Unitarian Universalism welcomes a broad range of beliefs and doubts. We are gathered in freedom and guided by openness.  We aspire to be welcoming and affirming of searchers. Folks who make up our congregations and those who are attracted to our ways value the willingness to deal with ideas and ideals that help to understand life and enrich living without resorting to hardened doctrines, rigid beliefs. 

I have come to understand that we at UUCT do hold some general things in common: abiding respect for reason as a source of understanding: we look to science as to a dependable resource, and value compassion as a most desirable quality.  We don't like to admit it but we are a passionate people. We like to laugh. We care deeply about justice and fairness. We are thoughtful of one another and have a healthy regard for others. Caring is expressed in our shared life at UUCT.

Those word are mine. As a part of the search for a called minister the search committee will be seeking to learn from congregation members how they see our qualities and characteristics as a faith community. The committee will then have the task of crafting words to help describe for us and prospective ministers who and how we are and the qualities of our character as a community.
Please give thought to the descriptive words that are true for our congregation. We'll be talking them over along with other aspects of our life and aspirations over the next few months.
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Some 4,700 Unitarian Universalist participated in the 2014 General Assembly in Providence, RI for five days in late June. Pegs and I took in part of the event. There were dozens of workshops and sessions discussing social justice issues and UUA governance items. I've been to several and this was Pegs' second. The take away for me is the variety and energy of us UUs. We have some 1,100 congregations with maybe 150,000 members yet we can and do make a loud noise. We are a light for many still in more conservative religious groups and those who are without religious affiliation in areas of religious freedom, inclusion, human rights, peacemaking, and environmental concerns. We witness to the best of human aspirations and ideals. 'Standing on the Side of Love' is desperately needed now and we have shown and I hope will continue to show our allegiance.
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Sometimes I feel we 'show out' for PR purposes with poorly thought out positions but all in all I'm mighty proud of our caring for issues of justice. I've spent my time looking silly protesting the last three US war efforts. I'll let history judge who was right and who was wrong. We have been pioneers in our long history on human rights; about every type imaginable for abolition of slavery the 19th century to respect for sexual identity of the 21st.  What is the role of a religious community if not to uphold and honor human rights? Love needs to be lived.

Marriage Rights has been on the dockets of state courts across this land and Florida's restrictions on marriage freedom will in all probability fall by years' end. We have been urging that reform. I stand fully behind justice for folks to marry those they love. That is a civil rights issue not the business of the state or any particular religion. An act of civil disobedience in this area of my ministry came over 20 years ago in Huntsville, AL. I was ask by a lesbian couple (one in the military at Redstone Arsenal) to conduct their wedding. We talked and I did.
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Who are we and why are we? Those are questions for our transitional time and vital to the ministerial search process. May we learn good answers and find clarity of purpose as we seek our next minister and chart our plans for our future as a congregation. I'm so honored to be a part of this process with you.

Love.

The Reverend Dr. Doak M. Mansfield, Interim Minister

Everyone has a voice.  Everyone who speaks will be heard.   Please participate in the Congregational Survey and Cottage Meetings.   

The Ministerial Search Committee (MSC) under the expert guidance of Ara Rogers and with the dedicated support of the Planning Committee and Board of Trustees is conducting a thorough Congregational Survey this month.  The Search Committee will be representing you to potential ministerial candidates. We need to know the congregation fully to do that job well.  Because we are going to be asked some tough questions, we are asking you some questions that maybe you'd rather not answer, but please do your best to speak thoughtfully and honestly.

Details on the when, where and how you will be asked to participate were not available as of press time.  Should you have any questions contact the Search committee (search@uutampa.org or talk to any of us in person or by phone).

Joan Lund and Jodi Pecararo were able to attend the GA Search Committee Orientation conducted by the UUA Transitions office during General Assembly in July.  They report we are on track with our activities for the Search Committee, the Board and the Congregation.   

Progress is being made on collecting materials for the Congregational Record (the information about UUCT sent to the UUA Transitions Office).  This is the first place potential ministers can look to get information about us.  All congregations looking for ministers have to complete this record and they are opened for viewing at the same time in the fall.  If ministers likes what they see, they then request that
information about them be sent to the MSC.  If we like what we see, we then share the "Packet" with them so they can learn more about us.

Another area you can help is a quick response to requests for pictures, letters, biographies, documents, etc. that are part of the "Packet."  Mary Francis has the leadership for compiling the "Packet."  She has collected some good pieces so far, but the more we have to sort through, the more representative the packet is going to be.  The packet is our "face" to prospective ministers.  Please see Mary if you have suggestions or would like to help out.  Our thanks to all who have contributed so far!
 
Comments, questions and conversations are welcome in person anytime, at Conversations with the Board, or by email to search@uuct.org .

Elise Richardson, Joan Lund, Ara Rogers, Marta Pearson, Ed Benedict, Earl Harvey, Mary Francis

"Share the Plate" with Local Charities- The final month of the MacDonald Training Center

 

The Board of Trustees and the Community Action Council would like to welcome all to continue to share the gift of our generous congregation with local charities. This is our final month for the Macdonald Training Center; It has been a huge success. We continue celebrating this gift on the first Sunday of every month. This month it is August 2nd.   All monetary donations and checks, made out to UUCT with the charity's name in the memo line, obtained during our offertory for that day will be donated in full to the spotlight local charity of the quarter. All pledges to UUCT should be written out and identified as such on the memo line. The charity will be chosen by the Community Action Council and will reflect the values and principles that we as UUs hold dear. Information on the charity will be made available in various locations (Order of Service, pamphlets in the entry way, the Domelight and the Yahoo group) prior to the first Sunday of the month. Please join us in this new and exciting way to help our local groups to do some good!

