THE UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST CHURCH OF SAVANNAH
Weekly Newsletter 
February 1, 2015
In This Issue
Minister and Staff

Rev. David H. Messner

Minister

917-664-4027

[email protected]

 

Director of Music

[email protected] 

 

Nancy Arteberry

Director of Religious Education

[email protected] 


Office Administrator

912-234-0980 


Marc Coulombe
Sexton

912-234-0980 

Maria Martinez
Bookkeeper
912-234-0980

Board of Trustees

 

Trent Kissinger

President

[email protected] 

 

Denise German

Vice President/President Elect

 

Martha Weaver

Treasurer

 

Donne Rolfes

Secretary of the Board

 

Ardis Wood

Trustee At Large

 

Roberta Carver

Trustee At Large

 

Pat Redden

Trustee At Large

Hours and Deadlines

 

Office Administrator's Hours
Sunday, 09:00 am-1:00 pm
Mon.-Wed., 4:15-6:15 pm
Thurs.-Fri., 8:00 am-12:00 pm
Saturday, 10:00 am-12:00 pm
    
Minister's Office Hours 
next week:
Sunday, 2:00-4:00 pm
 Monday, 1:00-3:00 pm
 Friday, 3:00-5:00 pm

Pastoral care requests can be sent to the team at any time to: [email protected]

 

 Deadline for the Order of Service, Weekly Newsletter and Sunday Services Announcements: 

Tuesday at Noon

submitted to [email protected]
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Worship This Sunday
Services at 9:30 and 11:00 am
Question Box Sermon
Rev. David H. Messner

Community conversation as a basic mechanism of our evolving spiritual understanding.

Do you have a question (spiritual, religious, liturgical, ecclesial, moral, practical...) that you would like answered? Send it to Rev. Dave ([email protected]) or bring it with with you, because this year we will be taking questions from the congregation during the service!

Do you have confidence in your ability to provide an answer, or the courage to try?  If so, volunteer by sending your name to Rev. Dave (and which service you will attend) and you may be called upon in the service to provide an answer!  All ages are welcomed to be "lifeline" question answerers.

This would be an especially good Sunday to try out the early service at 9:30 am!  The early service will offer extra chances for interaction and participation. 

Our Worship Associate will be Abby Powell.

Children and Youth will stay in church for our monthly multi-generational service.

Special Music will be provided by Kelly Carlile.

First Sunday Collection to support Hospitality.

Also this Sunday:
JF's Brunch at 10:15 am in Rahn Hall
Youth Choir Rehearsal at 12:30 pm in the Sanctuary
UU101 at 12:30 pm in the Minister's Study

 

The Week Ahead 

 

Thursday, Jan. 29

  • True Colors AA meeting, 7:30-8:30 pm in Phillippa's Place

Sunday, Feb. 1

  • Early Worship, 9:30-10:15 am in the Sanctuary
  • JF's Brunch, 10:15-11:00 am in Rahn Hall
  • Worship Service, 11:00 am-12:00 pm in the Sanctuary
  • Fellowship Hour, 12:00-1:00 pm in Rahn Hall
  • Youth Choir Rehearsal, 12:30-1:00 pm in the Sanctuary
  • UU101, 12:30-1:30 pm in the Minister's Study
  • True Colors AA meeting, 7:30-8:30 pm in Phillippa's Place
Monday, Feb. 2
  • WRUU Radio Media Team meeting, 6:00-7:30 pm in Rahn Hall

Wednesday, Feb. 4

  • Qigong Practice, 11:00 am-12:00 pm in Rahn Hall
  • WRUU Infrastructure Team meeting, 6:00-7:30 pm in Rahn Hall
  • Adult Choir & Vocal Ensemble rehearsal, 6:00-8:00 pm in the Sanctuary

Thursday, Feb. 5

  • True Colors AA meeting, 7:30-8:30 pm in Rahn Hall
Saturday, Feb. 7
  • Pathways workshop, 10:00 am-2:00 pm in Rahn Hall

Sunday, Feb. 8

  • Early Worship, 9:30-10:15 am in the Sanctuary
  • Early Fellowship, 10:15-11:00 am in Rahn Hall
  • Worship Service, 11:00 am-12:00 pm in the Sanctuary
  • Fellowship Hour, 12:00-1:00 pm in Rahn Hall 
  • Youth Choir Rehearsal, 12:30-1:00 pm in the Sanctuary
  • 2nd Sun. Covenant Group (Messner), 12:30-2:00 pm in Phillippa's Place
  • Moving Forward Chronic Illness and Disability Support Group, gathering at 1:30 and meeting from 2:00-3:00 pm in Rahn Hall
  • Pastoral Care Team, 2:00-3:30 in the Minister's Study
  • PFLAG 3:00-6:00 pm in Phillippa's Place
  • True Colors AA meeting, 7:30-8:30 pm in Phillippa's Place
Worship Next Week, Feb. 8
Services at 9:30 am and 11:00 am

Disrobing in Church, or a Reconsideration of the Virtues and Vices of New Wine in Old Skins
Rev. David H. Messner

Reflections on Liturgical Garments and the Modern Liberal Religious Tradition, and the evolving ground of authority.

