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E-mail UU-Valdosta at uuvaldosta@yahoo.com 
Phone: 229-242-3714
New U.S. mailing address is
Page down or click the links to go to specific sections:
| Thank You! Thank You! | Religious Education | |
| Board Notes | Social Action | UU Activities and Announcements |
| Minister's Muusings - Rev. Fred Howard | ||
| President's Corner - Lars Leader | ||
|
Th |
Aug. 26 |
1-4 PM |
UU Table at VSU Happening |
|
W |
Sept. 1 |
6:00 PM |
Board Meeting in the RE wing |
|
Sun |
Sept. 5 |
10:45AM |
Religious Education for children Service – “Incarnating Our Values,” Rev. Fred Howard Meet & Greet Coffee after the service |
|
T |
Sept. 7 |
6:00 PM |
Buddhist Sutta Study Group at the church |
|
W |
Sept. 8 |
sundown |
Rosh Hashanah |
|
Sun |
Sept. 12 |
10:45AM |
Religious Education for children Service
– “Jewish
Perspectives Regarding Jesus,” Dr.
Michael Stoltzfus Meet
& Greet Coffee after the service |
|
M |
Sept. 13 |
11:00AM |
Break Bread delivery |
|
W |
Sept. 15 |
|
Deadline
for October Newsletter |
|
F |
Sept.17 |
sundown |
Yom Kippur |
|
Sat |
Sept. 18 |
7:00 PM |
Games Night at the church |
|
Sun |
Sept. 19 |
9:30 AM 10:45 AM
4:00 PM |
Adult Religious Education Religious Education for children UU Service –Ingathering and Water Communion Service, Rev.
Fred Howard Be sure to bring
your sample of water so that you can fully participate in this
service. Meet & Greet Coffee after the service Interfaith Pride Service at the church followed by a potluck |
|
T |
Sept. 21 |
6:00 PM |
Buddhist Sutta Study Group at the church |
|
W |
Sept. 22 |
|
First Day of Fall |
|
F |
Sept. 24 |
6:00 PM |
Book Discussion and Potluck at the church |
|
Sun |
Sept. 26 |
9:30 AM 10:45AM |
Adult Religious Education Religious Education for children Service – "Forgotten and Hidden Knowledge: a brief look at women philosophers," Dr. Lovonna Lovern Meet & Greet Coffee after the service |
September … Fall arrives this month and we hope you’ll be here with us! There is a lot going on---great Sunday services, Adult RE is back, Games Night is back, and a Book Discussion just to mention a few things. Please come.
|
Sunday, September 5 – Rev. Fred Howard, "Incarnating Our
Values" Gandhi's
saying "Be the change you want to see in the world" is bandied
about quite a bit these days. What would that look like for us here
at Valdosta UU - that is, what would it be like for us to truly embody or
incarnate that which we declare to be our values? I will explore
that question this morning as I (hopefully) provide some inspiration for
the many new ministry opportunities available in the coming year through
our congregation's activities. Sunday,
September 12 – Dr. Michael
Stoltzfus, “Jewish Perspectives Regarding Jesus” A
presentation outlining Jewish perspectives of Jesus would be deceptive if
it led one to believe that Jesus is important for Judaism. The vast
majority of Jews reject Christian claims that Jesus is divine, is the
messiah, or that he is part of a Trinity. On the other hand, the
Jesus of the New Testament can be understood as Jesus the Jew, who like
the great prophets of Israel struggled to rescue the nation from its
iniquity and draw the nation back to the faith of their ancestors.
This presentation will discuss both positive and negative Jewish
interpretations of Jesus. Sunday,
September 19 –– Rev. Fred Howard, Ingathering
and Water Communion Service Unitarian
Universalists have developed an annual ritual of water communion where we
bring a jar or vial of water that represents some significant place from our
summer travels or some significant event on our recent life's journey.
