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UU News

Monthly Newsletter of

The Unitarian Universalist Church of Greensboro

An Intentional Liberal Religious Community   January, 2013   

 

UU Church of Greensboro
In This Issue
Worship Services
Sunday Morning Schedule
From the Minister
From the RE Coordinator
From the President
Ministry Notes
Expressions
Adult RE in January
Labrynth Week
Governance and Mission Meetings
Regular Events
Compashionate Communication
Many Hands Project
DFTF
Cabaret!
Social Action News
Peanut Butter Alert
Addiction Workshop
Happy Birthday!
Attendance and Collection
UUCG Covenant
UUCG OFFICERS
TRUSTEES
UUCG STAFF
Congregational CONTACTS
Facebook
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Greetings!,
Welcome to the January edition of our church Newsletter!

The Winter season is upon us and we invite all to share in the life and mission of our covenanted community as we enter our New Year.

Changes this month include a new section that the Coordinating Council requested. It announces all the various team and committee meetings in one place so that members and friends whoi want to participate more fully in the church's governance and mission will know how to contact those sharing their concerns.

If you have any submissions for the newsletter or questions for the editor, please send them to commuucg@bellsouth.net.

Vance Archer
Newsletter Editor

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Liberal Religious Community  

UUCG logoALL ARE WELCOME IN THIS CHURCH

Distinctions of power, privilege, and estate, which apply outside these doors, do not apply within them. Women, men, and children; persons of any color, culture, age, ability, economic status, or affectional orientation; skeptics and those pursuing common or unorthodox religious paths...

All Are Welcome Here!
Sunday Morning and Holiday Worship Services
January  6                 Transform Life Ultimately                   Rev. Posa

January 13                 The God of Martin Luther King, Jr.   Rev. Posa        

January 20                 Lifting Up Our Vision                          Rev. Posa

January 27                 UU's Cultural R/Evolution                   Vance Archer
                                   and the Coming Apocalypse 
                            
The data is coming in and the warming appears to be happening at the higher end of many predictions.  Humans and other life  can't biologically evolve fast enough to keep up.

Culture evolves at a much faster rate than the physical body and appears to be Lamarckian in nature.  A successful Cultural Revolution is our best and perhaps only chance for the successful adaptation of the Web of Life to the coming Climatic Apocalypse. UU's are needed in the forefront of this Revolution and we need to be about the business of figuring out our response to the coming crisis now. I will explore some of the parameters of this UU led R/Evolution.
Sunday Morning Schedule

9:30-10:30
Adult and Children's RE
All are welcome. There are offerings for all ages, (Nursery services provided)
10:30-11:00
Face to Face
Gathering
Informal Gathering in preparation For Worship. (Nursery Services Provided)
11:00-12:15


Adult and Youth Worship

Both adults and children start our service together.  On most  Sundays the children adjourn to their own Sunday Worship which also ends at 12:15.  On Services labeled as "Worship for All Ages," the service will be shared by both children and adults.
Post 12:15
It varies
Typically Rev. Posa meets visitors who wish to know more about our movement.  There are often a variety of ministry team and special interest meetings to attend if you wish to participate.
From Rev. Posa 

 

Rev Eric Posa

Several months ago, at the end of a UUCG board meeting, one of our board members described this church with an analogy that has stayed in my mind ever since. The analogy was with the process of childbirth. There is a transitional phase between the stage of heavy contractions, and the stage where the baby actually leaves the womb and moves down the birth canal. During this transitional phase, it's not uncommon for the mother to start yelling, or even trying to stand up and leave the room. This board member said that, at that time (again, this was several months ago), the church felt like it was in that transitional phase.

On the surface, I realize that analogy looks negative. True, this was at a time when interpersonal conflicts were springing up. None of them were widespread throughout the whole church, most only affected 2-3 people each, but more than one were coming to light about the same time. From what I can tell, most (perhaps all) of them have since been resolved. But even then, the board member noted that this seemed a hopeful place for the church to be - that it seemed we were heading toward the birth of a new degree of health in the dynamics of the church, even if temporarily it felt intense and challenging.

