THE N SLETTER UU UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST CHURCH OF CHATTANOOGA 3224 NAVAJO DRIVE CHATTANOOGA, TN 37411 423-624-2985 FAX 423-624-0519
NOVEMBER, 2014 A LIBERAL RELIGIOUS COMMUNITY WWW.UUCC.ORG
MORNING WISDOM
In the middle of October, when the nights grew cool and there was a hint of fall in the air, I slept with my window wide open for the first time since moving to Chattanooga. It was a delight to smell the fresh, cool air and snuggle under the protective warmth of my comforter. Just before dawn, I was wakened to the sound of crickets. I love crickets! When I lived in Alaska and California, there were no crickets and I missed Minister them terribly. No crickets or fireflies. Can you imagine living without them? But, instead Rev. Cathy of recognizing that I was hearing real crickets, I fumbled for my iPhone, thinking that Harrington someone was calling me. Yes, my ringer is set to the sound of crickets.
Board President Welcome to the 21st century, where your phone ringer can play music (any song you Leslie Brock like if you are willing to pay for it), church bells, jazz guitars, motorcycles, dogs barking, and, will wonders never cease, a telephone. I once set my phone to sound like a dog barking for when my older son called, but the problem was that I rarely answered in Religious time because it sounded too realistic and it took time for me to register that it was not Education a dog, but my phone! My son thought I was avoiding him so the bark had to go. Director Kay McCurdy My favorite time of day is an early-morning walk with my two dogs, Sophie and Luzy. The freshness of the morning invigorates as I listen to the birds while the dogs energetically sniff their usual objects of interest as if the landscape had somehow Church changed during the night. This particular morning, I heard a familiar honking sound Administrator overhead and looked up to see a gaggle of Canada geese migrating in their typical Chris Tregaskis "V-formation.” It was lovely! National Geographic reports “Geese can cover 1,500 miles in just 24 hours with a favorable wind! By flying in “V-formation” rather than in isolation, the whole flock adds 70% greater flying range. When the “leader” tires, he the nUUsletter falls back to rest and another takes his place. Teamwork and shared responsibility Editor pays off! But the wisdom of the morning doesn’t end here… Wendy Sapp Just as the geese crested Signal Mountain, I heard an owl hooting in the distance. As I paused to savor the moment, I thought about the noise study being conducted by the Hwy Department at church. I once tried to open my office window to enjoy some fresh air, but the noise from the freeway was so deafening that I had to close it. When I moved from Seward, Alaska to Berkeley, California I experienced a jarring culture/noise shock. I couldn’t fall asleep without earplugs for weeks. But, after a while I adapted and the noise didn’t bothered me as much. Adapting is a remarkable tool of survival, but what have we lost in our adapting? Everywhere I look, I see people with ear buds or headphones, listening to music, or talking on the phone, even when they are walking in nature. It seems that technology/progress has become both the problem and the solution.
We should resist! The 21st century doesn’t have to mean that we cover our ears, close our windows, and lose our sensitivity to noise and nature. I would like to propose that we schedule UU meet-up times and places where we can share moments of grace together. Brainstorm some ideas with me! Send me an email at [email protected].
See you in church! Cathy
THE NUUSLETTER NOVEMBER, 2014
SERVICE TITLES & DESCRIPTIONS ~ NOVEMBER, 2014
Connections, a time for personal sharing, meets every Sunday at 10:30.The worship service begins at 11:00 am.
November 2 ~ The Good Samaritan ~ Rev. Cathy Harrington
The story of the Good Samaritan, like all the parables of Jesus, offers a twist on the way we view life. This is a “Good” Samaritan story that will bring that twist full circle. Some of my experiences with the Faithful Fools Street Ministry of San Francisco.
November 9 ~ Taking Charge of Your Future ~ Sandy Kurtz, UUCC member Everyone wants to live a rich and long life. Just how that is done is a matter of choice although Life itself may deliver some surprises as plans are made. Chattanooga Collaborative Senior Housing is made up of “cultural creative” modeling steps to fashion a mutually supportive and sustainable lifestyle in an urban setting
November 16 ~ Rediscovering Prayer ~ Rev. Cathy Harrington
This sermon traces my experiences as a chaplain at a major trauma hospital in Greenville, South Carolina. The “liberal” in a conservative Christian Clinical Pastoral Education class, my assumptions and preconceived notions about God, prayer, and life in general were reconstructed and rediscovered during this ten weeks of intensive training with the harsh realities of life as a classroom.
