Unitarian Universalist Church of Jackson

NUUSLETTER

 A Newsletter for our Members and Friends

May 2005 - Web Edition

WORSHIP SCHEDULE

Every Sunday Fellowship at 9:30am, Service at 11:00am

May 1

Forum: "Speaking of Faith" facilitated by Brian Hefner.  Listen to PRM (91.3 FM) from 9:00 AM to 9:30AM, Sunday morning for preparation.

Service: "The Fable Revisited:  My and Others’ Reflections on Life.”  Bill Gressett, speaker.

May 8

Forum: "Remembering Our Mothers," facilitated by Mary Margaret Bollinger.

Service:  Mothers Protest, the Reverend Luck; also a Flower Service (please bring a cut flower or two to share).  Unitarian Julia Ward Howe’s Mothers' Day Proclamation in 1870 was the origin of what is now a multi-billion dollar business, though that was never her intention. We will consider her intention and what its message is to us today.

May 15

Forum: "What's Up Guys & Dolls?"  facilitated by Bill Gressett.

Service: Building the Beloved Community, the Reverend Luck.  Ingathering of New Members, 2004 -May 05. As we welcome UUCJ’s newest members, we will consider the community we are building.  Potluck will follow.

May 22

Forum: "VA Medical Center as a Resource" facilitated by Adrian Novack & Susan Miller.

Service: This I Believe.  This will be an opportunity to experience the diversity of beliefs within the church as Brian Hefner, a member of UUCJ, shares his theological perspective.

May 29

Forum: "Where Does ‘Spirit’ Come From?"  facilitated by Steve Bollinger.

Service: Those We Honor.  This service will be not to honor war but to honor and recognize those who sacrifice for others, as well as for their country. There is latitude here for personal interpretation. Participants are invited to bring photos or memorabilia to place on the altar and to speak briefly.

 

Deadline for submissions to the June UUCJ NUUSletter: May 18.  Please make submissions to Susan Voisin at NUUSletter@uujackson.org.

If you would like to receive the NUUsletter by email, contact Susan at the email address above.

     A New Leaf     

By Rev. Jacqueline Luck

Recently I received the two chalice lightings below via email. I want to begin using the chalice lightings from various UU congregations around the world to increase our global awareness as well as an awareness of our brothers and sisters in faith over the world. We have not yet, because I wanted to explain what we were about and the historical importance of the Lighting from the Transylvanian Church.

All affiliated groups of the International Council of Unitarian and Universalists Churches, which are located in 20 countries, have been asked to submit brief chalice lightings for the ICUU Chalice Lighting Project. Every month, a chalice-lighting will be distributed to Unitarian and Universalist congregations around the world.  Each congregation is asked to use the reading for at least one worship service in the designated month, identifying it as the "Global Chalice Lighting," and naming the group which submitted it. Readings will be circulated in English and, where different, in their original language. These readings will enhance our worship services and add a layer of international richness to Mississippi UU worship.

The Global Chalice Lighting that was to be used during March 2005 consists of words from the edict following the Diet of Torda, which was important for Unitarians and religious tolerance, and which stressed the importance of freedom of conscience and the use of reason in religious thinking. I found this paragraph in a 2002 sermon by my colleague, Richard M. Fewkes, summarizing the history of the 1568, Diet of Torda in his sermon, The Transylvanian Connection:

“Today there are about 70,000 Unitarians in Transylvania. Unitarianism had its beginnings in 1568 when court preacher, Francis David, bested his opponents--the Catholics, Lutherans and Calvinists--in an official religious debate before a young 23 year old king, John Sigismund. Francis David convinced the king not to impose one form of religion upon all his subjects, as was the rule in those days, but to issue an Edict of Religious Tolerance, permitting his subjects to follow their conscience and practice whatever form of religion most suited their spiritual needs. This was because "faith was the gift of God" and could not be imposed upon people by external means. Francis David called for a "continuing reformation" of the church and declared for non adoramus Christus, to not worship Jesus, but to follow him. Three years after his famous edict the young king died and was succeeded by a Catholic ruler. Francis David was thrown in prison and languished there till his death a few years later. But the movement he founded survived and has endured through periods of struggle and oppression for more than four centuries.”

