Newsletters & Sermons
January 2005
UUFD
NOW
Dinners
for Eight
Want to
spice up an evening “in the bleak midwinter”? Nothing
better than joining in on Dinners for Eight. The next of these will
be 6 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 22.
The sites
have not been determined — that depends on which of us want
to host! The signup sheets for hosts and guests will be available
on the foyer table shortly after the new year begins.
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UU Men Moving
"We're
only UUMen," our men's luncheon group, has changed locations.
The guys are moving to the Tuscany Italian restaurant, near the
corner of Wood Street and Oakland Avenue. It's the former home of
the Blu Phoenix, by Millikin University. The meeting time remains
1 p.m. on Wednesdays. So, if you have that Y chromosome, stop by
at the new "hot spot."
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Post-holiday
straightening up
When you’re clearing out after Christmas you might look at
some of your belongings in a different light. If you’ve lost
that lovin’ feeling for some items, set them aside for the
June Rummage Sale.
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In
Martin Luther King's Words:
History
is the long and tragic story of the fact that privileged groups
seldom give up their privileges voluntarily.
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In
John's Words
I'm happy
to announce that, as of Jan. 3, I will be the coordinator of the
Macon Assistance Exchange (MAX) Program with Dove Inc. It is a part-time
position and offices are at the First United Methodist Church at
the corner of Church and North streets.
Dove and
the MAX program seek to coordinate efforts to address unmet human
needs and social injustices and to work for justice, equality and
understanding among all people.
Dove sponsors a variety of programs: a domestic violence shelter
and supportive services (with 24-hour hotline, a shelter for women
and children, counseling, legal advocacy, children's programming,
parenting classes and an abusers' counseling group); a Retired and
Senior Volunteer Program (a national program that matches the talents
of volunteers aged 55 or better to the needs of nonprofit agencies,
making it easier to volunteer in the community); the Mother-to-Mother
program (teaming welfare mothers and middle-income women in intentional
friendships to develop understanding and foster advocacy); BABES
(Beginning Addictions Basic Education Series, that combines puppets,
workbooks and songs in lessons designed to help schoolchildren develop
positive living skills); Community Services Program (organizing
neighborhood groups to address problems of youth crime and delinquency);
Homeward Bound (transitional housing, case management and supportive
services to homeless people); diversity workshops; Children's Clothing
Room and Operation Warm Winter Coat Drive; as well as a Christmas
Drive and Macon and DeWitt Assistance eXchanges (MAX and DAX).
My new position
requires 20 hours per week and will not infringe upon my commitment
to the ministry to the Fellowship. In fact, I view this position
as a wonderful opportunity to make known our presence to the greater
public and let our belief in inclusivity and diversity resound.
I will be
giving presentations to different groups and organizations throughout
the county and am even working on a stage production to demonstrate
the needs the MAX programs fulfills. If you have any theatre skills
as a writer, actor or producer, please let me know. I will be open
to a wide range of ideas and platforms.
The last
two weeks of December, I have been in training, overlapping with
Teresa Combs and Linda Reed-Thompson, who have been coordinating
the MAX program. As I learn more about the need for volunteers within
the program, I will be presenting opportunities for members and
friends of the Fellowship to further fulfill the principles of Unitarian
Universalism.
My office
hours at the First United Methodist Church will generally be from
12:30-4:30 p.m., Monday through Thursday, and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on
Fridays. The MAX phone number is 423-7349.
In Faith,
John
Minister's Office Hours
Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday mornings from 10 to noon.
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Birthdays
Denise
Lohrenz-Renfro and Laura Vaught, Jan.6; Mark Sorensen, Jan. 20;
Caius and Hadrian Pajer, Jan. 21; Amy Stockwell, Jan. 22.
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Around
the Fellowship
- Kathy
Vaught became engaged with her high school boyfriend over Thanksgiving.
He will be moving here from Wisconsin, and the wedding will take
place Oct. 1. Congratulations, Kathy!
- Former
members John and Paulette Marty and big sister Fiona added Zea
Joy to their family Nov. 13. Paulette happened upon the name by
accident as she was searching for something on Google.
- Kathy
Sorensen is mending from surgery on Dec. 15. Keep her in your
good thoughts.
- Many
thanks to the generous donors who filled our Mitten Tree again
this year. The little tree in the sanctuary is now bare, but many
boys and girls will be wearing warm hats, mittens and scarves
this Christmas, thanks to your warm hearts.
- Denise
Lohrenz-Renfro’s brother-in-law died last month. Our condolences
go out.
- We're
unhappy to report we misspelled the name of our visiting pastor,
Martin Woulfe, in the December Newsletter. We enjoyed his visit,
however, and hope he will come back.
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On
the Board Walk
Some wear
and tear on our 21-year-old building is causing some bumps in the
budget. We have to pay almost $700 for more furnace repairs that
took place in late November.
Darwin
Shroyer is investigating getting new front doors (that would improve
security, looks and energy efficiency) and having the Trust pay
for them.
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Greeting
from your Prez
Welcome
into the New Year of 2005! Pat yourselves on the back for a very
eventful and progressive 2004. It has been a year of new ideas,
new projects and continuing success with our ongoing ones.
