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Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Lake Norman
An inclusive community embracing individual spiritual growth
-- living our beliefs through works
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Our services begin at 11 a.m. Sundays in the Lodge at Woodlawn School,
just north of Davidson. A nursery for children up to pre-kindergarten age starts at 10:45 a.m. in the classroom adjacent to the Lodge. Children in K-5th grade go to Spiritual Exploration following the children's story during the service.
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Upcoming services
March 1: "Laying Our Foundation for the Future" with Rev. Amy Brooks and Marilyn Campbell Join us as we explore what we want to do this year that will shape our future. Hear some ideas from our community and learn what other congregations have done. Get ready to be inspired to commit or recommit to the community of UU Lake Norman! Marilyn Campbell chairs the Stewardship Campaign Committee.
March 8: "Finding Refuge in Everyday Life" with Rev. Mary Frances Comer, guest speaker
Join us today as we consider what sustains us from day to day and how we find refuge in the midst of life's greatest challenges.
Rev. Comer completed her internship at Eno River UU Fellowship in Durham, where she was ordained in September 2014. Her community ministry is with the Charlotte Spirituality Center, where she co-teaches and offers spiritual direction and mini-retreats that connect creativity with spirituality and prayer.
March 15: "Fun, Fun, Fun -- A Celebration of Childhood & Our UU Principles" with Rev. Amy Brooks, Nancy Brower and future UU leaders When you ask our children what they want at worship, the first thing they say is "fun." So help us celebrate and support our children in their spiritual growth: Dress wacky-tacky, bring your favorite stuffed animal, a willing spirit and your sense of humor. Guaranteed to make you laugh! Nancy Brower is the Fellowship's president. March 22: "Anger: Friend or Foe?" with Veronique Singerman Once necessary for our survival, anger is now considered a destructive emotion.Can anger be tamed and be a catalyst for growth and positive change? Exploring the wisdom of Buddhism can help us make sense of these questions. Veronique Singerman is the Fellowship's president-elect.
March 29: Social Action Sunday The Social Action Committee's theme for the year is "Water is a Human Right." We'll talk about the UUA projects regarding water, as well as our own Fellowship's projects about safe drinking water and clean water.
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Greetings Members and Friends,
In a world where there is too much pain, it's important to me to notice when people are taking care of each other. While these things may not change the world, they are small kindnesses worth noting and they change our corner of the world.  So thank you: -- For the many meals, visits and cards that have been made or sent.
-- To those who have made a new, bold commitment to work with our children.
-- For music, especially last Sunday's program -- a gift to be treasured.
-- For our wonderful culture of welcome.
-- To those who reach out through social action projects.
-- For Sunday snacks!
-- To our unsung heroes -- (the volunteer administrators and Sunday set up/greeters) who make it all possible!
-- To those who organize and attend meetings that encourage us onward.
Your contributions are noticed and appreciated.
Peace,
Amy
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Sunday morning groups
For March, the Humanist Discussion Group will begin a new conversation based on a book to be determined at the March 1 gathering. Any interested participant is encouraged to bring a book to share with the group -- and offer insight into what would make it a compelling read for the group. All are welcome, and no preparation is required. The group meets in classroom #2 at 9:45 a.m.
The Adult Discussion Group meets to explore and share what inspires us and the challenges life brings. It meets at 9:45 a.m. in classroom #3 and all are welcome.
Youth Spiritual Exploration (grades 5 and up): Youth are welcome to stay for the service or leave with the children for a separate break-out discussion.
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Music notes
All Sing Choir and UU Lake Norman Band
Thanks to all musicians and readers who participated in the all-music service of Feb. 22. If you weren't there, you missed hearing Eddie Gunn sing "Knockin' on Heaven's Door," Jeff Pender in "Black and White," and the very first presentation by the All Sing Choir. Plus a fabulous set of music presented by the Davidson College group The Melodemics featuring our own cellist, Hannah Lukow. Kudos, everyone.
Welcome, Billie Rosene and John Boles!
If you want to join newcomer Billie Rosene and the other singers of the All Sing Choir for our next presentation, contact Theresa Woody for details (music@uulakenorman.org). We know there are more excellent singers out there....
