August 2015

Rev. Dr. Doak Mansfield, Interim Minister

Erin Powers, DRE

In This Issue

Happy Trails Party

Desk of the President

R.E.flections

Monday mUUsic

60th Anniversary Celebration

Volunteer Opportunities

UU Principles

Finance Committee

Legacy Corner

Concerts in the UU Dome

UU101

Friendship Dinners

Circles in the Woods

UUCT Covenant

Migrant Food Basket

UU Women Spirit

The Mountain

Love Like Water

Come and join

buildings & grounds work August 8

9-11 a.m.

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The Church Calendar

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Coming Up This Week/Next Week

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Who's Doing What?

at UUCT

Care Committee
circle_of_people

Our Care Team sends greeting cards, makes hospital visits and follows up with congregants who are experiencing joys or sorrows. Please let us know if you or someone in our congregation is in need. Contact Tempie Taudte at care@uutampa.org

Al-Anon

Al-Anon meets at UUCT on Saturdays at 10:30 am each week. For additional information in Hillsborough County, call 813-881-9372 or visit us on the web at www.tampabayalanon.org.

DOMELIGHT
Deadline for Submissions:

17th of each month

Length of Articles:

300-350 words

Submit via email to: domelight@uutampa.org

DL Editorial Board:

Pat Busbice

Mary Francis

Christine Smith

Board of Trustees

Pat Benedict

Bill Blymiller

Randall Gainforth

Kim McDonald
Lynn Parrish

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Other UU Links:

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Happy Trails Party for Doak and Peggy

August 9th is when we will celebrate the time UUCT has had with Reverend Doak M. Mansfield. He will have served this congregation for two years as our Interim Minister. He and the church have accomplished all the goals for an Interim Minister and now it is time for him to move on to his next calling. We have also had the delightful pleasure of knowing Mrs. Peggy Owens-Mansfield. She has added so much warmth and enthusiasm to our community that she will be greatly missed. August 16th will be Rev. Doak's last service with us but they will be leaving shortly after the service to start the trip to their next adventure.

SO, the 'Happy Trails' party will be celebrated on August 9th, right after the service in the sanctuary. Please bring a dish to share, stories to tell and good wishes for Doak and Peggy to send them on their next adventure to Pasco, Washington. Plan to spend some time with the Mansfields and each other in celebrating the last two years.

Help with set-up, preparing/serving food/drink and restoring the sanctuary to its normal configuration will be gratefully accepted.

For more information or your offer to help, contact any of the following members of the Interim Minister Transition Team: Carol Baker, Ralph Lehman, Kim MacDonald, Diana Stevens and David Stickell.

Desk of the President

WUPGH

Randy Gainforth and I attended a Florida President's Convocation in Orlando. Sixteen Florida UU Churches/Fellowships/Congregations/Societies were represented.

What did we find out? Well, everybody has problems and everybody has triumphs and everybody has a story (UU's love to tell their stories). Our Church has faced and worked on some issues here in Tampa that others are just looking at. In other cases we are behind on the curve and were happy to hear that others were there first and could help us when needed.

I have a short list of ideas to bring back to the Board and the congregation - little things that will help us be better in the things we are doing. But it is a short list. We are doing pretty well. It was very satisfying.

We are in the WUPGH (pronounced Whup gah) period. And will be for another month or so. Waiting Until Patricia Gets Here will end when she gets here. But then we will start working together on the things we are waiting on. So take a deep breath and relax (keep coming to Buildings and Grounds day, though).

We have a bright future, a good attitude, and talent. What more do we need? Thank all of you for making that so.

Bill

UUCT

One Place. All Faiths. No Problem.

Eflections

in Religious Exploration

Spirit Play

Spirit Play was a new addition to our Sunday morning Religious Exploration classes last year and it has been well received by our children and RE teachers. Spirit Play is based in Montessori methods and works really well with our PreK-1st grade children. Its gentle manner, along with the freedom to choose which activities are done each Sunday, really honor the inherent worth and dignity of our UU children. Each class begins with opening words and sharing of joys and sorrows. Then a story is told. This is the star of a Spirit Play classroom. Each story has a basket of props that are shared during the story to bring it to life in an engaging way. At the end of the story, wondering questions are explored to ignite a spark of wonder and exploration in our children. Then comes work time. Children have the

Erin Powers, DRE
dre@uutampa.orge

freedom to choose what they might work on. They can explore the story baskets and retell the stories for themselves; they can work at building sacred spaces with blocks. There are puzzles for solving and art supplies for creating. The classroom hums along like a well-oiled machine as our children explore and build a community of creative and wonder-full UU children.

