NEWSLETTER
Transcription
NEWSLETTER
NEWSLETTER September 2014 UUCA SeptemberThe Theme: Beloved Community Also Inside: September Exhibit: Ruth Gogel Summer Travels: Barbara Begner Answering Rev. Boeke’s Question: Duncan E. Teague, M. Div. Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Atlanta 1 Rev Jane Thickstun: R U UU? There’s a bumper sticker that says, “IM UU RU?” (You can order it at shopuniuni.com) With my new responsibilities in Religious Exploration, I’m concerned with creating more UU’s. Unitarian Universalism is a freeing, transforming faith that I am eager to pass on to children and adults alike. Unfortunately, many see our faith as merely a forum for talking about other religions, or about philosophy, or about anything at all. I’ve heard that people who grow up in our faith can get through their religious education and upon graduating, feel they now need to choose among the different faith options we have taught them. We teach about other religions because we wish to promote greater understanding, and because they all have something to teach us. Because learning about other religions can make us better UU’s. But we also need to teach about Unitarian Universalism first and foremost, because we UU’s have a unique history and perspective that itself has much to offer the world. I hope to create a greater focus on Unitarian Universalism in our Religious Education at UUCA, especially in the Adult progam offerings. My goal is to equip parents and other adults to be able to create more UU’s in their families and in their lives outside this congregation. If we can spread the word about this great faith, we can help others live up to their potential and make the world a better place. Social Justice Action Cluster The North Georgia Social Justice Action Cluster (NGSJAC) held the quarterly meeting Saturday, August 16, 2014, at the Georgia Mountains Congregation in Dahlonega. The upcoming goal of MM is to make this a statewide effort and the Emerson representative reported that their congregation is working in Cobb County to form a Cobb County chapter of MM. All UUs Items discussed included the congregations are urged to attend MM demonstrations and continued participation in Guest at Your Table, to wear their standing-on-the-side-of-love tee Moral Monday (MM) and Jobs with Justice shirts.Because of the new gun law in Georgia, (JWJ) issues, the new gun law, immigration NGSJAC is working on collecting the policy of reform, Healing Our Hearts at Wounded Knee, each congregation in the region in order to Lawrence Lessig’s Rootstrikers initiative and write and issue a collective statement in the UUA’s Social Justice Empowerment Workshop. form of a press release. Congregations in the NGSJAC are very involved in Moral Monday and Jobs With Justice NGSJAC suggests that for the 2015 picnic social activities. The cluster feels this fits perfectly justice action pictures from each congregation with the study/action issue, “Escalating be compiled and shared in a video at the Inequality” chosen at the UUA General picnic. Assembly. 2 Whoever you are, whatever path you are on, you are welcome here. The next meeting of NGSJAC will be held at UUCA, Nov. 15, 2014, 10am-1pm. Anyone wanting to attend can contact Mary Crawley, [email protected]. Mary can also be contacted about anything discussed at the August meeting and details on submitting pictures for the 2015 picnic. Michelle’s Musings: A Note of Gratititude M i c h e l l e B i s h o p , C h i l d r e n ’s P r o g r a m s C o o r d i n a t o r We alI have heard it said that a picture is worth a thousand words. Well I hope this picture at least shares a few. I offer a huge thank you to the people who stepped up and offered to be class guides this Fall quarter in Religious Exploration. Some of you are new while others have been at it for some time. Either way, I know all of you will bring amazing skills to the position. Thank you! Children’s Sabbath: Save the Date Joy Borra UUCA will join thousands of churches, synagogues, mosques, and temples across the country in the 2014 National Observance of Children’s Sabbaths on October 19, 2014. These celebrations invite people of faith to renew and live out their moral responsibility to care, protect and advocate for all children. Stationed at tables throughout the social hall, UUCA groups will be eager to share what they are already doing to improve the lives of children and their families. Our