Sunday Services

Sunday, June 5 – Sheila T Harty, Absolute Nothingness and Absence of Meaning

Theologian Sheila T. Harty will share her personal evolution from a profound belief in the majesty of God when lying under trees as a child to a profounder belief in absolute nothingness when standing at the ocean’s edge as an adult. As a coming out party of consciousness, it’s an atheist take on

I Cor 13:11-12. Evolving from a convent novitiate to a debunker of Christian myths, Harty’s depth and breadth of theological study has led her to an awe at its meaninglessness with a full-belly Buddha laugh. Mixed in with this view of the sheltering metaphors of faith’s ambiguity are the insights from quantum physics and chaos theory that now inform her perspective. Harty urges us to embrace disbelief as a trapeze act without a net.

Sheila Harty has a B.A. and M.A. in Theology. Her major was in Catholicism, her minor in Islam, and her thesis in Scriptural Judaism; however, her definition of God more closely resembles quantum physics. For 20 years, Harty employed her theology degrees in the political arena as “applied ethics,” including 10 years with Ralph Nader. She also worked with former U.S. Attorney General Ramsey Clark and former U.S. Surgeon General C. Everett Koop. Harty is an award-winning author; her first book, Hucksters in the Classroom: A Review of Industry Propaganda in Schools, won the 1980 George Orwell Award for Honesty & Clarity in Public Language. On sabbatical from Nader, Harty taught Business Ethics at University College Cork in Ireland. Later, she was an editor with the Congressional Budget Office, the United Nations University, and the World Bank. She has spoken around the world and consulted with international consumer groups in Geneva, The Hague, Oslo, Dublin, and Penang. She works in St. Augustine, Florida, as a freelance editor and graphics designer. She can be reached at sheilaharty at comcast.net. 

Sunday, June 12 – Dr. Carol Stiles, “Ethical Eating”

Ethical Eating: Food and Environmental Justice was chosen by delegates at the UUA General Assembly(GA) in 2008 in Fort Lauderdale, FL, as the Congregational Study/Action Issue (CSAI) for the next four years 2008-20012.  Delegates at this year’s GA will be asked to discuss and vote on a statement of conscience on ethical eating.  Several years ago Carol made a Sunday service presentation on world food issues.  In this presentation she will discuss ethical eating using worship service materials available from the UUA.  Carol along with Dee Tait and Betty Derrick were our delegates at the GA when the discussion and vote occurred adopting this CSAI.  If you are interested in more information on this matter see the uua.org link in the congregational meeting announcement.

            Dr. Carol Stiles is a biologist and Chair of the Science Programs at the Valdosta Campus of Georgia Military College.  She is a member of our congregation and the manager of our website.

Congregational Meeting After the Service: to direct our delegates to this year’s GA on this issue.

Sunday, June 19 – David Rodgers,  "A Spiritual Atheist’s Meditations on Place"

David Rodgers will present outcomes of meditations on place.  Documentation will include photographs he created of elements of contextual phenomena and structures capable of eliciting psychological and aesthetic responses and emotional states he finds spiritually significant. 

The Center for Spiritual Atheism defines spiritual atheists as people who “…recognize the inter-connectedness and one-ness of the infinite and eternal universe.” Discovering oneness and interconnectedness through various forms of meditation, including vision questing, inspires his sense of spirituality.  Recognition of such human capacities as pareidolia, the psychological experience of perceiving significance in random sounds, images, and patterns, enhances his understanding of why many people attribute transcendent and spiritual significance to specific natural phenomena and places.  Scientific theory integrated with aesthetic discipline guides his spiritual pursuit of meaning, purpose, and ethical practice in a universe he experiences as a place devoid of God. 

Current meditation leads him increasingly to affirm beliefs in spiritual naturalism he discovers in interconnected natural places and phenomena. This point of view liberates him from the negative practice of actively denying God’s existence implicit in the term atheism.  Instead, he devotes himself to affirming spirituality without reference to a deity at all.

Most of you know David L. Rodgers is a Designer and Artist.  He is a regular at our services and has spoken at Sunday services on several occasions.  Welcome David back to our pulpit today.

Sunday, June 26 – Dr. Kimberly Tanner,  “A Shift from Charity to Social Justice: Two Models of Disability”

Dr. Kimberly Tanner will discuss the negative impact that the charity model of disability has on our communities. She will share her experiences with a local telethon as a child to demonstrate the Charity Model. An alternative to this model, the Social Model of Disability, will be presented and offered as the more just option.

