Sunday Services  

Sunday, September 2:   “Protest Reconsidered: Civic Engagement Through Internet Activism,” Dr. Patrick Biddix

       This presentation examines the historically negative definition of activism and highlights how college students' use of technology may be changing this perception.  Dr. Biddix is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Curriculum, Leadership, & Technology at VSU.  

Sunday, September 9:   “Dalai Lama:  Life and Teaching” Dr. Michael Stoltzfus

            We will discuss the life and teachings of the current Dalai Lama and Tibetan Buddhism in general.  Topics of attention will include the Dalai Lama’s unique approach to reincarnation, his response to the Chinese occupation and annexation of Tibet , and his efforts to work for peace and reconciliation for which he won a Nobel Peace prize in 1987.  We will also examine the Dalai Lama’s approach to inter-religious dialogue, particularly as it relates to the similarities and differences between Buddhists and Christians.      

Sunday, September 16:  Rev. Jane Page

Rev. Page will provide the message this Sunday as our visiting UU minister.  She serves our congregation one weekend per month, and is also the minister at the UU Fellowship of Statesboro.

 Sunday, September 23:  “Water Ceremony”

            Lars Leader will lead a traditional water ceremony.  Everyone please bring a sample of water from a location which is special for you and share with the congregation a description of the source of the water and why it is a special place for you.  This is a great opportunity to share an important part of you life with other members of the fellowship.  

Sunday, September 30:    “Nuclear Power: Ecological Disaster or Environmental Savior”

            Doug Tanner will present arguments for and against development of new nuclear power plants as a solution to environmental and energy issues.  This controversial issue should create some interesting discussion and hopefully we will all learn more about important environmental issues.  

Rev. George Bennett will also be speaking again this year once a month.  He will join us in October after he returns from a trip to Canada .

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Religious Education for Children

The RE program for children meets at 10:45 AM concurrent with the Sunday morning service.  Contacts:  Mya Storey; Susan Bailey  

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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 Frank Asbury.

 Accepting Difference Project:  Watch for announcements about this group reactivating itself after a summer hiatus.  It is time to put into action discussion of the past year or two.  Talk with Lars Leader or Betty Derrick if you are interested in this project.

Statewide peace and justice gathering in Macon:   A message sent by Anna Mitchell Hall:  We're asking you to come to Macon September 8th from 12noon to 5pm.   This meeting is being organized by the Georgia Peace and Justice Coalition. It's designed to broaden and strengthen our network in Georgia . We know there are millions of Georgians who support progressive causes, yet our voices are often ignored in our current political landscape. We want to change that, and we know we can.

      One of our goals at GPJC is to connect activists and progressive organizations around the state, whether you are focused on human rights, labor, anti-war, or environmental issues. It is when we all lend our voices to the choir that our message travels the furtherest.  We are still nailing down a meeting place so watch for further inforamtion.  

                This message comes from Tim Franzen of the Georgia Peace and Justice Coalition.  It was sent to us by Anna Mitchell Hall, a former member of our congregation and social activist.  She plans to be in Macon and would like to reconnect with some of us as well as hopes our part of the state will be represented.   She expects to represent Candler School of Theology, where she is studying, as well as “her corner of Atlanta .” 

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ABOUT OUR MEMBERS AND FRIENDS

♥¯Best Wishes to Jane Page and Greg Brock who were married August 18.   Watch for plans for a party for them here in Valdosta as soon as the details can be worked out.   

Congratulations to New Hope International Christian Community Church for 10 years of ministry in Valdosta ! The congregation that meets at UU on Sunday evenings will be marking this milestone on Sunday, August 26th!  A special service will be held at 5 pm (choir practice will begin at 4 pm) that day.  They will have special guest singers and visiting ministers, including Pastor Randy Morgan and Pastor Johnny Layton, who along with Rev. Jerry Etheridge will be doing a walk down memory lane on the founding of the church. 

