By the summer of 2005, and after a successful capital fund drive, CCUU had finally fixed its longstanding problem with the leak in the roof, had been

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2 2 By the summer of 2005, and after a successful capital fund drive, CCUU had finally fixed its longstanding problem with the leak in the roof, had been completely repainted and upgraded on the inside, new thermostats were installed, new siding was hung on the outside, membership was up, and prospects for the future were bright

3 When Katrina struck on August 29, 2005, our church and our minister s home, located within blocks of the breached floodwall, were inundated with 8 feet of floodwater. Many of our members lost their homes, jobs, and schools, and we all experienced exile and an enormous sense of loss. Within days, our webmaster David Wadleigh, and Rev. Jim established a CCUU group which, for many of us, was our first connection with home. Rev. Jim returned to Baton Rouge very soon after the storm and began to minister to our diaspora, meeting with members who were in Baton Rouge and contacting the rest of us through and phone. Rev. Aaron Payson, from the UUA trauma response ministry, came immediately after the storm and accompanied Rev. Jim on his first trip (by boat) back to his flooded church building and home. He returned twice, bringing volunteers from his congregation on his third trip, and provided support and valuable context for our post-traumatic emotional recovery. 3

4 Members of the Baton Rouge church formed a team of Weekend Warriors volunteers who traveled to New Orleans on the weekends to help members clean out, fix up, dig up, and rebuild their homes. The UU Service Committee established the Baton Rouge church as its home base for a nationwide volunteer center, which eventually moved to New Orleans and rented space at First Church. The Rebirth Volunteer Center was then taken over and merged with the Center for Ethical Living and Social Justice Renewal, the nonprofit arm of GNOUU. The UUA-UUSC Gulf Coast Relief Fund was established with a programmatic vision of rebuilding towards justice. 4

5 Mary An Godshall and her husband Al French visited the site of the church 7 weeks after the storm. The tree of life was still hanging, but with the bottom two or three feet of it immersed in the water. Mary An retrieved it, and recalls that it smelled awful of gasoline and mold. On October 5, Mary An, John Davenport, and Ira Woodstein returned to the church. At one point, they realized they were standing on CCUU s banner. It was buried in the mud. Mary An took it home and washed and sanitized it. It had all kinds of lovely mold colors on it, but Charlotte Upadhyay worked to bleach it out. The banner was later flown at GA, still stained with evidence of its journey. 5

6 October 2005 By October, 2005, enough members of CCUU and First Church had returned to the City that the churches were able to begin holding joint worship services at Jefferson Presbyterian Church at 2:30 p.m. Thanks to financial support from the UUA, our ministers were paid and our rental expenses covered. Rev. Jim rented office space in a downtown office building, where we could hold small meetings. Board members who had returned gathered there to meet with others by conference call. 6 Published in the October 2005 newsletter

7 West End Park became a dump site. 7

8 February 2006 On February 3, 2006, several members donned their Turn on UU Power t-shirts and spent the day cleaning out the church and grounds. 8

9 April 2006 By April of 2006, we had regrouped and established the Post Katrina Planning Committee which met bi-weekly, solving immediate problems and planning for the future. The congregation held frequent meetings, usually combined with after-service coffee hour or pot luck suppers, to stay updated and make decisions. We were also very fortunate to have partner churches around the country who were supporting us in many ways, and in April 2006 they all sent representatives to New Orleans for a partner church weekend. We combined social events, a tour of the devastation, and planning sessions which allowed us to get to know each other and plan for ways in which we could work together toward recovery and rebuilding. Dave Banks from Williamsburg, continues as our web master, providing an invaluable service. 9

10 A partial list of memories early in our recovery includes: A gift toward rebuilding from Community Church New York that arrived even before many of us had been able to return home; Target gift cards from Fox Valley for everyone in the congregation at Christmas 2005; A big box of fun stuff for a party, also from Fox Valley; A fundraiser by the Universalist Church of West Hartford that featured our own Cindy Scott; and An enormous financial boost from Pacific Unitarian, who gave us our lead gift for the capital campaign. 10

