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UU News
Monthly Newsletter of
The Unitarian Universalist Church of Greensboro
An Intentional Liberal Religious Community March 2016
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Liberal Religious Community
|  ALL 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!
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Newsletter Notes
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The deadline for the April newsletter will be Friday, April 1
Send news items to commuucg@bellsouth.net
The newsletter will be published on April 8
Hard copies of this newsletter are available in the church foyer on the Visitor Table.
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Sunday and Special Worship Services and Schedule
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Sunday, March 6
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Metaphors We Know and Love:
Gates, Doors and Thresholds
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Rev. Mary Frances Comer
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Sunday, March 13
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Liberating Faith
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Rev. Ann Marie Alderman
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Sunday, March 20
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Riding the Donkey
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Rev. Ann Marie Alderman |
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Annual Flower Communion
An Intergenerational Service
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Rev. Ann Marie Alderman
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Sunday Morning Schedule
| 9:30 - 10:30 | Adult Faith Formation | Compassionate Congregation Series continues the first Sunday of each month presented by the Healthy Congregations Committee. See below and the weekly announcements for the upcoming Sunday topics.
| 10:30 - 10:55
| Social Gathering
| Informal Social Gathering prior to Worship. (Nursery Services Provided)
| 10:55 - 12:15
| Adult and Youth Worship
| Both adults and children start the service together. On most Sundays the children leave the sanctuary for Youth Religious Education, which ends at 12:15. Services labeled as "Worship for All Ages" are Intergenerational, shared by both children and adults.
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Inspirations
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 "In learning a language, when from mere words we reach the laws of words, we have gained a great deal. But if we stop at that point and concern ourselves only with the marvels of the formation of a language, seeking the hidden reason of all its apparent caprices, we do not reach that end, for grammar is not literature... When we come to literature, we find that, though it conforms to the rules of grammar, it is yet a thing of joy; it is freedom itself. The beauty of a poem is bound by strict laws, yet it transcends them. The laws are its wings. They do not keep it weighed down. They carry it to freedom. Its form is in law, but its spirit is in beauty. Law is the first step toward freedom, and beauty is the complete liberation which stands on the pedestal of law. Beauty harmonizes in itself the limit and the beyond - the law and the liberty."
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Wednesday Potluck
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We share a potluck supper at 6 p.m. each Wednesday.
Please bring a dish to share and your own table service.
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Expressions Music Service
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Mar 2: Silly Song sing-along - Marie Houck
Mar 9: TBD 
Mar 16: Greg Elred
Mar 23: Martha Emrey
Mar 30: TBD
Wednesday evenings, following the Potluck.
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Reflections from Rev. Ann Marie
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 We are long past our "until the end of December" no order of service experiment! Now we are in a period of trying to meet everyone's needs! For those who would like them, there are printed orders of service for anyone who wants to pick one up. And there are printed weekly announcements as well. Both of these are on the table just as you enter the sanctuary/fellowship hall every Sunday. We are hoping to be printing only what will be picked up and read so that we maintain our commitment to use less paper and renew our promise to be a Green Sanctuary. The weekly announcements page stays on that table through Wednesday evenings for those of you who come for Potluck or Expressions.
If you have been to church on a Sunday or a Wednesday lately, I hope you have noticed the new custom hymn number board that Lonnie Houck made. Everyone should be able to see it! Most sermons and messages are on the UUCG website by Tuesday mornings for your reading or copying and giving to a neighbor or friend. The weekly e-news arrives in your e-mail box every Friday at 4 pm. Open it and print it at home, hang it on your refrigerator as a reminder of what's going on! The monthly newsletter comes to your inbox every month. There are hard copies in the church foyer, too. Visit UUCG's Facebook page! Join the yahoo forum. Spread the good word! There is something happening here worth knowing.
If you aren't yet "connected", let me know and I will set you up!
In Freeing Faith, Rev. Ann Marie
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Cindy Dillard, Youth Religious Education Director
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Breaking bread with those you know (and those you have just met) is a wonderful way to build community. UUCG has a long-standing potluck tradition, held in the Sanctuary each Wednesday @ 6pm. But we also have a relatively new tradition of quarterly potlucks after church in the YRE wing. Sunday, March 20, is the date for our next all-church potluck. Bring a favorite family dish to pass-the food is always surprising and delicious, and so is the company! Eating-ware and beverages will be provided. For more information, or to volunteer for set-up/tear-down, please contact Cindy Dillard (uucgre@att.net).
