Document 6578719
Transcription
Document 6578719
volume 39, issue 20 always available online at www.uuccharlotte.org October 22, 2014 The Mission of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Charlotte is to inspire children, youth and adults to discover and articulate deeper spiritual meaning evidenced in lives of integrity, compassion and stewardship of the earth. La misión de la iglesia Unitaria Universalista de Charlotte es: inspirar a los niños, jóvenes y adultos para que descubran y articulen un significado espiritual profundo, evidente en una vida de integridad, compasión y en el manejo de los recursos de la tierra. OUR IN-THE-MOMENT RELEVANCE From Your Stewardship Team I’m still in full celebration mode now that the civil right of marriage has been legally upheld for all North Carolinians. I’m also still energized from the Rev. Dr. William Barber’s recent visit, which brought three electrifying and very inspirational opportunities to hear him talk about the challenges and successes of the Moral Monday movement. Both of these experiences are indicative of our church’s long-standing commitment to social justice issues. UUCC has been very involved in defeating Amendment One and standing up to the legislature’s regressive and harmful actions that adversely affect our elderly, minorities and children. We have taken to heart these words from Andrew Carnegie: “Do real and permanent good in this world”. We are recognized in the media as an important voice on these critical issues. Our minister, Jay Leach, has been outspoken and is now regularly asked to comment when social justice issues are in the news. I’ve talked with several visitors and new members, asking them why they chose to visit or join our congregation. Many of them told me they were drawn to UUCC by our support of social justice, having heard about UUCC on TV, the internet, or in the paper. Several have gone to our website to find out more about us before visiting as well as listening to Jay’s sermons on podcasts. The relevance of our church within the greater spiritual fabric of our community is growing and expanding, and this is resonating with those discovering UUCC for the first time. For us to continue to build on these successes, we have (Continued on page 11) ENVISIONING THE FUTURE: A CONGREGATIONAL CONVERSATION Please join the UUCC Vision Steering Team on Sunday, November 23, from 4:00-6:00 p.m. in the Sanctuary for a conversation about the Vision Process. The first part of the agenda will include introductions of the Team, a background of the Vision Process, a review of your input on the vision objectives/questions, and a review of the Team's research of current and projected demographics for the Charlotte Metropolitan/Metrolina area, including data about religion. You will then have an opportunity to participate in discussions about the information provided and to share your knowledge and observations to help with this important process. This will be the first of many opportunities for you to participate in the Vision Process. If you have questions and/or comments, please talk with a Vision Steering Team member or send an email to [email protected]. The UUCC Vision Steering Team Inside this issue: Join the Adult Choir this Holiday Season 3 Piedmont UU Church Auction 4 ‘Tis a Lovely Day for Jousting and Joking 5 Let Your Life Speak 7 “Discover the UUCC” 11 Page 1 FROM THE MINISTER Autumn in the southeast doesn’t show up on some strict schedule. In keeping with our region’s often countercultural cantankerousness, it complies with no commands from a calendar. So, this season meanders its way here, weaving itself in and out of our days with a kind of nowyou-see-me/now-you-don’t capriciousness. A morning’s crisp chill can readily morph into what feels so much like a summer afternoon. A day suggesting a sweater turns out to be shirt-sleeve weather. Leaves may drift down onto a backyard garden still yielding up a bit more bounty. I love fall’s fickle flirtation. As a native of this region, it feels right to me that we ease into this moderating season at a rather languid pace. Bridging between the swelter of summer and the chill of winter, let us have as many moderately erratic days as we can, days when the weather catches us off-guard again. May we be surprised at the prospects for yet another comfortable evening and then another out on the porch, even as the view now includes an ever-saturating palette from the nearby trees. a bit, to our souls in this season. We can listen deeply to the mood of the year and relish its “favorable and poetic” flavor. Thoreau wrote: Live in each season as it passes: breathe the air, drink the drink, taste the fruit, and resign yourself to the influences of each. . . . Be blown on by all the winds. Open all your pores and bathe in all the tides of Nature, in all her streams and oceans, at all seasons . . . Grow green with spring, yellow and ripe with autumn. . . . For all Nature is doing her best each moment to make us well. Peace, Jay Those American Transcendentalists experienced a symmetry, a soul-connection between humankind and the rest of nature. “Our moods vary from week to week,” wrote Henry David Thoreau, “with the winds and the temperature and the revolution of the seasons.” For all of our capacity to anesthetize ourselves against the vagrancies of “the winds and the temperature,” there is, within some deeper place in us, a connection, an influence. So, an autumn 1855 entry in Thoreau’s journal assessed: “This, too, is the recovery of the year,--as if the