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| Unitarian Universalist Church of Tampa | August 2011 |
| Rev. Dr. Sara Zimmerman, Minister | Katie Culbert, DRE |
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Save the Date!
Join us Sunday, Sept. 18, immediately following the service the dedication of our new Multi-Purpose Building! Everyone is invited to attend and celebrate this exciting event in the life of our church.
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Spaghetti Dinner and Game Night
Enjoy a delicious, homemade spaghetti dinner and stay to play board and card games. The fun starts at 6 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 20. Suggested donations for dinner: $8 for adults, $5 for children over 5 years, with a maximum donation of $20 per family. Children age 4 and younger are our guests. Proceeds go to the UUCT general fund.
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Come and join us on the Building and Grounds work day, August 13, 9-11 a.m. |
Our congregation is affiliated with the Unitarian Universalist Association an organization of more than 1,000 congregations in the U.S. and Canada. Our national headquarters is in Boston, Massachusetts. |
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Editors
Ron Hammerle
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Board of Trustees
Effective thru September 1, 2011 |
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 Minister's Musings
We've Got Two New
Names In The Family
I'm delighted to report we've got two new names in the family. Our district is now officially part of the "UUA Southern Region," and we have a new intern joining us for the coming church year, Roger Grugel.
The regional name became an issue in the recent past when it was mislabeled the "HallelUUjah Region" in a UU publication. As I understand it, some staff members who work for the Southern Region made up nicknames to call themselves. They have called themselves the "HallelUUjah" staff team.
During the recent General Assembly in Charlotte, delegates Rom Delacroix, Gene Pizzo, and Tempe Taudte from our congregation met with the Rev. Kenneth Hurto, Florida District Executive, and with the Rev. Terasa Cooley, the UUA Director for Congregational Life to discuss the misnaming issue.
Following the meeting, Rev. Hurto thanked the delegation and said he would work to ensure the correct name was reported in the future. He also indicated he would be pleased to accept an invitation to speak at our church in the near future. I will be working to confirm a date.
The Florida District is now one of four districts comprising the Southern Region of the Association. The Southern Region ranges from southern Virginia to Texas to Tennessee, and even includes the U.S. Virgin Islands. The other three districts include the Southeast, Mid-South, and the Southwestern Conference.
A New Intern Will Join Us
I was glad to have an initial meeting recently with our new, 2011 - 2012 intern, Roger Grugel. Roger will be doing full-time chaplaincy in a residency at Tampa General Hospital while also working part time with us. During July, he moved from Minnesota to Florida. He attended the UUCT Board Retreat and met with Bill Blymiller, the Chair of our Adult Religious Education Committee. Roger will begin his work with us in September.
Rev. Sara
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 From the President
Transformational Leadership
As A Spiritual Practice
In preparing to pass the torch of leadership to a new board next month, retiring UUCT Board of Trustees' president Rom Delacroix looks back on a remarkable year and to the future.
We are dreamers of possibilities.
No one person alone or a small group of leaders can know everything, have the clearest strategy, and identify the most coherent approach to problem solving. It takes a congregation to actualize a vision.
I am a strong believer in the theory of transformational leadership. James Burns has described it as a process in which "leaders and followers raise one another to higher levels of motivation and morality."
This motivation should inspire a sense of ownership within all of us. It should inspire followers to become leaders, and leaders to follow others. We must remind ourselves that we are all stewards of our church; we are all guardians of our movement's rich heritage, legacy, and Unitarian-Universalist faith. Transformational leadership is a spiritual practice that has energized my life, and it can energize us as a congregation.
As Board Members, we have the obligation to research, study, and suggest the course of action we believe will help us actualize our vision. In this light, we started the 2010-2011 year setting three bold goals:
- Enhance our shared sense of community
- Develop a center of excellence for liberal religious education
- Create a sense of abundance
Last fall, the Board unanimously recommended the approval of the Multi-Purpose Building plan, a contract with a builder, and financing for the project. On September 19, our congregation voted to follow those recommendations. Together, we took a leap of faith, exploring uncharted waters, believing that we could grow inwardly and outwardly and dream big dreams.
One year later (minus a day), our new Multi-Purpose Building will be dedicated.
Another Board responsibility is the financial integrity of our church. We are the stewards of your pledges and gifts. We take this responsibility extremely seriously. In a time of economic crisis, your generosity allowed us to balance the budget, keep all our employees, live our vision, and save money for future campus improvements. Thank you, everyone.
A Transformation
I am extremely proud of our congregation. We are shedding our self-imposed sense of scarcity, embracing a new culture of abundance, and adopting a unique "Yes, we can!" attitude.
