Domelight Newsletter January 2012

Have you heard? Our church is the recipient of a 2012, $5000.00 grant from the UU Funding Program for the creation of an 8-week curriculum on the topic of Medical Science and Religion. We were one of five UU churches on the continent who received grants this year from the UU Funding Program.

I submitted the proposal in September with the help of members of our congregation, especially Nan Park, a USF professor. You may know Nan as the mother of Harry and the toddler Jerry and the wife of Board member Beom Lee. The grant proposal was funded in part because of Nan's help, and don't let her tell you otherwise! Others who supported the proposal were Russell Kirby, Bill Blymiller, and Ralph Lehman. I am very appreciative of their help and continuing support

The grant specifies that I will write the curriculum during September and the first part of October, 2012, while consulting Nan, Bill, Ralph, and Russell. The 8-session curriculum will be field tested here at UUCT, and also at UU Clearwater during the second half of October, all of November, and the first two weeks of December.

All of the work on the grant needs to be accomplished by the end of December 2012, and the money spent.   After that, I am hopeful that the curriculum will be used in other UU churches and in other denominations.

The majority of the grant funds will go toward guest speakers whose presentations during my upcoming sabbatical will become part of the curriculum. It will also fund some videos and a part-time office assistant.   If you have any questions or concerns about the curriculum, or want to offer suggestions, please let me know directly at revsaraz@aol.com.

Sabbatical: This is my fifth year with you as your minister -- by the end of August, 2012, I will have served five years, and by Agreement, I am entitled to a six-month paid sabbatical. The Board voted a few months ago to confirm the Agreement. My plan is to work on the Medical Science and Religion curriculum during the first four months of the six-month sabbatical. During the remaining two months of the sabbatical, I will seek opportunities for meditation retreats.

In the coming weeks the Board and I will identify a Sabbatical Committee. This Sabbatical Committee will work closely with the Worship Committee, the Board, and me to make sure the ministry of the church continues seamlessly from September 2012 until the end my sabbatical. We will take special care to assure the quality of Sunday services and other ministerial functions. Please let me know of any concerns you have about my sabbatical time. I can be reached at revsaraz@aol.com.

Thank you for calling me as your settled minister in the fall of 2007. I am proud to be your minister and grateful for our time together.

With Appreciation,

Rev Sara

"Is This Still My Church?"

Rev. Kenn Hurto, Florida District Executive, will lead a workshop on this question and on issues relating to power and authority in a free and growing congregation.

The session, open to all members and friends of the congregation, will be held on the UUCT campus, Sunday, January 29, from noon until 3 p.m. $10 includes lunch.

Advance reservations are required and may be made through the church office or via email to info@uutampa.org by Sunday, January 22^nd.

Predictable Challenges

As churches grow, they go through a series of predictable challenges and changes. Most will be described in the interactive workshop--along with mistakes and successes of those who have passed through these stages before.

Kenn outlined a series of issues in a preview of the session.

"As congregations move from family to pastoral to program churches, the dynamics, roles, and responsibilities change. We see familiar questions and issues repeatedly being raised:

· Who's in charge here?

· Who decides what?

· Where does the buck stop?

· How do the roles of the board, the minister, and individual members change?"

In his role as Florida District Executive, Kenn serves 46 congregations with more than 5,000 members. This year, he became Lead for the HallelUUjah Staff Team of the Southern Region of the UUA. In this role, he coordinates and supervises the work of his colleague District Executives and Program Consultants in the Florida, Southeast, and Mid-South Districts of the Southwestern Conference. Geographically the Southern Region spans Tennessee to the U.S. Virgin Islands and from southern Virginia to Texas.

Kenn comes to church management having practiced what he preaches. In 39 years of ministry, he has served congregations ranging from 19 to more than 600 members. He is a graduate of Harvard Divinity School and is an avid scuba diver, long-distance cyclist and skier.

"Let the stillness carry me..."

By Roger Grugel, Ministerial Intern

December is the month when many religious holidays are celebrated: Advent, Hanukah, Winter Solstice, Christmas, and Kwanza. December, however, is also a time when many of us celebrate the secular holidays by attending parties, decorating our homes, and shopping for gifts. In contrast to December's religious holidays, which stress hope, peace, and harmony, our secular celebrations can have a much different tone. We stress ourselves out by trying to find the perfect gift, by sending out holiday cards to everyone we know, and by making plans for the perfect family dinner for 30--all the time hoping no one breaks the china. The holidays are supposed to be the most wonderful time of the year; however, they are often the most stressful. Where are the hope, the peace, and the harmony in this busyness?

