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E-mail UU-Valdosta at uuvaldosta@yahoo.com
Phone: 229-242-3714
New U.S. mailing address is
Page down or click the links to go to specific sections:
Thank You! Thank You! | Religious Education | |
Board Notes | Social Action | UU Activities and Announcements |
Minister's Muusings - Rev. Jane Page |
Sun |
Feb. 3 |
10:45 AM |
Religious Education for children Service
– “Candlemas,” Laylead by Meet & Greet Coffee after the service |
Wed |
Feb. 6 |
6:00 PM |
Board meeting in the R. E. wing at the church |
Sun |
Feb. 10 |
10:45 AM |
Religious Education for children Service
- " Covenantal
Relationships as Religious Virtue,” Dr. Michael Stoltzfus Meet & Greet Coffee after the service |
Mon |
Feb. 11 |
11:00 AM |
Break Bread delivery |
Th |
Feb. 14 |
|
Hug your loved ones! |
Sat |
Feb. 16 |
7:00 PM |
Games Night at the Church |
Sun |
Feb. 17 |
10:45 AM |
Religious Education for children Service
– “Thank Heavens for Evolution!” Rev.
Meet & Greet Coffee after the service |
Sun |
Feb. 24 |
10:45 AM |
Religious Education for children Service – "Spirit Blows Where It Will," Rev. George Bennett Meet & Greet Coffee after the service |
T |
Feb. 26 |
|
Newsletter Deadline (later than usual just this month!) |
Sun |
Mar 2 |
10:45 AM |
Religious Education for children Service
– “The Kite Runner: Redemption and Transformation
in the Novel,” Dr. Michael Stoltzfus Meet & Greet Coffee after the service |
Wed |
Mar. 5 |
6:00 PM |
Board meeting in the R. E. wing at the church |
Sun |
Mar. 9 |
10:45 AM |
Religious Education for children Service – “Ostara,” Laylead by Lars Leader Meet & Greet Coffee after the service |
February… Wonderful programming - opportunities for social justice action – a growing religious education program – fun activities!
Love
is the spirit of this church and service is its law.
This is our great covenant: to dwell together in peace, to seek the
truth in love, and to help one another. –James Vila Blake
Sunday, February 3 – “Candlemas”
At the
request of several members this month we will begin a series of services
which will last throughout 2008. These
services will be lay lead and will coincide with holidays and events from
the Pagan calendar.
Come join us for a lay led celebration of Candlemas, the Pagan Spring
holiday, also called by the traditional names of Imbolc, Oimelc or Brigid.
We will celebrate the history and tradition of the Pagan holiday and
participate in a ceremony of light and purification.
Sunday, February 10 – Dr. Michael Stoltzfus, “Covenantal Relationships as Religious Virtue”
Covenantal
relationships are where human beings develop the grammar and syntax of
reciprocity, where people cultivate the capacities for trust, fidelity and
the habits of cooperation. We will discuss the concept and lived
reality of covenantal relationships from the perspective of multiple
religious traditions. We will differentiate between covenants and
contracts and demonstrate how a stable society and a meaningful human life
needs both.
Sunday,
February 17 – Rev.
In honor of
Sunday, February 24 – Rev. George Bennett , "Spirit Blows Where It
Will"
God graciously gives us the spirit that
renews and gives us new birth. But
this new birth is not of our doing. It
is God's doing and remains a mystery for it's uncontrolled and untamed
goings and comings.
Sunday,
March 2 – Dr. Michael Stoltzfus,
“The Kite Runner:
Redemption and Transformation in the Novel”
We will use
Khaled Hosseini’ novel The Kite Runner as a catalyst to discuss
modern history in Afghanistan, the differing forms of Islam in the region,
and the general themes of war, peace, redemption and transformation.
We will use the novel to highlight some of the contemporary myths about
Islam in general and the broader
Sunday, March 9 - “Ostara”
Come join us for a lay led celebration of Ostara, the Pagan celebration of the Spring equinox. We will celebrate the history and tradition of the Pagan holiday and, if weather permits, we will walk the nature trail and reflect on the Magick of nature and our Great Mother and her bounty. Lars Leader will lead this service.
Religious
Education for Children
The R.E. program continues in the New Year with the We Believe:
Learning and Living Our UU Principles and
stories by Dr. Seuss. WE BELIEVE... focuses on the seven UU
principles. The stories and
lessons by Dr. Seuss support and supplement that curriculum. Dr. Seuss'
stories contain wonderful and valuable lessons about love, understanding,
sharing, peace, caring for our world community and the Earth, and much more.
