I've been dealing on how to talk with others that are not familiar with Unitarian Universalism about who and why we are. Telling them our history loses them. Big words about heresy, atonement, and trinity frustrate them. Cute logical abstracts anger them, so what to do?

You know the dreaded questions; "What do Unitarians Universalists believe?" "But you believe in God, right?" "So there is no Hell?" "Are you saved then?" "Aren't you Christian?"

It has been forty years this past August for me as a UU minister and I still haven't a good sound bite to describe who we are and what we are about. I've been working on a quick, simple response over the decades and have tried countless ones. None have really stuck.

Lately some light has come for my inspiration on this. I'd like to steal an idea from our UUA president, The Reverend Peter Morales, and suggest that we be a bit assertive and challenge the question and questioner with something like: "My faith has more to do with questions than beliefs. Beliefs change. My faith is concerned with who andk what we love and honor? How to live life healthily and helpfully? "What choices are best for my peace of mind and purpose as a human being?" "Unitarian Universalists use freedom to deal with the big and small questions of life but mostly we rely on love as our way and hope."

Can it be as simple as "love first and love always"? Isn't a more complicated and educated set of ideas and understandings needed? I really don't think so.

For me love includes three critical qualities: respect, regard, and appreciation. If love defined that way becomes the way we be and become, I deeply believe we can manifest those qualities through our living qualities desperately needed in a broken, conflicted, and contentious world.

That kind of love must begin as relates to self and then lived out with others. It is not easy. It is dang hard to respect, regard, and appreciate the self sometimes because of our short comings, old or maybe current abuse, the physical and mental illness that impact, and mistakes but if we be faithful to the ideal of love we can push through the bad stuff to new possibilities.

It isn't easy to respect, regard, and appreciate those who spew hate and promote fear. We have a choice to adopt their ways or model and live love. It may take lots of sacrifice and pain but in love there is hope while in hate there is nothing but hurt and death.

Love ~ Doak

Spotlight on Search

 The Ministerial Search Committee (MSC) is furiously wrapping up its work on defining what we are looking for in a minister and providing potential candidates with a profile of UUCT as a congregation.  As we read and organize the information you have provided us, we are really impressed with the generosity and talent that we have in this congregation.  We can't thank you enough for your involvement.

Last Spring the MSC was elected by the congregation to "review the list of qualified ministerial candidates obtained from the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) and select a candidate for settled minister to recommend to the membership of the church" (UUCT By-Laws Article 10; Section 3).   As you might expect, the UUA has rules on what a congregation needs to do before a list of ministerial candidates will be presented.   The On Line Survey, the Cottage Meetings, the Beyond Categorical Thinking Workshop, the reports and pictures for the Packet Web Site, submitting our Congregational Record to the UUA, designation of a Negotiating Committee and creating a draft Letter of Agreement are all activities that have been required or recommended by the UUA.  Our work of collecting, analyzing and reporting information will be completed before the end of November. 

And then.......... we wait.  We all wait.  We celebrate cooler temperatures and Thanksgiving.

And we, on the MSC, start to talk less about our work.  The congregation is entitled to know where we are in the process.  At the same time the MSC needs to keep confidential both the names of the ministers under consideration and the details of committee business.   Confidentiality is required for a number of reasons that support good will in the congregations and in the denomination.  For example, what if a candidate hasn't informed his or her current congregation that he or she isn't looking for a new position?  What if two candidates that live near each other are interested in the same job?

The next phase of the process begins in December or January.  The MSC will get a list of interested candidates from the UUA to review; we will conduct telephone interviews; we will invite candidates to interview with us and preach in a neutral pulpit; we will select a candidate to recommend to you.  During the coming months, we will keep you informed as we progress through these steps.  Please excuse us if we don't give a lot of details about our work.   

Comments, questions and conversations are welcome in person anytime, or by email to search@uuct.org .

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

Ginger Doss Concert 

(Six Things You Need to Consider Before a Loved One Dies)

• When each of us thinks about the last phase of life, what is most important to us?
• What about health concerns? 
• What decisions need to be made?
• Do you have an estate plan in place?  (Without a will the state dictates how assets are passed.)
• What legal forms should be prepared to assure your decisions prevail?
• Who will know your decisions on each of these questions? Where do they look to find them?

All these and many other issues affecting you and your family need your consideration.

On November 15 from 9:00 until 12:00, UUCT will be offering a panel of lay people, lawyers, health care and hospice experts to lead a discussion on these and other related questions.  No matter your age, this program can help equip you for dealing with essential planning for the issues that arise when the end of life comes for you or those who matter to you.

No matter how organized you think you have your affairs, chances are you will learn about something else needing your attention at this informative session.

Reserve your seat for Saturday, November 15, by emailing dadles@gmail.com or calling Fran Davin at 813/977-0032.   Please let us know in advance that you are coming so we have enough reference materials (and refreshments) for everyone.

         For more information contact Jerry Elsenrath, Candy Gale, Russell Patterson,          Cay Cahalin, Diana Stevens, Grant Wilson, Elise Richardson.

By Judy Lane
As UUs, we are moved to justice work primarily by our second principle: justice, equity and compassion for all.  Our UUCT Justice Ministry Network is how we connect with HOPE and live out our UU principles.  Fall is the time of year when HOPE conducts house meetings as part of its listening process.  During these meetings, we will be hearing personal stories related to community concerns and we will work to strengthen our UUCT justice network.  UUCT, along with other congregations, has the power needed to achieve justice. Please contact Judy Lane at 813-901-9157 or judylane2003@earthlink.net or Rand Edwards at randwards@yahoo.com for more information.

Also, make sure you have the dates of the major HOPE events in your calendars:

HOPE Rally: Monday, March 23, 2015, at 6:30 pm, location TBD
HOPE Nehemiah Action: Monday, April 20, 2015, at 6:30 pm, location TBD
HOPE Justice Ministry Celebration: Monday, June 8, 2015, at 6:30 pm, location TBD

 

Friendship Dinner

It would be helpful to me if anyone offering either kind of dinner would contact me by phone (813 988- 7272) or email (dw_stickell13@verizon.net). If you have any questions, either mode of contact is fine; if I don't know the answer, I will find one or invent one.

David Stickell

SAVE THE DATE:  DECEMBER 24, 2014

for our

CHRISTMAS EVE CEREMONY

Quick Mountain background: The Mountain was founded in 1979 by UUs that wanted a place to send their children to summer camp. It has evolved into a place where people can come as they are with no need to fear judgement or discrimination. The Mountain is proud to host UU congregational retreats, MountainCamp, Youth CONferences, and many other groups throughout the year.

Coming Up:

Thanksgiving: November 26-30: Start a new Thanksgiving tradition at The Mountain. Take part in a relaxed environment with evening programs, programming for children, and Sunday morning worship service. Thanksgiving dinner will be delicious. The best part: you don't have to cook or clean! Go to mountaincenters.org to register and find out more.

Excerpt from Touching Spirit Bear by Ben Mikaelsen