YRE/Sunday School Schedule
Children start in the service at 10:55, then adjourn to their classrooms
| March 6 | UU Bible/UU Tales (Pre K thru 2nd Grade)
Spirit of Adventure (3rd thru 7th Grade)
Circle of Youth (8th thru 12th Grade)
| The Moses Basket
First Aid with Dr. Larry Puzio
Youth Service Prep | | March 13 | UU Bible/UU Tales
Spirit of Adventure
Circle of Youth
| Exodus
Carebag Assembly
Youth Service Prep | | March 20 | UU Bible/UU Tales
Spirit of Adventure
Circle of Youth | The Easter Story
Jell-O and Unitarian Peter Cooper
Youth Service Prep | | March 27 | Intergenerational Service | Flower Communion |
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From Congregational Vice President Michelle Lee
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Supporting Professional UU Ministry Development
Congregations throughout our faith tradition are involved in recruitment, preparation, and assessment of UU ministers. Anyone wishing to become an aspirant to UU ministry is required to have sponsorship from a UU congregation.
UUCG has a long history of supporting UU professional development. We benefit from knowing many different ministers and aspirants. Some we know for years as members or youth in our church before they become ministers. Some we meet for the first time as student ministers on a Sunday morning. Some we know for a few months as interns or summer ministers. Each time, we have the opportunity to encourage and challenge each other individually and our community as a whole.
In February, the UUCG board of trustees agreed to sponsor Karen Madrone as an aspirant to Unitarian Universalist ministry. The board's sponsorship of Karen shows our confidence in her potential and suitability for UU ministry. We know she is actively committed to Unitarian Universalism and the institutions that uphold our faith tradition. Karen speaks the language of love and carries our chalice flame within her.
If you would like to talk about UUCG's ongoing efforts to support and develop Unitarian Universalist ministers, please contact Karen Madrone, president or Michelle Lee, vice president.
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Adult Faith Formation
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Compassionate Communication and a look at Hindu Faith
You are invited to the Adult Faith Formation session on March 6th at 9:30 a.m. in the Sanctuary. We will explore the many ways we use to block compassionate communication. When we say "the problem with you is. . ." or "won't you ever learn to. . . or "I've told you a hundred times. . .", that is a tragic expression of an unmet need. Join in the discussion on the first Sunday in March! Namaste, Sue Beck
March 13, 20 and 27: During three Sundays in March, the Adult Faith Formation classes will be led by Rahm Sethuraman, who will share his Hindu faith with us. Rahn Sethuraman was born and raised in Hyderabad, the capital of Telegana state in India. He has been in the United States for about 30 years, and was married to Sue Beck's daughter at the Hindu Temple in Queens. He currently lives in Greensboro, and works as a computer consultant, frequently traveling back to India to work with teams of programmers there. Please watch the newsletter for more details about what he will be doing each week. Looking Ahead: During April, Imam Eesaa Wood will be teaching us about his Islamic faith.
Sunday Afternoon Meditation
| Every Sunday Afternoon |
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4:00 - 5:30
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PI Anyone?
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 The Second Annual Pi Party
Come and get your geek on Saturday, March 12, 6:00 PM Last year's Pi Party was such a delightful success we have decided to repeat the experience. This year, it will be Pi Day Eve, so we can still celebrate on a Saturday. Come at 6:00 for a pot luck dinner. Bring round food, and after dinner we will celebrate with round games, long into the evening. To help us know how many tables to set up, please sign up in advance if at all possible, or let Marie Houck know by e-mail.
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International Dinner Thanks
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Thank you, merci, gracias, danke, grazie, xie xie!
Many Thanks to everyone, for making the international Dinner such a wonderful evening. Thank you to everyone who brought foods from around the world. Thanks go to everyone who helped with set-up and clean-up. A very special thank you to Charlotte Hamlin & Marie Houck for the wonderful stories from around the world.
Cindy Williams & the Fellowship Team
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| Save the Date | |
Celebrating the Earth at UUCG
Please join us for Missa Gaia, the 6th annual concert in honor of Earth Day, at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 23 at UUCG.
This year we will again be joined by the Triad Tapestry's Children's Chorus from The Piedmont Interfaith Council.
Help us celebrate the beauty of the earth and reflect on our Seventh Principle, Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part!
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Coffee Volunteers
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Volunteers are needed for Coffee Hour in March. It is a gift of a time and joy we can all share. Anyone can sign up; the sheet is on the bulletin board just outside the kitchen, next to the 'Flowers' sign-up. Serving coffee is easy, and we will be glad to go through it with anyone interested. 
We would like to express a sincere "Thank You!" to the great folks who have volunteered to provide coffee after Sunday service.
