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Sunday, December 30, 2012
10:30 am
The Year of Seeking Dangerously
Scott Milinder
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A year ago I set off on an intentional spiritual retreat, temporarily away from our beloved UUC community, to re-discover the guiding principles of my life. I did not visit any mountain tops or receive any earth-shattering revelations, but through this journey, I experienced the joy of creating a more vivid and clear picture of my life's project, seeking to fulfill a purpose greater than myself. As we enter the New Year, let me share with you this vision. I call it My Radical Universalist Resolutions.
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Editor's 2¢
A life spent making mistakes is not only more honorable, but more useful than a life spent doing nothing.
--George Bernard Shaw
Worship Associate:
Nancy Warner
Music by:
Linda Jones
PRELUDE:
Evening Song........David Lanz
INTERLUDE:
Midnight Reverie....David Lanz
OFFERTORY:
Daybreak Flower..David Lanz
POSTLUDE:
Skating...........Vince Guaraldi
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| Coming Soon | |
UU Whale Alaska program
Women's Night Out
January 10
SQ21
January 18
MLK Breakfast
January 21
Everything I Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten
Saturday, February 2
Darwin's Gift
February 9
Awaken Your Female Voices Workshops
February 23
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Open Issues: Sunday December 30
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 9:30 in the Patio Room.
General Discussion: New Year's Resolutions:Are there better solutions than resolutions?
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Special Open Issues: January 6
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 You are invited to attend a very exciting presentation at Open Issues on January 6th. As you may know, the UUC is joining a local Interfaith Social Justice Organization called FAST. This community based interfaith, multi-cultural organization of churches, temples, and Islamic congregations is part of a larger national network DART (Direct Action and Research Training). Their organizational structure is similar to General Assembly, as members discuss areas of concern and then vote on where to focus their energies for change. They have worked on education, jobs, affordable housing, drugs, crime, health care and instituting drug rehab programs in jails. Through their efforts PTEC (Pinellas Technical Education Center) is now offering job training in areas the community needs.
Lauren Bennett, one of FAST's representatives, has agreed to do a presentation at the January 6th "Open Issues" at 9:30, before services, which will explain in more detail FAST's mission, vision and accomplishments and answer any questions we may have. Please join us and make a change in our community!
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Children's Religious Enrichment
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The Roman god Janus, for whom the month of January was named, is said to have been able to look both forward and backward at the same time. As we approach the new year together, please join us in reflection and celebration of has been and what has yet to come. Our children of all ages will come together with anticipation of the new year with stories, crafts, food and fun!
Our High School youth group (meets 12-1pm after the worship service) will turn it's focus to the Khasi Hills Sponsor-A-Student Project and learn more about history of the project and how to ensure its future. Are you looking for a way to give back to your spiritual home? The Religious Enrichment program has many volunteer opportunities available so please contact Christine Pensa.
I hope to see all on Sunday with a smile! Christine Pensa, UUC Religious Education Coordinator |
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Message From the Facilities Planning Task Force
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The first phase in our approach to renewing our campus is nearing an end. Over the last several months, our architect, Ken Cowart, has been interacting with our congregation as he developed his plans. He has held a town hall meeting, conferences with members with special interests such as RE and kitchen, and with our minister, the board, our staff, and the task force. He will have the design available by the end of the year. All those involved have been very excited about the plans, and appreciated the way in which Ken has listened, and responded to their questions and ideas.
On January 20, you will be meeting to decide among three different financial levels of the design. In order to inform as many of you as possible you well ahead of time we have scheduled several presentations over a three week period beginning next weekend. At that time, we will place on our web site a number of renderings presenting various aspects of the design. As soon as they are ready, a notice will go out. On January 6, Ken will be here after services to make a full presentation of the design. On the following Sunday, January 13, we will have a continuous showing of the slide from Ken's presentation. And finally, on Sunday, January 20, Ken will again be here to review his design before the congregational meeting.