The RE program for children meets at 10:45 AM concurrent with the
Sunday morning service. Volunteers
to help in the classroom are needed. Contacts: Mya Storey or Susan Bailey.
It was exciting to see the children's participation in the December
30 Sunday service. All who were
at the service enjoyed their introduction of the season’s holidays from
Hanukah to Christmas to
Rev. Jane A. Page, Minister,
Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Statesboro, serves our
congregation in |
ABOUT
OUR MEMBERS AND FRIENDS
Keep in your thoughts …
INVITATION
TO MEMBERSHIP If you are
interested in becoming a member of our fellowship, we encourage you to
talk with our President, |
v
Sadhvi Ji Chaitanya(Vrndaji) and the AVM
temple(Hindu Ashram) in Pavo which was ransacked and burglarized the first
week of January. Items used for worship were vandalized or stolen.
She says the culprits took the money box which had less than $20 in
it. This is the second time the
temple has been burglarized. They plan to install an alarm system so it
won't happen again. This
is an uncomfortable reminder of our congregation’s own experience only a
few years ago. Vrndaji is a
member of our Accepting Difference Project.
Ministerial Muusings
Rev.
Evolution
Sunday? The
Jews have Yom Kippur, the Muslims have Eid, the Christian’s have Easter,
the Baha’is have Naw Ruz, the Pagans have Beltane, the Buddhists have
Visakha Puja (or Buddha Day) and the Hindus, Sikh, and Jains, have Diwali.
So what do naturalists and humanists have as a special sacred day to
celebrate. How about February
12? Many of you may have
memorized that date in elementary or high school as Abraham Lincoln’s
birthday. But on that wintry day
in 1809, there were two babies born that changed our world.
The other special babe is Charles Darwin.
“Darwin Day” has now become an international celebration of
science and humanity held on or around February 12.
While the day is chosen specifically to honor the discoveries and
life of Charles Darwin, it also has been lifted up as a day to express
gratitude “for the enormous benefits that scientific knowledge, acquired
through human curiosity and ingenuity, has contributed to the advancement of
humanity.” (http://www.darwinday.org)
Of course those who promote “creationism” or its avatar
“intelligent design,” shun and denounce the celebration.
And perhaps because they have become so vocal in their efforts to
eliminate the teaching of evolution or to teach “intelligent design” as
an equally dignified alternative, other more progressive minded Christians
have begun to celebrate evolution in February.
I recently signed on to the “clergy letter project” with
ministers from many denominations who have, thankfully, evolved in their own
theological thinking. This
letter states:
We the
undersigned …believe that the timeless truths of the Bible and the
discoveries of modern science may comfortably coexist. We believe that the
theory of evolution is a foundational scientific truth, one that has stood
up to rigorous scrutiny and upon which much of human knowledge and
achievement rests. To reject this truth or to treat it as “one theory
among others” is to deliberately embrace scientific ignorance and transmit
such ignorance to our children.
In the last
two years, proponents of this and similar statements have encouraged
churches to designate a special Sunday as “Evolution Sunday.”
This year they’ve changed that designation to “Evolution
Weekend” to be more inclusive of other religions.
The last time I checked, 732 congregations from all 50 states, the
District of
In addition to web resources, congregations are finding more and more
books which help them to share the respect that we should all have for
scientific findings about our wonderful world.
One of these resources is a new book by Michael Dowd entitled, Thank
GOD for EVOLUTION! How the
Marriage of Science and Religion will Transform Your Life and Our World.
I first heard Michael Dowd at a UUA General Assembly meeting, then
had the privilege of taking part in a workshop presented by Dowd and his
wife, Connie Barlow (an acclaimed science writer) at a ministers’ retreat
at The Mountain. Rev. Dowd first
began his ministry in fundamentalist churches preaching the traditional
gospel of more conservative churches. However,
his theology and his life evolved. Now
Dowd and Barlow are true evolutionary evangelists!
They have dedicated their lives to proclaiming the “Great News”
of a sacred view of a cosmic, biological, and human evolution.
Dowd and Barlow provide a human model of the marriage of science and
religion. While Dowd identifies
himself as a Christian, Barlow proudly proclaims her atheism.
