Sunday Services

Sunday, January 1  – Rev. Fred Howard, “Commitment and the Skeptical Life”

People of our faith tradition have wrestled with the dynamic of commitment ever since the formation of the Free Religious Association in 1867.  Questions that this group of free religious thinkers and radical individualists raised are still somewhat with us now.  Questions range from the philosophical “How do you make a community or organization of individualists?” to the more pragmatic “How can such a diverse group translate our closely held ideals into reality?”  If we are to be intentional in our collective religious and spiritual life then these are questions that need to be wrestled with today also.  Today being the start of a new year, I thought it would be a good time to reflect on this worthy topic and to offer some coaching for our team in this “wrestling” match.  

Sunday, January 8 – Dr. Michael Stoltzfus, “Zen and Everyday Spiritual Practice”

Zen Buddhism, in its multiple forms, is an inherently practical teaching that might help us all to experience tranquility in the midst of transition and impermanence. We will investigate the Soto Zen understanding that enlightenment is nothing more or less than mindful, compassionate action in the present moment and the spiritual humility that accompanies such practice.     

Return Guest at Your Table boxes Today: There will be a special opportunity during today’s service for you and your family to return your Guest at Your Table box.  Our contributions will be mailed to UUSC as a total from the church.  

Sunday, January 15 – Rev. Fred Howard, “MLK as Tragedy: Lessons for Unitarian Universalism”

The story of the life and death of Martin Luther King, Jr. has been told and retold with a thousand different spins.  But I daresay that my sermon today will examine it from a perspective that few if any have ever considered.  I look forward to sharing one of my recent provocative insights into the way his story has been treated by our society and by our faith tradition.  King’s legacy may still have things to teach us – if we are willing to let it.  

Sunday, January 22 – Michael Edwards, "The Search for Spirituality"

Michael Edwards’ message will discuss our individual search for spiritual meaning and purpose. He will talk about personal experiences and about his research into the life of Robert E. Harrill, who found his spirituality and notoriety as "the Fort Fisher Hermit".   Michael is a member of our congregation.  Welcome him back to our pulpit.  

Sunday, January 29 – Dr. Kathe Lowney, “Failure and Why We Need to Study It More”

Dr. Kathe Lowney from the VSU Department of Sociology joins us to discuss the many benefits of studying failure.  Is it possible to learn more from failure than success?  Please join us for insights in the study of undesirable outcomes interesting from a sociological perspective.  It has been a while since Dr. Lowney spoke at our services.  Welcome her back.  

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.   

Sangha Tuesdays

5:30-7:00 PM at the church

This Tibetan Buddhist Meditation Group meets weekly at the church for tea at 5:30 PM with meditation beginning at 6 PM followed by a brief reading.  Those who follow other Buddhist practices are welcome.  Contacts: Julie Halter or Theresa Thompson.  

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

UU Valdosta e-Mail List: If you are not on our UU e-mail list, please contact Carol Stiles with a request to be added or send an e-mail to uuvaldosta@yahoo.com.   Our UU e-mail list is for announcements and reminders of church and community-related activities of interest to UU's.  It is a YahooGroups list that is moderated and fairly low volume, just a few messages per month.  

MINISTERIAL MUUSINGS

Rev. Fred Howard          January 2012        

Ed. Note:  The following Adult RE series has been postponed.  If you are interested in the topic, please let Rev. Fred Howard know or talk with him about other potential Adult RE topics.     cms                  

A suggested topic for Adult RE:   This material is an introduction to “Family Systems Theory,” with an emphasis on its application both in personal spiritual development and in the understanding of the functioning of organizations such as congregations.  The subtitle of Dr. Gilbert’s work is “A New Way of Thinking about Human Interactions” and that is precisely my goal in exploring this material with interested members of the congregation – hopefully to get us thinking in new ways and to getting our heads going in innovative and creative ways as we grow and mature as an organization.

