When I was in my twenties, there was an artist rendering of an aged woman that hung in the house I shared with other graduate students.  Her face looked like a road map.  I thought that rendering was beautiful. 

 But as I enter my own "maturity", I have mixed feelings about finding my own aging face (and body) beautiful!  Yet, I am inspired by folks  who embrace their wrinkles as indications of their living long. 

Congregations, too, age and with aging can come maturity or a sense of wisdom that is grounded by experience.   One can be youthful and wise at the same time.  One can be any age and spiritually "mature" at the same time.  Where do you recognize maturity in yourself?   In what ways are you wrinkled with wisdom?  

Yours in faith,

Rev. Ann Marie

Some folks approach the new year as a time to start over, begin anew...but I've always felt that it was more of an opportunity to evaluate what's been working and what hasn't, and then continue with modifications.  The holidays were great, and we took a break from what we usually do to celebrate friendship and family and love (and food). 

But now that it is January, we will continue to pursue our passions and engage in community.  In that spirit of continuing what is working, here is what will be happening at UUCG for our children and youth during the month of January:

Sunday, Jan. 11

9:30 - 10:30 a.m. -- Chalice Club, our fellowship group for preschool through 5th grade children will be discussing Chinese New Year.

11 a.m. until noon: The Searchers, RE multi-age class preschool through 5th grade, will be discussing homelessness and assembling care bags for the needy.

11 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. 7th - 10th grade OWL (closed)

12:15 until 1:30 p.m. 3rd to 6th grade OWL Parent Meeting***

Sunday Jan. 18

9:30 - 10:30 a.m  Chalice Club discusses Martin Luther King Day

11 a.m. until noon The Searchers discuss UU's First Principle, the inherent dignity and worth of all beings (through cooperative games)

11 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. 7th - 10th grade OWL (closed)

Sunday Jan. 25

9:30 -10:30 a.m. Chalice Club discusses What Holiday Would You Make?

11 a.m. until noon The Searchers (RE Preschool through 2nd grade) discuss UU's First Principle (from "This We Believe")

11 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. 7th - 10th grade OWL (closed)

11 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. 3rd - 6th grade OWL Parent/Child Orientation***

*** contact Cindy Dillard, Director of YRE, for more information (uucgre@att.net)

ALL CHURCH POTLUCK Join us in the YRE wing Sunday, January 18 after church for a potluck lunch.  Beverages and eating-ware will be provided.  For more information, contact Cindy Dillard (uucgre@att.net)

Congratulations to our K-2 OWL (Our Whole Lives) Graduates: Amos Long, Annabeth Rushforth, Jayna Lewis, Kai Namaste, Laura Yokely, Lucas Hultgren, Malichi Boren, Noah Gagne, Samira Namaste, and Theresa Yokely.  Join us in celebrating how they learned:

accurate information about our wonderful bodies, including correct words;

respectful and safe behaviors for themselves and others;

the value of asking questions that might not feel easy;

the many ways that families look and are;

and the amazing facts about how human beings come into this world

FLOATERS STILL NEEDED!!!  Have you wanted to support YRE, but aren't ready to commit to teaching?  Become a floater once a month, and help support our teachers and our families.  For more information, contact Michelle Puzio (mpooz@bellsouth.net)

Karen Madrone

Please contact Karen Madrone, president, or Michelle Lee, vice-president, if you would like to discuss UUCG's evolving church governance and how it relates to Unitarian Universalism's foundational values.

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.  We sponsor the Wednesday night Potlucks and the Young Adult Gaming Group and many periodic fun fellowship events.

• Rev. Ann Marie Alderman reported that she is working on the next biannual staff reviews.  Four new members joined at the recent UU Orientation, while one existing member has moved out of the area. Ann Marie participated in the Faith Leaders Council Prayer Service at First Baptist related to racial injustice, and along with other area ministers signed their public letter.  UUCG Board members have been invited to participate in a teleconference "chat", facilitated by Peter Kandis, Vice President of the Southeast District Board of Directors.
• Karen Madrone, President, would like to have a half-day Board retreat to have generative conversation about goals.  Karen, Ann Marie and Michelle Lee will meet with the president, vice president and minister of the Winston Salem fellowship on December 18 to discuss ideas about opportunities for shared efforts.  Among the topics to be explored is the possible exchange of financial best practices reviews.  
• Lonnie Houck, Treasurer, reported that our Delta number was negative for the first time this year by more than $3,000.  A pledge statement will go out mid- to late-January.  By the end of December, our account will be completely changed over to SunTrust.
• Michelle Lee, Policies and Procedures Chair, reported that  revisions are visible on the P & P outline on the church website
• Ben Kuecker, chair of the Committee on Leadership Development, reported on the committee's early focus on creating a long term plan for leadership development.  There will be a workshop on spiritual leadership in March.  They hope to send two delegates to the Southern Regional Leadership School in July.
• Sue Beck led the second of three 10 minute Board discussions of Not Your Parent's Offering Plate by J. Clif Christopher
•  The next Board meeting will be Thursday, January 15 at 7 pm and is open to all.

Submitted by Sharin Francis