November 23 ~ Love is the Spirit of this Church ~ Rev Cathy Harrington
Our Universalist ancestor, Hosea Ballou, wrote, “If we agree in love, there is no disagreement that can do us any injury, but if we do not, no other agreement can do us any good. Let us endeavor to keep the unity of spirit in the bonds of peace.”
A covenant is different from a mission statement. A mission statement is the reason why a congregation exists whereas a covenant (promise or commitment) speaks to the relationship of those who choose freely to gather in religious community, of how we will be with one another in our individual and collective spiritual journeys. The Salem Covenant of 1629 is foundational to congregationalism and congregational polity. A covenant says, “We unite,” as opposed to a doctrine or creed that would read, “We believe.” (Conrad Wright, Walking Together)
November 30 ~ Living Advent ~ Rev Cathy Harrington
Advent, a time of waiting, begins four Sundays before Christmas. It is a time of waiting for the sun to be reborn at solstice or waiting for the birth of Jesus at Christmas. Another way to understand the season of Advent is, “To wait in hope is to have what we hope for already come true in us through our hoping.” (NPR, Advent a Season for Hope from Darkness)
BOARD MINUTES
To help the board communicate the events of the board meetings in a timely manner, the minutes will be posted on the church website. Minutes from the current and previous board meetings can be found at http://www.uucc.org/about-the-uuc/board-meeting-minutes/
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THE NUUSLETTER NOVEMBER, 2014
FORUM
Forum meets at 9:30 each Sunday downstairs in the last room on the left. All are welcome!
November 2 ~ Children’s Home/Chambliss Shelter. Phil Accord will update us on the status of Tennessee’s children
November 9 ~ The Sunflower, Amish Grace and Forgiveness. Blake Moore will facilitate this discussion.
November 16, 23, and 30 ~ To be announced. Check the Friday UUpdate.
POETRY CIRCLE by Nancy Beel
Eve Ensler writes: Poetry is the language of our time. It is a verbal excavation, digging us into and under that which is inarticulate, that which cannot be said but can be felt, that which cannot be stated but can be conjured. Poetry is a form of revolution. It rearranges our thinking, our perception, our dialogue. It takes us out of the literal so that we can see what is real…. By bringing poetry deeply into our lives, our hearts, and our bodies we strengthen our muscle for care, our capacity for intricate metaphoric thinking, our appreciation for ambiguity.
Please join me for a Poetry Circle, Sunday, November 23rd at 10 AM in the Sophia Fahs room, downstairs, first door on the left. Bring poems you would like to read out loud. Or just come to sit and listen. Questions? Email me at [email protected].
CONNECTIONS
Connections Yellow Barrels on our roadways indicate improvements are in process. We don’t have Yellow Barrels, but you may have noticed that Connections is ‘under construction’. The Wowzers’ committee has been considering how the way we conduct Connections can be improved. Can Connections be held in the sanctuary and the doors to the sanctuary remain open? If the sanctuary doors remain open, will visitors to our church feel more welcomed? Is there a structure to Connections that would allow for both solace in sitting in quiet contemplation and a sharing of our joys and concerns? If Connections starts at 10:30a.m, will this set the mood for the worship service that follows? These questions have led to experiments in ways to conduct Connections the past few Sundays, experiments that will continue in the weeks to come. Please be patient as these ‘experiments’ are in progress. We will end with a better ‘road’ to follow.
FACEBOOK AND TWITTER
Find us on Facebook! http://www.facebook.com/pages/Unitarian-Universalist-Church-of-Chattanooga/301318569903599 Or search Unitarian Universalist of Chattanooga
Follow us on Twitter @UUofChatt
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THE NUUSLETTER NOVEMBER, 2014
PRESIDENT’S LETTER by Leslie Brock, President, Board of Trustees
Things are really booming here at the UUCC.
In October we held a revival of the Back to the Earth Handcraft fair. We had eleven vendors sign up and the layout of the space received a great number of compliments. The response for volunteer help was overwhelming. Without the volunteers, the craft fair would not have been possible, and I want to thank Nancy Beel and Pam Johnson for all their hard work for not only coordinating the event but also participating as vendors.
Santa visited the church to make pictures before his calendar got too full. If you missed it this year, put it on your calendar for next year.
