New beginnings! That is what the month of September usually means for students and teachers. It means that, too, for congregational life. Even though new board members and new leaders of committees and teams officially begin when the church fiscal year begins on July 1, everything really gets going in September!

Here's some of the news: Tune in on September 5th to radio station WFDD 88.5 to hear 5 Day Sponsorship spots featuring UUCG! Plan to attend Adult Faith Formation on Sundays at 9:30 am, starting on September 14, for The BIG Questions! I will lead the first one, then Nina Namaste and Steve Pearsall and others will. There are Chalice Circles to sign up for, which will be offered at various times. Use this link, http://tinyurl.com/puyh6pa  or sign up in the foyer after church. The Wednesday evening Expressions Services begin again. Lots of new things are happening for children and youth, too!   

Bring in the new this Sunday, September 7th with our Annual Ingathering/Worship for all Ages Service. Don't forget to bring the water you collected from wherever you may have traveled this summer. Remember the water you bring can be real or "symbolic". You can always use our social media to virtually connect with UUCG, but we sure would like to really see you!

Have you ever seen adults whose nametags are adorned with multi-colored beads and marker-drawn images?  Have you wondered about the children who sport similarly decked-out nametags?  These are the hallmark of Chalice Club, our Fellowship Group for children aged preschool through 5th grade.   

Each Sunday, while adults are attending Faith Formation classes, children are building community, learning our principles and figuring out how they live our principles in their everyday lives.  This year's Chalice Club will begin Sunday, Sept. 14, 9:30-10:30 a.m. in room 4/5.  Sunday School classes also begin that day, starting in the Worship Center at 10:55 a.m.  For more information, please contact Cindy Dillard, Director YRE(uucgre@att.net).  

Everyone is invited to join this team that is always on the lookout to create opportunities for people to connect and have fun.  Contact Kay Bishop and Rick Tolley for more information on the Fellowship Team. 

Vibrant churches offer great music, thoughtful sermons, reflective and meditative practices, lifespan religious education, time for fun and fellowship, and ways to engage the wider community.  Healthy, active congregations also find ways to create and sustain small groups of people where individuals get to know each other and reflect upon those deeper meanings in ways they may not otherwise have an opportunity to do so. 

Sometimes, small group community just happens, when folks form men's groups or book clubs or work together on a particular project.  They may find that they are just naturally sharing the complexities and paradoxes of their life journeys in ways that build relationships full of trust and care.  It is within these sorts of small groups where lifelong friendships begin.  It is within these kinds of small groups where acceptance and hope can most make themselves present in our lives.  The kind of self-discovery and sense of belonging that grows in these settings grow the deepening relationships that are essential for living long and healthy lives.  It is this sort of healthy community that people are seeking when they come to church!    

Beginning in mid-September, UUCG is about to be very intentional by offering what we are calling Chalice Circles.  You will have an an opportunity to sign up to be part of a group of eight to ten people, led by a trained facilitator. Each Chalice Circle will meet once a month.  Differing days and times will be available. When you sign up, you will be promising your commitment to be present with your circle for at least the next 10 months.   Our hope is that this opportunity will add even more to the richness of congregational life here at UUCG.

Sponsored by the Membership Team 

Beloved Community,

Thank you all from the bottom of our hearts for your ongoing care and concern as we rebuild our lives after catastrophic loss. Special thanks are due to those of you who helped with the concert and auction benefit given for us on Saturday, Aug. 23. Thank you to those who planned the event, who donated so many dazzlingly beautiful things to be sold, contributed delicious food and drink and handled the payments. In addition, may we never forget the musicians who sang and played for us all: Steve and Suzanne Andrews, Vance Archer, Phoenix Harmony, Wendell Putney and our beloved Monarch of Pianoland, Mark Freundt. More thanks and credit go to Cindy Williams for the festive decorations and everyone who stayed and reset the room for Sunday morning. When we tell the story of these times in years to come, your generosity will be our inspiration.

Humbly,

Joyce Allen and David Teague

Rhythm of Being 

UUWomenspirit Fall Event   October 15-19, 2014

Institute - Oct 15-17,  $250.  Gathering - Oct 17-19,  $250

Price includes all meals, lodging, and programming at

The Mountain Retreat & Learning Center; Highlands, NC

http://mountaincenters.org

Open to all women, regardless of affiliation or spiritual path, 18 years and older to join us for an inclusive spiritual retreat in the beautiful Appalachian Mountains.

