Oct-Nov 2020 Vol 70 No 3 Online Reading Version

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Newsletter for Oct./Nov. 2020 FirstUUNash.org vol. 70, no. 3 1 Newsletter for October/November 2020 First Unitarian Universalist Church of Nashville A Welcoming Congregation

VOLUME 70 NUMBER 3 Nurture Spiritual Growth Sunday Online Worship 9 – 10 a.m. during Covid-19

We broadcast our service at 9 a.m. on Webinar Jam, See how to join in live at firstuunash.org/worship-on-webinarjam/ or enjoy the re-play video posted to our YouTube channel, or Facebook Page at 11 a.m.

Oct. 4: Five Smooth Stones of Loss Rev. Diane Dowgiert All our lives we experience loss. The attendant of loss is grief. Though the reality of grief is universal, each person will experience it differently. There are some touchstones to ground us as we journey through grief and loss. The arduous journey is ultimately a spiritual journey; each touchstone an invitation to know and understand ourselves more deeply.

Oct. 11: Into the Woods Rev. Diane Dowgiert Have you ever noticed how many classic children’s fairy tales are set in the woods? Symbolically, it is where we encounter the darker, more frightening aspects of life. Today we will explore the richness the dark woods can bring to our lives.

Oct. 18: More Than Numbers Rev. Diane Dowgiert How do we deal with the immeasurable loss of life from COVID-19? The numbers are staggering. Behind every number is a person with hopes and dreams, likes and dislikes, parents and grandparents, maybe siblings, children, and grandchildren. We’ll look to some Buddhist teachings about death as we also raise the names and stories of some who have died.

Oct. 25: Music Sunday Jaie Tiefenbrunn, Director of Music Ministries This is What Democracy Looks Like! Join us for a morning of celebration and introspection as Social Justice and Music Ministries team up to share songs to inspire us as we inch closer to Election Day.

Nov. 1: All Souls Rev. Diane Dowgiert In the turning of the year, this is the time when the veil between the worlds is thin, when we make space in our hearts and minds to connect with the dearly departed. In the spirit of memory and hope, we’ll gather to honor and keep faith with all the souls who have gone before, naming and remembering members of FUUN who have died in the past year.

Nov. 8: Keeping the Faith Rev. Diane Dowgiert The roots of our Unitarian Universalist faith run deep throughout history, roots that have held strong through times of struggle and adversity. Within this history we can find wisdom as we strive to keep this faith—a faith rooted in the democratic spirit—burning bright—now and for generations to come.

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Nov. 15 To Be Announced

Nov. 22: Gratitude Sunday Rev. Diane Dowgiert Gratitude is a spiritual practice. A daily practice of pausing to give thanks is associated with improved health and increased happiness. When gratitude is shared in community, its effects are multiplied and amplified. Let us gather in thanksgiving.

Nov. 29 To be Announced

From the Minister’s Study

“Life is what happens while you are busy making other plans.” -John Lennon

Shortly after the Democratic National Convention, a photo went around on social media. It was of the guy who produced the whole thing from his living room. Not only was he obviously a technical wiz, the amount of equipment surrounding him was astounding—multiple large screen monitors, fancy soundboards, laptops, and keyboards. What couldn’t be seen was all the software running on all those devices. And, my guess is that guy didn’t get a wink of sleep the whole convention.

Dollar signs went flashing before my eyes, along with another image in my head. I saw your amazing, hard- working staff, some in their homes, and some in their offices in the administrative building at the church, huddled over laptops and monitors—some old and some new—learning new software, filming, recording, and editing videos, then stitching it all together with live presenters into something resembling worship— every Sunday morning since mid-March—work that far exceeds what any of them were hired to do back in the pre-pandemic days. Their efforts have been nothing short of heroic.

Last March, when the reality of COVID-19 hit our communities, congregations everywhere scrambled to find ways of making worship happen online. At the time, we thought, or hoped, it was temporary—a few weeks until we got to the other side of, or at least had a firm hand on this pandemic. We now know we are nowhere near the other side of this thing. Here at the First Unitarian Universalist Church of Nashville, you had the added complication of a ministerial transition. Your minister of 15 years retired and you hired a Developmental Minister—me—to serve as Lead Minister to help with the transition and to work with you on some major goals.

If we were gathering in person, I would give every one of you a big hug and a pat on the back. You’ve been dealing with a whole lot, y’all!

The plans that were intended to be temporary are not sustainable for the long haul. I am working with your staff to simplify the process of putting together online worship services every Sunday. It will involve some experimen- tation. Given that we are all religious professionals, not TV producers, it might get glitchy along the way until we get it right.

I have already come to know that you are a kind, caring people—generous with patience and forbearance when things don’t go as planned. I am so eager for the day when we can all meet in person. Yours in shared ministry, Rev. Diane Dowgiert [email protected] 2 (Continued on page 2) Newsletter for Oct./Nov. 2020 FirstUUNash.org vol. 70, no. 3 3

From the Assistant Minister Assistant Minister’s Musings

Happy fall, dear ones!

It’s time for resetting and making plans for the coming months, and what I'm most yearning for is the creation of new ways for us to make and sustain connections.

Usually this time of year I’m busy meeting newcomers and getting ready to welcome new members of the congregation and help them find their ways around church and meet each other and all of us. And this year is, well, different. (You know this already!) We will not have a new member class (because no one wants to be on Zoom for four straight hours!) or a celebration of new members during worship this fall. (It makes me sad, too.) However, we have had visitors during these pandemic months, and some of them tell me they are interested in membership, so I am working on re-designing our membership process and creating new ways of celebrating our growth as a congregation.

Whether you are a member, a prospective member, or just a curious visitor to our congregation, there are several ways you can collaborate with me in strengthening connections within the congregation.

Newcomers, visitors, prospective members: Be in touch with me (Email below) so I can make sure you hear about upcoming programming: church-wide social gatherings, classes, opportunities to learn about (Continued on page 3) the congregation and Unitarian Universalism, and a brand-new “path to membership” (if you’re so inclined—we are delighted you’re here, whether or not you decide to make it official.)

Let me know if you’d like to schedule a phone call or Zoom meeting, especially if you have questions about Unitar- ian Universalism or our congregation. I love getting to know you, but it takes a little extra effort these days, while Sunday mornings are so thoroughly online.

Everyone: I am building teams of volunteers for specific tasks that can support us all in getting and staying connected from a distance. (Time commitments are flexible, and training/coaching will be provided.) Please let me know if any of the following look interesting to you:

Providing Sunday morning hospitality by paying attention to the chat in our live worship at 9 a.m. or the comments during the Facebook Live at 11 a.m. and adding welcoming responses.

