Sept. 6:  "The American Dream" with Rev. Amy Brooks

     "When people are ... given an opportunity, they rise to the occasion to make their dreams reality" (from Wakami). It's Labor Day weekend! Join us to consider the issues of labor, its value, who works, and under what conditions, particularly as this relates to our neighbors to the South.

     Sept. 13: "Embracing our Whole Story" with guest Andrew McKnight

     We are indeed the sum of many parts; not all of them are so attractive to us. Yet as Andrew often jests self-deprecatingly in concert, "if we don't have a laugh at ourselves every now and then we're missing a mighty big source of humor!" During this program Andrew weaves humorous and poignant moments together in a beautiful tapestry, helping to appreciate our perceived faults as gifts as well as our talents.

     

Since permanently leaving his corporate environmental engineering career in 1996, award-winning folk and Americana artist Andrew McKnight's musical journey has traced nearly a million miles of blue highways, and earned him a wealth of critical acclaim and enthusiastic fans for his captivating performances and seven recordings. 

     In a return to theme-based preaching, "invitation" is the theme for September. What or who is inviting you at this moment in your life? Are you being called inward or outward? How do we decide when to say yes or no, or are we just too busy to respond? The invitation to a deeper connection in community and life is deeply spiritual and needs attention and space -- so join us for the morning and give yourself that gift.

     Sept. 27: "The Case Against Hell" with member Chris Johnson

     The next Coffee and Conversation will be on Oct. 11 for those interested in finding out more about our faith and our Fellowship. It's a fun and informative round table discussion. It will be in Classroom #2 at 9:45 a.m. Childcare will be available if requested beforehand. Please write membership@uulakenorman.org if you plan to attend.  

     Youth tour of WDAV

     On Aug. 23, several UU Lake Norman youth, friends, and parents went with me to tour the facilities of the classical radio station, WDAV. On-air host Myelita Melton led the tour and broadcast her announcement breaks from the control room while the group of nine UU tourists watched through soundproof glass. All nine crowded into a production/edit suite, where I recorded the first paragraph 

(called the "billboard,"  in radio jargon) of my next "Choral Showcase" show that aired the following Saturday. Nobody made a noise while I was on mic! Thanks to Ted Worthington for the idea of the tour.

 

     Choir resumes

     Calling all adult singers! Our choir will again be rehearsing on Tuesday evenings at 7:30, preparing music for our services this fall and winter. Yes, we're already practicing for the all-music holiday service in December.

 

     Children's music

     At UU Lake Norman, we like to involve the children during our services. Sometimes we invite any and all children up to the front to ad lib and play on an instrument, without rehearsal. A merry band often accompanies our opening song! At other times, we hold a structured music class before the service, as we did on Sunday, Aug. 30. This is an opportunity to work on musical skills such as singing or playing in a group, listening to the other players, starting and stopping together, learning to play different instruments, and following a director's cues. When we present during the service what we've learned during the class, we have a polished piece with a beginning, middle, and end. Look for announcements in the Order of Service and online when we plan to hold classes in the future. And please see me if you would like your child to attend.