We will again be having our annual Thanksgiving lunch at the church. Most of us will be starting our day with Kay and the kids at the Grateful Gobbler walk, which starts at Coolidge Park and then getting ready for lunch. James and I will cook the turkeys, and I’m hoping someone will volunteer to fry one…hint, hint. Participation in this event has been growing each year. It’s a great way to spend the holiday with your chosen family. We hope you will join us.
In early December we will have a consulting weekend in our first steps to work on how we do stewardship. I hope everyone who can, will keep the first weekend in December open for this important activity. You will be seeing more information and meeting schedules in the weeks to come.
Those are just a few of the events happening here at our church. Some things have already begun to change, and a lot more change is coming. Change is not easy or comfortable, but it is necessary. Some changes may be more popular than others. Please be mindful of others who are also having to adjust to changes. The one thing that won’t change is that we’re working to do what’s best for our church. That is and will remain our primary goal. Please stay in the conversation as we work through the next few years of our development. I continue to stand behind my belief that communication is one of the most important tools we have and one of the easiest things to get muddled.
Only if we continue to work together will we succeed.
THANKSGIVING AT THE UUCC
Continuing our tradition we will be gathering at the church on Thanksgiving day to share in the bounty of the season and enjoy food, friends and fellowship with our fellow UU's that may not have family nearby or those that cannot travel this holiday season. We will gather to eat at 2:00 pm in the main sanctuary. There will be a signup sheet available so we can get an approximate number of who will attend. We will need assistance with the dinner for set up, clean up, and for everyone to bring something to contribute to the dinner. Look for the sign-up sheet in the fellowship area.
We will cook them but we will need one or two more Turkeys, depending on how many people sign up to attend. If there is anyone with experience, we could even have fried turkey.
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THE NUUSLETTER NOVEMBER, 2014
GREEN SANCTUARY by Sandy Kurtz
FAITH, MORALITY, AND GRATITUDE
Here’s a question for you to consider:
Do we have a moral obligation to protect the future of a planet in peril?
For editors, Kathleen Dean Moore and Michael P. Nelson, the answer is YES! Moral Ground: Ethical Action for a Planet in Peril is comprised of a collection of writings by religious and ethical leaders. They flesh out reasons under these headings:
• For the survival of humankind. • For the sake of the children. • For the sake of the Earth itself. • For the sake of all forms of life on the planet. • To honor our duties of gratitude and reciprocity. • For the full expression of human virtue. • Because all flourishing is mutual. • For the stewardship of God’s creation. • Because compassion requires it. • Because justice demands it. • Because we love the world. • To honor and celebrate the Earth and Earth systems. • Because our moral integrity requires us to do what is right.
UUs have our seventh principle that fits well with these statements. With Thanksgiving coming, consider connections to the Earth in the interdependent web of life. After all, without Earth’s support system, where would we be as a species? Gratitude seems most appropriate. Happy Thanksgiving to all!
SOLUTIONS FOR HUMAN SURVIVAL Rats and people--two most adaptable mammal species on Earth. Humans are ever numerous consuming large amounts of Earth’s resources and contributing to degraded air, water and land. A World Wildlife Fund report tells us wildlife numbers dropped 50% in past 4 decades. We live in the “Sixth Extinction”. Over time imaginative writers have suggested solutions for controlling human overpopulation. In 1729, Swift’s A Modest Proposal suggests poor people could eat their babies allowing better living as a matter of justice. More seriously, in 1798, Thomas Malthus presented his assertion that the geometric growth of population would soon overrun Earth’s ability to support all. In the 1990s, Daniel Quinn in Ishmael and The Story of B proposed capping food production for population control. Now comes Dan Brown’s Inferno. Our hero seeks to stop a genius scientist who plans to save humans from extinction by releasing a virus to control population. I won’t give away the ending for those who want to read it, but with Ebola in our news and an over populated planet, hmmm.
I told somebody I was a Unitarian once, they said "Hey, isn't that that thing
in the science museum with the stars in the ceiling?” I said, "No that's a planetarium." ~ Leanna Balloffet
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THE NUUSLETTER NOVEMBER, 2014
RELIGIOUS EDUCATION NEWS by Kay McCurdy, Director of Religious Education
Looking up at the stars, I know quite well That, for all they care, I can go to hell, But on earth indifference is the least We have to dread from man or beast. How should we like it were stars to burn With a passion for us we could not return? If equal affection cannot be, Let the more loving one be me.
