UU UPDATE Sunday JUNE 13, 2014

UU
UU
UPDATE
UPDATE
JUNE
13, 2014
OCTOBER
24, 2014
UNITARIAN UNIVERSALISTS OF TRANSYLVANIA COUNTY
A WELCOMING CONGREGATION
The Zen of Sweeping by Rev. Ernest L. Mills, Jr.
Sunday, October 26
Sunday
Sermon
Get out your brooms! We are going to learn the art of sweeping. Sweeping not
only can be a real pleasure, but also a nice way to practice mindfulness.
We will take a look at this ancient art in both its literal and metaphorical
aspects. We can sweep the floor or we can sweep our minds. We can sweep
for the exercise or we can sweep for the fun of it.
Please join us for worship on Sundays at 9:30 or 11:00 a.m., and for coffee and fellowship at 10:30.
Wedding Ceremony!
Please join
Susan Freeman and Elizabeth Thompson
after the second service on Sunday.
Ernie will perform a brief wedding ceremony—
You are invited to share their joy!
Sunday Children’s Programs
Nursery care will be provided during
both services. During the 11:00 service,
Emily Atkinson will conduct Spirit Play in
the classroom for children ages 4-8 and
Heather Layton will conduct Riddle &
Mystery for youth in grades 4-9, beginning
in the sanctuary.
Newsletter Highlights
Page 2
September Board Minutes
Page 3
This Week’s News!
Page 4
Coming UUTC Events
Page 5
MORE Coming Events
Page 6
Community Action News
Page 7
UUTC Contact Information
September Board Meeting—Reported by President Becky Young
September’s Board meeting was long, primarily because of some education
we received on the finer points of our new organizational structure. It was
worth the trouble, as most education is.
The Minister’s Report included the need for two new Stewardship Team
members. Ernie was also concerned about the workload on Carol Moore and
Mark Allison. He asked that all special requests for them go through him,
rather than overwhelm these UUTC human assets.
The Treasurer’s Report included some caution about “up front” pledging—people paying their
entire year’s pledge up front and in full. This was to keep the Board from getting too gleeful about
the total contributions for the month.
Finance discovered that our insurance provider can perform background checks for us as necessary for between $6 and $10 each. Bugged-out eyes appeared around the table because of this
paltry sum. Finance then brought up the absorption of the Endowment Committee into the Stewardship Team, and some differences in vision among members of the newly-combined group that
appeared to be causing some trouble (long-term vs. operational giving). Without a Governance/
Ministry Advisory Council up and running yet, it was determined that the Minister and the President
would meet with the people involved and attempt to resolve the issues.
In light of positive news on revenues, the Board voted to restore the originally-budgeted funds to
CRE—$800 had been cut when pledges were found to be $30,000 below what was necessary to
fund the budget approved by the congregation.
Peter Mockridge was on hand to represent the Administration Committee (AdCom). Our main
discussion was to set guidelines for “custody” of the newly-trimmed Policy Manual. The Board
determined that the Secretary of the Board would be the official conduit of policy updates from the
Board to the AdCom and that the AdCom would be the official “custodian” of the document.
People Needed on Teams/Committees: We still need people for the Property Committee, Stewardship Team, Board at Large Position, Safety Task Force, and Finance Committee.
A Task Force to plan and manage the 2015 Congregational Retreat has been approved and the
following have been appointed: Jean Rowe, Carol Flake, Emily Atkinson, Bruce Kirkman and Don
Lander. The Interim Minister Search Task Force has been approved and consists of Jean Rowe,
Jim Null and Ben Potter.
The Board went into Executive Session to discuss a personnel matter. You will hear about it in due
time . . . just know that your Board is pretty positively stoked!
Respectfully, Becky
Passing of Dean Crawford
Dean Crawford was in church last Sunday, and we are saddened by his death on Monday, October 20. He was sitting
in his chair preparing to watch the football game and
peacefully went to sleep, not to awaken. Dean had both
congestive heart failure and kidney failure, so in many
ways it is a blessing that he did not linger and suffer.
JoAnn’s neighbors and friends have been very supportive. We will hold a memorial service for
Dean at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, November 13. Meanwhile, you can send messages to JoAnn at
104 Shepard Square, Brevard, or call her at 828-877-5344.
Opal String Quartet at UUTC on Sunday!
The Opal String Quartet is a professional chamber ensemble that
formed in Asheville in 2006. The quartet is dedicated to bringing the
art of chamber music to diverse audiences—it performs in schools,
bars, art galleries and on street corners, as well as in concert
halls. Its members are teachers in the Asheville area and are passionate about sharing the excitement of chamber music with young audiences.
Two members of the quartet, Franklin Keel and Kara Poorbaugh, will play the Ingathering,
Prelude and Offertory for our Sunday worship services. The Quartet will perform at 3:00 Sunday
afternoon. General admission to the afternoon concert is $15.00—$5.00 for students. In addition to
Franklin and Kara, the afternoon performers include Ginger Kowal and Seth Gangwer.
Supporters gathered
on Monday to witness
Susan Freeman and
Elizabeth Thompson
get their marriage license!
First Sunday Brunch—November 2
