E-mail UU-Valdosta at uuvaldosta@yahoo.com  

Phone:  229-242-3714 

New U.S. mailing address is P.O. Box 2342 , Valdosta , GA   31604

 

Page down or click the links to go to specific sections:

Sunday Services

Thank You! Thank You! Religious Education
Board Notes   Social Action UU Activities and Announcements

Social Activities - Fun!

Ministerial Muusings - Rev. Fred Howard
President's Corner - Lars Leader

 What’s going on... January 2011

Sat.

Jan. 1

 

Happy New Year!!!!

Sun

Jan. 2

 10:45 AM

 

Religious Education for children

Service - “The Mythic Journey of the Magi,”  Rev. Fred Howard

Meet & Greet Coffee after the service

W

Jan. 5

6:00 PM

Board Meeting in the RE wing

F

Jan. 7

6:30 PM

Potluck and Book Discussion at the church

Sun

Jan. 9

 10:45 AM

 

Religious Education for children

Service – “Embracing Uncertainty:  Christian Perspectives on

 Grace and Love,”   Dr. Michael Stoltzfus

Bring your Guest at Your Table boxes.  We’ll collect

 your donations during the service today.

Meet & Greet Coffee after the service

M

Jan. 10

11:00AM

Break Bread delivery

W

Jan. 12

6:00 PM

Pizza and a Movie at the church

Sat

Jan. 15

 

Newsletter Deadline

Sun

Jan. 16

 9:30 AM

10:45 AM

Adult Religious Education

Religious Education for children

Service - “The Tipping Point,” Rev. Fred Howard

Meet & Greet Coffee after the service

M

Jan. 17

 

Martin Luther King Day

Wed

Jan. 19

6:30 PM

Games Night at the church

Sun

Jan. 23

 9:30 AM

10:45 AM

Adult Religious Education

Religious Education for children

Service - "Flutes of the World," Paul McAuliffe

Meet & Greet Coffee after the service

W

Jan. 26

6:00 PM

“Firepit” night at the church-a family gathering for all ages

Sun

Jan. 30

 9:30 AM

10:45 AM

Adult Religious Education

Religious Education for children

Service - “Money and Faith,”  Rev. Fred Howard

Meet & Greet Coffee after the service

M

Jan. 31

11:00AM

Break Bread delivery


Sunday Services

Sunday, January 2 – Rev. Fred Howard, “The Mythic Journey of the Magi”

One thing that distinguishes great poets is their ability to bring forth a transcendent message in and through fortunate arrangements of common words and the phrases and the word pictures they create with them.  This being Epiphany Sunday, I thought we would look at T.S. Eliot’s poem, “The Journey of the Magi,”  a splendid poetic work that accomplishes this, and attempt to better appreciate how Eliot rendered such a thought provoking and soul stirring work.  Though the poem was written over 80 years ago, it still speaks to us today, and is appreciated by people all across the religious spectrum.  That’s what a mythic work does; it resonates with universals in the human situation. 

Sunday, January 9 – Dr. Michael Stoltzfus, “Embracing Uncertainty:  Christian Perspectives on Grace and Love”

Christian traditions are slowly learning to live with moral uncertainty, bewilderment and perplexity without feeling too guilty about the absence of inflexible moral absolutism.  We will investigate how the Biblical teachings of Jesus and Paul point to a Christian morality grounded in the open-ended exploration of graceful activity and the ongoing transformational power of love.  Contemporary Christian discourse around the topic of sexual orientation will be used to exemplify a new moral climate.   

We’ll take time during this service to collect your Guest at Your Table donations.  Please convert the coins you have collected in your box to a check and bring your check and box to the service today.  

Sunday, January 16 –– Rev. Fred Howard,  “The Tipping Point”

It has been 47 years since Martin Luther King gave his “I Have a Dream” speech facilitating passage of the landmark Civil Rights Act of 1964.  Many things have changed since then; some have not.  This morning I will use a real life event that I became personally involved with, an event with eerie parallels to the story in “To Kill a Mockingbird,” to reflect on the evolving status of racial relations in the Deep South.  

Sunday, January 23 – Paul McAuliffe, "Flutes of the World"

Paul McAuliffe is a student of world/ethnic flutes and also creates Native American and transverse (side-blown) flutes out of bamboo. He will perform on and discuss traditional instruments from North and South America, Europe, Africa and Asia. Unitarians throughout the Southeast have applauded the "natural spirituality" of his music.

