UU News

Monthly Newsletter of

The Unitarian Universalist Church of Greensboro

An Intentional Liberal Religious Community May 2014

From the Congregational President -  Charlotte Hamilton 

In recent weeks I have seen a myriad of fine examples of UUCG's congregational strength fulfilling our recent Stewardship campaign theme:   "We are a People Who..."

1)    Give generously to support our church's values and mission in this community.

Thanks to all who responded to the call of Rev. Alderman and the Annual Commitment Time committee to find satisfaction in giving to express personal values and support the church.  The pledge campaign came to a successful conclusion with more than 90% of members making a pledge. On April 27th the Board approved a balanced budget to be presented to the congregation for final approval on May 18th.  The budget sustains ongoing activities at a modest level with expansion in priority areas such as religious education with increased hours for Cindy Dillard and additional materials, as well as redesign of the church website.  Thanks to chair Nelson Stover and the outstanding ACT committee and Treasurer Lonnie Houck and the Finance Committee for their work.

2)    Welcome new members and engage them in worship, fellowship and service.

It has been a joy to greet an increasing numbers of visitors drawn to UUism and our church and to welcome new members who want to join in sharing our liberal faith journey and serving the community. Please invite your friends and neighbors to visit and experience the warm, vital quality of Sunday worship. Please also volunteer to be involved in church activities and social justice action.  We need your diverse talents.

3)    Collaborate thoughtfully to assess our progress and pursue a strategic vision.

The work of two standing Board committees last month highlights our commitment to collaboration and inclusive planning.  More than 50 people stayed after service on April 6th to take part in a strategic planning discussion led by Strategic Planning Chair Katja Brown and her dedicated committee.  As Elaine Stover led us through a review of activities of the past year and ideas for next year, I felt strong positive energy and excitement about the future.  Thanks to all who attended and members of Ministry teams, Board standing committees, and Congregational committees who reported on their activities to support the Practical Vision and generate new initiatives.  A second standing Board group, the new Accountability Committee, launched two pilot evaluation projects to get feedback on: 1) Ministerial Performance, and 2) Perceptions of progress in addressing the four established Developmental Goals by activities of the Minister and the Board.  In designing the Ministerial Peformance survey, Rev. Alderman introduced us to UUA guidelines for evaluating ministerial proficiency.  Both evaluations were distributed in late March the two evaluation to two sample groups totaling 52 congregants actively involved in lay leadership and worship, broadly representative of age, gender, and years in the church.  Highlights of responses to both surveys were reported to the Board on April 15th by the Accountability Committee.  Overall, the response to both assessments was extremely positive, and helpful suggestions were offered for future action. Highlights will be summarized in the upcoming Annual Report.  At a called meeting on April 27th, the Board unanimously approved the extension of a two year contract to Rev. Alderman for continued service as Developmental Minister.

4)    Govern through a democratic process.

Under UU congregational polity, UUCG is self-governing by a democratic process through which congregational members vote to determine governance by-laws, the annual budget and calling a settled minister.  I urge you to take part in the democratic process by reading the Annual Report to be published shortly and attend both the Congregational Dinner on Saturday evening May 17th and the Congregational Meeting after the service on May 18th.       We are a people who value and need your voice.

 Charlotte  

SAVE THE DATE!

This year's Annual Dinner will be on Saturday, May 17 at 6:00pm.

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The theme is "We are a people who..."  The Annual Dinner is traditionally a time when we reflect back on the past yeart and thank the individuals, teams and committees who havae contributed so much to the work of the church.  The Annual Dinner is a celebrations and affirmation of our church. 

Attendees will be organized into groups of 6-8 per table.  Each table will have its own table host and theme.  Table hosts will use "We are a people who" as the starting point for their table's theme.  The response can be one word such as "Celebrate!" or multiple words like "Stand for Justice".  Be creative!  Awards will be given for various categories including (but not limited to) "Best use of the theme" and "Most Original".  Sign up sheets will be posted about a month before the dinner.  During the program after the dinner we will lift up the amazing work we have done over the last year.  All are welcome, especially newcomers to UUCG.  Childcare will be provided after the meal.

Join the JAT Home Rehab Team

Sign up for June 28 work day with Community Housing Solutions

The Justice Action Team of UUCG will partner with Community Housing Solutions to help make homes in Greensboro warmer, drier, and safer and to keep families in their homes.  Our first work on one of these homes will take place on Saturday, June 28.  

Look for the JAT table after service beginning April 27.

During the service on May 25 Gene Brown, executive director of CHS, will speak about the purpose and work of Community Housing Solutions.

