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UU News
Monthly Newsletter of
The Unitarian Universalist Church of Greensboro
An Intentional Liberal Religious Community January, 2012
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Greetings!
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W elcome to the January edition of our church Newsletter!
We begin a new year with gratitude for the year gone by and with great anticipation for what's to come. Check out all the entertaining and educational activities we have to start the year right!
If you have any submissions for the newsletter or questions for the editor, please send them to commuucg@bellsouth.net.
Happy New Year!
Katie
Newsletter Editor
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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!
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Worship Services, Join us for Service each Sunday
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January 1st Journey of the Spirit Rev Holly Luz-Sullivan No 10am service
Our affiliated community minister, the Rev Holly Lux-Sullivan invites us to walk the labyrinth with our feet and with our spirits, allowing our souls to call us forth on the unique journey each of us is on.
January 8th Everything You Know about Church is Wrong Rev. Posa
A new member signing will be held during the main service on Sunday, January 8. 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 February 5.
Also on this Sunday, please bring in your "Guest at your Table" boxes!
January 15th Remembering MLK Rev Posa No 10am service
January 22 Stewarding our Treasures Rev Posa
January 29th The Morning Offering - A Religious Activity Nelson Stover
This sermon will focus on the religious and spiritual aspects of the portion of the Sunday worship service in which the morning offiering is received.
Unless otherwise noted we have 2 services each Sunday: our "Beginnings" Service at 10am which is a mulitgenerational offering, and our "Traditional" service at 11am where the topics listed above will be shared. |
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Expressions
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Expressions is a short service on Wednesday nights at 7pm where we explore the intersection of the arts and spirituality
January 4th -- Mark Freundt -- Bells
January 11th -- Steve Andrews -- Guitar & Vocals
January 18th -- Mike Conners -- Celtic Harp
January 25th -- Mark Freundt & Friends -- 4 Hand Piano!
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From Rev. Eric Posa
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You may have noticed over the last few months, as I've discussed the various interim ministry tasks in these newsletter columns, that they've come in a different order than I originally listed them in one of my first columns, how they are traditionally sequenced. I skipped one - discovering a new identity for the church. (I skipped it for a reason, which I'll explain shortly.)
Each church has its own, unique identity. Some parts of that identity remain consistent over time, while others change. Many factors influence that identity: the church's larger community, its history, denominational affiliation, and so on. Ministers generally have some impact (albeit to varying degrees) on the identity of a church. The personality, length of tenure, theological perspectives, strengths, and growing edges of a settled minister impact a congregation's sense of who they are as a collective religious body. When a settled minister leaves, the church has an opportunity to reflect on its sense of itself. Some qualities of the church in recent years may have been closely tied to its previous minister, while other qualities are fairly independent. Of those more associated with the last minister, a few have woven themselves into the life of the church in ways that make it good to continue them, while others can change. During this interim period, we can examine this identity, explore possible changes to it, and clarify this renewed sense of who the church is, going into its new settled ministry.
In many churches, the clearest expression of this identity comes through what I call the "core statements" - mission, covenant, vision, and (in some cases) core values. Two of these deserve special focus, as they're often confused with one another: mission, and vision. A mission is what the church has decided, together, that it should do as a church. It's like when you're going to take a trip, and you're deciding which way to go. A mission statement is like the directions for whichever way we choose; it tells us what we decided to do, which roads to follow. We follow what our mission tells us to do, just like we'd follow the directions. And no minister, no one person of any kind, can tell us what our mission should be; we all figure it out together.
If our mission statement says what way we're going, then the vision statement tells us where we want to end up. In other words, it's what we want the church to be like in a few years, if the church does the things our mission statement tells us to do, and does them well. It's like a description of the church, but with one difference. It's how we would describe the church a few years in the future; what we hope the church will be like. That's a good thing to know, because it gives us a goal to work toward. If we say, "We hope to be like that," then it's even easier to know what we should do each day, and each week and month. When we try to achieve our vision, to live into it, we do the things that will help us become the kind of church we want to be. So, if we could see that church of the future off on the horizon, at the end of the road, we could see where our road is leading, and that helps us keep going in the right direction, even when the actual path forward becomes unclear for awhile.
