look for the sign up sheet on the church bulletin board. Phoenix Harmony, CYT 855-8018
|
|
Fall Workday
| Can UUs change a lightbulb?
Come to UUCG's Fall Workday on Saturday October 15 where you can see and help UUs taking care of our church home. Everyone is welcome to come share in fellowship while we take care of the many little tasks that need regular attention. The coffee will be available beginning at 9 a.m. Feel free to stop by anytime to work for a few minutes or for the rest of the day. A short worship service at 11:30 will be followed at noon by a simple lunch of soup and bread. Keep your fingers and toes crossed for great weather and be a part of our clean-up, pretty-up and fix-up efforts!
Yes we can!
For more information, contact Merritt Wayt (Building and Grounds) at 288-2050 or waytnsea@yahoo.com
|
|
New Member Signing Opportunity
|
 For those of you who are ready to "take the plunge" and become a member of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Greensboro, October 2 is your chance. We will be holding a special signing ceremony for anyone wishing to become a member that day. Want to join but can't make it that day? Don't worry. If you are ready, you may join at any time by signing "the book" in the presence of our minister, Eric Posa, or anyone of our board members. Questions? Contact Co-chair of the Membership Committee Ann Dickinson at 674-2035 or ardpuppy2@aol.com.
|
Attraction Books
|
ATTRACTION BOOKS ARE HERE
UUCG will be selling Attraction Books for Greensboro and Winston-Salem again this year. Starting in September look for our table outside. We will sell these books to earn the money we donate to Shepherd's Center to help this organization with the services they provide for our community. Attraction Books have so many coupons that will save you lots of money while you are buying needed things or going out to have some fun.
|
Close the Gap Campaign
| |
As most of our members and friends know, UUCG adopted a deficit budget at our 2011 May Annual Meeting. We are still short $13,000 in the pledges needed to cover our current Annual budget. The Board of Trustees and the congregation's standing committees are sponsoring a "Close the Gap Campaign" during the Month of October. This Campaign will close this deficit and use money pledged beyond this target to replace some of the hours we had to cut from our staff this year.
To jump-start this process, several concerned members have offered $6,000 in Challenge Grants. Thus, during the month of October, supplementary gifts to the General Fund and additional pledges will be matched by these donors up to this limit.
Members and friends of UUCG have two ways to help Close the Gap. Everyone is invited to bring your checkbook to Church on October 2. During the service and for the rest of the month of October there will be ample opportunity for each of us to make a commitment to strengthen our church and to enliven our mission. Also, during October, canvass teams will be visiting members who have made pledges in past years and have not yet made a pledge for this year. These visits will provide an opportunity to listen to each other and to share ways to make the church stronger both financially and in its service to its members and the community.
By working together, we can "Close the Gap" and move towards a new era of financial stability for UUCG.
|
|
Thanks!
| THANKS to Bolling Lowrey, Jon Rousseau, Jean Laidlaw, and Becky Floyd for collecting 581 pounds of nonperishable food and $8.69 for the Greensboro Food Bank at the Food Lion on 4653 West Market Street on Saturday, September 17, 2011.
On September 5 15 volunteers from our church fed 85 residents of the Urban Ministries night shelter. Thanks to the church for financial support. Thanks to the cookie chefs.
|
|
Congregational Culture Task Force Meeting
| |
Beginning in September, The Congregational Culture Task Force is focusing on two opportunities for church members to meet to share methods to promote positive group interaction.
On September 17, Marie Houck led a seminar on Denise Goodman's book, Congregational Fitness which discusses healthy habits and basic skills that laypeople can develop to deal constructively with conflicts.
Weekly through September, October and November are three workshops to practice the skills of Compassionate Communication from the work of Marshall Rosenberg.
Additional classes and discussions will be offered later in the fall.
|
|
Last Month's Board Activities
| |
- The board approved Rev. Holly Lux-Sullivan as an affiliate community minister. She will be working as a hospital chaplain in Greensboro for the next year. A Community Minister Support Team will be formed.