celebration dovetails with other Sabbaths being held in Atlanta. All are part of the Interfaith Children’s Movement which At UUCA, Rev. Makar will lead special worship mobilizes local religious congregations in a services on October 19. and members may also common commitment to work for justice for participate in a “Lunch and Learn event from children. UUCA helped start ICM and the 14th 12:30 – 2:00 about specific children’s issues annual ICM Prayer Breakfast which follows our (more later). Sabbath on October 22. Let’s all work together to keep this wonderful tradition alive! Our Children, both precious and mischevious! You can share your best photos for our Children’s Sabbath info campaign. Email to [email protected]. These two imps (left) are Tony & Joy Borra’s grandchildren, 5-year-olds, Aiden Borra and Jamie Chiao. Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Atlanta 3 Join Interweave at Atlanta Pride Joetta Proust Let’s make UUCA’s participation in the 2014 Atlanta Pride Festival even bigger than last year! This year’s parade takes place on Sunday Oct. 12, 2014. The 200+ UUCA congregants who participated last year had a GREAT time and our goal this year is to have 400 people spreading the message of our life-affirming faith by walking and riding in the parade! We hope everyone will wear the UU trademark bright yellow Standing on the Side of Love t-shirts. Interweave will provide more details about the parade plans as we get closer to the parade date. In addition to participating in the parade, you can also sign up to be a Unitarian Universalist Love Ambassador! LOVE REACHES OUT will be the theme of our booth at the Festival and we’ll need volunteers to staff the booth on Saturday Oct. 11 and Sunday Oct. 12. Here are five ways to learn more about our UUCA involvement with the Atlanta Pride Festival: • Join us for lunch on Sunday Aug. 24 at Uncle Maddio’s Pizza in Toco Hills (3027 N Druid Hills Rd NE, Atlanta 30329) after second service at 12:45; • Stop by the Interweave table in the Social Hall on Sunday mornings; • Send an email to Interweave@uuca. org; • Join the Interweave email list (also called a listserv) which is used to distribute information about activities and topics of interest. Join our Yahoo listserv at http:// groups.yahoo.com/group/UUCA_Interweave (Note: you need to create a Yahoo account and then indicate that you want to join the Interweave UUCA group. You can change your settings to receive the messages via your preferred email address; and • Join the UUCA Interweave Facebook page - https://www.facebook.com/groups/ uuca.interweave/ For more information, contact interweave@ uuca.org or speak with Joetta Prost. 4 Whoever you are, whatever path you are on, you are welcome here. Community Connection Corner Summer Travels by Barbara Begner This summer I took one of the best vacations of my lifetime. My son Zack has been living in Paris, France for the past year. I took a couple of weeks this summer to visit him . I was happy as a lark simply strolling the streets of Paris sipping espressos along sidewalk cafes and eating croissants from the boulangeries. We took trains to Lyon and St. Suzanne ( a medieval village in which my brother owns a home) then flew to England to see my niece and her husband. We boated on the River Thames, enjoying wild life on the river banks, navigated through locks and moored at a pub for a delightful lunch. The highlight of my trip though was visiting Stonehenge. I had been to England a number of times and had never found the opportunity to take the journey to Stonehenge. If I had a bucket list, I guess Stonehenge would be somewhere up towards the top, perhaps alongside the Pyramids of Egypt. I wasn’t sure what my reaction to finally seeing this ancient wonder. I have heard some say “it’s just a bunch of rocks in the middle of a “To travel is to take a personal journey into yourself.” Danny Kaye field, in the middle of nowhere!” As I crested the hill however and had my first glimpse I began to feel the magic of the place. Peaceful, majestic, towering stones placed thousands of years prior to my standing in front of them touched my innermost self. A calm sense of wonder flowed through me. I could have stayed for hours absorbing the landscape, imagining the people who came before and wondering what their reasons were for traveling so far, and what spiritual experiences had transpired there. My own spirit was moved by a sense of