Secondly, after the four sessions on "Promises, Promises"...we will continue on Thursday evening by exploring "The Wi$dom Path".  This is another Tapestry of Faith curriculum for adult UUs.  This one will be 12 sessions of looking at our relationship with money!  Come take a journey with me from dis-ease to ease!   

The third opportunity to keep your New Year's resolutions will happen on 2 Saturdays in February and 2 in March...Dr. Rita Layson will lead 4 sessions called "Can you plan your death!".... Seriously, can you? These will be informative times with those in the know who can help you not only ask the difficult questions, but find answers right for you and your family.  No matter what your New Year's Resolutions are, I am guessing you are again promising to do something you've been putting off.  Promises, money and planning for dying....all opportunities to learn together, to be a faith community together!  Make one of your resolutions to be there!

Rev. Ann Marie

We need 4-5 more adults to complete the teaching teams.  The Teaching Team for Chalice Club (9:30-10:30) is blessedly filled with: Fred Lehman, Manessa Green, Marty Ward & Michelle Giorgi.  At the 11:00 hour, we have Lauren Houck, Benn Kuecker and Robin Lewis with our 6th-12th graders (Sojourners-still looking for one more teacher); Ken Williams, Sara Chenoweth, Marty Bergman, Tom Burwell and Jeni Gagne with our 2nd-5th graders (Gatherers); and Dakota Spooner and Cindy Dillard with our preschool thru 1st graders (Wonderers-still looking for three more teachers).

I was recently talking with Rev. Ann Marie about this situation, and she reframed my concern about trying to recruit teachers by stating that we need to be reminded: OUR CHILDREN -- they are ALL our children. And we ALL have a responsibility to raise our children in our faith.

It doesn't matter if you don't have children, or if you've never been a teacher.

We all have a responsibility to our children (as we do to one another).

• If you delight in watching our youngin's come up for the all-ages story , you might find a new calling at UUCG as a YRE teacher.

• If you have nurtured children in your life-as a sibling, parent, grandparent, guardian, big brother or big sister, you might find a new calling as a UUCG YRE teacher.

• If you find yourself drawn in public to a child who is being emotional, and you approach (or consider) the child/family not with scorn or annoyance, but with empathy, you might be a UUCG YRE teacher.

If you would like to learn more about UUCG's YRE program, and if you'd like to learn how to get involved, please contact: Cindy Dillard (uucgre@att.net).

Join us for one or all of the group walks during

New Year's Labyrinth Week 2013-14!.

Worship for All Ages   11:00 a.m.    Sunday, Dec. 29th

A lovable furry old monster will talk about fear and the surprise he found at the end of his journey.  Both the walking labyrinth and finger labyrinths will be available for those that would like to experience this ancient ritual.   

Gathering songs will begin at 10:55 a.m.    

NEW YEARS EVE

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

Join us for a meaningful event for all ages!  Potluck dinner begins at 6:00 p.m., then a labyrinth walk at 7:00 p.m., followed by fun and fellowship throughout the night.  Come for part of the evening or stay all night!  Bring your musical instruments, your sleeping bag, your journal, or anything else that may enhance the experience.

(Note: children 12 & under must be accompanied by a parent; teens up to 18 may stay overnight with a signed parental release.  

See Cindy Dillard or Michelle Lee for more information.

NEW YEARS DAY 

Open Walk            ... until noon              Wednesday, Jan. 1st

Coffee will be available at 8:00 a.m.

Expressions         7:00 p.m.                    Wednesday, Jan. 1st

Music and readings to accompany our labyrinth experience.  Potluck begins at 6:00 p.m.

Close labyrinth                                        Saturday, Jan. 4th

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

If you have any questions, please contact

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

Adult Puppet Show!

 

Jackals and Giraffes

First Sundays we will continue our ongoing sessions on Compassionate Communication.

Sunday, Jan. 5, 2014 9:30 a.m.

Starring The Healthy Congregation Com.:

Becky Floyd, Bill Haney, Donya Lucas, Larry Graham,

Marie Houck, Phoenix Harmony, Sue Beck

Audience Participation is Encouraged!

Bring your favorite food from another land!

Come share your international flair!

Please label your dish including its country of origin and what is in it.

This is a family event where adults and children are welcome.

We will have stories from around the world.

In an effort to be green, please bring your own plates and silverware.

