What’s going on...March 2005  

March…  It may not be true further north, BUT Spring arrives this month in south Georgia.  With the Japanese magnolias in full bloom in late February, the rest of the spring show will soon arrive.  In this season, which reminds us of new beginnings and the resurrection of all that has been lost, our  “Beloved Community” is not only preparing budgets and canvassing members in preparation for the next church year, but also, under our minister’s guidance, reflecting on who we are and what we would become as a congregation.  If you care that this congregation be a force within our larger community and a community for you in your life, please join in this significant discussion.  Rev. Child has dedicated her last several months with us to guiding us through this discussion.

Everyone please note that the church mailing address has changed.  New address is P.O. Box 2342 , Valdosta , GA   31604

Rev. Child’s March Visit  

Our minister, Rev. Barbara Child, will be in Valdosta for two services in March.  

Sunday, March 20   "Good News, Bad News"

We will celebrate the spring equinox and discover some things in common between earth-centered spirituality (the sixth source of our living Unitarian Universalist tradition) and the ancient Chinese way of Taoism.  As part of today's celebration, we will dedicate the beautiful plaque for the nature trail that was one of the gifts to the church after the vandalism.  We will also honor the artist who made the plaque, C. Alec McLean, a Unitarian Universalist from San Jose , California , who wanted to reach out to this congregation with a gesture of friendship and support, especially because he had experienced the terrible loss of his historic landmark church through fire. Be sure to come so that you can add your signature to the thank you card we will send to Mr. McLean. 

Sunday, March 27   "Fresh Schemes of Life"

In an Easter poem, Clarke Dewey Wells invites the "God of Easter and infrequent Spring" to "lure us to fresh schemes of life" and "restore in us the love of living, bind us to fear and hope again."  And so he calls to mind the ambiguities of this season's holidays.  Let's see what it might take to make friends with these ambiguities. Unitarian Universalists may not celebrate Easter in quite the same way that many churches do, but it can indeed be a deeply meaningful holiday for us too.  Please come and share in this festive day.

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 Meet & Greet Coffee after the Service: Don’t miss this opportunity to engage in friendly and interesting conversation and particularly to greet visitors and newcomers.  Volunteers are needed to host particular Sundays. 

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"Creating a Beloved Community" Series

March installment

"Journeying Together" (or "You Can't Be a UU By Yourself")

Wednesday, March 23

5:30 PM Potluck; 6:30 PM Program

What is the effect of being covenantal rather than creedal?  What does it mean to be a welcoming congregation?  What does it mean to be in "right relations" with one another?  How does decision making happen in a UU congregation?  What do the UUA and the District have to do with it? 

These are some of the questions we will take up during the second installment of our monthly series entitled "Creating a Beloved Community Right Here, Right Now."  You might think of this as UU 103.  We'll take up where we left off at the end of February’s UU 102 on "Telling the Truth about Who We Are."  By the end of that evening, people were asking to have a look at who we want to be.  And so we will on March 23.  Again, we will begin with a 5:30 potluck and begin the program at 6:30.  Please bring your needs and hopes to the circle. 

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Have you been missing discussion on Sunday mornings after the sermon?  Some of you would say a resounding “YES!” and others  “NO!”  After considerable discussion, the Sunday Service Strategy group, over lunch in February, decided to experiment with a discussion group during Meet and Greet after the service.  If you are a lover of discussion, greet our visitors, grab a cup of coffee, and watch for a circle of chairs in one corner of the room.  The service’s lay leader will coordinate the discussion, which will last no more than 10 min for those who are interested.  Everyone else should carry on with the Meet and Greet activities.  We’ll see how it works as we try to best meet the needs of our diverse membership.

Rev. Barbara Child  

Every month I read the newsletters from all of the congregations I have served.  I remember them all with great fondness, and I enjoy learning what's going on, what projects they are undertaking, what issues they are addressing.  I always turn first, as I do when I read any congregation's newsletter, to the minister's column. 

    I just finished reading the February newsletter from the Morristown (NJ) Unitarian Fellowship, where I served last year for the first of their two years of interim ministry.  Their interim minister this year is Rev. Emmy Lou Belcher.  She writes in her February column about what it takes to be a great congregation.  She says:  "Being one of the great UU congregations does not require growth in numbers....  What greatness requires is a flow from the spiritual lives of the members, from their interactions and caring, into the larger world around.  It results in a community known for its integrity of word and action so that when it speaks, it is listened to."  I read those words, and I feel like picking up the phone and calling out to her, "Yes, Emmy Lou, yes!  You have it just right." 

    I decided I wanted to share Emmy Lou's words with you because I know that from the moment we began conversation a year ago about my coming to spend this year with you, you let me know that high on your priority list -- well, maybe at the top of it -- was growth.  And it was pretty clear you meant growth in numbers.  You are a small congregation, and you have said over and over again that you want to be a larger one. 