11 The UUA was also assisting, sending leaders to New Orleans regularly for meetings of a strategic planning group which included the minister and a lay leader from each of our three metro area UU congregations First Church, CCUU, and North Shore. During those meetings a strategic plan for creating a strong, vital UU presence in New Orleans was created. At CCUU, we merged that plan with our own long range plan, which had been completed prior to the storm, and our congregation adopted it in November, Susan Smith, our UUA District Executive, also provided valuable counsel and support, visiting frequently in New Orleans and staying in touch by phone and . 11

12 Meanwhile, adaptations to our new situation continued to evolve. In the summer of 2006, the two congregations moved to First Presbyterian, across the street from First Church, and continued joint services until the Sunday after Labor Day, when CCUU re-established our presence closer to the lakefront and our individual worship services by moving to the Chapel of the Holy Comforter for a 12:30 p.m. service. We had hired a choir director and pianist who were both at UNO, so we were able to hold choir practice in their choir room. Jazz Music by the Cindy Scott Trio welcomed us to our new location, and we signed our new membership book, a gift from the Church of the River in Memphis. During this time of church homelessness and having to pick up and store our worship and R.E. materials after every service, we referred to ourselves as the church in a box. 12

13 Leigh Henderson, a leadership training consultant from Community Church New York, led congregational planning sessions and the organizational meeting for the creation of what is now the Greater New Orleans UUs, as well as providing regular telephone consultations with Rev. Jim. 13

14 August 29, 2006 On the one-year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, the City planned a ceremony at the 17 th Street Canal Bridge to honor those in Lakeview that had died during the flood and to encourage those who were trying to put their lives back together. Many dignitaries and visitors came to town for the occasion, and Gini Corter, UUA Moderator at the time, was there by our side. The ceremony ended with participants throwing flowers and wreaths into the water. 14

15 Fall 2006 We then moved once again this time worshipping at the Congregation Gates of Prayer, a synagogue in Metairie. 15

16 Spring 2007 Realizing that planning for and financing a new church building would be a long process, and having become comfortable that Lakeview could once again become a safe and viable neighborhood, we purchased the small house adjacent to our church building. Our Building Ministry went to work on planning renovations. Helped by volunteers and most of our remaining members, by July of 2007, we held a triumphant, tearful, celebratory first worship service at th St. It combined a worship space, a fine new kitchen, office space for the minister and for the GNOUU capital campaign administrator, and a space for children. We also housed volunteers when the Volunteer Center at First Church was over-full. 16

17 July 2007 CCUU ANNEX Our sanctuary from July 2007 through April

18 August 2008 Because new FEMA maps required that we rebuild at an elevation 30+ inches higher than existing, it became necessary to demolish our church building. Our initial plans envisioned building on the original slab, elevating the new construction by about 30 inches. However, several structural and financial considerations made this approach no longer feasible. The demolition of the Community Church sanctuary was scheduled on Friday, August 22, A crowd gathered, people took photos, strangers passing by stopped to inquire. It took almost an hour, but the building was no match for the machine and down it came, reduced to a pile of kindling. The copper was saved, and later in the afternoon, Rev. Jim went with the crew to weigh and sell the copper to a salvage company, receiving a nice compensation for our Building Fund. 18

19 The UUA funded an intern minister for our three churches for the church year. Erik David Carlson was a godsend, adding immeasurably to the quality of our ministry, both for our own three churches and to the larger community. He was an invaluable member of the Greater New Orleans UU leadership team as that group evolved. GNOUU Poetry Service Volunteering at Ozanam Inn

20 New Orleans Rebirth Volunteer Program Established in 2008 by the GNOUU Board of Trustees, the Center for Ethical Living and Social Justice Renewal is a non-profit organization which became a 501(c)(3) in June, 2009 ( In July of 2008, the UUA/ UUSC Volunteer Program transitioned to the three local churches, and became the New Orleans Rebirth Volunteer Program, the anchor program of CELSJR 20