One of our hymns says that to find harmony we must "... find a stillness, hold a stillness, let the stillness carry me ... ." So how do we find that stillness?

We can find outward stillness by turning off the TV, shutting down the computer, and limiting our social obligations. However, even with the noise turned down, our minds often remain active, making to do lists or thinking where we would rather be. If we want the harmony we seek, we must silence those distractions as well, perhaps through meditation, reading, or music.

If we can find that stillness, we may hear that quiet inner voice that tells us we are human beings, not human doings. That our inherent worth is not based on the gifts we buy, the family newsletters we send out, or the lavishness of our holiday meals. Instead, we might discover that our greatest gift for the world is to be present to others and ourselves, to affect the world and be affected by it, to bestow forgiveness and accept peace, to give and receive love. The holidays are upon us. My holiday wish for you is to find that stillness that leads you to the hope, the peace, and the harmony you desire.

President's Desk

In this season of rebirth and renewal, it is good to be together. We have a wonderful caring and growing community, with so many gifts to offer and receive. Our wonderful facilities call out to all of us to contribute our time and expertise, in service as committee leaders and members, religious education teachers, caregivers to members in need, activity coordinators, buildings and grounds volunteers -- the list of ways that each of us can enhance our church community is long, but the rewards are great. As our congregation grows, we'll undergo a transition that is a necessary part of our growth. To that end, we have invited our UUA Florida district executive, Rev. Kenn Hurto, to lead a workshop on Sunday, January 29^th. All members are welcome to attend, and details can be found elsewhere in this issue of the Domelight. I hope you will all come along for the ride, on the "honest and necessary path" to the future!

In the spirit,

Russell Kirby, UUCT Board President

UUA Trustee Tidbits

by Joan Lund

jlund@uua.org or 813-931-9727

The Arizona Immigration Ministry has requested that the UUA Board of Trustees put forth a resolution calling on President Obama to adopt the U.N. Declaration of Rights of Indigenous People--related to the Doctrine of Discovery. The Board is moving on this request, partly by providing congregations with information and publishing the resolution in the GA agenda.

The Doctrine of Discovery dates back over 600 years, starting with Christopher Columbus performing a ceremony to "take possession" of the island of Guanahani for the king and queen of Spain. Forty years before Columbus's landing, Pope Nicholas V issued to the King of Portugal the Bull Romanus Pontifex, declaring war against all non-Christians, specifically sanctioning and promoting the conquest, colonization, and exploitation of non-Christian nations and territories. Thus, Columbus felt authorized to "take possession" of lands not under any Christian rulers. The grim genocide and conquest of the peaceful native peoples was sanctioned by the Catholic Church. This is but one example of how the "Christian Powers" viewed indigenous peoples as "lawful spoils and prey of their civilized conquerors."

In 1823, the Doctrine of Discovery was adopted into U.S. law by the Supreme Court, headed by Chief Justice John Marshall, who observed that Christian European nations had assumed "ultimate dominion" over the lands of America during the Age of Discovery, and that upon this "discovery" the Indians had lost "their rights to complete sovereignty, as independent nations." Although they retained a right of "occupancy" in their lands, Indians were subject to the ultimate authority of the first nation of Christendom to claim possession of any given region of Indian lands. Indian rights could be ignored as "heathen."

This ugly history continues with the U.S. taking such actions as circumventing the terms of solemn treaties with Indian nations, although all such treaties are the "supreme Law of the Land, anything in the Constitution not withstanding"; and stealing the sacred Black Hills from the Great Sioux nation in violation of the 1868 Treaty of Fort Laramie that recognized the Sioux Nation's exclusive and absolute possession of their lands.

Thomas Jefferson observed that when the state uses church doctrine as a coercive tool, the result is "hypocrisy and meanness." Circumventing the U.S. Constitution as a means of taking Indian lands and placing Indian nations under U.S. rule has proved Jefferson right.

Next month I plan to write about the U.N. Declaration of Rights of Indigenous People. I continue to enjoy hearing from you. Happy, Prosperous New Year!