    Well, friends, I think Emmy Lou's message brings some real wisdom on this subject.  Focusing on an intention to grow in numbers turns out not to result in growth in numbers.  And, after all, that isn't so surprising, is it?  The thing is that new people are not usually inclined to join a congregation who are focused on their need for new people.  Spoken or not, the message comes through clearly:  We need you.  We need you to carry part of our load.  We need you to help fill up our empty space.  We need you to help us thrive. 

    Now look again at Emmy Lou's words.  The message that flows out into the community from the kind of congregation she describes is very different:  We have something so rich, so fulfilling, so sustaining, so comforting, so invigorating, so inspiring that we can't wait to share it with others.  Let us share it with you. 

    I would like to suggest putting aside for the time being the goal of growth in numbers.  I would like to suggest that the attention first needs to focus on the quality of life, interactions, and sharing within the congregation.  This is what the "Creating a Beloved Community" series is all about.  I look forward to our evening together on March 23 on "Journeying Together" when we take up why it has been said that "you can't be a UU by yourself."  You might call this UU 103.  Please be in the circle.

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

 

 

 

 

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Religious Education

Religious Education programs, both adult and children, have been discontinued at 9:30 AM on Sundays.  Contact: Anne Zipperer for further information.

R.E. for Young Children and Childcare: We welcome families at our Sunday Services.  Childcare is not available at this time, but children of all ages and abilities are welcome to join us as we worship and celebrate as a congregation during our Sunday Services.

R.E. for Adults: The Board has recently decided to discontinue R.E. for Adults on Sunday morning.  In its place various programs will be scheduled for other times that may be more convenient for adult members. 

 

President’s Portion

Dee Tait  

On the third Sunday of March, Spring begins.  Something I've looked forward to and yet I feel a bit of wistful at the thought of leaving the Winter behind.  Did I not bundle in my coat and go walking often enough?  Maybe it's because it's been a while since I put air in my bike tires and went bike riding in the briskness.   Or could it be that this year I didn't visit friends in colder climates and return saying how much I am really ready for warm weather?  

Or did I consider that I am really just enjoying the cool weather doing the things I am doing?   It could be a little of all those things, but I do know in the back of my mind that when July and August get here, I will, on some days, long for the cooler days.  

            OK then, it must be time to make the most of every day between now and Spring when the pollen is in the air, when the bugs come out, when the grass requires cutting -oh, yes, maybe that's it, the grass cutting,  but, on the other hand, when the earth becomes beautiful again in a different way!  I think I might be ready for Spring when it gets here, but for now, let me get back to enjoying the cooler weather.    

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About Our Members

v     Keep in your thoughts our members and friends experiencing health issues….

v     Marcia Bauer, a former member who moved to California for a while is back with us until mid-May.  Welcome her back!

v     Janet Andersen, a former member visited with us one Sunday in February.  She and Steve were both very active members of our congregation until they moved to Estes Park , CO .  Some of Steve’s artwork hangs at the church.

v     In memory of Doug Strong, a former member of our congregation, who passed away recently.  Doug was living in New Hampshire.

 

Newsletter Staff

Editor:  Betty Derrick 

Website:  Carol Stiles

March 17: deadline for the April newsletter

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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 Virginia Branan. 

Social Action Committee

For the next few months, the Social Action Committee will focus on informing the congregation how best to assist with tsunami relief and unmet needs in the Valdosta area as reported by our local 211 social services clearinghouse.  Please be on the lookout for emails to this effect and help in any way you can with both, as the needs here and abroad are great and will likely remain that way for the near future.  There will be no social action meeting in March as there are no projects to plan at this time.  Please contact Anna Hall to get involved with social action or suggest a future project.

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News From the Board: Due to a late in February meeting the Board report for February will be included in the April newsletter. Watch your orders of service for an announcement of the date and time of the March Board meeting.

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Nominating Committee: Virginia Branan , Chair, Betty Derrick, and John Tait.  Consider saying yes if they ask you to serve on the Board next year, especially if you have not served recently.  In out small congregation we need everyone’s help and we also need to give our hardest workers a chance to rest occasionally.  What about considering what you can contribute and volunteer! 

Get in the habit!  Check the bulletin board in the R. E. building regularly.  Postings there announce activities at the church with sign-up sheets and advertise Florida District activities.  You’ll find interesting information about Unitarian Universalism and about our members too.  

Don’t forget to sign up in Service Strategy Group’s notebook on the counter in the vestibule. Members and friends are needed as volunteers to help with the services we all enjoy. Several workshops are planned that will equip you with the expertise you need. Some tasks like greeter, meet & greet host, and flower donation just require a willing spirit!  Please take time each week to check the sign up sheets and volunteer to help make our services meaningful for all. With a congregation as small as ours, we need everyone to volunteer for about one to two jobs per month if at all possible!  