UUCG has a mission statement and a covenant, though not a vision statement nor a set of articulated core values. Moreover, in the "Understanding Our Stories" discussion that followed our Dec. 4 worship, several members expressed a willingness to revisit our core statements. Indeed, the purpose for skipping this interim task in the newsletter a couple months ago, was to wait for it to arise in the life of the congregation as a live issue. It seems that time is coming now. So stay tuned over coming weeks for more discussion of our church's statements of identity, and exploring who UUCG understands itself to be, as it moves into the future.
See you in church!
In faith,
Rev. Eric Posa |
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From the Board Vice President Vance Archer
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Celebrating Endings and Beginnings
The month of December has served us with its many faceted celebrations of transition. We've taken special note of the Solstice that has marked longest night and the cold of winter since Neolithic times. We've celebrated the Christian festival of the Advent that culminates with the birth of Jesus, and the Christ's Good News, the Hanukkah festival of lights, and finally the New Year's promise of new beginnings.
Our celebration of transition has had a special meaning for me this year. My 91 year old father is preparing for that longest night transition and has moved to town to be closer to my family during his last years. As a strong Christian, he is comfortable with death and I was reminded of that tonight when his blood pressure soured to 260 and he reminded me of his wishes not to be resuscitated should the medical incident we were in become worse. The hospital was successful in giving my dad more time to live in this world and to get to know his grandchildren and great grandchild. I got to be there as he faced death and the unknown fearlessly and prayerfully with open acceptance.
As a congregation, we're in a season of transition in our own cultural evolution and history. Our church is moving in a cycle common to many institutions as they ebb and flow and move through cycles of human participation and leadership. These cycles are important to their vitality and development, keeping them refreshed with new ideas and direction. Seasons of life are best embraced by individuals and their institutions.
Like my father's recent brush with his final transition, our future as a living breathing church is to be faced fearlessly and embraced. I look forward to moving with you into a new year and a new season of growth, understanding and commitment for our congregation.
And we're no ordinary human organization; we're part of a movement with a vision and understanding that our whole world needs eventually to share. Our shared 7 principles and historical reliance on living in covenanted relationship need to find expression within every belief system shared by humans in our shared world. We can accomplish this if we embrace our season of transition with openness and shared dedication to covenant, the community we live in, and our shared search for meaning and answers to the seasons of life.
Vance Archer
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Donations needed for Auction!
|  The Cabaret Auction date is set!
Mark your calendars for Saturday, March 10th, 2012.
To make this fundraiser a success, we need your help! Please consider donating something to this fun-raising and fund-raising event. Here are some suggestions for you think about: - Host an event - dinner at your house, outing to a museum or vineyard, a games night
- New or very gently used items of good quality and good value - jewelry, electronics, decorative items
- Handmade items - paintings, woodwork, jewelry, knitting, baked goods
- Services - lawncare, babysitting, dog-walking, car washing, tutoring
- Large items (this is a new category) - furniture, sports equipment
To donate, fill out a donation form in the church lobby and leave it in the box. Can't wait to see what treasures await us this year! |
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International Dinner
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SAVE THE DATE!
INTERNATIONAL DINNER
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2012
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Introduction to UU Class
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Come ask questions, share your stories, hear an introduction to the UU faith and discuss the meaning of membership in this two hour class led by Rev. Eric Posa and Marie Houck. The class will be held in the library, (formerly Julie's office), and will start shortly after the service on Sunday, February 12.
While this class is intended for visitors, newcomers, people considering becoming members and new members,  interested members may also attend. A light lunch will be provided. Please sign the sign-up sheet in the hallway or RSVP to Membership Committee Chair Ann Dickinson at ardpuppy2@aol.com or 674-2035. Childcare will be provided for those who request it by January 29.
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Regular Events
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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, January 9th
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, January 30th
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, January 30th
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 5:00 pm until 7:00pm. All are welcome. Please contact Bill Haney, facilitator for an appointment.