Examples of workshop topics include, Fierce Feminine Archery, Rhythmic Wisdom Frame Drumming, Cultivating Your Life's Mission & Discovering Your Prayer/Mantra, Soapstone Carving. Using the Tarot for Creative Growth. Singing the Rhythms of Our Lives, Breath & Feet: Listening to Your Body's Rhythm & Wisdom, In Rhythm With Nature, and End of Life Tools.

Daily worship services are sacred times planned and offered by UUWomenspirit members with ritual, meditation, and experiential activities to explore out authenticity through themes of body, mind, heart, earth, music and community.

Other activities include Brigid's Bazaar (sales area), amazing Cabaret, candlelit outdoor Labyrinth Walk, Stargazing,Sacred Circle Dancing, Healing Circle and more! For additional information: www.uuwomenspirit.org

Contact: Registrar uuwomenspirit@gmail.com

**UUWomenspirit is a volunteer organization created for the purpose of enhancing the religious and spiritual development of women of all paths, including but not limited to the Unitarian Universalist (UU) community. UUWomenspirit addresses this purpose by creating, conducting, and supporting activities that encourage and enable women to explore their religious and spiritual origins, experiences and beliefs. Such activities are designed to promote spiritual development and growth by: fostering communication, making connections and providing support; pursuing, nurturing and affirming creativity and diversity; promoting awareness of the challenges women face; developing ways to meet challenges and overcome obstacles to spiritual and religious growth; encouraging leadership skills through participation in planning the organization's development, growth and activities; and developing the use of consensus decision making.

Are you looking for a way to make a legacy contribution to UUCG?

The UUCG Endowment Fund was established in 2007 and is a convenient opportunity for friends and members to give an enduring gift that will keep on giving to the mission of this church. The congregation established this permanent, untouchable fund that will grow with enduring gifts and their earnings until a monetary threshold ($100,000) is met. Once that threshold is met, the earnings will be available to support programs, activities and/or facilities, which promote the seven principles of the UU faith.

Since inception our contributions to the fund have totaled $12,500, which is invested in the UUA Common Endowment Fund. Those contributions have grown in value to $13,815.76 as of June 30. There is also $590 invested in a local account. When it reaches $1,000, it will be transferred to the UUA Common Endowment Fund.

If you do not have UUCG Endowment Fund as a beneficiary in your will, please contact a committee member for a codicil, with which you can conveniently amend your will to add or increase your legacy contribution.

If you already have the UUCG Endowment Fund in your will, or are considering modifications to your estate plans, please contact a committee member so that church records can accurately reflect your intentions. Your generosity and support for this church will reach beyond your lifetime.

Lifetime gifts (making monetary contributions during your lifetime) are also welcome. Celebrate a special occasion, or honor a specific person by designating gifts to the UUCG Endowment Fund.

If you have questions, or want to discuss your enduring gift, please contact a member of the Endowment  Fund Committee: Ken Williams, Dennis Hands and Joe Gecinger.

.Dennis Hands, Recording Secretary, Committee on Endowment

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 )

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.

• Karen Madrone, Board President, encourgages board members to stay attuned to the larger UU conversations about our faith movement. She is wiorking with Rev. Ann Marie and Michelle Lee, Vice President, to plan for the board retreat Aug. 29-30.
• Lonnie Houck, Treasurer, reported that total pledge income through July 31 was about 1 percent over YTD budget. Total income YTD, including bank lease payments distributed evenly over 12 months, was 2 percent over budget. Expenses were 8 percent over total YTD budget, mainly due to the $4,000 payment for the website, a one-time expenditure already in the budget. With receipt of the bank lease payment, our current Delta (Income-Expense) for the year was positive by $7,735.
• Lonnie reported that the mortgage will be refinanced through Sun Trust because they offered a better interest rate than BB&T. So we will have an adjustable rate of prime plus 0 percent allowing us to pay down the principal much faster with the same budgeted mortgage payment. The Finance Committee will review the interest rates periodically. 
• The board members agreed to change the meeting schedule to alternate between the third Thursday and third Tuesday of each month, beginning with a Thursday meeting in September. The will better accommodate the scheduling needs of all boar members.

Additional details are available elsewhere in this newsletter or in reports posted at

http://uugreensboro.org/for-members/ under Member Documents. The next Board meeting will be Thursday, Sept. 18 at 7 pm and is open to anyone who wishes to attend.

Submitted by Sharin Francis