Join us on

January 7 @ 7:30 p.m.

Full Moon Celebration presented by As Always - "It's All About the Goddess!"

Cirlces in the Woods CUUPS will again have our annual Wicca 101 six-session series of classes:

January 8 @ 1 - 3 p.m.

"Herstory"

Why does Wicca typically have so much focus on the divine feminine? This is the first class in our series and will discuss paleolitic history and the influence of the Goddess on current Wiccan practices today.

January 22 @ 1 - 3 p.m.

"The Goddess and the God"

The second in our Wicca 101 sessions - no, it's not too late to join. Do Wiccans really believe in all of those ancient pagan dieties? It will all be explained in this class.

Additonal dates are: February 5th and 19th, March 4th and 18th. Attendees have the option to assist with the presentation of the April 7th Full Moon Celebration. Note: A donation of $30 is requested to cover materials.

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. For more information, go to Circles in the Woods CUUPS.

The Good Book

By Carol Baker

Welcome to The Good Book column! This is a brand new effort and we're very excited to get things rolling. We'll be glad to publish your thoughts on reading. If you have a book you've just read or have read previously that you liked, please send me an e-mail at cbanddave1@verizon.net

Here are our first contributions:

I am reading the new William Murray book about humanism, Becoming More Fully Human: Religious Humanism as a Way of Life. This book begins with the basics of humanism (for example, Part One, chapter 2 is entitled "We Are Not 'Unbelievers'") and covers ethics and ethical living, coping with difficulties, and life-and-death issues. I'm loving it! Jeannette Manning

When I was on my way to visit our partner church in Romania last year, I stopped off in Prague, where I visited Franz Kafka's studio and purchased two identical small, thin books of the same title--Meditation--except that one is in English and the other in the original German. I enjoy reading them side by side to practice my rusty German. Rev. Sara

Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemptionby Laura Hillenbrand (Random House, 2010) is a nonfiction book that turns out to be one of the best war stories I've ever read. You won't believe they didn't make it up. Chuck Smith

The Art of Fielding by Chad Harbach (Little, Brown, 2011) is a well-written, contemporary novel combining baseball, higher education, family relationships and love--a good read. Christine Smith

Black Hills by Dan Simmons is an interesting combination of historical fiction/fantasy with a touch of mysticism. Paha Sapa is a young Lakota boy who is on the battlefield at the defeat of General Custer and is touched by his 'spirit.' This timeframe in American history takes Paha Sapa through the shows performed by Buffalo Bill with Sitting Bull, the blasting that created Mt. Rushmore, and even the building of the Empire State Building. Sometimes we think of our lifetimes being monumental because of technological changes, but this book brings to reality the change in this nation to the indigenous people at the turn of the last century. Mary Francis

The Lion's Game: I found this Nelson DeMille novel about terrorism, published in 2000, fascinating because its background setting points out that the United States has serious security problems with air travel, both in public and private facilities and carriers. If only DeMille had been on security watch... . Harriet Blymiller

Award-winning author and NY Times columnist Thomas L. Friedman and his colleague Michael Mandelbaum chronicle the decline of the American empire and offer overly optimistic views on "how we can come back" in That Used To Be Us: How America Fell Behind In The World It Invented and How We Can Come Back (published by Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2011). Ron Hammerle

Judith Lehman writes that her favorite book of the year is The Help written by Kathryn Stockett (published in 2009 by Amy Einhorn Books). This fictional book is very believable, written about lines we learn to abide by. I can't wait for her second novel!

Your editor has a book to recommend, Theory of War by Joan Brady (published in 1993 by Alfred A. Knopf). I'm a fan of Joan Brady's writing, and this book met my expectations. The theme is the enduring scars we inherit from our ancestors, in this case, the cost of slavery to a person's spirit and also to that person's descendants.

Your editor would also like to put in a plug for book groups or clubs. They offer a chance to sample authors you might not ordinarily gravitate to. We tend to get into ruts when reading. Give some new (kinds of) books a chance.

Communications Within A Larger Church

After being part of a "family church" for many years, I'm accustomed to knowing all the little details of who to go to for everything. As changes are made and as we grow, we're all going to have to adjust to a different way of finding out what's going on in our community.