21 Center for Ethical Living and Social Justice Renewal Over 3000 volunteers from churches and educational organizations have come through CEL Allowing many New Orleans residents and organizations to return to rebuilt/repaired structures UU volunteers from Sherborn, MA with Algiers resident Ms. Ifama Arsan. Volunteers helped her meet her goal to move back into her home by Thanksgiving, Partner Organizations All Congregations Together (ACT) Amistad Research Center Animal Rescue New Orleans Bayou Rebirth Common Ground Greenlight Project Habitat for Humanity Lowernine.org N.E.N.A Neighborhood Housing Services New Orleans Food and Farm Network Sarah T. Reed School New Orleans Recreation Dept. People s Institute for Survival and Beyond Rebuilding Together New Orleans The School at Blair Grocery Welfare Rights Organization Zion Traveler s Organization

22 Our Community Ministry team worked with Rev. Jim to reach out to the larger community, and CCUU became the site for monthly lectures on Ethical Living in NOLA. A sampling of the many, but certainly not all, early projects included: Opening the church up to neighbors on the first and third Saturdays (offering cold beverages, snacks, and internet service) we called it the Oasis; A recycling program (until curbside recycling could be restored); A First Saturday workday (coordinated with Beacon of Hope) to clean up and tend to the gardens in the park across the street; Partnering with Unity of New Orleans (to support affordable housing ) and donating $1,000 from our Gulf Coast Relief Fund for Unity to rent a truck to deliver furniture and household items for the homeless being relocated from camps in front of City Hall and under the Claiborne Overpass. We also began our relationship with The Porch a Seventh Ward community center and the Red Flame Hunters all-youth Mardi Gras Indians. 22

23 Meanwhile, our GNOUU leadership team was working feverishly to develop a three-church national capital campaign, something never attempted by a UU congregation before. Larry Wheeler, a UUA consultant, was hired to help. 23

24 * $2.7 Million campaign: for three churches in partnership * Three-Year campaign * Solicited members, friends, alumni, and churches around the U.S. * Major publicity: Ad in UU World, Website gnouu.org, Partner Churches and GA booths 08, 09 and 10. * Social Messaging Campaign in

25 * UUA & UUSC raised over $3Million for hurricane relief why do we need more? * $2 Million was used to help marginalized communities we celebrate this generosity. * $1 Million was split between the 3 congregations in 2005/2006 this kept us alive. * Current needs $2.7Million: First UU $1.55M (Total needed $3M) To restore services and repair extensive damage CCUU $875K (Total needed $1.25 M) To rebuild gutted sanctuary North Shore Mortgage Payout -- $275K 25

26 Katrina UU Church UU Shore UU KEEPING THE FLAME ALIVE!! RISING FROM THE WATER unity UU North Shore UU First UU Church 26 Katrina

27 Three rebuilt churches and a revitalized Unitarian-Universalist presence in New Orleans. We are each unique; we are not in competition; we lift each other up. Many new members. Many new outreach programs. Many new inreach programs to strengthen our UU community. OUR CORE VALUES: * Support affordable housing * Provide meeting space for community groups * Support affordable and accessible childcare & programs for youth * Support affordable and accessible food for those in need * Support mental health services for those affected by Katrina Center for Ethical Living & Social Justice Renewal: One entity with 3 campuses 27

28 March 2009 In March 2009, the Board and Building Ministry met for a long and careful discussion to develop the process by which we would keep the congregation informed of building plans and gather their input. It was a good meeting and everyone left feeling that we had successfully balanced the goals of giving the Ministry the authority to move ahead efficiently and effectively while keeping the congregation involved. The following Sunday, we held a congregational meeting at which we presented the architect s preliminary plans and received authorization to move forward with an application for an increase in our existing SBA loan. 28

29 March 2010 On Monday, March 29, 2010, the process of clearing our lot and bringing in fill began we were FINALLY REBUILDING! On Tuesday night, March 30, our Board and Building Ministry held a joint meeting with our architect. Final plans for our new building were reviewed and approved, and the Board authorized the architect to begin negotiations with a contractor. 29

30 April 2010 April 2010 was a time of hope for many reasons. In addition to the progress of rebuilding our physical church, there was also a growing sense of affection and cooperation among the three GNOUU congregations. We continued to develop new ways to offer mutual support to each other, to act in concert, and to share resources. We now were sharing four joint services per year; frequent meetings of the GNOUU leadership, and an increasingly effective secular arm in the Center for Ethical Living. CCUU also sponsored another Intern Minister, Charlie Dietrich. 30

