UU News

Monthly Newsletter of

The Unitarian Universalist Church of Greensboro

An Intentional Liberal Religious Community   December, 2011  

Worship Services,  Join us for Service each Sunday

A new member signing will be held during the main service on Sunday, December 4. If you would like to become a member of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Greensboro on that day, please tell Rev. Eric Posa or the Membership Committee Chair Ann Dickinson at 674-2035 or ardpuppy2@aol.com. The next one will be held on January 8.

Invitation to session after December 4th Service 

Throughout late October and early November, the UUCG Transition Team and I hosted a series of conversations on the history of our church, and its impact on us today. About 50 church members total participated in these sessions, which we called "Telling and Hearing Our Stories." While we began the process of sharing these stories in smaller groups, those groups were only the first step in this interim task of "coming to terms with our history."

The second phase is for those of us initially gathered separately, to come together and hear our varying, sometimes divergent perspectives on the stories of our church's history. This work begins the first Sunday of December, Dec. 4. That morning, at the 11:00AM worship, I will share the pulpit with the members of our Transition Team, for a worship service I am calling "Understanding Our Stories." ("Understanding" has a dual meaning - "insight," but also "accepting" - and both meanings apply to how we seek to engage these stories.) We will focus on a few of the themes that bubbled up from our conversations, and consider what they might mean for us going forward.

But that consideration cannot grow solely from a one-sided presentation from the pulpit. It must include dialogue, an exchange between us all. So we invite you to stay, following worship that Sunday, for a time of conversation. We will take some time to reflect in small groups on the content of what we have heard from the pulpit, then have a large-group conversation focused not on content, but on process. In other words, we will consider together how we, as a church, might move forward from this newly-shared understanding of our history. Snacks and childcare will be provided; we hope you will join us on Dec. 4.

Expressions

From Rev. Eric Posa

What does it mean for the Unitarian Universalist Church of Greensboro to be a Unitarian Universalist church? There is no single answer to that question. Unitarian Universalism is a complex, multi-faceted religious tradition, with a particular history and a sometimes ambiguous role in the larger community of faith. What does it mean for us to be a church of covenant, not creed - and to be a (theologically) liberal religious congregation? What is our relationship to the Christian religious tradition? (Some say that any statement, which attempts to describe the relationship between UUism and Christianity...will be debated. I've seen much evidence to support that claim.) Here in Greensboro, we are not the only liberal religious presence - there are Friends ("Quaker") meetings, Reform synagogues, United Church of Christ (UCC) churches, and some Episcopal, Presbyterian, Baha'i, and other congregations with a strong liberal bent, both theologically and socially. Plus, there is now a second UU congregation in Greensboro. How does NOT being the only liberal religious presence in Greensboro affect how we express our theological liberalism, and our commitment to social justice? As a UU congregation located in the South, in a medium-sized city, how are we similar to (and different from) UU churches in New England or the Pacific Northwest? From urban or rural UU congregations? As a mid-sized congregation, what do we have in common w/ large UU churches, or small ones?

These last couple of months, in these newsletter columns, I have explored the various developmental tasks that congregations face during interim times. The above questions relate closely to two of these tasks. One of them, discovering a new identity, I will explore next month. These questions also relate to the task of renewing denominational linkages. As my colleague in UU interim ministry, Rev. Larry Smith, notes, this renewal of ties to the UUA, or (in our case) to the Southeast District, "is not just for the benefit of the denomination, or even to reconnect in preparation for the ministerial search process, but for the congregation's greater good. Sometimes I have observed that members and committees of [a UU congregation] do not know that denominational resources exist to help the congregation through an issue.... Attending the district conference [and other UU events] is a way to remedy that. Besides, being in the room with hundreds of Unitarian Universalists...gives one perspective and the feeling that we are not isolated."

Indeed, we are not isolated, but one of over 1,000 congregations in covenant with one another as members of the Unitarian Universalist Association, and of over 70 congregations in the Southeast District. The services each of these religious bodies offer are important for us to note: from the Southern UU Leadership Experience (SUULE) taking place February 19-24 in Orlando, to the UUA Ministerial Settlement System which will help this congregation select its next called minister, to General Assembly (GA), the annual meeting of the UUA which takes place in late June of every year. This coming GA will be in Phoenix, and will have a special focus on justice issues involving immigration. Over the coming months, we will make a conscious effort to alert the congregation, especially any relevant lay leaders, of upcoming district and UUA events and programs, to equip our members to engage the ministry of this church, consistent with our mission, during this interim time and in the years to follow.