Paul is a member of UUF Bay County in Panama City, FL. Formerly a Backcountry Ranger at Guadalupe Mts National Park in West Texas, a spinal injury forced him out of the mountains and put him behind a desk as a social services worker. Diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome (mild autism) in 2008, he now facilitates an Asperger's support group for adults and is a passionate advocate for autism education and awareness.    

Sunday, January 30 – Rev. Fred Howard, "Money and Faith”

The juxtaposition of these two words, money and faith, may bring all sorts of things to mind.  But the question I thought I would wrestle with in preparation for this sermon, and invite you too into the wrestling match as well, is, “What does it look like to be faithful with our money?”  I say wrestle with it, because I don’t pretend to have a clear cut answer to that question, nor do I think I will have one by January 30.  But I do think it is important for us to think about it as a community.  Jesus thought so as well, and he talked about money more than any other subject – much more.  I will use one of his parables as the text for my sermon.


INVITATION TO MEMBERSHIP

If you are interested in becoming a member of our fellowship, we encourage you to talk with our minister, Rev. Fred Howard or our President, Lars Leader or Membership Director, Kimberly Tanner.  We welcome your questions, and we extend an open invitation to all who want to join our liberal community of faith.

 

 

 

 

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: The Adult RE Program will resume Sunday, January 16 at 9:30 AM and continue every Sunday morning until May 22.  The classes will continue the basic format of group discussion and sharing around the subjects in the Building Your Own Theology (BYOT) texts.  Specifically, we will be starting the second workbook, “Exploring.”  It begins with an introduction to the often neglected “Sources” of our UU Living Tradition printed in the front of our hymnal that come after our Seven Principles.  A rich diversity of topics are covered in the sessions, such as Truth and Authority, the Nature of Spirituality, Justice and the Beloved Community, Death and Immortality – all of which are rich veins to explore.

If you have not been a part of RE before, I would encourage you to consider it.  With the start of a new unit, it is a good time for newcomers to jump in.  It is an open group, although you will get the most from the experience if you attend regularly and keep up with the readings in the workbook.  I will be posting a blurb during the week prior to each Sunday session on the listserv.  Expect to spend about an hour or so each week reading the material for the next session.  We would be delighted to have you join us!  Fred Howard

Fred Howard is our part time minister.  You may contact Rev. Howard by email (preferable) at fredhoward435@hotmail.com . He is available for consultations on Monday and Wednesday afternoons on most weeks from 2-5PM by appointment.  Fred welcomes any questions you may have about membership in our congregation.  He is also available for weddings and rites of passage ceremonies by prearrangement.

 

 

 

 

 

MINISTERIAL MUUSINGS

Rev. Fred Howard                                      January 2011

Some of you may have noticed that I have a great fondness for cinema as I tend to often refer to movies in my sermons and sometimes even use a popular film as the “text” for the message.  Though I do use popular movies as a way to refer to cultural trends and to develop certain themes, there are limitations. If I use it in a sermon it must be a movie that virtually everyone either has seen or is at least familiar with the storyline. 

But there are so many films that weren’t necessarily box office smashes but they do seem to have special artistic or cultural merit or they give us a rare window into a particular facet of the human psyche and spirit.  Many quieter and lesser-known movies will offer the most profound insights.  Paradoxically, commercial success has often been achieved at the expense of true profundity.  It is the filmmaking artists with the most uncompromising principles and most passionate feelings for what they are bringing to the world who are willing to sacrifice money for the sake of an authentic, unique creative vision.  

What I have always wanted to do was sit down with a few friends and view some of these films, and then take a few minutes to share impressions and ideas about how the film impacted us. That dream of mine is about to become a reality.  Beginning on Wednesday evening, January 12, and continuing every second Wednesday David Rodgers and I will be hosting an event at the church called “Pizza and a Movie.”   David shares my passion for this sort of activity.  We have several movies in mind to show in the coming months and new ideas are constantly popping up.  We would also be interested in hearing suggestions from you as well.

Cinema is not only a marvelous medium for storytelling, but film itself seems to have an almost mythic quality to it.  Personages that appear in movies often become more than the sum total of the images, relationships, ideas and stories they portray.  They sometimes become larger than life.  The movie industry creates “stars,” people that occasionally assume a sort of quasi-divine status in our culture of celebrity.  This phenomenon, along with the mystic quality of film itself to invite us into stories, feel with the characters and identify with them, can make movie going into a transcendent experience.  It is my hope that we will be able to get so much more from some of these wonderful stories as we share the impact they have on us.  By both viewing them and then sharing as a group we will be able to reap the benefit of diverse impressions and reflections.

