Unitarian Universalist Church of Augusta

Transcription

1 Unitarian Universalist Church of Augusta UUCA Newsletter Volume 21 Number 7 Summer 2017 Inside this issue The Minister s Corner 1 From the President... 2 Second Sunday Special Collection July 9 th 2 Join Our Worship Team 2 Welcome Newcomers: Obstacles & Opportunities 3 Gifts of Honor Received 3 What is the Southern Region? 4 Living Legacy Racial Justice Pilgrimage 4 Organizer Needed 4 Another Honor for Dr. Jim Rawson 4 Recognizing Our Members 5 Teaching Calendar-July 6 July Worship 6 The Minister s Corner Returning from General Assembly, my mind is filled with the images and ideas that the gathering created for me. I am so glad that we had a large number of UUCA members attending. They will be joining me on the last Sunday of July to present what they bring back to our congregation. July and August have several exciting things happening for the church. We begin to work on our outreach project to those moving into our community to take cyber jobs in the burgeoning field of cyber security, with a workshop on how to welcome the military community. The Rev. Jake Morrill, former UU military chaplain and minister of Oak Ridge UU Church in Tennessee, will assist us in understanding differences in UU and military cultures and how to be a welcoming presence to newcomers to our area. What is exciting about the workshop is that it gives our church the opportunity to train facilitators to do this work, which we can then share with other congregations that also are looking to welcome those serving at neighboring military bases. Now that we have taken the steps to reconfigure the UUCA campus with negotiations to purchase an adjoining property, we will have the experienced assistance of a UUA campaign coordinator. Barry Finkelstein, who recently has helped the Georgia congregations of Athens and Atlanta with capital campaigns, will conduct a Next Steps weekend at UUCA August Please save the date and more details will be announced soon. Finally, let me say how proud I was of our UUCA members who attended the General Assembly last week in New Orleans. They joined more than 4,000 UUs in resisting and rejoicing. A new UUA president, the Rev. Susan Frederick-Gray, was elected, and a study commission was set up to look at a proposal to add an eighth principle to our current list of seven. If you want to hear more about the UUCA@GA experience, come to our Sunday service on Sunday July 30 th to hear from those who attended. Our Ingathering and Water Communion will happen Sunday August 13 th, and on the Sunday before that, August 6 th, I will be conducting the Blessing of the Backpacks for all our children heading back to school! For all who will be traveling or staycationing over July and August, I wish you a happy and safe summer. In faith and friendship, Rev. Gaye

2 UUCA Newsletter From the President This is my very last letter to you. I want to thank the congregation for all your support in my acting role as president. You are a wonderful, loving group of people and it has been my pleasure to serve you. Together we have accomplish some wonderful achievements this past year. I certainly have learned a lot and had some goof ups, but did the best I could. You have a terrific board for this coming year and they will have their plates overflowing. Give them all your support and confidence, they will serve you well. I want to thank Rev. Gaye for all her support and prodding to keep me on the right track. It would have been very difficult without her help and guidance. Pam has been very easy to work with, a great sounding board and always full of good advice and solutions. Catherine, thanks for all the confidence you had in me and giving me courage. Margaret always tries to keep everyone straight and does a good job at that. Matt, thanks so much for all your time and work with the budget, the legal advice and for being there for me many times. So now I will be a regular member of this beloved congregation and continue to give all I can to help us grow and work for social justice. Chris Palmer Board of Trustees President Second Sunday Special Collection July 9 th On the second Sunday each month, members and friends of UUCA donate funds specifically contributed to organizations that do work consistent with our UU principles. On July 9 th, our special offering will go to The Mountain is the recipient of our July Second Sunday Special Collection. The Mountain Learning and Retreat Center is moving into its busiest part of the year offering programs for all ages. We can help to make the Mountain programs affordable for everyone, and this is especially important for Mountain Camp families. The Mountain Campership Fund provides a number of camperships annually to help make summer camp possible for children and youth who may not be able to participate without the financial support. Camperships are awarded based upon applicant need and the amount of funding available. Typically, Campership awards are 50% of a one week session. Please give generously to the Second Sunday Collection for The Mountain. Join Our Worship Team! It s a new church year and time for new folks to join the Worship Team! No experience necessary, just a love of our Sunday gathering and an interest in innovative worship. The Worship Team is invaluable in putting together the service for which we gather every week. If you think worship is complicated and you have never helped out before, then come to our Worship Training Workshop on Saturday, July 15 th. We will be working on the monthly worship themes and looking at all the resources we can use for our services. We need both Worship Associates, who sometimes lead services, and Worship Coordinators, who make sure everything is ready for the service. If you have any questions, then please call Rev. Gaye at or at minister@uuaugusta.org. Page 2