- There will be a supplemental pledge campaign in October.
- The board will be hosting a "Breakfast with Santa" event on the Saturday after Thanksgiving.
- The resignation of Carolyn Crumpacker from the board was accepted.
|
|
Birthdays this month
| |
Mary Breeze, Charlene Collins, Catherine Cox-Carter, Linda Davis, Myra Anne Dean, Mary Alice Knight, Bolling Lowrey, Karen Madrone, Carol Michaelis, Wendell Putney, Mike Stoller, Theodosia Swain, Cindy Williams
|
|
Attendance and Collection
|
Adults Youth Collection  8/28/11 No count 21 $1,996.40
9/4/11 No count 23 $2,310.00
9/11/11 No count 23 $1,684.00
9/18/11 115 Intergenerational Service $2,199.00
9/25/11 130 38 $2,367.88
|
|
UUCG Covenant
| We, the members of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Greensboro, do covenant to:
- Promote a search for personal meaning, respecting individual truth in a community process of quest
- Speak and act with caring, courtesy and love thereby maintaining emotional, physical, and spiritual safety for all
- Support UUCG and denominational efforts with our resources
- Combat injustice while promoting equality
- Nurture our children on their spiritual journeys
- Hold ourselves to this covenant, especially during times of conflict and disagreement
|
|
|
TRUSTEES
| |
Michelle Lee (2012) nc.dogwood@yahoo.com
Breeze Dunham breeze1770@gmail.com
Stephanie Blake (2014) cicciblake@triad.rr.com
Myra Anne Geese Dean (2014) myraannegeese@yahoo.com
Steve Andrews (2013) sand3420@aol.com
Charlotte Hamlin (2013) chamlin1@triad.rr.com
|
|
UUCG STAFF
|
Reverend Eric Posa, Interim MinisterOffice Hours: Please call church office for appointments Office Phone: 856-0330, Cell: 508-7568 E-mail: uucgminister@bellsouth.netJulie Hamilton, Congregational AdministratorOffice Hours: Please call church office for appointments
Office Phone: 856-0330, Fax: 856-0384 E-mail: uucgadmin@bellsouth.netBeth Walden, Director of Faith Development Office Hours: Please call church office for appointments Office Phone: 856-0330, Fax: 856-0384 E-mail: dreuucg@bellsouth.net
Mark Freundt, Director of MusicOffice Hours: Please call church office for appointments Office Phone: 856-0330, Cell: 908-1103 E-mail: uucgdirmu@bellsouth.net Walter McCorey, SextonTuesday, Thursday, Saturday & Sunday (times vary based on needs). Cell Phone: 414-0163 (in case of building emergencies) |
|
Congregational Contacts
| |
Building and Grounds Merrit Wyatt
Care Team Suzanne Andrews & Joy Hamlin
Communications Committee Katie Klod
Newsletter Katie Klod
Website Mariella Perez-Simons
Congregational Culture Taskforce Laura Graham
Council of Committees Vance Archer
Denominational Affairs Chellie Mason
Endowment Fund Rob Cary
Fellowship Karen Madrone & Cindy Williams
Finance Committee Steve Pearsall & Mike Stoller
Annual Commitment Time (ACT) Vance Archer
Fundraising Charlotte Hamlin
Cabaret Auction Kay Radebaugh & Katie Klod
Governance Task Force Charlotte Hamlin
Labyrinth Steve Pearsall & Ken Williams
Lay Pastoral Care Associates Janet Eley & Liz Harrell
Lifespan Religious Education (RE) Laura Graham
Membership Ann Dickinson
Music Committee Sue Sherwood
Nominating Committee Nora Bird & Jac Grimes
Policies and Procedures Michelle Lee
Social Action Committee Ken Knight
Green Sanctuary Sue Cole, Elaine Stover
GLBTQ Karen Madrone
Worship Committee Barbara Hands
|
|
|
|
|
