What’s going on.... February 2000

February opens with the Women’s group meeting at the church. The first Sunday service of the month will welcome Ann Marie Alderman, the intern minister from the Gainesville, FL Unitarian Universalist Church. Several new members will be inducted at that service also. The "Love is a Family" photo exhibit will be at the church the weekend of the 26^th-27^th. The calendar above is packed with these and other events. Elsewhere in the newsletter you’ll find other opportunities. Please join in as many as you can.

Gainesville Intern Minister In Valdosta

Ann Marie Alderman, the intern minister at the UU Fellowship of Gainesville, FL, will be our guest minister this month. Her topic, "Are We Possessed By What We Possess?" will take a look at the growing voluntary simplicity movement. She will address questions like:

• What kind of life energy have we invested in the purchases we have made?
• Do our possessions reflect an investment in what we really need or value?
• Or are our values, and thus our needs, determined by what possesses us?

Ann Marie Alderman is a candidate for ministry in the Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations. She grew up in Jacksonville, Florida, and graduated from Florida State University with a major in religion in 1975. In 1978, she completed her M.Div. at Vanderbilt in Nashville, TN. After deciding not to pursue ordination in the United Methodist Church, she trained as an automotive technician. She worked as a mechanic and a service advisor in Nashville, before returning to Jacksonville where for over fifteen years she was the manager of her family's wood flooring business. She eventually left that business to work in the historic district of Savannah as a bookstore manager and in rental property management. While in Savannah, she discovered the UU Church and became actively involved with the small fellowship in Statesboro, Georgia. Returning to Jacksonville, she entered and completed an intensive year–long program in Clinical Pastoral Education. She learned advanced pastoral skills in a hospital recognized for it's Level One Trauma Center and Acute Care.

Plan to welcome Ann Marie to Valdosta on February 6.

New Member Induction

During the service on February 6 we will welcome new members to the congregation. If you have not signed the Membership Book and would like to do so at that time, please let one of the officers know. When you first began attending our church you may have signed our guest book and begun receiving this newsletter. In order to be an official member of the congregation though it is necessary that you sign the Membership Book. We hope, if you have found with us a group of kindred "souls," you will make this commitment to our church. We welcome you as our companion on our individual pilgrimages.

Women’s Group

Join us for good food and great company, the 1^st and 3^rd Tuesday of each month at 7:00 p.m. Bring a snack, ideas for discussion, or just yourself! Contact Julie Halter for more information.

Games Night!

Games night is back for the first Saturday night of the month. Bring $1.00, a dish, and your favorite game to the church on Saturday Feb. 5 at 7:00 PM. Call René Kerr or Julie Halter if you need further information.

Religious Education News

News from Diane Holliman, our new director of Youth R.E.

I am so happy about working with the youth in Valdosta. I have taught R.E. before and I believe that I learned a great deal about Unitarian Universalism and teaching through my experiences with R.E.

This Winter and Spring we will use the curriculum Neighboring Faiths. We plan to cover Buddhism, Hinduism, Earth Centered Religions, Humanism, Islam, the African American churches, and fundamentalism. Julie Halter, Virginia Branan, Delane and Albert Slone and Teresa Bibins, and I will teach this spring.

We are planning to have at least one "field trip" every month. In February we will attend an African American church as a part of Black History Month. We also are planning to continue to improve our meditation area and to have several outdoor trips.

This year all the youth will meet together. We would love for you to join us and we welcome your input. New people and new ideas enhance our program!

The R. E. PROGRAM NEEDS YOUR HELP

Our church is in desperate need of a TV and VCR for R.E., worship, and other church functions. Members usually have to bring their VCR and TV from home, which can be difficult. If you are upgrading and have a VCR to donate or would like to assist us in getting a VCR/TV your help is welcome and appreciated. THANK YOU! If you would like to help in this regard contact Diane Holliman.

Editors Note: If you thought we had a TV/VCR you may have forgotten that the one we had was stolen a while back and has never been recovered or replaced.

Adult R.E. is having discussions of various topics, current issues, and so on. Contact Charles Judah for more information.

Social Action Activities

Break Bread Together

Our date for meal deliveries with the Break Bread Together program is now the 2^nd Monday of each month. If you can deliver meals on this day beginning about 11:00 AM, please contact Virginia Branan.

Adopt-a-Stream

On Sunday Feb.6 after the service Jim Ingram is organizing a river clean-up for our adopted section of the Withlacoochee River. Bring a bag lunch to church and plan to enjoy a picnic and then cleaning up the banks of the river. Unless we have a lot of rain Jim thinks there will not be enough water for canoeing.

Chalice Lighters

At the Feb 6 service you will be challenged to become a Florida District Chalice Lighter. Many in our congregation are already participants in this program. If you become a Chalice Lighter you will be asked for a $10.00 donation no more than three times during the year for a worthy District project. Our local church received money for our new building through this fund. As participants we each have the opportunity to help other congregations in the Florida District. Consider becoming a Chalice Lighter, if you have not already done so. Information will be available on Feb. 6.If you cannot be at the service and would like to enroll in the program complete the following and mail to Virgina Branan, 1217 W. Park Ave., Valdosta, GA 31602.

