Unitarian Universalist Church of Jackson

NUUSLETTER

 A Newsletter for our Members and Friends

February 2009 - Web Edition

Our mission as a church of faith and reason is to promote justice, welcome diversity and serve with love

We resolve
to be a religious community, welcoming diversity and respecting human beings and our environment;
to be a church of faith and reason, nurturing the life journeys of those who join their strength to ours;
to be a progressive fellowship, promoting justice, and cultivating religious freedom;
to be a caring neighbor, invigorating the greater Jackson community while renewing ourselves from within.

  President's Corner

 

At its January meeting, the Board set the Annual Meeting for March 29, 2009. Mark your calendars now for this important annual event in the life of our congregation. At Annual Meeting, we elect new officers and adopt a budget for the upcoming administrative and fiscal years. We have much to think about and discuss leading up to the Annual Meeting. In particular, we must re-engage and continue our discussions about stewardship.

We define stewardship as the act of caring for our congregation, our community, and the Unitarian Universalist principles that inform our faith. We care in various ways; by giving our time, by sharing our talents, and by contributing our treasure to this beloved community. Our church exists because its members and friends do the necessary volunteer work and pay the bills. We know that if everyone does a little work, it gets done in good order. We know that if everyone makes a financial contribution, we can ensure that our congregation continues to grow and provide a continuum of ministry to the larger community.

We must consider, together and individually, what we can pledge of our time, talent, and treasure to reflect a serious commitment to the place we have chosen as our spiritual home. To that end, we have two events coming up that will require our participation. First, on February 15, 2009, we will throw an “Unbirthday Party” in conjunction with our third-Sunday potluck. When the time comes to make the traditional wish, each of us will be asked to articulate in concrete terms a wish for our congregation. Second, March 1, 2009, will be Pledge Sunday, an opportunity for each of us to act on our commitment to our congregation in terms of time, talent, and treasure. In the meantime, there will be opportunities to contemplate and discuss our hopes for the future of our congregation. I hope that when given the opportunity we will each make a pledge of time, talent, and treasure, as we are able, to this beloved community.

Gwen Combs 

From The Desk of the DRE

 

Religious Education / Religious Exploration

We have childcare and supervised activities each Sunday from 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

Children are welcome to join us anytime before 11 a.m.

 

Chalice Children (0-5 yrs) Leader: Dary Shenefelt & helper Curriculum: Celebrating Me and My World     9:30-10:30: Supervised free play 10:30-11:00: Snack time 11:00-12:30: Preschool Religious Ed		Young UUs (6 yrs & up) January Leader: Stacy Callender February Leader: Amy Griggs Topic: HUNGER     9:30-10:30: Supervised free play 10:30-11:00: Snacks and conversation 11:00-11:15: Adult worship 11:15-12:15: Children/Youth Religious Ed
This month our children will engage in lessons to develop their self-identity and connectedness with all of life. A hearty WELCOME to our visitors: Gracie, Nicholas, Shane, Matt, Cameron, and Charlie! We have really enjoyed your visits and hope to see you again soon!		In January, our children and youth will focus on RACIAL JUSTICE. In February, our children and youth will focus on DISABILITY. We’ll learn how these issue impacts our world and local community and what we can do to promote positive changes.

  

 

UUCJ youth (grades 7-12) are encouraged to participate in the OWL comprehensive sexuality education class beginning this spring. See the OWL section in this NUUsletter below for more information. 

UUCJ youth (14-18 year-olds) are encouraged to participate in district youth events held in throughout the Mid-South District, including Youth CONs (short for conferences) and YAC (Youth-Adult Council). Please contact Scott Weaver, MSD Trustee for Youth, at sweaver@firstuunashville.org for more info. Upcoming dates for this year are:

February 20-22, 2009, Second YAC Meeting

March 27-29, 2009, Spirituality Development CON in Atlanta, GA

April 17-19, Jr. High CON in Birmingham

May 1-3, 2009, YAC CON: A Night in Music City in Nashville

May 29--31, 2009, YAC Beach CON location TBA

 

O.W.L. (Our Whole Lives)

We are still recruiting! We still have openings in our OWL classes for Jr./ Sr. High youth and adults! This outstanding, fun comprehensive sexuality education curricula allows participants to explore physical, social, emotional, cultural, and spiritual aspects of our sexuality across our lives.

