Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Lake Norman

An inclusive community embracing individual spiritual growth 
 -- living our beliefs through works


January 2016
    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.  

Upcoming services
        
      Jan. 3: "Spiritual Self Care: Starting the New Year Off Well" with Rev.
Amy Brooks and member Laurie Walker
      Spiritual self-care is often the last thing on our "to do" list.  Let's take some time to start
the year off well, with an opportunity to learn about practical, easy ways to integrate spiritual care into our daily routine and make our days more meaningful.

    Jan. 10: "The Peace Corps in Turkmenistan" with member Grace Bouchoucha
    Grace, a returned Peace Corps volunteer, discusses how the experience shaped her life.

    Jan. 17: "A Reflection on Martin Luther King, Jr." with guest speaker Rev. Justin
Martin
    Martin Luther King, Jr., is one of those modern figures of resistance, inspiration and hope whose message is as important today as it was 50 years ago. Join us for an inter-generational service and an opportunity to hear from another member of the Piedmont UU ministerial team.
    Rev. Martin is minister of education and care at Charlotte's Piedmont UU Church.
    
     Jan. 24: "Resistance: My Journey to Understanding White Privilege" with Rev. Amy Brooks
     White privilege: What is it? Is it real? In this service Rev. Brooks will share her experiences learning about what she now understands to be "white privilege," despite her own resistance and moments of struggle to accept what she was hearing from people of other racial groups.

    Jan. 31: "Unlocking White Privilege"
    It has been our tradition to focus on an issue of concern and social justice on fifth Sundays. This Social Action Sunday, we'll discuss what white privilege is as a precursor to the Unitarian Universalist Association's 2015-16 common read, Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption.

Milestones  
      
     Our warm best wishes to Kerry Miller as he continues to recover from a recent hospitalization.

     Please send healing thoughts to Kim Worthington as she continues her journey of healing.    

Dear Members and Friends,

      There are plans and then life happens -- as it did for me in the last month of 2015! I continue to recover from my unexpected surgery and the required "down time" reminds me how fortunate I am.
Amy BrooksMy deep thanks to all of you for your warm thoughts, calls/texts, and gifts of cards and food!

     However, as you can see elsewhere in this newsletter, plans continue to be
made! We begin 2016 with the theme of "resistance" for the month of January.
Often we want to turn away from things that we resist, but as one of my
teachers taught me, "Lean into your resistance." Surprisingly  I have
learned that the things I resist are often spiritually rich.

    I invite you to consider the theme of "resistance" for your life and hope you will find some powerful opportunities in our Sunday programming this month. See  you
in 2016!

    Yours in faith and service,

    Amy

Sunday morning groups
      
     The Humanist Discussion Group will resume at the first of the year. The topic for Jan. 3 will be: "What is Humanism?" The group will regularly meet on the first and third Sundays of the month at 9:45 a.m. in classroom #2.  All those interested in discussing life from a humanist perspective are welcome  
   
    The Adult Discussion Group group 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.  

Music notes 
             
      Kudos and thanks
      Thanks to all the UU Lake Norman musicians who helped our evening holiday service sparkle: Chris and Dana Brower, Evelyn Paradise, Emma Worthington, John Boles, Eddie Gunn, Kamel Bouch Theresa Woody oucha and Laurie Walker.
     Also, our faithful choir: Jeff Pender, Dan Aldrich, Barbara Haggart, Billie Rosene, Karen Miller and Nicole Ganz. Big thanks!

      Band practice
      Our next musical focus will be on solidifying a basic repertoire for the band that accompanies some of our favorite contemporary songs.

      Small ensembles
      While our choir takes a midwinter break, smaller ensembles such as trios and duets will come to the fore. Please see Theresa if you'd like to participate in the music of UU Lake Norman!
     
 Theresa Woody
 Music Director

Membership
 
    Membership is more than just numbers. Here's how we have grown to 60 members.
    You are responsible for the growth of our fellowship. Every time you greet a visitor or talk with them before and after our Sunday service, you are saying, "You are welcome here."
    The top two comments I hear from visitors: "I did not know you were here" and "I feel at home here." That says a lot about all of you.
     How do people find us? Personally, I distribute a few of the brochures from our visitor table when I get a haircut, visit my bank or have lunch at a favorite place. You can too; it is easier than you think, in the course of a friendly conversation. Some read it, some don't, you never know. We have a Twitter account -- check out @UUFLKN. We have a great Facebook page, but we are in need of someone to manage it -- contact president Veronique Singerman if you can help.
     Membership is all of us pitching in with the work of our Fellowship. Some of the newest members are giving our founders a well-earned rest by helping out with Sunday morning set-up, food, and sound.  Others are active as classroom assistants. What of your talents do you want to grow and share with us?  Contact Marilyn Campbell for volunteer opportunities. Follow us on social media. Drop in on one of the discussion groups on Sunday morning. Check out the book group or the women's yoga group. 
    Many thanks to all of you and warmest wishes for a healthy and happy new year.
    
    Margie Flowers

 Holiday music
     The UU Lake Norman choir was among the performers and participants who helped make the Dec. 20 holiday service joyful -- and brimming with members and friends.

Announcements    
          
     Order of service
     If you have announcements for the Sunday Order of Service for Jan. 10 and Jan. 17, please contact Linda Heydenburg at  [email protected]. The deadlines are Wednesday,
Jan. 6 by 5 p.m. for the Jan. 10 service and Wednesday, Jan. 13 by 5 p.m.
for the Jan. 17 service. Billie Rosene will be gone during that time period.

     Volunteers needed for Sunday worship services 
     The Humanist Group is now handling everything on the fourth Sunday of each month: Set-up, snacks, sound, and take-down. Kudos and much gratitude to that group.  
    Chris Johnson is taking on signs, keys, and transporting the keyboard for nearly every Sunday. Both Chris and Amy Hartman are officially retired from the set-up business. They have covered two Sundays each month for five or so years, and have more than earned our enduring gratitude.
    Some new hands and hearts are needed, particularly for handling the sound system and for the set-up and take-down. Volunteers will be warmly welcomed for part or all of any of these tasks. Please contact Marilyn Campbell, volunteer coordinator, if you or your group is interested. We have instructions and photos and mentoring for all these tasks.  

    Building Fund
    As the year ends, please consider making a tax deductible contribution to UU Lake Norman or its Building Fund. Please mail checks to P.O. Box 991, Davidson N.C. 28036 by Dec. 31.

    Book group
    The group meets at 7 p.m. on Jan. 20 (it meets on the third Wednesdays, a new time). The book is Carolina Israelite: How Harry Golden Made us Care about Jews, the South, and Civil Rights. For more information, email [email protected].
 
    
     Women's Centering Group
     The group meets on Fridays at 8 a.m. at Community Yoga in Cornelius. For more information, contact Laurie Walker at [email protected].

How to contact us

    Our website is full of information on our congregation and Unitarian Universalism. 

    For general questions and comments: [email protected]
    Rev. Amy Brooks:[email protected]
    Music director Theresa Woody: [email protected]   
    Fellowship Committee:
[email protected]
    Member Care Committee:
[email protected]
    Social Action Committee:[email protected]
    Spiritual Exploration Committee: [email protected]
    Book Group:
[email protected]
    Volunteer Coordinator:
[email protected]
    Newsletter editor:[email protected] 

    Board of Trustees:
    Veronique Singerman, president: [email protected]
     Sandy McFeeley, secretary
     Anne Pender, treasurer
     Rodger Clark, trustee
     Dan Aldridge, trustee
     Nicole Gantz, trustee
     Eddie Gunn, 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.