If you didn't collect any from the ocean or mountain stream, just collect
some from your tap and bring it (no one will know the difference) along
with a few sentences that tell us of its significance. I
will also share a short homily based on Langston Hughes' "I've Known
Rivers.” Be sure to bring
your sample of water so that you can fully participate in this service. Sunday, September 26 – Dr. Lovonna Lovern "Forgotten
and Hidden Knowledge: a brief look at women philosophers"
Dr. Lovern is a Valdosta State University Lecturer teaching in the
Philosophy and Religious Studies Department. She has a special
interest in Native American Studies. Dr.
Lovern holds a PhD in philosophy from the University of Missouri-Columbia. In
2003, she moved to Georgia to work more closely with Native American
groups in this region and has also continued working with the University
of Arizona on issues in Native American communities. Welcome
her to our services. A brief Fall Equinox ceremony is planned for part of this service. |
|
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. |
|
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. |
For Children: The RE program for children meets at. 10:45 AM
concurrent with the Sunday morning service.
Contacts: Mya Storey; Susan Bailey.
For Adults: After a summer recess this group begins another session on September 19 at 9:30 AM to run 10 consecutive Sundays. The group will use the “Building Your Own Theology, Vol. 1” for these discussions. See Fred Howard’s column for some more information on this series and where you can obtain the book.
Brian
Ānanda is hosting a Buddhist Sutta Study Group at the church on the 1st
& 3rd Tuesdays of the month (also the 5th, when
applicable) at the church. Doors open at 6:00 PM and the meeting
starts at 6:30 PM. The
first half-hour is spent on the Nikāyas (the body of scripture common
to all Buddhist traditions). The next 15-20 minutes is for
meditation Q&A—or complete instruction if there is a
newcomer—followed by group meditation until 8:00-ish.
Buddhists & non-Buddhists are both welcomed. Much of what
we discuss can be applied to anyone’s life, regardless of religious
orientation. The meditative practices taught are of the Theravāda
tradition, which require no belief or adherence to a certain dogma in
order to be practiced. A conservative Southern Baptist could benefit
from this form of meditation without the least bit of remorse.
Contact Brian Ānanda if you have questions.
For layleading services:
Betty
Derrick, Lars Leader, Doug Tanner, Bryan Nickola
For speaking at Sunday service: Keith Johnson, Carol Stiles
For help with Sunday Service music: Jenny and Jeff Gallant, Keith Johnson, Bill
Webster
For Stories for All Ages: Fred
Howard, Sue Bailey
For serving as Meet and Greet Hosts: Valerie Webster, Doug Tanner, Betty Derrick,
Jenny and Jeff Gallant, Sue Bailey
For greeting visitors: Lars Leader, Kimberly Tanner, Betty Derrick
For providing Sunday Service flowers: Rosie
Asbury, RE Kids’ Peace Tree, Lars Leader
For helping with RE: Rosie Asbury, Lars Leader
For
delivering Break Bread meals:
Frank and Rosie Asbury
For cleaning the church: Frank Asbury, Lars Leader
For keeping our grounds: Jim Ingram
For ideas and planning for the Accepting Difference Project: Carol
Stiles
Rev.
Fred Howard
September 2010
|
On
September 19th Adult Religious Education will resume as we
begin a year-long exploration of the “Building Your Own Theology”
series. Don’t be put off by
the title! One might get the
impression that this study is designed to support the notion that some
people have of Unitarian Universalists being people who can “believe
whatever they want to.” On
the contrary, this is a series of readings and suggestions for reflection
and sharing that are meant to give participants a solid grounding in the
deep, honorable, and hard won roots of our faith tradition.
Building a personal belief system that can withstand the hard
questions life throws at us requires us to find a firm foundation on which
to base our faith. Many great
religious teachers from antiquity as well as our more recent past can give
us just this kind of solid footing upon which we can construct such a
faith. There
is also a great need for us to be conversant in the ideas and principles
that went into the founding of our faith, because there are people out in
the world that are hungry for what we have to offer.
But if our ideas are only free floating conjectures of our own, and
we can’t place them in the context of the noble spiritual quest of our
forebears, then our words risk being, in the words of Shakespeare, “full
of sound and fury, signifying nothing.”