year, having nearly or quite accomplished its work, and abandoned all design, were in a more favorable and poetic mood . . .” After having bemoaned the searing heat of summer in Concord, Thoreau now relishes more “favorable and poetic” days when his spirits, along with “the year,” experience a time of recovery. Who of us is oblivious to his sentiments and to his deep sense of connection between the “mood” of these days and our own temperament? Those of us blessed to live in a region where early autumn weekend outings include quick getaways to kaleidoscopic mountain vistas for some and last days on the beach for others are among the ones most able to appreciate just how “favorable and poetic” this time of year can be. Even if our days simply include a brisk morning’s walk in a nearby park or a quiet evening listening to the cricket’s chorus growing languorous, we can appreciate the “recovery” we are being offered. Amidst all that calls on our time, commands our attention, furrows our brows and weighs on our hearts, we can attend, Page 2 SUNDAYS AT THE UUCC Podcasts of Jay’s Sunday Sermons Available on UUCC Website If you have missed a recent Sunday service or you would like would like to hear a podcast of just Jay’s Sunday sermons, please visit our website at http://www.uuccharlotte.org/all_podcasts.asp. Sermons are also available on iTunes, our RSS feed and via our Facebook page. Help us have fresh flowers in the Niche Commemorate a birthday, an anniversary or acknowledge a special person or event by donating fresh flowers for the niche. Call Alesia in the office (704) 366-8623 to reserve the Sunday you want. Then send a check for $55 to the office, and we’ll handle the rest. CONGREGATIONAL CARE If you know about a need in our congregation—an illness or injury, a hospitalization or surgery, a death— what can you do? Please inform a member of our professional staff. Your Presence is Joyfully Requested at The Wedding Ceremony of Lee Knight Caffery and Dana Draa on Saturday, November 1 at 4:00 p.m. at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Charlotte Because you have shared in our journey, believed in us, encouraged us and loved us, we invite you to share in our joy and join us, at long last, in celebrating our legal marriage ceremony. Champagne and confections following in Freeman Hall. RSVP to Lee Knight at [email protected] or (704) 650-3461 MUSIC NEWS Song Circle to Meet on October 23 Led by Rich Greene and friends, this group delves into the rich tradition of singing folk music in an intimate setting. In addition to offering songs, Rich takes requests too. The next meeting of our Song Circle will take place on Thursday, October 23 at 7:30 p.m. in the upstairs area of the foyer. The group typically meets on the second Thursday every other month with the next meeting scheduled to take place on December 11. Questions, contact Rich Greene at (704) 367-1895. Music Program Retreat a Success! Thirty-Three members of our Music Program gathered on Saturday, October 19 to build community, be inspired, learn something new and have fun. Highlights of the annual retreat included a Taize-inspired service using songs from our hymnals, melodic percussion with John Burns, choral diction and technique with Mignon Dobbins from WinstonSalem UU Fellowship, guided mediation with Shelagh Gallagher and a song circle with Eddie Wielunski. Silliness ensued with small group performances of UU hymns in musical styles ranging from rap to country (imagine “Blue Boat Home” in hip-hop style). Many thanks to members of our Music Team for organizing and staging the event – Jim Alexander, Sharon Baker, John Burns, Shelagh Gallagher, Leslie Pugh, Paul Wagner and Eddie Wielunski – and to Jan McNeely and Lisa Lackey for their help in set-up and decoration. During the retreat, members shared what the UUCC Music Program means to them. Here are just a few: Combining the magic of making music and the affirmation of fellowship with like-minded people is nothing short of transformative. Singing, for me, is the breath of life. I cannot live if I cannot sing. It is how my spirit expresses itself – through my vocal cords, even my entire body. When I sing, I vibrate and shine with life! The music program to me is a source of social and spiritual nourishment. I feel closest to what is sacred or holy when I’m singing, and by getting me out of my house it keeps me from being a complete hermit! My word for the music program is Joy! John Herrick Director of Music Join the Adult Choir this Holiday This December, the Adult Choir will be presenting a holiday music program at Avante Assisted Living Center on Sunday afternoon, December 7 and at UUCC on Saturday evening, December 13. The choir will also sing at UUCC's annual Christmas Eve service. If you would like to sing with us for the holiday season, please come to our weekly rehearsals, beginning in November. Adult Choir rehearsals are held on Wednesday evenings, 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. in the sanctuary. For more information, please contact John Herrick. John Herrick Director of Music Page 3 DENOMINATIONAL CONNECTIONS Did you know we have a Partner Church in Europe? – although the trip is priceless. To find our more about visiting Transylvania or how to learn more about our partners, visit the DCT table. And Closer to Home … Our sister congregations! Indeed we do – and we’ve been partnered with its members for almost 25 years! Located in the small village of Szabed, Romania, it is one of the many ethnic Hungarian Unitarian churches in