wonder. Why would people gather massive stones from hundreds of miles away and place them in such precise order?? Why would people take pilgrimages for thousands of years to a place that has no clear spiritual significance?? What am I doing for my spiritual journey?? The mysteries of how Stonehenge was built and for what purpose still exist today. I think that may be one of the reasons I was so drawn to it. We don’t have all the answers….. My life continues to be a journey, searching for answers, never finding all of them, and being absolutely OK with that! The lyrics from one of our UUCA hymnals comes to mind: “Mystery, Mystery, Life is a riddle and a Mystery……. May it continue to be so.” Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Atlanta 5 September Exhibit: Views of India Ruth Gogel The September art show at UUCA features photos of the 2014 choir trip to India. Before the group departed, members of the choir sat in on the “How to Take Great Vacation Shots” class taught by Roger Easley, UUCA’s resident photographer, so choir members had their cameras clicking throughout the trip. To share the resulting wealth of images, John Hinkle, the show’s curator, persuaded Ruth Gogel, UUCA’s art gallery guru, to let this exhibit include more photographs than her usually carefully spaced shows. The committee making the selection of photos hanging on the UUCA walls had over 4,000 shots from which to select, half of which were probably junk, and only 10% that might be great, but it was difficult culling to the 60 photos that are making our walls come alive with great pictures of life in India—its majesty, its squalor, its richness, its raw humanity. One quarter of the exhibit shows the choir’s involvement with our gracious hosts, members of the Unitarian congregations of North East India, who treated the choir members like royal dignitaries. Another fourth of the exhibit shows the heartwarming story of the orphanage, schools, and wonderful children with whom the group met. The remaining half of the display concerns the visit of the choir members who went early to visit the Golden Triangle area and includes views of the Taj Mahal, the elephant ride at the Amber Fort, and the 17th century Jantar Mantar Observatory. Since this is a photography show, many of the works are available as prints (minus frames) at a reduced cost, with proceeds to go to further the work of the Unitarian Universalist Partner Church Council, the Annie Margaret Barr Children’s Village orphanage, and the Unitarian school near Mawsynjri in the Khasi Hills of North East India. Reflections on UU Jewish Voices In March, we were proud to represent UUCA at the 2nd Unitarian Universalists for Jewish Awareness (UUJA) gathering in Morristown, NJ. Our congregation was also the proud host of the 1st gathering in 2011. voice to this community’s struggles, wisdom and contributions.” During the conference, small fellowship groups (“chavurah”) gathered to discuss and reflect on four questions: The theme of this year’s conference was based • How do we identify with being on a new book, Jewish Voices in Unitarian Jewish and Unitarian Universalist? Universalism, co-edited by our former • How does the Jewish source tradition Associate Minister, Marti Keller (available from nurture or challenge our UUism? Skinner House, Amazon.com and our UUCA • How does repairing the world Bookstore.) This collection of essays from 20 (“tikkun olam”) inform our theology, beliefs & writers (including Marti Keller and our own values? Jaclyn Kottman) explores “the blessings and • What joys and/or pain have you challenges of Jewish Unitarian Universalist experienced in your Jewish UU identity? identity and community. While there has After our UUCA community gathers this fall to been a long and consistent presence of Jewish celebrate Rosh Hashanah (Wednesday, 9/24) culture and people in Unitarian Universalism, and Yom Kippur (Friday, 10/3), L’Chaim will this poignant anthology is the first to give offer a book discussion on “Jewish Voices” (stay tuned for dates/times). 