As James Luther Adams, one of those notable forebears of
Unitarianism, said, “We have a special responsibility to develop a
literacy and, shall we say, get people out of the stage of the emancipated
Unitarian who believes that because we call ourselves Unitarian, there’s
nothing else to do.” A free
religious faith carries more, not less responsibility.
We can justify the virtues of liberal religion only to the extent
that we can think clearly and articulate reasonably the basis of our
spiritual identity, and we can bear witness to those virtues only in how
we conduct our lives. These
are the areas that the Building Your Own Theology material focuses on,
that is, better understanding of where our values come from, and how to
act upon them. So
join us for the exciting adventure in exploring further what it means to
be a Unitarian Universalist. We
will begin at 9:30 am on Sunday, September 19th.
The introductory series will run for the next 10 consecutive
Sundays. Expect to spend at
least an hour or so in advance of each session doing the reading and
taking a few notes for what will become your “credo statement” by the
end of the first 10 weeks. Though
we will not be turning anyone away at any time who wishes to come and
participate, it is recommended that you attend all sessions to get the
most from the material and the dialogue with others in the group.
Since in reality this is not always practical, you can maintain
continuity by reading and reflecting on the material independently when
you miss a session. The text
for the first 10 weeks is “Building Your Own Theology,” vol. 1 -
Introduction by Richard Gilbert.
It is available through the UUA bookstore or from Amazon.com.
If you think you might want to stay with us for the full year, then
I would suggest ordering the 3 volume set “Building Your Own
Theology,” as they are cheaper when ordered this way.
Our congregation has ordered a limited number of copies of the
three volumes that will be available for loan. I
hope to see you there as we begin this exploration of our meaning, values,
and convictions! In
Anticipation, Fred |
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.
Book Discussion and Potluck
Friday, September 24
At the church
Potluck: 6:00 PM –
Discussion: 7:00 PM
| The book is “Good Without God: What a Billion Nonreligious People
Do Believe” by Greg Epstein. To
quote one of the reviewers on Amazon: “A lot of books have been written
in the last few years exploring whether or not there is a God. This is not
one of them. Refreshingly,
Greg Epstein starts a step further down along the line of debate. His
premise, stated simply, is this: However they got there, there is now a
significant portion of the population who simply do not believe in God.
And yet most of them (including himself) live what would be thought of by
most as perfectly "good" lives, raising their children, taking
care of their parents, helping out in the community, and the like. They
are people you would like to have as neighbors. So if they don't believe
in God, why do they act in this way? Why aren't they all out marauding,
looting and pillaging? If not God, what do they believe in?”
Epstein is the Humanist Chaplain at Harvard University. It seemed
to those at the last Book Discussion when “God Is Not One” was
discussed that this bestseller might well be a logical extension to that
discussion. 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 different cultures,
religions, and life styles. Let
us know your suggestions. If
you are new to our congregation or just haven’t attended one of these
discussions, please come. It
is an opportunity to socialize with members and friends in a small and
congenial group. It is
always better to have read the book, but you are welcome in any case and
probably will find you have something to add to the discussion anyway.
Although this is an adult discussion, you are welcome to bring
children if they can entertain themselves while the discussion is going
on. Contact: Betty Derrick. |
Games Night
Saturday, September 18
7:00 PM at the church
This will be our first fall gathering!! 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.
Be prepared to have a fun fellowshipping
time! Contact: Susan Bailey.