Watching Facebook and/or YouTube throughout the week and interacting with comments, helping to foster the open, inclusive welcome we strive to extend to all comers in all seasons, and helping newcomers connect with the congregation and with me.

Providing basic, one-on-one tech instruction/problem-solving to folks who need a little extra support to be connected online—perhaps walking them through how to connect to worship services, social hour, classes, or meetings, or helping them figure out how to use their devices to do new things like submitting pictures for Water Communion or participating in choir and distance singing projects.

Old-fashioned phone calls: Some of us still prefer low-tech communications or don’t have access to high-tech tools. (Remember, you can use your cellphone to make phone calls.)

I hope your fall season is cozy and comforting and full of new projects and new learning. I look forward to seeing you around cyberspace and hearing all about it.

In faith and hope, Rev. Denise Gyauch Assistant Minister of Congregational Engagement [email protected]

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From the Director of Music Ministries Music Notes

Making music has been different in the past few months… The beautiful thing about this for me as your Director is that I have gotten to hear each of our singer’s individual voices. I recognize them blended into the choir, but to get to ap- preciate them individually has been a joy. The singers among you who have been willing to participate in our distance-sings have trudged through new technology, the irritations of singing alone. You don’t have other voices around you to rely on. Choir resumed (or Re-Zoomed) on Sept. 10, and it was a joy to see everyone again. We played zoom singing games and learned some new music. I have hope for a thriving music program, even though it looks different. You are welcome to join us; email [email protected]. I would not have been able to create the worshipful content for Sunday mornings without the help of you, the congregation, those singers, and a few volunteers who made videos for me. Namely, Sean Appelt who created the amazing video for Turn the World Around, and David Haas who made the slide roll for Holy Waters. Jonah Eller- Isaacs has also provided video support. I need more help like this. I want to be able to be the choral musician and audio engineer that I’ve become. I think I wrote before that I am finding joy and blessings in the shutdown. There are weekly Chor-antine conversations hosted by the Association for Unitarian Universalist Music Ministries (AUUMM), which have put me in contact with UU colleagues who are happy to share what they’ve learned. I was able to bring Patrick Dailey’s workshop online, where over 100 people attended.

We have multiple recording projects on tap—and some of them involve a chance for all of you to participate. We’ll be calling for selfies and photos, and there will be a couple of all-church recording projects coming, as well. I hope to see you online soon. -Jaie Tiefenbrunn Director of Music Ministries | [email protected]

From the Director of Communication Communication Corner

Communication is minimally a two-person task—It needs you! I’ve had quite a few folks contact me this month to say they didn’t see an announcement about this or that, but they were there in every outlet we have. So, I invite you to join in. Please check our website posts on our home-page as they are updated daily. Scroll down to see them arranged in 3 columns cat- egorized as: Announcements FUUN Social Events and Engagement Opportunities. Read our announcement slides at the end of each service, read our weekly emails, (sign up on the right-hand col- umn at firstuunash.org/news), read our blog pages, or join in on our social media sites.

I have a special request that members and friends subscribe to our YouTube channel. Once we reach 1,000 sub- scribers we can have a branded url, plus time-saving features available to us like live-streaming directly from our services (rather than posting a re-play). Our YouTube channel is youtube.com/channel/UCVB2xDLhfjQnrXx- 2zWmfeA or search for First Unitarian Universalist Church of Nashville at https://www.youtube.com/. 4 Newsletter for Oct./Nov. 2020 FirstUUNash.org vol. 70, no. 3 5

Follow and engage with us on social media: We miss seeing you in person; but until then, we work to stay in touch online so please like/follow/subscribe to us with the following links:

Facebook: facebook.com/FirstUUNashville/. You can find many different groups on our Facebook page such as our Facebook Social Hour Group: Facebook.com/groups/FirstUUNashCoffeeHour

Instagram: instagram.com/firstuunashville/ (@firstuunashville)

Twitter: twitter.com/FirstUUNash (@FirstUUNash)

Love social media? If you’re interested in contributing to our social media outreach, please contact me. Jeannie Haman and I can use the help.

Sunday Worship: Join us for services live at 9 a.m. or watch one of our re-plays on YouTube or on our Facebook page. The Order of Service, the Share the Plate information, Joys & Concerns submittal form, and any supplemental materials are posted on our With You Worship Portal, so you may more fully participate. I thought you might enjoy some behind the scenes shots of staff preparing for worship these days.

This is my view on Sunday mornings. The mac on the left is what we usually use at the back of the sanctuary with our video camera to live-stream our services to YouTube and Facebook. I continue to do that with the re-play of our 9 a.m. Webi- narJam service.

The next two are behind the scenes with Marguerite Mills and Elisabeth Geschiere captured by Jaie Tiefenbrunn.

(Continued on page 6 5 Newsletter for Oct./Nov. 2020 FirstUUNash.org vol. 70, no. 3 6

I don’t know about you, but it’s been more difficult for me to keep track of what day it is these days so I wanted to remind you that the end of daylight savings time is approaching and we’ll need to remember to set our clocks back for the Sunday, Nov. 1 service.

And finally, we wanted to share this year’s staff covenant with you (copied below). We work together annually to create one that works for us, under the skillful guidance of our master covenant maker, Marguerite Mills. -Sheri DiGiovanna Director of Communication | [email protected]

From the Staff Staff Covenant 2020-2021

We, the core staff* of the First Unitarian Universalist Church of Nashville, covenant together to:

Honor confidentiality. Come to meetings prepared to be present. Affirm each other’s time commitments. Wear masks when at church, except when in one’s own office. Maintain clarity around our different roles and responsibilities, especially when they overlap. Be mindful of the impact we may have. Encourage direct communications between people. Stop without question when asked to stop, but with a commitment to find a pro- ductive time and process to continue a difficult conversation. Recognize the fact that disagreements happen and are to remain among us; in public we will support each other, and we will present ourselves as a team. Prioritize collaborative leadership. Practice compassion for ourselves and each other. In all things, be willing to call others back into covenant and to be called back ourselves. Signed by Rev. Diane Dowgiert Rev. Denise Gyauch Jaie Tiefenbrunn Marguerite Mills Mary Lindsay Sheri DiGiovanna

* Those who are half-time or more and report directly to the lead minister.

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From the President of the Board of Directors The Myth of Control, and an Invitation

Life has always been uncertain, and sometimes dangerous. As an ER doctor, I am more aware of this than most people. Events such as tornados, car accidents and cancer re- veal that life has always taken unexpected twists and turns. But we have developed ways to pretend that everything is under control. We make patterns and invent routines that create the illusion that life is safe and predictable. School 7–3. Job 9–5. Wash clothes on Monday. Grocery shopping Tuesday and Friday. Out to dinner and a movie Saturday. Sunday church.