31 August 2010 On Sunday, August 29, 2010 at 9:00 am, the 5th Anniversary of the storm which drowned our spiritual home, Community Church UU held a groundbreaking ceremony to mark the start of construction of our new church. A tent with podium and speakers was set up on the great pile of sand that will be the foundation of our new Sanctuary. President Elyce Picciotti introduced the day and the speakers. Rev. Jim gave an invocation and our music director, Bennett Britt sang a beautiful song of hope and welcome. Councilwoman-at-large Jackie Clarkson spoke and complimented the leadership of CCUU for coming back to the neighborhood. We were the first occupied building on our block and were a beacon of hope for the neighborhood. A representative from Councilwoman Susan Guidry s office presented us with a proclamation. Jennifer Nichols brought greetings and congratulations from the UUA s Southwest District. 31

32 October 2010 CCUU signed a contract with TriMark Constructors. Set-up for the building project began immediately. A crew started driving piles on October 28, 2010, as the first step in building our new sanctuary. 32

33 November 2010 Our long process to reconstructing was, at long last, moving forward. The dedication of our construction crew combined with excellent weather, and we were able to begin to pour our concrete slab on Wednesday, November 24, the day before Thanksgiving. Footings, rebars, and forms being set up for the pour at the end of the day on Monday, November 22. Wet mud being prepared for finishing, November

34 December 2010 We took another major step toward a new building the week of December 4. A crew of ironworkers set the framing for our sanctuary. The first pillar was set late in the day on Wednesday. The rest of the pillars and connecting beams were slid into position on Thursday and Friday. That was the only area of the church that needed to be framed with metal. The rest of the sanctuary frame was constructed by carpenters the following week. Every step of this process was truly a delight. The neighbors were excited. Motorists waved as they drove by. We were both thankful and joyful. We were happy to express again our thanks to those who helped us get to this stage. 34

35 At long last, our building dedication is scheduled for early April 2011! All our friends and partners who helped us attain the construction of our new House of Worship were invited. As Christmas 2010 approached, our construction crew was rapidly showing us more of the present we were going to receive in 2011!!! The framing was nearly completed and our Building Ministry team had selected the roofing material. We were told the new roof would be set into place between Christmas and the New Year. Electricians were expected to arrive the following week. The jolly spirit of the season was certainly felt at CCUU. 35

36 Sanctuary Progress at the end of

37 January 2011 TriMark Contractors had crews on site hanging sheet rock, taping and texturing, installing our exterior surface covering (with its concrete base), and continuing to work on the electrical system. Our crew continued to make great progress on all aspects of our building program. These pictures show an exterior view, the front and back (with the round window) of our sanctuary, and the fellowship hall. 37

38 February 2011 Going Green!!! (Stage 2) CCUU members carefully planned for the best future they could hope for. They paid close attention to putting up as GREEN a building as they could. When a new solar grant was offered for commercial buildings, we were belatedly made aware of a 24-hour window of opportunity to apply for this grant. Howard Mielke quickly collected the necessary data and submitted the grant request just 30 minutes before the deadline. We were eventually approved by the State of Louisiana, and that was quickly followed by an approval from the Department of Energy. Howard carefully guided us through the entire grant process. 38

39 April 2011 The construction of our new sanctuary was complete! TriMark Contractors handed over the keys to our building on Monday, April 4th. We were blessed with volunteers from West Shore UU Church in Cleveland, Ohio. They worked very hard to complete the landscaping, carefully setting one plant after another into place on Monday, then covering the ground with mulch on Tuesday. The new building cost around $1 million. The congregation raised $760,000 from its members. The rest came from other congregations and individuals. The new building had no mortgage, and included a 120-seat sanctuary, a fellowship hall, a small library, and offices for the administrator and VanderWeele. The annex was to be used for religious education classes. 39

40 Community Church Is Furnished! Twenty members of our congregation met to un-box new chairs, tables, and a spanking new podium on Wednesday, April 6th. In addition, we managed to move many items from our "temporary annex" (our home for almost four years) into our new building. It was a long day of labor but we met all our goals for the day. We were truly feeling joy as were resurrecting our church life in a space designed for worship, fellowship, and religious education. Along with joy, we were most grateful for all the support we received. Plans were now firmly place for a Building Dedication service on April 10, to be shared by all the Greater New Orleans Unitarian Universalists. 40