|
Newsletter Editor:
Betty Derrick Website:
Local
Publicity: Dee
Tait September
15: Deadline
for October newsletter. |
Notes from Kids’
RE – Sue Bailey
|
For
the past several weeks, we’ve been working on our Global Footprints unit
as we have focused on Principle 7: We
believe in caring for our planet Earth, the home we share with all living
things. Our lessons have taught us how our actions affect our world in
both positive and negative ways. We
started the unit by calculating our individual ecological footprints,
exploring what happens to plants when there is not enough room for them to
grow, and painting paper plate globes. In
recent weeks, we’ve talked a lot about the environment and how we can
help take better care of our world. We have examined disposable utensils
and trash items such as plastic forks, paper plates, plastic bottles and
cups, paper napkins, and talked about how using “permanent” forks,
plates, glasses, etc. over and over again helps keep trash out of our
environment and reduce pollution. For our craft project, we made paper bag
puppets using recycled lunch bags, newspaper, and paper towel tubes. The
kids also learned about the “Four R’s”, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, and
Refuse. They played a game in which they took turns pulling throw-away
items (Styrofoam meat trays, plastic bottles, plastic grocery bags, a
cardboard box, an old T-shirt) out of a bag and sharing ideas with the
group on what could be done with each item instead of tossing it in the
trash. Then the kids made a
tiddly wink type game from Styrofoam meat trays. In another lesson, we
followed the journey of bananas from the trees they grow on in South and
Central America to our local grocery stores. We discovered that
transporting this popular fruit all the way to the US by trucks and trains
adds pollution to the environment and uses non-renewable resources to fuel
those vehicles. We also learned how buying fruits and vegetables locally
and in season can help reduce pollution and save resources. Just
this Sunday, the RE kids learned that sea turtles around the world are in
trouble. People build hotels, resorts, and homes on beaches, leave trash
everywhere, and play and drive vehicles across the sand where the turtles
come to lay their eggs. These are just some of the human activities that
are making it harder for sea turtles to survive. The kids made turtle
shells to wear and then had a race to see who could get to the beach (tan
bed sheet) the fastest and lay the most turtle eggs (cotton balls) in
their nest (foam egg cartons). We
will finish our Global Footprints unit next week with an experiment to see
how oil affects bird feathers and eggs. Our next unit will focus on Principle
6: We believe in working for a peaceful, fair, and free world. |
RE
Turtle Race
Thought you might like to know that
v
Avi,
Zoe’s new brother. He was born on August 5 and made his first appearance
at the UU Church on August 8!
v
Keep
in your thoughts
v
Our
members and friends suffering from health concerns or the loss of loved
ones….
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
The
Happening at VSU: UU Table
We
will again have a table at this annual event. The Happening is
Thursday, August 26, from 1 to 4 pm on the VSU front lawn. The event
is designed to provide students with information about what the university
and the surrounding community have to offer them. Please contact
Lars Leader if you can volunteer for an hour or two at our table.
Parking:
The Board has asked that
some of us “old-timers” start parking on the school property that
abuts our land. A path has
been recut through our woods to the church.
This will free up spaces in front of the church for newcomers and
visitors. Help out if you can
and provide our visitors a more welcoming first visit.
Labyrinth
– A meeting is planned soon to
discuss rebuilding a labyrinth
at the church. Contact Jim
Ingram or David Rogers if you are interested
in the project. Some of you
realize, that, after a talk Luanna Goodwin gave at the church several
years ago, Jim designed a labyrinth in the grassy region behind the
church. The mowed grass design
was difficult to keep and was mowed completely over recently.
As part of his recent Sunday service message David discussed
labyrinths. Both he and Jim
have ideas that will be discussed.
Faith,
Values, and Power – The Accepting Difference Project in action!
About
a year ago, we received an e-mail from the UUA with a grant opportunity
for Congregation-Based Community Organizing (CBCO). That e-mail led
Carol Stiles to contact the Gamaliel Foundation, one of five CBCO networks
recommended by the UUA for training in community organizing. Ana
Garcia Ashley, Southern Territory Director, has been in Valdosta several
times now, including a Sunday service in January. Individuals
from 14-15 churches and organizations have participated in Gamaliel
training workshops. These individuals are serving as a “sponsoring
committee” and we have established a 3-4 person steering committee to
guide us in building a community organizing network. This network is
an “organization of organizations,” not of individuals. In this
way, we build power to live out our faith and values through group
participation in addressing community concerns – a vision and goal that
those of us active in the Accepting Difference Project have long had in
mind.