 

To sign up for our adult class, contact Susan Knipe or Diana Barnes.

 

To sign up your youth (ages 13-17) contact Susan Knipe, Amy Griggs, or Brian Heffner. Parents must attend an orientation before their youth can attend! The next Parent Orientation will be Sunday, Jan 25th 1:00 pm.

 

For any additional information, please contact these or the DRE, Stacy Callender (email: vp-re@uujackson.org)

This is an exciting opportunity for UUCJ to offer the first comprehensive sexuality education course in Mississippi ! Be a part of making history!

How You Can Help

Intergenerational: We need people willing to participate in the upcoming Spring Holiday service. If you are willing to read or sing for this service, please contact Stacy Callender by March 1st.

Children & Youth: If you have knowledge about efforts to address DISABILITIES in our local community, please contact Amy Griggs about providing your time or talent to assist with our Young UUs. We also need nursery helpers for Dary Shenefelt and people to read A Story for All Ages in service.

 

R.E. Committee – First Sunday of the Month – after service

The R.E. Committee meets on the first Sunday of the month after service. Anyone interested may attend meetings. If you are interested in serving on the R.E. Committee for the 2009 year, please contact Stacy Callender, DRE.

For more info contact Stacy Callender, DRE at vp-re@uujackson.org

 

Adult Religious Education

We have several new opportunities for adults beginning this spring. In our Sunday Forums, we will lead UU 101 & UU 102 classes for everyone who wants to learn more about Unitarian Universalism and our seven principles. We will also begin an Adult OWL comprehensive sexuality education class in February. Later this spring, we will have two workshops about Vegetarian Cooking and Beginning Crochet. More details including sign-up sheets are posted on the main church bulletin board.

This Month:

UU 101: The first of this 3-session series being led by Gwen Combs will be Sunday, January 25th 9:00 am

4th Friday Film Night: We will resume this month with DAUGHTERS OF WISDOM (67min) by Bari Pearlman. This film explores Kala Rongo, a Buddhist monastery for women high on a remote Tibetan plateau. Here, 300 nuns pursue their rigorous but rewarding life—eager to develop an intellectual and spiritual life traditionally available only to men. In this society where women are mostly poor and illiterate, this thriving monastery is breaking tradition and contributing to the empowerment of women in Tibetan Buddhist culture. Friday, January 23rd 7:00-9:00 pm.

 

 

News from the Mid-South District 

Eunice Milton Benton, District Executive

 

THE IMPORTANCE OF PRESIDENTS

February’s Presidents Day is a reminder of the importance of presidents! In a time when we have just elected and inaugurated a new president for our country, we will also elect a new president for our Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations.

Involvement in this democratic process is a sacred responsibility! The presidential election at our UUA deserves our attention. The Rev. Dr. Laurel Hallman and the Rev. Peter Morales are the candidates for the UUA presidency. And, while the election will occur at the 2009 General Assembly, in Salt Lake City, UT, next June, Unitarian Universalists everywhere are considering which of these leaders they will choose. 

The UUA’s Elections webpage has campaign-related materials at: http://www.uua.org/elections Here's the link to Rev. Hallman's web site: http://www.hallmanforuuapresident.com, and here's the link to Rev. Morales' web site: http://www.moralesforuuapresident.org. 

Is your congregation making time to provide information about the candidates for this important post? Each congregation votes in this process. And, Presidents Day is upon us!

Mid-South District - UUA

On the web at www.msduua.org 

Eamil: msduuoffice@aol.com 

 

Treasurer's Message

by Ray Shenefelt

We continue to do well financially, a little more than half way through the fiscal year. At the March annual meeting we will adopt a budget for the year starting next July. The President's column deals with pledging & stewardship to meet the needs of the church, in preparation for this budget. The timing is to send out pledge letters with pledge forms about Feb 1. We welcome return of pledge forms as soon as you are able to decide. We will try to collect remaining pledge forms on pledge Sunday, March 1. We need all pledges by March 10 in order to decide on a proposed budget at the March board meeting.