41 Building Dedication Service April 10, 2011 Around 200 people attended the dedication service, including representatives from a number of UU congregations that helped us get back on our feet. The Rev. John Morehouse, of Pacific Unitarian Church in Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif., gave the sermon. His congregation had given $75,000 the largest single gift received in our rebuilding campaign. Morehouse congratulated the congregation for dreaming that it would one day rebuild its home. I remember how brave your minister was in those difficult first few weeks. Just trying to find everyone was hard enough. Imagining the church being rebuilt imagining New Orleans being rebuilt seemed even more unlikely. But he did, and all of you did. You dreamed you would gather here again. 41

42 Building Dedication Service April 10, 2011 A combined choir from the three New Orleans-area UU churches CCUU, First UU, and North Shore participated in the service, as did our own Cindy Scott. Rev. Jim stated that the service was emotional for many people. The second verse of the opening hymn, May Nothing Evil Cross This Door, caught him up. The words, By faith made strong, the rafters will withstand the battering of the storm, really got to me, he said. 42

43 Building Dedication Service April 10, 2011 The dedication service also included recognition of the 12 members who had died since the hurricane. CCUU President Elyce Picciotti was quoted as saying, It was a very powerful, very satisfying Sunday. There was lots of laughter, lots of tears, and a lot of hope. I saw a lot of future in that room and that s been hard to find here because people have been working so hard to make it day to day. 43

44 Building Dedication Service April 10, 2011 Participants in the recessional at the end of the dedication service did it New Orleans style a rowdy Second Line which included members of the Original Big 7 Social Aid and Pleasure Club and The Red Flame Hunters, the all youth tribe from the 7th Ward that the church still helps support, dressed in elaborate Mardi Gras Indian costumes. We just went from one beautiful moment to the next, Jim said. 44

45 After the service, the members of the congregation gathered outside on the front steps for a celebratory photograph. 45

46 The First Church in Louisiana with Solar Panels! We followed the construction of our building with the Joseph Priestley Campaign for Solar Power (Stage 2) and, with the generosity of our members and friends, raised over $35,000 for the installation of panels on the roof of our church. The grant provided $51, The panels cover the roof of the sanctuary with 66 panels (87% of the roof space). We then extended this project and added solar panels to the roof of the annex. We were now provided with sufficient solar panel coverage to meet all of our electrical costs during the course of year. 46

47 GNOUU Earth Day Service in Audubon Park on April 17 Since the capital campaign was officially completed by the end of April 2011, Greater New Orleans UU leaders thought that the Earth Day gathering of all three churches would be a perfect opportunity to announce the end of the campaign. This was a new model that had never been tried before and we were able to raise a total of $1.2 million! At the service, we recognized and sent a heartfelt thanks to all the UU churches who gave us not only financial help, but offered us hope and love in our hour of darkness. The GNOUU choir performed, as well as the Youth Choir from the Unitarian Church of Arlington, Virginia. There were activities for children and a potluck picnic followed the service. 47

48 August 29, Years Later We are happy to report that we are now thriving, with our beautiful new solar church and regular meaningful Sunday worship. Our congregation now includes young families again, with over 10 children on many Sundays, so we are growing in the right direction. We continue to participate in four GNOUU church services each year with our two sister churches, and we support the Center for Ethical Living and Social Justice Renewal that works in the larger community toward justice and compassion. We have an active social justice and community outreach team, and a collection is taken up monthly for nonprofit organizations with which we partner. We have an excellent music program, with an experienced and talented Music Director, a choir, and jazz on a regular basis. We have a Director of Religious Education and a structured curriculum in place. Members participate in small group ministry with three groups meeting monthly, exploring spiritual topics and forging strong personal friendships. A women s book group meets monthly and there are occasional sessions on UU history, immigration, prejudice, and other topics we need to know more about. As we move through this 10 th year, hoping we don t have another storm, we are very aware of how much we have to be grateful for and how much opportunity we have now, to make a difference both to those in our congregation and to the larger community. Amen. Namaste. 48

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