In
July, Carol attended a week-long Gamaliel National Leadership Training
workshop in Hampton,VA. On August 29, she will share some of her
experiences – “What I Learned at Summer Camp!” – with us at the
Sunday service. Her participation was supported in part
by a matching grant from the Fund for Unitarian Universalist Social
Responsibility.
Appreciation goes to Carol for the energy and enthusiasm she has
brought over the last year to rejuvenate the Accepting Difference Project.
Thanks Carol.
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.
Sunday,
September 19 - 4:00 PM
At
the UU church
This
service will be co-hosted by the Accepting Difference Project, the UU
church, and the New Hope Christian Community Church, which meets on Sunday
evening in our facilities, as well as other churches.
A potluck and social will follow the service. Quoting a minister on
the Community Church website: “… it is not surprising that pride is an important positive
spiritual value for LGBT people. Because of the ways in which many LGBT
people have been taught to hate ourselves from an early age, pride is an
important act of spiritual healing and witness that allows us to develop a
healthy sense of ourselves, our communities, and those who we love. The
problem is often not that we are too proud, but rather that we are not
proud enough.” Watch for more
details in bulletins and on the e-mail list about this and other Pride
events happening in September. Contact
Carol Stiles for more information.
|
On Sunday, July 18 our church held
shared services with Serenity Christian Church.
Members of our congregation participated in the 9 AM service at
Serenity and then Serenity members reciprocated by taking part in worship
at UU Valdosta at 11AM. Afterwards,
we shared food and fellowship in a potluck celebration.
Recently your editor requested comments from anyone who was able to
participate in this event. Here
are several responses. “Serenity
is an African-American congregation, where the singing was robust and
"Amen" was plentiful in response to Rev. Floyd Rose's
sermon. UU minister, Rev. Fred Howard referred to how we
sometimes restrict our dialog to those who share our own views. Now,
I thought different cultures maybe and possibly a variety of
religious beliefs, but we are not restricting our dialog today.
We were two groups with commonalities already, two small congregations
who listen up and speak out for social justice. Several years
ago, Reverend Rose accepted the invitation to membership of the community
Accepting Difference Project, headed by UU member Betty Derrick and funded
by gifts from other churches when our church was vandalized, Now,
another UU member and congregation president, Lars Leader had put this
Sharing Service Sunday in motion for the Valdosta UUs and Serenity
Christian. Consider the possibilities!” Dee
Tait If you didn’t get a chance to voice
your views this time, please still send them to your editor for future
use. Check out Fred Howard’s
blog for his thoughts and see Lars Leader’s column in this newsletter. |
President’s Corner:
Lars Leader
|
Last month’s newsletter and Fred Howard’s blog,
as well as items in this month’s newsletter, describe the positive
experiences and impressions resulting from the Shared Services Sunday
event we held last month with Serenity Christian Church.
We might appropriately feel congratulatory about bringing this off.
Yes, the efforts from quite a few in our congregation made for a
wonderful day of fellowship between our two churches. At the same time, I
think an important aspect of this experience was the intentions in both
congregations to reach beyond our comfort zones. In
June, when I visited Serenity Church for the first time, the suggestion
for a shared Sunday was not mine. Rather,
it came from the minister of their church. He had been the Sunday speaker
at our church in the past. That
time with us must have left an impression—a sufficient impression that
he decided to take the initiative to invite us into a process of
discovery.
And as a process of discovery is the way that our minister, Fred
Howard, has described it. In
his message on that Sunday, Fred spoke of leaving our comfort zone.
We, in both congregations, ventured to not only discover, but also
celebrate, our differences. As Fred, explained:
“It is my hope that we have been able to come together this
morning with our differences fully evident.
That each of us has been secure enough in our religious identity
that we have been able to move toward each other and discover who the
other really is. … We recognized that we are different and that those
differences were cause for celebration.”
I believe our congregation has grown through this experience. At
the least, the connection with Serenity Christian Church has continued.