Then, the coronavirus arrived. Schedules were disrupted; routines broken. We have been left exposed to life as it really happens—unpredictable and random. This loss of the veneer of control over our lives which we hide behind, coupled with the insidious viral threat creates the “perfect storm” for anxiety, depression, anger, frustration, confusion, poor mental health and spiritual despair. I believe the best way to get through this is to recognize that life has always been, and will always be, fragile and fleeting.

First, we must give up the false notion that we are in complete control of our fate. This myth of control is imposed on us by our Western Culture and Western Religions. I believe that by looking to other religious traditions, such as Taoism, we can both recognize that we were never in control and learn the tools we need to help us deal with the unpredictability of life.

Second, we need to turn to each other. In the US, we tend to emphasis and glorify the individual. Individual Rights. The Self-made Man (sic). Going it alone. In truth, animal behaviorists will tell you that the strength of the human race is not individual brilliance. It is our ability to live and work cooperatively in large groups. Our big brains are not designed for individual achievements but for large group activities. Therefore, in our current dis- tress, we need to reach out to each other. Support each other. Recognize that we will be unhappy if we try to “go it alone” or depend only on our nuclear families. We need to reach out to each other in spite of the barriers that Covid-19 imposes.

First UU Church of Nashville is the ideal place to work on the changes that we need to heal us mentally and spiritually. Joining a Covenant Group, for example, is a great way to connect with others and explore new ways of looking at the world. Volunteering for committees can provide connections and a sense of communal purpose that makes us mentally and spiritually healthier.

As a prelude to re-writing our policies and procedures, and changing our governance structure next year, FUUN will be re-imaging our vision and mission statements this year. The vision and mission statements will provide the focus and direction of all future Board actions, programing, grounds changes, and ministry decisions. I invite you to step up, volunteer, and contribute to helping re-write these sacred documents.

You may even find it will improve your mental health. -Doug Pasto-Crosby President of the Board of Directors, 2020-21 | [email protected]

From the Fundraising Committee Fundraising Update

The deadline for this newsletter came right in the middle of Auction planning, so please keep an eye on the weekly email for further details. But, there are a few things we can talk about here.

Safety is our Top Concern One of our main thoughts this year was providing social events for you, not only because these have historically been the best received, but also because we all need some sort of socializing, even if it must be different from the past. We spoke with last year's donors about how they handled any events that were impacted by the pandemic

7 Newsletter for Oct./Nov. 2020 FirstUUNash.org vol. 70, no. 3 8 shutdown. Several were cancelled all-together, others were postponed until a safer time. The question became can we offer in-person social events this year? Thank you to last year's donors who responded to us. We used your answers to help shape our policies for this year's event donation guidelines.

Our policies for in-person events were made in order to allow both the donors and the winning bidders to feel comfortable that safety is a priority for everyone involved. Here are our guidelines (based on the CDC's recom- mendations):

Our campus is closed; therefore no auction events will occur on our campus. All auction event attendees will wear masks. Auction event donors will provide hand sanitizer or stations to wash hands. Auction events will be kept to small groups of less than ten people, including yourself and/or your family. Auction events will be outdoors, where social spacing can be maintained. Keep auction events short. Avoid sharing food, drinks, toys, or sporting equipment. If you or your guests are sick, stay home. Include a "pandemic/rain delay" in your scheduling of at least two weeks after your event date. In the days before your event, check the local Nashville pandemic situation.

One last note about safety, while in-person auction events are put on by and attended by FUUN congregants, they are not official FUUN events. The church is not liable for any issues that may occur at an auction event.

Thank Yous are Already in Order Several people have been integrally involved in this year's auction and it doesn't happen until the end of October. The Fundraising Committee (myself, Vickie Jones, Bonnie Konz and Lisa Anderson) have put in much time and thought to determine the best approach to fundraising this year and how we can proceed to support the work of FUUN. We owe a debt of gratitude to Pat Lynch, Patricia Uhrehova, Lisa Pasto-Crosby, June Dye, Lynne Cushing, Trigg, River Plum- mer and Vickie Jones for the great brainstorming session where we came up with ideas for donations to this year's event.

Charlie Almquist, Bob Day and the Finance Committee have worked overtime to get our special payment system set up. Charlie, as usual, has also contributed untold hours toward getting the infrastructure of the auction website up and running.

Get Involved You might have a few days left to donate (the deadline is Oct. 3). Go to charityauction.bid/FUUNAuction to do so, or just to check out what's available this year. The online auction will run from Oct. 17 through Oct. 24. But there are a few things you'll be able to purchase before the auction, like our dessert boxes. June Dye is heading up our bakers to make dessert boxes for 1, 2, or 4 people and selling them for the celebratory party we're planning for the last day of the auction (Oct. 24). Watch the weekly email for more details on the party. The deadline to purchase dessert boxes is Oct. 14.

We're also happy to accept sponsorships to eliminate the costs of holding our auction. Our costs include the auction software subscription, credit card processing fees, dessert box materials, and music licensing fees. Check out our sponsorship page on the auction website (charityauction.bid/FUUNAuction ).

Holiday Craft Fair Cancelled, but... Because the campus is closed, we have cancelled our annual Holiday Craft Fair for this year. We hope to be able to hold it again in the next years. Meanwhile, our FUUN crafters and bakers and jam makers have still been busily working, so watch for an opportunity to buy their wares in FUUN's weekly emails. -Jeannie Haman and Lisa Anderson, Fundraising | [email protected] 8 Newsletter for Oct./Nov. 2020 FirstUUNash.org vol. 70, no. 3 9

From Rev. Diane Dowgiert's Transition Support Team Drive-thru Welcome for Rev. Diane Dowgiert

While many of us have met our Developmental Minister Rev. Diane Dowgiert through our small screens, most of us have not met her in person. Rev. Diane‘s Transition Support Team will host a safe and socially-distanced drive- thru opportunity to say hello and welcome, and to give her a chance to meet more members of the congregation. The event will take place Sunday, Oct. 4, 1-3 p.m.

So plan to join us in a drive through the lower parking lot for a warm welcome to Rev. Diane into the FUUN family! -Gloria Ballard Rev. Diane Dowgiert's Transition Support Team

From the Stewardship Committee – Testimony Getting Outside of my Bubble

We’ve all been through a lot in the last few months—tornadoes, the virus, staying in our homes, and worrying about our families and friends, our health care workers, our nation. Through all these dan- gers and challenges, the church community has been a solid, loving source of comfort, even as we can’t be there in person.