I mention this, to extend the analogy in an even more hopeful direction. At the risk of being overly optimistic, I will share with you that since the analogy was first made, I have come to feel the church is moving out of that transition phase. Lay leaders and staff members alike have commented separately to me that the mood and the tone of the church feels more positive and/or healthy than it has in quite a while.

Even more hopeful in my mind, is that I can think of multiple committee or team meetings in the last two months or so, in which a disagreement over some issue has arisen. However, rather than a conflict hardening, with different sides being taken and the issues being personalized, these meetings have seen people keep listening to each other through their disagreements, assuming good intent on all sides, having even tense and awkward conversations (rather than avoiding the conflict), and focusing on solutions rather than problems. At two different meetings in early December, I remarked on how I wished people who still felt negatively about the church's culture around conflict could have heard the constructive and healthy ways in which the conflicts that arose in those meetings were addressed. In short, when conflicts arise, our ways of dealing with them now are considerably more healthy than they were when Alban Institute church consultant Susan Nienaber reported on this and other issues in her June 2010 report to UUCG.

Granted, there is still some way to go. While some of the concerns raised in Rev. Nienaber's report have improved significantly, others do linger. I'll be talking with various leadership groups over the next few weeks (including the new Healthy Congregations Committee) on how these lingering concerns might be effectively addressed in a more focused way, rather than the good, general work on congregation that has already been done around healthy conflict. And, to quote one person at an above-mentioned December meeting, "This also means we cannot become complacent" about the good progress that has been made. Nonetheless, even as we continue the work of promoting greater health in the congregation, I hope we can also celebrate the real and tangible improvements that we have made in the systemic and cultural well-being of UUCG, that have helped the best of this church come even more forward in recent months.

In faith,
Rev. Eric Posa 
From Cindy Dillard, RE Coordinator

Cindy Dillard

For some, New Year's is a time of celebration-an opportunity to renounce the past and begin anew. For me, it is more like a helpful reminder to be circumspect, to consider what worked well (and what didn't) in recent days, and to make plans for future days to bring hopes and ideas to fruition.

 

In the four short months since I joined the UUCG staff as RE Coordinator, we have had many successes and a few challenges. An entirely new model for Sunday mornings had been put into place when I arrived: 9:30 am RE for all ages (children, youth/young adults, and adults), followed by 11:00am Worship for all ages (gathering together in the Sanctuary, then children and youth/young adults adjourning to their respective experiences). While I was not present for the discussions leading up to this model, it was clear to me that UUCG was making a commitment to providing both educational and spiritual experiences uniquely tailored to its diverse membership.

 

The UUA's online RE curriculum "Wonderful Welcome" has been a guideline for our 9:30am multi-age children's program. Offering RE for children at 9:30am has also provided members who might not otherwise be available to become teachers.If you see "Wonderful Welcome" facilitators Fred Lehman, Marty Ward or Michelle Georgi, please ask them about their experiences working with our children-and thank them for their volunteer efforts!

 

Perhaps the most successful RE initiative this past year has been "Circle Worship," the new worship experience for youth/young adults based loosely on the kinds of worship offered at "cons." Led by Kevin & Lauren Houck, with support by Ian Perkins and Harold Gunn, youth/young adults gather for various kinds of worshipful being, deep-sharing and community building. They also aspire to design their own worship experiences and choose ways of becoming more of a part of the larger life of our church.

 

UUCG's commitment to "Spirit Play" has continued as the 11:00am multi-age worship experience for children. Led by Michelle Lee, and supported by Rissa Tuttle, Laura Graham and Cindy Williams, children are told a timeless story in evocative ways and then are invited to individually work through the ideas of the story with individual activities.

 

Less successful was the initiative to have RE for youth/young adults at 9:30am (concurrent with Adult RE and children's RE). It was proposed that "Riddle and Mystery" be offered, but there simply wasn't participation. Youth Group has also been on hiatus, as has been any involvement on the district or national level. Which leaves me (and lay leaders who care about nurturing our youth/young adults) wondering about what our youth and young adults WANT and NEED from UUCG. They might not know themselves...

 

This leads me to my first goal for 2013 as UUCG RE Coordinator; to have a meeting with youth, young adults and those who support them to determine the direction future programming should take. This meeting will take place this month at a potluck lunch one Sunday after church, with with Rev. Posa and me facilitating.  While we will be contacting families with youth and young adults directly, ANYONE who has an interest in supporting our youth and young adults should feel free to contact me at: uucgre@att.net.