Karen and Robb Fulkerson
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| Ladies' and Men's Night Out | |
Ladies' Night Out
Ladies are invited to our monthly Vietnamese dinner at the Saigon Restaurant the last Monday of the month -- March 28. We meet at 6:30 p.m. If we have ten or more, we have the option of having the chef prepare a communal meal for us. It's usually a soup, two kinds of egg rolls and one or two entrees, costing a little over $10.00. We also have the option of selecting from the menu. It's a lively evening of table discussion, laughter and getting to know more about each other. Newcomers are always welcome. If you plan to attend please contact Mary Davis (586-0188) or Janet Plummer (294-6364).
Men's Night Out Join us the 2nd Monday of the month -- March 14 -- at 6 p.m. at Villarosa, 6010 Landmark Center Blvd, Greensboro, near I-40 and Wendover. We also meet on the last Monday of each month at Applebee's on Battleground Avenue at 6 p.m.
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Styrofoam Collection
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UUCG Styrofoam Collection Program
We are looking for volunteers for the next several months to handle the emptying of bins and transport of the collected Styrofoam to Dart, Inc. in Randleman, NC. Usually it is taken every 5 to 6 weeks. If you can help your planet and community, or if you need more information, please contact Vance Archer
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Healthy Congregation Committee
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Really Cleaning Up
I remember the first Sunday I was here in Greensboro. I was surprised to walk into the sanctuary to find it set up with tables and chairs. Apparently, there'd been an event the night before, and it had been left set up for the dinner. It was an interesting experience. As I began to attend Saturday evening events, I saw that there were often times when, as soon as dinner or the entertainment were over, people simply left, leaving very few people to clean up and reset the sanctuary for services the next morning. Sometimes, the handful of people left were there for several hours cleaning the kitchen, taking down tables, and returning chairs to their place for worship the following morning.
Last week, I attended our annual International Dinner, one highlight of the year for me. This was not the first time I noticed it, but I was pleased to see how many people stayed to help with the cleanup. In fact, pretty much everyone who was capable pitched in in one way or another, with newcomers asking what they could do to help, and by 9:00 or so the sanctuary was ready for services the next morning.
More and more, I see many hands pitching in to do what needs to be done to maintain our church home, from the work days to cleaning up after pot lucks to keeping the hymnal book cases straightened out. For me, at least, this is a magnificent sign of health in any community.
Marie Houck
For the Healthy Congregation Committee
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Justice Action Team Update | |
Monday Night Dinner at Urban Ministry 
Each month, volunteers from our church and from Hinshaw United Methodist church serve a meal of to an appreciative group of residents of the Greensboro Urban Ministry night shelter. Thanks for your financial support and labor.
Food DriveThere will be another opportunity to help Greensboro Urban Ministry feed the hungry on Saturday, April 9, 2016 at the Food Lion store at 4653 West Market Street. The food drive will need 8 volunteers, 2 volunteers to work each 2 hour shift, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. to collect nonperishable goods from the patrons of the store. Please contact Becky Floyd at 336-852-3592 to volunteer. Your help is greatly appreciated. Taking it T-UU The Streets I'm writing this on a Tuesday -- and I don't know about mail delivery in your neighborhood, but in mine, it is the day for fliers. I never used to even look through them, but since YRE started our carebag assembly project, I've tried to pay better attention to the coupons. Just today, I found 32 different coupons from fast food joints with offers for "Buy one, get one free," or "Free with purchase of a drink," or "$2 off." For someone living on the streets, deals like these can matter. Won't you take a minute to look through your weekly fliers for such coupons? In addition to individual hygiene items and non-perishable food, please consider donating some coupons to the collection basket in the lobby. Carebags will next be assembled on Sunday, March 13, by our Spirit of Adventure class. For more information, please contact Cindy Dillard
Share Half March Partner: :Faith Action International House
Peanut Butter Alert
Thanks to everyone at the Unitarian Universalist Church who contributed to the 82 pounds of peanut butter and nonperishable food collected last month for the Greensboro Food Bank. You are greatly appreciated!
--Becky Floyd
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Check out our Website
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Need a current UUCG directory? Interested in Board reports?
These and other important documents are posted on our UUCG website. You can also find our current bylaws, budget and other governance related documents.
To do this, go to the uugreensboro.org website and select the "For Members" tab at the upper right hand corner of the home page .From the "For Members" page, select "Access Member Documents" under the Member Documents heading. As you'll see, a password is required, which you can get by calling the church office. Once you access the "Members Only" section, you'll find various documents arranged by folders. Within the folders there may be subsections, such as Board minutes and reports arranged by year and month. These documents are provided to members so they can be well-informed about how to contact other members and about church governance.