Our RE Director, Sue Bailey, spoke with their Sunday school leader
about ideas for their children’s program.
Glenda Whitman attended their Black History study group this month.
Fred Howard went to another of their Sunday services.
Their minister, Floyd Rose, suggested that we make the Shared
Service an annual event.
Our UUA District Officer, Kenn Hurto, responded in the following
way to being informed of the event: “It
is so important for us to be in an on-going conversation with our
religious neighbors, honoring our particularities while seeking the common
ground. It is moving to hear your congregation doing just that.”
I know that this experience was moving to many who were involved or
heard about it, but my hope is that it actually moves us to more and
expansive actions that widen our comfort zones.
|
UU Church of Valdosta Board of Directors
Meeting Minutes-
August
4, 2010
Attendance:
Lars Leader, Sue Bailey, Rosie Asbury, Kimberly Tanner, Fred Howard, Capt.
Jay Hanson, Valerie Webster
·
Ministry
at Moody-New
ministry possible at the base through new center for on base airmen.
Spiritual study nights (W, Th). Dinners once a month. Opportunity for
local churches provide a meal and then spend time with airmen, also talk a
bit about the church. Need a list of who is coming to serve & menu 1-2
weeks ahead to get base access. No decision made by Board.
·
Hymnal
Supplements-Ordered
25
·
A/C-Stopped
up condensation line. Sunday
it wasn’t working again. Check the RE building too.-Call Waller AC.
·
Termites-Found
termite damage, but not termites. Allowed termite contract to expire for a
couple years. Restarted &
treated, but boards are off to allow terminix access to check before
closing. Our termite bond
should cover.
·
Outside-Exterior was pressure washed.
Time for a paint job-Get paint job price quote.
·
Rental
Guidelines-
Need to find prior policy to be updated for consistency and to establish
guidelines for usage.
·
Ministers
Report-Adult
RE:“Building Your Own Theology” series of 3 workbooks. 10 weeks, 10
weeks, 8 weeks. $38 for set.
Order 3-4 for church use / or to loan.
o
VAMA discussion about Thanksgiving service location.
Shall we offer our location? Yes, even risking overflow.
o
Add movie nights on Wed in addition to current activities discussed.
No decision made.
·
Membership
Report-Newcomer
ministry team coming together….others still to be asked.
Working with Carol on the website which was moved to new server.
Database coming along—-New UU class in October
Treasurer’s Report – Rosie Asbury
July
31, 2010
Receipts
July
July -present (1 mo.)
Plate
$ 125.91
$ 125.91
Pledge
2994.00
2994.00
Rent
240.00
240.00
Miscellaneous
0.00
0.00
Total Receipts
$ 3359.91
$3359.91
Disbursements
Speakers’ Fees
0.00
0.00
Minister Expense 700.00
700.00
Maint. (AC/tables) 521.84
521.84
Newsletter
0.00
0.00
Pest Control
35.00
35.00
Blding Insur.
0.00
0.00
Postage
0.00
0.00
Supplies
13.93
13.93
Utilities
283.35
283.35
RE Program
21.76
21.76
Advertising/Website 0.00
0.00
UUA Dues
616.00
616.00
UU Conference
0.00
0.00
(microwave)
170.13
170.13
Total
Disbursements
$
2362.01
$ 2362.01
Net Receipt
$ 997.90
$ 997.90
ààà
How many
consensus-building UUs does it
take to change a lightbulb?
Well, they’ve got a discussion group
going, and a committee’s working on it, and they’ve written a
questionnaire and tallied all the responses, but they haven’t yet come
to agreement on the exact number. J
At the Church-in-the-Woods
Taoist Tai Chi – Monday and Thursday: Continuing Class 5:30-7
PM; Beginner’s class 7-8 PM. Contact
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
UUA TRUSTEE TIDBITS
Joan Lund
September 2010
Routinely
this is the time of year when congregations are welcoming the “new
year”, members and friends returning, and guests in our midst. It has
been a relaxing summer for me…hopefully for you, also. As I write this,
a few weeks before publication, I am awaiting the birth of my first
grandson; happily, I am already the grandmother of four granddaughters.