 

Happy 2013-we have many reasons to be hopeful for this new year!

 

Namaste,

Cindy Dillard

UUCG RE Coordinator

From the Congregational President -Charlotte Hamlin  


Charlotte Hamlin

Happy New Year to each of you and UUCG ! In my mind January suggests blazing fire, reflections on the past and bright visions to guide my personal actions and, I believe, an exciting future for UUCG as we continue our personal spiritual journeys and support Unitarian Universalist principles during an era of conflict, violence, and dehumanizing behaviors that grieve our hearts. But the future looks bright for UUCG, and the board and I look forward to working with you in 2013 to build on the vision and dreams developed in the recent Participatory Strategic Planning workshops and prepare for a Developmental Minister to join us in the summer to help bring our dreams to reality.

 

Two important new groups have been established by the board to advance these goals with multiple opportunities for congregational input: 1) the Strategic Planning Committee of the Board, and 2) the Developmental Focus Task Force (DFTF) to discern the developmental theme/issues for which we seek leadership from a new minister and to complete the Developmental Ministry application by April 1st and prepare a visit for the candidate nominated by the UUA Transitions Office. Rev. Posa has been instrumental in working with the board and congregation to prepare us to shape our vision and act to achieve it. I am uplifted by the positive energy and commitment I feel from congregants to realize the UUCG home that we want with vision and wide suport. In addition, in January we will also be called to affirm our commitment and pledge our financial resources to support the work of the church through the Annual Commitment Time (ACT) pledge campaign which Nelson Stover is leading. Be sure to come to church on January 20th for more information about who we are, where we want to go, and what we need to get there. Let's bring those dreams to reality in 2013.

 

--Strategic Planning: With thanks to Elaine Stover and her colleagues, the board received her report summarizing the outcomes of the three fall Participatory Planning Workshops (available on line or handouts in the lobby) and welcomed her willingness to guide the new Strategic Planning Committee to convene in January and begin the process of articulating how to engage various church groups in developing substantial actions to implement the Strategic Plan that was created. Volunteers are needed for this important committee which will work with the new minister in the coming year on the priority areas: Communicating Effectively, Creating Meaningful Experiences, and Building Effective Stewardship, while Continuing to Build Trust.

 

--Ministerial Search Process:. On Dec. 18th, the board approved the charter for the Developmental Focus Task Force (DFTF) and the nomination of Katja Brown to serve as chair. Larry Graham, Betsy Lindsey, Rev. Posa and I serve as the other DFTF members. Reporting to the board, this group will prepare for the Developmental Ministry application in April, identify specific long term systemic developmental issues the church wants to address over the next 3 - 5 years and provide background information about UUCG in 2013.

 

 I asked the DFTF chair, Katja Brown, to share some of her thoughts about this important January initiative and her role. Look for her addition later in the Newsletter. 

 

Ministry Notes - Jan. 2013  

 

Rev Eric PosaThere are a number of new and renewed programs and activities coming to UUCG with the New Year.

Annual Commitment Time (ACT) - We are launching our Annual Commitment Time, or ACT, in January. This is the time when members and longtime friends are invited to pledge their annual financial commitment to UUCG for the July 2013 - June 2014 church year. Our formal launch date will be Sunday, January 20. This will not be a "pledge Sunday", and no financial "ask" will be made; it will be a "Vision Sunday," where we will lift up a shared vision for the church. Please join us. (Also, I will share something about myself that morning, that I have not yet shared with anyone at UUCG. What could it be? Show up on Jan. 20th to find out!)

Focus for Developmental Ministry - UUCG voted in October to pursue a Developmental Ministry. (See my Oct. 2012 newsletter column for more info about this new model for ministry in UU congregations.) One of the major aspects of any 3-5 year developmental ministry period is that the congregation's leadership identifies a focus issue, on which the church will focus its ministry and/or governance work during those years. Our board has formed a Developmental Focus Task Force (DFTF) to guide the process of discerning the focus issue for UUCG. We will have two congregational listening sessions to gain input from the congregation, and share initial findings, related to this focus. The first will be shortly after worship on Jan. 20 - Vision Sunday. A light lunch will be served, and your input will be sought. The second event will be after worship on Feb. 17. Please join us.