Dr. Kimberly Tanner is the Director of the Access Office at Valdosta State University.  She received her Ed.D. in Adult and Career Education from VSU in 2008. She is currently co-teaching a course entitled, Disability in Film, from which she draws examples of the models of disabilities from popular film. Kimberly is also our Membership Director here at UU Valdosta..

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: Adult RE is taking a break for the summer.  Fred Howard plans to start a new session this fall.  Watch for announcements later this summer about the topic and format.  

MINISTERIAL MUUSINGS:  Rev. Fred Howard’s    monthly column will return in the fall.                                       

President’s Portion

Lars Leader

During the months of June, July, and August, our minister, Fred Howard, will not be with us. Rev. Howard is taking a leave from his ministerial duties to our congregation.  This was planned and is part of his annual contract with us.  Enjoy your time off, Fred!  And safe travels.

                Valerie Webster and Doug Tanner have the task of finding Sunday speakers to fill the two minister’s Sundays each of these summer months.  If you know of someone who might give a message of interest to our congregation, just send your suggestion to Valerie or Doug.

                Fred Howard, Sue Bailey, and Lars Leader will be attending General Assembly this year, in late June.  Sue and Lars are willing to serve as voting delegates from our church.  We are allowed two delegates.  Probably the most important voting at GA will be on the Ethical Eating Statement of Conscience.  This is the issue that the congregation voted to approve to be put on the agenda for consideration at GA.

                Our UU Valdosta Board is calling a short congregational meeting on Sunday, June 12, to do two things:  (1) vote to send two delegates to General Assembly; (2) discuss and vote on the congregation's opinion of the Ethical Eating Statement of Conscience.  Basically, this would give our delegates some direction as to what they should do when voting on the statement at GA.  Carol Stiles will be giving the message the Sunday of our called meeting.  She will be speaking on Ethical Eating.  The UUA website at which you can download the draft of the Ethical Eating Statement of Conscience is provided in the announcement of our congregational meeting, also in this June newsletter.  I hope to see the members of our congregation at this important meeting.

Called Congregational Meeting

Sunday, June 12, 2011

 The UU Valdosta Board of Directors is calling a congregational meeting, to be held after the service on Sunday, June 12, 2011.  The meeting will address the following:

• Voting to send two delegates to General Assembly this June;
• Discussion and voting on the congregation's opinion of the Ethical Eating Statement of Conscience.  This will give our delegates some direction as to what they should do when voting on the statement at GA. 

The Ethical Eating Statement of Conscience and information about how it will be considered at General Assembly can be found at:

http://www.uua.org/socialjustice/issuesprocess/currentissues/ethicaleating/index.shtml 

Newly created center for the labyrinth, designed and built by Jim Ingram   Thank you Jim!

The congregation held an impromptu dedication celebration after the service on May 15. 

Sangha Tuesdays

5:30-7:00 PM at the church

This Tibetan Buddhist Meditation Group will be meeting 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.  

Let’s Have Some Fun!!

Book Discussion and Potluck

Friday, June 17 - 6:00 PM

At the church

The book is “What Is the What” by Dave Eggers. In the preface to this “novel” we read: “This book was born out of the desire on the part of myself and the author to reach out to others to help them understand the atrocities many successive governments of Sudan committed before and during the civil war.  To that end … I told my story orally to the author.  He then concocted this novel, approximating my own voice and using the basic events of my life as the foundation. … It should not be taken as a definitive history of the civil war in Sudan, … nor even of my brethren, those known as the Lost Boys. … [T]hough it is fictionalized, it should be noted that the world I have known is not so different from the one depicted within these pages.  We live in a time when even the most horrific events in this book could occur, and in most cases did occur.  Valentino Achak Deng, Atlanta, 2006”  Betty Derrick first learned of this book several years ago, when it was being used as a freshman experience assigned book during orientation at an Ohio university.

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 so that folks who want to head home early on a Friday night can do so. We have been selecting books which deal with difference in all its guises.  We welcome your suggestions.   Contact: Betty Derrick.  

 Pizza and a Movie: This event will take a break for several months. Watch for announcements about the next movie and possibly a change in schedule for the fall.  If you have ideas about the schedule or movies speak with Fred Howard and David Rodgers.  

Games Night: Watch for announcements about this event restarting later in the summer.  If you have suggestions let Sue Bailey know.

Notes from Kids’ RE – Sue Bailey

Although we’ve had a lot of kids absent recently, we’ve been able to work on the story of Moses over several weeks. The kids have made several murals of the story and two are already hanging in the church sanctuary. A mural of the Plagues of Egypt will be hanging shortly. During one RE lesson recently, we read the story of how Moses received the Ten Commandments. We made our own cardboard tablets with good rules to live by. Some were rules we made up and some were rules we’ve heard about like the Buddhist precepts. We will continue on with several more stories from the Old Testament and work on the New Testament later in the summer. As always, we welcome volunteers to join us.