We will begin the movies around 6pm and keep the discussions at the end to no more than thirty minutes, so that everyone can be home by nine o’clock or so.  At least we will start out with this format and see how it goes.   Both veggie and meat pizza will be provided.  We will ask everyone who eats to contribute to the cost.  We will announce the movie for each month ahead of time, along with a little blurb about it.  Come and join us for some of these exciting events around the silver screen!

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.  

 

Thank You! Thank You!

For layleading services:  Doug Tanner, Lars Leader, Betty Derrick, Sue Bailey, Bryan Nickola

For help with Sunday Service music:  Keith Johnson, Jeff and Jenny Gallant

For music at the Community Thanksgiving Service: Bill Webster

For bringing the Community Thanksgiving Service to our facility:  Fred Howard and the UU Board

For helping with the Community Thanksgiving Service the day of the service: Doug Tanner and others who assisted.

For providing a substitute service in November when the scheduled speaker was hospitalized: Bill and Valerie Webster

For Stories for All Ages:  Fred Howard, Sue Bailey

For serving as Meet and Greet Hosts: Betty Derrick, Valerie Webster, Lars Leader, Rosie Asbury, Susan Bailey

For greeting visitors: Kimberly Tanner, Lars Leader

For helping with Children’s RE: Kimberly Tanner, Emmilee Bailey, Kat Nickola

For providing Sunday service flowers: Betty Derrick

For delivering Break Bread meals: Frank and Rosie Asbury

For cleaning the church: Frank Asbury, Lars Leader

For donating a new sound/music system for the church: a donor who wishes to be anonymous (You know who you are! Thanks.)  Thanks too to Michael Green and Jeff Gallant who installed the system.

For keeping our grounds: Jim Ingram

For hosting the firepit evening in November: The Nickola family

For helping decorate the church for the holidays after the service on December 12: Doug and Kimberly Tanner, David Rodgers, Bryan and Kat Nickola, Robert Pytan, Melanie Hubbard, Bill Webster, Chuck Giese, Dee Tait, and others who helped.

For preparing Sunday lunch for the church decorators: Susan Bailey, Julie Halter and anyone else who helped out.

For donating items and filling the Break Bread Gift bags after the service in early December: Betty Derrick, Dee Tait, Rosie Asbury, Susan Bailey, and others who brought items for the bags.

For delivering the Break Bread Gift Bags: Frank and Rosie Asbury

 

           

 

Bill and David decorating our church tree.  


Let’s Have Some Fun!!

 

Book Discussion and Potluck

Friday, January 7

6:30 PM Potluck – 7:30 PM Discussion

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.  Bring a dish to share.  Coffee and tea will be provided.  You are welcome to bring other beverages.  We have been selecting books which deal with difference in all its guises.  We welcome your suggestions.   Contact: Betty Derrick.

 

Pizza and a Movie

Wednesday, January 12

6:00-9:00 PM at the church

Our first installment of what is to be a regular monthly Wednesday event will feature “Amazing Grace” starring Ioan Gruffudd and Albert Finney.  The great hymn “Amazing Grace” was written by John Newton, a British slave trader who repents, becomes a priest, and does penance for the rest of his life.  The movie chronicles how Newton mentors William Wilberforce, the passionate British abolitionist whose longsuffering efforts finally bring an end to the English slave trade.   Critics say the movie stays reasonably true to the established historical account of events with minimal embellishment. Anyone who has ever felt morally right and completely in the minority will have a point of entry into this movie. You know the song, now learn the story.

We will begin the movies around 6PM and keep the discussions at the end to no more than thirty minutes, so that everyone can be home by nine o’clock or so.  At least we will start out with this format and see how it goes.   Both veggie and meat pizza will be provided.  We will ask everyone who eats to contribute to the cost.  We will announce the movie for each month ahead of time, along with a little blurb about it.  Come and join us for some of these exciting events around the silver screen! Contacts: Fred Howard and David Rodgers  

Games Night

Wednesday, January 19

6:30-9:00 PM at the church

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

 

Firepit Night at the Church

Wednesday, January 26 about 6:00 PM

Come enjoy Firepit night at our bonfire site back of the church.  This is a time to come out and enjoy the evening with friends; people are welcome to come early and walk the labyrinth.   Bring some marshmallows or hotdogs if you would like.  This is intended to be a family gathering for all ages.  Come join in the fun and fellowship!  Contact: Bryan Nickola.  