3 UUCA Newsletter Welcome Newcomers: Obstacles and Opportunities Workshop July 28-9 As part of our outreach project to the cyber community settling in the Augusta area, UUCA will host a Military Ministry Tool Kit Workshop on Friday and Saturday July We are excited to have as our facilitator the Rev Jake Morrill from the Oak Ridge UU Church, Oak Ridge, Tennessee. Rev. Morrill served for a number of years as a UU Chaplain in the United States Army Reserve. How do we welcome newcomers, be open to change and yet hold on to our values? If you want to be a part of the discussion about the obstacles and opportunities to growth and change, please register online at or register at the Welcome Table in the Common Area. Spread the love! We are looking for 4 or 5 people who want to be trained by Rev. Morrill on Saturday afternoon; once trained they will be able to offer the Military Ministry training to our cluster congregations who would also like to learn how to welcome potential members from nearby military communities. Supper will be served at the start of the Friday evening session. Childcare for all sessions is available upon advance request. Workshop schedule: Friday, July 28 th - supper 6-7pm; Session I: 7-9pm Saturday, July 29 th - Session II: 9am-noon; Session III Training for UUCA facilitators 1-4pm We request that you make a Gift of Honor at least once this Church fiscal year (ending June 30, 2017). Always consider celebrating a friend or loved one s birth, birthday, marriage, anniversary, graduation, or recent achievement. Additionally, with a start of the new Church fiscal year, we should take the time to appreciate those who have agreed to be leaders of the Church for this next year. Please consider making a Gift of Honor for one or more of the Church members serving in leadership positions. Gifts of Honor Received - In Honor of Josef Patchen and Patricia Childs for the June Jazz Concert - - In Honor of The Hostetlers - In Honor of Those Who Carry the Flame including: Susan Bloomfield Don and Betty Hostetler Joyce Nolin Janet Reichard Greg Sutherland This program is organized by the Budget Team. A check or cash-in-an-envelope should be clearly marked Gift of Honor and be sure to tell us who or what you are honoring. All Gifts of Honor will support the General Fund. Gifts of Honor may be placed in the offering on Sunday mornings or sent to or dropped off in the church office. Gifts of Honor received are announced in the UUCA Newsletter. Page 3

4 Volume 21 Number 6 What is the Southern Region? Recently the Rev. Dawn Cooley, our new Southern Region Congregation Life Staff contact, visited UUCA and met with the minister, the board president and president-elect. What is UUCA s connection with the Southern Region? Our Unitarian Universalists congregations are organized into regions. Each region approaches congregational collaboration and identity differently. Some regions have districts with distinct governing boards, others retain their district identities but have transferred governance to our UUA Board, and still others have let go of districts and focus on simple on one single regional identity. The Southern Region has consolidated staff and efforts to equip congregations with the effective leadership and training they need to build and nurture strong, dynamic congregations for the 21st century throughout the South. The Southern Region comprises the former Florida, Mid-South, Southeast, and Southwest, districts. ( Organizer Needed Submitted by: Pam Hayward, UUCA Board of Trustees President-Elect Do people often complement you on your organizational skills? Do you like planning and sorting? Do you like to work with friendly, motivated volunteers? Do you like to work on projects that have a rewarding outcome? If so, the Sierra Club has a role for you! The Sierra Club shares its proceeds from its annual rummage sale with the UUCA and that is our church s largest fundraiser each year. The club would love to have a volunteer help coordinate the rummage sale and they are open to fresh perspectives on logistics. You do not need to be a member of the Sierra Club to take on this task. If you would like to know more and/or are interested, please contact Sam Booher or Frank Carl. UUCA is proud to be a Fair Share Congregation of the Southern Region, which has produced outstanding UUA leaders such as the past Moderator Jim Key, current Interim Moderator Denise Rimes, current Co-President Leon Spencer, and presidential candidate Rev. Jeanne Pupke. Living Legacy Racial Justice Pilgrimage The Living Legacy Project is announcing an eight-day racial justice pilgrimage, October 21-28, 2017, combining the essence of the Civil Rights Movement with a deep exploration of the impact of slavery on this country. livinglegacypilgrimage/2017- racial-justice-pilgrimage ?e=6159d0b386 If you are interested in the pilgrimage, ask Rev Gaye about financial assistance to make this an unforgettable and affordable journey. Save the Date! Next Steps Weekend August with UUA Capital Campaign consultant Barry Finkelstein Another Honor for Dr. Jim Rawson Long-time UUCA member Dr. Jim Rawson has been named to the Board of Examiners for the 2017 Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award by the U.S. Department of Commerce s National Institute of Standards and Technology. The award is the nation s highest honor for organizational innovation and performance excellence. He is chairman of the Department of Radiology and Imaging at the Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University. Congratulations to Jim! June Attendance June 4 th 60 June 11 th 115 June 18 th 71 June 25 th 85 Page 4