 Linska, Emmilee, and  Brian holding their “ten commandments” from RE.

ABOUT OUR MEMBERS AND FRIENDS

Congratulations to

v  Carol Stiles who was recognized May 7 as Faculty Member of the Year at Georgia Military College Valdosta. Each recipient was nominated for their dedication to GMC students and the campus community.  

Thought you might like to know

v  Nancy Johnson and the children, Linska and Brian Jr., are moving to be with husband/dad Brian Johnson who has relocated to Florida. We’ll miss them and hope perhaps Brian’s work will bring them back to Valdosta in the future.

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

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.

UU Church of Valdosta Board of Directors Meeting Minutes-May 4, 2011

Old Business:  Minister’s Contract for 2011 – 2012: Dates corrected to September 1, 2011 through May 31, 2012. Deleted section about being in Macon would take time from his scheduled. Motion to accept contract with corrections passed unanimously.

Advertising Bench: Location we would like is the corner of Woodrow Wilson and Patterson. Lars Leader will check on availability of one of the two benches. Will cost $450 initially. Website address listed on it needs updating.

Shared Service with Serenity Church: Lars Leader will contact Floyd Rose to check on interest in holding it in July and start the arrangements.

New Business: General Assembly: Sue Bailey, Lars Leader, and Fred Howard are attending. Will need congregational approval for delegates. We have already voted as a congregation to have this statement of conscience advanced to the final agenda at GA.

South Georgia Pride: Festival date is September 17. Kimberly Tanner will send in our registration for a 10X10 space. Nonprofit cost is $10 to be paid in May.

Membership: Kimberly plans to work on updating materials, brochures, etc. Plans are to induct new members in the fall. Kimberly also plans to freshen up the nametags. Continue to reach out to regulars and members to get involved and take on some tasks.

Building and Grounds: Jim working on labyrinth centerpiece. Yard needs work. Jim will continue working on things. It was decided to hold off on building an outdoor storage shed.

Date of next meeting: Wednesday, June 1

Treasurer’s Report – Rosie Asbury

April 30, 2011

Receipts                  April                     July -present (10 mos.)

  Plate                     $ 197.00                             $ 1052.61

  Pledge                  1215.00                               15397.00

  Rent                        240.00                                 2300.00

  Miscellaneous         00.00                                    1235.00

Total Receipts  $ 1652.00                              $19984.61

Disbursements  

  Speakers’ Fees      200.00                                   2000.00

  Minister Expense    700.00                                   7778.18

  Maintenance               0.00                                   4668.06

  Pest Control             35.00                                     350.00

  Blding Insur.         1232.00                                   1232.00

  Postage                      0.00                                     273.49

  Supplies                    18.81                                    204.71

  Utilities                   227.36                                   2784.31

  RE Program               0.00                                     178.67

  Membership Prog.      0.00                                      81.00

  Advert./Website         0.00                                      34.01

  UUA Dues                 0.00                                   1485.00

  UU Conference          0.00                                     575.00

  Donations               125.36                                     550.36

  (Moody dinner) 

  Others                      15.00                                      314.13

Total  Disbursements                       

            $ 2553.53                                   $22508.92

Net Receipt$        - 901.53                                $-2524.31

Electronic Newsletter

Thank you to everyone who responded to queries about a possible electronic newsletter.  Your editor is still collating the responses and will be discussing your thoughts with our communication team, including Betty Derrick, Carol Stiles, Dee Tait, and Kimberly Tanner.  If you are interested in more information on this issue, Carol Stiles passed along the following source of UUA newsletter guidelines: http://www.uua.org/communications/newsletters/55398.shtml  If you are among those who indicated you would prefer an electronic newsletter, please make note of the option in the box on the first page of this June newsletter.  Your editor will be building an electronic address file from your requests to be removed from the mailing label list with the possibility in the future of sending pdf files to those who would prefer that means of communication.  We plan to continue the print version for those who prefer that form.  