It’s
a delight to welcome new faces and renew old friendships. June already
has had to update the list of members and friends!
I’m
happy to report that we will gross $500 from the sale of Christmas
greens. Thanks to all who sold, bought and participated. If you
haven’t turned in the money from your sales, please do so
to our treasurer, Mark Sorensen — lest he feels he must call
you.
On the
subject of $$$ (maybe this is a bad word after the holiday gift
buying – sorry!), every now and then it seems prudent to remind
everyone that we are here because of you — just like public
broadcasting. Please think about the pledge you made and see if
you can get it up to date.
If you have
been enjoying the lay programs lately, thank Kathy Sorensen the
next time you see her. She and her committee have put a lot of thought
into bringing interesting speakers on diversified topics. We have
had good discussions, too. If you have ideas for future ones, I’m
sure she would be glad to hear from you, as planning is now under
way for spring.
I would
like to share that a very special part of UU is the covenant group
to which belong, which meets the first and third Wednesdays, now
at 10 a.m. There is also one that meets Thursday evenings. There
is always an extra chair — just in case YOU want to visit.
Many times I have come in “frazzled,” but always leave
relaxed and uplifted.
Coming up
are Dinners for Eight in January, and an outreach project at the
Festival of Spring at Rock Springs Center in April. Plans are budding
for a “web of life” game … sound like fun? Want
to join Carolyn Devore and Kathy Kline in brainstorming?
I recently discovered we have a “sister congregation”
in Kenes, Romania. Let me know of ways in which we might reach out
to them.
Welcome to bright new days in 2005!
Marge
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The
Larger UU World
Here are
three online resources for specialized interests:
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Spotlight on Committees
The Program
Committee is responsible for all lay-led Sunday morning services.
The committee this year has been meeting at least quarterly to brainstorm
ideas for programs and speakers.
Members
then try to book the speaker, and we keep in touch by e-mail as
dates and topics are filled.
We coordinate
with Rev. Biedler to confirm dates he will not be preaching and
to find topics that will enhance what he is presenting on alternate
Sundays.
In addition
to finding speakers, committee members must look for service leaders
and assist with music where necessary.
We have
a small budget to pay honoraria for speakers — many of whom
decline.
Right now,
we are working to finish up the spring segment —concentrating
on March, April and May. If anyone in the Fellowship has ideas to
submit, please let Kathy Sorensen know. Committee members include:
Mel Weinstein, Ron Shafer, Vern Thistlethwaite, Joan Brown, Terry
Ankrom, Denise Renfro, John Beidler and Jim and Jennifer Gardner.
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Calling all Seekers
A pair of
exciting adult religious explorations for members and friends of
UUFD are planned for Jan. 23 and Feb. 6.
Videos
by philosopher and mystic Eckhart Tolle will be featured from 1:30-3
p.m. The films are provided by Ron Shafer and Mel Weinstein.
Tolle is
the author of the best-seller "The Power of Now: A Guide to
Spiritual nlightenment." After graduating from the University
of London, Tolle was a research scholar and supervisor at Cambridge
University.
When he
was 29, a profound spiritual transformation virtually dissolved
his old identity. He devoted the next few years to understanding,
integrating and deepening that transformation, which marked the
beginning of an intense inward journey.
Eckhart
is not aligned with any particular religion or tradition but incorporates
teachings from Jesus, Buddha and other great spiritual teachers.
He teaches worldwide. The video series, "The Flowering of Human
Consciousness: Everyone's Life Purpose," explores the nature
of presence, true self-knowledge, our longing for freedom, reactivity
and the egoic self, and participation in the play of form.
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Thinking about Membership?
A New Member
Orientation Class is set for Jan. 16, from 1:30-3 p.m.
Rev. Biedler
would like to meet those who have been thinking about becoming a
member of this Fellowship.
Possibly
you haven't known how someone becomes an official member or what
it entails. Please sign up for this introductory class, to be held
at the Fellowship. A signup sheet is on the table in the foyer.
In this
class we will talk about the history of the Fellowship and the larger
Unitarian Universalist movement. We will discuss our mission as
a congregation, as well as consider the responsibilities and opportunities
of membership.
Most importantly,
we will listen to your goals and aspirations for becoming a part
of this growing community of seekers. Call and leave a message for
Rev. Biedler at the Church office at 875-5442.
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Always Miracles
Where there
is great love, there are always miracles. Miracles rest not so much
upon faces or voices. Or healing power coming to us from afar off,
but in our perceptions being made finer so that for a moment our
eyes can see and our ears can hear what is there about us always.
Willa Cather
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Browse
Our Past Newsletters
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In a nurturing
environment of openness, mutual respect, and friendship, the Unitarian
Universalist Fellowship of Decatur is a welcoming, diverse congregation.
We share values and seek to celebrate life and support one another
in our inward and outward searches for spiritual meaning, provide
a liberal religious presence, and strive for compassion and justice
in our community and our world.
Our newsletter
is printed monthly. Dick Zaker is the editor and Jennifer
Gardner makes it available on the Web. Articles can be submitted
through e-mail at newsletter@uufd.org,
by putting them in the newsletter mailbox at UUFD, by mailing them
to him in care of the fellowship, or by leaving a phone message
for Dick at 429-1355.
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