ABOUT OUR MEMBERS AND FRIENDS

Keep in your thoughts

v  Our members and friends having health difficulties….

Happy Birthday in January to

v  Fred

v  Bob  

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

 

 


Notes from Kids’ RE – Sue Bailey

The year is winding down, but the RE kids are winding up for the holidays! There has been plenty of joy and excitement in the RE room for the past several weeks. We have been reading Dr. Seuss stories, and other holiday tales, playing games, and making crafts and holiday ornaments. For Thanksgiving, we created a Tree of Thanks after reading Shel Silverstein’s “The Giving Tree.” Please do come by to take a look at all the things the RE kids are thankful for.

Be sure to look for the sparkling star ornaments on the church Christmas tree. It will be easy to see who made which star – just look for the children’s smiling faces! The RE kids also made Christmas crackers which are nestled among the branches of the tree. Finally, the kids made wreaths out of paper plates and tissue paper. These they took home to give as gifts to family members.

Looking ahead to the New Year, we’ll be embarking on a journey through some of the timeless tales from the Bible. Please consider volunteering to help in RE room when you can. I can promise, there will not be a dull moment!

All the best and may your holidays be everything you hope for and more! See you in the New Year.


Social Action Activities  

Guest at Your Table

During the service on the second Sunday in January we’ll take time to collect the Guest at Your Table boxes you have had in your home for the holiday season.  Please convert your daily contributions to a check, fill out the information on your box, and bring it with you to the service on January 9.  There will be a special time that day during the service to return your box.  Hope you have your box in a prominent place in your home and are remembering to make a daily contribution to your “guest.” 

Guest at Your Table is an annual Unitarian Universalist Service Committee (UUSC) project.  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.  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.  Be generous.  

Break Bread Together

Our date for meal deliveries with the Break Bread Together program is the 2nd Monday (and 5th 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.  

The Break Bread Together Ministry of First Presbyterian is in need of volunteers who can help sort and/or deliver meals on the weekdays (Monday-Friday, except holidays).  Presently they have a waiting list of those in need of meals, but are unable to handle the requests without additional volunteers.  Should we consider expanding our UU effort or perhaps some of you are personally interested in assisting with this important ministry to the Valdosta community.  Contact Susan Sheridan, Break Bread Coordinator, if you are interested.  

Martin Luther King Day Celebrations:  In recent years our church has participated in the Valdosta MLK March.  At the time of this newsletter printing we had no details about when this march would occur this year.  It is usually the Saturday before the official holiday.  Watch for announcements as we learn about the plans for this event and make plans to participate.  

Community Thanksgiving Service

The annual Valdosta Community Thanksgiving Service sponsored by the Valdosta Area Ministerial Association (VAMA) was held at our church this year.  On November 21, congregations from a number of churches gathered to express thanksgiving and to dedicate the previous week’s Habitat Faith Build Homes to their new owners.  The Habitat Build was a collaborative project of a number of churches in Valdosta.

As the host church, Rev. Fred Howard, our UU minister, welcomed those attending and later delivered the sermon for the service.  Invocations, prayers, and scripture readings were offered by Rev. Stephen Norris, Pastor Hebert Mallqui, Imam Arshad Javewd, Rev. George Bennett, and Denise Ronn.  Rev. Richard Hart dedicated the two Habitat Homes to their new owners, Maude Copeland and Shirley Hill.  David and Theresa Williams and Bill Webster provided music for the service.  A number of our members helped greet attendees and provide parking directions for our guests. 

Much thanks goes to our minister Fred Howard for organizing the service and to our Board for agreeing to provide our facilities for the service.  We were disappointed though that for the first time in a number of years the Valdosta Daily Times failed to provide information in the previous week’s newspapers to announce the VAMA event to the citizens of Valdosta.  Rev. Fred Howard is the President of VAMA this year.

Thanksgiving Service

 

Dedication of Houses


President’s Corner:   Lars Leader

Our president sends Best Wishes for the Holidays to one and all!  Watch for more news from Lars as we begin a new year.


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 6-7:30 PM through the holiday season. Schedule beginning January 6:  New Beginner’s Class, 5:30-6:30 PM; Continuing Class, 6:30-8 PM.  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  


UU Church of Valdosta Board of Directors Meeting Minutes

December 1, 2010

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

OLD BUSINESS...

·         New Hope Storage.  Non functional items moved into the RE building; the room is now packed full. Contract and discussion still being worked on.

