Sunday Services

Sunday, December 5 – Rev. Fred Howard, “The Redemption of Ebenezer Scrooge: A Unitarian Salvation Story”

No other human being, save one, has shaped the way we celebrate Christmas more than the Unitarian Charles Dickens.  When “A Christmas Carol” first appeared in England in 1843, Christmas was no festive occasion.  Puritan influences still held sway over much of English culture.  Carol was instrumental in transforming an austere religious observance into the joyous season of family, feasting, charity, and goodwill that we automatically associate with Christmas today.  This morning we will look inside this remarkable story to gain a better understanding of how it both transformed Christmas and has the potential to redeem the human heart.  It is indeed the second greatest Christmas story ever told. 

Sunday, December 12 – Dr. Michael Stoltzfus, “Judaism and Christianity:  A Troubled Relationship”

Christian-Jewish relations is not a subject of long-ago history, but a reality alive today and relevant to our time.  We will explore the terminology that has defined the relationship, the Catholic and Protestant theological teachings of contempt, the history of extreme violence most often perpetrated by Christians, and the context of Jewish-Christian relations today, including tensions associated with the modern state of Israel.

Bring items for Break Bread Gift Bags today!

Get into the Christmas Spirit and stay to help decorate the church for the holidays after today’s service.

Newsletter Deadline today! The January newsletter will be printed later this week.  Please get your stuff in today or earlier! Thanks from your editor.

Sunday, December 19  –– Rev. Fred Howard,  “ Moravian Lovefeast”

At this morning’s service we will celebrate a traditional Moravian Lovefeast, which consists of a simple meal of rolls and hot chocolate, traditional Christmas carols, and brief words by the minister about the Moravian tradition and the significance of the Lovefeast.  Further explanation can be found in my ministerial musings column this month.  Come and share this joyous celebration that will delight your senses and your heart.

December 26 – Sue Bailey, "A Christmas for All Ages"

As Christians around the world observe the Christmas holiday, Sue Bailey will share some history and traditions that we never outgrow. Members of the congregation are encouraged to share personal stories or traditions with Sue prior to the service so they can be incorporated into the message.

Religious Education

For Children: The RE program for children meets at. 10:45 AM concurrent with the Sunday morning service.  Two adults are needed each Sunday to help with RE.  Please let Sue know if you can volunteer from time to time or sign up on the monthly Sunday Volunteer list.  Contact: Susan Bailey.

For Adults: Watch for information about another session beginning in the new year.

ABOUT OUR MEMBERS AND FRIENDS

Keep in your thoughts

…our members and friends experiencing health concerns or who have lost close relatives.

Congratulations to

v  Julie Halter, who receives her Ed.D. in Curriculum and Instruction at VSU on December 10.  Way to go Julie!  It’s been great to see you back a little more frequently at UU events.

v  Bob Bowen, whose 6^th grandchild was born recently.  

Facebook:  Visit us on Facebook by searching "Unitarian Universalist Church of Valdosta."  http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/group.php?gid=92779034840  Contact person: Kimberly Tanner  

MINISTERIAL MUUSINGS

Rev. Fred Howard                              December 2010

On Sunday, December 19 our congregation will celebrate a Moravian Lovefeast during our worship service. The Lovefeast is perhaps the best known contribution of the Moravian Church to our culture, and it is celebrated by many denominations of the Christian church, especially during the season of Advent. Typically, a Moravian Lovefeast consists of a simple service with the singing of Christmas Carols, a brief homily, and the serving of a homemade sweet roll and coffee or hot chocolate. What with our almost sacred devotion to the coffee pot, the Lovefeast seems like a natural ritual towards which UUs might gravitate. And in recent years, more and more UU congregations have started holding the Lovefeast.

The Lovefeast, begun in 1727 by the Moravians in their intent to revive the practices of the first century church, should not be confused with communion. The original intent was to imitate the Agape meal, (“agape” meaning the highest form of love,) where everyone in the community shared a meal together regardless of gender, class, slave or free. The first Moravian Lovefeast in 1727 ended a bitter struggle within the early Moravian Church, and so the occasion came to be recognized as a time when members of the religious community are reconciled one to another. The idea is for all community members to intentionally set aside any differences that are causing strive (at least for a time), and fellowship in harmony and in recognition of the divine spirit that unites us all.