Changes in Worship - The Worship Team, in consultation with ACT leaders, are making some tweaks to our order of worship, especially related to our morning offering. The offering will be moved to after the sermon, and (for now) simply called "Offering." (The name may change as we grow into a new understanding of the role Offering plays in worship.) Also, rather than paring the Offering with "Celebrating Our Abundance" as we have the last couple of years, we will now lift up, in a focused way, one particular ministry of this church each week. This will move to the end of the Announcements period. Also, as noted in recent eAnnouncements, we have returned to an earlier intent for our Gathering Songs, for them to serve as music to help gather us before worship, so these will now begin at 10:55 AM. These may or may not be permanent changes, but our Worship Team is committed to trying them for a few months, to be clear about how they might more effectively meet the worship needs of UUCG. Feedback is welcome, either to me, or to Worship Team chair Barbara Hands.

New Adult RE Offering - On Sunday mornings in January, adults (and youth) are invited to gather in the sanctuary at 9:30 AM for Adult Religious Education (RE). Our January classes will explore the intersection of spirituality and social justice, by exploring a different figure each week who has integrated their faith commitments with their passions for justice:
Jan. 6 - Thich Nhat Hahn (Zen)
Jan. 13 - Martin Luther King, Jr. (Protestant)
Jan. 20 - Dorothy Day (Catholic)
Jan. 27 - Starhawk (Wiccan)

Sunday schedule - As you will note from the Adult RE schedule above, we will focus on Dr. King's life and work this year on the Sunday closest to his actual birthday (Jan. 15), rather than on the Sunday closest to the MLK holiday (Jan. 21). This will also be true of our worship schedule - I always preach on MLK Sunday every year; this year, we're simply moving that sermon a week earlier than we might have done in other years. Also, I had previously announced that we would conclude our occasional sermon series on forgiveness and reconciliation in mid-January. However, given how much we are doing as a church in mid-January, I will move this sermon on reconciliation to the first Sunday in February. Contact me if you have any questions.

In faith,
Rev. Eric Posa 

Expressions and Pot-Luck  - Wednesday Evenings 

music yellow noteJoin us as we explore the connections between art and spirituality. 7pm every Wednesday. 

 

Jan 2  -  Mark Freundt                                  Bells

 

Jan 9 -    TBD

 

Jan 16 .- Ed Shepherd                                 Sacred Bowls
 
Jan 23 -  Vance Archer                                Guitar, Fiddle, Autoharp

Jan 30  - Earl Inge and Chris Binkowski   Guitar and Cello 
 
Each Wednesday at 6pm, please also join us for a pot-luck dinner.
In an effort to uphold our Green Sanctuary status and to cut down on dish-washing, please bring your own place setting. THANK YOU!.

Adult Religious Education in January  

 Sunday Mornings from 9:30-10:30                                                                                        

MLKing

Ghandi

 

Sunday mornings at 9:30 will resume our series of classes led by Rev. Posa. 

Jan. 6 - Thich Nhat Hahn (Zen)
Jan. 13 - Martin Luther King, Jr. (Protestant)
Jan. 20 - Dorothy Day (Catholic)
Jan. 27 - Starhawk (Wiccan) 
 
Watch the weekly announcements for details of this and Thursday night's classes.
for more info, contact Steve Pearsall
Labrynth Week

 

Labyrinth

New Years Labyrinth Week December 26th to January 2nd

Join us for one or all of the opportunities for group walks during the New Years 2013 Labyrinth Week. A New Year's walk can be a ritual releasing of the old on the way into the labyrinth, creating space for receiving in the center, and then returning to the new year to begin again.

 

Expressions              7:00 p.m.                    Wednesday, Dec. 26th

Music and readings to accompany our labyrinth experience following the potluck supper at 6:00 p.m.

 

Worship                     11:00 a.m.                   Sunday, Dec. 30th

Our special guest speaker is Rev. Marion Stewart for an all ages worship service. Gathering songs will begin at 10:55 a.m.