6 Whoever you are, whatever path you are on, you are welcome here. May this season be a time of exploration of each of our voices for spiritual renewal and peace! Blessings, Robin Kottman & Carole Galanty Co-Chairs, L’Chaim (Jewish Celebrations & Awareness at UUCA) SoulSeeds: September 2014 As I write these words, I (like many of you) am watching in horror as the events in Ferguson, Missouri unfold. My colleague the Rev. Meg Riley describes it well: “A young African American man, Michael Brown, was walking with friends, unarmed…. Stories diverge wildly between the police and the witnesses about what happened next, and the police did not wear cameras, but what we do know is this: Brown was shot with multiple bullets by a reportedly white police officer, and killed. [F]erguson is still reeling, not only from that shooting, but from the arrival of police in riot gear … to disrupt a peaceful memorial vigil for Brown. Tanks, curfews, and tear gas are now overrunning the small town, intimidating and brutalizing residents. Journalists are not allowed to document it. People are being told they can’t be in their own yards.” I am here for your sons and grandsons.” we are committedBe sure to join us on September 14, when the work of EnterCulture We are all in this together. goes “above radar.” I’ll introduce the team to the congregation as well as preach on It is now more than 50 years since Dr. King the topic of “Let’s Talk About Race.” That’s preached his dream from the steps of the our overarching goal for this year: for us to Lincoln Memorial, in 1963. A lot of good has learn how to talk about race matters more happened since then. For example, look who skillfully and sensitively. This includes, by the is now President of these United States: Barack way, becoming a congregation that is more Obama! You can’t get from there to here unless congenial and welcoming to people of color. a whole lot has changed. What’s gone away is EnterCulture is organizing any number of the old-fashioned bigotry we have long known activities and programs in support of this. Stay in America that would have made Obama’s tuned for more information coming your way! election utterly impossible, like slavery, disenfranchisement, and Jim Crow. When I met with the EnterCulture team on August 13, we spent some time imagining A lot of good has happened. But there’s still so outcomes from our work in the 2014-2015 much yet to achieve. What happened to Mike program year that would truly make us proud. Brown is only the most recent glaring example One had to do with my hiring a person of of that. color as our settled Associate Minister of After almost a week of clashes between Lifelong Learning and Growth. Another had protesters and police, Missouri’s governor Jay Our Seven Unitarian Universalist Principles to do with setting up a dynamic arts program Nixon realized that a radical change in tactics challenge us to be part of the solution, not the steeped in multiculturalism. A third had to was urgently needed. So he put Highway problem. Yes, UUCA was the first integrated do with hosting a variety of workshops that Patrol Captain Ron Johnson in charge of congregation in the entirety of Atlanta. address issues of interest to congregants security in the town. One of the first things who are white as well as to those who Captain Johnson, who is black, did, was march But that was then, and this is now. What will are not. But the outcome that seemed to with the protesters. “It’s because of this young our blessing to Atlanta be now? generate the most pride was UUCA as a united man right here,” Johnson told a CNN reporter, congregation making a formal statement as the captain held up a picture of Brown to Every Sunday morning worship, we hear about its commitment to becoming more a shouts of approval from protesters around these words: “Good Morning! Welcome to multicultural, multiracial, multigenerational him. “It’s about justice for everyone.” the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of faith community—the congregation taking a Atlanta, where we are building a multiracial, vote in overwhelming favor of this. Thank you, Captain Johnson. multicultural, multigenerational faith community that changes lives.” These are Let’s see where the year takes us. Closer to home, there were vigils and protests not empty words. We really are building joining the vigils and protests taking place towards this and the resulting impact on us As UUCA member Dana Taylor said, “I am here all over America in solidarity with Ferguson. as individuals, families, and the larger Atlanta for my sons and grandsons. I am here for your At the protest in Decatur, one speaker said, community. sons and grandsons.” “We deserved to be protected by the police. Black men do not deserve to be gunned down The Board is actively exploring ways in which Racial injustice makes us all hurt. Let’s be there and left in the street like animals. Every time our policies might more explicitly reflect for each other. it happens you want to hope that it is the last this. And I’m working with a special team time – but then, it’s not.” The classic gesture of folks to help steer us towards this vital Love and courage, of surrender—Hands up, don’t shoot!