Here is just a brief description of Community Housing Solutions:

"Our home repair program preserves homeownership for low-income families who cannot financially or physically do the repairs themselves . . . . . We rely heavily upon the support of volunteers and donors. ."

JAT had previously selected Community Housing Solutions as the June recipient of UUCG's Share Half donations.  The work team will join our physical presence to our monetary support.

Can't wait to hear more about this initiative?  Joe Gecinger has been volunteering most Wednesdays on whatever project CHS sends him to.  He will be happy to tell you his experiences.  He looks forward to UUCG being a part of this terrific community resource.

If you are a confirmed do-it-yourselfer with home repair experience, you may be just the person to help lead our team.  Or if you would rather help from the comfort of your kitchen, you could be in charge of contacting team members or planning lunch.  No one has to work alone - we are hoping for many volunteers to make this a rewarding experience.  

You can contact Sara Bourquin at 632-1616 or sbourquin@triad.rr.com and stop by the JAT table for more info and to sign up.

THANKS to Ken and Mary Alice Knight, Jean Laidlaw, Jon Rouseau, Charlene Collins, Jean Middleswarth, Harold and Tish Gunn, Sara Bourquin, and Becky Floyd for collecting 932 pounds of nonperishable food and $27 in cash for the Greensboro Food Bank at the Food Lion at 4653 West Market Street on Saturday, April 5, 2014.  You are greatly appreciated!   

Peanut Butter Alert

Monday Night Dinner at Urban Ministry May 5. 

Please Join us on the first Monday of each month, the Social Action Team organizes and serves a meal to the 100 residents of the Greensboro Urban Ministry's night shelter.  We usually have 10 to 12 volunteers from our church who buy, cook and serve the meal each month.  We prepare on site the same meal each month, consisting of turkey chili, buttered bread, fruit salad, corn and bean salad and homemade cookies.  Several of our members make cookies, and the residents love the chance to eat such delicacies.   The ingredients for the meal cost a little over $90 each month, paid for by UUCG.  

A team of volunteers from Hinshaw Memorial Methodist Church usually comes in to help serve the meal to the residents.  If you would like to be part of this rewarding work, contact Ken Knight.   

TAKING IT TO THE STREETS (TTS)

I am constantly reminded of the song lyrics by Phil Ochs: "There but for fortune, go you or I."  Such reminders come when I encounter someone holding a sign that says, "Homeless" or "Hungry".  Too often my response has been to turn away.  It takes an effort to see them as fellow human beings who, for reasons I cannot know, have landed in unfortunate circumstances.  There's that word - Fortune.  But it is not fortune, it is un-fortune.  We are inundated with news of massive tragedies such as those suffering in Syria, or the sad misfortune of the people in Ukraine, and feel helpless to effect change.  But we can help those who, for whatever reason, cannot help themselves right here where we live, by providing a "Care bag" of food and a few simple items that may, in some small way, ease their hardship and to say "someone cares."
   
When we became members of UUCG and learned about Taking It T-UU The Streets, we were immediately drawn to this mission.  We feel that this is such a small and simple action that we can take to perhaps relieve some of the burden of those who are living on the streets.  Taking It T-UU The Streets is one way that we can fulfill our need to give and we are grateful for the opportunity.

- Robb & Karen Fulkerson  

THANKS TO EVERYONE who donated financially or materially to TTS. In April, we assembled 40 care-bags, all of which were picked up for distribution in less than 2 weeks.  Clearly, there is great interest in our community to help those in need.  Our next care-bag assembling will take place Thursday, May 8 6-7pm. To find out more about how you can help, contact Cindy Dillard (uucgre@att.net).

Phoenix Harmony Putney, Ryan Williams,

Dennis Adams, Mike Bridges, Marianne Royle,

Caroline Cook, Tom Burwell, David Gretton,

Nicholas Clinard, Bryce Welder,

Ava Rose Corey & Oscar Mattocks

Expressions

March 26    26        $5.00

April 2         10      $12.00 

April 9          20        $2.00

April 16  no count   $11.00

UUCG Covenant 

• 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  

UUCG Trustees

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

Ken Knight  (2014)                                                                                          oldpeacenik@gmail.com 

Myra Anne Geese Dean (2014)                                                                       myraannegesse@yahoo.com
Sue Beck (2016)                                                                                              sbeck1@triad.rr.com 

Suzanne Deering (2015)                                                                                 zanned@earthlink.net  

Katja Brown (2016)                                                                                         sbrown039@triad.rr.com  

UUCG Staff

Ministry Team and Board Committees Contacts