As some of you know, I had a major health crisis last fall and winter and was housebound for months. During that time, too, the church was there for me to a simply amazing degree when I was frightened and incredibly weak. I badly needed support and help in lots of ways and needed to feel connected to my church community. My wonderful lay minister Doug Pasto-Crosby, Gail Seavey, the Caring Commit- tee, and a great many of you individually were helping me hold on. I had always loved and valued the church before this time, but during and after that experience, my awareness of the church’s place in my life is even stronger. So I want to be there for my church because it has been there for me.

I want to tell you about something in the life and work of the church that has meant a great deal to me—our social justice work, in particular, NOAH. I am an enthusiastic member of the church’s NOAH Action Team.

NOAH is the acronym for Nashville Organized for Action and Hope, a coalition of congregations, community organizations, and labor unions across the county that work to give voice to traditionally marginalized people. Our church is one of the over 60 member organizations involved. NOAH works to engage ordinary people in the political and economic decisions affecting their lives, acting as a unified voice for the faith and justice community to act on its values in the public arena.

Many of you were involved in last year’s Listening Campaign to determine NOAH’s priorities. The result was our three current action areas: Affordable Housing, Education, and Economic Equity and Jobs. There’s a task force for each area, and each has had important wins.

The Criminal Justice Task Force played a significant role in bringing about the Community Oversight Board. The Economic Equity Task Force teamed up with other partners to get Tennessee’s first Community Benefits Agreement. As plans were be- ginning for the soccer stadium, we were able to negotiate and get things the local community near the stadium wanted, including a decent minimum wage for all workers, affordable housing, and a day care center.

Working on critical issues like these and seeing real results in the city is very rewarding. Equally great for me has been working with such a diverse group of Nashvillians. The NOAH Action Team works to connect FUUN congregants with NOAH across the city. Many of you have been involved through your financial support, attending the public events where we show (by showing up in large numbers) that we are a broad and committed constituency in Nashville.

In a recent NOAH Action Team retreat, we were each asked to share one of our spiritual practices. What came to mind for me is meeting with NOAH folks across the city, hearing the voices of people I likely wouldn’t have otherwise heard, and working together for what we want to see happen in Nashville. That’s a spiritual practice for me.

I was drawn to NOAH in part to get beyond the bubble of almost entirely white, middle class people in my neighborhood, my circle of acquaintances, and even at our church. That has indeed been an immense blessing—to have allies and friends across Nashville and across the demographic borders that are all too pervasive in our society and here in our city.

To sit in a NOAH meeting and hear the determined voices of people from all walks of life, speaking up for what their commu- 9 Newsletter for Oct./Nov. 2020 FirstUUNash.org vol. 70, no. 3 10 nities need and committing to work together for these things is very healing and energizing for me in this dark time.

I believe that all the people at the church who are engaged with social justice work and contribute to it in one form or another consider it an important part of their stewardship. I know I do. That is why I support FUUN with my time and money. -Carol Copple NOAH Action Team |[email protected]

From the Book Group Join the Book Group

The Book Group will meet on Zoom during the Covid-19 outbreak. All are welcome. Please join us by emailing [email protected]. We have selected the following books to discuss: Oct. 20: The Soul of America: The Battle for Our Better Angels by Jon Meacham

Nov. 17: Before We Were ours by Lisa Wingate

Dec. 15: Inheritance: A Memoir of Genealogy, Paternity, and Love by Dani Shapiro

Jan. 19: Djinn Patrol on the Purple Line by Deema Ana parra –Liz Schneider [email protected]

From the Nomination Committee Leadership Opportunity

The Personnel Committee needs a chair and would welcome additional members. This important committee over- sees staff job description updates, salaries, evaluations, and recruitment, and hiring. An understanding of employ- ment issues and some management or personnel experience are desirable. If you’d like to hear more about the committee, please contact Allison Thompson, Carol Copple, or Kathy Hiller (email addresses on Breeze). -Carol Copple Nomination Committee | [email protected]

From the Director of Lifespan Religious Education Faith Development for All Ages

Faith development is the process — religious, spiritual, or otherwise — by which we make meaning in our lives. FUUN Faith Development supports and encourages this in three ways: with classes, nonviolent communication practice groups, and covenant groups.

Classes range from curriculum-based programs, to book clubs, to presentations about travels and journeys, and more.

Dinner in the Twilight Zone Wednesdays, Oct. 7, 14, 21, 28, Nov. 4, 11, 18 6-7:30 p.m. on Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81910948911

Those of you who miss Wednesday night dinners—join us! Those of you who like the original Twilight Zone—join us! Those of you who like the new Twilight Zone and wonder how it’s informed by the original— join us! Anyone and everyone—join us!

We started in July with the intention that it be for one month. But it’s a hit, and we’re still meeting. We gather at 6 p.m. to eat dinner together virtually and watch an original Twilight Zone episode. Then we talk about 10 Newsletter for Oct./Nov. 2020 FirstUUNash.org vol. 70, no. 3 11

the episode. Or we don’t. Whatever we talk about, it’s always enjoyable, and we end by 7:30 p.m.

Fun fact: Rod Serling was a Unitarian Universalist. It’s interesting to consider how his UU values and sensibili- ties informed his stories.

Nonviolent Communication (NVC) Practice Groups are open to anyone, regardless of past experience here or elsewhere. To change one’s mind set and habit patterns from a right vs. wrong model to a compassionate and connecting model takes practice. To connect empathetically with others, and with oneself, takes practice. To begin to live in the world we dream about takes practice. Email Marguerite Mills for more information.

Covenant Groups are made up of five to 12 people, each led by a facilitator, that meet twice a month, often in participants’ homes, for the purpose of supporting individual spiritual growth and deepening a sense of community among participants. Each session gives participants an opportunity to reflect with one another on an engaging topic, which might include: Generosity, Bitterness, Faith, Longing, Racism, etc. Covenant groups are an opportunity to listen and share with a subset of the congregation.

In this time of physical distancing, it becomes even more important to connect on a deeper level. Covenant Groups meeting on Zoom are a way to do that. And we can expand on the traditional group configuration to include multiple ages, those who are parents juggling so much right now, those who share a particular affinity, etc. —whatever it takes to nurture and sustain connection. Register online, and email [email protected] if you have questions. -Marguerite Mills Director of Lifespan Religious Education | [email protected]

From the Director of Lifespan Religious Education Sunday School is in Full Swing

We have looked for different ways to do programming for these different times. Whether that means shorter ses- sions, opportunities we can enjoy online that we could not use in physical classrooms, or something else, we think we have a number of good options in hopes that at least one of them, if not more, will work for your family no matter your circumstances.

Sunday School for PreK-8th Grade

First Sundays are to be determined. Third Sundays are online games with Jason Plummer, Christopher Cotton, and Colin Guerrette. Second and fourth Sundays are classes broken out into three age groups. There are two fifth Sun- days for Story & Song (just like we did it during the summer). And there is one other option that does not involve going online at all.