The family systems approach to understanding the dynamics of groups and organizations was pioneered by Edwin Friedman, an ordained Jewish Rabbi and family therapist.  Family systems stresses that healthy organizations are composed of and led by healthy individuals who are capable of maintain personal integrity in the face of the anxiety and stress that is inherently a part of any organization.  By working on one’s own functioning within an organization, whether it is a family, workplace, or a congregation, family systems teaches that the individual can thereby promote better functioning and integrity within the other members of the group or “organ”ization.  The theory uses many analogies from biology such as organ systems, and the goal is the overall healthiness of the total body, or organization, within which the individual is working.  The primary emphases of the teachings are:

• the capacity to separate oneself from surrounding emotional processes
• the capacity to obtain clarity about one’s principles and vision
• the willingness to be exposed and be vulnerable
• the persistence to face inertial resistance
• the self-regulation of emotions in the face of reactive sabotage.

I chose Dr. Gilbert’s book as the text for our group because it makes the concepts of family systems easy to understand for laypersons.  She highlights the theory with examples from family, church, and workplace that most anyone can recognize and relate to.  I highly recommend the book, whether or not you are able to participate in the group.

The format for these RE sessions will be similar to the one I used last year for Building Your Own Theology; that is, we will have a chalice lighting followed by a moment of centering silence.  Then after I make some brief opening comments related to the material we will have an open discussion.  The sharing of thoughts and ideas that relate personally and specifically to the subject matter will take preference.  Experience has taught me that this keeps the conversation more interesting and engaging for everyone.   To get the most from the group, I would recommend that everyone who participates purchase the book and read along.  Regular attendance is recommended but not required.  I may even have to miss a session myself.

I will need to gauge interest in the topic before committing to offer this, so there will be a sign up sheet in the sanctuary beginning Jan.1, or you can email me at fredhoward3622@gmail.com.  Looking forward to your participation.  I hope you find family systems theory as valuable to your own spiritual development as I have.      

ABOUT OUR MEMBERS AND FRIENDS

Keep in your thoughts…

Our members and friends recovering from surgery or other illness or experiencing the loss of a loved one.  

Let’s Have Some Fun!!

Book Discussion and Potluck

Friday, January 13 - 6:30 PM - At the church

The book is "The Submission" by Amy Waldman.  As this novel opens, a select committee has chosen the winner of a competition to build a 9/11 memorial at the Twin Towers site in New York City.   The committee does not know, until after they have selected the winner, that the artist is an American born, secular Muslim.  As the story unfolds the characters, the artist himself as well, confront the controversy that arises over the prospect of a Muslim artist creating a memorial to those who died through the actions of extremist Muslims.  During our discussion we are likely to confront our own emotions and prejudices as do the characters in the book.

Bring a dish to share.  Coffee and tea will be provided.  You are welcome to bring other beverages.  We socialize over our potluck meal for the first hour and then promptly begin our book discussion drawing to a close with the selection of our next book by about an hour later. We have been selecting books that deal with difference.  Contact: Betty Derrick.

Pizza and a Movie

Friday, January 20     6:30 PM at the church 

Our feature for January will be Meetings with Remarkable Men.  This film captures emotionally and spiritually significant nodal events in the life of Gurdjieff, the Armenian Greek mystic who founded many schools of spiritual instruction and is credited with introducing the Enneagram to the Western world.  The viewer of this film accompanies Gurdjieff on his arduous quest for spiritual enlightenment through the rugged and visually stunning landscape of the Middle East and Central Asia as he met with clerics and esoteric teachers from numerous religious and spiritual traditions.  What Gurdjieff learned during these formative years equipped him to become the influential teacher of so many artists, writers, and thinkers that submitted to his tutelage, such as Frank Lloyd Wright, Alan Watts, P.D. Ouspensky, A.R. Orage just to name a few.  We will begin the movie at 6:15 pm.  Everyone is asked to contribute $5 toward the pizza and soft drinks that will be provided.

Fire Pit and Games Night

Friday, January 27           6:30PM - until at the church

Come and gather around the fire pit behind the church and then for those who are interested, games will begin inside.  Bring a snack to share, friends, the kids and libations of your choice.  Contact: Susan Bailey.

Social Action Activities

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.

