Unitarian Universalist Church of Augusta UUCA Newsletter

Volume 20 Number 11 December 2016

Inside this issue The Minister’s Corner

The Minister’s Corner 1

For several months the Board and I have been working on how to make our vision state- ment a reality. To do so means that we must have a clear idea of our goals for the next Children in Need at Christmas 2 few years, and we need to identify specific objectives that this board can achieve this

church year. We are pleased to share with the congregation that your hard work of vi- Full Moon Vespers 2 sioning during 2016 has been both inspiring and empowering, and has resulted in the

following vision plan.

Blue Christmas 2 With the input from the congregational responses regarding areas of congregational life,

it is clear that growth and outreach are major goals. There are two areas in which we can Second Sunday Special develop strategies for outreach in order to grow our congregational membership: the Collection December 11 th 3 increased population moving to the CSRA as a result of the Ft Gordon Cyber Command

expansion, estimated to draw 13,000 new residents to the CSRA by 2020; and the in- creasing growth of faculty and students on the two campuses of Augusta University, not Gifts of Honor Received 3 to mention the other higher education institutions in the CSRA. Alongside growth in

membership, we need to manage growth in financial stability, and we also identified

Welcome Our New Member 4 campus space as a necessary companion element of growth.

So for 2016-17, the Board’s objectives for outreach are: Fall Flings! Fun... 4

to create a ‘vision’ task force to research these two target groups; and to create and submit grant proposals to the UU Funding Program that will fund Mark Your Calendars: 5 our outreach projects. We already have a member who is working on those pro- Qigong for Peace posals, aiming for a March 2017 deadline.

UUCA Pathway to Membership

In Her Name Red Tent The objectives for growth are:

UU Women’s Holiday Luncheon • to research the job description and propose funding for a part-time member- Child Dedication ship coordinator; a growing number of UU congregations are employing mem-

MLK Celebration bership coordinators, who have responsibilities in the areas of membership services, program development and support to specific programs, and commu- A BINGO Night for All Ages nication to the congregation at large.

Teaching Calendar-December 6 • and to research and pursue purchase of adjoining property 3423 Walton Way

Extension. The purpose of this purchase initially would be to rehouse the Chil- December Worship 6 dren and Youth Religious Education and Adult Faith Development activities, and to resituate the playground in its back yard. Following the purchase would come another phase of growth of our campus: to add much-needed parking in the former playground area, to reconfigure the existing R.E. wing to enlarge restroom and meeting room space, and to reconfigure the kitchen and move the existing entrance out of the kitchen. A further addition, identified at this year’s annual UUCA safety briefing, would be to convert the window at the end of the short corridor adjacent to the Sanctuary into a door, which improves safety exit provision for the Sanctuary, and also possibly could be the exit to a pathway linking the existing building with the new property.

Much energy and thinking has already gone into this vision plan; the previous year’s board signed a right of first refusal agreement (which we also have with the fire station) with the owner of 3423 Walton Way Extension at the end of May. Now our Board wants your input, in the form of group meetings offered during the next two months, in order to discuss and get your constructive suggestions for our property purchase proposal.

>>>>> UUCA Newsletter

(continued from previous page: Minister’s Corner )

Please note the dates and times of the December group meetings:

Friday, December 9 th at 7pm , venue: UUCA Common Room

Sunday, December 11 th at 12:30pm , venue: UUCA Sanctuary

Saturday, December 17 th at 6:30pm , UU Young Professionals group meeting, venue: the Violette/Chapman home

The January group meetings dates and times will be announced in the January Newsletter and E-nnouncements. We will need to know numbers for the small group meetings taking place in homes in order to make sure we can accommodate all those wanting to attend.

On January 29 th we will hold a mid-year congregational meeting, at which the congregation will vote on empowering the Board to go ahead with the purchase.

Many more details need to be ironed out, but as your Board President and Minister, we are confident that our Board’s work in good faith will ensure that the vision that you, the members, expressed for UUCA can become an exciting reality.

In faith and friendship, Rev. Gaye & Chris Palmer Board President Full Moon Vespers

Winter Solstice Vespers Sunday, December 18 th Children in Need at Christmas 7pm in the Sanctuary

Each Christmas season the UUCA Pastoral Care Team sponsors a children’s This month we are meeting on the third Sunday to gift donation project. This year we will be collecting gifts for Child celebrate the Winter Solstice, the longest night of the Enrichment Inc. This organization has helped over 20,000 children since year, as we welcome the return of the light. 1978, and last year provided Christmas gifts for more than 300 children.

Its website states: “Last year, Child Enrichment, through its two programs, Contact: Jezibell Anat, [email protected] the Child Advocacy Center (CAC) and the Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) Program, found safe permanent homes, provided counseling, forensic interviewing or court advocacy for 802 local victims of child abuse and 402 non-offending parents, caregivers, and siblings along with providing expert testimony in prosecutions of alleged child sex offenders.

Child Enrichment is a safe haven for child victims of abuse and neglect, and all services are professional, specialized and free of charge.” ( http:// www.childenrichment.org )

Donation Details: Please bring GIFT CARDS, CLOTHING, BOOKS, for 8 - 16 year old children ( they already have enough gifts for younger children, including Barbies and balls) . UNDERWEAR is always needed.