On the back of their motor home which takes them on their
evangelistic journeys, you will see both the Christian Fish and the Darwin
Fish (with legs and wrench). And
the really unique thing about these two fish is that they are kissing each
other! Together they proclaim
their message of the wonder of evolution from differing but harmonious
perspectives. A primary
message Dowd has for theists is to view science as a revelation.
He also provides a model for God that even many atheists could honor.
Meanwhile, Barlow lifts up many scientific principles in such a way
that one can see how these could be identified as “sacred” ideas.
How refreshing! They and
others have inspired me to join them in their evangelistic efforts.
On Sunday February 17, I will be leading a worship service in
celebration of evolution. Come
join us at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Valdosta as we explore the
sacredness of evolving life.
Joyfully,
Jane
Saturday,
February 16 7:00 PM
At
the church
Bring some
finger foods and munchies to share, libations if you’d like, the kids, a
friend, a favorite game and let the games begin. See Sue Bailey for further
details. Come enjoy the fun!
Book
Discussion and Potluck: Watch for
announcements of our next book and plans for the next discussion potluck for
some time in March.
Newsletter Editor:
Betty Derrick Website:
Carol Stiles Local
Publicity: Dee Tait February
26:
Deadline
for the March newsletter. (Our
March newsletter will be a little late coming out, hence the March
dates on the February calendar!
But we’ll be back to the usual 15th deadline for
the April newsletter.) |
For layleading services:
For the children’s RE Sunday
service the last Sunday in December: Susan
Bailey for organizing the service and the children who participated, Emmilee,
Zoey, Nathan, Taylor, Cameron, Erik, and Zachary
For helping with Sunday Service
music: Julie Halter,
Dee Tait, Michael Greene,
For flowers for Sunday
services: Betty
Derrick
For greeting visitors: Mya
Storey, Dee Tait, Betty Derrick, Lars Leader, Susan Bailey and others who
made our newcomers welcome
For serving as Meet and Greet
Hosts: Betty
Derrick, Julie Halter, Dee Tait, Mya Storey, Adrienne Young,
Pat and Kari Wells
For assisting with Children’s
RE:
For
delivering Break Bread meals:
Frank Asbury, Lars Leader
For cleaning the church: Frank
Asbury, Susan Bailey, Lars Leader
For keeping our grounds:
For arranging to light our sign
and fix the entry way motion sensor:
For taking down holiday
decorations and storing them in the attic: Mya
and Jeremy Storey, Betty Derrick, Julie Halter, Susan Bailey
For participating in Games
Night: Susan
Bailey, Mya and Jeremy Storey and their children, Betty Derrick, Julie and
Jason Halter (We are having a great time.
Come join us!)
For purchasing and
re-installing solar lights on the church driveway entrance: Doug
and Kimberly Tanner (The ones Betty Derrick installed were stolen just
before Christmas, only a few weeks after they were installed.)
For improvements to the
church’s outdoor lighting from the Taoist Tai Chi Society.
This time of
year it is quite dark at our church in the evenings when this group meets
in our facilities. They are
grateful that timely repairs made our facility more inviting to newcomers
to this group in early
January.
For his generous contribution
to the church: John
Branan, Jr on behalf of his father.
For all you do that we may not have thanked you for in person.
Let your editor know your contributions so that others can
know! It takes all of us and
we appreciate you.
At
the Church-in-the-Woods
New Hope Christian Fellowship
- Sunday
evenings: Choir practice at 5:00 PM. Service at 6:00 PM.
Taoist
Tai Chi – Monday
and Thursday: Beginner’s Class, 5:30-6:30 PM; Continuing Class,
6:30-8:00 PM. Contact
UU
January
9, 2008
Attendance:
Mya Storey,
Mya started
the meeting with an appropriate reading.
Old
Business:The Board approved the minutes of the December meeting.
The roofer has been called to address the leak in the kitchen roof.
They have not reported back yet. A
contract has been let to illuminate the entry sign. This should happen mid
January. Trouble again with
New Business:
Treasurer Report received. Pledge category shows the large Branan
donation. There have been
instances of mail being delayed due to our P.O. box being too small to
contain it. Rosie will investigate getting a larger box, which will
necessitate changing our mailing address. Program Report: Trying to fill
open slot in February. Remainder of month is the usual three speakers. There
is a request for more “Earth Centered” services.