·         Wednesday Activities.  Monthly Plan – 1st Wed is Board Meeting, 2nd Wed is Pizza and Movie Night, 3rd Wed is Games Night & Birthday Celebration, 4th Wed is Firepit Night.  Occasional 5th Wed could be Coffee house night if someone is interested in heading this up.  

NEW BUSINESS...

·         Minister’s Report. Attended Project Harvest Hope VAMA, Habitat for Humanity, and the Thanksgiving Service.

·         Programs Report. See newsletter. February and March each have the 4th Sunday open.  Discussed possible speakers.

·         RE Report. See newsletter.

·         Membership Report. Getting new facebookers, For the New Year will be planning new celebrations of life, and having birthday cake at games night.  Care calls to a couple members who have been gone a while. Kimberly

·         Building & Grounds Report. Yellow jacket trap seemed effective; need to caulk the hole.  Attic flooring for storage discussed.

·         Treasurer’s Report. Will send the Habitat check after accounting past weeks’ offerings.  UUA increasing membership to $58. Labyrinth is paid off ~ $1000. Fred will do a Stewardship sermon early in the new year.

NEXT MEETING   5 January 2011 6PM  


Treasurer’s Report – Rosie Asbury

November 30, 2010  

Receipts                 November                        July -present

  Plate                     $   83.25                                 $  462.16

  Pledge                  1546.00                                    8760.00

  Rent                        240.00                                   1240.00

  Misc.(Habitat)      220.00                                    1135.00

Total Receipts   $ 1804.00                               $  9507.91  

Disbursements  

  Speakers’ Fees     200.00                                    600 .00

  Minister Exp.        700.00                                   3858.54

  Maint. (labyrinth) 384.13                                   4648.06

  Termite/Pest Ctrl    35.00                                     140.00

  Postage(newslet.) 273.49                                     273.49

  Supplies                    26.40                                       66.60

  Utilities                     78.57                                   1216.12

  RE Program              0.00                                      178.67

  Membership Prog.    0.00                                       81.00

  Advert./Website       0.00                                        34.01

  UUA Dues              616.00                                   1232.00

  UU Conference        0.00                                      575.00

  Other(service chg)   0.00                                       253.13

Total  Disburs.  $ 2313.59                                 $13391.62  

Net Receipt       $- 224.34                                $ -1794.46


New Sermon Series

Fred Howard

In February I will begin a sermon series from “When Jesus Came to Harvard” by Harvey Cox.  I thought I would give the congregation a little head’s up on this because some of you may want to purchase the book and read along.  Jesus “came” to Harvard, according to Cox, when Cox reluctantly began teaching an undergraduate course on moral reasoning, called “Jesus and the Moral Life” at the behest of the University.  To Cox’s and the University’s surprise, the class became so overwhelmingly popular that lectures had to be moved to the auditorium, and an average of 800 students per year signed up for the course over the nearly 20 years that Cox taught it.  The book is really a summary of the course, written with honesty, humor and the penetrating and insightful intellect Cox brings to all his writings.   What a deal!  Buy the book at Amazon.com for $4.71 and skip the $43,000 tuition at Harvard.

Harvey Cox taught at Harvard Divinity School for 44 years, retiring just last year.  "Harvey Cox is the most important liberal theologian of the last half-century because he could see around corners," wrote E. J. Dionne, Jr., the Washington-based political commentator and former student of Cox's.  What Dionne meant by that was that Cox had an uncanny ability to foresee  such trends in religion as its movement out of mainline churches and into secular society, which he wrote about in “The Secular City.”  He also participated in the Civil Rights movement in the ‘60s and addressed the Southern Christian Leadership Conference at MLK’s invitation in 1966.  He also predicted the flood of interest in Eastern religions that began in the 1970’s with his prophetic work, “Turning East.”  His course, “Jesus and the Moral Life,” was simply a continuation of Cox’s uncanny ability to keep his perspective fresh and to stay connected with youth and their religious and philosophical interests.  I hope you enjoy this read and the material I glean from it.  