   

UU Church of Valdosta Board of Directors Meeting:

August 1, 2007

Attendance: Mya Storey, Chuck Giese, Rosie Asbury, Jim Ingram , Sue Bailey, Lars Leader, Josette Ingram

Old Business:  Discussion of the lack of visibility of the church when driving by. Jim has further cut back the brush around the existing sign to greatly increase its visibility.

New Business: Treasurer Report: No report. Piano has been tuned, invoice submitted.  Lars is currently investigating other UU districts to help us determine which district is the most appropriate for us. He plans to wrap this up by the time the Florida District  Director speaks at the end of August.

There is some problem with New Hope not properly closing up the building after their service. Sue will discuss with them.

Request to have a continuing education class use the church for 6 weeks on Tuesday nights. Approved with rent being the same as charged to the Tai Chi class.

The next board meeting will be on Wednesday, September 5, 2007 at 6:00 in the RE Building.

Rev. Jane A. Page, Minister, Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Statesboro, serves our congregation in Valdosta each month.  She is available for conferences and special services when she is in Valdosta .

 

 

   

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

 

 

 

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: Continuing Class: 5:30-7:00 PM; Beginner’s Class: 7:00-8:00 PM Contact Dennis Bogyo or Luana Goodwin  

Continuing Education Class – Tuesday evenings 

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UUA TRUSTEE TIDBITS                    Joan Lund

September is an important month in our congregational lives. Often it is the time we look forward to a new church year, initiating new activities and programs. Perhaps it is a time for your group to welcome new members to your board of trustees. Whatever you are doing for a great year I wish you the best. In the past I have written about the Partner Church Council and the International Association for Religious Freedom (IARF), part of our work as U*Us on the international scene. This month I hope to interest you and your congregation in the work of the International Council of Unitarians and Universalists (ICUU).

ICUU is a network of Unitarian, Universalist and Unitarian Universalist organizations. Member groups come from 23 countries. This organization of Unitarian and Universalist societies from around the world seeks to strengthen the worldwide network of Unitarian, Universalist, and U*U organizations. About a dozen years old, the ICUU has met every two years around the world to experience specific programs designed to foster and nurture better international understanding among all members of the global community. The organization is growing steadily and members include national organizations such as the UUA and the Canadian Unitarian Council (CUC). In addition to these two North American organizations, many North Americans are aware of the Transylvanian Unitarian Church, the General Assembly of Unitarian and Free Christian Churches in Britain , and the Religious Society of Czech Unitarians.

The member groups of the International Council of Unitarians and Universalists, affirm their belief in religious community based on: liberty of conscience and individual thought in matters of faith, the inherent worth and dignity of every person, justice and compassion in human relations, responsible steward ship of the earth’s living system, and commitment to democratic principles.

This coming November the biennial meeting of the International Council of Unitarians and Universalists will bring together congregations and groups from all over the world - from North East India, Philippines, Canada, Romania, Germany, United Kingdom, Indonesia, Africa, South America, United States, and more. The purpose of the meeting will be to conduct the business of the ICUU member groups. And there will be much more: special religious celebrations, services, sharing, discussion, cultural events, and workshops.

Our congregations are local liberal religious communities; our communities are linked to other liberal religious communities around the world. I hope your congregation will choose to discover the connections and the relationships and add dimension, vision, and quality to your congregation by becoming a member of the ICUU. Contact me for further information, your questions, and concerns: jlund@uua.org. Thanks for your support.

Newsletter Editor:  Betty Derrick Website:  Carol Stiles September 16: Deadline for the October  newsletter.