 

NEW YEARS EVE 

Family Overnight      6:00 p.m. until...        Monday, Dec. 31st

New Years Eve join us for potluck dinner at 6:00 p.m., then a ritual walk at 7:00 p.m. followed by fun and fellowship throughout the night. The labyrinth will be available for individuals to experience as they wish. Breakfast and coffee will be available at 8:00 a.m. Bring your musical instruments, your sleeping bag, your journal, or anything else that may add to the fun. All ages welcome; children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult (but adults do not have to have children).

 

NEW YEARS DAY 

Open Walk                 ... until noon              Tuesday, January 1st

 

Close labyrinth                                              Wednesday, January 2nd

We will reset the sanctuary chairs after a ritual and practical sweeping, then folding of the cloth labyrinth.

 

If you have any questions or would like to participate, contact

Michelle Lee nc.dogwood@yahoo.com  or 336/509-0194.

 

Namaste,

 

Cindy Dillard

 

UUCG RE Coordinator
Team, Committee Meetings and ways to help out
Some of the Teams and Committees that make our UUCG mission real have regular meetings.  Others meet irregularly or virtually and accomplish their missions without regular meetings. The list below contains the meeting time and location of those teams and committees that meet regularly.  Feel free to attend any of these meetings as they are all open.  We invite your participation in our church's governance and mission.

Coordinating Council Meetings
The Coordinating Council meets on the 2nd Tuesday of the month at 7:00 PM in the Sanctuary.  This monthly meeting is where the complex church meeting and mission schedule is worked out by our various Team and Committee Chairs.  The Council is chaired by Rev. Posa and Karen Madrone, VP. This is an open meeting.

Board of Trustees Meetings
The Board of Trustees meets on the 3rd Tuesday of the month at 7:00 PM in the Sanctuary,.  This monthly meeting is where Governance Decisions are made for our Church.  This is an open meeting.
  
                                                Worship Team Meetings  Worship Team

Our Worship Team meets once monthly, on the first Wednesday of the month before the Potluck. Contact Barbara Hands if you are interested in helping this team.  

 
Healthy Congregation Committee 
The Healthy Congregation Committee (Sue Beck, Chair) will hold its first meeting on Sunday, January 20th at 9 am at the church.. You are encouraged to attend this organizational meeting. We will present the Board Charge for our committee, discuss our behavioral covenant, and create an agenda for our next meeting.
 
Social Action Team Meetings 
Regular meetings of the Social Action Team are scheduled on the second Sunday of each month following the service. Opportunities for volunteering with SAC include hands-on, nitty-gritty tasks and work toward policy change to benefit Greensboro's residents.

Music Team Meetings
The Music Team meets after Church on the Sunday before the Coordinating Council.  This is typically the 2nd Sunday of the Month.  Meetings are typically held in the Library.
Regular Events
     
Feeding the Hungry at Urban Ministries, First Monday of each month 

On the first Monday of each month a group of volunteers from our church shop for and cook a meal for the homeless at Urban Ministries. We are in the process of building a new team to carry out this important project.  If you would like to be part of the action, contact Ken Knight at oldpeacenik@gmail.com or at 288-0103.    

 

Men's Night Out, Monday, Second Monday each month
Join us at our next Men's Night Out beginning at 6:00 p.m. at Mi Pueblo,3911 Tinsley Drive in High Point at 6 p.m. for dinner and fellowship.
  
Ladies' Night Out, Last Monday each month (* We're Not Meeting in December!)  
 Ladies Night Out occurs the last Monday of the month at the Saigon Restaurant at the southwest corner of High Point Rd. and Merritt Drive. It's yummy Vietnamese cuisine with delightful and revealing conversation amidst lots of laughter. We meet at 6:30 pm. Newcomers are always welcome. Coordinators Mary Davis (586-0188) or Janet Plummer (294-6364) should be contacted before 5 pm if you plan to attend.
 
 
Men's Night Out 2, Last Monday each month 
A second Men's Night Out is held the last Monday of each month.  We will meet at Applebee's on Battleground Ave.              

Compashionate Communication  

Sue beck

   

Introduction to Compassionate Communication will be held on

Saturday, January 26th from 9 am to 1 pm. Coffee and snacks will be available. During this four-hour session we will watch Marshall Rosenberg explain and demonstrate Nonviolent Communication principles; complete exercises from our own life experiences; and participate in informal discussions. All are welcome to attend. Signup sheet is on the bulletin board next to the kitchen. Call or email Sue Beck, facilitator, if you have questions.

