Sunday Services

 July 3 – “Stories of Individual Search –  Declaring Inner Independence ”

Several of our members will share personal stories during the service.  Anna Mitchell Hall has contributed the following synopsis of her story for this service:

As a child and teenager, I believed in a God that was very magical, rewarding good behavior with good fortune and misbehavior with misfortune.  I attributed every good thing that happened to me to something good I had done and I saw every bad thing that happened to me as a reaction to some immoral act on my part.  As a young adult, I decided that a God that would create an imperfect humanity and then punish it for being imperfect was no God that I wanted to have anything to do with, much less worship.  However, in the last few years I have discovered a new way of looking at God that is free from such magical calculations and a new way of being in relationship with God that has nothing to do with reward and punishment.  I will tell the story of finding this freedom, and the thinkers, authors, and theologians that led me along this path, including Marcus Borg, John Shelby Spong, and Jesus of Nazareth.

July 10 – “Roots and Branches - Our UU Legacy and the Challenges of Independence ”

The UU minister John Haynes Holmes introduced and strongly advocated the work of Ghandi to the UU Church as a path to ethical independence from many sorts of tyranny.  He was one of the founders of the NAACP and the ACLU, as well as many other effective movements to promote free speech and nonviolent action for justice. He was also a mightily contentious man whose immoderate insistence on non-compromise finally led him to break away from the UU church to form his own church. Today we reflect on how his legacy challenges our own congregation.   Helen Gerhardt is responsible for this service.

July 17 – “Constellations of Faith - Ghandi’s Legacy: Liberation or Independence ?”  

Theresa Thompson will share her extensive knowledge about Mahatma Ghandi, his work for personal and national liberation in India , and his philosophical roots in the Vedic tradition.  This service will also explore how Ghandi contrasted “independence” and “liberation” as foundations for being, thinking, and acting as part of community.

July 24 – “Faith and Other Forms of Search – Independence and Civil Liberties”

Dr. Dick Saeger, Professor Emeritus of the Valdosta State University Political Science Department, will speak about the legacy of our independence, current challenges to civil liberties, and ways that citizens work to preserve the freedoms that are not free.

July 31 -  “Natural Cycles as Frames For Search – Just What is Independence For?”

July is the height of summer, when most of the natural world has reached the prime of maturity. The fireworks we set off on the Fourth of July have been described as fast-forward symbols of opening blossoms, or trees coming into full leaf, as well as celebrations of mature personal and national power. This week we ask each other questions about the ways we use and abuse our adult independence and what we owe our communities for our freedom. Just what is adulthood for? This will be a lay led service.

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Tell Us Your Story: Call for stories for the August 7 Service   

Call for Individual Stories of Search, to be told on August 7, 2005.

As we water our crops through summer heat, so we must also find sources of refreshment and renewal for our minds and bodies, so that we may return to our responsibilities with new energy and ideas to share. Some of us, like Odysseus, go wandering off to strange islands in search of that water of life, while others, like Penelope, find renewal close to home, in faithful loved ones or on the land they have known most of their lives. This month please share your stories of journeys to far off places or of wellsprings that you found in your own backyard.

·        If you tell of a journey to far places, do you have stories of people you met on the way who helped, inspired, or sustained you? Or observations of natural phenomena and creatures that replenished your spirit and mind?

·        Do you have stories of people you "rediscovered" in your family or community, of still waters you hadn't realized were so deep? Or can you share insights and stories of the natural phenomena and creatures around us here in the rivers, ponds, swamps, or even backyard birdbaths of Georgia ?

·        Are there incidents or observations you have noted that you can see as illustrations of human truths or wisdom? How do these metaphors energize you to face or to better understand the concrete realities of everyday life? 

The twelfth century poet Rumi reminds of us of the ancient symbol of replenishment. "The waterwheel accepts water and turns and gives it away..." Please share the stories and insights you have received from living. Both funny and serious stories are encouraged.

There will be a workshop for those storytellers who wish to discuss their stories with each other and the Service Planning and Reflection Committee (SPARC). Please try to send your stories to Helen Gerhardt by July 14. 