Guest at Your Table

The Unitarian Universalist Service Committee (UUSC) is our denominations social concerns outreach organization. It works through and with other organizations globally on disaster relief, human rights issues, and other matters of social concern.  The money that makes possible the work of this organization comes through donations from people like you.  See the side of your Guest at Your Table box and consider making a donation sufficient to become a member of this worthy organization.   

South Georgia Pride Award to UU Valdosta

In early December UU Valdosta was honored with the South Georgia Pride Humanitarian of the Year Award.  UU President Lars Leader was on hand to receive the award. Raynaé Williams, Assistant Executive Director of South Georgia Pride, Inc. is also a member of our congregation. Carol Stiles’ article in the Interweave Continental January newsletter, quoted below, accompanied the photograph of the presentation.  Interweave Continental is an affiliate organization of the UUA that works toward ending oppression based on sexual orientation and gender identity.  More information available at: http://interweaveuu.org/

Raynaé Williams, Assistant Executive Director of South Georgia Pride, and Richard Willis are also pictured.  

“The Unitarian Universalist Church of Valdosta, Georgia, hosted the second annual Interfaith Pride Service in conjunction with the South Georgia Pride Festival in September. The invited speaker was Ms. Elke Kennedy, of Sean’s Last Wish (http://www.seanslastwish.org/)    Elke Kennedy’s son, Sean, died in May 2007, the victim of a hate crime – because he was gay.   Ms. Kennedy spoke eloquently about how her son stood up for his rights and took care of his friends, and how his life was taken from us, ending with these words: ‘No mother should ever have to bury her child.   No mother should ever have to lose her child to hate and violence. No mother should ever have to fight for justice for her child.’

“Ms. Kennedy’s appearance at the South Georgia Pride Festival and the Interfaith Pride Service was front page news in the Valdosta Daily Times, September 15, 2011:   http://valdostadailytimes.com/local/x1078460836/South-Georgia-Pride

“The collection from the Interfaith Pride Service at UU Valdosta on September 18, 2011, was donated to Sean’s Last Wish.   UU Valdosta also has hosted a Standing on the Side of Love “Rainbow Mixer” around Valentine’s Day and is planning for the third annual event in February.  For these and other LGBT-supportive outreach events, the Unitarian Universalist Church of Valdosta was honored in December by South Georgia Pride with the Humanitarian of the Year Award for 2011.”  

UU Church of Valdosta Board of Directors Meeting News

December 7, 2011

Attending:        Fred Howard, Rosie Asbury, Lars Leader, Kimberly Tanner, Doug Tanner, Kat Nickola, Jim Ingram           

·         Youth  RE: Fred had a meeting with 3 of the youth.  Talked about forming a covenant to form a cohesive group – they came up with 4 commitments: confidentiality, space for all, personal responsibility for time, and having an identity as a youth group.

o   Youth group visions: district conference next spring, a youth-led worship service.  topics to discuss in the group: UU traditions, peer pressure/ bullying, race, relationships. 

o   Should they meet during church time? During adult RE?

o   Youth leader as a separate person from RE?  We will wait to see how attendance is and possible start in January / February.  

NEW BUSINESS                                

·         Azalea Fest            March 10/11: Church will participate both days.  Lars will get volunteers.

·         Newspaper Advertising: Looked into costs of advertising in the Moody Base Paper (expensive) and the Valdosta Daily Times.  Will check advertising on the base Bulletin Boards – chapel, BX, commissary, etc..

·         UU FL District meeting, March 23-25 in Jacksonville.  Fred Howard plans to go attend and would like others from the church to attend also. Immigration issues will be a big focus. 

·         Phone bill has increased $16/ mo due to a price hike.  Will shop around for a better rate, possibly with internet.

·         Discussed where the board thinks the membership committee should put its efforts.  Concluded that growth is still something we should strive for.  Small groups are a great way to grow and still make sure everyone feels valued.

·         Building & Grounds:         Sidewalk surged up from roots.  Short term possibility to grind down sidewalk.  Long term solution is to rip it out and grind out the root. Jim Ingram is investigating solutions.

·         Communication Team is separate from the Board. Discussed having one person join the board or having a definitive liaison.

·         Another DemoWebsite has been developed which is much more practical and simple to post or update. Multiple people can be responsible so it does not need to be updated from one person.      