For one thing, it would be nice to have each committee write up something on a regular basis to share with our entire community via the Domelight. This might be done at least quarterly to help the entire congregation be aware of the ongoing work of our multiple committees and activities in the church.

Another thing, each Sunday bulletin is chock full of information relevant to current activities. If I miss attending a Sunday service, I miss out on some information and reminders. Could this be published in another way and emailed to everyone who wants to receive it?

A third thing, I would like to see more published information about new members, perhaps highlighting each person in a Domelight issue. This could help new members feel more appreciated and involved. The more the oldies know about new members' experience, talents, and interests, the better they can help new members become involved in church life.

Marla Frazer

WhaleCoast Alaska 2012

Have you always dreamed of visiting Alaska? Are you curious about the lifestyles of Alaskan UUs? Do you enjoy getting to know your fellow travelers? If so, WhaleCoast Alaska 2012 is for you! Four Alaskan UU fellowships invite you to experience our eco-cultural and spiritual program this summer as we celebrate our 15th year! See Alaska through the eyes of local UUs in Anchorage, Fairbanks, Juneau, and Sitka, with friendly homestays and unique tour activities. See wildlife, including moose, bear, whales, bald eagles, seals, and caribou. Visit Denali National Park. Experience Native Alaskan culture. Enjoy all that our beautiful state has to offer. Programs led by Dave Frey, member of the farthest north UU congregation. To find out more about your Alaskan trip of a lifetime, visit www.WhaleCoastAK.org, email dfrey@whalecoastak.org, or call 907-322-4966. We would love to share our Alaska with you!

Dave Frey, Co-director

WhaleCoast Alaska

Welcome New Members

Kenneth and Roberta Buckle

Kenneth Buckle

has been a Tampa resident for the past twenty eight years.

After college he worked for eleven years in various research and development positions for General Motors and came to Tampa in 1984 as a faculty member in the Electrical Engineering Department at the University of South Florida. He has one daughter, three step children and two grandchildren. All are in the Tampa area.

Kenneth was raised in the Catholic Church, but had serious conflicts as an adult and was a part time participant. After Roberta and Ken were married they tried several protestant denominations in the New Tampa area, but found them to be as difficult to accept as the Catholic Church.

They started attending UUCT a year ago and found it the most compatible of all the religious groups they explored. He is happy to be joining the UUCT. Ken and his wife Roberta attend the Unitarian Church in Rochester, NY during the summers.

Roberta Buckle is from Rochester, New York. She moved to Tampa in 2006 when she married her high school sweetheart, Ken Buckle. She has two grown children: Rob lives in Spokane, WA, and Kari lives in Dallas, TX. She has 4 grandchildren. She graduated from SUNY with a degree in Economics/Business Administration.

Roberta worked for an extraordinary Congressman in D.C. for several years back in the late 60s and then was a personal financial advisor for Ameriprise Financial Advisors. She transferred her practice when her mother was diagnosed with cancer. Roberta says, "When my mother passed, I was free to join Ken here in Tampa in 2006."

On religion: Roberta grew up Presbyterian, gravitated to Episcopalian and then back to Presbyterian. She has always been active in the churches she attended, but always struggled with "the story." The UU church she in which she worshipped in Rochester is Susan B's church. She says: "I was raised by my war-hero father to give back to the community more than I take out. And I have always been involved in my community whether through League of Women Voters, AAUW, and Junior League, and have embraced the Occupy Tampa movement."

When she got here to Tampa, Roberta and Ken wanted to find a church community where they could be comfortable with their doubts and beliefs, and where they could freely express those thoughts. Ken and Roberta are very happy to be joining the UUCT.

Jodi Pecoraro

Jodi

was born in Wantagh, NY, earned a bachelor's degree in Elementary Ed at SUNY New Paltz, a Master's Degree at the University of Alabama in Birmingham, and presently works as a 4th grade teacher for Hillsborough County schools and has done so for the past 13 years. She has two sons, Alex and David. Alex, the elder, is a mechanical engineer and lives in New London, CT. David, the younger, earned a degree and a license as a civil engineer, is working on a Master's Degree in Computer Science, and lives in Tampa. They bring her great joy!