Designated servers, called “dieners” bring around the rolls and hot drinks, but they are passed humbly and devotedly from one person to another, so that the community is ritually “serving” each other. Then words of thanksgiving and grace are spoken in unison before anyone partakes of their simple meal. Then the community savors the sweetness of the roll and drink both for its taste and as a reminder of the pleasantness of right relationship with others as the musicians play an anthem. The act of breaking bread together is to be done slowly and reverentially, in recognition of our common humanity. The cups and napkins are then passed down the aisle and collected without any interruption in the flow of the service.

The success of the Lovefeast depends on maintaining an atmosphere of contemplation and dignity. Much like the Japanese Tea Ceremony, participants get as much from the experience as they are willing to prepare themselves emotionally and spiritually. In other words, we will get much more from the experience if we approach it mindfully, regarding each element of the service – the music, the words, the care with which the food and drink were prepared, the gestures and facial expressions of our neighbors – all as acts of devotion and love. If the Lovefeast is entered into in such a spirit, it cannot fail to move us.

 
Fred Howard is now writing a blog called "Sharing the Journey." The link is www.revfredhoward.wordpress.com .  You are invited to share his journey.  

Buddhist Sutta Study Group: This group has been discontinued unless someone volunteers to take over its leadership from Brian Ānanda.  We thank Brian for hosting this group over the past months since he moved to Valdosta.  A change in Brian’s work schedule has made it impossible for him to continue this commitment at this time.

Let’s Have Some Fun!!  

Firepit Night at the Church

Wednesday, December 1 about 6:30 PM

Bryan and Kat Nickola are hosting a Firepit night at our bonfire site back of the church.  They'll bring marshmallows.  Everyone else is invited to bring something to cook over the fire (hotdogs, smores, etc..).  It's just a time to come out and enjoy the evening with friends; people are welcome to come early and walk the labyrinth.   This is intended to be a family gathering for all ages.  Come join in the fun and fellowship!  (If you’re on the Board, there are discussions underway to coordinate this event with the Board meeting.  Watch for announcements of possible time adjustments.)

Games Night

Wednesday, December 15

6:30-9:00 PM at the church

Note that this is a change in day and time for this event.  The Board has decided to institute several fun and fellowship events on Wednesday evenings so Sue has decided to try out this new time for Games Night.  Bring a snack to share, friends, the kids and libations of your choice.  Sue says she plans to be sure there are some activities on hand for the children to keep busy with while the adults are playing the game of their choice.  Contact: Susan Bailey  

Decorating for the Holidays-Sunday December 12

Sue Bailey has volunteered to head up the tree decorating at the church again this season.  Plan to stick around after the service on December 12 to help out.  Maybe we can put some holiday music on, buy some take out sandwiches, and have a Party!!!  Ho Ho Ho!  

Book Discussion and Potluck

Mark your calendar!  The next book discussion will be Friday, January 7.  The book is Earth (the book) a visitor's guide to the human race by Jon Stewart.  It’s got lots of pictures so get a copy during the holidays and plan to join the fellowship and discussion early in the new year.  We have been selecting books which deal with different cultures, religions, and life styles.  Let us know your suggestions.   Contact: Betty Derrick.  

Notes from Kids’ RE – Sue Bailey

We are having a great time learning with Dr. Seuss in Kids’ RE! During a recent lesson, we read “Oh the Thinks You Can Think” and explored how we use our imaginations. We created a “My Imagination” book and we played a make-up-a-story game. In this game, the children took turns pulling stuffed animals out of a bag, giving it a name, and making up a story about it. It was great fun! For Halloween, we read “What Was I Scared Of?” We talked about some of the things we are afraid of and made scary masks out of paper plates.

Another lesson was based on “A Great Day for Up!” After reading the story, we played “Dr. Seuss Says” and did lots of up and down things – we reached up to the ceiling, crouched down, lifted up one foot, pointed our noses down at the floor, and so on. We also talked about the words up and down in relation to feelings – when we feel “up”, we are happy; when we feel “down”, we might be feeling sad, or funky, or ill. After the game, we cut pictures of UP and DOWN out of magazines and pasted them to one side or the other of poster board labeled “This Side UP” and “This Side Down.”

We will finish out this year with several more Dr. Seuss stories and activities, including “Did I Ever Tell You How Lucky You Are?” for Thanksgiving and “How the Grinch Stole Christmas.”  Looking ahead to the new year, I will be spending several months introducing the children to some of the stories and characters from the Old and New Testaments. Please join us as an RE Assistant on our journey of discovery!  

                     Valerie, Julie, Jim, and Doug set paver.

The finished labyrinth from its entrance looking back toward the church.