Children Singing
It's time to brush up on one of the songs we learned last Fall, and prepare for participation in the UU Lake Norman Children's Choir on March 15. If you have a child who likes to sing, contact Theresa. There's time to brush up on our song and join us in our preparations.
Stress Relief
Does attending services at UU Lake Norman make you feel good? That could be due to the inspiring preaching ... the sense of warm community ... and the singing. Studies show that making music together reduces stress more than relaxing with a newspaper or magazine. So forget the bagel and cream cheese, coffee and New York Times, and keep joining us for some real stress relief on Sunday mornings at 11.
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 The All Sing Choir makes a joyful noise at the Feb. 22 all-music service. The House Band and Davidson College's Melodemics joined in the fun for a delightful Sunday morning. |
Canvass!
It's that time again: When the Fellowship asks each of us to think deeply about what it means to us and what we and our families receive from it. And then to pledge our financial support for the fiscal year ahead.
What is a Canvass?
It's a way to conduct a stewardship campaign in which members and friends of a church or fellowship think about their faith community and make a pledge of financial support for the fiscal year ahead.
What happens during Canvass?
Several members have volunteered to be canvassers. One of them will contact you in early March to arrange an in-person conversation. Please welcome this opportunity to reflect on and share what the Fellowship means to you.
The canvasser will also ask you to complete a pledge form. The amount you pledge is a personal choice, and is private. The canvasser does not know the amount of your current pledge, and will not know the amount you pledge for next year.
Our dreams for the Fellowship
Though our dreams remain unchanged, we have higher hopes than ever for reaching them in the year ahead.
To help us grow, in 2012 the UUA gave us a Chalice Lighters three-year grant. It was a success. We moved from two services a month to worship and Spiritual Exploration every Sunday. We are also growing as a congregation -- and learning how to do it better. But the grant will be gone in June, and the budget for next year must reflect our ability to stand on our own financial feet. To fully staff the programs we love and to move toward accomplishing our dreams, we must expand our commitments, our pledges.
The amount of your pledge is a personal and private choice. It should feel right to you.
We are building the foundation for our future!
The Stewardship Campaign Committee
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Mark these upcoming events on your calendar:
Monday, March 23: Room in the Inn
Once again we will be participating in Room in the Inn at Davidson United Methodist Church. This is an opportunity to provide food and shelter to homeless people in the Charlotte area during the winter months. We need people to bring food, set up, and serve and eat with our neighbors, then clean up. A sign-up sheet will be on the back table during Sunday services, or sign up by writing action@uulakenorman.org. Saturday, March 28: Adopt-a-Highway Due to the cold weather in February and because the quarterly date set in April is Easter weekend, the Social Action Committee decided to clean up in March. We'll meet at the home of Bruce and Lynn Henderson at 10 a.m. for a cleanup of Davidson's Concord Road. All supplies will be provided. Write action@uulakenorman.org for details and to volunteer. March 29: Social Action Sunday on the theme "Water is a Human Right" UUA and Fellowship projects about safe drinking water and clean water will be described. It will be a traditional service in which the children go out to Spiritual Exploration class.
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 below). Later in the year, we'll participate in a local clean water project. Stay tuned for more information about how you can get involved.
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.
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Saturday, March 7: Congregational Night Out. We'll meet for dinner at the Brickhouse in Davidson at 6 p.m. For those with children, or the young at heart, gather early at Defy Gravity in north Charlotte at 3 p.m. The cost is $21 for two hours of play. RSVP for either or both by Monday, March 2 to Dana Overcash at dowest529@yahoo.com.
Women of UU Lake Norman, center your mind, body and spirit! The Women's Centering Group meets on Fridays from 8 to 9 a.m. No preparation is necessary. For more information, please contact Laurie Walker at laurie1059@gmail.com.
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Our website is full of information on our congregation and Unitarian Universalism.
Board of Trustees: Nancy Brower, president: president@uulakenorman.org Veronique Singerman, president-elect
Amy Hartman, past president Joe Turner, secretary Anne Pender, treasurer Dana Overcash, trustee Rodger Clark, trustee Remember to "Like" us on Facebook. We announce our upcoming services and events there and hope you will share them with your friends and family.
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