Religious Education Report: Attendance is up. Sue will provide a
schedule to the next few weeks to enable others to assist with RE.
The board discussed using the Branan donation to pay off the
outstanding mortgage. This recommendation will be an order of business at
the annual meeting. We were
disheartened to hear of the Ashram burglary and vandalism in Pavo. The Board
directed the JUUST Change (The Accepting Difference Project) committee to
investigate how we may assist them. The
solar lights at the driveway entrance were stolen. A police report was file,
and Doug replaced the lights. Our
“Bus Stop” bench is in a state of disrepair. Lars will investigate
updating it.
The next board meeting will be on Wednesday, February 6th at 6:00 in the RE Building.
Treasurer's
Report
Rosie
Asbury
December
2007
Receipts
December
July –present
Plate
$ 189.00
$ 666.83
Pledge
11230.00
15490.00
Rent
240.00
1440.00
Total
Receipts $11659.00
$17596.83
Disbursements
Mortgage
$ 500.00
$ 3000.00
Speakers’ Fees
750.00
3760.00
Repairs & Maint.
0.00
70.00
Newsletter
0.00
289.40
Termite
Control
0.00
278.00
Postage
0.00
33.43
Supplies
8.15
35.65
Utilities
207.80
1496.99
UU Dues
1080.00
1080.00
Other
78.65
209.65
Total
Disburse. $
2624.60
$10253.12
Net Receipt $ 9034.40 $ 7343.71
Our date for
meal deliveries with the Break Bread Together program is the 2nd
Monday of each month. If you can
deliver meals on this day beginning about 11:00 AM, please contact Frank
Asbury.
Accepting Difference Project: The committee composed of Lars Leader,
Susan Bailey and Betty Derrick has been charged by the Board to determine
how we can best assist the Pavo
Hindu Ashram after it was vandalized. Community
members of the project have been notified via e-mail.
We have been in contact with Vrendji also via e-mail.
Please let one of our committee members know of your suggestions.
Guest At Your
Table Boxes: Thank
you to all who made donations to the Unitarian Universalist Service
Committee (UUSC) through the Guest at Your Table campaign. We contributed
$486.84 and had several gifts large enough that they should be doubled by
matching funds available to UUSC. We
had contributions from 10 families, 4 of whom joined UUSC.
If you did not participate in this effort you can always go to the
UUSC website to join or make a contribution.
Betty Derrick is our contact person.
Speak with her if you have questions about this important UU social
justice organization.
General
Assembly 2008 : I've
been following the issue raised by those UUs who are concerned that GA 2008
is being held at the
I've sent a survey form to Florida
District UUA congregations to get a tally of Florida UUs planning to attend
GA 2008 (1 day, 2 days, 3 days, or the full 4 days) and, of the number of
people planning to attend the full 4 days, how many are interested in or
committed to volunteering enough hours (16 to 24 hours, depending on the
work and the person volunteering) to have their registration fee of $295
waived. The data will help Sue
Boone, Volunteer Coordinator, and the Volunteer Committee focus our planning
for a smoothly functioning GA. Deadline
for submitting your congregation's data is January 31.
Thanks for your cooperation.
Around March 1 each congregation across the continent will be
receiving a packet by snail mail with a preliminary GA Program booklet,
registration and volunteer application forms.
This also will be available on the UUA website.
Volunteer application forms must be filled out by all planning to
volunteer and returned to the UUA by March 31.
David Fisher,
Dear
The congregation is reeling in shock and dismay. The story made the
national news. Our ministers, the Reverends Millie Rochester and Abhi
Janamanchi, and other leaders at UUCL, have ministered faithfully and
profoundly, even in the midst of their own grief. Representatives of the
UUA's Trauma Response team have been on site and are providing guidance and
support to our caregivers. The season of celebration has become also a
season of mourning.
Amidst this sorrow, I am reminded again that all our work in ministry
serves to create the conditions that allow us to be together, to hold one
another, to lift one another up in the midst of life's great joys and
deepest sorrows. UUCL is a vital and vibrant group; their ministry is deep
and faithful. I am grateful for the larger witness of fellow Unitarian
Universalists that has brought forth many resources and broad love to help
our people in
This close to home, among our own people sorrow, reminds us that the
world around us still "mocks the song of peace on earth goodwill to
all." War and violence are still our daily companions. It is humbling
to realize how far we humans have yet to go to live in the ways of love.