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From our Nominating Committee
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At our annual meeting in May, the congregation will elect a new President, Vice President, two Board of Trustees members, and one member of the Endowment Committee. In January and February, the Nominating Committee will be identifying members to run for these offices. We are seeking members of the congregation who will provide strong leadership to help UUCG continue to make changes in our governance and culture to enhance the health of the congregation and help prepare us for a new settled minister.
If you have a desire to serve the church, know someone who does, or if you have recommendations for others, please contact a member of the committee and/or fill out one of the nomination forms that will be at the church on Sunday mornings in January and February.
On the fence? Thinking about running but wonder what serving on the Board is like? Talk with one of our current Board members; their names and photographs are on the bulletin board in the hall outside the kitchen. Talk with someone who has served in the past. You'll hear what a rewarding and, yes, at times challenging experience it is. Service to the congregation is an important way that we act on one of the 7 UU Principles, "the use of the democratic process within our congregations."
In addition, nominations for the Nominating Committee will be made from the floor and elected at the May meeting, so be thinking of and talking with people you believe would be effective members and willing to serve in that capacity.
Thank you for your help in assuring that UUCG has strong leadership in the coming year,
Dottie Borei (852-3608; drvborei@gmail.com)
Sue Cole (854-3346; suelyle@bellsouth.net)
Lauren Houck (542-5547; houck.lauren@gmail.com)
Betsy Lindsey (854-0730; betsylindsey1@gmail.com)
Cindy Williams (674-0535; cmmrw@triad.rr.com)
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Peanut Butter Alert!
| Thanks to everyone at the Unitarian Universalist Church who contributed to the 49 pounds of peanut butter collected last month for the Greensboro Food Bank. Let's keep up the good work for the next month.
THANKS,
Becky Floyd
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Food Drive
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The 2nd - 5th grade RE will be having a foo d drive for people who need food. Please bring canned foods and non-refrigerated foods to church. We are collecting in the Emerson Room in the RE hall. This is the second classroom. If you have any questions, please see Michael Puzio or Logan Hamilton. Some suggestions are beans, green beans, snacks, and vegetables. Thank you for your support.
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Adult Religious Education Winter & Spring Offerings
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We have a number of opportunities to participate in Adult RE starting this Winter. Here are a few of them:
Here I Stand, Nelson Stover's adaptation of Building Your Own Theology, starts the week after the Super Bowl. It will run on Sunday afternoons for 10 weeks. Don't miss this opportunity to examine your own beliefs with others.
We will start a forum series in late January. The concept is to take an interesting topic from religion, society, politics, or anything else we find intriguing and take an hour or so to discuss it with a few other UUs. The Forum will run most Sundays from 9:45-10:45.
Compassionate Communication will meet monthly on Sundays and Thursdays. These sessions will build on the work begun last Fall. The core group plan to continue exploring the work of Marshall Rosenberg. They are open to all, both those who had the previous class and those new to this practice.
Harvest the Power; this is a Leadership Development curriculum developed by the UUA as part of the Tapestry of Faith program. There will be three all day Saturday sessions offered. The first will be in late January or early February with the others to follow every couple of months.
There will be other opportunities as well. If you are interested in any of these, or if you have an idea for a class, please contact Steve Pearsall, Laura Graham, or Sue Beck.
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Lowe's Foods Gift Card Fundraiser
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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.  |
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Congregational Culture Task Force
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Congregational Culture Task Force Meeting
Sunday, December 11, 2011
9:00 am
Since we have been focusing on learning the process of Compassionate Communication during weekly sessions since September, we have not held regular meetings. However, we feel that we have made significant progress towards meeting our Board charge of "improving the cultural climate at UUCG and to insure that improvements are sustained." The majority of the nine task force members in attendance felt that there was a new awareness in the congregation of attempts to deal with our conflicts in more positive and supportive ways. We realize that we may continue to have issues of communication and involvement. However, now we are better aware of the process for continued depth and growth required to become a significant liberal religious institution in our community.
Eighteen members of the congregation completed the twelve-week Compassionate Communications classes. From statements made on the evaluation, it was felt that the process may help us in times of conflict (if we practice it), it will help to build community, and we may become kinder/gentler, but the impact would be minimal unless more congregants learn to use it. Therefore, plans will be forthcoming on providing future introductory sessions. Past participants plan to continue monthly practice sessions.