Our Spirit Play class is in need of leaders for the fall. Please contact Erin Powers to sign up!

Beacon Youth Group - meets Wednesdays at 6:30-8:30 in the Youth Room. Youth ages 12-20 are welcome!

Children and Youth Religious Exploration

UUCT mUUsic Group

Meets 7:30pm Mondays

Behold our muse. Not sure how musical you are? Afraid you'll be embarrassed?

Come to mUUsic Group anonymously if you like. Your secret will be safe with us. So, please join us in the Small Dome. We're there every Monday at 7:30 PM.

In the spirit of old-time hootenannys and good-time jam sessions, this is an informal gathering of musicians, vocalists, and just plain music lovers who want to make or listen to mUUsic. Sing, play an instrument, drum, or bang on an upside-down waste basket. Get creative. It's all good.

Everyone is welcome, regardless of ability or experience. So come one, come all, and let the good times roll! Questions: muusic@uutampa.org

UUCT is 60!

The 60th Anniversary T-shirts have been ordered and will be available starting the first Sunday of August.

If you did not get a chance to order one and would like to get one, please contact Judy Lane. We have extra T-shirts. Don't miss out on the UUCT fashion statement of the year.

Social Justice: Volunteer Opportunities at Temple Terrace Elementary School

The Social Justice Committee is organizing volunteer activities for the students and faculty at Temple Terrace Elementary School.

Beginning Sunday, July 19, 2015, we will collect school supplies for needy students. You will find a list of requested school supplies in the order of service. This is a good time to take advantage of Florida's Sales Tax Holiday, which starts on Friday, July 31, at 12:01 am and ends on Sunday, August 2, at 11:59 pm. Look for the donation box located in front of the big dome on Sunday mornings and in the Multipurpose Building during the week. If you prefer, you can write a check to UUCT and put "School Supplies" on the memo line. Our volunteers will purchase supplies with the money you donate.

Would you like to serve as a tutor or mentor? Its fun and very rewarding. Come to our next volunteer meeting, which will be held on Sunday, July 26, 2015, at 12:30 pm in the Multipurpose Building, Room 4 to learn more about it!

Jae Polcyn & Tempie Taudte, Co-chairs
Social Justice Committee

As a member congregation of the Unitarian Universalist Association, we covenant to affirm and promote our

UU Principles:

The inherent worth and dignity of every person
Justice, equality and compassion in human relations
Acceptance of one another and encouragement of spiritual growth in our congregations
A free and responsible search for truth and meaning
The right of conscience and the use of the democratic process within our congregations and in society at large
The goal of world community with peace, liberty, and justice for all
Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part

Summer Plans

This is the time of year the finance committee takes a close look at the 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 when planning your summer vacation spending to also include 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).

LEGACY CORNER

The church's Endowment Committee consists of Christine Smith, Chair, and members Deborah Adles, Rand Edwards and Ralph Lehman. With the recent re-payment of the funds borrowed by the congregation (to fund the Multi-purpose Building) and with a new contribution, the committee was in a position to set up the UUCT Endowment Fund in the Unitarian Universalist Common Endowment Fund (UUCEF). Church Treasurer, Pat Benedict, opened the account on behalf of the church.

The committee is putting into place a policy to spend an amount equaling 4% of the fund annually on a project to be recommended by the board and church committees. In the first quarter of each year, the committee will report to the congregation on the value and disbursement from the fund and what it is funding.

The UUCT Endowment Fund was opened with a deposit of $60,500. Additions to the fund through direct contributions, memorial gifts, bequests, and charitable gift annuities are welcome and will be promoted by the committee throughout the year. For additional information, contact Christine at endowment@uutampa.org.

Please think of the church's endowment fund when you wish to make a gift in honor of or in memory of someone or something. Together, we can grow this important fund!

Concerts in the UU Dome

PRESENTS:
"Joyful Noise With A Side of Jerky" and "The St Pete Shanties" (Double Bill)

WHEN:   Sunday Sept 13th, 3:00 pm

WHERE:   Unitarian Universalist Church of Tampa, 11400 Morris Bridge Rd, Tampa   33637

INFO:   www.uutampa.org/concerts/         813-988-8188

COST:   FREE (Donations Gratefully Appreciated)

JOYFUL NOISE WITH A SIDE OF JERKY is a recently formed trio from St Pete. Their debut performance was a few months ago at Skipper's Smokehouse during a benefit concert for Crescendo (The Tampa Bay Women's Chorus). Suffice it to say that they were very well received. They brought the house down!