—was vision in a programmatic sense. This team transformed into a symbol of protest. People is called “EnterCulture: UUCA’s Inclusivity Anthony held up signs like “Stop Police Brutality.” Ministry.” Its members include Nancy Bartlett, “Justice for Mike Brown.” “Am I Next?” The sign Conrado Marion-Landais, Candi Reddick, Rev. Anthony Makar held by UUCA member Dana Taylor read, “I am Tony Stringer, and Nina West. It’s a great Senior Minister, UUCA here for my sons and grandsons. team. We are diverse, we are visionary, and Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Atlanta 7 Answering Rev. Boeke’s Question Duncan E. Teague, M. Div. In a Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Atlanta (UUCA) hallway, I was beckoned out of the Lay Ministry by Rev. Johanna (Jopie) Boeke. I had preached with her husband, Rev. Richard Boeke, a conversation sermon based upon Rev. Howard Thurman’s passages. She questioned me, “Young man, when are you going to become ‘a real minister’?” We are both now glad to answer, “On Saturday, September 27, 2014 at 2:00pm.” It is a truly meaningful experience to behold when we UU exercise the power of our structure and practice as UUCA unanimously did during the vote of ordination. What a show of our strength of community standing behind a ministry. This is the type of faith I have experienced since Minister Emeritus, Rev. Dr. Edward Frost, welcomed me on the Lay 8 Ministry Team before I officially joined. I have been mentored by all the ministers who have served UUCA since that time. Our ministerial credentialing body, the Ministerial Fellowship Committee (MFC) invited me back, a third time, as the Liaison to the committee. This is a sign of my successfully having “redefined” my life within our process. This has not been easy work and this ordination has also provided the basis for an extention of communal gratitude. Our celebration will also reflect and honor the differences in our theological diversity. The Teague Ordination Committee invites you to join in the celebration on Saturday, September 27, 2014 at 2PM. Let’s join together in saying “yes” to Rev. Jopie Boeke as we clebrate the opportunity to answer our indiviual callings within the many theologically diverse ministries offered here at UUCA. Whoever you are, whatever path you are on, you are welcome here. “Spiritual Growth is like learning to walk. We stand up, fall, stand up, fall, take a step, fall, take a couple of steps, fall, walk a little better, wobble a bit, fall, run, and finally, eventually, fly.” Geri Larkin August Community Highlights: Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Atlanta 9 Ens & Outs September Activities August 30-September 1 Sat. – Mon. Labor Day Weekend at Mountain Cabin For the Labor Day weekend, join Betsy Rivard at her mountain cabin and grist mill overlooking a beautiful mountain stream near Cashiers with hikes and great potluck food. For details and to sign up, contact her at: [email protected]. Sept. 13 Sat.Biological Stream Monitoring Meet Nancy Wylie and Larry Kloet at 10:00am along South Peachtree Creek at Medlock Park behind the ball field for fun and important stream monitoring and data collection. Contact Nancy ([email protected]) for more information. Ens & Outs is UUCA’s environmental activities and advocacy fellowship group, where folks gather for hikes and other outdoor adventures. Watch this newsletter for monthly activity listings or join the Ens & Outs Yahoo Group at groups.yahoo.com/groups/ ensandouts. Sept. 20 Sat. Raven Cliffs Waterfall Hike Raven Cliff Falls Trail is a moderate 5 mile in and out hike along a beautiful cascading stream to a large bluff surprise waterfall. The parking lot near Helen, GA, fills up quickly on the weekends so we need to leave at 8:15 am from the UUCA parking lot. Bring water and a picnic lunch to eat at the falls. Contact leader Greg Tucker at [email protected] for more info and to sign up. Sept. 27 Sat. In-Town Frazier Reserve Explore the beautiful new Atlanta greenspace reserve in the Oakgrove