This is the Service Auction Sermon chosen by Dorothy Holmes.

Our Worship Associate will be Ardis Wood.

Children and youth will attend religious education classes.

Special music will be provided by the UUCS Adult Choir.

Also this Sunday:
Youth Choir rehearsal 12:30-1:00 pm in the Sanctuary
2nd Sunday Covenant Group, 12:30-2:00 pm in Phillippa's Place

� Hans Hillewaert
Attending to Evolution
Minister's Monthly Column on Evolving
Rev. David H. Messner 

Every day, we both confront and create real change in our lives. Some days, when there's too little, we might feel disappointed by the humdrum character of our existence. Then on other days, when there's even the slightest touch too much disruption, we can become overwhelmed and fearful of a destabilized world. Change is a delicate business.

Evolution is about the change that takes place over very very long periods of time. The kind of change that we don't notice, that nonetheless makes all the difference in every aspect of our common existence. The imperceptible pace at which actual evolution occurs is a strange gift. Happening across the span of innumerable lifetimes, each of us as individual creatures is spared the trauma of the most dramatic shifts. Whether making the transition from water to land, or from walking on all fours to walking upright, it wasn't just an individual problem of adaptation but one shared by the community spread across time. Change like this is happening all the time, even in an analogous way in our individual lives.

So we begin our month of spiritual reflection and celebration of evolving and our human capacity to evolve, and consider what the unceasing, all-embracing current of change calls us to do. Peter Schwartz, a futurist and planner, said it well in his book, The Art of the Long View: "Not just our livelihoods, but our souls are endangered-unless we learn to distinguish the significant aspects of the future" and use them to prepare and to shape better ways of living.

It activates a different part of our brain when we imagine changes that could take place over the very long run. We should ask this month: What will be the most meaningful challenges we will face together? What could be the opportunities we will embrace? What will we become? And most important, how might the small commitments and practices we dedicate ourselves to play a role in the "evolutionary" transformation of ourselves, our families and our community?

Let us not fail to see and engage the slow change of which we are a necessary part. May we look behind us to grasp and appreciate how far we've come. May we look ahead of us to glimpse the possibilities of what we might do. And may we especially notice the slow change happening within us right now, because it points to the meaning of being alive.

 

� Graham Ellis
Winter Pathways Classes!
February 7 and 14

We are now preparing for our February Pathways class series at Church.  This time it will be a 2-part series on Saturdays -- we will meet on 2/7 and 2/14 from 10 am - 2 pm each day.

It offers deeper exploration of UU theology and history as well as a chance to connect with a cohort of folks entering the church.  

This is the class to take as prelude to joining the church. This is also a class to take if you are early in your discovery of the church and want to learn more.  Everyone who plans to be a part of the UUCS community on an ongoing basis should plan to participate in one Pathways series (it is offered at least once per season).

To register send a note to Rev Dave at [email protected] or sign-up at the engagement table in Rahn Hall.

Pasta Making Class
February 7, Update from the Service Auction

There is room for one more at the Pasta Making Class! Glenn Cockerham shares his cooking talents in this donated item.  Join him and five others to  learn the basics of the fun and easy process for turning flour and eggs into a dough, rolling it into sheets, and cutting it into pasta. Enjoy the fruits of your labor with a couple of easy sauces for your fettuccine, linguine, and ravioli. $20. 

Contact Margaret Hall at [email protected] or at the engagement table after the late service on Sunday to sign up.

Moving Forward Support Group
February 8, 1:30 pm

Moving Forward, our support group for chronic illness and disability, will resume meeting on February 8 and continue to meet on the second Sunday each month in Rahn Hall after coffee hour. From 1:00-1:30 will be gathering time during the end of coffee hour, then from 1:30-2:30 will be the support group meeting. For those of us interested in the social justice component, those discussions will be held at a different time and location. For more information see Denise Boehner at church during coffee hour or email her at [email protected].

 

"Sounds and Spirits" Concert Series 2015
Saturday, February 14, 2015 - Velvet Caravan

 

Voted Best Local Jazz Band/Artist of 2014, Velvet Caravan combines Gypsy, Honky-Tonk, Swing and Latin, playing upbeat tunes from all over the world with thunderous virtuosity and a relentless sense of humor. Bringing together an eclectic mix of violin, acoustic bass, keyboards, guitar, Caj�n, accordion and percussion, are a motley crew of super talented musicians that draw their roots from Venezuela (Ricardo Ochoa), Serbia (Sasha Strunjas), Austin TX (Jared Hall), Boston MA (Jesse Monkman), and Southern Georgia (Eric Dunn). To purchase tickets and to learn about more music events, go to:


Bid on Lodging in Asheville Today!