Jodi believes in giving back to her community and has been an active volunteer throughout her life. Presently, she serves on the Boards of two volunteer groups, Greater Tampa CERT and the Tampa Amateur Radio Club. She is also the training coordinator with Hillsborough County ARES/RACES, an Emergency Radio organization. Her hobbies include amateur radio, boating, biking, and laughing with family and friends. She describes herself as a curious person who loves to learn and experience new things. "There's so much to see, to do, to learn, and life is SO short!"

Ceridwen Taliesin

Ceridwen

is a long time spiritual seeker who is glad to have found a spiritual home that honors both rational thought and intuitive experience of the Divine. Bringing the rational and the mystical together in herself is a life-long project. Nature is where she grounds herself spiritually, and while she is mostly Pagan, she has found a lot of valuable insight in all the different religions and philosophies of the world. She is a firm believer that different religions, philosophies, meditative, and spiritual practices are all different paths up the same mountain.

Ceridwen has lived in Temple Terrace since 1998 with a husband, two step-children, and her 7-yr-old daughter Molly. She grew up around Washington D.C. and Orlando, and moved to the Berkeley-Oakland area after college. She has a background in English, Library Science, and elder care and is a research addict.

Micah and Charlotte (aka Charli) Shinn

Charli

Single Shinn was born and raised in Texas and moved to Tampa in May. In school, she studied art and photography. She has a three-year-old daughter,

Marley.

Micah Single was born and raised in Missouri, lived in Texas from teen years on. He is in the U.S. Air Force where he is a crew chief, aircraft mechanic for mid-air refueling; he has been in the Air Force for a year and is stationed at McDill.

Beloved Member WAYNE BUSBICE, 1929 - 2011

By Maureen Kroeger, Wayne's stepdaughter

Lt. Col. and Dr. Wayne Evon Busbice passed peacefully in his sleep at 2:45 a.m. on December 13, 2011. One of nine children, Wayne was born in Chatham, LA on March 28, 1929, and was raised on a family farm near Eros, LA. His descendants marvel at all that he had experienced over 82 years of vast social and technological change. In his book, Uncovering the Secrets of a Southern Family, Wayne and his wife Patricia chronicled the origins of the Busbice name, a story involving a murder.

Much can be said of his contribution to education, military service, music, politics, and community service. Wayne was best known by his family for these things: he was a selfless, humble giver to all (giving, in fact, defined him); he visibly and completely adored his wife of 40 years; and he was a steadfast, wise, and peaceable patriarch of two children, five stepchildren, and six grandchildren who looked to him for wisdom, love, and advice. In 1951, Wayne married Margaret Woodward of Culpeper, VA, and they had three children, John, Heidi, and Martha. Unfortunately, Heidi did not survive her infancy. In 1977, Wayne married Patricia Marguerite Dunn in Gaithersburg, MD, where they lived prior to retirement in Wesley Chapel, FL.

Wayne was a career educator who served as teacher and guidance counselor in Montgomery County, MD, and retired in 1980, as principal of Gaithersburg Junior High. He retired from the Air Force Reserve in 1980, with the rank of lieutenant colonel after 30 years of service primarily at Andrews Air Force Base, where he served as Director of Logistics and Inspector General for D.C. National Guard.

Wayne had a natural talent for bluegrass and country music as songwriter and recording artist, performing in venues around the Washington area with the Busby Brothers, consisting of Wayne, his son John, his brother Bernarr, and his cousin Bobby. After retirement Wayne founded Webco Records, which produced many albums, including the number one bluegrass song of 1987, "Tennessee 1949."

A lifelong Democrat, Wayne was active in Maryland politics, running for state delegate in 1990, and chairing his local district caucus, as well as working on several campaigns for president, senator, and governor. In Florida, Wayne was elected a supervisor of Meadow Pointe II Community Development District. He volunteered as a guardian ad litem, aiming to improve the lives of Florida's most vulnerable children. He was active in the Unitarian Universalist Church of Tampa.

Wayne is survived by his wife Patricia, who cherished him just as he adored her, a son and daughter, a stepson and two stepdaughters, six grandchildren, and his sister Marilyn.

In the Spotlight

Lee Bonta

Fast Track to the Future

In many Unitarian churches, the pathway from a first visit to a leadership role is long and steep. That's not been the case at UUCT for Lee Bonta.

In just two years, Lee:

* made follow up calls for our successful Capital Campaign;

* taught in our religious education program;

* helped connect UUCT with our partner church in Transylvania using Skype;

* was invited to join the Long Range Planning Committee;

* now serves as co-chair of the Stewardship Committee; and

* recently joined the choir.