this scenic area of Transylvania. Yes, THAT Transylvania, the place of mysterious legends and, more importantly, the place where our Unitarian faith has its roots. It was in this area of central Europe that 500 years ago King John Sigismund declared himself to be a Unitarian and issued a decree that his kingdom of Transylvania would reflect his beliefs and become a place of religious tolerance – pretty much unheard of during this period of the Reformation. Unfortunately, the young king died shortly after his declaration and the religion he so admired continued as only a small and marginalized faith. This history of persecution continued into the 20th century when its Hungarian inhabitants suddenly found themselves Romanian residents (a WWI spoil of war). Another war and the Communist era left them financially devastated, powerless, and suffering as both as an ethnic and religious minority. Enter the UUA and the Partner Church Program, matching Unitarian churches in Transylvania with ones in North America for both financial and spiritual support. Our church was one of the first to request a partner and was paired with the Unitarian Church of Szabed around 1990. Unfortunately, it’s hard to remember this important relationship when “out of sight, out of mind.” Despite a visit by the minister of the Szabed church and his wife less than five years ago and a number of popular fundraisers, few people in our congregation know more than the basics about our Translvanian partners. Our congregation’s Denominational Connections Team does its best to keep them visible with information displayed on its table in Freeman Hall. In addition to an annual fundraiser, the team keeps the personal connection alive through email messages and seasonal greeting cards. The Team invites you to stop by the table in Freeman Hall and sign one of the cards. Several groups of church members have visited Szabed and met the people of the village (who are almost all members of the Unitarian church), an experience described as “incredible”, “eye opening”, and even “life changing”. The Denominational Connections Team (DCT) can provide information on a visit if you are interested. The price is right Page 4 In addition to fostering a relationship with our coreligionists in Romania, the Denominational Connections Team (DCT) encourages active connections with our sister congregations here in the Charlotte area: the Lake Norman Unitarian Universalist Fellowship and the Piedmont Unitarian Universalist Church (near UNCC). Our congregations have collaborated around social justice efforts and children’s educational programs, and enjoyed each others company at social events. Below is such an event the DCT invites you to consider: “The Piedmont UU Church would like to invite you to join us for our annual Goods and Services Auction on November 8, 2014. The auction will accept pre-bidding online starting on October 22. Here is a link to the online auction http://goo.gl/wMo9i4. Check back often because new items are added everyday! We hope you can join us for an evening of fun and bidding!!!” Kat Sweaney, Fundraising Chair - PUUC PRINCIPLES & PURPOSES We, the member congregations of the Unitarian Universalist Association, covenant to affirm and promote The inherent worth and dignity of every person; Justice, equity and compassion in human relations; Acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth in our congregations; A free and responsible search for truth and meaning; The right of conscience and the use of the democratic process within our congregations and in society at large; The goal of world community with peace, liberty, and justice for all; Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part. COMMUNITY BUILDING ‘Tis A Lovely Day for Jousting and Joking! Open Mind Book Club Monday, November 3 at 7:30 p.m. in the Conference Room The Open Mind Book Club will meet at 7:30 p.m. on Monday, November 3 in the Conference Room. We will be discussing Knocking on Heaven's Door: the path to a better way of death by Katy Butler. Please RSVP to Gwynne Movius at (704) 366-9409 if you plan to attend. Young Adults to visit Renaissance Festival October 25 Our Young Adult Group (YAG) invites all who feel in need of some jolly good fun to join them on Saturday, October 25 for an outing to the North Carolina Renaissance Festival. This family-friendly Festival has entertainment of every type along with a huge artisan market place. Tickets for adults are $21, with discounts available at Harris Teeter stores. The plan is to meet outside the castle entrance off to the left between 10-10:30am. Please contact Corey Terral ([email protected]), YAG group leader, if you are planning on going so the group can know who to look for and have a general head count. Corey can also help coordinate carpooling from the Church parking lot. Let him know if interested. Outdoor Adventure Group’s November Hikes Saturdays, November 1 and 15 On Saturday, November 1, we will meet at 9:00 a.m. and head to Eno River State Park approximately 2.5 hours from Charlotte, and we will return back after 6:00 p.m., or you have the option if interested to stay the night at Jim Wilkins' brother's home nearby. Again, Ralph Hanson (704-877-1537) will be leading this outing, so let him know if you would like to spend the night, so that he has a headcount to share with Jim's brother. On Saturday, November 15 we will meet at 8:30 a.m. (possible one later departure as well) and head to UUCC member's Jarod Brown's mountain house in Jefferson, NC, returning Sunday after 