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Sunday, January 6, 2013
10:30 am
Our Prophetic Imperative
Rev. Abhi Janamanchi
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The service will explore the second UU source - "words and deeds of prophetic men and women which challenge us to confront powers and structures of evil with justice, compassion, and the transforming power of love." |
Editor's 2¢
Love and compassion are necessities not luxuries. Without them humanity cannot survive.
--Dahli Lama
Worship Associate:
Music by:
Dr. David Katz
UUC TrUUbadores
Prelude: "There Is A Season" Berta and Sonja Poorman
Interlude: "Nobody Knows The Troubles I've Seen" Spiritual arr. by Victor Labenske
Offertory: "Brother James' Air" James L. Bain/Arr. by John Carter
Postlude: "Whiter Than Snow" Tune by William G. Fischer/Adap. by Lani Smith |
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| Coming Soon | |
UU Whale Alaska program
Women's Night Out
January 10
SQ21
January 18
Tom Neilson Concert
January 19
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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Molly Stephenson Celebration of Life |
 A Celebration of Life will be held for Molly 11 a.m., Saturday, January 5th in the UUC Octagon. A reception will follow in the Social Hall. In lieu of flowers, donations in Molly's memory may be made out to UUC's Better World Fund. |
Special Congregation Meeting
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 Dear Members and Friends of UUC: There will be a special congregational meeting in the Octagon on Sunday, January 20, 2013 at 12:30 pm. All members are asked to attend as it is important to have the required quorum. AGENDA 1. Call to Order 2. Facilities Planning Task Force Report and review of the architectural plans. 3. A motion to select from among three possible upgrades to our facilities. 4. Questions and Discussion. 5. Motion (as proposed by the Facilities Planning Task force.) 6. Adjournment Submitted by Heike Smith Board Secretary |
Special Open Issues: January 6 |
 You are invited to attend a very exciting presentation at Open Issues on January 6th. The UUC is joining a local Social Justice Organization called Faith and Action for Strength Together (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). They have worked on education, jobs, affordable housing, drugs, crime, health care and instituting drug rehab programs in jails.
Lauren Bennett, one of FAST's representatives, will present at the January 6th "Open Issues" at 9:30.
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Children's Religious Enrichment |
Please join us this Sunday for a special children's worship service as we reflect upon 2012 and come together to look forward to 2013. We will gather in the Maxwell Library at 10:30am. We are creating a memory box for 2012 so if you have pictures or any special mementos from this past year that you would like to contribute, please bring them.
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 the 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.
UUC Religious Education Coordinator. |
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Facilities Planning Task Force | |
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 well ahead of time we have scheduled several presentations over a three week period beginning next weekend. Visit our web site to view a number of renderings presenting various aspects of the design. On January 6, our architect 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 architect's slide presentation. And finally, on Sunday, January 20, Ken will again be here to review his design before the congregational meeting. Contact Joe Myers for more information. |
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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. |
LET'S MAKE UUC SOUND TERRIFIC! |
All Media Team techies & newbies arrive in the Octagon with name tags on at 1 p.m., Monday, Jan 7 for some professionally run training.
All musicians -- Chorale singers, pianists, drummers, guitar players, Truubadores, flutists, other instrumentalists please join us at 4 p.m., and bring your instruments. Please wear your name tag.
All of us should plan on staying until 7 p.m.
Healthy snacks and beverages will be available.
(if you'd like to bring your favorite snack/drink,
please do so. If you'd like to bake something to
share with other students, please do so!)
Mike Sokol, master electrician, acoustician, audio expert and excellent trainer will help us with what we need to know to make UUC sound better than ever.
If you haven't already notified Ches that you will be attending, please call her 727-821-3521 (leave a message) or email her to tell her you will be ready to learn on Monday January 7. |
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 January 10, 17, and 24, 2013
Rev. Abhi Janamanchi will lead a three session seminar on Unitarian Universalism from 7 to 9 p.m. in the Patio Room. The stimulating, interactive classes focus on the spiritual journeys of individual participants, the history and principles of Unitarian Universalism, and the Unitarian Universalists of Clearwater congregation.
Human interest in spirituality is compelling and exceedingly personal. For many, Unitarian Universalism represents a belief system outside the norm of conventional religions and invites introspection about being human and connected to all. This seminar provides a thoughtful, open forum for learning more about Unitarian Universalism and how it may match participants current beliefs.