That speaks well of a congregation open to involving new members, but it's also a reflection of Lee's gregarious personality and background as a successful director of development for nonprofit organizations. He previously served as a director of development for a major orchestra, theatre, and children's hospital in Minnesota.

Lee first learned of UUCT when he created a major gifts program for the Department of Pediatrics and the pharmacy program at USF Health. "Russ Kirby invited me to visit a couple of times." Once discovered by others over coffee at the end of a Sunday service, a fast string of other introductions let to Lee's serial involvement.

"I found a church family for the first time, and I found it quickly. People just kept inviting me to participate in different aspects of the church. I think it's a culture that Rev. Sara helped create. She models engagement. I'm a big fan."

Coming to Florida in the midst of a recession has not been without challenges. In his own professional career, he was impacted by two corporate reorganizations, "but I'm a raging optimist." Given the kind of experience and achievements he brings--and the challenges that many nonprofit organizations now face, his optimism is clearly justified.

In looking at our congregation, he sees a clear path to the future. "If we are to move forward, a 2% budget increase won't get us there." With Lee's personality, optimism and continued involvement, UUCT surely has a bright future.

Great Courses Discussion Group

The Great Courses Discussion Group resumes in January with its regular schedule, the first and third Thursdays, 7 - 9 p.m. in the Multi-Purpose Building. We usually watch two of the 30-minute DVD lectures during our 2 hours together. Here is an approximate schedule of topics in the near future:

Jan. 5 Herodotus and the Lamp of History

Socrates on the Examined Life

Jan. 19 Plato's Search for Truth

Can Virtue Be Taught?

Feb. 2 Plato's Republic - Man Writ Large

Hippocrates and the Science of Life

Feb. 16 Aristotle on the Knowable

Aristotle on Friendship

Everyone is welcome, occasionally or regularly. If any questions, contact Jeannette Manning at 813-857-0468 or manningjea@yahoo.com.

Contribution Statements

We have had a very successful canvass campaign for 2012 and thank everyone that has made a financial commitment with a pledge to the ministry of UUCT.

For your convenience in reporting church contributions at tax time, end of year contribution statements will be sent by the third week of January. If you are not in agreement with the reported data, please contact me as soon as possible. Necessary corrections can be made if you bring your statement with you for review. Come by the office on Sunday morning; I'm there by 10 a.m. Your financial pledge for 2011 was greatly appreciated.

Joyce Formica, Pledge Secretary

Social Justice

by Tempie Taudte, Social Justice Chair

The Social Justice Committee, in conjunction with the Adult Religious Education Committee, is sponsoring a three-session reading workshop on the book The Death of Josseline: Immigration stories from the Arizona Borderlands.

The sessions will be held on the following Monday nights: January 9, 23, and 30 from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

The Death of Josseline: Immigrant Stories from the Arizona Borderlands (Beacon Press, 2010), by veteran news reporter Margaret Regan, presents an interconnected mosaic of those intimately involved: immigrants, activists, human rights workers, and border patrol people. The book evokes a human and religious response, rather than a political debate, as it draws the reader into the physical, economic, and above all, personal terrain of immigration in the borderlands. Its heartbreaking yet hopeful pages invite witness and engage readers in the ethical, moral, and spiritual challenges presented by the complex issues on the Arizona-Sonora border.

Books are available from Beacon Press.

Sign-up sheets will be available and pre-registration is available by emailing your request to AdultRE@uutampa.org

The Social Justice Committee will meet on Thursday, January 12, from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in the Big Dome. All are welcome to join us in planning social justice activities.

Ongoing INs and OUTs

of Building and Grounds Committee

Thank you to the many, many friends and elves in our community who are helping on a monthly basis. If you look around, you'll notice some of the December improvements including: clean windows in the Sanctuary, new gutters on the UnDome (Thank you to BIll BIymiller), improved visibility on the Davis Road driveway.

Just to let you know, some of our goals for the upcoming year are:

* New carpet in the Big Dome in February

* Continuing upgrade of the appearance of our Davis Road entrance (maybe even a new sign?)

* Caulking, painting, and sealing the outside of the Small Dome

* Painting and sprucing up the inside of the Small Dome.