From the Board President Jim Kalinowski   

From the Director of Faith Development 

Here is what religious traditions from around the world do in December in honor of light:

• Jews celebrate the "festival of lights", or Hanukkah, (Dec.20-28).
• Pagans celebrate Yule, a welcoming back of the light on the solstice (Dec.21).
• Buddhists celebrate enlightenment on Bodhi Day (Dec.8).
• Christians celebrate the birth of Christ, or the "Light of the World" (Dec.25).
• The Ancient Inkas celebrated the Sun God on Dec.21.

Annual Pageant - more volunteers welcome!

5:00-6:00pm      "Bending Towards the Light: a Jazz Nativity" at West Market Street United Methodist Church (302 West Market Street)

The UUCG Choir invites you to experience the "Jazz Nativity." This annual, standing-room-only, community collaboration is a unique telling of the Christmas Story showcasing a combined choir of 70-80 voices, a 10-piece jazz band, singing shepherds, swinging instrumental arrangements of Christmas melodies, dancing spirits of Mary and Joseph, a narrator, a tender child soprano soloist and 3 wisemen who tap dance, play timbale drums and play trumpet. It is a joyous and engaging 1 hour production that weaves larger themes of the season (i.e. UU friendly) with contemporary styles of music along with costumes, dance and theatre. It is free, though an offering is collected. Beginning this year the Fellowship Committee has moved the start time of the Progressive Dinner to 7:00pm to better accommodate attendance of the "Jazz Nativity."

7:00-9:00pm      Progressive Dinners in the homes of UUCG members and friends

The progressive dinners are a wonderful opportunity to get to know other members of the congregation. Participants sign up to either host or attend a dinner and the host organizes the dinner. You will be contacted by the host to let you know what you need to bring to share for dinner. Please sign up in the foyer.

9:00ish pm        Hanging of the Greens Gathering at UUCG 

After the dinners , we will all gather back at the church for a Dessert buffet, a Festive carol sing-a-long led by Mark Freundt, and Café style entertainment sponsored by the Music Committee. You don't have to attend a dinner to come to the Hanging of the Greens. A fun time will be had by all!

Article written by Karen Madrone and Cindy Williams, Fellowship Committee and Mark Freundt, Director of Music

mUUsically Speaking 

Lowe's Foods Gift Card Fundraiser 

As an ongoing fundraiser we are selling Lowes Foods Gift Cards. These gift cards come in denominations of $25, $50, or $100. They spend like debit cards, you don't have to spend it all at one time. The church receives 6% of your purchases. If you shop at Lowes, even occasionally, this is an easy way to help out UUCG. 

They also make great gifts.

Look for Suzanne Deering to purchase yours.

Workshop on Depression in January 

Save the date for a workshop on Depression scheduled for Tuesday, January 24th from 7:00-9:00 PM, with refreshments served at 6:30 PM. This workshop, sponsored by the UUCG Lay Pastoral Care Associates and led by Sara Bobo of the Mental Health Association, will be held in the UUCG sanctuary.

Learn the symptoms of Depression so that you can help friends, family members and yourself to recognize these and know what to do to help.

A sign-up sheet is located on the LPCA Bulletin Board in the hall across from the kitchen door. Please register by signing the posted sheet or contacting Janet or Liz by January 22nd.

Janet Eley   eleyjanet@yahoo.com     or   Liz Harrell lizbd99@earthlink.net

Thanks!

Soles4Souls (Chellie Mason)

UUCG donated 103 pairs of shoes toward the Soles4Souls campaign. Churches in the area raised over 3,100 pairs. Some of the shoes will go to Greensboro Urban Ministry and the rest will be distributed around the world. Many of the persons receiving the shoes have never owned a pair. Thanks to all who contributed toward this cause.

Blood Drive (Chellie Mason)

UUCG slightly exceeded its goal of 28 productive donors at the blood drive on 11/14/2011 - we had 29, including two first time donors! Thanks to everyone who donated blood and even those who tried to donate. There were six persons whose iron content was too low to donate. We're going to work to get that count up before the next drive. Eat more beans!

And, a sincere thanks to all the others behind the scenes who made the drive possible - setting up the facilities, manning the registration table, donating snacks, and providing snacks and drinks to donors and staff.

Last Month's Board Activities

A motion was passed to "approve the fund raising event by the UU youth." The funds will be used to replenish their budget.

The board approved Nick Divitci as the Human Resources committee chair.

Rev. Posa stated that about 55 members have attended one of the "telling our stories" sessions. Further work will merge the separate stores into a full congregational vision.

At their October meeting, the board approved the nomination of Suzanne Deering to fill a vacant position on the board.

Birthdays this month 

Attendance and Collection

UUCG Covenant 

• 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

UUCG OFFICERS 

TRUSTEES

Michelle Lee (2012)                                                                                          nc.dogwood@yahoo.com
Breeze Dunham (2012)                                                                                       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  

Suzanne Deering (2012) 

UUCG STAFF

Congregational Contacts