 

   

Treasurer's Report

Doug Tanner /Rosie Asbury  

FUND BALANCES at July 31, 2007

General Fund                                                                 $20,010.31             

Restoration Fund                                                         $11,715.64             

Total (Cash in Bank Accounts)                                 $31,725.95

                               

OUTSTANDING DEBT                                     

Mortgage                                                                       $15,102.03             

 

OPERATING RECEIPTS AND DISBURSEMENTS:

 

Receipts:                                             July                         YTD One Month

  Plate                                                     125.00                      125.00

  Pledge                                                  705.00                      705.00

  Rent                                                      240.00                     240.00

TOTAL RECEIPTS                             1070.00                   1070.00

 

Disbursements:                                                     

  Mortgage                                            500.00                     500.00

  Speaker's Costs                                 410.00                     410.00

  Repairs and Maintenance                  70.00                       70.00

  Utilities                                               212.20                     212.20

  Other                                                     16.00                       16.00

TOTAL DISBURMTS                     1,208.20                   1,208.20

 

NET RECEIPT (DISBURSEMENT)   ($138.20)                ($138.20)

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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.   

September 23 Restoring America’s Good Name, Dr. William Schulz, Orlando-First 

September 29 Light the Fire! Growing the UU presence in Florida , Rev. Kenneth Hurto facilitating, Northeast Cluster Workshop, Ormond Beach

 

This rest of this page contains excerpts of reports from the Social Action Chair e-mail newsletter, from Susan Leslie, Director for UUA Congregational Advocacy and Witness

 

Looking For UU Peacebuilders

The Unitarian Universalist Association's Washington Office for Advocacy, in relationship with the Peacemaking Congregational Study Action Issue Core Team, is looking for volunteers who are interested in enriching and elevating the UUA's organizing and activism for peace, focusing first on organizing around an October 8th day of interfaith fasting, witness, and advocacy against the war. If this interests you please contact Alex Winnett at awinnett@uua.org or (202) 296-4672 ext. 20.  

Let Justice Roll

The UUA is an active member of the Let Justice Roll Coalition (www.letjusticeroll.org). Finally, after 10 years, the federal minimum wage has been raised. Let Justice Roll is building on this victory to work toward a living wage. Let Justice Roll leader Rev. Dr. Paul Sherry joined Congressional and grassroots leaders in a Capitol Hill Rally on July 24 to celebrate the first minimum wage raise in ten years.  Watch for more news as we build on this victory to work for a living wage, to raise the minimum wage in various states, to make this an issue in the 2008 elections, and to witness as people of faith against poverty in our nation.  

General Assembly Reports

Portland , Oregon , June 20 – 24, 2007

Immigration Reform, Immigrant Rights, and the New Sanctuary Movement

Fixing the broken immigration system that has 12 million undocumented people trapped, standing in solidarity with these immigrants, pledging with the New Sanctuary Movement, and speaking out were a large part of this year's GA.    

Interfaith Rally on Immigrant Rights & Protest of ICE Raids  

A rally in front of Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Headquarters in Portland calling for an end to the raid featured President William Sinkford and was attended by many GA delegates.  

Breaking the Silence: Truth, Reconciliation and Racial Justice

President William Sinkford and ministers from three UU congregations discussed ways that UUs can confront the history of racial injustice in which we are all entwined, speak the truth, and work for restoring right relations, reparations, and reconciliation.  

Witness for Earth Community

Over 600 UUs and community partners rallied outside the convention center for a witness to stop global warming and environmental racism and create earth community and environmental justice. UUs, Christian evangelicals, environmental justice activists, and elected officials, along with President William Sinkford and Rev. Marilyn Sewell, Senior Minister at First Unitarian Portland, addressed the crowd.  

A Just Recovery in the Gulf Coast

Leaders of congregation-based community organizations, including Rev. Steve Crump, minister of First Unitarian Church of Baton Rouge, (the congregation was this year's winner of the congregational social justice Bennett Award), shared strategies for a national campaign for justice in the Gulf Coast, and lessons for how to cope with institutional poverty and racism in communities across the U.S.  

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These issues were covered in various sessions at General Assembly in Portland , Oregon ; streaming video is available for many of the sessions at:

http://www.uua.org/events/generalassembly/2007/