Don’t forget to sign up in the SPARC notebook on the counter in the vestibule. Please take time each week to check the sign up sheets and volunteer to help make our services meaningful for all.  For anyone who has not already noticed, the Sunday Services Strategy Group has renamed itself the Service Planning and Reflection Committee with the acronym SPARC, which the group hopes reflects the lighting of a chalice and perhaps other metaphors of enlightenment.

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Beloved Community 

First Wednesday Potluck and Discussion:

Movies that Have Moved Our Mountains

July 6:  6:00 PM Potluck - 7:00 PM Discussion

 Our new Director of Religious Education, Joan Cline, invites both congregation and community to a potluck and a discussion of movies that have deeply affected our philosophies, worldviews, or spiritual searches.

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INVITATION TO MEMBERSHIP If you are interested in becoming a member of our fellowship, we encourage you to talk with our President, Lars Leader.  We welcome your questions, and we extend an open invitation to all who want to join our liberal community of faith.

President’s Column

Lars Leader

I must confess that the decision to accept the position of president of our congregation for this coming year was not an easy one for me.  The members of the Nominating Committee demonstrated a wealth of patience during the time when I was “still considering”.  I wondered whether the changes that Rev. Barbara Child guided us towards during the past year would be sustainable.  I wondered whether those changes would move our congregation more towards being the Beloved Community that Barbara described in her sermons and engaged us in understanding during the series of workshops she held this year.  I also wondered, as I’m sure some of you have, whether all of this change was for the better.

My optimism for the future of our congregation led me to agree to serve.  I think it’s a well-founded optimism. During the last few years, we’ve journeyed through a sea of changes as a congregation.  But through it all, we’ve continued to put into action our congregation’s Mission Statement to be “committed to building a community of acceptance and love, where all people may strive for intellectual, moral, and spiritual enlightenment.”  That’s the solid helm for my optimism.

My optimism is buoyed up by the outstanding legacy of leadership from the previous Board of Directors.  Dee Tait has led us admirably as President through many changes during the past two years.  I wish to thank her and the other board members for their fine service.  The way they’ve helped transition the new Board, passing on resources, procedures, and guidance, bids well for the health of our governance.  One of the out-going board members, Anna Mitchell Hall, will be leaving us soon for a new challenge as a student in Atlanta .  Let’s wish her all the best and thank her for her dedication and the many great things she has done for our church.

One of the changes that is powering my optimism is the work of the recently formed Service Planning and Reflection Committee (SPARC).  This group meets monthly, and exchanges e-mails more frequently, to plan the programming for our Sunday services.  The importance of excellent worship services, especially for the health and growth of a small congregation like ours, is well described by Rev. Jane Dwinell, in her article “Creative Worship in the Small Congregation”:

“Good worship contains elements that appeal to people’s different interests, learning styles, and personal histories and spiritual practices.  It should feature words and silence, music to be sung and music to be heard, times to sit and times to stand.  There should be community elements, and private elements—but mostly, something, at some point, should touch us, teach us, and/or compel us to reflect upon our lives and move us to become better people, and help create a better world.”

We all have a stake in the creation of the kind of worship that can make a difference in our lives.  So, I invite you to join in the process—to work with us as a member of SPARC or to respond to the calls for Individual Stories of Search and Spiritual Journey that will be announced monthly in the newsletter.  Of course, the most important opportunity to get involved with our worship is to come to our UU Valdosta Sunday services.  I look forward to seeing you there.  

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About Our Members and Friends

v     Anna and Jim Hall will be moving soon to take up a new life in the Atlanta area.  Anna has a fellowship to attend the Emory School of Theology and Jim will be taking on a new teaching assignment in the metropolitan area.  Wish them well.  They will both be missed at our congregation and in their many other social and political activist activities in the south Georgia area.  Anna is our second member to make a commitment to study theology at Emory.  Maybe our services have more far reaching effects than we might sometimes think.

v     Please keep in your thoughts our members and friends experiencing health difficulties....

 

 

Social Action Activities

Break Bread Together

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

Social Action Committee

 UU Valdosta had two special visitors in June, Beth Lavoie and Tim Franzen, statewide organizers with the Georgia Peace and Justice Coalition, of which the UU Valdosta Social Action Committee is an affiliate.  They greatly enjoyed meeting several church members and making contacts for future peace and justice work in south Georgia.  Watch your orders of service and email for announcements of Social Action activities, and don't forget to volunteer to deliver meals for our congregational participation in the Break Bread Together food delivery program.