The curriculum-based 2nd and 4th Sunday programs are:

PreK-1st Grade is a half hour of ritual and story with Suzanne LeBeau and Susie Wilcox. Each month will focus on a different Unitarian Universalist Principle.

2nd-4th Grade is based on a book about a Minecraft Zombie (which will be sent to each child’s home via Ama- zon). We’ll look at it through a UU lens, considering how our Principles and Sources might inform our understanding of the story. Until we can find the right teacher, Marguerite Mills is leading this class.

5th-8th Grade is using the Churchcraft curriculum to explore world religions and use the Minecraft online game to build worship homes. Chas Sisk is the lead teacher. This does involve a cost to access Minecraft, which

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the church will cover.

The weekly schedule and platform information, is: 1st Sundays at 10:30 a.m. To be determined. Platform: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86558123923

2nd Sundays at 10:30 a.m. PreK-1st Grade—Join Suzanne LeBeau and Susie Wilcox for ritual, music, and story. Platform: https://us02web.zoom.usj/87288152140 2nd-4th Grades—We have a Minecraft-related book club, which may include some actual Minecrafting, with Marguerite Mills and Friend (until we have volunteers lined up). Platform: https://zoom.us/j/94518102020 5th-8th Grades—Minecraft some houses of worship while learning about different faiths. With Chas Sisk and Jason Plummer, this one really does involve some actual Minecraft! Platform: To be announced.

3rd Sundays at 10:30 a.m. Family game time with Jason Plummer, Christopher Cotton, and Colin Guerrette. Platform: To be announced.

4th Sundays at 10:30 a.m. PreK-1st Grade—Join Suzanne LeBeau and Susie Wilcox for ritual, music, and story. Platform: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85217697987 2nd-4th Grades—We have a Minecraft-related book club, which may include some actual Minecrafting, with Marguerite Mills and Friend (until we have volunteers lined up). Platform: https://zoom.us/j/94398891671 5th-8th Grades—Minecraft some houses of worship while learning about various theologies. With Chas Sisk and Jason Plummer, this one really will involve some actual Minecraft. Platform: To be announced.

5th Sundays at 10:30 a.m. Story & Song for all ages, just like we did it this past summer. Platform: Nov. https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81465722239, Jan. https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86352116223,

And finally, I will provide supplemental materials based on the worship service. They will be available through email and on the church website at firstuunash.org. If you participate in the worship service as a family, which may be just about all the online time you can manage, these are materials you can give to your children and/or share as a family that will expand on what you experience in the worship service. This is something you can do whenever you wish, be it coloring pages during the worship service, a game or craft after the service, or a project or something else at any time during the week. It’s also something you can use even if you didn’t go to the worship service. The hope here is to give you one more option that may serve you in these uncommon times.

Youth Group

A note about Youth Group, which is not yet meeting on a regular basis: Everyone is talking about how they will minister to themselves and each other this year.

Since it is the youth who ultimately make the decisions, supported by excellent advisors,* we are taking the time necessary to ensure that it’s a good process. If you would like to join the process, or if you have any questions, please contact Jonah Eller-Isaacs, Religious Education Coordinator, at [email protected].

*This year’s Youth Advisors are Shannon Hayes, Elizabeth Leiserson, and the Rev. Holly Mueller, along with Jonah Eller-Isaacs, your Religious Education Coordinator. -Marguerite Mills Director of Lifespan Religious Education |[email protected] 12 Newsletter for Oct./Nov. 2020 FirstUUNash.org vol. 70, no. 3 13

From the Director of Music Ministries Children’s Choir Staff Change Notice

We are sad to announce that Children’s Choir Coordinator Karina Daza will be leaving us in October, but we wish her the best and recognize the great work she did with our children’s choir. She will be missed. -Jaie Tiefenbrunn Director of Music Ministries | [email protected]

From the Director of Lifespan Religious Education Mark Your Calendars

Saturday, Oct. 31—Halloween Parade Time: to be determined Location: FUUN lower parking lot If your car wore a Halloween costume, what would it look like? Well, now is the time to answer that question. And go ahead and get your Halloween costumes ready, or dust off last year’s costume. There may be more to it, and we’ll let you know what we know when we know it.

Sunday, Nov. 1—Community Conversation Time: 10:30 a.m. Location: https://zoom.us/j/97478185308 This will be our annual Community Conversation. While the kids are meeting fot their session, we will be talking about this year’s programming, what you need, what you want, what ideas you have, what resources you recom- mend, anything at all—we want to hear from you.

Act on Our Values in the Broader World

From the Social Justice Committee Social Justice Update

Share the Plate For the month of October, and celebrating National Coming Out Day, our Share the Plate Partner is True You Ten- nessee, which is working to create a safe space for LGBTQ+ youth in middle Tennessee. While LGBTQ+ individuals make up only 10% of the population, they make up over 40% of the homeless population. True You Tennessee is raising funds to build or purchase a house to serve as a foster home for LGBTQ+ youth. Our Share the Plate partner for November is to be decided. -Jessica Moore-Lucas Co-Chair, Social Justice Committee

Social Justice Action Team Updates Social Justice at FUUN includes Action Teams, any of which would love to hear from you. If you have questions or would like to be involved, please email [email protected] and visit the Social Justice website page for information. Leaders for each Action Team may be contacted through the generic address for the applicable action team. Their reports are below. -Jessica Moore-Lucas and Roddy Biggs Co-Chairs, Social Justice Committee | [email protected]

Habitat for Humanity Habitat Fall Build: We need workers! We need You! Our Habitat build is happening. We will be volunteering on Sunday, Oct. 11 and Saturday , Oct. 17. The Unity Build will be in North Nashville at the same location as last year (Park Preserve off West Trinity Lane and I-65).

Habitat of Nashville has found a way to safely conduct the building of houses during the pandemic. To keep work-

13 Newsletter for Oct./Nov. 2020 FirstUUNash.org vol. 70, no. 3 14 ers safe, a number of procedures will be followed.

1. Workers will build in groups of no more than 10 2. All will be required to wear new provided face covering 3. All will be provided new hard hats if needed 4. Everyone will wear provided new safety glasses and gloves 5. Hand sanitizing stations will be on site 6. Hand washing stations will be on site 7. Social distancing will be required

In addition, large gatherings will be eliminated such as the opening group instructions and the group picture. Breakfast and lunch will be served in individual bags and will be handed out to each individual by a hospitality volunteer. With these safety protocols in place, we need to come together to help the family of Franco Abiangama realize their dream of owning their own home. There are four children from 14 to 21 years of age, the oldest helping with household expenses while attending college. Franco from the Republic of Congo, lived in Uganda for 12 years before coming to the U.S. in 2016. He worked on the Uni- ty Build last year with his church and decided to apply for a home for his family. The five of them have been living in a two bedroom one bath apartment.