 

Our spotlight charity in this pilot period has been the MacDonald Training Center. The MacDonald Training Center was founded in 1953 and provides educational and vocational services to people with intellectual disabilities in the Tampa area. Their mission statement, "To empower people with disabilities to lead the lives they choose," embodies our first two principles, the inherent worth and dignity of every person, and justice, equity and compassion in human relations. You are all encouraged to volunteer your time to these charities as well. Visit them on the web at www.macdonaldcenter.org or phone (813) 870-1300 for volunteer opportunities.

 

Due to its huge popularity and its ongoing success, we will start a quarterly cycle thru Local charities. Our charity for the first quarter, starting September 7th and running to December 6th, will be Tampa Bay Harvest.

 

Tampa Bay Harvest, Inc ("TBH") is an all -volunteer 501(c)(3) charitable organization operating in West Central Florida including Pinellas and Hillsborough Counties. They function as a food recovery and gleaning organization. Volunteers pick up leftover, sale dated and excess food items from local supermarkets, hospitals, schools, restaurants, as well as other food related businesses and deliver to other charities. Since being formed in 1989 Tampa Bay Harvest volunteers have delivered millions of pounds of food to the local charities that serve the needy citizens of our community. That's high quality food that restaurants, fast food establishments, hospitals, schools, hotels, and caterers would have thrown away that was cycled back into the Tampa Bay area social service community thanks to the efforts of TBH volunteers.

 

Join us in September with renewed enthusiasm for our new charity. Volunteer opportunities can be found online at www.tampabayharvest.org by phone at (727) 538-7777 Line 1 or E-mail at tbhgm@aol.com.

 

-John Powers- Board of Trustee Liaison of Community Action Council

We had a successful Skype call with our partner church in Sepsikorospatak (Romania).  We got to use the new screens in the sanctuary to project Reverend Erno Tordai's side of the skype so everyone got a clear view.  Reverend Tordai explained that they are experiencing a great deal of rain, far more than they are used to getting this time of year.  It means everyone is stuck indoors when they want to be outside.  He and his family have plans to go on summer holiday in Hungary.  Joan Lund discussed her General Assembly experience with him and Christine Smith talked about her recent travels to Constanta, Romania, an area that Rev. Tordai knew.  Erin Powers discussed Religious Exploration and Joyce Fomica told tales of her teaching a Hungarian dance to students.  Randy Gainforth and Rev. Tordai had a brief discussion about the Tour de France and World Cup soccer.  Skype allow Rev. Tordai to see much of the sanctuary and Rev. Tordai also joked with Rev. Doak Mansfield after viewing him setting up chairs in our sanctuary.  

Many thanks to all of the participants in this call.  We will schedule another one next quarter.  We also invite anyone who is interested in learning about the Hungarian culture and Unitarians in Transylvania to join us in our next committee meeting after church on Sunday September 21, 2014.

The Unitarian Universalist General Assembly.  It sounds imposing.  It seemed like it would be bureaucratic, huge, mythical and overwhelming when I thought about it, but I was curious to learn more about my chosen church.  I decided to go this year to be educated.  Besides, my eldest son lives near Providence, RI where it was held, and I thought I could visit him while I was there.

I am proud and pleased to report that the LARGE group of people I came across there were the MOST kind, polite, considerate and loving group of people I've ever rubbed shoulders with.  We are truly a warm, welcoming, inclusive and LOVING denomination.  People from all over the country and world were there to teach and learn from each other.

The moderator, Jim Key, did an excellent job keeping the General Session moving along.  There were so many break out sessions to choose from, it was tough to narrow down.  The Ware Lecture (Keynote speech) by Sister Simone Campbell was an uplifting and motivational call to action.  Her repeated theme was not to walk away from trouble, but to walk towards it. Her books is "Nuns on the Bus," and is highly recommended.

The culmination of GA for me was Waterfire, an arts festival that was a spiritual, musical and visual celebration of community along the Providence waterfront.  Breathtaking, and so relaxed and peaceful.  Amazing for an urban setting in the northeast! 

I HIGHLY recommend attending at least one GA, if you can manage it.  You will learn more than you know now about our community.  I know that I have grown in my knowledge and appreciation for our beloved community.

BEST regards to all,
Jodi Pecoraro
Here's a link to the blog about the GA, if you're curious http://blogs.uuworld.org/ga/

 

The UU Humanists of Tampa group will be taking the summer off  after 10 years.  Plans to restart in the fall are under consideration.
Please no food for the migrant basket over the summer while workers are up north during our summers.  We will start again in the fall.

This is the time of year the finance committee takes a closer look at church budget to see if we need to make adjustments in spending.  You can help this process by reviewing your financial commitment to UUCT; and also by, when planning your summer vacation spending, setting aside the sum you had pledged and mailing it to church.  Attendance at church is usually lower during the summer, making it critical that each of us maintain our financial commitment to UUCT, so that we can continue to keep the bills paid.  If you are not sure what you have contributed to date and would like a printout of a statement, to help you see if you are on track, stop by the office on a Sunday morning or call me at home. Joyce Formica pledge secretary (988-1907).

We need volunteers! Our plan is to have two volunteers every Sunday and the ability to rotate people to reduce the frequency needed.  We will train you so don't be shy!
 
Exciting times at UUCT!  If you are interested, or even might be interested, contact our Worship Chair, Diane Gainforth at worship@uutampa.org.