Joyful Noise members, all of whom have great voices, are Carla Eastridge /ukulele, Ren� Carroll/djembe, and Gina Poole/multi-instrumentalist, including mini steel drum. Their musical selections include covers from the 60s-90s from the genres of Folk/Pop/Rock/Whimsy/Island/Reggae. Eclectic, (mostly) familiar songs with an island flair, PLUS sweet harmonies PLUS exquisite instrumentation EQUALS a unique, entertaining, crowd-pleasing performance.

https://www.reverbnation.com/joyfulnoisewithasideofjerky

https://www.facebook.com/JoyfulNoiseWithASideOfJerky?fref=ts

THE ST PETE SHANTIES are Capt. Rick Correa, Laurie Clement, Dennis Devine, Kate Kroupa, Fred Seidl and Bruce Witten (plus an occasional special guest). To say that these singers are a lively and enthusiastic bunch is putting it mildly! They sing Maritime Music; ie, Shanties, Fo'c'le songs, Tavern Ballads and Broadside Ballads. Their special mission is to bring to light the shanties sung in the mid 1800s by sailors reaching Florida ports, by the stevedores who loaded and unloaded ships, and by the fishermen who fished the Atlantic or the Gulf of Mexico from Florida ports.   A wee background:   In the mid 1800s, Florida was a major participant in the international trade of cotton on a route called the Cotton Triangle. Sailing ships from New York and Liverpool delivered Florida cotton to the U.S. North and to Europe. Sailors' songs, shanties and songs sung in crews' quarters were mixed with songs of dockworkers and riverboat deckhands which, in turn, had their origins in spirituals and African-American work songs.

The St Pete Shanties have appeared at Eckerd College, The 100th Anniversary Celebration of the St. Petersburg Parks, Pinellas Folk Festival, Sarasota Folk Club, and elsewhere. .

https://www.facebook.com/St.PeteShanties

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CVP0iHJJppw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_9WpLpLQ48

WHAT THE AUDIENCE CAN EXPECT:    An enjoyable afternoon of enthusiastic, eclectic, entertaining, enticing music. Audience interaction is anticipated.   A fine time will be had by all!

Contact Info for Gloria Holloway, Concert Committee Chair:   gshello@tampbay.rr.com or 813-837-6572.

UU 101: An Introduction
Thursday July 30, 2015 ~ 7 PM - 9 PM

Interested in becoming a member? Participation in this two hour class is a vital element in one becoming a member of our congregation. A basic overview of the history and the evolution of the UU ways in spirituality and religion will be offered on a casual dialogue format by Reverend Mansfield. There is no charge. Child care provided. Please call the office to sign up: 813 988-8188.

Friendship Dinner

It would be helpful to me if anyone offering to host a Friendship 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

Circles in the Woods CUUPS

Did you know that July has a Blue Moon?! Yes, on July 30 - but the closest Saturday to the Full Moon is August 1

Money, just to capture your attention

st. So come and celebrate the Blue Moon with us and remember that this is a time of silliness!

In the past, we have had Redneck Pagans, Mafia Pagans, Pirate Pagans. This time join the Po Po Pagans! Better bring cash just in case you need bond money to get out of jail.

Then later in the month, welcome Serenity Circle on August 29th for a very special Full Moon Celebration. We will celebrate an ancient Hindu festival, Ganesh Chaturthi, the Hindu festival celebrated in honor of the god Ganesh, the elephant-headed, remover of obstacles and the god of beginnings and wisdom. Come and join us to honor Ganesh and receive his blessings.

The cost is a love donation and there will be a Moneta basket for offerings. No pets please. Plan to come early or stay afterward to socialize. Come, join us, in perfect love and perfect trust.

For more information about Circles in the Woods CUUPS, e-mail cuups@uutampa.org.

Interesting article on pagan perspective of attending Sunday services http://www.patheos.com/blogs/naturespath/2015/05/the-uu-church-and-the-secret-pagans/

Unitarian Universalist Church of Tampa

Covenant

We the members of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Tampa, covenant with one another:

To strengthen our church community while following our own spiritual paths,

To honor diversity as a source of communal strength and to be a welcoming community.