area and then have lunch at Sprig. For more information and to sign up contact: Madeline Reamy at [email protected]. UUCA September Activities Wonderful Wednesdays Third Thursday Cinema Jewish High Holiday Services 2014 Join us on Wednesday nights, September 17, 2014 – May 13, 2015, for a variety of programs we call “Wonderful Wednesday.”Activities include adult religious exploration classes, Vesper services, music rehearsals, and children’s and teen’s activities. Childcare is available, by advance reservation, from 6:00 to 9:15 pm. The Community Dinner begins at 6:15 pm and is served by members of UUCA. Proceeds to go to UUCA programs and other good causes. Suggested donations: $7/adult, $3/child, $17/family max. Interested in catering a Wonderful Wednesday dinner and making money for your program or favorite cause? Contact Jerolyn Lowry at [email protected]. Sept. 18, 2014 7:00pm The Dark Side of the Digital Revolution Cyber espionage and cyber war are topics increasingly finding their way into serious discussions about the future. Terrorist computer hackings have the potential to cripple banks and public utilities, posing a threat to the economy and our very survival. Our dependence on digital technologies makes us vulnerable in ways that were unimaginable just a few years ago. Come celebrate Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, and Yom Kippur, Day of Atonement, at UUCA! Our annual UUCA Rosh Hashanah service will be held on Wednesday, Sept. 24, at 7:30 pm, in the sanctuary. Our meaningful service is highlighted with symbolic music led by Donald Milton III. An apples and honey, challah and wine celebration will take place in the Social Hall following the service. The UUCA Yom Kippur Service will be on Friday, October 4, at 7:30 pm in the sanctuary. Join us for this annual Kol Nidre service of personal reflection. There are no fees for the services. Childcare is provided via reservation on UUCA’s website one week prior to the each service. [Reservation deadline for Rosh Hashanah is Sept. 17 and deadline for Yom Kippur is Sept. 26.] For more information about L’Chaim (UUCA’s Jewish Awareness & Celebrations Group), contact Carole Galanty, 404-872-3373, [email protected] or Robin Kottman, [email protected]. Richard Clarke, former National Coordinator for Security, Infrastructure Protection, and Counter-terrorism, joined Rand Beers, former Secretary for Homeland Security, as guests of the Lifelong Education at Dartmouth summer Women’s A Cappella Singing lecture series this past July. In this film they provide valuable information, insights and a All women are invited to come sing September way forward in dealing with these complex 7th in the community theater after the second issues. service. No auditions or experience needed, just a fun time singing together. We may start A $3.00 donation is suggested for the with our favorites from the hymnals. Hopefully, evening, sponsored by the UUCA Peace this will turn into a regular gathering. Any Network, which includes refreshments and a questions call or email Jean Spencer at moderated discussion. 706-372-6346 or [email protected]. 10 Whoever you are, whatever path you are on, you are welcome here. Upcoming Sunday Services UUCA’s worship services are organized around monthly spiritual themes that play a significant part in the development of a well-grounded religious and spiritual life. Seriously engaging them and other similar religious/theological themes could change your life! All the sermons in September explore the issue of “Beloved Community” from a unique angle. Additional resources for exploration are available on the UUCA website in the form of the Touchstone Journal. Each Touchstone Journal offers: 1. Introduction to the theme 2. A wisdom story for all ages 3. In-depth theological reflection 4. “Family Matters” section for use by parents and religious educators 5. Small group discussion guide 6. “Readings from the Common Bowl” (a quotation on the theme for each day of the month) 7. Contemplations (a guide to go deeper and an invitation to receive a brief reading three days a week) At UUCA, we are committed to the spiritual growth of people of all ages. Whoever you are, whatever path you are on, you are welcome here! Sunday, September 21, 2014 “Neighborliness” Rev. Jane Thickstun Who is our neighbor? How do we talk to our neighbor? How often do we speak from our fearfulness, and hurt others in the process? Can