3:00 p.m.. Rita is leading this outing, so please RSVP to her, again in order to plan meals & accommodations. Note: For both overnights please bring a sleeping bag, a dish to share and as always for hikes, please dress appropriately, and bring water, lunch and snacks. Happy Trails For more information contact Rita Heath Singer at [email protected]. On December 1 we will have our holiday program when each participant brings a favorite poem to share with the group. First Friday Game Night and Potluck Friday, November 7 Come one, come all for this FUN Community Building event. We will gather for a potluck meal in Freeman Hall at 6:00 p.m. The games FOR ALL AGES will begin at 6:50 p.m. We hope you’ll join us for this intergenerational event. Men’s Group Openings The Men's Group has been having weekly meetings for two years, and we are looking to add a few more men to our group. We discuss what is going on in our lives in a confidential setting and strive for personal improvement. We meet on Monday nights 7:00 - 8:30 p.m in the Schweitzer Room. If you are a church member and looking to develop close friendships with other men, then contact Steve Bivens, (704) 568-9696 or [email protected]. COORDINATING TEAM MINUTES Each month the Coordinating Team creates a report for our Board of Trustees. This report is comprised of vignettes created by professional staff that reflect our progress toward the achievement of our congregation’s Ends. A hard copy of the entire report is posted on the office area bulletin board. A full copy of this report for the month of October is available by clicking here. Page 5 ADULT RELIGIOUS EDUCATION This I Believe/This I Practice = Credo: A Spiritual Journey This I Believe/ This I Practice will be transitioning to a new name—Credo: A Spiritual Journey. This change will reflect the language of our mission statement, our Sunday Services, as well as the Children and Youth Religious Education’s Coming of Age program where mentors and youth alike develop their personal Credos. Parents will also be writing their own credos as they participate in the Parents As Resident Theologians course with Kathleen Carpenter this Fall The sessions for Credo: A Spiritual Journey will continue with the same format—a member of the UUCC will present his/her spiritual journey on the Fourth Sunday of the Month between 10:3011:00 in the Bernstein Room. Childcare provided. Please join Colleen Beale on October 26: The daugh- ter of an ordained Baptist minister, Colleen Beale spent her childhood growing up in the church. Colleen watched her parents as they did mission work in Mexico, helped a colony of lepers off in distant lands, and engaged her in civic duties here at home. Through these experiences she developed a strong understanding of OTHER, and as a global community, how we could help each other. As an adult Colleen looked to find something that would feed her civic duty as well as her soul and thus began the next chapters of her spiritual journey. Coming to the realization that no one religion matched her spiritually, she set off to create a spiritual practice that worked for her. Parents As Resident Theologians (P.A.R.T.) Begins Sunday, October 26 at 1:30 p.m. Join Kathleen Carpenter and Laura Truesdell for a class designed to help parents and other caregivers respond to children’s “wondering questions”. To assist with this sometimes challenging task, participants will be asked to consider their own beliefs and passions by writing their personal credos. The class will meet on Sundays, 1:30-3:00 p.m. for six weeks, beginning October 26. Plan to attend as many as possible if you sign up, with a minimum commitment of three. The more often you attend, the better the experience for you. Childcare will be provided if requested a week prior to the next class. Questions about the class can be directed to [email protected]. To sign -up, visit the Adult Programming table in Freeman Hall or email [email protected]. TED for the Soul (Evening Version) Tuesday, November 4 at 7:00 p.m. in the Bernstein Room What assumptions do you cling to? This evening's Ted Talk speaker suggests we reconsider economic and social models based on defensiveness, and instead trust. Join us in the Bernstein Room on Tuesday November 4 at 7:00 p.m. to watch the talk and discuss how we may apply this message to our own lives. All are welcome. “All Things Considered” Wednesday, November 5 at 7:00 p.m. in the Schweitzer Room Our minister, Jay Leach, will share his thoughts on the meaning of the term Credo on November 23. Jen Neitzel was pre-empted in September and has gra- ciously agreed to present her spiritual journey on December 7: Born in a small town in rural Pennsylvania, Jen attended a fairly liberal United Church of Christ with her family. She spent most Sundays at church, sang in the children’s choir, and spent summers at church camp. For her, church was more of a community rather than a spiritual place. Jen was always a questioner and stopped going to church in her early adolescence. After many years of trying to figure things out, Jen found her way to the Unitarian church. Here, she has explored her spirituality and draws from many different religious traditions and practices to provide clarity and guidance in her daily life. Please Join Us! Page 6 The United States is often referred to as a nation built by immigrants. But in recent years, the debate over the country's immigration laws has reached a boiling point. Some argue that immigrants help the economy; others say they take jobs away from Americans. As