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UU Board News: 

The Board of Directors met on June 9, 2005 at 6 PM in the RE building.  Most discussion centered around the transition from the current to the incoming officers.  Other matters discussed were the possibility of an arts fair, possibly hosting a speaker who is a journalist on Health Care and Mental Health issues, and a new system of archiving church documents in the Front Office.  All members are invited to bring in archival materials (minutes from committees, newsletters, orders of service, other business of the church over the years) they have collected about UU Valdosta in order to complete the church archives.  The next Board meeting will be held on Wednesday July 20 at 6 PM in the RE building.  

General Assembly: Lars Leader will be attending General Assembly in Fort Worth , TX June 23-27, as a delegate for our congregation.  He is surely to be excitedly talking about his experiences when he returns.

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 Governor’s Honors Program: The Georgia Governor’s Honors Program will once again be at Valdosta State University this summer, June 12-July 23.  Our congregation has enjoyed having some of these young people attend our services while they are in Valdosta .  We have provided them transportation.  Let Dee Tait know if you would be willing to help this year with transportation.   

Lost and Found:  If you are missing something you might want to check the Lost and Found Box the Board has decided to place under the shelves to the right of the sanctuary door as you enter the building

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Global Warming: At UU Church of Tallahassee we are taking various approaches to minimize the Threat of Global Warming. Steve Urse from our group will be going to GA to cover these issues. .  We'd like to network with others in Florida , and would be glad to share what we've done.  Contact Elinor Elfner at UU Tallahassee.

 

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Treasurer's Report

FUND BALANCES at May 31, 2005

Randy Thompson

General Fund																			$20,331.92
Restoration Fund																			17,214.64
Total (Cash in Bank Accounts)																			$37,546.56
OUTSTANDING DEBT
Mortgage																		$25,195.20
OPERATING RECEIPTS AND DISBURSEMENTS:										May													YTD (11 mo.)
Receipts:
Plate																182.00							1,187.20
Pledge																1,425.00							16,870.00
Rent																240.00							2,690.00
Interest Income																							808.13
TOTAL RECEIPTS																1,847.00							21,555.33
Disbursements:
Minister Expense															2,222.22						19,999.44
Mortgage															500.00						5,500.00
Speaker's Fees & Expenses																						873.68
Repairs and Maintenance																						586.01
Child care expense																						510.00
Ministerial Music																						50.00
Insurance & Termite Bond																						1,588.90
Postage																						352.72
Supplies																						678.62
RE Programming																						480.00
Membership Programming																16.82						184.77
UUA dues																						2,208.00
UU Conference Attendance																10.00						345.00
Utilities																179.23						1,962.41
Advertising																172.50						627.50
Other																111.00						445.90
TOTAL DISBURSEMENTS																3,211.77						36,392.95
NET RECEIPT (DISBURSEMENT)																	($1,364.77)					($14,837.62)
RESTORATION FUND
Receipts					Contributions												$16,539.85
					Insurance												30,971.07
																	$47,510.92
Disbursements
					Contractor												$25,403.19
					Other Repairs												31.40
					Replacements												3,962.69
					Program												98.00
					UU Westside Church												801.00
																	$30,296.28
RESTORATION FUND BALANCE																	$17,214.64

*It was anticipated the church would incur deficits each month during the minister’s term.  Minister expenses ended in May,

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Newsletter Staff

Editor:  Betty Derrick

Website:  Carol Stiles

July 15: deadline for the August newsletter

 

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UUA TRUSTEE TIDBITS

Joan Lund

By the time you read this I will have returned from General Assembly but unfortunately the column (to meet deadlines) must be written early in the preceding month. Perhaps I will write about G.A. for the August newsletters. I know I will have seen many of you at G.A. Always a treat! All of us are keeping our fingers crossed that even though the weather folks predict another tough hurricane season it will not happen. We must continue, and will support one another during times of stress and need.

This month I am writing about UUA Associate organizations and UUA Affiliate organizations, which sometimes may be confusing when trying to understand the difference. Actually it’s a fairly easy distinction since there are only three Associate Organizations: the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee (UUSC), the Unitarian Universalist United Nations Office (UU-UNO), and the Unitarian Universalist Women’s Federation (UUWF). These organizations have been granted membership by the UUA Board of Trustees and must fulfill certain criteria: its membership or constituency consists of individuals located throughout the Association; its purposes and programs are auxiliary to and supportive of the principles of the Association; and the organization pledges itself to financially support the Association.