Compassionate Communication Practice - Thursday, Jan. 3rd (7pm - 8:30 pm) or Sunday, Jan. 6th (9 - 10:30 am) Subject: Observing without Judging. Observing and judging can be a survival skill. When is it inappropriate and why? Come to this Practice session for more information and an opportunity to practice compassionate communication. All are welcome to attend.

 

Many Hands Make Light Work

On January 20th the Coordinating Council will kick off a new initiative called "Many Hands Make Light Work", or The Hands Project for short. The Hands Project is a really easy way for people to be involved in the church by agreeing to take on a specific, time limited task. Over the years we have heard from people who say they want to be involved but do not have time to serve on a team or committee. We completely understand this concern; therefore, we have created a way for people to choose a specific task through The Hands Project.

On January 20th a chalice created from pictures of members' hands will be placed on the library window facing into the foyer. Inside the chalice will be individual tasks that members can choose. Every task will have a form to complete so that the contact person for that task can follow up. We are excited about this opportunity for more people to be involved in the life of the church.
Developmental Focus Task Force (DFTF) 
Katja Brown

I am honored that the Developmental Focus Task Force (DFTF) has selected me as their chairperson! This is my first experience leading a task force and I am up for the challenge! In order to get ready for the April 1st deadline for the Developmental Ministry application, the DFTF will have to gather data and get input from the congregation, develop a focus on which challenges this congregation will face in the next few years and submit our findings to the board for their approval at their meeting on March 19, 2013.

 

The DFTF is going to keep the congregation informed and will solicit their input through different media. For example, in addition to distributing information through our church website and e-mail newsletters, we are also going to post some information on the bulletin board next to the kitchen and we'll have handouts. Please don't hesitate to approach any of our DFTF members (myself, Larry Graham, Charlotte Hamlin, Betsy Lindsey or Eric Posa) and give us input about the particular questions that we are going to ask during the two congregational input sessions. Please put the following dates in your calendar:

 

- January 20th.  We will have a luncheon after the 11a.m. service and then invite the congregation to an information session about the developmental minister search process that will take place in the sanctuary. We are hoping for a great turnout since this event will coincide with the kick-off of the Annual Commitment Time (ACT) pledge campaign.
- A follow-up event is planned for Sunday, February 17th after the service.

 

We strongly encourage each congregant to participate in this process!

 

Katja Brown

Cabaret!


  2011 Cabaret logoThe Cabaret Auction date is set!  Mark your calendars for Saturday, March 9th, 2013. 

 

The Theme for this year is "Comedy Tonight!"

To make this fundraiser a success, we need your help!  Please consider donating something to this fun-raising and fund-raising event.

 Here are some suggestions for you to think about:
  • Host an event - dinner at your house, outing to a museum or vineyard, a games night
  • New or very gently used items of good quality and good value - jewelry, electronics, decorative items
  • Handmade items - paintings, woodwork, jewelry, knitting, baked goods
  • Services - lawn care, babysitting, dog-walking, car washing, tutoring
  • Large items - furniture, sports equipment
  • Time at your cabin/beach condo/time share 

To donate, fill out a donation form in the church lobby and leave it in the box.  Can't wait to see what treasures await us this year!

 

If you have any questions about the Cabaret or would like to volunteer to help with this great annual event, please contact Co-Chairs Katie Klod or Lauren Houck. 

 

If you would like to perform on-stage at the "Comedy Tonight Cabaret" please contact our stage manager Kevin Houck. 

 

Social Action Team news
.

SAC is still selling Attractions, those books with terrific coupons for dining, home improvements, and various services. Each book is $25, and half of the proceeds come to the church. That profit pays our pledge to Shepherd's Center for its ongoing programs that benefit senior citizens in our community.

 

SAC received donations totaling $355 for the 2012 Crop Walk. We invite a family or group from the church to recruit walkers for the downtown walk next year. SAC will continue to sponsor this endeavor that raises much needed money for Urban Ministry's services.