 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: Summer Continuing class and practice, 6:00-7:30 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

May 28 - More Than Money, But Money Matters Stewardship Workshop, Ft. Lauderdale, FL

June 5 - Ordination of Jay Wolin Orlando, FL First

June 22-26 - UUA General Assembly Charlotte, NC

July 17-23-Southeast Unitarian Universalist Summer Institute (SUUSI), Radford, VA

UUA TRUSTEE TIDBITS                    Joan Lund                                 June, 2011

jlund@uua.org  

June rolls around each year and that means UUA GENERAL ASSEMBLY, this year in Charlotte, NC, from Wednesday June 22^nd to Sunday, 26^th. I look forward be being with many of you. I hope you will be at the Florida District Ingathering. Check the program book for time and location on Wednesday. As you prepare to attend GA please go to our UUA website and link to the GA agenda because there are several important bylaws changes on which we will vote; and there will be mini-assemblies focusing on them.

At times I have occasion to look at the mission statements of the congregations in our District. Without exception (so far) there is reference to being involved in the wider world of social justice ministries. How does your congregation choose and evaluate the justice ministries priorities in your community? At the April Board of Trustees meeting we were involved in Right Relations training led by Taquiena Boston, Director, Multicultural Growth and Witness and Leslie Takahashi Morris. They suggested organizations/congregations might look at four areas when considering social justice endeavors: grounding, accountability, fit and opportunity.

Grounding in an issue is authentic and deep UU roots and how it is linked to the current identity and theology/philosophy of our faith. This includes the spiritual and ethical basis for the congregation’s choice. Do the members’ engage and live their experience on a particular justice issue and is there historic UU engagement on the issue in the public arena?

Accountability is being concerned about marginalized groups in the congregation and community. Anti-oppression should be a part of the project and its focus. This would include the congregation’s education about how the issue is impacting persons of color, low-income communities, and other oppressed groups. Relationships with other groups who are working on the issue are important. Reconciliation and right relationship must be an outcome of working on an anti-oppression issue.

Fit is the match between the congregation’s resources, aspirations, and ability to make a real difference. Fit includes having informed and inspiring leaders, institutional resources and partners. Perhaps there could be a task force devoted to the issue, which would include determining if there is money available for the effort. There probably would be UUA office, committees, groups, publications, and curricula that exist to support the congregation in taking a position.

Opportunity includes the consideration of the likelihood that the congregation will/can be a respected participant in the public dialogue on an issue. A good time for a congregation to act relates to the “hotness” of the issue and if the congregation will/can make a real difference. A UU national campaign, debates in the public arena, and proposed legislation are important to consider in making a decision about social justice projects for your congregation.

Travel safely, fellow GAers.

Joan Lund’s May  2011 that wasn’t yet available for our April/May newsletter:

While returning from Orlando to Tampa following the April, District Annual meeting I asked my traveling companion, Judy Lehman, “just retired” Florida District Board member what might be a good topic for the May Trustee Tidbits and she suggested “being in it for the long haul”. As I thought about her suggestion I realized this was an underlying theme of our talented guest presenters, Janice Marie Johnson, Multi-cultural Growth Director (UUA), and Sarah Dan Jones, President of the UU Musicians Network who led us through two questions: Who Are We? Where are we Going?, using some of our favorite UU hymns, interspersed with dialogue between them and some interaction with their audience. If you were there you know the excellence of their time with us. We lifted our voices in song and they opened their hearts and made us pay attention to the words of several of our UU hymns. Both of them, despite the sometimes negative emotions engendered by the selected hymns, are “in it for the long haul”!

Are you in it for the long haul? By this I mean despite “thick and thin” in your congregation do you support our faith with your time, energy, and generous financial commitment? Or are you one who attend Sunday service when it “suits” you, and contributes in the many ways necessary to sustain a healthy congregation, as long as your congregational leaders are making decisions with which you agree? There are many times, I am sure, that your congregational leadership is not “behaving” in the manner you would direct them BUT does this mean you criticize behind their backs and withdraw from your congregation? Or do you come forth to the leadership and explain your concern(s) with a legitimate conversation?

Being part of a religious community is like being part of a good personal partnership or marriage. Intimate relationships require a special set of attitudes and expectations on the part of the participants. If we UUs approach the relationship with the mentality of “What’s in it for me”? we are most certainly to become disappointed and fail. Sadly, our societal attitude has mirrored the “what’s-in-it-for-me” reflection, with a consumerism mind-set. But as a member of your congregation is this the value you perceive? You are not consumers in the ordinary sense. Your congregation is an investment in so much we consider important in our faith…you are a co-owner of what happens in your congregation, just as the parties in a partnership or marriages see themselves as partners with a joint share in the success of the enterprise.

As Rev. Kenn Hurto stated in his letter to the Florida District Annual Assembly attendees, “The teachings of our faith and the affirmation of the worth, dignity, and respect for all souls in never more needed,” than now. We need each other! We need to work very hard to affirm our connections to ourselves and our world. If you wish to connect with me please write jlund@uua.org. I look forward to hearing from you.