UNWRAPPED items are then given to the caregiver (parent, foster parent, grandparent, or other relative) for them to present to the children on Christmas morning... it helps to establish or bolster their relationships.

There will be a container for gifts at the end of the short hallway next to the Sanctuary. The last date for accepting gifts will be SUNDAY, DECEMBER 11 th .

Thank you in advance for your generosity!

Page 2 Volume 20 Number 11

December 11 th Second Sunday Special Collection

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 December 11 th , our special offering will go to our new Southern Region Chalice Lighter program . The Chalice Lighter program began in 1984 as a way for individuals to extend our faith by making a donation of $10 or more for three Calls per year.

Our new program works similarly. There will be up to two calls for each of our Region's historic geographical districts plus one addi- tional call for a Region-wide effort each year - for a possible total of nine calls. The Chalice Lighter Team will notify us all of each Call. As before, each Call will have a launch and end date.

Many will still want to make individual donations. However, the Chalice Lighter team asks all Southern Region congregations also to host a special gift Offering as a way of pooling individual gifts and introducing the program to those who have not signed on person- ally. The reminder here is that we are an association of congregations. We covenant to support each other and our neighboring congre- gations with generosity and a nurturing relationship.

The Southern Region's Chalice Lighter team - comprised of volunteers from each of the four historic Districts - will evaluate and select Chalice Lighter Call applications. In keeping with the times, all our work will be done via email and social media. The Chalice Lighter team will monitor each Call's progress and receive a report from the congregation on its total receipts and how funds are being util- ized.

Frequently asked questions: Do I need to re-enroll as a Chalice Lighter? Yes, please do re-enroll! Doing so will be very helpful in updating our Chalice Lighter mailing list.

We've previously enrolled in Chalice Lighters as a household. How do we do that now? If you share a last name and share the same e-mail address, please submit one online enrollment. If you do not share the same last name and/or do not share an email address, please submit an online enrollment for each member of the household.

Will I still receive snail mailed Chalice Lighter call announcements? In an effort to conserve resources, all future Chalice Lighter call announcements will be delivered via e-mail only. We hope all South- ern Region congregations will help in this effort by sharing with their members and friends news about all future Chalice Lighter calls.

Are Chalice Lighters now expected to contribute to the possible nine Chalice Lighter calls per year instead of the prior three Chalice Lighter calls per district per year? While contributing to all Chalice Lighter calls that speak to you is entirely welcomed, that is certainly not expected! We anticipate most Chalice Lighters will contribute to the two calls benefitting their historic, geographical district and to the region-wide call.

We hope you and your congregation will join us in supporting the good work of our fellow Southern Region congregations through the Chalice Lighter program!

Questions or comments? Please contact us at [email protected] .

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, as both a time of peace and, with the Winter Solstice followed by the start of the New Year, a time of new beginnings, December is a time for optimism. Please consider making a Gift of Honor in the name of someone who brings something positive to your life.

______Gifts of Honor Received

- To Celebrate the Marriage of Ruth McClelland-Nugent and John Kalney -

______

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 UUCA Newsletter

Welcome Our Billie Jo Chandler New Member My name is Billie Jo Chandler. I have four other in my family and they are: spouse, Anthony; children, Celeste (who you may have seen at the church Fall Flings! Fun with me), son, Caleb and mother-in- law, Anita. was had by all during We are an Army family and when my husband took me to my first UU church I fell in love with Unitarian “A Bird’s Eye View” Universalism at first sight. I have been attending UU churches all over the on a beautiful Sunday U.S.A. and we should be in Georgia for the next few years so I wanted to be- long with all of you. I also wanted to afternoon in November. show my children before they leave home and start their lives, that not all churches are about just following rules and doing what they are told; teaching them to be kind to all people, not just people who are just like them; and to fight for what they believe in no matter what others think, Pilot: Dana Linn but do it without harm to others.

Barbara Groh Richard Dillenbeck

Chris Garcia

Paula Goldman Linda McBurney

November Attendance

November 6 th November 13 th November 20 th November 27 th 87 124 99 72 Page 4 Volume 20 Number 11

Mark Your Calendars: Wishing all our UUCA family and friends a Qigong for Peace healthy, happy and

Sundays 5-6pm in the Sanctuary peaceful holiday season . You are invited to join us on Sundays from 5-6pm in the Sanctuary as we send peace to the world. We will do a set from Rev. Gaye and the staff of UUCA of Qigong practices to energize and focus ourselves and then we will do the same set to send Qi (the essence of all things) to the world. The Qigong practices are simple and can be done standing or sitting by everyone. Wear comfortable clothing and bring a joyous heart. UU Women’s Holiday Luncheon

