Our sympathy goes to Valena and Bobby McMurry in the passing of Bobby's father, Robert Miller McMurry, on Jan. 17 in Shelby.

    Congratulations to Eddie and Naomi Gunn on the birth of their great-granddaughter, Haven, on Jan.16, and best wishes to new parents Desaree and Austin, who often visit the Fellowship.   

    We offer our care and sympathy to Nancy Embry and family on the sad occasion of the death of her brother-in-law. We also extend our congratulations to Nancy at the birth of her (third) grandson, Samuel. 

    Please send brief items sharing news of births, deaths and other significant milestones to newsletter@uulakenorman.org.

    No sooner does the new year begin than I receive solicitations from the dozens of non­profit organizations I support or wish I could support. How do I decide? Here are some of the criteria I consider:
    Am I passionate about the mission?
    Does it build for the future?
    Does it promote social change?
    Does it create relationships?

    When it comes to UU Lake Norman, I can easily answer "yes" to all of these questions. Furthermore, I can list a whole bunch of things my family and I receive from this congregation: kindness, support and love; the freedom to explore and to grow spiritually; a way to serve the greater good. To me these are immeasurable.

    As our canvass committee prepares to ask each of us what we can give this year, I hope you will take the time to think about what matters to you about our Fellowship, what you receive from the people here, and what we are building for the future.

    I am grateful for what we offer and what we are becoming.

    Yours in faith and service,

    Amy

    Guatemala Service Trip

    UU Lake Norman is partnering with Piedmont Unitarian Universalist Church to support a service trip to Guatemala from June 27 to July 5 this year. In collaboration with Mayan Families, participants will be involved in a project supporting a community in the Lake Atitlan region. Mayan Families is a nonprofit organization that promotes the health and well-being of indigenous communities facing extreme poverty in Guatemala, through education and community development programs.  

    We encourage you to attend our informational meeting to learn more about this exciting trip, or reach out to Amy Hartman for more information. The meeting will be held April 16, 7-9 p.m., at Piedmont UU, 9704 Mallard Creek Rd. in Charlotte.

    In conjunction with this trip, the Social Action committee will be raising money to purchase water filters for the schools or local community around Chuk Muk, Guatemala. These water filters will provide a local school or family with hundreds of gallons of clean water. Each filter costs $121, including a wooden stand built by youth in the Mayan Families woodworking class.  

    Water is a Human Right
    "Water is essential to human life. Yet, three quarters of a billion people around the world lack clean drinking water. The United Nations has reported that more people now die from contaminated water than from all forms of violence. The human right to water -- access to safe, sufficient and affordable water for everyone -- is more important than ever." -- Unitarian Universalist Service Committee

    Water as a human right will be a main focus for UU Lake Norman in 2015. We will start by raising funds for water filters for families in Guatemala (see above). Our Social Action Sunday in March will highlight some of the issues around water. Later in the year, we'll participate in a local clean water project. Stay tuned for more information about how you can get involved.