Members of the Board wanted to develop strategies for effectively communicating with the congregation. We continued to strive for transparency, mutual trust, and respect.
With monthly "Conversations with the Board," impromptu meetings, and a variety of published and verbal reports, we kept information flowing freely with a shared sense of community. In the process, you helped us be a wiser decision making body.
We redesigned procedures for committee communications and updated our policy on building and grounds use, recognizing our need to be good stewards and keepers of what we've built. As James Luther Adams once wrote, "church is a place where you get to practice what it means to be human."
I am extremely grateful for the guidance, steadfast support, and care of Reverend Sara. We are truly blessed to have such a wonderful minister.
Merci for your trust and your solicitude.
In community,
Rom Delacroix
president@uutampa.org
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Building Dedication Set For Sept. 18
Following the Sunday service on September 18, we will dedicate the new Multi-Purpose Building in a ceremony on church grounds. All members and friends are invited to attend.
Former Board of Trustees' president Ed Benedict will host a short program of dedication, including choir music and a blessing by the Rev. Dr. Sara Zimmerman. Light refreshments will be provided following the ceremony.
A Perspective On Time
Completion of the building is the culmination of the efforts of many UUCT members, beginning in 2009 with a three-year capital campaign headed by Ara Rogers. Under the supervision of contractor Bill Reites, workers broke ground in January of this year. Fran Davin, Chair of the Constructin Committee acted as church liaison with Mr. Reites.
The finished building greatly increases our ability to house meetings and classes. An extra-large room can be divided into two separate spaces, using custom-designed, soundproof, sliding panels.
Other Highlights Noted
There are three other classrooms, two of which provide sinks and cabinets for younger children's use. In a teachers' lounge, the cabinets extend to the ceiling, offering much needed storage. Two adult bathrooms have large, ADA-accessible stalls, and two children's bathrooms have children's height toilets and sinks.
Full-length, storefront windows bring sunlight and eye-level views of the church's wooded grounds into every classroom, with skylights adding even more light in the reception area and lounge.
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 Justice In Phoenix: A 50 Year Opportunity
By Joan Lund
jlund@uua.orgOur National Board Trustee It was so good to see many of you at our General Assembly in June. I hope you experienced a rewarding, challenging, and fun time in Charlotte. My reflections about that may be found at www.uua.org, under "GA 2011." I plan to devote the next few issues of my column to Justice GA 2012, our next General Assembly, which will be held in Phoenix. It will be one of the most important gatherings in our 50+ year history. Numerous states are contemplating, or have passed, immigration laws as oppressive as Arizona's. These laws have impacted the ministerial work we do together. Training and education will be provided throughout 2012 and will hopefully have a big impact on justice work in congregations. The fact that our next general assembly will take place in Phoenix is positive, creating opportunities for making a difference in ways seldom seen. Many relationships have been formed, maintained, and expanded in recent years between UUA leaders in Arizona congregations and individuals and organizations in Arizona committed to immigration reform and human rights issues. These relationships are critically important to any work that occurs during the coming year and long after Justice GA 2012. Arizona Clergy Leader To Coordinate Action Rev. Susan Frederick-Gray, of the UU congregation of Phoenix, has accepted a key leadership role in the Arizona immigration effort. Susan, Rev. Harlan Limpert, Vice-President for Ministries and Congregational Support, Rev. Ken Brown and others are finalizing specific roles and responsibilities for those involved. Susan is widely respected as a minister, an outstanding spokesperson on justice issues, and a partner with Arizona congregations and other Arizona immigration groups and their leaders. The UUA already works with these groups and will continue to do so. For the fiscal year beginning July 1, the UUA has committed $150,000 towards an Arizona immigration fund. A collection was taken at Charlotte specifically for this fund. There is a real commitment to ensuring that Justice GA 2012 impacts UUA's justice work for many years to come. I hope you will be able to attend.
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Music, Music, Music
By Megan Fitzpatrick
Got music? If you love to sing and want to have more music in your life, come join the UUCT Choir!
We focus on a variety of musical styles where you might be able to find your favorite tunes or just have the great experience of learning music, regardless of your musical skills or knowledge. Although we have been on summer break, we are eager to begin the new choir season on Wednesday, August 31.
We perform three Sunday services per month. Rehearsals are Wednesday evenings from 7:15 - 8:45 and Sunday mornings from 10:00-10:45. No previous experience is required, and we will be happy to share our musical knowledge with you. If you love to sing, we would love to have you!"