~ W.H. Auden
Please join with the children and youth of our Religious Education program in the month of November, as we open our doors and our hearts for the Transgender Day of Remembrance Service, November 20, 2014 at 7 p.m., Unitarian Universalist Church of Chattanooga.
OCTOBER REPORT FROM THE SOCIAL JUSTICE COMMITTEE by Judith Pedersen-Benn, Co-chair, Social Justice Committee
Greetings all. The Social Justice Committee continues to offer a variety of ways for church members to become involved in social justice issues. In September we co-sponsored an event focused on Non-violence which focused on peace, environmental justice and economic justice; we sponsored a film about global warming; and co- sponsored discussions about Amendment 1. Our group is reaching out to other groups in town and we welcome your ideas for folks to connect with. Currently we have made connections with Chattanooga Organize for Action, Grace Episcopal Church, Pilgrim Congregational Church, and the Reproductive Justice and Faith Network. We hope to become part of a united community effort to address social justice issues from a position of strength and solidarity. Upcoming events will be posted on the church newsletter…..look for us there.
The Unitarian Universalist’s for a Just Economic Community have taken on Economic Inequality for their study project. This month we will begin to share some of their findings with you.
Robert Reich says, Income inequality is the civil rights struggle of our time.” Then he explains why this is so. “The current struggle of low-wage workers across America echoes the civil rights struggle of the 1960s. Today, as then, a group of Americans is denied the dignity of decent wages and working conditions. Today, just as then, powerful forces are threatening and intimidating vulnerable people for exercising their legal rights. Today, just like fifty years ago, people who have been treated as voiceless and disposable are standing up and demanding change. But the movement is also a moral struggle for decency and respect, and full participation in our economy and society. In these ways, it’s the civil rights struggle of our time. It took guts to take on the power structure of Mississippi a half- century ago and it will takes guts to take on the power structure of giant companies like Walmart and McDonalds now. But confronting such powerful bastions is a vital step toward fundamental social change.” Page 6 of 14
THE NUUSLETTER NOVEMBER, 2014
THE UUCC SMALL GROUP MINISTRY TEAM UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL
A lot has happened at UUCC since my husband and I joined with our two little red-haired daughters in the early ‘80s. I’m Linda Helton, coordinator of SGM. This year I feel particularly positive about the direction of the church, due in part to the six SGM facilitators and/or co-facilitators who have stepped forward to add another pile to their full plates. They are amazing and I want you to meet them, in their own words:
I'm Tim Kleve (pronounced Klee'-vee) and co-facilitating with Rich Dwyer this year on the 2nd Tuesdays of each month. This is my 3rd year involved with SGM. I'm a retired math teacher who is putting skills learned growing up on a dairy farm to use on our property on Sand Mountain. I love golf, making rock "sculptures" (you can see Ider Henge on our property), and flowers.
I'm Nancy Beel, the 2nd and 4th Wednesday morning Small Group Facilitator. My husband, Tim Kleve, and I live in Ider, Alabama, with our 2 dogs, Sadie and Annie, and numerous chickens. We started attending UUCC in 2007. I love poetry, playing the piano, working in the garden, making soap, and sewing. I am delighted to be a part of SGM this year!
I’m Elaine Watkins, a native New Yorker who has lived in the South for over 28 years, and in Chattanooga since 2006. I consider myself a typical UU, looking into different religious styles and preferring the freedom, richness and variety of this denomination. I’m a training coordinator with a local logistics firm, am married to William, a hardworking Cracker Barrel server, and have a 25-year-old son who recently relocated here from Phoenix, Arizona. I facilitate the 1st and 3rd Tuesday night group, and have co-facilitated groups since 2010. This is my first solo flight.
I’m Jayne Trapnell and I’ve called UUCC home since October of last year. I have been a registered nurse for thirty years and have been doing wound care and hyperbarics for the past sixteen. I’m married to Kent (coming up on 25 years) and have a 22 year old son, Sam, who has autism. I will be co-facilitating with Gale Audier on the 2nd and 4th Thursdays, and am so looking forward to it!
I am Rich Dwyer, semi-retired, a representative for Send Out Cards, an ordained wedding officiate, and oh did I mention that I'm also Santa Claus at Hamilton Place Mall! When I first heard about the small group ministry I was very excited because as a church we did not have very many opportunities for a small intimate group to get together to talk about ultimate things. This season will be my third time, and I’m co-facilitating with Tim Kleve.