Please hold the good people of
UU
Activities and Announcements
Further
information is posted on the bulletin board in the R.E. wing at the church.
Also check your Sunday Order of Service for announcements.
February 1 UUA Certification of Membership DUE by 5 p.m.; congregational yes
vote on Study/Action Issues due also.
February 2 Leadership
Round Table
with Connie Goodbread This is for all
Board-level leaders.,
February 2 Celebrated
Speaker Series, Cokie Roberts,
February 3 Installation of Reverend Millie Rochester,
February 16 District Board Meeting TBA
February 23 Southeast Cluster, Light
the Fire! Growth Workshop with Rev. Kenn Hurto, Miami, FL
February 23 Celebrated
Speaker Series, Jane Goodall, Vero Beach, FL
February 24 Installation of Reverend Naomi King,
March 1 Conflict
Management program, Tallahassee, FL
April
11–13 Florida District ANNUAL
ASSEMBLY,
We are now accepting nominations for District
Awards to be presented during the upcoming Annual Assembly.
Conference
theme: “How Strong Is Our Faith — Spiritual Growth in a Multi-Cultural
World” with Paula Cole Jones,
of
June 24-25
UUUniversity,
Dr.
Nick Carter,
President of Andover Newton Theological School, will be the keynote program
as congregational leaders work on what Dr. Carter calls “interfaith border
crossing skills — the ability to communicate with, work with, and care for
people who think differently and pray differently.”
June
25–29 47th UUA GENERAL
ASSEMBLY,
UUA TRUSTEE
TIDBITS
Joan Lund
Early in
January I had the opportunity and pleasure to attend the workshop UU
Hospitality, Inclusion, and Transformation in Multicultural Communities at
the UU Church of St. Petersburg, facilitated by Paula Cole Jones. Not only
was the day a valuable for several reasons I was reminded of a relatively
new organization, Allies for Racial Equity (ARE), formed in 2005, whose
mission is to be accountable to people of color in building a movement among
white UUs to unlearning white privilege/supremacy and to confronting racism
in all its forms.
The organization of ARE came about in direct response to a request
from UUs of color in DRUUMM (Diverse and Revolutionary Unitarian
Universalist Multicultural Ministries). ARE’s vision is grounded in an
anti-oppressive, multicultural UU faith, accountable to DRUUM by building a
movement among white UUs to understand white privilege and unlearn racism
and white supremacy. The ARE founding UUs recognized that there is a long
journey to becoming an anti-racist, anti-oppressive, multicultural faith
community.
ARE members are committed to: developing an anti-racist practice,
supporting DRUUMM leadership and initiatives, including diverse perspectives
committed to recognizing our humanity, a cooperative journey together in
mutuality and right relationship towards transformation, and wholeness,
supporting other white UUs as we struggle together to effectively use our
anti-racist power to help transform the institution and UU congregations,
and providing resources for a sustainable road to justice built on love,
faith, hope, and courage.
The work of ARE is organized in teams. The Congregations Team
develops strategies for integration ARE work into congregations,
specifically assisting congregations in developing effective models for
building ally networks within congregations. The GA Team develops an ally
support network and programming at GA. The Education Team develops
strategies for assuring that white people throughout our Association have
training on white privilege and skill development in what it means to be an
ally. The Connections Team develops mechanisms for connecting people and
organizations with our UUA who are doing anti-racism/anti-oppression work
and provide requested information to support groups.
I encourage individual Florida UUs and congregations to join ARE and become involved in this vital work. At the www.uua.org website I suggest interested UUs Google Allies for Racial Equity. There, much more information than I can write is found, including how one can become a member. You know you can always contact me jlund@uua.org to talk about UU “stuff”. I love to hear from you.
Greetings Florida District Friends and Leaders
Rev. Kenn Hurto
District Executive for the
Dear
Companions, Years ago, I had a
financial management program that included a particular sub-program called
COPY. That stood for Close Out Past Year. Clever. And good advice.
As we turn into yet another new year, it is good to remember to
finish with what needs to be finished. There is a reason many industries do
inventory before December 31st. Similarly, in our personal lives, it is
difficult to start a new journey weighed down with yesterday’s baggage.
Perhaps there are some things that need to be over and done with.