the U.S. continues to recover from the Great Recession, is it time to make a distinction between low-skilled and highly skilled immigrants? Our All Things Considered discussion on Wednesday, November 5 will follow the screening of a previous Intelligence Squared U.S. broadcast on NPR in which four experts took on the topic, facing off two against two in an Oxfordstyle debate over the motion "Don't Give Us Your Tired, Your Poor, Your Huddled Masses" — a twist on the phrase from the famous verse inscribed on the Statue of Liberty. Come view the broadcast and express your views on this important and timely topic. “Extra-Normal Experiences” Exploring Humanism Begins Wednesday, November 5 at 7:00 p.m. Thursday, November 6 at 7:00 p.m. in the Bernstein Room Have you had “coincidences” in your life that seem to be outside of “normal” experiences. Some of these can be pleasantly amusing while others can be so profound that they defy rational explanation and beg for expression in spiritual or religious terms. Come join other UUCC members to share, hear, honor, examine and celebrate some of these experiences. (This will be a one and one-half hour group discussion that includes beginning chalice lighting, a 2013 "This American Life" segment on remarkable coincidences, outside references, guidelines for listening, sharing of experiences, comments, feedback, honoring contributions, and short silent meditations). Richard Kushmaul will lead discussion for UUCC members about our “Extra Normal Experiences” on Three Wednesdays at 7:00-8:30, November 5, December 3 and January 7, in the Bernstein Room. You may sign up in Freeman Hall at the Adult Programming Table or by emailing [email protected]. Dr. Ralph Milligan, a retired Presbyterian minister and recent convert to Humanism, invites you to take a look at god is not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything, by Christopher Hitchens (d. 2011). Hitchens wrote or edited over thirty books and was always fascinated with religion, and participated in more than a few—but was a fierce opponent of all brands. Dr. Milligan wants to summarize his arguments, raise some the questions about them, and discuss what his arguments, if accepted, should call on humanists to do. Spiritual Book Dialogue: Let Your Life Speak Begins Wednesday, November 5 Join other discerning seekers to consider the searching question posed by Parker Palmer in this little gem of a book, Let Your Life Speak, about living authentically. Vocation does not come from willfulness, no matter how noble one’s intentions. It comes from listening to and accepting “true self” with its limits as well as its potentials. Parker Palmer shows that vocation is not a goal to be achieved but a gift to be received. “As we live more deeply into the selfhood that is our birthright gift, we find not only personal fulfillment. We find communion with others and ways of serving the world’s deepest needs.” Kathleen Moloney-Tarr will facilitate this dialogue group on Wednesdays: November 5, 12, 19. Registration affirms a commitment to secure a copy of the book and full attendance. Sign up at the Adult Programming table in Freeman Hall or email [email protected] for either the day (1:00-2:30 p.m.) or evening sessions (7:00-8:30 p.m.). Second Sunday Topic Discussion Sunday, November 9 at 10:30 a.m. in the Bernstein Room This is an opportunity to meet with the Minister to share your thoughts, ask questions, and hear others’ views relative to the sermon topic. Begins promptly at 10:30 a.m. in the Bernstein Room. November’s Theme: Justice. Third Friday Film Night November 21st at 7:00 in the Sanctuary Bob Gorman has chosen a film that will address our Second Sunday Topic for November: Justice. (Adults) Made in Dagenham (England, 2010) Starring Sally Hawkins and Bob Hoskins. Directed by Nigel Cole. A dramatization of the 1968 strike at the Ford Dagenham car plant, where female workers walked out in protest against sexual discrimination. Rated R for language and brief sexuality. 113 minutes. (Children) Hotel for Dogs (US, 2009) Starring Emma Roberts and Jake T. Austen. Two foster children set up a shelter for stray dogs in an abandoned hotel. Rated PG for brief mild thematic elements, language and some crude humor. 100 minutes. The children’s film is shown at 7:00 p.m. in the Bernstein Room. DiscoverGroups: Ongoing Have you been searching for a way to connect with members outside of Freeman Hall? Would you like an opportunity to pursue deeper spiritual questions, while reaching out to one another in caring and support? DiscoverGroups, consisting of 12 members, meet monthly for one year to discuss the Second Sunday topic while getting to know each other better. We will begin at least one new group in January as soon as we have twelve committed members. A signup form is available in Freeman Hall or you may email [email protected]. Page 7 RELIGIOUS EDUCATION FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH (CYRE) Twenty two years. A lot can change in that time - to relationships and family, to physical abilities and appearances, to personal growth and skills. My life has certainly gone through a series of changes since 1992. But one thing that has remained the same is my employment here. Last April, I celebrated my 22nd year as your Director of Religious Education (for Children and Youth). Amazingly (at least to me!), I still love the work I do here, helping our children and their families “discover and articulate deeper spiritual meaning in their lives.” To me, it’s the best job a person