5 UUCA Newsletter Recognizing Our Members at the Annual Meeting Celebrating those who Carry the Flame 50 Years of Support Presented by Jan Parsons Don & Betty Hostetler, Joyce Nolin, Greg Sutherland not pictured: Susan Bloomfield, Janet Reichard - President's Service Award Vic McGraner and Josh Dakin - Step-Up Award Gerry Bennett and Liz Goodson - Unsung Hero Award Beth Proctor, Kathy Stadelman, Lyn Dennison, Owen Zylla, Linda McBurney, Taimi Hunter, Bobbi Stenstrom recipients not pictured: Tracy Craig, Patience McIntyre, Page 5

6 A N D F I N A L L Y... Teaching Calendar July nd 9 th 16 th 23 rd 30 th & Toddlers Alan Totten Laurie Booher Melanie Roberts Allison Hollimon Laurie Booher Pre-kindergarten - Kindergarten R. E. Room 2 BINGO Party/4th of July Celebration Helen Baisden Dan Cooper My Many Colored Days Helen Baisden Dan Cooper McElligot s Pool Lyn Dennison Stephen Heyl The Sneetches Jenny Malizia Zak Skibo Yertle the Turtle Grades 1-4 R. E. Room 3 BINGO Party/4th of July Celebration Tim Hunter Denice Traina Restoring Our Labyrinth: Stone Painting Chris Drescher Liam Dakin The Wolf in Sheep s Clothing: Acting Out Brandon Anderson Taimi Hunter Fragle Rock plus Pizza Veronica Leaptrott Nixon Childs Writing Our Own Fables: Putting our puppets to work Grades 5-8+ R. E. Room 4 BINGO Party/4th of July Celebration Tim Hunter Denice Traina Restoring Our Labyrinth: Stone Painting Join the Adults in the Sanctuary or Assist in Classroom 2, 3, or Join the Adults in the Sanctuary or Assist in Classroom 2, 3, or Join the Adults in the Sanctuary or Assist in Classroom 2, 3, or We welcome stories, news and pictures sent in for our monthly Newsletter. Deadline: Monday before the last Thursday directly to the church office: officeadmin@uuaugusta.org Unitarian Universalist Church of Augusta 3501 Walton Way Ext Augusta, GA Phone July Worship at UUCA Sundays at 11am Sunday, July 2 nd The Story of Ferdinand - Chris Garcia, Guest-in-the-Pulpit Sunday, July 9 th 700 Year On: Martine Luther and the Reformation Part One - Rev. Gaye Sunday, July 16 th 700 Years On: Martin Luther, the Musical,-Rev. Gaye Sunday, July 23 rd Guest-in-the-Pulpit, Jan Perry 7pm Full Moon Vespers Sunday, July 30 th - Resist and Rejoice: the GA Experience Rev. Gaye and GA Delegates