 

Regular meetings of the committee are scheduled on the second Sunday of each month following the service. Opportunities for volunteering with SAC include hands-on, nitty-gritty tasks and work toward policy change to benefit Greensboro's residents.

 

Look for announcements of our holiday project in Orders of Service and the next newsletter. No decision has yet been made; if you have a suggestion, we will be glad to consider it.

 

Submitted by Sara Bourquin, Sue Cole, Becky Floyd

 
4th and 5th Sunday Collections for 2013
Culture task force logo
The Social Action Team had 28 nominations for these collections, and there are only 16 Sundays in the year.  We had to make some tough decisions, and here is the list for the coming year:   

Greensboro Urban Ministries, Mental Health Associations in Greensboro and High Point, Environmental Stewardship Greensboro, Angels Among Us, FaithAction International House, Triad Health Project, Adult Center for Enrichment, Interactive Resource Center, New Arrivals Institute, Hospice of Greensboro, Hospice of High Point, Servant Center, Guilford County Animal Shelter Rescue and Foster Program of North Carolina, Win-Win.

Thanks to all who made nominations and all who helped us make difficult decisions.
PEANUT BUTTER ALERT
peanut butter
Thanks to everyone at the Unitarian Universalist Church who contributed to the 72 pounds of peanut butter and nonperishable food collected last month for the Greensboro Food Bank.

Becky Floyd
Addiction Workshop
Addiction Workshop

 

UUCG Lay Pastoral Care Associates January, 2013 Report

LPCA (Lay Pastoral Care Associates) is committed to providing a confidential, caring response to the needs of members and friends undergoing stressful life challenges. The Care Team, a second and separate arm of the UUCG Care Program, provides meals, transportation and errands for congregants.

 

Since the LPCA program began in March 2010, we have responded to many direct personal requests and have followed up on concerns expressed in 'Joys and Sorrows' in Sunday services. We are also working with our interim minister, Rev. Eric Posa, to assist with some of the pastoral care needs which come directly to him. We have had more than one hundred contacts with congregants.

 

Ten trained associates are involved in the LPCA program and were formally commissioned by the minister during the Sunday service on October 3, 2010. Associates and the Minister meet on a monthly basis for mutual support, to plan programs and to discuss specific needs of our congregation.

 

We have expanded our responsibilities and provided workshops for members and friends of UUCG. The subjects of these workshops have been Unemployment Issues, Suicide Prevention Awareness and Depression. All of these were well received and attendance has been very good. We continue to see positive effects from these initiatives. Our group is sponsoring an Addiction Workshop on February 5, 2013, at 7:00 PM (refreshments at 6:30 PM) in the UUCG sanctuary. This workshop will be conducted by ADS (Alcohol and Drug Services).

 

Additional LPCA activities have included:

             *Responsibility for the church's pastoral care along with managing the Minister's

             Discretionary Fund when UUCG was without a minister.

            *Facilitating memorial services for members and friends.

            * Developing a file listing available resources of community agencies and helping  

               professionals. The list can be found in the drawer of the sanctuary Care Table.  

              

We have also created three sets of guidelines for the Minister and Care Programs of UUCG.

            *Guidelines for Minister's Discretionary Fund Disbursements for Minister and LPCA

            * Memorial Service Planning -Information for Minister, LPCA, Care Team and

               Memorial Service Team

            *Guidelines for Special Anonymous Donations to Minister's Discretionary Fund  

 

LPCA is committed to standing with others in challenging situations and to do what we can to help. Please let us know if LPCA can be of assistance to you or someone you know. Requests can be made by completing a request form from the Care Table in the Sanctuary and dropping it in the Care Box in the Foyer, by email, phone or direct contact.

 

LPCA Co-Chairs:

Janet Eley eleyjanet@yahoo.com   617-4666   Liz Harrell   lizbd99@earthlink.net   286-5016

 

Care Team Chair:

Suzanne Andrews sand3420@aol.com   869-6043

 

Summary of the December 2012 Board of Trustees Meeting

Sorry the Summary of the December Board Meeting didn't make the Newsletter, we will include these highlights in our weekly announcements.