Bylaws Committee:  Jim Ingram , Lars Leader, and Betty Derrick have completed their work on the revision of the congregation’s bylaws.  Their recommendations will go to the Board at its March meeting.  Watch your April newsletter for information about the changes the Board decides to bring forward to the congregation at its annual meeting in May.   

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Treasurer's Report

Randy Thompson  

In the past the Treasurer has sent out a letter to all donors to the church whose aggregate contributions exceeded $250.00.    There is a tax rule that a donor is responsible for obtaining a written acknowledgment from a charity for any single contribution of $250 or more before the donor can claim a charitable contribution on his or her federal income tax return.   However, separate contributions are not aggregated for this rule.  This year your Treasurer will only be mailing acknowledgment letters to those who made a contribution of $250.00 or more at one time.  Should you wish to obtain the amount of your aggregate contributions to the church for 2004, please contact Randy Thompson and he will be happy to provide this to you.  

FUND BALANCES AT January 31, 2005

General Fund**	$26,034.73
Restoration Fund	18,015.64
Total (Cash in Bank Accounts)	$44,050.37
OUTSTANDING DEBT
Mortgage	$26,556.48
OPERATING RECEIPTS AND DISBURSEMENTS:	January	YTD
Receipts:
Plate	41.00	685.20
Pledge	1,265.00	9,115.00
Rent	240.00	1,730.00
Interest Income	103.54	524.01
TOTAL RECEIPTS	1,649.54	12,054.21
Disbursements:
Minister Expense**	2,222.22	11,110.56
Mortgage	500.00	3,500.00
Speaker's Fees and Expenses	50.00	549.00
Repairs and Maintenance	0.00	483.01
Child care expense	80.00	510.00
Ministerial Music	0.00	50.00
Postage	0.00	160.92
Supplies	288.24	647.87
RE Programming	0.00	480.00
Membership Programming	108.00	108.00
UUA dues	0.00	2,208.00
Utilities	209.89	1,240.46
Other	72.00	266.00
TOTAL DISBURSEMENTS	3,530.35	21,313.82
NET RECEIPT (DISBURSEMENT)	($1,880.81)	($9,259.61)

*It is anticipated the church will incur deficits each month during the remainder of the minister’s term, but this expense has been pre-funded and the funds are in the General Fund.  

Pledging: This is the time of year for preparing budgets for next year.  Many of you who were at the February  “Creating a Beloved Community, Right Here, Right Now” discussion completed a questionnaire/volunteer form and pledge that night.  If you were not there, or could not do so at that time, our treasurer needs to hear from you as soon as possible with regard to the commitments, financial and otherwise, that you can make to our community enterprise.  Our minister has suggested that “[our] worthy dreams require more expansive giving by more people… .”  Now is the time to commit what you can of yourself and of your resources to this special place.

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UU Activities and Announcements

 Further information is posted on the bulletin board in the R.E. wing at the church.

Feb. 27-Mar.4 Elderhostel at UU in the Pines, “Explore Florida ’s Ecosystem From the Water Up: Canoeing Three Rivers”

March 4-7  Humanity’s Team, family friendly weekend at The Mountain, Highland, NC

March 1 Deadline for congregational input on The Treat of Global Warming, which was the topic chosen at General Assembly to be the 2004-2006 Study/Action Issue. 

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April 8-9 – District Annual Assembly with Bill Sinkford

    The Retreat Center at Oviedo, just northeast of Orlando is a lovely, relaxing place to spend the weekend and that is where the UU Florida District Annual Assembly will be Friday and Saturday, April 8-9  

In addition to such special surroundings, it’s within driving distance, and this is your opportunity to meet and talk with UUA President Rev. Bill Sinkford, honored guest at the Assembly.  Also, we have submitted several nominations for the 2005 Awards.  Come be a cheering section for yourself or someone else who might be chosen.

I went last year and I can guarantee you it is more than worth the effort.   The first day, we registered and got to know people, then assembled for a special program and in the evening a service in the chapel on the grounds, then met again for fellowship and social time.  The next day we spent in assembly with the mass of Unitarian Universalists for a special music program and the district meeting where we elected new officers for the district.  In the evening, the banquet and presentation of awards.  There was time in between to walk the beautiful grounds and to relax in the chairs on the large patio near the pond.  Actually, that is where we had lunch.  We will start making plans now to have a large group from UU Valdosta at this Florida District Annual Assembly.  So what if we have several cars!  We will ask for assistance from the budget to defray the cost.    It's always good to register early for cost, meals and lodging arrangements.   If you have been to a District Assembly, then you know what you would be missing.  If you haven't, come find out.  Give me your name and be first on the list.