We see this in congregational life. Some members are yet unfinished
with their conversion to Unitarian Universalism, stuck in unresolved
conflict over a previous faith allegiance. Others pine for the good old days
of when they first joined their congregation, resentful that it isn’t the
same now as then. And, of course, many congregational programs are on
auto-pilot, being done again and again even though they’ve outlived the
initial inspiration that made them appealing.
Some times we just need to fold up old tents and old flags, honor
them, and put them away. COPY, close out past year’s efforts. Wipe the
slate clean. Then begin anew — even as we build on that which is good and
vital and worth keeping. May 2008 be a blessed year for you, yours, and your
congregation.
On another matter. I recently read a colleague complaining about
public displays of impatience [compared perhaps to public displays of
affection and a desire for, well, moderation in showing intimacy]. PDI’s
might include the blaring of your horn while stuck in traffic, snarling at
the hapless clerk because of a store policy on refunds, or, closer to home,
waxing indignant because you just don’t like a given hymn or the
minister’s particular choice of religious words or are disapproving of
some Board decision.
I come from the
So, a gentle recommendation for the new year: try the practice of non-violent communication, speak gently when frustrated and put a lid on the PDI’s. A ministry of love ought to have us act lovingly at all times and in all ways. …
The
Connie
Goodbread
In my free and responsible search for truth and meaning I have come
to this truth - Unitarian Universalism is a spiritual discipline. Our faith
has a rich history and a meaningful unique message. We should be proud and
bold.
What a difference we could make in the world if we could see
Unitarian Universalism for the spiritual discipline it is. What a better
person I would be if I could live up to our Seven Principles and hold up and
honor our Six Sources of Wisdom. Though I may fail at times to live up to
these high values they are the values I strive to live by. I will forgive
myself and others for the mis-steps we take along the path as long as the
actions we took were values based, respectfully and responsibly undertaken.
Do we dare be the people the world needs us to be? Can our
congregations dare to be the faith communities that the world needs them to
be? How would we do that? Let’s review the fourteen concepts I have
written about:
1.
What would it be like if we were generous with and serious about Unitarian
Universalism?
2.
What are the most important things going on in and around your congregation?
3.
What are the highest reasons for your congregation to exist?
4.
Does your congregation empower, support and encourage leaders to lead? Is
your congregation grateful for and kind to its leaders?
5.
What happens in your congregation when someone is offended?
6.
Does your congregation practice and encourage deep listening?
7.
How much high drama (as in emotional turmoil) happens in your congregation?
How often? Is there a pattern? Does it stop the congregation from
transition?
8.
Do you and does your congregation practice humility, action and covenant?
9.
How does your congregation deal with fears when they arise?
10.
Does your congregation have a sense of adventure?
11.
What is the congregation’s ministry? Whom and what do you serve?
12.
Are you living your values? Is your congregation living its shared core
values?
13.
Faith Development is all we do.
14.
Unitarian Universalism is all we teach.
Unitarian
Universalism is a spiritual discipline.
Leadership is a spiritual practice.
Meadville
Lombard Winter Institute, February
8 through 10, 2008, at the
If
...
imagine what you and your religious community can do in two.
The results of the Iowa Caucus and the New Hampshire Primaries prove
that this presidential election is anything but settled. Indeed, one result
of these early elections is that the candidates are beginning to respond as
if they, too, believe this election could open up a new era in American
history. What influence can religious liberals have on the outcome of this
vital election? Those
of us with a progressive vision of what this country could be and could do
have an opportunity to learn and work together to explore that very question
at the Meadville Lombard Winter Institute.
The timing of this two-day workshop could not be any more exciting.
Dr. Melissa Harris-Lacewell, Associate Professor of Politics and African
American Studies at
I'm excited to share with you the news that Rob Keithan, Director of
the Washington Office for Advocacy of the Unitarian Universalist Association
of Congregations, has agreed to lead workshops at the Winter Institute,
focusing on directing congregations on what they can--and cannot--do to
"get out the vote."
We only just this week added more detailed information about the
programming to our website and I urge you to take a look at our Winter
Institute page as well as the descriptions of the lectures and workshops
being offered by these two dynamic speakers. And, as is our custom at Winter
Institute, there will also be time set aside for socializing and networking
as well as for worship.
I believe that as we work together, in congregations and in
communities, we can influence the policies that are being written on the
behalf of those who often don't have a voice in the halls of justice. This
Winter Institute will assist us in not only contemplating the question
"Can We Build the Beloved Community through Political Action?" but
in formulating responses, as well.
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