On Sunday, Oct. 11, builders will be painting the interior, Pictured: the Family of Franco Abiangama installing kitchen cabinets, and installing trim and base boards. The magic of Habitat is that you will be shown how to do these tasks if you have not done them before. On Saturday, Oct. 17, almost the end of the build, we will be doing landscaping and installing mirrors, towel bars and door stops.

Don’t let the current situation deter this family from reaching their dream. Please contact us at Habitat@ thefuun.org to sign up. -Carleen Dowell Co-Chair, Habitat for Humanity Action Team | [email protected]

Nashville Organized for Action and Hope (NOAH) NOAH is an interfaith, interdenominational, multi-racial, county-wide social justice organization involving congregations, labor unions, and other organizations. It addresses issues determined by its members to be impacting our communities such as Nashville’s growing affordable housing crisis addressed below.

Voter Challenge FUUN has joined with NOAH (Nashville Organized for Action and Hope), in an exciting initiative to ensure a vigor- ous election season. The Voter Challenge is asking for 100% participation from their organization; to be regis- tered to vote, to be sure their registration is current and most importantly, to vote. Members should have received our email with a short survey in which to indicate their commitment. Now more than ever, your vote is important. Voting is a hard fought right, and we should always exercise that responsibility. Check your email boxes or our website to be a part of this exciting movement. -Carleen Dowell

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Interview with Dr. Paulette Coleman NOAH Member and New Appointee to the Metropolitan De- velopment and Housing Agency (MDHA) Board. Dr. Coleman is a social justice activist, certified mediator, and urban planner. From 2014–19 she chaired NOAH’s Affordable Housing Task Force. Dr. Coleman was appointed to the Metropolitan Development and Housing Agency (MDHA) Board in October 2019 and the full Council approved the recommendation. Below is excerpts from an interview of her reflections since she took office. The full interview can be viewed at firstuunash.org/coleman/.

1.) What is the purpose/plans of the Metropolitan Development and Housing Agency (MDHA) Board that you have been appointed to? MDHA was established in 1938 to serve the citizens of Nashville by providing safe, decent, and affordable housing. Initially, MDHA had a singular focus on public housing but now MDHA's strategic plan includes a policy of de-concentrating poverty through programs such as the Rental Assistance Demonstration program (RAD) that transfers ownership of the prop- erty from the federal government to local ownership.

2) How does your appointment correlate with NOAH's Affordable Housing Task Force (AHTF) goals? My appointment to the MDHA Board is related to the work of the NOAH Affordable Housing Task Force in that it provides an opportunity for NOAH's commitment to address Nashville's affordable housing crisis and increase the inventory of affordable housing to be an integral part of the discussions, deliberations, policies, and actions of the MDHA. The inventory of affordable housing units is not significantly increased because the units being built under RAD are largely replacements for demolished units. Although the number of units has not increased, the replacements are new, modern, attractive, and within a mixed- income development featuring workforce and market-rate apartments in the same building. NOAH’s AHTF is committed to an Office of (Affordable) Housing staffed with best-in-class civil servants, a dedicated and recurring source of funding for the Barnes Fund, and other goals that are beyond the scope of the MDHA's mission and function.

3) What has been achieved so far? Currently, there is an incredible expectation of greater transparency of how information is conveyed to the Board and shared with the public. One of the major and very significant transitions within MDHA is a greater emphasis on the “H” in housing, rather than the “D” in development of the agency's current work and future plans. While MDHA may not be the driver for solving Nash- ville's affordable housing crisis, it has unique capabilities and experiences that should inform those de- veloping solutions.

4) What are your feelings about MDHA? My feelings about MDHA are that it seeks to put tenants first. This was demonstrated to me in MDHA's swift and empathetic responses to tenants whose homes were damaged by the tornadoes. Tenants were rehoused in good hotels until their damaged units were repaired, provided meals, and new accommodations, if needed. Another example is MDHA's response to COVID-19, voluntary testing of all residents and special precautions applied to the residences for seniors that result- ed in very few positive results in the senior residences.

5) What do you hope for? I hope for the continued and expanded success of the agency. I also hope and pray for MDHA to be a leader in helping to address Nashville's critical affordable housing problem in the near term. I would also like to see a comprehensive plan for affordable housing in Nashville, with MDHA being involved in that process. -D. Elizabeth Jesse and Len Walker

NOAH Public Meeting - "The Fierce Urgency of Now" NOAH enables ordinary people to act powerfully in the political and economic decisions that affect their lives.

In 2019, NOAH congregations and groups voted on the issues that affect the lives of their members. Next, NOAH won commitments from all the candidates for Mayor to work with us on our issues, if they were elect- ed. Since then, NOAH has met quarterly with Mayor John Cooper and his administration on affordable housing, education, criminal justice, and economic equity and jobs.

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But how do we hold political leaders accountable for their promises? NOAH holds large public meetings where decision-makers report on their progress and face questions from NOAH.

On Sunday, Oct. 25, NOAH will hold its first large Zoom Public Meeting to continue this work of accountabil- ity. Issues to be addressed and the decision-makers to be invited are now being determined. The theme for this meeting is "The Fierce Urgency of Now"! With Covid-19 and our economic crisis, a coming tidal wave of evictions, killings by police, and demonstrations nationwide, we are all feeling this "fierce urgency." Make plans now to at- tend this important Zoom Public Meeting, Sunday, Oct. 25, 3 p.m. Instead of filling up the room, let’s fill up cyberspace. -Carleen Dowell NOAH FUUN Action Team | [email protected]

From Beloved Community Committee The 8th Principle

As Unitarian Universalists, we have been grappling with how to address white supremacy in our institutions and the world at large. At FUUN, the Beloved Community Committee (BCC) has been calling us to actions that will make our community more welcoming and open to all people— offering the Nashville Pledge Program and encouraging us all to actively address bias and white supremacy in our lives and in our congregational life together. Other congregations and our denomination as a whole have been grappling with questions of white privilege and power within Unitarian Universalism.

The 8th Principle was originally proposed by Paula Cole Jones who worked with congregations on issues of race and multiculturalism for over 15 years as Director of Racial and Social Justice for the Joseph Priestley district— the mid-Atlantic district of the UUA, which has since been subsumed into the Central East Regional Group (CERG). She found that “a person can believe they are being a ‘good UU’ and following the 7 Principles without thinking about or dealing with racism and other oppressions at a systemic level.” This proposed 8th Principle reads as fol- lows:

“We, the member congregations of the Unitarian Universalist Association, covenant to affirm and pro- mote: journeying toward spiritual wholeness by working to build a diverse multicultural Beloved Com- munity by our actions that accountably dismantle racism and other oppressions in ourselves and our institutions.”