In the words of Rev. Barbara Child, "This is the Florida District Annual Assembly not to be missed"!!!  Dee Tait

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April 22-24, 2005 - FL Women & Religion Retreat "At the Root of Longing"  - UU in the Pines, Brooksville , FL

Registration should be available soon at: www.floridawomenandreligion.org

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UUA TRUSTEE TIDBITS

Joan Lund

In the February column I said that I would write about the January Board meeting in Boston in March because the deadline for submitting the February column occurred before the meeting. After I returned and wrote the Trustee Report summarizing the meeting for the District packet I realized each of you should/could have access to the report and hopefully will take the time (if you are interested) to read it. If not just let me know and I will send it to you via an attachment.

This month I will write briefly about the Seventh Principle Project of the UUA, specifically their Green Sanctuary Program. My interest was awakened by a Florida UU who emailed me a concern that, although the SPP is an Independent Affiliate, it is not getting the attention and funding from the UUA worthy of its importance, especially because the Threat of Global Warming was selected by GA to be the 2004-06 Study/Action Issue. The mission of the SPP is to facilitate and support the work of UUs by affirming and promoting the Seventh Principle of our Association, “Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part”.

The SPP sponsored GSP provides a framework for study and reflection, and encourages individual/collective action for responding to the call to heal the Earth. The goals of the program include:  building awareness of societal environmental issues among UUs; generating commitment for personal lifestyle changes; motivating UUs to community action on environmental issues; building a connection between spiritual practice and environmental consciousness; and building awareness of, and rectifying environmental injustices.

To provide some standardization for the use of the term GS, the SPP has an accreditation program for recognizing GS churches and fellowships who have undertaken a simple process. To begin the GS application process the applicant church must document the formation of a GS committee which must declare its intent to seek recognition as a GS church. Then the church must document completion of one accomplishment in each of three Action Areas: energy Conservation and Environmental Practices; Reduce, Reuse, Recycle; and Church Communication. Within in each of these Action Areas are a number of accomplishments churches can complete.

Becoming a Green Sanctuary is a wonderful effort your church can make to address the deep seated and systemic problems that affect the health of our living planet. There is much more that could be written but hopefully I have stimulated interest in one or more of our Florida congregations becoming a GS. Further information can be found at www.uuaspp.org. As always I enjoy hearing from Florida UUs and can be reached jlund@uua.org. Continue your work in our faith communities.

UU NIAGARA EXPERIENCE   July 17-20, 2005  If you have ever wanted to visit Niagara Falls or if it is already one of your favorite places, this is a chance to experience the wonder of Niagara Falls including some great educational opportunities while in the company of UUs from around the country.  The UU Church of Niagara is conducting a four day UU Niagara Experience which is a lifetime opportunity to encounter the Falls up close from every perspective, even safely riding beneath a tethered balloon.  Spend four days with us exploring the rich history and natural wonders around the Falls.  For information visit our web site: http://www.uunex.net/                         Email: info@uunex.net

Telephone: (716) 791-4453  

UU’re Home Do you dream of inexpensive vacation travel to interesting destinations where you can stay in the homes of friendly people who share your ideals and are happy to provide directions and advice for their area?    The UU bed and breakfast directory UU’re Home (formerly Homecomings) can help you fulfill your dream. For 25 years, we’ve provided a network of hosts in the United States (and a few abroad) who enjoy meeting new friends and who are happy to open their home to like-minded people.  The directory is published every year in April.  For a copy of the 2005 directory, please send a check for $18 to UU’re Home, 43 Vermont Court, Asheville , NC 28806 . UU’re Home has just launched a new web site at www.UUreHome.com, which includes about half of the listings. Entries are updated whenever changes are made or new hosts are added.  

wUUrld’s 2005 WhaleCoast Alaska   Five Alaska UU fellowships invite other UUs from “outside” for our UU eco-spiritual/intercultural programs in July 2005.  See the REAL Alaska !  Stay in homes in Anchorage , Seward, Fairbanks , Juneau , and Sitka and enjoy discussions and dinners with Alaska UUs.  See whales, sea otters, sea lions, seals, bears, moose, caribou, wolves, Dall sheep, puffins, eagles, and other birds in the wild from the Artic Ocean to the Inside Passage in the south.  Visit Denali ’s Mt McKinley and Kenai’s fjords and glaciers.  See totem poles, native arts, dancing, story-telling.  Rev. Dick and Mary Weston-Jones, leaders.  www.wuurld.org, e-mail dick@wuurld.org or phone 1-888-998-8753 for a brochure.  Reservations by April 1.

And finally......  

Virtual Tour of UUA  www.uua.org/aboutuua/tour/

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At the Church-in-the-Woods  

Tai Chi – Monday and Thursday Evenings  A new Beginner’s Class will begin January 10, 5:45-6:45 PM.   The Continuing Class will meet 6:45-8:15 PM.  Contact Dennis Bogyo.   

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