It is also possible to read past issues of the UU News by selecting the News and Events tab. This will bring up a list of four options, from which you select "Newsletters." On the page this brings up, is one sentence: You can access all newsletters here. Clicking on the "here" link will take you to past newsletters. If you have further questions about accessing member documents on the website, you are welcome to contact me at sharinfrancis@hotmail.com or 336-520-3866. Thank you, Sharin Francis Board Secretary
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Board of Trustees
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Highlights of the February 18, 2016 UUCG Board of Trustees Meeting - Karen Madrone, President, presented information about the Annual Commitment Time (ACT), including the kick off on February 28, timeline, and goals for this year's campaign. Ann Dickinson, ACT Chair, distributed ACT forms so Board members could make their pledge the same evening.
- Karen Madrone and Paul Namaste, representing the Accountability Committee, have developed two questionnaires -one for evaluating the minister and one for evaluating UUCG's Developmental Ministry. Each will be sent to a representative sample of congregants with a goal of having preliminary results of the latter in time for the March 12 Board retreat.
- Susan Hill, Treasurer, reviewed the Treasurer's reports and a draft of next year's budget based on projected numbers. The final proposed budget will be voted upon at the May 22 Annual Meeting. Susan noted that increased expenses of about $3200 are expected, but could be covered by a $3,200 increase in pledges from a successful ACT campaign. Finance Committee is considering a spring mini-fundraiser as an additional way to increase revenue.
- Rev. Ann Marie Alderman reported that Nora Bird has resigned as chair of Worship Team, due to increased responsibilities at her job. Rev. Ann Marie also noted the Presidents' Convocation being held July 8-10 in Charlotte, NC, and the Leadership School on July 24 - 29 in Williamsburg, VA.
- The Board unanimously approved a motion to offer Rev. Ann Marie a two-year extension of her Developmental Minister contract, due to expire in July.
- The Board approved a motion for UUCG to sponsor Karen Madrone as a UU ministerial aspirant.
- The Board is researching cost effective, functional and attractive options for replacing the worn carpet in the sanctuary.
- From April through June, all Board meetings will be at 7 pm on the third Thursday of each month.
- Board members will all read Turning Point: Essays on a New Unitarian Universalism edited by Fredric Muir. Selected essays will be discussed at upcoming Board meetings.
- More details are available in reports posted at the UUCG website http://uugreensboro.org/for-members/members-only/ Go to "20 15-16 Board Reports" in February.
The next Board meeting will be Wednesday, March 16, at 7:30 pm and is open to all.
Submitted by Sharin Francis
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Strategic Planning
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This survey will be closing on March 16th. Thanks for all who have participated. If you haven't you still can!
Here are the 3 questions to ponder:
1. Who do we want to be as a church in 5 years?
2. What do we want to be known for?
3. How can UUCG meet congregants' needs in terms of personal growth/religion/spirituality?
When you are ready to answer please to to the form found here >>>>
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Team and Committee Meetings and Ways to Help Out
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Members and friends of UUCG are invited to participate in Ministry Teams or in Governing Committees. Whether you have a particular talent or want to learn one, there is a place for you!
Some of the Teams and Committees 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.
Ministry Team Lead Meetings
All Ministry Team Leads meet with the Minister on the 2nd Tuesday of the month at 7:00 pm in the Sanctuary to plan together for all church ministry programming. This is an open meeting.
Coordinating Council Meetings The Coordinating Council (both the Ministry Team Leads and all Committee Chairs) meet every other month (Feb, May, July, etc) on the 2nd Tuesday of the month at 7:00 PM in the Sanctuary. The Council is co-chaired by Michelle Lee, VP and Rev. Ann Marie Alderman. We share regarding current and upcoming events. This is an open meeting. Board of Trustees Meetings The Board of Trustees will meet on the 3rd Wednesdays in March and then return to all meetings on 3rd Thursdays at 7 pm. Please check the calendar for each month's meeting date. This monthly meeting is where governance decisions are made. This is an open meeting.
Adult Faith Formation Team
Adult Faith Formation sessions begin on Sunday mornings from 9:30 - 10:30 am on September 13. Marie Houck is the team lead.
Communications Team
The Communications Team publishes the monthly newsletter and maintains the web site. We also administer our social media presence. We don't have regular meetings but there are several tasks that you could help with. Please contact Liz Gauger if you would like to join the Communications Team.
Fellowship Team Meetings
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 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.