Connect with members, friends and visitors! Meet at Brevard College’s Myers Dining Hall directly after the
second service. Cost is $9.00 per person (buffet-style) and includes omelet and carving stations. Parking
lot is located near Alumni Drive off East French Broad Street. If you are planning to join us, please e-mail
Elizabeth Thompson at [email protected] so that she can give an accurate head count to the dining hall
manager.
NEXT WEEK at UUTC
Christians in Exile – MON at 3:30 p.m.
Mindfulness Group – MON at 7:00 p.m.
Men’s Group – TUE at 9:00 a.m.
Mythology & Religion – TUE at 5:00 p.m.
Brevard Film Society – TUE at 7:00 p.m.
Eclectics Jam – WED at 9:00 a.m.
Wonderful Wednesday – WED at 5:30 p.m.
Women’s Group Invites You
All women members, friends and visitors
are invited to our monthly gathering of
women on Thursday, November 6. Bring
a bag lunch and, if you wish, a treat to
share, to the church at 12:30.
This month’s topic of discussion, beginning
at 1:00 p.m. is
Special
Thanksgiving
Memories.
WONDERFUL WEDNESDAYS CONTINUE WITH FAVORITE POEMS
The next two weeks of our Wonderful Wednesday series is entitled “A Favorite
Poem of Mine and What It Means to Me.” The moderator for both evenings is
noted poet, author, and professor at Brevard College, Dr. Ken Chamlee. He will
also read a few of his poems each evening.
Almost everyone has at least one favorite poem. These next two Wonderful
Wednesday evenings will give you a chance to shine and to share one of your favorite poems. The
concept is simple: choose one favorite published poem to read and then tell why this poem is special to you. That’s it!
If you want to share a favorite poem, please contact Earle Rabb at [email protected].
Please limit the total time for your reading (poem and explanation) to four minutes. We also ask you
not read something that could be offensive.
NOTE: If you want child care for the program, please call the church at 877-6121 and speak
to Carol Moore or leave a message so that it can be arranged. There is no cost for child care.
Thank You
Thanks to UUTC donors for
the $400 contributed to the
CROP Hunger Walk, and for
those who walked last week.
Best Wishes to the Warths
Jane and Tom Warth are moving this
weekend—we’ll miss them in our lives
and our choir. You can wish them well
at their new address: 134 Holly Hill
Drive, Berea, Kentucky 40403.
Join a Covenant Circle
It's not too late to join a Covenant Circle! There are still a few spaces available in each group,
which run from November through May. To become a part of a Circle or to learn more, e-mail
[email protected].
First and Third TUESDAYS
6:30-8:30 p.m.
Facilitators: Susan Freeman
& Nancy Churchwell
Starts November 4
First and Third THURSDAYS
10:00 a.m.— noon
Facilitators: Joan Lemire
& Karla Maar
Starts November 6
First and Third THURSDAYS
6:30-8:30 p.m.
Facilitators: Don Lander
& Emily Atkinson
Starts November 6
Dear UUTC Visitor,
You are warmly invited to our Prospective Member/Friend Class on Saturday, November 1.
See the schedule below—lots of information and that elusive Free Lunch!
This is a new one-day format and may allow us to offer the class more than twice a year. If you are
not already registered, just contact Elizabeth Thompson at [email protected] or 828-650-9765,
or call Susan Slocum at 207-831-8976.
Susan Slocum
Membership Team Leader
Times
Subject/Task
Speaker 1
Speaker 2
Speaker 3
Ernie Mills
Carol Moore
9:30 - 10:30 a.m.
Welcome and why are we here?; What it means
to be a UU; UUTC’s Command Central
Alice Hardy
10:30 - 11:00 a.m.
History of Unitarian Universalism video
Elizabeth
Thompson
11:00 - Noon
UUTC History, Congregational Covenant; UUTC
Governance
Jim Hardy
Becky
Young
Noon - 1:00 p.m.
Lunch (Chili, Salad, Bread)
1:00 - 2:00 p.m.
Covenant Groups; Social Action; Children’s
Religious Exploration
Joan Lemire
Sue Null
Heather
Layton
2:00 - 2:30 p.m.
Scavenger Hunt (Building, UUTC and UUA
Websites)
Elizabeth
Thompson
2:30 - 3:30 p.m.
Adult Religious Exploration; Stewardship;
Closing
Dave Hunter
Dave
Roberts
Alice Hardy
Sharing House Food Drive
Sharing House will conduct its semi-annual food drive on Saturday,
November 22. This event collects food for those in need and spreads
awareness of hunger in our community.
Volunteers are needed! If you can cover a one-hour shift at K-Mart, please
call the church (877-6121) or use the sign-up sheet on the counter.
Social Action for October—Minister’s Discretionary Fund
Our Social Action funds this month replenish the Minister’s Discretionary Fund,
which assists people who are facing an emergency or crisis but are not
eligible for other community services. Please place your contribution in the
offering basket in a specially-marked envelope. If you are contributing by check,
please make it payable to UUTC and write “Minister’s Discretionary Fund”
on the memo line.
Give Holiday Gifts with Meaning
UUTC SOCIAL ACTION PROJECT / November/December 2014
Christmas may seem like a long way off, but Social Action wants to give you advance notice of a
special project.
Do you find yourself during the holiday season wondering what to give to the people you love who
don’t need a thing? You can honor them by participating in HOLIDAY GIFTS WITH MEANING. The
children in your life may also be enchanted to know that a donation in their name helped purchase
a goat or a wheelchair or a saddle or a gift for a needy child.
On November 30 and on December 7 at UUTC, you will have the
opportunity to make a donation to one or more charities and receive an
acknowledgement card to give to your loved one. The following charities
will be present:

Sharing House's Adopt-A-Family

Free Wheelchair Mission

Free Rein

Heifer International
“We are the certain and the seeking, the lifers and the newcomers, the beloved and the brokenhearted,
the insiders and the rejected, all of whom have found a home in the extraordinary, yet intimate, communities of Unitarian Universalism."
Melissa Harris-Perry, MSNBC host
UUTC Mission Statement
Join Us!
Our mission is to create a community that
Discover what it means to have a personal
encourages free spiritual discovery and
faith that is anchored by diversity and
growth, celebrates personal and religious
acceptance. Join in Sunday services with the
diversity, and promotes active, responsible
Unitarian Universalists of Transylvania County.
involvement in the larger community.
Contact information is below.
K E E P U P W I T H W H AT ’ S H A P P E N I N G ! ! !
VIEW our church calendar.
ACCESS previous issues of UUpdate.
SEND news for this newsletter by close of business on Wednesdays. Please include date(s),
a description, and the contact person’s name and telephone or email address. Send to
[email protected].
SCHEDULE events on the UUTC calendar by sending an email to [email protected] with the date,
start and end times, space to be used, and contact person.
C O N TA C T U S
Our minister is the Rev. Ernest L. Mills, Jr.
Church office hours are Tuesday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. until noon. The church telephone
number is 828-877-6121.
Our mailing address is UUTC, PO Box 918, Brevard, NC 28712.
Our email address is [email protected].
Our church is located at 24 Varsity Street, at the corner of South Broad Street in Brevard.