Our Labyrinth - Fred Howard  

At your editor’s request Fred adapted his column from last month for The Breeze, our Florida District Cluster newsletter.  I hope you will enjoy reading again about our work in November as you look at some of the pictures scattered through this newsletter. Many of us have been enjoying coming early to the church to walk the path we created in our woods.

The Unitarian Universalist Church of Valdosta now has a labyrinth on our property!  After months of discussions and planning, the labyrinth was completed on Saturday, November 6 by having a “labyrinth raising” similar to old fashioned barn raisings where everyone pitched in to see the project to completion.  Much of the preliminary work such as making a clearing in the wooded area out back of our sanctuary was completed weeks earlier by one of our members who has a tractor and a chain saw.  Actually, the site we selected did not need to have much done to it.  We had to remove only one large tree and some underbrush.  The site has a natural canopy of tall hardwoods, which form a very nearly perfect natural arbor over the labyrinth.

For those of you familiar with the many varieties of labyrinth designs, ours is the Baltic pattern.  To build the labyrinth, we first leveled the area with sand.  Then we created the path by laying down rectangular paving stones in precise locations, guided by pivots, strings and arcs laid out by one of our members who is an architect.  The result of our labors surpassed anything most of us had imagined.  What a great addition to our worship space!

We knew that the act of walking a labyrinth can transform the place where you are into holy ground.  But building a labyrinth can also be a religious experience - as our congregation discovered.  In and through our endeavor to build this labyrinth, we built community.  Sharing time together working on this project built relationships, even as we were also in the process of creating a sacred space at our church home.

Labyrinths have long been associated with churches and other religious institutions.  Religious pilgrims have been walking labyrinths since the Middle Ages and possibly even before that.  For those who could not make the journey to Jerusalem or Lourdes or the Ganges River or some other holy site, the labyrinth was a way for them to metaphorically take the journey. 

Why are labyrinths so popular?  Like so many things of a religious or spiritual nature, the peace and joy of a labyrinth walk can’t be explained.  It must be experienced.  I will make an attempt, though, by paraphrasing this testimony by the theologian Craig Dykstra.  “The rhythm of walking is conducive to prayerful contemplation.  The unpredictability of the labyrinth’s twists and turns helps us to relinquish our need to feel ‘in control’ and it allows us to acknowledge the dependency of being human.  The certainty of reaching the center inspires us to trust providence.  All these things can serve to draw us into genuine meditation and openness to the grace of the universe.”

At the Church-in-the-Woods

New Hope Christian Community Church- Sunday evenings: Choir practice at 4:30 PM. Service at 6:00 PM.  http://internationalchristiancommunity.ning.com

Taoist Tai Chi – Monday and Thursday: Continuing Class 5:30-7 PM; Beginner’s class 7-8 PM.  A new Beginner’s Class will start in January.  Contact Dennis Bogyo or Luana Goodwin

PFLAG Meeting – 4th Tuesday each month, 7:00PM

Contact: Doug Tanner The web page for PFLAG Valdosta:
http://pflag-valdosta.web.officelive.com/default.aspx  

Social Action Activities  

Habitat for Humanity-November 13-20:  Volunteers from our congregation worked at the site helping with the building and providing the Friday lunch for the workers.  UU Valdosta was a financial sponsor for the build.  Thanks go to Valerie and Bill Webster for coordinating this event again this year and to everyone who helped with the build, the lunch, and contributed financially to the event.  The houses were dedicated and turned over to their owners at the Community Thanksgiving service held at our church on November 21.   

Guest at Your Table: 

Hope you have your box in a prominent place in your home and are remembering to make a daily contribution to your “guest” during this holiday season.  The boxes were distributed in November.  If you failed to get one please let Betty Derrick know.  We’ll be collecting the boxes at a service in early January. 

Guest at Your Table (GAYT) is an annual Unitarian Universalist Service Committee (UUSC) project.  UUSC depends on our individual contributions for its work. Note the information on your box and consider making a donation sufficient for your family to be a member 0f UUSC, many of our members already are.  Contributions of $100 or more are matched through a special grant program.  UUSC partners with other worthy organizations worldwide to carry out social justice work.  Your contribution offers an opportunity for you to live our UU principles.  Be generous.  

Break Bread Together

Our date for meal deliveries with the Break Bread Together program is the 2^nd Monday (and 5^th when there is one) of each month.  If you would like to help deliver meals beginning about 11:00 AM, please contact Frank or Rosie Asbury .  

Break Bread Gift Bags !!!!!