Independent Affiliate organizations are granted by the UUA Board of Trustees to organizations whose purposes and intentions are found to be in sympathy with the principles of the Association and who support the Association by paying an annual contribution. The Office of the Executive Vice-president maintains a list of current affiliates and coordinates the annual review of each organization’s status as an independent affiliate. There are between 60 and 65 independent affiliate organization and some of the more well-known groups are: the Covenant of UU Pagans; Diverse and Revolutionary UU Multicultural Ministries (DRUUMM); HUUmanists Association; Interweave; Latina/o UU Networking Association (LUUNA); Seventh Principle Project (I wrote about this group in a past column); The Mountain Retreat & Learning Centers, Inc.; The Universalist Men's Network (UUMeN); Unitarian Universalist Partner Church Council; Unitarian Universalist Women & Religion; and UU in the Pines, Inc., A Retreat/Conference Center.

If you wish to know more about associate or independent affiliate organizations you can contact organizations@uua.org or me jlund@uua.org. I will try my best to assist. Take care of each other and enjoy the summer.

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At the Church-in-the-Woods  

Tai Chi – Monday and Thursday Evenings: Continuing Class 6:00-7:30 PM; a new Beginner’s Class will begin August 15 meeting 5:30-6:30 PM.   Contact Dennis Bogyo.   

New Hope Christian Fellowship - Sunday evenings: Choir practice at 5:00 PM. Service at 6:00 PM.

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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.

            July 9 – Chrysalis Way , Congregation Putnam County , FL

            July 17-23 – Southeastern Unitarian Universalist Summer Institute (SUUSI), “Time to Fly” at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg , VA   Looking for a great, affordable experience for your family, one with lots of adventures and filled with friends?  Together we will create a week of conversation, of reflection, of activity, of family.  You’ll be challenged intellectually and nurtured spiritually.  You can stay up all night dancing or making music, and spend all day communing with nature or exploring your personal growth.  There are special programs for youth and teens as well as adults.

            July 21-12 “Our Whole Lives” Facilitator Training, Orlando , FL

            August 2-6 – Interfaith Visions for Peace: Beginning the Dialogue, $548(by July 3), includes lodging, etc, The Mountain Retreat and Learning Center , Highlands , NC

            August 6-11 - “Ways, When’s, Who’s, and Where’s of Peacemaking: Nonviolence as a Personal Creed and a Public Mission with Colman McCarthy, $620 (by July 7) — $744 (after July 7) Includes lodging & food and a Certificate of Completion. C.E.U.’s available upon request.

Register early as space is limited. Call 828-526-5838, x0 The Mountain Retreat and Learning Center , Highlands , NC

UU Summer “Camp” Opportunities:

There are several summer opportunities for all ages sponsored by various UU groups.  Several of these available on the east coast are:

·        The Mountain Retreat and Learning Center at Highlands, NC www.mountaincenters.org Located high in the Blue Ridge of the Southern Appalachian Mountains , The Mountain Retreat & Learning Centers is a place to expand your horizons—explore new ideas, meet new people and re-connect with yourself, community and the natural world. Surrounded by the Nantahala National Forest , our home is Little Scaly Mountain—four miles southwest of Highlands, North Carolina . At 4200' elevation, perched atop striking granite cliffs and nestled in an ancient dwarf white oak wind forest, our site is spectacular. Open year-round, The Mountain offers excellent programming for all ages. Inspiration mixes with renewal as you challenge yourself to grow and learn.

·        Ferry Beach Park Association, A UU Conference Center in Maine . www,ferrybeach.org  Since 1901, Ferry Beach has helped shape the lives of the men, women, and children who have found their way to our sandy shores.  From our beautiful beach, historic houses and dormitories, wooded grove setting and outdoor chapel to the depth of our programming and richness of the personal relationships that form and grow, a week at Ferry Beach is an experience that transforms lives.

·        Southeastern Unitarian Universalist Summer Institute (SUUSI)  An intentional community of about 1000 people that gathers in July each year.  It’s getting late to register but there may still be room.