The issue of systemic racism, and its presence in UU institutions was brought to a head following a 2017 crisis related to inclusive hiring practices at the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA). Following that crisis, Black Lives of Unitarian Universalism (BLUU) and Diverse Revolutionary UU Ministries (DRUUMM) endorsed this 8th Principle, designed to move our institutions towards becoming the institutions we imagined we would be when we the UUA voted to become an Anti-Racist, Anti-Oppression, Multi-Cultural (ARAOMC) Organization at the 1997 General Assembly. The 2017 crisis and the discussions it provoked illuminated the need to adopt this principle to decenter white- ness and actively covenant ourselves and our institutions to doing the work of dismantling systemic racism and white supremacy culture; while the need to do this work is implied by the existing 7 principles, they do not explic- itly hold us accountable for addressing systemic oppressions.

In addition to the conversations around race and white supremacy culture and the proposed 8th principle, there have been ongoing discussions by various groups regarding changes to other principles; this includes adjusting the 1st principle to include non-human living things, efforts to reword the 7th principle, and a 2007 report about the 5th principle and the ways UU institutions and gatherings enact (or fail to enact) inclusive democratic institutions. To that end, at the 2020 GA, the UUA charged the Article II Study Commission to consider amendments and changes to Article II of the UUA bylaws, which includes the principles, sources, purposes, and inclusion statement.

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This group has a two-year charge to examine all elements of Article II to reflect “our commitment to anti-racism, anti-oppression, and multiculturalism.” This is the first formal institutional effort to reconsider the principles since 1987.

Given the urgency in the current historical moment of confronting and addressing systemic racism and the culture of white supremacy embedded in the U.S., some congregations have responded by adopting the 8th Principle before the Article II Study Commission has completed its work. Congregations who have already adopted the 8th principle include All Souls Unitarian (Washington, D.C.), First Unitarian Universalist church of Richmond, VA, Uni- tarian Universalist Church of the Restoration (Philadelphia, PA), Unitarian Universalist Church of Lexington, KY, and Third Unitarian Church in Chicago.

The Beloved Community Committee and the Social Justice Committee have been discussing the need for FUUN to join these congregations in standing up to do the work of racial justice, and covenant to be accountable for our actions to dismantle white supremacy and build a truly and deeply multicultural Beloved Community. The UU principles were always intended as a dynamic and flexible covenant instead of a fixed creed. Unitarian Universal- ism is the only religion that intentionally builds in the flexibility to adjust to ongoing revealed truth; much as the 7th principle was added to respond to our interconnection with each other and the earth in response to environ- mental awareness, adopting and practicing this 8th principle reflects the current urgency and awareness of the need to do the personal and institutional work of acknowledging and eradicating systemic racism. For more information, please contact the Beloved Community Committee or the Social Justice Commttee ([email protected] or [email protected]). For more information on Beloved Community work at FUUN in general, as well as many resources, please visit our webpage [firstuunash.org/beloved-community/] or contact co-chairs Tom Sur- face and Jennie Wolff.

References/ For Further Reading “The 8th Principle of Unitarian Universalism” 8thprincipleuu.org/ “The Commission on Institutional Change” from uua.org, uua.org/uuagovernance/committees/cic Widening the Circle of Concern: Report of the UUA Commission on Institutional Change, uua.org/ uuagovernance/committees/cic/widening “Article II Study Commission” from uua.org, uua.org/uuagovernance/committees/article-ii-study-commission Unitarian Universalist Association Bylaws and Rules, uua.org/files/pdf/u/uua_bylaws_2019.pdf

-Jessica Moore-Lucas, Roddy Biggs, Victoria Harris, and Ann Wheeler Social Justice Committee | [email protected]

-Tom Surface, Jennie Wolff, and Carleen Dowell Beloved Community | [email protected]

From the Committee for the Larger Faith UU The Vote

It’s time to UU the Vote! Are you interested in turning the tide of American politics through the lens of Unitari- an Universalist values? Please mark your calendars for UUCE’s engagement with voters in other states - where getting them to vote is CRITICAL.

See uuthevote.org/ for details.

-Jennifer Hackett Committee for the Larger Faith | [email protected]

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From The Palmer Lecture Action Team Rasheedat Fetuga Palmer Lecturer

The Robert C. Palmer Lecture on Human Rights will be virtual using the same technology we use for our services (links will be posted) to broadcast the lecture to all who want to hear it and to participate by asking questions of our speaker. The lecture will be broadcast Saturday Nov. 7, 7 p.m.

The Palmer Lecture Action Team is thrilled to announce that this year's speaker will be noted social activist Rasheedat Fetuga.

Mother, teacher, mentor, and acclaimed activist, Rasheedat Fetuga is a visionary with a revolutionary style of leadership and activism that transforms communities through self- empowerment, creativity, healing and love. A birth, adoptive, and surrogate mother of too many children to count, Rasheedat embraces her divine gift for loving and protecting children and has dedicated her life to doing just so. Rasheedat is the founder and CEO of Gideon’s Army, a grassroots army for children eliminating the root causes of the prison pipeline. With a reputation for powerful grassroots action, Gideon’s Army embodies a new way of organizing that is both fun and strategic. Using music, song, theater, and dance as a catalyst for Restorative Justice in Nash- ville, Gideon's Army led the campaign for Restorative Justice in Metro Nashville Public Schools and birthed the juvenile diversion program for Davidson County Juvenile Courts. In collaboration with a host of government, community, and organization partners, Gideon's Army is currently using Theater of the Oppressed to spearhead one of the most innovative, community-based restorative justice models in the country. Rasheedat is a prolific speaker and trainer on youth issues, education, art as activism, social justice, transformative organizing, and restorative justice. (Bio provided by her staff.)

The Palmer Lecture was established by the FUUN Board in 1983 to honor Reverend Robert Palmer, this church's first called minister. Rev. Palmer was a devoted social activist with particular emphasis on the Civil Rights Move- ment, the United Nations, and nuclear disarmament. The inaugural speaker was the Reverend Kelly Miller Smith, Sr., minister of First Baptist, Capitol Hill with whom Robert Palmer worked closely. -Chris Wood Palmer Lecture Action Team | [email protected]

Create Community

From the Endowment Trustees History Lesson and Happy Birthday

The Endowment Trust is approaching a big landmark. Sept. 11, 2023 will be our 40th Birthday! Our Birthdate was established as Sept. 11, 1983 at a special congregational meeting. The Endowment Trust ended its first year with contributed funds of $10,657. Of this, $7,000 was restricted for renovations to the Fireside Room. The Trust has now grown to over $650,000 since its inception. The original contributions were received to “remember deceased members, to honor living members and to aid the Church overall.” This tradition has continued. Each year the Trust donates 2% to the Church capital reserves. Grants are allowed for up to 3% of the average fair market value of the Trust. These growing funds have increased the impact we’re able to make within the congregation and in the larger community.