December 12

At this time of year for a number of years we have prepared gift bags for our Break Bread clients, usually about 6-8 people.  Please bring some small items to donate for the bags: toothpaste, candy, shampoo, hand lotion, or make a small monetary donation to purchase some items.  Betty Derrick will bring gift bags for each person and will purchase items using any donated money to fill out the bags.  We’ll pack the bags after the service and deliver them on our delivery day in December.  

VAMA Meal at Homeless Shelter

Fred Howard says that he expects the Valdosta Area Ministerial Association (VAMA) to  be providing a meal at the homeless shelter in the near future.  Members of the congregation are welcome to come and serve the food, which will be catered.  Some of you participated in a similar event last year and it was well received.   Watch for announcements about the details and let Fred know if you are interested in participating.  

UU Church of Valdosta Board of Directors Meeting Minutes- November 10, 2010

Attending:-Fred Howard, Lars Leader, Sue Bailey, Kimberly Tanner, Valerie Webster, Kat Nickola, Rosie Asbury

OLD BUSINESS---

·         Habitat for Humanity-Volunteer signups done – participants need waiver.  Everyone should sign the 2x4. Financial contribution announcement via email and on Sunday.  Need more signups to provide lunch.-T-shirts to be worn on site. 

·         Community Thanksgiving Service-

-Chairs – Covingtons rents for $1.50.  Perhaps asking another larger church to bring a bunch is a better option…will need 5-6 volunteers to help.  We own 77.-Richard Hart – Trinity Presbyterian will be asked to bring chairs

-Parking – need signs and volunteers to direct people.  Flashlights for returning to parking.-RE can make signs

-Order of Service is done. New Hope has suspended their evening service.  -Ask New Hope for mic’s

NEW BUSINESS---

·         New Hope Storage-Need contract for rental of sanctuary, but also possibly add the storage in the RE room.  -Immediately remove non function items and everything from the sanctuary.  We’ll get a contract that includes their sanctuary rental and a bit of storage in the room and/or attic-

·          Sound Receiver-Approved sale to someone in Tai Chi. Since the Board met the sale was finalized with a donation to the church.

·         Yellow Jackets-They are still around and a nest in the RE building.   (Since the board met Michael Greene has installed a trap at the site.)

·         Membership Growth Strategy-Planned outreach and celebrations of life. Follow up with people not coming; Cards for special occasions; No expectation of commitment – UU culture problematic; Ask people face to face to be active and become members; Information session after service during discussion first Sunday of the month.

·         Moravian Love Feast-Fred would like elaborate service – servers dress like (early) Moravians.  Pass bread and drink, music, symbols etc

·         Minister Report-Fred speaking at Atlanta Northwest UU church this Sunday.  VAMA meetings.  Habitat for Humanity participation.  Fred was ordained & asked to be on the board .

·         Treasurer Report-Spent a lot last month.  Labyrinth and roofing.  Moved money from general fund to checking account.

·         RE Report-Pictures on the walls in RE building; Adult RE will open the group for new members to join for the second BYOT book.

·         Building & Grounds-Bryan cut wood for the fire pit.

·         Wednesday Night Activities-Wednesday night activities – 1^st Wed fireside time, 2^nd Wed Movie Night, 3^rd Wed Games Night / Birthdays, 4^th Wed coffee house. See activities planned for this month elsewhere in the newsletter and watch for announcements.

Next meeting: 1 December  2010 6PM May be adjusted because of the bonfire plans.

Gathering for lunch on cleaning/labyrinth raising day.

Jenny and Jeff Gallant at work in the kitchen.

Jennifer Tyler                    Michael Greene

Treasurer’s Report – Rosie Asbury

October 31, 2010

Receipts                 October                       July -present (4 mo)

  Plate                     $   39.00                            $   378.91

  Pledge                  1225.00                                7214.00 

  Rent                        240.00                               1000.00

 (Labyrinth)            300.00                                    915.00

Total Receipts   $ 1804.00                              $  9507.91  

Disbursements     

  Speakers’ Fees    200.00                                     600 .00

  Minister               1058.54                                   3158.54

  Maint./Repairs    1533.71                                    4263.93

   (labyrinth, roofing)

