Spotlight on Search

he Ministerial Search Committee (MSC) is happy to report that we are on schedule and working on the phase of the search process involving communicating with ministers.   Confidentiality is critical at this stage so that's all we're going to say about our work at this time.

Don't forget to look at the wonderful packet web site uutampa.org/search2014/ and to thank Mary Francis, web design; Trudi Diamond, editor; and the many other contributors from the Congregation for their hard work that really shows off UUCT at our best.

For those of you who are new to the UU search process, our denomination's commitment to the democratic process and congregational polity results in a process that may seem unusual. The MSC selects one candidate that is presented to the Congregation.  The Congregation votes to "call" the minister and their acceptance creates a partnership among all parties.  Per UUCT by-laws "The selection of a Minister shall require the consent, by written ballot, of 85% of the qualified Members at such duly called Special Meeting".  However, for good reason, a minister would generally accept a call only if the vote were nearly unanimous.  That's why the MSC is working so hard to find the right person and has agreed among themselves to select no one rather than the wrong one.  But we know the right person is out there somewhere and we are going to find them!

We do expect to be presenting the Congregation with the perfect candidate during the nine day "Candidating Week" in a couple of months.  It will be full of opportunities for everyone to meet our choice for UUCT and to listen to two of their sermons before the Special Meeting.

Change rides the wind and touches our hearts.  How warm and wonderful are the possibilities it brings.

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

  Don't miss our annual

January 24 @ 6pm in the MPB

Suggested donations: $8.00/adult, $5.00/child over 5 years, with a maximum donation of $20/family. Children age 4 and younger are our guests.   Wine and beer $2/glass.

Gluten-free and vegan options!

50/50 Raffle!!!  

Proceeds from this event go to the UUCT General Fund. For questions or to help with the event, Call or email Erin Powers, DRE -  813-789-9178, dre@uutampa.org.

 Valentine's Day Party

Please come celebrate the ordination of Roger Grugel by the Unitarian Universalist Church of Fort Myers.

13411 Shire Lane, Ft Myers 33912

Sunday, February 22 at 2:30 pm 

Reception to follow.

RSVP to rcgrugel@yahoo.com by Feb. 8th 

Adult RE 

On a Tuesday in mid-January, Diana Stevens provided a summary of our UUCT Community Conversation on Growth, Roger Polcyn facilitating.  The web link below is to a powerful community conversation held at Virginia Tech University in Blacksburg is in the form of a lively musical documentary about another school in the mountains not far from Blacksburg, Highlander, where the famous song "We Shall Overcome" comes from!  https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Rwx1LvWNfE8 

With the new, acclaimed movie "Selma" sweeping across theaters nationwide and into our homes, I'm struck by a line or two found in that summary Diana sent out via email on January 13. The words come early in the summary about our Community Conversation on Growth: "Growth is inevitable in healthy congregations. . . . To be healthy is to be vigorous, to have strength, and to use these qualities in taking action."  I think that describes what we mean when we say and sing "We Shall Overcome". That's the message in the film "Selma" in Alabama's voting rights multiracial marches of 1965 from Selma to the state capital in Montgomery.  

A decade earlier in Montgomery, Mrs. Rosa Parks was "vigorous" and had strength when she took action on that bus ride home, December 1, 1955.  I'm convinced of it, and find her recent biographer, professor Jeanne Theoharis, convincing when she chronicles the qualities of that civil rights leader-for-lifetime, Rosa Parks. Jeanne Theoharis published The Rebellious Life of Mrs. Rosa Parks (2013) under the auspices of our Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations.  We are part of the action!  And we have performed our part(s) for a long, long time.  A prime example is the essential role of Unitarian minister James Reeb, assassinated in 1965 as part of the terrorist response to the ongoing voting rights march from Selma to Montgomery.  James Reeb was "taking action" when he was killed on March 11, 1965.  Mrs. Parks, undaunted, continued to be vigorous and strong for decades to come.

We can remember now what would have been the 102nd birthday of Rosa Parks, who lived to be 92 in 2005, when February 4 rolls around this month.

The Wednesday Chalice Circle is hosting a donation drive to collect sheets for children and women entering The Spring Domestic Violence Shelter during the month of February.  We invite UUCT members & friends to help.

Your donation will assist The Spring in its efforts to provide a new set of sheets for every person entering their 102-bed shelter.  Fresh clean sheets can help women and children fleeing domestic violence feel more welcome and safe.  

Chalice Circle members will be on hand to collect donations after the service all four Sundays in February.  Sheets needed:  TWIN-size sheets, 3-piece sets, new sheets only please. 

For more information, contact: Peggy Owens-Mansfield peggyom1950@gmail.com or Denise Seeber deniseseeber53@gmail.com.

 Summary of Community Conversation on Growth

Concerts in the UU Dome

Sunday, January 25 at 3:00 pm

UUCT GAME NIGHT FOR TEENS AND ADULTS 
Friday, January 9th - 6:30pm to 9ish
Come out and play with friends, or make new friends.  Mexican Train Dominoes and Cribbage are big winners, plus anything YOU want to play.  We have six games to choose from, or bring your favorite.  Terrific snacks provided, BYO-drink if not water.

John and Jeannette, manningjea@yahoo.com or tel. 813-857-0468.

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

Take a Mindful Journey with UUs to the Hill Towns of Italy, July 26 to August 4, 2015