A signup sheet will be on the bulletin board by the kitchen.

For more information contact: the fellowship team

Cindy Williams at 674-0535 or cmmrw@triad.rr.com

• January: Urban Ministry
• February : Interactive Resource Center and Servant Center 
• March: New Arrivals Institute and Faith Action International House
• April: Environmental Stewardship and Out of the Garden   
• May: Guilford Child Health and Triad Adult and Pediatric Medicine  
• June: Community Housing Solutions  
• July: Urban Ministry
• August: Mental Health Association
• September: Guilford Green Funding (funds GLBT high school youth) and Local Homeless  Education Liaison at Guilford Cty Schools 
• October: Guilford County Animal Shelter Rescue and Foster
• November: Guilford Hospice and High Point Hospice
• December: Triad Health Project

Request forms for both Lay Pastoral Care Associates and the Care Team are available on the table near the back window in the sanctuary.  If you would like help with something or know of someone who may need support,please fill out a form and place it in the care box.  

The Care Team, headed by Sara Bourquin ( Sara's Email Link or 632-1616), assists with meals and transportation.  Janet Eley (Janet's Email Link or 617-4666) oversees the Lay Pastoral Care Associates, who provide a confidential, caring presence to congregants undergoing stressful life challenges.

Around 1 in 5 adults in Guilford County - about 75,000 individuals - lack the basic skills to fill out a job application or read a children's book.  Another 25% cannot read at a high school level.  Adults with low literacy are more likely to be unemployed and to live in poverty.  Reading Connections provides programs focused on basic reading and writing, math, GED preparation, essential employment readiness skills, basic computer use, family literacy, and English skills for speakers of other languages.

Reading Connections, the largest community-based adult literacy agency in NC, provides free literacy services to adults in Guilford County who wish to improve their basic reading skills through trained volunteers working as one-to-one tutors and small group instructors.  Free training is offered for those who wish to become volunteer tutors.

Last year, more than 800 students were served by Reading Connections, but the need remains critical. Currently in Guilford County, there are more than 20 people waiting for a tutor.  Please consider sharing your strengths with Reading Connections and volunteer.  Volunteers can be matched with students individually or in small groups.

To register for training or for more information:

For Greensboro, call Beth Larson at 336-230-2223 or e-mail blarson@readingconnections.org.For High Point, call Roberta Hawthorne at 336-884-7323 or e-mail rhawthorne@readingconnections.org .

• Lonnie Houck, Board Treasurer, reported that November pledge income was slightly down. Cumulative income to date was about $4,000 below the budget amount.  We received the $28,922 semiannual bank lease payment on December 6.  In the budget these funds are evenly spread out over six months, but the payment helped with cash flow.  The $4,000 we previously "borrowed" from the reserve fund has been transferred back into the reserve fund.
• An update and timeline for the 2014 ACT (Annual Commitment Time) campaign was given by Joe Gecinger and committee chair, Nelson Stover.  March 2 is the ACT kick off date for the congregation.
• Archival Records Committee chair, Sharin Francis, reported on the background, progress and current status of the archival records process.
• Susan Hill served as process observer.
• The Board accepted financial policy charters presented by Lonnie Houck, Board Treasurer, for the following: Memorial Fund, Sunday Morning Deposit, Minister's Discretionary Fund, and Reserve Fund.
• The Board accepted the following two policies presented by, Michelle Lee, Policies and Procedures Committee Chair.
  • Policy on Committee, Team & Task Force Charters
  • Policy on Governance (This is shown below and will be posted on our website.)

Philosophy of Governance

The Congregation seeks to create a welcoming and supportive spiritual community guided by Unitarian Universalist principles.  The Congregation establishes governance by empowering leaders by election or call through the UUCG Bylaws.

The Board, as steward of UUCG's vision and fiscal resources, plans, oversees and supports organizational governance in service to the mission of UUCG.  The President guides the church as chief executive officer.

The Minister nurtures the congregation and staff through collaborative processes and inclusive programs which embody the mission of UUCG.  The Minister oversees ministry programs by acting as chief operating officer and chief of staff.

Accountable to ourselves, each other, and the transcendent mystery and wonder some people call God, we freely choose to be together in sacred covenant.

The next Board meeting will be Tuesday, January 14 at 7 pm and is open to anyone who wishes to attend.

Submitted by Sharin Francis