  Termite/Pest Cntl      35.00                                   140.00

  Supplies                    26.27                                     40.20

  Utilities                  260.41                                   1137.55

  RE Program              0.00                                      178.67

  Membership Prog.    0.00                                       81.00

  Advertising/Website   0.00                                       34.01

  UUA Dues                0.00                                     616.00

  UU Conference        0.00                                      575.00

  Service charge          13.00                                    253.13  

Total  Disbursnts   $ 3126.93                           $11078.03  

Net Receipt        $-1322.93                            $ -1570.12

UU Activities and Announcements

December 3-4 UUA Southland Region Leaders Meeting

December 17-19 TOTAL PRESENCE Retreat Gainesville, FL TOTAL PRESENCE-Where the inner work and the outer work meet and merge.  A weekend retreat combining the wisdom and practice of Zen Buddhism and Nonviolent Communication

From presence flows greater compassion for all beings. In presence, we nourish our spirits so that all life may flourish. This retreat offers guidance and sustenance for your inner work, empowering you to be totally present to the reality of relationships, humanity, and earth. Such presence helps heal our world. The retreat will introduce:

• the basics of Nonviolent Communication;

• meditation practice in the Zen tradition;

• the mutual interdependence of “inner” work and “outer” relationship work.

Together we will share sitting and walking meditation, floating meditation (there's a heated pool), and nature meditation. Interspersed throughout the weekend will be time for individual reflection and journaling, as well as group learning in both NVC and Zen Buddhism.  Retreat Leaders: Rev. Meredith Garmon and LoraKim Joyner (Unitarian Universalist)

December 26-Jan. 1 Southeast Winter Institute Miami (SWIM) Miami, FL

SWIM - Vacation with UUs in Florida at Camp Owaissa Bauer, Homestead, Florida, south of Miami: Download the full brochure and register online at www.swimuu.org. SWIM has Programs for Youth, Teens, YA’s, Adults.  Our trips include: Sunset Sailing, Swamp Tromp, 9-mile Pond Canoe, Night OwlCanoe, Orchid Farm Tour, Teen Night Owl Canoe & Nike Hercules Missile Base Tour, & many more. Our workshops include: Partners’ Yoga, Our Spiritual Journeys, Art as Healing, State of the Universe, Bead with Sharon, Well Loved Poems & many others Lodging choices: Multi-bed climate-controlled cabins, Tent camping in a Grassy field, Bring your own self-contained RV, or off site Motels. So look forward to Fun, Spirit, Music, Worship, Adventures, Dancing,

Campfires, Coffeehouse, and Good Work to discover yourself and the world.  SWIM is an all-volunteer organization, so let’s work and play together.

Do you know what Unitarian was educated as a Catholic priest, turned Lutheran, then Calvinist, and finally anti-Trinitarian and became court preacher to the first Unitarian king in history?  Francis Dávid  

UUA TRUSTEE TIDBITS                    Joan Lund                         December 2010  

Happy holidays to each one of you. This month I offer a huge thanks to the majority of our Florida District congregations for scheduling and holding the annual Association Sunday. I had the privilege of visiting and speaking to two of our congregations celebrating this event. Proceeds from the special collections at Association Sunday services will be used to ensure that Unitarian Universalism thrives for generations to come through initiatives like Leap of Faith, a pilot project establishing mentoring relationships between selected congregations.

Leap of Faith which is in the pilot program stage, grew from conversations between UUA President Rev. Peter Morales and ministers of congregations experiencing admirable growth in numbers. These conversations spawned the creation of the project and selection of twelve “aspiring congregations” who desire support in taking big steps in growing Unitarian Universalism. In other words, this will be a learning community of mentoring relationships between congregations with demonstrated growth success and those who are “poised” to grow. These congregations are being paired with “mentoring congregations” who have had experience with particular issues and challenges that the “aspiring congregations” face. The aspiring congregations are ones that are already doing well, but need a “boost” and might experience new perspectives from being in relationship with other congregations. A professional consultant/monitor will help Leap of Faith in achieving effectiveness during the early stages, in hopes of expanding the program in the future. Evaluators will monitor the program and assist UUA staff determine its effectiveness. A final report will be presented to the 2011 General Assembly, followed by a decision about continuance of the program with other congregations.

Core aspects of Leap of Faith include: creating congregation-to-congregation learning communities to share knowledge that resides in UUA congregations (mutual mentoring and experiential learning); aspiring congregations determining the areas of learning and experience that will help them forward in sustained numerical growth; a gathering of “first wave” congregation teams for a launching conference that will allow aspiring congregations to develop their particular narratives and begin to build learning communities with their mentor congregations; and a commitment from aspiring congregations to share what they learn with other congregations through websites, social media, blogging, webinars, and workshops. Our UUA looks forward to sharing more information and ideas following the launch conference.

                May I take this opportunity to wish your congregation a joyous holiday season full of shared love. I look forward to hearing from you at jlund@uua.org .