There’s been a lot of discussion among the trustees as to how this landmark should be celebrated. We’ll be looking at ways to grow the Endowment Trust prior to our birthday and doing some goal setting. One way you can help is to remember the Trust at our All Souls service on Nov. 1 and in the tradition of the Trust, make a donation in memory of a loved one. The Trust acknowledges these donations unless anonymity is requested. Donations can be mailed to the Church (marked for the Endowment fund and the individual it celebrates) or easily made online at the Endowment Trust webpage, firstuunash.org/ endowment. -Vicky Tataryn Endowment Trustee | [email protected]

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From our Prison Ministries Team Prison Ministries of FUUN Needs You

Incarceration in the time of COVID-19 means for most prison residents, even more isolation than usual. In-person visita- tion and in-person group worship services have been impractical for months. Many are confined to their cell as much as 23 hours a day–not as punishment, but for the protection of prison residents and staff alike.

How can you help? 1. Write caring cards to folks we serve behind bars. Let them know they are not forgotten by our congregation. Guide- lines provided. 2. Train with Tennessee Prison Outreach Ministries (TPOM) to mentor a person recently out of prison and in a halfway house. 3. Volunteer to drive to pick up donated food to help returning citizens as they focus on starting anew and never returning behind bars. 4. Participate in a weekly remembrance of those behind bars during Joys and Concerns or by lighting a candle in your home. Every time you pass it, offer prayers or send compassionate energy for the spiritual lives of our siblings and cousins inside the walls, in halfway houses, or recently released.

Questions or want to help? Email or call me (phone is in Breeze). -Edie White [email protected]

From Fellowship No Senior Brunch this Fall From the Caring Committee Caring Needs

Please email [email protected] for any caring needs.

Our Senior Brunch originally scheduled for Oct. 31 is cancelled as our campus continues to be closed. Be safe. We look forward to the time in the future when we can meet again. -Kathy Hiller

Member News

Bereavement Notice Tom Hagood

It is with a heavy heart that we share the news that Tom Hagood died Sept. 10 from com- plications of injuries sustained in an automobile accident. Wife Margy May and daughter Sarah were able to be with him throughout his hospitalization and while he was in hos- pice care. A memorial service has yet to be planned. At this time of loss, may all those who knew and loved Tom be held in the warm embrace of the First Unitarian Universal- ist Church of Nashville.

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2020-2021 Standing Committees First Unitarian Universalist Church of Nashville Ministerial Council Program Council Chelsea Henry, Chair Brenna Hansen, Chair 1808 Woodmont Blvd. Nashville, TN 37215 [email protected] [email protected] Campus is currently closed due to Covid-19 Caring Beloved Community Phone: 615-383-5760 | firstuunash.org Chalice Fire (UUPagans) Children’s Religious Choir/Music Education Committee on Ministry Committee for the Larger Lay Ministers Faith Church Professional Team Prison Ministries of FUUN Faith Development Worship Fellowship Minister The Rev. Diane Dowgiert x3302 Young Adults Social Justice [email protected] Youth/Adult Assistant Minister of Rev. Denise Gyauch x3316 Congregational assistantminister@ Operations Council Resource and Development Engagement firstuunash.org Dan Hiller, Chair Council Director of Jaie Tiefenbrunn x3303 [email protected] Allison Thompson, Chair Music Ministries [email protected] Campus Preparedness resourcedevelopment@ Facilities thefuun.org Director of Lifespan Marguerite Mills x3304 Religious Education [email protected] Grounds Finance Fundraising Religious Education Jonah Eller–Isaacs x3315 Leadership Development Coordinator [email protected] Membership Director of Sheri Lynn DiGiovanna x3318 Personnel Communication Communication@ Stewardship firstuunash.org

Office Administrator Mary Lindsay x3305 [email protected]

Finance Coordinator Sheila Brown Board of Directors 2020-2021 Childcare Coordinator Kendra Andersen President Doug Pasto-Crosby [email protected]

Vice President/President-Elect Mike Bolds Pianist Holling Smith-Borne Secretary Melinda Fish Treasurer Bob Day Custodian Tony Flemister

Program Council Chair Brenna Hansen Community Ministers Rev. Dr. Laurel Cassidy Resource & Development Chair Allison Thompson Affiliated [email protected] Ministerial Council Chair Chelsea Henry Rev. Dr. Cynthia Stewart Operations Council Chair Dan Hiller At-Large Members Steve Haruch, Scott Weaver, Rev. Sara Green Phyllis Salter, and Sharon Chaplains Affiliated Rev. Cathy Chang Ruiz [email protected] Ex-Officio, Past President Hal Potts Rev. Holly Mueller

The FUUN newsletter is published bi-monthly. Printed copies are available in the social hall and a PDF version is available on our website. Editors: Sheri DiGiovanna and Jeannie Haman Layout: Sheri DiGiovanna Printing/mailing: Mary Lindsay

20 Newsletter for Oct./Nov. 2020 FirstUUNash.org vol. 70, no. 3 21 First Unitarian Universalist Church of Nashville 1808 Woodmont Blvd. • Nashville, TN 37215-1574

TIME DATED MATERIAL; PLEASE EXPEDITE Address Service Requested

Our Mission Mark Your Calendar

The Mission of the First Unitarian FUUN campus is physically closed until further notice, due to Covid-19

Universalist Church of Nashville is safety measures. Most of the events listed below have been moved to create community, online. Please refer to our website for details and updates. to nurture spiritual growth, and to act on our values October in the broader world, 4 Welcome Parade for Rev. Diane Dowgeirt guided by reason and compassion. 11, 17 Habitat for Humanity Unity Build adopted January 27, 2008 17-24 Annual Auction 31 Halloween Parade

November 1 Community Conversation with Religious Education 7 Palmer Lecture with Rasheedat Fetuga Like us! Connect! 14 Turn, Turn, Turn: UUA Southern Region Assembly First Unitarian

Universalist Church of Nashville

For our detailed calendar, see firstuunash.org/ and click “Calendar” Follow us! Next newsletter: Volume 70, Number 4 @FirstUUNashville Issue will cover Dec. 2020/Jan. 2021 Deadline for copy to editor: Nov. 15, 2020