At
General Assembly in June the delegates passed a Statement of Conscience
(SOC): Creating Peace. I wrote
about it briefly in a report to the District following GA (on the District
web page: www.floridadistrict.org),
and hope in your community you are/will be involved in this SOC.
Historically
and today morally our faith calls us to create peace through the work of
peace building, peacemaking, and peacekeeping, by addressing the roots of
conflict. This includes negotiation of fair and sustainable peace
agreements, mediation between disagreeing parties, and post-conflict
reconciliation. UUs advocate the culture of peace through change in public
policies, religious consciousness, and individual lifestyles. Our faith
believes that initial response to conflict should be in a non-violent
manner yet we acknowledge the right to defend ourselves and stand with
others who are countering aggression. We know true peace requires the
cooperation of all nations and peoples and that the creation of peace is
accomplished in different ways. We continue to affirm a range of
individual choices, including military service and conscientious
objection. Even though our religious tradition calls us to create peace at
times we have not had the courage to speak and act against violence and
injustice. We have not acknowledged our own complicity in violence by not
acting in constructive ways, by not speaking out to unjust power exerted
by our own nation.
The
Creating Peace SOC challenges, individuals, congregations, and our
Association to engage with more persistence, creativity, and depth in the
task of creating peace. Our theological principles are grounded in the
fundamental unity and interdependence of all existence, the transforming
power of love, the inherent worth and dignity of all persons, human
freedom, cooperative power, justice, peace, humility, and open-mindedness.
I
have condensed the full SOC, which can be found on www.uua.org.
There are many ways each of us can be involved in creating peace within
our congregations and communities. All of us are knowledgeable and
creative so let’s just do it! I look forward to hearing from you at jlund@uua.org
. Happy September one and all.
Notes &
Comments From Our District Executive - Kenn Hurto
"When
does church begin?" I naively asked upon arriving to take up my
ministry at Fort Myers seven years ago. I knew it really just keeps on
going, but the Sunday after Labor Day was always some kind of new
beginning in my prior congregations. Noting that schools in Florida open
in early August, that seemed a bit late. So, I wondered, when?
My observations revealed that, with but modest weather-swings and
less dramatic changes in daylight, with an early school start and a
dispersed snow-bird arrival, planning a rally-together Ingathering or
Home-coming Sunday is hard to do. That said, school does start in a few
days. Families will shift gradually to a "fall" mindset when
Sunday worship and faith education become more central. Our congregations
should be gearing up by now. "Church" begins!
Some congregational Boards hold planning retreats in late spring
and over the summer. Many wait 'til fall. It doesn't matter, as long as
you have one. Here are some questions our leaders ought to consider as you
think of the program year ahead:
·
What are our strengths, what
things do we do very well?
·
What do we do okay but we
could improve?
·
What new thing should we
begin to do?
The
first is the most important. Also, too often, I see congregations
over-reaching and stressing themselves out. So, I argue our congregations
should do fewer things better. That alone should help you with your
planning.
There is one other, a fourth question, that too rarely is asked: We
have to live with limitations, so now and then we should ask:
·
What is it that we should
stop doing?
Remember the seven last words of a dying congregation are: "We
have always done it this way." Inertia is the enemy of both quality
and excitement. As you think of gearing up your ministries this fall do
two things:
Go
with what you are really good at, more vigorously.
Go
with what excites you now, not yesterday.
You'll
serve your ministry more effectively and with more satisfaction.
Wishing you a joyful and spirit-filled year,
Rev. Kenn
September
11, Racial Justice Council Workshop ~ Building the World We Dream About
Facilitator Training and Teambuilding, University UU Society, Orlando, FL
September
18- Annual President's Roundtable, Palm Beach, FL
September
15-19 – UU Womenspirit Retreat, The Mountain, Highlands, NC
www.UUWomenspirit.org
Return to the Unitarian Universalist Church of Valdosta home page!