Please enroll me as a Chalice Lighter. I will respond to the District’s request for a $10 contribution to "light a chalice" not more than three times in a fiscal year (July 1-June 30).

Name_________________________

Address______________________

City_____________________Zip_

Congregation_________________

Gay-Straight Network

"Love Makes a Family" Photo Exhibit

Valdosta UU Church

February 26-27

The Valdosta Gay Straight Network and the Valdosta UU Church under the

leadership of Carol Stiles) have been working together to bring a unique

photo exhibit to Valdosta. The exhibit, "Love Makes a Family" is being

brought by the Georgia Equality Project (GEP) for a tour of 4 Georgia cities. The presentation focuses on the belief that "family" is more than simply a matter of biology. The exhibit will be in Valdosta beginning February 21 and on display at the UU Church for the weekend of February 26th and 27th.

Information about times the exhibit will be open and other locations where it may be viewed will be announced as they become available. For more information or to arrange to host the exhibit for an evening at your location call Ann Kasun or Virginia Branan.

Monthly Potluck Social

The Gay-Straight Network will be meeting regularly at the UU church the second Wednesday of each month for a potluck social. The next meeting will be on Feb. 9 at 7:00 PM. Bring a potluck dish and join in the conversation. Contact Ann Kasun for further information.

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At the Church-in-the-Woods:

Cardio Karate - Tuesdays and Fridays, 7:00 - 8:15 pm. Call Albert and Delane Slone.

Tai Chi , Monday and Thursday evenings, Dennis Bogyo or Luana Goodwin.

Special news/thanks from Carol Stiles:

Greetings from Florida! Just wanted to say hello and send you my new e-mail address: cmst@earthlink.net

Thanks to all for the gift of the book filled with photos of the century,and especially, of the 'musical gift' (delivered by Molly and Doug!) and your presence with us at the wonderful going-away party at Betty Derrick's home.

Also, a correction to the December newsletter - the new phone number for Steve and Janet Andersen was listed with the incorrect area code. The correct number is listed in the paper version of the newsletter.

Many thanks to all of you who aided (in different ways) my move to Gainesville. It really was an "adventure" in many ways! - --and I wonder how I would have done it without you." Thanks again, and best wishes!

Treasurer’s Report

December 1999 Budget

Another Great Month.

Rene' Kerr, Treasurer

"Ricky was ‘L’ but he‘s home with the flu,

Lizzie, our ‘O,’had some homework to do,

Mitchell,’E’ prob’ly got lost on the way,

So I’m all of love that could make it today."

Shel Silverstein from "Where the Sidewalk Ends"

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UU Activities and Announcements

Further information is posted on the church bulletin boards.

March 3 and 4, UU Humanist Conference - Unitarian Universalist Church of Brevard. The featured speaker will be Dr. William R. Murry, first Humanist president of Meadville/Lombard Theological School, one of two UU schools training ministers. His topic will be "WHERE WE HAVE BEEN AND WHERE WE ARE GOING." Friday evening will be devoted to appropriate music for humanist services and a social hour. Small group discussions on topics such as ethics, spirituality, identify conflicts, adult RE and conversations with Dr. Murry will take place on Saturday. All participants are invited to Sunday Service at UUCB where Dr. Murry will deliver the message. Cost: $40.00 includes refreshments, continental breakfast and lunch on Saturday. Checks should be made out to Florida District-UUA/Humanist

Conference and sent to:

Conference Committee, UUCB
2185 Meadowlane Avenue
W. Melbourne, FL 32904

March 11, Thandeka – Community UU Church, Daytona Beach, 8:30 AM-4:00 PM, 5^th Annual Florida District Social Justice Conference. Professor Thandeka of Meadville/Lombard Theological school willl lead an interactive workshop on race, class, and spirituality. Cost: $35.00 before Feb.28($45.00 late).

March 10-12, Alpha Connections – Florida District Spring Young Adult Conference. First UU Church of Orlando. Advance registration by Mar 3.

Something to think about…

Coretta Scott King, speaking at a summit to encourage community service and volunteerism, during Atlanta's Martin Luther King, Jr., holiday observances: "'The concept here is that service to others is a way to connect to the divine,'" Mrs. King said. She urged the service summit audience to fight against racism, sexism, homophobia, discrimination and

environmental destruction with 'a healing and hopeful heart.'"

"'History is calling for this generation to put right the injustices of this nation and this world,' she said."

--Associated Press, in The Gainesville Sun, Jan. 17, 2000

Newsletter Staff

• Editor: Betty Derrick
  
• Production: Virginia Branan
• Membership database: Doug Fraser
• Website: Carol Stiles, Julie Halter, and Earl Daniels (now of Macon, GA)

February. 13, deadline for the February issue. I’ll be traveling on business some at the end of February and will appreciate your information for March as early as possible. Thanks. Betty

Membership database "housecleaning": With the beginning of a new year and a new newsletter staff, we thought it a good time to review our mailing list. The newsletter is now available on the Web. (www.geocities.com/SoHo/1918/). Please let Virginia Branan or Doug Fraser know if you would prefer to no longer receive the print version.

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