õ   õ   õ   õ   õ

Rev. Peter Morales, President
Unitarian Universalist Association

Fear and hatred are once again fueling homophobia in Uganda. Recent news reports indicate that the Ugandan Parliament might soon pass the draconian Anti-Homosexuality Bill (AHB) that will endanger the lives of LGBT citizens of that country. We must not allow this violation of basic human rights to go unopposed.

I am deeply troubled by this unconscionable attempt to legitimize hatred and bigotry. There is credible speculation that the AHB is being used to blind the world to the Ugandan government’s failure to address problems of rampant inflation and civil unrest. Whatever the motivation, it is clear that AHB is an attack not only on LGBT Ugandans but on the basic principles of inclusivity and human rights.

We at the UUA are coordinating our response to the developing situation with our Unitarian Universalist minister in Kampala, as well as our partner LGBT human rights organizations in Uganda and the United States. In the face of this inhumanity, the UUA has extended its continuing commitment and support to our congregants and partners. The Unitarian Universalist United Nations Office (UU-UNO) also is pursuing opportunities for coalition work opposing the bill.

I urge you to take action in any way you can. There is further information at Amnesty International, and please consider signing the All Out petition.

And your donation to the UUA/UU-UNO LGBT Uganda Fund will continue to support important LGBT civil rights work in Uganda even if the AHB does not pass – but becomes even more essential if this bill does pass.

As we continue this fight for justice, please hold all LGBT Ugandans in your thoughts and prayers. Right now they are uniquely vulnerable, and quite possibly in physical danger.

Join me in standing on the side of love with our LGBT brothers and sisters in Uganda.

Georgia Immigration Bill: 

Editor’s Note:  As you probably know Gov. Deal did sign this bill.  It is now the law of the land here in Georgia.  I think the arguments made in this opinion are still worth our consideration.

Barbara Burnham of the UU Congregation of Atlanta sent the following:

Rev. Anthony David, Senior Minister of the UU Congregation of Atlanta, drafted an opinion column for the Atlanta Journal Constitution urging Governor Nathan Deal not to sign HB 87 into law.  It was co-signed by him and nine of his ministerial colleagues in North Georgia.  Below is the opinion column that was submitted in May.  We are proud to have our UU clergy take a public stand on this important issue!

The Anthony David AJC Opinion Column

What’s good for Georgia is that we base our social policies on traditional spiritual values of compassion and hospitality. But House Bill 87, a punitive immigration measure recently passed by the Georgia Assembly and sent to Governor Nathan Deal’s desk, telegraphs the message that there’s not enough love and not enough resources to go around. If a bill like this becomes law, we are diminished as a state. 

I just don’t believe that there’s not enough to go around. Jesus taught us that when people are in need, you make room for them at the table, and there will always be enough of what is most important. You don’t buy into a scarcity mentality. All people have inherent worth and dignity. We need to make room for people coming to America with hopes of creating a better life for themselves, and if we can find ways of supporting them, the result can only add to our prosperity as a nation. It made America great in our past, and it can make us great again.  

There are a tremendous number of problems with House Bill 87. It is racist. It is neither workable nor fair. It is bad for business. It reflects Georgia politicians acting far beyond the bounds of their proper jurisdiction. Its twin bill in Arizona has cost that state millions of dollars in litigation, and its unconstitutionality has recently been upheld. But even more problematic than all these is the fundamental spiritual blight that House Bill 87 reflects. It is hate-filled and fear-filled. I urge Governor Deal not to sign this bill into law. We need to make room at the table. There’s always enough of what’s truly important to go around if we’re resolved to make it so. What would Jesus do?

Signed, Rev. Anthony David, Senior Minister, Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Atlanta, Atlanta, Georgia; Rev. Marti Keller, Minister, Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Atlanta, Atlanta, Georgia; Rev. Jeff Jones, Minister, Emerson Unitarian Universalist Congregation, Marietta, Georgia; Rev. Dr. Morris Hudgins, Minister, Northwest Unitarian Universalist Congregation, Sandy Springs, Georgia; Rev. Paul D. Daniel, Minister, The Unitarian Universalist Metro Atlanta North Congregation, Roswell, Georgia; Rev. Alison Wilbur Eskildsen, Parish Minister, Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Athens, Athens, Georgia; Rev. Don Randall, Affiliated Community Minister, Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Athens, Athens, Georgia; Rev. Terry Davis, Atlanta, GA; Rev. Joan Armstrong Davis, Atlanta, GA; Norm Horofker, Ministerial Intern, Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Atlanta, Atlanta, Georgia.