To bring us further along our path to meeting our Board charge, we expect to send a team of up to six task force members and congregants to a training series on Healthy Congregations which will be conducted by our Southern UU Leadership Experience. Upon completion in April of this extension of our own study of the Healthy Congregation systems approach done in October and November of 2010, we foresee bringing to the Board specific plans for completing our charge.
Our next meeting will be held on January 22, 2012, at 9:00 am.
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Workshop on Depression
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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
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Governance Task Force Update
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Governance Task Force continues to explore various areas of UUCG's existing organizational structure and has made significant progress toward recommending key changes on a temporary ad hoc basis in 2012. The goal of these changes will be to evaluate their impact on achieving our mission, collaboration, and accountability. We are grateful for the involvement of our interim minister, as well as input from other UUCG staff, lay leadership and the congregation at large. The work of GTF has been informed by recommendations from the Alban Institute Report and the conceptual model of shared ministry set forth in Dan Hotchkiss' book Governance and Ministry. Below are major areas of focus and steps taken.
Leadership Development- Kudos go to the Leadership Development subcommittee of the Nominating Committee for supporting this endeavor through Harvest the Power, an excellent leadership development curriculum from the UUA. The first session of four was held in October, attended by board members, GTF members and others in leadership roles. More details about upcoming workshops will be forthcoming.
UUCG's organizational chart- Preliminary charts (in a detailed and simpler form) have been developed, and are being evaluated. We are carefully weighing proposed changes regarding boundaries and lines of accountability as to their effectiveness in coordinating efforts to accomplish our congregation's mission.
Membership- The plan is to promote fruitful consideration of what responsibilities go with membership, as well as the responsibilities and advantages of other categories of involvement with our faith community.
Institutional Memory - Good progress has been made in preserving and organizing documentation of congregational history and a process for continuing this work is being created.
The goal of GTF is to articulate our recommendations in time for the January meeting of the Board so they will have time to review them before in depth discussion at a GTF/Board retreat on February 25. Jim Kalinowski, Board President, earlier invited feedback on possible revisions to our current By Laws, which are available on our church website under Friends/Members/Governance or via http://www.uugreensboro.org/friendsmembers/governance.html. Comments and suggestions can still be sent to sharinfrancis@hotmail.com .
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Last Month's Board Activities
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The board passed the motion "The congregational administrator will accept the highest bid for the timeshare properties received as of January 9" thus eliminating any bid minimum.
The policy on accepting non-pledge donations was modified and then accepted by the board.
The executive committee, with the possible assistance of Suzanne Deering, will perform the mid-year interim minister evaluation.
Marilyn Clayton was approved as co-chair of the Music committee.
A process for making draft minutes of board meetings available earlier to the congregation was approved.
The board tabled until next month, the decision to authorize lay members to perform weddings under the auspices of UUCG.
The board decided that $8,500 from the sale of the Bob Wall property, which has been mingled with the general fund, will be moved to the Endowment Fund and the Long Term Maintenance Fund in $1,000 increments from each bank lease payment.
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Birthdays this month
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Susan Andrews
Eric Cook
Dave Garson
Jac Grimes
Jason Grimes
Guy Gunn
Xoey Kelly
Bill Lowrey
Janna Melsness
Mildred Owens
Abigail Pearson
Mariela Perez-Simons
Kay Radebaugh
Dakota Sponner
Rod Swonguer
LeAnn Weih.
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Attendance and Collection
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Worship Counts
Adults Youth Collection
11/27/11 153 Intergen Service $1,490.13
12/04/11 162 24 $3,297.46
12/11/11 No Count taken 19 $1,942.00
12/18/11 158 Christmas Pageant $1,385.56
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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
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TRUSTEES
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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)
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UUCG STAFF
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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) |
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Congregational Contacts
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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 & Marilyn Clayton
Nominating Committee Sue Cole & Betsy Lindsey
Policies and Procedures Michelle Lee
Social Action Committee Ken Knight
Green Sanctuary Sue Cole, Elaine Stover
GLBTQ Karen Madrone
Worship Committee Barbara Hands
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