Treasurer’s Report – Rosie Asbury

November 30, 2011

Receipts          November                  July -present

  Plate                $   29.00                      $ 1084.85

  Pledge                169.00                          5960.00

  Rent                   440.00                          1210.00

  Miscellaneous          0.00                             30.00

Total Receipts   $198.00                        $  8284.85  

Disbursements  

  Speakers’ Fees         200.00                   875.00

  Minister Expense       700.00                 2507.37

  Ace Elect                    0.00                    821.73

  Pest Control               35.00                    175.00

   Supplies                     28.54                   103.46

   Utilities                    124.74                  1218.33

  Advertising                  0.00                     525.00

  UUA Dues                 0.00                      769.33

  Others                        0.00                        70.00

Total  Disburse.      $ 1088.28                        $   7065.22  

Net Receipt             $ - 890.28                        $   1219.63  

 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://www.wix.com/nhccc1/nhccc   

Taoist Tai Chi – Monday and Thursday: 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 Activities and Announcements

January 9-13 Preaching and Worship in a Multi-Media Context (CE Workshop for UU Ministers), Vero Beach, FL
January 28 Right Relations Workshop, St. Augustine, FL

March 23-25 UU Florida District Annual meeting, Jacksonville, FL

April 27 to 29 - Florida UU Women's Retreat, Ellenton, FL    

UUA TRUSTEE TIDBITS                    Joan Lund                           January 2012

jlund@uua.org

Last month the column indicated a request from the Arizona Immigration Ministry that the UUA Board of Trustees (BOT) put forth a resolution calling on President Obama to adopt the UN Declaration of Rights of Indigenous People, which is related to the Doctrine of Discovery. The Board is moving forward on this request, including making certain information will be forthcoming to UUA congregations and the resolution will be published in the tentative GA agenda.

The origin of the Doctrine of Discovery dates back over 600 years starting with Christopher Columbus setting foot on the island of Guanahani and performing a ceremony to “take possession” of the land for the king and queen of Spain. Forty years previous to Columbus’ landing Pope Nicholas V issued to the King of Portugal the Bull Romanus Pontifex, declaring war against all non-Christians throughout the world, specifically sanctioning and promoting the conquest, colonization, and exploitation of non-Christian nations and their territories. Thus, Columbus understood he was authorized to “take possession” of lands he “discovered” that were not under the dominion of any Christian rulers”. The grim acts of genocide and conquest committed by Columbus and his men against the peaceful Native peoples of the Caribbean and the future U.S. were sanction by the Catholic Church at that time. The lesson learned is the papal bull(s) are but two clear examples of how the “Christian Powers” viewed indigenous peoples as “lawful spoils and prey of their civilized conquerors.

In 1823, the Christian Doctrine of Discovery was adopted into U.S. law by the Supreme Court, headed by Chief Justice John Marshall, who observed that Christian European nations had assumed “ultimate dominion” over the lands of America during the Age of Discovery, and that upon this “discovery” the Indians had lost “their rights to complete sovereignty, as independent nations.” Although they retained a right of “occupancy” in their lands, Indians were subject to the ultimate authority of the first nation of Christendom to claim possession of any given region of Indian lands. Indian rights could be ignored as “heathen”.

The history continues with many court cases and this Doctrine was used by the U.S. to act with many decisions including but a few: circumventing the terms of solemn treaties that the U.S. entered into with Indian nations, despite the fact that all such treaties are “supreme Law of the Land, anything in the Constitution not withstanding”; stealing the sacred Black Hills from the Great Sioux nation in violation of the 1868 Treaty of Fort Laramie which recognized the Sioux Nation’s exclusive and absolute possession of their lands.

Thomas Jefferson once observed when the state uses church doctrine as a coercive tool, the result is “hypocrisy and meanness.” Circumventing the U.S. Constitution as a means of taking Indian lands and placing Indian nations under U.S. has proved Jefferson right.

Next month the plan is to write about the UN Declaration of Rights of Indigenous People. Please know I continue to enjoy hearing from you. Happy and Prosperous New Year to all Florida UUs and your congregations.

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