Ray  

Membership Report

by Membership vp, Natalie Maynor

During 2008 UUCJ welcomed four new members: Amy Griggs, Jason Griggs, Lisa Kerson, and Tom Kerson. Our total number of members is now sixty-six. Two people signed the Stepping Stones Book in 2008: Diane Brooks and Carly Bell.

Natalie

Groups, Meetings, and Announcements

NEW DOORS! Our building is now much enhanced with two new doors that lock securely and actually open with reasonable effort. The repair project also included some needed attention to the walls adjacent to the door areas. Thanks to everyone who contributed time and talent in identifying the problems, locating and hiring the contractor, and approving the final results. Good job!

Did you know that the UUA is now on Twitter. Visit their site at http://twitter.com/uua

 

• This month remember to replenish your stock of fresh coffee, nuts, and dried fruits from our supply on sale in the kitchen. Your purchases of these fine products support the free trade farmers who produce them.

• The board has selected Dr. Magee to be UUCJ’s candidate for the position of Mid-South District’s representative on the UUA board. The district will be well represented if he is elected for this two year position.

• On a final note: “they” warn us to watch out what we wish for and that seems to apply to me lately. After months of searching I finally found a job in December. No longer a member of the leisurely retired community, I find that 40 hours of diligent work fill up a week much more fully than I had remembered. The consequence has been an exacerbation of the lateness our newsletter and consequently our website updates. I’m trusting that the confusion of this new life will soon settle down and things will return to a more reasonable pace in the near future. Your patience with my shortcomings in the meantime is most appreciated! NNUSLetter Editor.

Upcoming Events

Saturday, February 7, The Power of Intent group session will be facilitated by Lelon Thompson from 10:00 am to 11:00 (cost $5/person). Messages from the Light -- channeled group and individual messages -- will follow, from 11:00 to noon (cost $5/person).

Friday, February 13 at 6:00 pm: Board Of Trustees Meeting UUCJ’s Board meetings are open to all. Note that beginning in January board meetings are held on the 2nd Friday of each month.

Saturday, February 14, A Spiritual Support group session will be led by Lelon Thompson from 10:00 am to 11:00 am (cost $5/person). The Intuitive Development class will then follow from 11:00 to noon (cost $5/person).

Sunday, February 15, Third Sunday Potluck Lunch immediately following the worship service this month will feature a special Unbirthday Party celebration that will even include cake decorating and birthday wishes!. More details will be available shortly.

Sunday, February 22, at 1-4pm Fred Hammond will lead a workshop that reviews the past year’s results, followed by strategic mapping for the coming year’s goals, including objective benchmarks for reaching those goals.

Saturday, February 21: The Power of Intent group session will be facilitated by Lelon Thompson from 10:00 am to 11:00 (cost $5/person). Messages from the Light -- channeled group and individual messages -- will follow, from 11:00 to noon (cost $5/person).

Friday, February 27 DAUGHTERS OF WISDOM (67min) by Bari Pearlman. This film explores Kala Rongo, a Buddhist monastery for women high on a remote Tibetan plateau. Here, 300 nuns pursue their rigorous but rewarding life—eager to develop an intellectual and spiritual life traditionally available only to men. In this society where women are mostly poor and illiterate, this thriving monastery is breaking tradition and contributing to the empowerment of women in Tibetan Buddhist culture.

Saturday, February 28, A Spiritual Support group session will be led by Lelon Thompson from 10:00 am to 11:00 am (cost $5/person). The Intuitive Development class will then follow from 11:00 to noon (cost $5/person). 

Sunday, March 1: Pledge Sunday is your opportunity to make a pledge of your time, talent, and treasure to our beloved community.

***** New deadline for NUUS submissions -- Now due on the 15th ****

Deadline for submissions to the December UUCJ NUUSletter: february 15. Please send your submissions to NUUSletter@uujackson.org.