For me it has been a very exciting experience to see these plans take shape; to see your ideas and dreams come to life in the design. I believe you too will be pleased when you see the results. The design fits well with our vision and mission and its realization will be our legacy for generations to come. As I stood in the Octagon last Sunday, and looked around I got a real appreciation of the gift we were given 30 years ago by a congregation, very few of whom are with us today. It is now our opportunity to say thank you, and pay it forward.
Joe Myers, Chair
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 On Friday, January 4th, we begin discussing the book A Prayer For Owen Meany by John Irving. The author introduces two of his most unforgettable characters, boys bonded forever in childhood: the stunted Owen Meany, whose life is touched by God, and the orphaned Johnny Wheelwright, whose life is touched by Owen.
Reader's Forum is led by Catherine & John Conover and meets every Friday 10 a.m. It is free and all are welcome. For more information, go to http://uuclearwater.org/content/ReadersForum.htm
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Movie Goers (nod to Walker Percy) Group Forming
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 All those interested in joining a new group to see movies together should contact Patsy Beyer. Current thinking is that it will typically be at a mid county location, on a week day, at the 4ish time slot, and optional dinner to follow for discussion. |
Kashi Hills Sponsor-a-Student Program
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Did you see the Kashi Hills table top display in the UUC lobby last Sunday? Or the 8' display in the social hall? Be sure to check them out. Brochures and donation/sponsorship forms are available in both places as well and the UUC office.
This is the 9th year of UUC's involvement with the Khasi Hills Sponsor-A-Student Project for the MargaretBarrMemorialSchool in northeast India.
A $50 sponsorship will help educate a student for an entire school year providing much needed help with teacher salaries, school and classroom supplies as well as lunches.
Send completed form with your check to UUC, Attention: Khasi Hills Project, 2470 Nursery Rd, ClearwaterFL, 67734 or give the form and donation to someone at the Social Justice table in the social hall after the Sunday service or drop off at the UUC office.or Make an Online Contribution to Kashi
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Kashi Hills Memoire by Jeannie Shimer
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 The birthday celebration at the Khasi Hills School is one of my all time favorite birthday memories. The cake which Lalitha arranged was beautiful and a real surprise, but my favorite time of the whole India trip was all the little chlldren in their blue and white uniforms giving me birthday kisses - on both cheeks while the rest of our party was waiting in the cars |
Going, going, nearly gone...
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Octagon Sound Meeting: January 7
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Our Web Site's Social Justice page can be found here.
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And the effort to help feed the hungry here in Clearwater still continues. Please remember to bring food for our RCS box, which is located in the lobby. We have been doing really well, over 160 pounds of food in about a month last time we delivered to RCS. Please think of RCS when you see a bargain at the market.
Finally, the recent district meeting about CIW's work that some of us attended in Port Charlotte has resulted in a need to keep in touch. All of us would like to set up a list-serve. If you would be willing to co-chair a list serve here is the information:
If we can get someone to manage the UU list-serve that we wanted to establish on the CIW, we could share all our plans there. Please contact Suzanne Fast if you will co-manage the list with her so we can get it up and running, Thank you!
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PUBLICATION DEADLINES OCTAGRAM - WEEKLY EVERY THURSDAY The Octagram is intended to focus on activities taking place at UUC or those of interest to UUC members and friends. Send items in brief with a link to more information to Octagram. PLEASE DO NOT SEND INFORMATION FORMATTED, OR IN A FLIER. Provide text in an email, or as an attached Word file with any pictures/graphics attached to the email. Deadline is 10 a.m. every Wednesday. Prepared by Barbara Bird. ORDER OF SERVICE/ANNOUNCEMENTS - WEEKLY EVERY SUNDAY SERVICE: Deadline is 6 p.m. every Wednesday. Send appropriate items to Order of Service/Announcements. Prepared by Pat St. Clair. ITEMS RECEIVED AFTER THE DEADLINES WILL BE INCLUDED IN THE FOLLOWING PUBLICATION, IF APPLICABLE. |
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