This is a gift to the world from the church. No donations The December Women's Luncheon Group is once again being gra- are requested. ciously offered and hosted by Helen Baisden on Wednesday, De- This will be led by Jan Perry, who teaches Qigong classes at cember 14 th at The Pinnacle Club in Augusta at 11:30am . This has the church on Thursday mornings. become a much anticipated annual tradition with an invitation to all Contact: Jan Perry, [email protected] UU women. If you have not yet attended and are interested, please contact Louise. The cost will be $20.15, payable to Helen Baisden. Please note the change to Wednesday from our usual Tuesday meet- UUCA Pathway ing day. RSVP will be required by Sunday, December 11 th . to Membership Please respond to Louise Plodinec at [email protected] . Saturday and Sunday December 10 th and 11 th

Contact: Rev. Gaye [email protected] “Each night a child is born is a holy night” Are you interested in knowing more about becoming a Sophia Lyon Fahs wrote these words to remind us of the hope we ex- member of UUCA? Our 2-session course for prospective perience in each new birth. members, offered each quarter, encompasses UU Heritage – where Unitarian Universalism came from and where it is It is customary for us to now – and UU Community and Connection s – a meeting dedicate children and with our leaders who share the activities and programs in welcome them into our which new members can participate. congregation on Christmas Eve. This year our service The fall weekend for the Pathway to Membership course is will be held on December 24 th , Saturday evening, at 5:30pm . If th th Saturday and Sunday December 10 and 11 . Those com- you would like to have your child dedicated please email Rev. Gaye at pleting the course are eligible for membership of UUCA. [email protected] . Other dates for winter, spring and summer courses will be announced in future newsletters.

Save the date: Thursday, January 5 th at 7pm UUCA Sunday Sermons on YouTube The Progressive Religious Coalition Interfaith Thanks to Josh Dakin , the sermons every Sunday are Martin Luther King Celebration will take place at the being videoed and can be seen on YouTube. This is a great historic Tabernacle Baptist Church on Laney-Walker Boulevard in resource for those members and friends who are home- Augusta. The keynote speaker will be the Rev. William Barber II, bound or cannot be present for the services. There are links pastor of Greenleaf Christian Church and President of the North to the UUCA Media page on our website Carolina NAACP. Musical guests will be the Davidson Fine Arts www.uuaugusta.org , or you can go to UUCA Media Chorale. at https://www.youtube.com/channel/ UCf1_cStJQtKiCuqB9oHC5rw A BINGO Night for All Ages

In Her Name Red Tent “Test Your Luck” on Friday the Thirteenth (January 13 th ), 7 to 9pm.

The Red Tent will gather on Thursday, December 15 th at 6pm in R. E. Room 6. We will be having a Blessing Way for This is a fundraiser for the Church sponsored by the Children & Youth a member of the group whose baby is due in January! Religious Education (C.Y.R.E.) Committee. All women ages 18+ are invited to attend. Please bring a A fun-filled night is planned for ALL ages. snack to share and plan to join us! Watch for details in upcoming E-nnouncements. Contact: Sharon Bennett at [email protected] .

Page 5 AND FINALLY...

Teaching Calendar—December 2016

4th 11 th 18 th Saturday 24 th 25 th

Nursery Sherron Shonk Sherron Shonk Sherron Shonk Sherron Shonk & Sherron Shonk Alan Totten Laurie Booher Melanie Roberts Allison Hollimon Toddlers

“Charlie Brown Multi-generational Moravian Love Feast Pre-kindergarten - Callista Kiss Christmas” Musical Worship Service in Sanctuary Kindergarten Liz Goodson Multi-generational No Class Today Service “Special Musical Worship Jenny Malizia R. E. Room 2 “Helping Others” Guest” Service Georgianna Laws

Tim Hunter Multi-generational “Charlie Brown Moravian Love Feast Grades 1-4 Denice Traina Musical Worship Christmas” Service in Sanctuary

Service “Special Multi-generational No Class Today Common Room “Different Ways to Veronica Leaptrott Classroom Area Guest” Musical Worship Live (Poverty & Nixon Childs Wealth)” Service

“Charlie Brown Chris Drescher Multi-generational Christmas” Moravian Love Feast Grades 5-8+ TBA Musical Worship Service in Sanctuary Multi-generational No Class Today Service “Special R. E. Room 3 “Putting Love and Joy Musical Worship Guest” in the Season” Service

We welcome stories, news and pictures sent in for our December Worship at UUCA monthly Newsletter. Sundays at am Deadline: Monday before 11 the last Thursday

e-mail directly to the th church office: Sunday, December 4 – “The Principles According to Scrooge ” - Jezibell Anat & [email protected] Joe Zuchowski, Guests-in-the-Pulpit

Sunday, December 11 th – “Let There Be Light! ” - Rev. Gaye with Bill Karp and Nancy Blanchard

Unitarian Universalist Monday, December 12 th — 7pm—“Blue Christmas” - with Rev. Gaye Church of Augusta Sunday, December 18 th – “A Charlie Brown Christmas” 3501 Walton Way Ext Augusta, GA 30909 7pm—Full Moon Vespers Phone 706 .733 .7939 Saturday, December 24 th — 5:30pm—Christmas Eve Service www.UUAugusta .org Sunday, December 25 th – “Gentle Jesus, Meek and Mild” - with Rev. Gaye