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By Ruth Davis
Circles in the Woods CUUPS (Covenant of Unitarian Universalist Pagans) is a committee and Earth-centered spirituality group within the Unitarian Universalist Church of Tampa. Regular activities include a monthly administrative meeting and workshop, and Full Moon Celebrations on the Saturday closest to the full moon at 7:30 p.m. All are welcome.
July calendar includes:
August 7 12:30 p.m. -- Circles in the Wood CUUPS meeting and workshop
August 13 7:30 p.m. -- Full Moon Celebration - Osprey Suncoast Protogrove will present a Hellenic ritual in celebration of Athena's birth.
For more information go to Circles in the Woods CUUPS |
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Catch The Excitement By Katie Culbert
I can feel it. Can you? Can you feel the excitement about the upcoming year of Religious EXPLORATION? It is palpable.
We will have a beautiful new building for growing the minds, hearts, bodies and spirits of our members and guests. And we have many ways that YOU can contribute to this life-changing ministry.
Youth Ministry. Have you heard the awesome news about our youth program? This year we have the highest number of teens in our program in over a decade. Join our Youth Ministry team as a youth advisor, coming-of-age mentor or class co-teacher.
Social Justice. We have a new and exciting addition to our RE program this year-a monthly "Faith in Action" activity. Are you interested in social justice and community outreach? Join our Faith in Action team and co-lead social justice activities with the children and youth on the last Sunday of each month.
Tapestry of Faith. Can you get excited about co-teaching one of our religious education classes for children? We have opportunities for co-leaders in three classes: Pre-K; 1st - 3rd grade and 4th - 5th.grade. Each class has a team of three teachers, who rotate co-leading on 16 Sundays.
Pick up your copy of the 2011/2012 Children and Youth RE Handbook on the RE table outside the RE office in the big dome.
Save These Dates
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August 7, Sunday
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RE Volunteer Information Party. In the gazebo after service.
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August 14, Sunday
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Worship on Creating Youth Ministry Service. 11:00
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August 21, Sunday
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Parents Potluck Picnic (PPP) 12:15
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August 26 - 28, Fri-Sun
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Youth Advisor Training, Gainesville. For more information, see www.beaconyouth.org.
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August 28, Sunday
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RE Teacher Orientation and Training. 12:30 - 3:00
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September 11, Sunday
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Worship for All Ages: Water Communion 11:00
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September 18, Sunday
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First day of Religious Education 11:00 -- (No PPP)
New Building Dedication Ceremony 12:30
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September 25, Sunday
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Religious Education Open House (Date is tentative.)
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You can also follow Children's RE on . . .
Our Blog: Twitter: @UUKatie
www.uukatie.blogspot.com
Facebook: Unitarian Universalist Church of Tampa Religious Education Children & Youth, The RE Bulletin Boardfor ongoing information, handouts, and announcements about our UUCT family ministry.
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Pretty Crafty, Those UUs
A new group, including children 10 or older, for knitters, crocheters, jewelry makers, embroiderers, scrap bookers, and other crafters will begin in September once the new building is available for meetings. We can supply all the materials you will need to get started on knitting or crocheting.
The group will focus on sharing skills and ideas. People who do not know how to knit or crochet but would like to learn are welcome. In terms of goals, group members will work on individual projects but also contribute to a community project, which the group will decide upon. This project could be a lap robe for a member of our church community who is ill or some small articles of clothing to donate to a shelter. The possibilities are many.
A time for the group to meet has not been established but will be set once members have signed up. The meeting time will be one that is the most convenient for the majority of those attending. Anyone interested in crafting friendships along with projects may contact Liz Bleau.
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The new format is much harder for me to read. The problem is that each article is truncated with a link. When you click on a link, it opens up a web page with just that article. Then you have to go back, start reading the next article and click on the next link. This is a cumbersome process.
One way to make this more reader-friendly would be to put short lead-ins and links to all of the other articles after you clicked the link, so you don't have to keep going back.
I like the .pdf version because I can download it while online and read it while off line when I don't have access to the Internet (on an airplane, for instance).