Because our acts and words weave the web that connect us to one another:

We accept responsibility for what we do and say,

We communicate with one another in kindness and support,

We promote the safety and well being of the congregation,

We practice the democratic process,

We support this church with our money and time,

We make our contributions with compassion and commitment,

We work together to build a joyful community that affirms peace, justice, and spiritual fulfillment.

We hold ourselves and each other responsible for adhering to this covenant.

Migrant Basket - No Drop Off Over the Summer

The migrant workers have moved north for the summer. Our last drop off to them will be May 31; so, please NO donations over the summer months. We will begin collecting donations again in October. Thanks so much for your generosity!

About The Mountain:

Founded in 1979 by Unitarian Universalists, The Mountain Retreat and Learning Center is a nonprofit, year round retreat center and summer camp open to all. The Mountain is located in Highlands, NC and is approximately a two hour drive from Atlanta, GA, Greenville, SC and Asheville, NC. Visit our website, mountaincenters.org, to learn more.

SUUFI 2015 @ The Mountain: October 4-9. For a "boomer week", we planned our 4th Fall Institute! SUUFI blends personal growth and fun, inspiration and relaxation, community and space! Come test your mind and gain experiential skills, yet leave with new options and commitment. Ahh, rejoice: color and coolness of fall in the NC mountains, at our unique UU place, elevated 4200' in early October!! UUs and those of diverse thinking gather for a week of "being", learning, and connecting. Board SpaceShip SUUFI with 2 talented navigators: A UU storyteller (currently performing in Poland) versed in UU Buckminister Fuller's constructs of the earth/universe and a senior UU minister to help us "soar within" ourselves, learning the "ins and outs" of our world. Remembrances, a photo retrospective by Rick Hallmark of Largo, FL, capture SUUFI 2014 so it's attached (click here). Flyer for 2015 (click here), Schedule (click here), and Program Details (click here). Get $25 Early Registration Discount by Registering now at www.mountaincenters.org.

Help us spread the word in your circles. Thanks!! See you at The Mountain!!!

Love Like Water

Water in its clear softness fills whatever hole it finds. It is not skeptical or distrusting. It does not say this gully is too deep or that field is too open. Like water, the miracle of love is that it covers whatever it touches, making the touched thing grow while leaving no trace of its touch. True, the faces of shores and the arms of cliffs are worn to the bone. But this is beyond the water's doing. This is the progress of life, of which water is but an element.

Most things break instead of transform because they resist. The quiet miracle of love is that without our interference, it, like water, accepts whatever is tossed or dropped or placed into it, embracing it completely.

In truth, the more we let love flow through, the more we have to love. This is the inner glow that sages and saints of all ages seem to share: the wash of their love over everything before them; not just people, but birds, and rocks and flowers and air. Beneath the many choices we have to make, love, like water, flows back into the world through us. It is the one great secret available to all.

Source: "The Book of Awakening," Mark Nepo

A Month of Sundays at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Tampa

Services start at 11:00 am

August 2 -- 'A Theology of Baseball' The Reverend Doak M. Mansfield

August 9 -- 'Keeping It Real' The Reverend Doak M. Mansfield
Note: This service will be followed with a "Happy Trails" party for Doak and Peggy.

August 16 -- 'A Few Final Thoughts' The Reverend Doak M. Mansfield
Note: This will Rev Doak's last service as our Interim Minister. We will miss his messages of love.

Gene Klein

August 23-'A Lesson in Hope, Surviving the Holocaust'
Holocaust survivor Gene Klein will be our guest for a special Sunday service on August 23rd. Mr. Klein comes to us with a message of hope against the backdrop of the destruction and despair of the Holocaust. He travels the world to discuss the amazing power of human resilience. There will be a community discussion/ question and answer period following a coffee break after service.

August 30-- Music Sunday! Led by Jae Polcyn and Bill Blymiller
A special treat we allow ourselves every year. Our talented congregation (and friends) will treat us to a Sunday service filled with music and fellowship. Come join us in song!

Rest is not idleness, and to lie sometimes on the grass under trees on a summer's day, listening to the murmur of the water, or watching the clouds float across the sky, is by no means a waste of time.

~ John Lubbock

Contact Info
UU Church of Tampa

email: info@uutampa.org

11400 Morris Bridge Road, Tampa, FL 33637

813-988-8188