 

Birthdays this month 



 Jac Grimes, London Perkins, Mark Freundt, LeAnn Weih,
Rod Swonger, Mildred Owens, Bill Lowrey, Dave Garson,
Chris Kennedy, Janna Melsness, Susan Andrews,
Mariela Perez-Simons, Kirsten Stoller, Michelle Hutchins, Xoey Kelly, Eric Cook, Guy Gunn, Matthew Adams, Dakota Spooner, Tess Wynn, Clara Wynn, Harrison Wilson, Jason Grimes, Abigail Pearson,
Kaiya Smith, Jade Rector, Jonathan Tatzel

Attendance and Collection


Worship Counts -
                                 Adults    RE C     A             Collection
December 2              121                                    $3,570.64 
December 9              102                                    $3,702.81
December 16              94                                    $2,112.90

Chalice Logo

UUCG Covenant 

We, the members of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Greensboro, do covenant to:
  • Promote a search for personal meaning, respecting individual truth in a community process of quest
  • Speak and act with caring, courtesy and love thereby maintaining emotional, physical, and spiritual safety for all
  • Support UUCG and denominational efforts with our resources
  • Combat injustice while promoting equality
  • Nurture our children on their spiritual journeys
  • Hold ourselves to this covenant, especially during times of conflict and disagreement

UUCG OFFICERS 

Charlotte Hamlin, President                                                                              chamlin1@triad.rr.com
Karen Madrone, Vice President                                                                          kmadrone@juno.com
Lonnie Houck, Treasurer                                                                               lonnie.houck@gmail.com
Ken Williams, Secretary                                                                                        williams@ncat.edu

TRUSTEES

Michelle Lee (2015)                                                                                          nc.dogwood@yahoo.com  

Stephanie Blake (2014)                                                                                       cicciblake@triad.rr.com 

Myra Anne Geese Dean (2014)                                                                    myraannegesse@yahoo.com
Steve Andrews (2013)                                                                                               sand3420@aol.com    

Suzanne Deering (2015)                                                                                         zanned@earthlink.net  

Katja Brown (2013)                                                                                                     sabrown@ieee.org 

UUCG STAFF


Reverend Eric Posa, Interim Minister
Office Hours: Please call church office for appointments
Office Phone: 856-0330, Cell: 508-7568 E-mail: uucgminister@bellsouth.net

Julie Hamilton, Congregational Administrator
Office Hours: Please call church office for appointments
Office Phone: 856-0330, Fax: 856-0384 E-mail: uucgadmin@bellsouth.net

Mark Freundt, Director of Music
Office Hours: Please call church office for appointments
Office Phone: 856-0330, Cell: 908-1103 E-mail: uucgdirmu@bellsouth.net

Cindy Dillard, RE Coordinator
Office Hours: Please call church office for appointments
Office Phone: 856-0330  Cell (614)975-0126 E-mail: uucgre@att.net 

Walter McCorey, Sexton

Tuesday, Thursday & Friday (times vary based on needs).
Cell Phone: 414-0163 (in case of building emergencies)

Congregational Contacts


Building and Grounds                                Jim Roeder
Care Team                                                 Suzanne Andrews & Joy Hamlin  
Communications                                        Katie Klod & Vance Archer
            Newsletter                                      Vance Archer (Editor) - Katie Klod (Associate Editor)
            Website                                           Mariella Perez-Simons, Vance Archer
Congregational Culture Taskforce               Laura Graham
Coordinating Council                                   Karen Madrone
Denominational Affairs                               
Endowment Fund                                        Dennis Hands
Fellowship                                                   Cindy Williams & Karen Madrone
Finance                                                       Steve Pearsall                                                             
                        Cabaret Auction                  Lauren Houck & Katie Klod
Governance Task Force                              Hope McLean & Sharin Francis
Labyrinth                                                      Steve Pearsall & Ken Williams
Lay Pastoral Care Associates                    Janet Eley & Liz Harrell
Lifespan Religious Education (RE)             Open
Membership                                                 Vance Archer
Music                                                           Sue Sherwood & Marilyn Clayton
Committee on Leadership Development     Harold Gunn
Policies and Procedures                              Michelle Lee
Social Action                                                Sara Bourquin, Sue Cole, Becky Floyd                
            Green Sanctuary                              Sue Cole, Elaine Stover 
            GLBTQ                                             Karen Madrone
Worship                                                        Barbara Hands