 UU Activities and Announcements

 January 17 - Installation of Reverend Ronald Hersom, Jacksonville Church

February 1 UUA Congregational Membership Certification Deadline

February 4-6 - Creating Connections ~ NE Cluster UU Women's Retreat, Oviedo, FL

February 4-6 - The Art of Aging … The Gift of Sage-ing Workshop Parrish, Dayspring RC, FL

February 26-27 - Florida District Choral Festival, Gainesville, FL

March 1 – Deadline for Florida District Award Nominations  


Do you know what Unitarian was the grandson of a signer of the Declaration of Independence?  He was a native of Newport, RI and became minister of Boston’s Federal Street Church.  In 1819 in Baltimore, preached an ordination sermon that became a milestone in denominational history, marking the beginning of the use of the name “Unitarian” for liberal Congregational churches in America.  Was “always young for freedom.” ………………..William Ellery Channing

 

Newsletter

Editor:  Betty Derrick

Website:  Carol Stiles

Local Publicity: Dee Tait

January 15: Deadline for February newsletter. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

HOMELESS COUNT 2011:  Lowndes Associated Ministries to People Incorporated(LAMP) has been designated as the Regional Count Coordinator for this year’s Homeless count.  The homeless count will take place on January 23, 2011.  The following counties; Brooks, Cook, Lowndes, Berrien, Echols, Tift, Clinch, and Lanier have been chosen to participate in the count.  We are currently seeking local service providers, non-profits, and government and state officials to participate as count coordination team members from each county.   If you or your organization would like to participate please contact Elvin Mainor at (229) 245-7157, ext. 210 or

 

 

Lars and Valerie at Habitat lunch we provided.

 

Fred Howard and others working on Habitat house.  


2011 The Florida District UUA Awards Announcement

AWARD CATEGORIES

FLD Unsung Unitarian Universalist Award – given to a Unitarian Universalist whose actions inspire, support and express Unitarian Universalism but who is not generally recognized

FLD Lifetime Achievement Award – given for long and dedicated service to Unitarian Universalism

FLD Clarence R. Skinner Award – given for the sermon best exemplifying Unitarian Universalist principles

FLD Jim Barrett Social Justice Award – given to an individual or group in the Florida District for commitment to and leadership in social justice work

FLD John DeWolf Hurt Levity Award – given to honor a person who remembers the value of humor in congregational life

FLD Excellence in Religious Education – given in recognition of outstanding work in the field of religious education

FLD Excellence in Music – given in recognition of outstanding work in congregational music programs

FLD Media Awards –to honor outstanding media, recognition will be given for one outstanding congregational:

·         Newsletter – please attach three different monthly newsletters or a link to your easily accessed website posted newsletter

·         Website – please include website address

Women and Religion and YRUU Awards – please contact these groups’ leaders directly

Award winners will be recognized during the 2011 Florida District Assembly (April 8-10, 2011 in Orlando).  Submit all nomination materials electronically (by e-mail attachment in Microsoft Word or Adobe PDF format only) no later than 3/1/2011 to:  FloridaDistrictUUA@cfl.rr.com. 


5th Annual Florida District UU Choral Festival

February 26-27, 2011 UU Fellowship of Gainesville

Members of UU choirs throughout the Florida District are invited to attend the 5th Annual Florida District UU Choral Festival as it returns in 2011 to Gainesville, the home of its birth--conveniently located in the center of the state easily accessible to all!  This year’s Festival begins on Saturday, February 26 with check-in starting at noon and rehearsal beginning promptly at 1:00 p.m., followed by a potluck dinner provided by the Gainesville congregation, a variety show in the evening, and concluding with the Festival Choir singing for the 11:00 a.m. Sunday service on February 27.  For the first time, the Choral Festival Sunday service will be a music service. To celebrate Black History Month, the theme will be “African-American Spirituals: Speaking Through the Centuries.” In addition to the four anthems that will be sung by the Festival Choir, soloists or small ensembles from around the state are invited to prepare other spirituals for the service. There will also be opportunities for those who wish to offer brief spoken reflections on the theme--exploring how and why these songs, created during the time of slavery by unknown authors and composers, still speak to us so powerfully today, centuries later. Finally, it has been a tradition at our Choral Festivals to have each anthem directed and accompanied by different people. So if you are a choir director or pianist, please consider participating in this fashion.  There is no registration fee for the Choral Festival. However, each choir is

expected to purchase copies of the Festival anthems for their singers. There is not time for note-learning at the Festival, so singers are expected to have the music learned in advance. FESTIVAL REPERTOIRE:

Carry Me Home, arranged by Jean Anne Shafferman, Alfred #18926; I Been in the Storm So Long, arranged by Vicki Tucker Courtney, Alfred #23407; I Want Jesus to Walk with Me, arranged by Larry Shackley, Lorenz 10/3319L; This Little Light of Mine, arranged by Mark Hayes, Heritage 15/2087H


 

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