* New stage installed with stairs and railings

* New ceiling fans and lights

* Creating a new plan for our Plaza with benches, gathering areas, sidewalks, and more

* Creating a new plan for the Memorial Garden

* Creating a new landscaping plan for the entire property

* Finishing our parking improvements

I have to say the list goes on and on. If you like to cut vines, we can use your help. If you like to plan...we can use your help, if you're willing to make phone calls...we can use your help, if you like to paint, we can use your help, if you like to shop... we can use your help.

Did I mention, whatever talents you have, we can use your help.

Just talk to me, Marla, anytime, or email me at marlafrazer@gmail.com, or call me at 777-9931.

Thanks to everyone who helps so often.

Month of Sundays at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Tampa

Services begin at 11 a.m.

January 1, 2012: "The Down Side to Happiness"

Not feeling particularly positive today? Holding off for now on making resolutions? How wise you are, thinking about others instead. As Henry David Thoreau said, "Happiness is like a butterfly: the more you chase it, the more it will elude you, but if you turn your attention to other things, it will come and sit softly on your shoulder." Rev. Dr. Sara Zimmerman

January 8, 2012 "Journey Beyond God: Religious Philosophy For Our Time"

A Unitarian Universalist minister in Maine, the Rev. Peter Tufts Richardson, has a new book out with this title. It explores the emergence of the Humanist Naturalist perspective and its power for our living today. Rev. Richardson says, "Religion is too important to abandon to the warfare of Theist vs. Atheist, or to fundamentalists vs. conventional church goers." Are you a "humanist naturalist"? Decide for yourself. Rev. Dr. Sara Zimmerman will present the basic concepts of the book.

January 15, 2012 "The Garden as Metaphor for Community"

Join us for this multigenerational worship service that celebrates Martin Luther King Day and explores how we can build communities that are welcoming, diverse, and bountiful.

Roger Grugel, 2011 - 2012 UUCT Ministerial Intern will conduct the service and offer this sermon.

January 22, 2012 "Opposing Intelligent Design"

In anticipation of Darwin Day, coming up early next month, Rev. Dr. Sara Zimmerman will argue for religion, and against intelligent design. She offers the ideas of evolutionary biologist and 2010 Templeton Prize winner Francisco Ayala. Dr. Ayala argues that creationism and intelligent design should be kept out of public-school biology classes, saying they "represent religion masquerading as natural science." Religion and science are "different windows" for looking at the world. (Christian Science Monitor, April 5, 2010.)

Conversations With The Board - Members of the Board of Trustees will be present for conversation after church on the 4th Sunday of the month from 12:15 to 12:45 PM. The purpose of these conversations will be to open communication and share ideas. Come with questions and ideas, but always with an open mind.

January 29, 2012 "How Then Shall We Play Together?"

Today's speaker, the Rev. Kenn Hurto, studied for over twelve years with the late Rabbi Dr. Edwin H. Friedman and others practicing Bowen Family Systems theory. Over the years, Kenn has become recognized and widely sought after for his expertise in systems theory as it applies to congregational development and leadership. He is a certified trainer by Peter Steinke's group for Healthy Congregations. We are pleased that he is with us this morning for the 11 a.m. service and will conduct a workshop this afternoon. ( See a description of the workshop elsewhere in the Domelight and on the http://www.uutampa.org/services.htm.)

Rev. Hurto is the District Executive for the Florida District of the Unitarian Universalist Association. In that role, he serves the 46 congregations and over 5000 Unitarian Universalists that comprise the District. His primary work is with congregational leaders, providing organizational development consultation, advocating for healthy congregational practices, and strengthening Unitarian Universalism in our congregations. In 2011, Rev. Kenn became the Lead of the Staff Team of the Southern Region of our Unitarian Universalist Association. In this role, he coordinates and supervises the work of his colleague District Executives and Program Consultants in the Florida, Southeast, Mid-South Districts and the Southwestern Conference. The Southern region spans Tennessee to the U.S. Virgin Islands, southern Virginia to Texas.

Ring out the old, ring in the new,
Ring, happy bells, across the snow:
The year is going, let him go;
Ring out the false, ring in the true.
~Alfred, Lord Tennyson, 1850

Contact Info
UU Church of Tampa

email: info@uutampa.org

11400 Morris Bridge Road, Tampa, FL 33637

813-988-8188