could stumble upon – which is how I entered the field. I was attending the church with my three children, seeking an open-minded, loving community for them and for me. When the RE Director abruptly left and the part-time position opened up, I was encouraged to apply, something I might not have done on my own as my professional background was in Urban Planning. But I loved being an CYRE teacher, I loved this church, and I wanted a part time job. I figured, why not? Why not indeed. I was hired and my first instruction from then-minister, Doug Reisner, was to take every training opportunity available, to get involved with the District’s RE Committee, and, oh yes, to read a few dozen books. I did it all and uncovered a passion for the field of religious education. I discovered that I loved creating ways to engage children in the critical exploration of religion and the big questions of life. I even found myself looking forward to youth cons and trips that involved sleeping on church floors. It was all so much fun and so personally rewarding – which explains how I ended up sticking with it more than two decades, working the last 20 years fulltime in service to our families. Unfortunately, most RE Directors at Unitarian Universalist congregations don’t stick around. For some, it’s just a bad fit. But I also hear horror stories from my colleagues of conflict and injustice and disrespect. I am so grateful to this congregation for its support of me and my ministry here. Our congregation pays a fair wage and leadership supports the congregation’s children and youth. I am so very fortunate. I share all this back story to explain a recent decision. No, I’m not resigning, but I am recognizing that one thing that usually happens with a change in professional RE leadership (at least in large programs like ours) is a thorough assessment of the program. While a change in leadership has its negatives, it provides these congregations with the unexpected opportunity to create a vision for the future of its program. Page 8 This is especially critical in this new century. The times they are a changin’. With increasing busy families, technology evolving at a dizzying rate, and an increase in spiritual yearnings, we in the business of religious education are realizing we need to be thinking both in- and outside the box if we are to best meet the needs and demands of our families. Earlier this year, I spoke with Jay about hiring an outside consultant to do the kind of evaluation of our CYRE program that might occur with a change in professional leadership. We are very pleased to announce that we have arranged for two UUA staff persons to do this work. They are scheduled to spend the weekend of November 13-15 with us. This is where YOU come in. They have set aside time to meet with congregational members on Friday evening (7:00-9:00 p.m.) and Saturday, 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. This is an opportunity for parents, congregational leaders, and anyone else with an interest in the children and youth of our church to voice their opinions. The observations, information, and recommendations to come out of this evaluation will be shared with CYRE leaders, church staff, and the church’s Vision Steering Team. Please mark your calendars for either Friday and/or Saturday, November 14 and 15. Childcare will be provided. Don’t miss this opportunity to impact the future of our CYRE program and our congregation. In Faith and Gratitude, Kathleen Carpenter, Director of RE for Children and Youth Mark Your Calendars Saturday, October 24: Lock-In for 4th-5th graders 7:00 p.m. Sunday, October 26: Elementary Mountain Conference (Con) Deadline Sunday, November 2: Middle School Mountain Conference (Con) Deadline Sunday, November 9: Our Whole Lives Classes–Parent Orientation at 1:30 p.m. Friday, November 14: Parent Support Group (open to new families) contact Melissa Vullo at [email protected] Sunday, November 16: High School Conference (Con) deadline Friday, November 21: Friday Film Night at 7:00 p.m. Saturday, November 22: Craft Party for Care Baskets followed by a Blessing of the Crafts Service followed by a Potluck Dinner, time-TBA. Sunday, November 23: Family Dedications in both services Mountain Con Registration Deadlines Coming Up Soon! Parents are reminded that the deadlines for this fall’s Mountain CON(ference)s are coming up soon! (Con dates and deadlines are listed under “Mark Your Calendar” on page 8.) Parents should complete the registration on-line (http://goo.gl/2oOmHk) and then deliver an envelope with the UUCC transportation fee of $30 to the CYRE Office. A Mountain Con is a Friday-Sunday UU youth retreat held at the Mountain Retreat & Learning Center in Highlands, NC. We strongly support these cons and encourage our children and youth here at the UUCC to attend. We require all children and parents to attend an orientation as a prerequisite to con attendance. If you (or your child) could not attend either of the two orientations provided here earlier this month, your child(ren) can still attend a 2014-15 con if you (and your child) can arrange to meet with Children and Youth RE Director, Kathleen Carpenter, prior to their con date(s). It is up to you to arrange the meeting with her. Plan on 30 minutes. Family Dedications Planned for November 23 Our next Family Dedication Ceremonies are scheduled for Sunday, November 23 during both services that morning. For those of you new to our congregation, our Family Dedications may appear different from the christenings/ baptisms/child