Gene Pizzo
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 Spotlight: Joyce Formica This is the first of a new series about people in our congregation. Some you know well. Others you thought you knew. Still others do unheralded work behind the scenes. Our column will feature all. If you have someone you'd like to see in the spotlight, let us know.  Show Me The Money For nearly three decades, Joyce Formica has been the behind-the-scenes teller who accounts for all money coming into the church. Whether revenue comes as a pledge, cash in the offering basket, a bequest, an auction bid, or (more recently) as an automated clearinghouse digital transfer, Joyce has meticulously accounted for it since 1983. As accurate in history as in accounting, Joyce clarifies, "With the exception of a couple of years in the mid-1990s. They couldn't get anyone else to do it." "We used to track contributions with little sheets of paper," Joyce remembers. "Now it's all done by computer." Recalling her fears of computerized revenue reporting, she says, "It took me a while to learn the computer, and I'm still leery of doing something wrong, but as long as I'm working with our church software program and reporting to the treasurer, I'm comfortable." More Than Money But Joyce has done far more than follow the money. "I used to be the purchasing agent, buying housekeeping and office supplies, while also serving as Chair of the Care Committee." The latter is a job she still does "because they have not been able to find a replacement in the past two years. I send out greeting cards to members who are ill, compile lists of members who are in hospitals, nursing homes, or need a visit from the minister. Often people call me, or I hear about needs from friends, but I also monitor 'Joys and Sorrows' each week to find out who is in need of special care." With a history like that, you might expect that Joyce would have had little time for anything else at church, but you would be wrong. "I was a member of the Board of Trustees, served as chair of the Building and Grounds Committee, and am a long-time member of the Memorial Garden Committee." And where might you find Joyce on Sunday morning? She's that friendly person in the front office, helping early visitors and answering questions that no one else can. The next time you pass by, peek in and say: "We appreciate you, Joyce." |
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Director steps out on a ledge with atheist film
In a new film entitled "The Ledge," a man perches high above the city, ready to jump to save the woman he loves. "It's not the most original theme, but what is unusual," said writer/director Matthew Chapman, "is that its hero is an atheist," illustrating two themes close to Chapman's heart. "Religious intolerance is a bad thing and it is possible to be good without God." The film opened July 8th. Source: RNS (Religious News Service.)
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HOPE Listening For Unmet Needs
Hillsborough Organization for Progress and Equality
By Carol Partington
Are you or someone in your family looking for work? What type of challenges have you encountered? Do you or someone you know need more education, job training?
Are there other problems in our community that concern you more than jobs or unemployment at this time? When you talk with your friends and neighbors, what specific situations do you notice that illustrate inequities in our local systems?
As we prepare for this year's Listening Process, we are developing questions to uncover the problems we may work on in the 2011-2012 Research to Action Process. Your input now will help us have good House Meetings in September and October. We also want House Meeting hosts and facilitators in our congregation. If interested in learning more, please contact one of our HOPE Justice Team members.
HOPE's Jobs Committee had a successful visit July 14th with Bob Buckhorn, Tampa's new mayor. We established the beginning of a positive dialogue, and he has agreed to attend our Nehemiah Action in the spring.
We also are following up with HCC Senior Vice President Rob Wolf to monitor the progress on his commitments to develop three Fast Track Job Skill Certificate Programs and will meet with him again in early August.
UUCT's HOPE Investment Drive is now just over 2/3 of the way to our goal of $6,000. To date, we have 27 individuals or couples investing a total of $4,160. We'd like to have 40 or more UUs and friends to share the ownership of our justice work in HOPE. If you have not yet had the opportunity to invest, please send your check made out to HOPE, Inc., to Carol Partington at her home address, as soon as possible. A huge thank you to all who have sent investment checks in already.
Please mark your calendars for these important upcoming HOPE events:
- September 19 - Listening Process House Meeting Host Training, 6:30 pm
- Nov. 10-12 - DART Research to Action Advanced Leaders Training, Leesburg, FL
- November 14 - HOPE Annual Convention 6:30 pm
- December 12 - HOPE local Research to Action Training, 6:30 pm
If you have questions about HOPE or our Investment Drive, please contact Carol Partington, 813-985-9109, Judy Lane, 813- 901-9157, or Sharon Streater at HOPE at 813-221-4673.
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We Began The Journey. Now Let's. . .
Grow Our Dream
Dedication and Stewardship Sundays Kick Off An Exciting Fall
By Ed Benedict and Lee Bonta
This fall will be an exciting time for our congregation! On Sunday, September 18, we will dedicate our long-anticipated multi-purpose building. Two weeks later, October 2, we will celebrate Stewardship Sunday with a luncheon immediately following the service.
Stewardship Sunday will give each of us the opportunity to decide the part we will play in our church's affairs. Each of us will be asked to pledge our financial support for 2012.
Back To The Future
In 2009, we were encouraged to "Join the Journey" by contributing to the Capital Campaign that made our Multi-Purpose Building a fiscal and physical reality. Now, think of the next step in that "Journey" as a program to "Grow Our Dream" through the Stewardship Campaign.
The 2012 Grow Our Dream campaign needs to financially support the operating cost of our new building; the existing costs for paying our dedicated, hard-working staff; maintaining two domes and our beautiful grounds; continuing our support of national and local organizations that reflect our values; and providing vibrant programs to support our vision statement.