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Stewardship At UUC: Bob Buesing |
 UUC is that special place in my life where I get grounded and find a special community of seekers and thinkers. UUC connects me to the great optimistic and hopeful group of visionaries - both past and present - who see a better world for all and work to make it happen. UUC stretches my thinking and tests my assumptions. I always drive away from UUC saying to myself "I really got a lot out of that." UUC heals those - including me - who were raised in a place that was typically closed to new ideas. UUC, to me, is like pure oxygen. It is amazing that here you can grow, question, change and change again, all without fear. A church that honors science and truth is wonderful to me. UUC is the kind of place where missing a Sunday will cause others to say only that they are glad to see you when you return and laying on guilt never crosses anyone's mind. UUC deserves my support because it has a much larger impact on our community than our size would suggest. UUC deserves my support because we have created a safe, diverse place that by its very existence changes our outside community in ways seen and unseen. UUC deserves my support because the world is coming to us. There need to be places that honor the spiritual side of life and the universal truths in all religions but also celebrates the many different ways of seeing things. Isn't that exactly what the world needs? Also, I support UUC because I LOVE the orange cushions! (sorry Abhi) I invite you to connect with others as we consider the stewardship of our community over the course of the next year. Ask yourself - How has the UUC changed the way I view others? How has it changed the way I interact with others? How has it changed what I see possible in our community? How has it changed my view about what we can create together? And then answer the invitation to share your story about how the UUC impacts you! (more on that next week.) |
Give & Take: UUC's Answer to Craig's List |
 It's a new year and you want to be better organized. Do you need something or do you need to give something away? Do you want to sell or buy something? Do you need a service or do you have a service to offer? Give and Take is the way to go. Let's help each other out. Check it out at http://uuclearwater.org and click on Give&Take on the left. There are lots of things from mobile homes to household items. See for yourself. |
Red Badge of. . . Welcome (Courage)
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 Most of us are familiar with the blue stick-on nametags we grab at the welcome desk on those rare occasions we forget our plastic nametags. We are now issuing red nametags too, but they're for a very special group-our visitors and guests. When we visit a new and unfamiliar spirit place, it really is an act of courage and hope and curiosity to wander as a stranger among people who are unfamiliar. Doing this in the relatively tranquil and structured setting of the Octagon is one thing, but moving into the Social Hall (our own UUC version of Grand Central Station) can be a bit daunting for the newcomer. Let's help bridge the anxiety and reach out in welcome. We affirm ourselves as a welcoming congregation in many different ways. Please extend that affirmation especially to the red nametagged among us. Come to the guest table to meet our guests there or strike up a conversation at the coffee pot or the cookie tray. The place of welcome matters not. The welcome is the thing. We are a welcoming congregation-WE ARE UUC! |
News from the Anastasia Maxwell Library |
 Is returning a borrowed book to the library at the top of your resolution list?
Good news! You can return them at absolutely no cost to you! I know, some of them have been "borrowed" since 1985, but now they can be put back in circulation so that others may enjoy them as much as you did. Just drop them off in the "book return box" by the computer and start the new year out right.
We are looking for a "few good book-loving people" to serve on the Library Committee and help chart the direction of the Anastasia Maxwell Library. Our plan is to meet not more than four times a year, so it will not be a great commitment of time.We are also always looking for ways to make the library more accessible and "user friendly". Any ideas?
We both wish you a Happy, Healthy and Peaceful New Year.
Bruce Gotts and Beth Maxie
Library Committee Co-Chairs |
Spiritual Intelligence: 21 Skills for a Better Future
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 All of us have heard of IQ; most of us know something about the concept of EQ (Emotional Intelligence). As important as both are, without Spiritual Intelligence (SQ) they are neither grounded nor guided. SQ helps us align with our purpose and core values and live from our best and highest self. Rigorously created and researched, Cindy Wigglesworth's 21 skill model provides a roadmap to help focus our personal growth work as well as prepare us for organizational leadership.
Cindy defines Spiritual Intelligence as "the ability to behave with wisdom and compassion while maintaining inner and outer peace (equanimity) regardless of the situation." In her talk, she will give a brief overview of SQ and the 21 Skills and explain how this faith-neutral model can focus and aid us in developing the skills necessary to help create a more compassionate, wise and peaceful world.
We are delighted to have Cindy with us for a talk 7PM, Friday, January 18 in the Patio Room.
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See the December 20th Ruah video at:
The Ruah team needs help with set-up, handing out programs. staffing the welcome desk, passing the collection plates and counting, floor managing (moving mics, etc), and serving refreshments. If interested, please contact me at Rev. Abhi. We will also have sign-up sheets at social hour. |
Kashi Hills Sponsor-a-Student Program
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Barbara Brandt: After years of writing to the children at the Margaret Barr School, it was a joy to meet them in person, see their shining eyes and the love they gave strangers from half way around the world. "Heartwarming" was the word of the day.
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 and in 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 forms with your check to UUC, Attention: Khasi Hills Project, 2470 Nursery Rd, Clearwater, FL, 33764 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. |
Kashi Hills Memoire by Jeannie Shimer |
 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. |
Are You Interested In Attending Theatre and Dance?
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If you are interested in live theatre and/or dance performances, contact Ann Scott at 531-3172 or email her to get on her mailing list of upcoming events.
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Going, going, nearly gone... | |
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Our Web Site's Social Justice page can be found here.
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On Saturday afternoon, January 12th, CIR (Comprehensive Immigration Reform) will be sponsoring an Emergency CIR Now Summit. Some of us from UUC are planning to attend and will carpool over. Please let me know if you would like to attend. For more information about the conference go to http://cirnow.eventbrite.com.
A New Year's resolution that I am making: to keep a bag of food for the RCS collection box near my door or in the car so I will remember to bring food for RCS each Sunday. Food supplies are down at all food pantries in the county and demand is still rising.
The next meeting of the Economic Justice Team will be on Tuesday, January 8th, 10:30 AM, Chorale Room. Please let me know if you cannot attend morning meetings but would like to be a part of the EJT.
Donna Polhamus |
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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