we treat all our neighbors with love and kindness, with neighborliness, even when we disagree? Sunday, September 24, 2014 Rosh Hashanah Service Don Milton & Travis Vaughn Sunday, September 28, 2014 “A Place for Seeking the Holy” Rev. Anthony Makar Phoenix Choir In his book Growing a Beloved Community, the Rev. Tom Owen-Towle says that “A church is not a social club, a hospital wing, a political action center, or even a spiritual refuge, although all these disparate components are part of what a church is. Rather, healthy Race is hard to talk about. This past July, UUCA congregations are primarily sites for seeking and spreading the holy, however variously congregant Christine Ristaino published an referenced by Unitarian Universalist[s]....” article in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution Owen-Towle’s very definition of a church is a about this in which she said, “Too often, this “site [a place] for seeking the holy.” is what it feels like for white people to talk about race: Tentative, tiptoeing, halting fits and starts, and finally, fleeing for dear life. It’s a counterproductive dance that after our We send our love and condolences to the long history we should be getting better at.” As a congregation with a white majority \ following UUCAers who have lost loved ones but is becoming increasingly multiracial and since the August Newsletter was published. multicultural, we need to learn how to have the conversation. We can expect no less from Stacy Kottman’s father died July 17. our Beloved Community. After the service, there will be opportunities to continue the Josh and Julianna Stewart lost their son Jamie conversation. Today we will be introduced at 20 weeks gestation on August 30. to the members of UUCA’s Inclusivity Ministry called “EnterCulture,” and we’ll also Kevin Stephenson’s grandfather died in midwitness the unveiling of a special visual arts August. installment called “I am UU.” Sunday, September 19, 2014 “Let’s Talk About Race” Rev. Anthony Makar Phoenix Choir Sunday, September 7, 2014 “Becoming Beloved” Rev. Anthony Makar SuperGroup and Tapestry Choir Just as it makes no sense to say, “I believe in medicine but I do not believe in medical schools, hospitals and clinics,” it also makes no sense to say “I believe in spirituality but I do not believe in spiritual community.” Today we explore why Beloved Community is so important and some exciting developments in play at UUCA that will only increase the love! Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Atlanta 11 Ministerial Staff Rev. Anthony David Makar, Senior Minister Rev. Jane Thickstun, Interim Associate Minister Rev. Dr. Edward Frost, Minister Emeritus Rev. Dr. Eugene Pickett, Minister Emeritus Program Staff Jessica Seales, Director of Congregational Life Sonya Tinsley Hook, Fun & Fellowship Coordinator, Michelle Bishop, Children’s Programs Coordinator, Rev. Jonathan Rogers, Youth Programs Coordinator, Donald Milton III, Director of Music Travis Vaughn III, Assistant Director of Music Administrative Staff Clark Thomas, Business Administrator Erian Wright, Marketing & Communications Specialist Travis Vaughn III, Office Administrator Bo Gaiason & Dan Moore, Building Attendants Board of Trustees ([email protected]) June Lester,, President Amelia Shenstone, President-elect Grier Page, Finance Trustee Christian Harden Cindy Hoffner Howard Lewis Melissa Marion-Landais Karen Martin Publication Deadlines Newsletter: Deadline for submissions is at 5pm the third Satruday of the month prior to publication. Send submissions to [email protected]. Editors reserve the right to edit submissions for consistency, clarity, and length. Newsletter Team Erian Wright, Executive Editor Caryll Rinehart, Copy Editor Roger Easley, UUCA Photography Weekly Update: Weekly Update submissions are due Tuesdays at 5pm. Send submissions to [email protected]. Submissions to the Weekly Update are incorporated into the UUCA website and Facebook page as appropriate. Get Connected Bill Mengel Laura Murvartian Marie Palena Erin Stanfill Should you have any questions, please contact contact us 404-634-5134 uuca.org | facebook.com/UUCAtl | @UUCA The UUCA Office is staffed by an office volunteer at the reception desk Monday — Friday from 10 am to 2 pm. Office hours for Universalist Unitarian Church of Atlanta 1911 Cliff Valley Way, NE Atlanta, GA 30329 12 Whoever you are, whatever path you are on, you are welcome here.