Healthy Congregation Committee Meetings
Membership Team
The Membership Team makes visitors welcome and invites all who are ready to be members into the full benefits of congregational life. Our team runs the visitor's table on Sunday mornings, contacts all the visitors who come to our church and organizes meetings and classes for new members. Take a look at our bulletin board in the foyer and get to know the new members. If you are interested in this vital ministry contact Nancy Henderson . We also sponsor the Chalice Circles, which are coordinated by Laura Graham.
Music Team Meetings
The Music Team meets after church on the Sunday before the Ministry Team/Coordinating Council meeting. This is typically the 2nd or 3rd Sunday of the Month. Meetings are typically held in the Library.
Policy & Procedures Committee
Worship Team Meetings
Our Worship Team meets on the 1st Tuesday of the month at 4:30PM in the Minister's office. Please contact Rev. Ann Marie if you are interested in helping the Worship Team as a Team Member, an Usher, Service Leader or Service Coordinator.
Youth Religious Education Team
For meeting times and dates see the calendar or contact Team Lead Heather Rushforth.
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AUUCG Covenant UUCG Covenant gust Birthdays
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Best Wishes to this month's honorees:
Rita Finkle, Robyn Tuttle-Tolley, Amelia Cook,
Stephanie Moore, Logan Hamilton, Jace Moore,
Marilyn Clayton, Marie Houck, Sara Chenoweth,
Justin McKinney & Maggie Kilpatrick
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NovembAttendance
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January 31 |
105 | |
February 7 |
120 | February 14
February 21 February 28 | 90
112
95
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 Share 1/2 donations for February: $ The donations went to the Interactive Resource Center and the Servant Center |
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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
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UUCG Officers
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Karen Madrone, President
Michelle Lee, Vice President
Susan Hill, Treasurer
Sharin Francis, Secretary
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UUCG Trustees | |
Dawn Allen (2016)
Sue Beck (2016)
Katja Brown (2016)
Robert Gretton (2016)
Paul Namaste (2017)
Cindy Williams (2018)
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UUCG Staff
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 Reverend Ann Marie Alderman, MinisterRev. Ann Marie Alderman may be contacted by sending an e-mail to amalderman@uuma.org or on her mobile phone 704.770.8748. She is usually in her UUCG office on Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons.  Julie Hamilton, Congregational AdministratorOffice Hours: Please call church office for appointments
 Mark Freundt, Director of MusicOffice Hours: Please call church office for appointments Office Phone: 336.856.0330, Cell: 336.908.1103 E-mail: uucgdirmu@bellsouth.net Cindy Dillard, Director of Youth Religious EducationOffice Hours: Please call church office for appointments Office Phone: 336.856.0330 Cell 614.975.0126 E-mail: uucgre@att.net
Walter McCorey, Sexton
Tuesday, Thursday & Friday (times vary based on needs).
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Ministry Team and Board Committee Contacts
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Ministry Teams--Reporting to the Minister
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| Adult Faith Formation Team (formerly Adult RE)
| Marie Houck
| Building and Grounds Team
| Ken Williams
| Care Team - practical needs
| Sara Bourquin
| Communications Team
| Liz and Jeff Gauger
| Denominational Affairs Team
| Open
| Fellowship Team
| Kay Bishop and Stephanie McGovern
| Fundraising Team
| Open
| Auction Sub-Team
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Lauren Houck, Robin Lewis
| Justice Action Team (formerly Social Action)
| Sue Cole, Sara Bourquin, Becky Floyd
| Environmental Stewardship Greensboro
| Vance Archer
| Food Drives and Food Donations
| Becky Floyd
| Standing on the Side of Love
| Tim Leisman
| Potter House Service
| Ken Knight
| Red Cross Blood Drive
| Tim Leisman
| Pastoral Care Team
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Joe Gecinger
| Membership Team
| Nancy Henderson
| Music Team
| Sue Sherwood
| Worship Team
| Open
| | Labyrinth | Michelle Lee | |
Youth Religious Education Team
| Heather Rushforth
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Committees and Task Forces
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Report to the Board of Trustees
| Accountability Committee
| Karen Madrone, Acting Chair | ACT
| Ann Dickinson | Archival Records Committee
| Sharin Francis
| Designated Gifts Task Force
| Ken Williams
| Finance Committee
| Lonnie Houck | Healthy Congregations Committee
| Marie Houck
| Human Resources Committee
| Jeff Gauger, Oversees
| | Policies and Procedures Committee | open | | Smoking Task Force | Katie Klod | | Strategic Planning Committee | Katja Brown |
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Congregational Standing Committees
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Report to the Congregation
| Committee on Leadership Development
| Wendell Putney | Committee on Endowment
| Ken Williams
| Coordinating Council
| Rev. Ann Marie, Michelle Lee
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