dedications found in other congregations. Because we believe so strongly that one must choose one’s own spiritual path, we don’t offer a way for parents to make these kinds of choices for their children. Instead we offer them a way to enter into a “covenant” with the congregation in which each makes promises around the challenging task of parenting. As a portion of this ritual, we also bless each child. While the children in the ritual are typically under a year in age, we welcome older children who might have missed this opportunity earlier. Often the ritual is even more meaningful for these children because they "get" that they are being honored and included in the larger community of the congregation. If you are a member of this congregation and have a new baby (or an older child who has not participated in a previous Ceremony) and you would like for your family to be a part of our Family Dedication, contact Kathleen Carpenter ([email protected]) or Jay Leach ([email protected]). Please sign up by November 10. UU Kids Living Out Their Values Let us hear about YOUR kids! Has your child demonstrated his or her commitment to our values through personal achievement/leadership? If so, send a few lines to [email protected]. OPEN DOOR SCHOOL Open Door School Food Drive A Great Success The Open Door School Parent Council is happy to report that our recent food drive was a great success! Our students and faculty were able to collect 15 large boxes of food which were donated in partnership with the UUCC to local families in need. Students were able to decorate the boxes which held the donations and assisted in transporting the food to the donation site which created a wonderful opportunity to discuss the purpose of the collection and the amazing opportunity to support our neighbors in need. Help Support Our Open Door School Link Your Harris Teeter Vic Card to ODS You can help support the Open Door School if you shop at Harris Teeter! The next time you are in the store or shopping online, please consider linking your VIC card to the school. The number for the school is 2752 (but they will look it up for you at the Customer Service desk, if you happen to forget). Please be aware, if you have linked your VIC card in the past, you must re-link it every year in the fall. This is a painless way to provide monetary support to the school. THANK YOU for your help! Page 9 SOCIAL JUSTICE Habitat for Humanity Work Date Saturday, November 8 Our next volunteer date is Saturday, November 8 from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. for ages 16+. Our volunteers will work on a “punch list” of final items on a new home to get it movein ready. No experience or tools are necessary and all skill levels are welcome. To register for the volunteer day, go to http://goo.gl/EhIzWX where there is a clickable “Select” box toward the bottom of the page. If you have any problems, contact Habitat’s Volunteer Coordinator, Jeannie Pierce at [email protected]. The UUCC coordinator for this event is Mary Burnett, [email protected]. MEMBERSHIP The Unitarian Universalist Church of Charlotte Welcomes the Following New Members Lincoln Baxter, III Lowell Fleming Ronald “Ron” Spake Herman “Morris” and Carol Teeter Book Drive Continues Please don’t forget to continue to bring in your donations for the book drive. Please keep in mind that not only are books acceptable donations, but DVDs, VHS tapes, and CDs are as well. The bin for donations can be found in Freeman Hall just inside the doors to the left. If you would like to sign up to transport the books for any week, contact Grace Clements [email protected]. THANKS for you CANS and your TIME! In October Open Door school filled our food barrels to overflowing, providing nutritious food for the 29 families (95 individuals) that come once a month to our church food bank. Also, several volunteers helped sort food at Second Harvest Food Bank to help defray the service fees we pay for products obtained there. In October Mary Burnett, Pat Parks, Ann McDaniel, Eileen and Ed Hanson-Kelly gave several hours of their time. We receive a credit of $4 for each hour worked. For information on how you can help with this effort, contact Eileen at [email protected] or 704-855-8353. Remember to bring canned goods to fill our food barrels every month. THANKS! Page 10 “Discovering the UUCC” Saturday, November 8 at 9:00 a.m. If you are a new or prospective member interested in learning more about Unitarian Universalism, the UUCC, and membership responsibilities, please join us for Discovering the UUCC on Saturday, November 8. Facilitated by Rev. Jay Leach, this session begins at 9:00 a.m. with a light breakfast and registration. The program follows from 9:30 to 12:30 p.m., covering our philosophy, history, programs, and organization. Along with several other participants, you will learn about our diverse religious heritage and what common beliefs Unitarian Universalists share. Childcare is provided. To register, please sign up on Sunday morning at the Visitor’s Table in Freeman Hall or contact Kristie Lauderbaugh at [email protected]. If you need childcare, please indicate the number of children and ages. VISITOR’S CORNER (“Our In-The-Moment Relevance) continued from page 1) “Getting to Know Us” committed to hire a second minister and a Membership Coordinator. We hope to have the Membership Coordinator position filled before Thanksgiving and are beginning the search process for our second minister. Sunday, November 2 Every 1st Sunday after each service, visitors are invited to