Please begin now to consider your financial gift for next year's budget. As Stewardship Chairs, we are hopeful that you will attend the Stewardship Drive luncheon on October 2 and sign a pledge form that day. If you cannot attend the luncheon, your pledge form will be mailed to you with a request that you complete and return it as quickly as possible.
We hope to have the Stewardship Drive completed within two weeks, by October 16. This will greatly aid the Finance Committee in its 2012 budgeting process. We sincerely invite you to Grow The Dream.
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Social Justice In Our Community
Choose A Project, Develop A Plan
By Tempie Taudte
Are you passionate about social justice? Do you think our congregation can do more to promote justice in our community? Great! Now is the time for us to mobilize!
The first step is to choose a justice ministry-an issue grounded in Unitarian Universalist principles, one that can be supported by people of all ages, is relevant in our community, and resonates with our congregation.
Many of you have told me that you are interested in social justice. Please join me as we choose a ministry and develop an action plan.
The date and time of an August planning meeting will soon appear in the Sunday Order of Service and via our Yahoo Group. In the meantime, please give some thought to what we UUs can do as a congregation to improve our community.
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Clean Up, Spruce Up, Fix Up -- and Celebrate!
By
Marla Frazer
Buildings & Grounds Committee Chairperson
The moment our beloved community has dreamed of for more than 30 years is nearly here! Our new multi-purpose building will soon help us grow in our spiritual journeys--with room to spare. But, as many have pointed out, the rest of our spiritual home looks a little ragged. This situation can quickly improve--with many helping hands.
You may ask, "What can I do to help?"
First, prior to the August work day on the 13th, we need help with planning, phone calls, getting estimates, cleaning, sewing, gluing carpet, cleaning carpet and gardening. .
Second, please come to Building and Grounds work day, August 13, 9-11 a.m.
Third, if you can't make the work day, volunteer to spend 2 hours between now and the September 18 dedication of the new building. |
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A Month of Sundays at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Tampa
Services begin at 11 a.m.
August 7: Chinese Religion and Philosophy Today
Rev. Dr. Sara Zimmerman
This is the first of a series of three sermons this month drawing from current studies of religious practices in mainland China and from Rev. Zimmerman's travels in Yunnan Province in the late 1990s. The sermon will focus mainly on Confucianism as a thread in China's religious practices and philosophical beliefs, which also include Taoism, Buddhism, Christianity, Islam, and folk spirituality. Rev. Zimmerman has been UUCT's settled minister since 2007.
August 14: Igniting the Flame Within Us: Creating Sustainable Youth Ministry
Katie Culbert, DRE
Come September, UUCT will have the highest number of youth ages 11-16 registered in our Religious Education program in a decade. For the first time, the program will soon have a space that is large enough to hold them all. This is Ms. Culbert's first sermon as a member of the 2011 entering class of Meadville Lombard Theological School. She will explore the sacred importance of youth ministry and will answer the question "How do we embody youth ministry in our Unitarian Universalist faith and in our congregation?" Katie Culbert has served UUCT as Director of Religious Education for Children and Youth since 2004. She is currently enrolled in a distance-learning program, pursuing her Master of Divinity degree with the goal of becoming an ordained UU Parish minister.
August 21: Buddhism in Southwest China Since the Cultural Revolution Rev Dr Sara Zimmerman
As the second in a series on Chinese Religion and Philosophy today, this sermon will focus mainly on Buddhism and Protestantism, religions practiced with the knowledge and limited permission of the Chinese government. This sermon will include Rev. Zimmerman's firsthand observations of practices in the areas around Kunming in Yunnan Province, made while she was part of an Earthwatch team in 1996. The team was interested in the state of religious practices that followed the easing of religious persecution after the Cultural Revolution.
This is a New Member Sunday, with introductions of new members during the service. If you would like to join UUCT this day, contact Rev. Zimmerman at revsaraz@aol.com.
August 28: Taoism in China: the Legends of Lao-tzu and Chuang-Tzu
Rev. Dr. Sara Zimmerman
As the third in a series, this sermon will focus mainly on Taoism. Is Lao-tzu, considered the founder of Taoism and presumed the author of the Tao-te-Ching, venerated in China as highly as he is in the West? Do Chuang-Tzu's 4th-century BC stories about freeing yourself from traditions and personal goals receive as much attention in China as they do in the West? Rev. Zimmerman will share stories and wisdom of the Tao.
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"Forget not that the earth delights to feel your bare feet and the winds long to play with your hair."
Kahlil Gibran
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