Below is the Global Chalice Lighting for March, 2005, submitted by the Transylvanian Unitarian Church, from the Diet of Torda, 1568,  www.unitarius.ro:

 As it was the will of our Lord Sovereign, his Highness, to bring decisions along with his country on the sessions of the Diet the preceding days, regarding the matters of religion, he is willing to confirm the same this very day, namely that preachers are supposed to preach the Gospel in all places, according to their own understanding, and if the community is willing to accept, it is well, if it is not, no one is allowed to press them to adopt it in spite of their not being reassured in their heart; but they may keep a preacher whose teachings they like. And no one among the superintendents or others are allowed to hurt them for this, for on account of the religion no one is to be sneered at, according to the former rules. No one is allowed to threaten anyone with imprisonment or deprivation of his office; for faith is the gift of God, this comes from listening, listening through the words of God.

Global Chalice Lighting for April 2005, submitted by the Unitarian Universalist Society of Spain, www.suue.org:

We light this chalice as a symbol of the light that shines in the human heart.
Encendemos este cáliz como símbolo de la luz que brilla en el corazón humano.

In the beauty that is our shared faith,

Jacqueline

The President’s Corner

The President’s Corner:

As I assume the position of president following the superlative JoAnn Bienvenu, I have two issues that rise to the top of my mind: the pope’s succession and our own church’s involvement in social concerns.  The Clarion-Ledger gave figures for how many people follow the different religions: 20% Muslims, 13% Hindus, 33% Christian, 15% Non-religious and 19% Other. Of those Christians, 53% are Roman Catholics.  That is a large percentage of the world’s people who will have their lives vastly guided by whomever the cardinals choose to be pope.  This will also affect all the other religious denominations, too, depending upon how ecumenical the new pope is.  So we too will be affected by their choice, despite the fact that we probably make up less than 1% of the “Other” category.

Churches that attract new people are invariably involved in active outreach into their community.  In the 9 years I have lived in Jackson, this church has, from time to time, had active participation in the AMOS Network, an organization of about 35 religious institutions.  Members have provided meals for a homeless shelter, regularly contributed food to Stewpot’s Food Bank, helped build a Habitat house and participated in the Broadmoor Neighborhood Association.  These are the ones of which I personally know.  What do you see in our community that seems like a doable project? Is there something already going on that would benefit from our help and commitment?  Or have you got a brand new idea of something that we could do that would make the world a better place? If so, please let someone on the Board of Trustees know about your ideas.

Let’s take what JoAnn has so patiently tended during her time as your servant leader and let us move on toward even more involvement in our church and our community.  We have our half-time minister, Rev. Luck to guide us.  With these examples, we can feel confident in moving forward.

Margaret

EXPECT MASS CONFUSION IN THE MONTH OF MAY!!!!

Because of radical increases in the cost of gas, it has been determined that the minister’s schedule must change sooner rather than later. In May I, Jacqueline, will begin a two week rotation, rather than weekly. Just to confuse issues more, I am taking May 1 and a few days following that off for some much needed rest and recreation, as provided for in our agreement. All groups that meet with me will now be up for rescheduling. Oh, My!

The projection as now understood is that I will be in UUCJ’s pulpit May 8 and May 15, and in Ellisville May 22^nd and 29^th.  That means there is some rescheduling to be done, so please be patient with those involved. 

Children’s RE News

R.E. Volunteers Needed

We invite you to be a part of the neat things that happen in the Newman R.E. Building. Sign up now as a volunteer for our Summer R.E. Program- "What's Your passion?"  Our program encourages you to share your special talents, hobbies, or other interests with our children.  Volunteers are also needed for the nursery.  Interacting with our children is full of surprises, fun, and fresh insights.

Contact Dary or Ranjan for more details. A sign-up sheet is posted on the church hallway bulletin board.

Dary Shenefelt                    

Church Rummage Sale

 

Our church rummage sale will be this Friday & Saturday, April 29 & 30, beginning at 7 a.m.  There will be loads of books and other goodies, so drop by and pick up a bargain!

Items for sale should be brought to the church on Thursday, April 28, time to be announced.  Please have them already priced for sale.  Contact Sue Gillespie or Margaret Drake for more info.

Don’t Forget!

General Assembly will be in Fort Worth, TX, on June 23-June 27th 2005

Chore Day

Please come out and help clean up your church buildings and grounds.  Chore Day is Saturday, April 30.  We will begin first thing in the morning, but feel free to drop in any time that day and bring your own tools, if you want.  The Rummage Sale will be going on at the same time, so prepare to get a little shopping in before you work!

 

The Raymond Detention Center has a very pressing need for t-shirts and underwear for its inmates.  Please help out by bringing t-shirts, boxers, and socks to the service on May 15.  Wavery Liles will collect the items and bring them to the detention center.  All items should be white, and shirts and bottoms need to be large or extra large.  The socks should be large or one size fits all.