An item from our service auction was overlooked, but now you have a chance to bid!  Explore beautiful Asheville: spend your days hiking, rafting, driving through breathtaking views, eating in great restaurants, attending festivals and shopping for one of a kind handmade crafts. Meet other UUs!  Members from the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Asheville are offering bed and breakfast for two lucky winners at their home in Asheville for three nights.  Comparative value?  $375! Opening bid starts at $125.  Interested bidders, please contact Margaret Hall at [email protected] or visit the engagement table after the late service on Sunday.  Bidding ends February 8, so start making plans now!  
2015 Universalist Convocation

Buckman Bridge Unitarian Universalist Church is delighted to host the 2015 Universalist Convocation in Jacksonville, Florida, May 29-31.

We're close to all the attractions that make northeast Florida's First Coast a prime destination for family vacations.

Universalist Convocations are where Unitarian Universalists gather to learn about the heritage of Universalism and how it informs our future as a people.

This year, we have a great lineup of keynoters. Rev. Andrea Greenwood and Rev. Mark Harris are the co-authors of An Introduction to the Unitarian and Universalist Traditions, which may be the best single-volume history on the subject. Rev Jack Ford is well-known throughout Northeast Florida as a dynamic, award-winning speaker. We also have a series of interesting, informative workshops lined up, including a presentation by Rev Pat Ray and Alan Stuart-Tilley about how to start a Unitarian Universalist Christian Fellowship chapter in your own congregation.

Registration, program and tourism information is available on the BBUUC web site, at www.bbuuc.org/uc2015 . We will be keeping the site updated with the latest information. Next May, we look forward to seeing you in Jacksonville!
                        
A Note on Safety in our Neighborhood

It has come to our attention that there was an armed robbery at Troup Square one recent evening. We would like to remind everyone, especially those involved in church activities in the evening, to take good safety precautions. Please be aware of your surroundings and do not walk alone after dark. Please leave the outside lights on. All committee chairs and other group leaders are also asked to keep unattended outside doors locked. It is easy to open the door to your group or committee members (or to ask Anne, the office administrator, to do so). Let's continue to enjoy all the wonderful opportunities at church while being mindful of these simple precautions.

Mark Your Calendars for the Coming Month
  • Monday, Feb. 10
    • Executive Board meeting, 4:30-5:30 pm in Rev. Dave's study
    • WRUU radio governance team, 6:00-7:30 pm in Rahn Hall
  • Tuesday, Feb. 10
    •  2nd Tues. Covenant Group (Ionno), 7:00-8:30 pm in Rahn Hall
  • Wednesday, Feb. 11
    • Qigong Practice, 11:00 am-12:00 pm in Rahn Hall
    • Social Justice and Action Committee meeting, 6:00-7:30 pm in Rahn Hall
    • Adult Choir & Vocal Ensemble rehearsal, 6:00-8:00 pm in the Sanctuary
  • Thursday, Feb. 12
    • Board of Trustees meeting, 6:30-8:30 pm in Rahn Hall
    • True Colors AA meeting, 7:30-8:30 pm in Phillippa's Place
  • Saturday, Feb 14
    • Pathways Workshop, 1000 am-2:00 pm in Rahn Hall
    •  Sounds & Spirits: Velvet Caravan, 4:00-5:15 pm in the Sanctuary with reception after in Rahn Hall
  • Sunday, Feb. 15
    • MH's Discussion Group, 9:00-10:00 am in Rahn Hall
    • Youth Choir Rehearsal, 12:30-1:00 pm in the Sanctuary
    • UU Transcendents, 3:00-4:30 pm in Phillippa's Place
    • ICNS, 4:00-6:00 pm at the Inner City Night Shelter
    • True Colors AA meeting, 7:30-8:30 pm in Phillippa's Place
  • Tuesday, Feb. 17
    • 3rd Tues. Covenant Group (Matthews), 6:30-8:00 pm in Phillippa's Place
  • Wednesday, Feb. 18
    • Qigong Practice, 11:00 am-12:00 pm in Rahn Hall
    • Choir and Vocal Ensemble rehearsal, 6:00-8:00 pm in the Sanctuary
  • Thursday, Feb. 19
    • WRUU Program Team meeting, 6:00-7:30 pm in Rahn Hall
    • True Colors AA meeting, 7:30-8:30 pm in Phillippa's Place
  • Sunday, Feb. 22
    • Children's Song Time, 12:15-12:30 pm in the pre-K classroom
    • Youth Choir rehearsal, 12:30-1:00 pm in the Sanctuary
    • PFLAG, 3:00-6:00 pm in Phillippa's Place
    • True Colors AA meeting, 7:30-8:30 pm in Phillippa's Place