an informal Q&A with a long-standing UU Church of Charlotte member. Grab a cup of coffee from Freeman Hall and meet downstairs in the Bernstein Room immediately following either 1st or 2nd service. Hear about another person’s journey to finding her/his spiritual home here at the UUCC. “Meet the Minister” Sunday, November 16 You’ve seen him behind the pulpit…now here’s an opportunity for visitors to get to know Jay Leach on a more personal level. Stop by the Conference Room for an informal chat on the 3rd Sunday of each month at 10:30 a.m. Audio Copies of Past Sunday Services Available at Visitor Table Stop by our bookstore in Freeman Hall after Sunday services to request a copy or contact Bill Cooke at (704) 3642107 (cost $5). Visitors can also check out audio copies of past services at the visitors table on Sunday after services. As we add staff, we are also continuing to fund and expand our programming to meet the needs of our growing congregation. Funding our growth is a challenge that has been entrusted to your Stewardship Team. As the team moves to stimulate a year-round conversation about stewardship, we will keep you apprised on what important and meaningful investments are being made with your contributions. We will also let you know what future opportunities will require your financial support. On behalf of the Stewardship Team, we are humbled and grateful for the level of financial support our church has received from our congregation. We believe that as we look to the future, and the anticipated increased financial expenditures needed to continue to make UUCC a beacon of liberal thought and action in our community and state, we can count on our members to understand the need for even greater levels of generosity. It’s an exciting time to be a member of UUCC. As Henry David Thoreau said, “If you have built castles in the air, your work need not be lost; that is where they should be. Now put the foundations under them.” ONGOING GROUP MEETINGS Newcomers and drop-ins are welcome! For more information about these groups please visit www.uuccharlotte.org and select “Programs/ Get Involved.” Jim Lay Stewardship Team Meeting Location/ Room Time Contact All Things Considered Bernstein Ron Maccaroni [email protected] Exploring Humanism Healing Threads: A Prayer Shawl Ministry Holding Circle Bernstein Home of Joy Bruce Bernstein 7:00 p.m. 1st Wednesday (November 5 ) 7:00 p.m. 1st Thursday (November 6) 7:00 p.m. 2nd Monday (November 10) Jabberwocks Steve Bivens [email protected] Kathleen Moloney-Tarr (704) 661-5409 Camilla Mazzotta [email protected] Conference 12:45 p.m. 3rd Sunday (November 16) 10:00 a.m. 3rd Friday (November 20) Lotus Path Schweitzer 8:00 a.m. Sundays Mystics and Metaphysics Sunday Morning Meditation Sigismund Schweitzer 7:00 p.m. 3rd Tuesday (November 18) 8:30 a.m. Sundays Richard Kushmaul [email protected] Carol Smith [email protected] Debbie George (704) 763-2193 Straight Spouse Support Group “T.E.D for the Soul” (Day) Offsite Bernstein “T.E.D for the Soul” (Evening) Bernstein 7:00 p.m. 1st Tuesday (November 4) 12:00 p.m. 3rd Monday (November 17) 7:00 p.m. 1st Tuesday (November 4) Women’s Circle Schweitzer 7:00 p.m. 2nd Tuesday (November 11) Young Adult Group (YAG) Schweitzer 12:45 p.m. 3rd Sunday (November 16) Doris Thomas Browder Sage Brook (704) 366-7983 Melissa Mummert [email protected] Susan Cox [email protected] Trish Hevey [email protected] Maggie Walker (941) 441-7076 Please RSVP to Maggie to attend. Lincoln Baxter III Page 11 [email protected] Periodical Non-Profit Organization Postage Paid Charlotte, NC Volume 39, Issue 20 USPS 346-850 Published biweekly by the Unitarian Universalist Church of Charlotte 234 N Sharon Amity Rd Charlotte NC 28211-3004 Postmaster: Please send address corrections to above. The deadline for the next is: Sunday, November 2, 2014 for the next issue which will be published on Wednesday, November 5, 2014. Please include your name and phone number on your submissions in case there are questions. The Voices editor reserves the right to edit all submissions to the newsletter for brevity, grammar, clarity and consistency as space will allow. The preferred submission is by email to: [email protected] Address Label Church Office hours: Monday – Friday 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM Phone: (704) 366-8623 / Fax: (704) 366-8812 E-mail: [email protected]; Website: http://www.uuccharlotte.org Staff Member Professional Responsibilities Kathleen Carpenter Director of Religious Education for Children & Youth [email protected] ext. 225 Children and Youth Religious Education Denominational Connections Donna Fisher Children’s Choir Director [email protected] John Herrick Director of Music [email protected] ext. 230 Alesia Hutto Office Administrator [email protected] ext. 221 Martha Kniseley Adult Programming Coordinator [email protected] ext. 229 Kristie Lauderbaugh Coordinator of New Member Development [email protected] Page 12 Children’s Choir Music Worship Team Administrative Support Communications Adult Religious Education and Spiritual Development Community Building Congregational Care New Members Visitors Jay Leach Senior Minister [email protected] ext. 223 Chief of Staff Coordinating Team Social Justice Team Worship Team Belinda Parry Administrative Assistant [email protected] ext. 224 Part Time Administrative/CYRE Support Doug Swaim Interim Director of Administration [email protected] ext. 222 Building & Grounds Coordinating Team Memorial Endowment Trust Stewardship Communications Finance Open Door School