I am Gale Audier and I am happy to say that I am a small group co-facilitator this year. I am married to my wonderful husband Robert and am mother to our four children, Madeline, Caroline, Mia and Roan. We joined the church this past year and have enjoyed making it a regular part of our lives by participating wherever we are needed. I love cooking, learning and volunteering on the Normal Park Education Fund.
UUCC Board of Trustees, 2014-2015 President, Leslie Brock President-Elect, Monique Lewis Immediate Past President, Frank Caperton
VP, Resources Ministry, Buck O’Rear VP, Religious Growth Ministry, Cecile de Rocher VP, Congregational Life Ministry, Greg Cruz Secretary, Jim Welborn VP, Outreach Ministry, Linda Park Treasurer, Daidee Springer
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THE NUUSLETTER NOVEMBER, 2014
INTERDEPENDENT WEB by Juniper Russo
I was nine centimeters dilated and forty minutes away from giving birth to an eight-pound, eleven-ounce, occiput- posterior baby. (For those of you who have never given birth and need a translation, that means, “Ouch.”) While I was mid-contraction and completely convinced that I was dying, a nurse decided that this was an excellent time to snidely comment, “I guess you guys are evolutionists.”
My son, as I think most of you have heard by now, is named Darwin-- and the nurse, who later had the privilege of being one of the first people to lay eyes on him, seemed to be very upset about that. It didn’t surprise me: two weeks before, I’d received an unintentionally hilarious email from one of my friend’s mothers, telling me that I was “shoving my beliefs down everyone’s throats” and therefore doing my child a disservice. She didn’t seem to notice the irony— her two sons are named Joshua (an Anglicization of Yeshuah, the Hebrew name for Jesus) and Christopher.
It goes without saying that I don’t find the name Darwin offensive, and that I don’t expect many of my fellow Unitarian Universalists to find it offensive, but I thought it might be worthwhile to explain just why I think Darwin was a name worthy of someone as remarkable and beautiful as my sweet baby boy.
Charles Darwin’s scientific discoveries are, obviously, what he is most remembered for, and for good reason. The discovery of evolutionary theory completely revolutionized every single branch of science. He pioneered new territory in paleontology and anthropology, of course—but it’s mind blowing to consider that medicine, agriculture, social science, and space exploration as we know them would not exist without his findings. He introduced humanity to one of the most beautiful and spiritual facts of nature: that all living things on earth are part of one massive and beautiful family. If that’s not worthy of praise, I don’t know what is!
The good that Darwin did in his lifetime isn’t limited to scientific pursuits, though. Born to Unitarian freethinkers, he was deeply philosophical and not afraid to question the Bible as the literal word of God. Later in his life, he described himself as agnostic, and in his autobiography, he wrote about a belief in universal salvation and explained that he believed all religions were, at least in some ways, valid. It’s not far from what we modern UUists tend to believe.
Charles Darwin was also an activist for a number of important causes, most notably including the abolition of slavery. He was very clear on his belief that all human beings are part of one species, and that no humans were any “more” or “less” evolved than any others, and he deeply opposed genocide and cruelty toward aboriginal peoples. Although the Theory of Evolution was later appropriated and abused for sick and barbaric causes like “scientific” racism, neither of these horrific philosophies were in line with Charles Darwin’s own beliefs about science or humanity. He actually strongly opposed the incorrectly named movement of “social Darwinism,” stating that compassion is “the noblest part of our nature” and that we have a moral obligation to help the sick and weak. While his ideas—like those of so many other revolutionaries, including Jesus himself—were abused, Charles Darwin himself as ultimately a good and compassionate person who promoted justice and equality.
I know that Charles Darwin wasn’t a perfect person, but to my knowledge, no perfect person has ever existed. But in a world with literally millions of children with names like Joshua, Christopher, Judah, and Mohammed, I don’t think there’s any harm in honoring someone I see as a historical hero worthy of praise. I’m happy to be part of a congregation where, when I introduce my son, I see smiles instead of horrified grimaces. Thank you, UUCC, for welcoming my baby boy into the world without judgment of his namesake. I hope that he (and we, his parents!) will continue to be part of such a welcoming community for many more years.
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THE NUUSLETTER NOVEMBER, 2014
A NEXT STEPS VISIT BY THE UUA IS COMING IN DECEMBER by Leslie Brock, President, Board of Trustees
Our church has requested a Next Steps Visit from the UUA Congregational Stewardship Network and are pleased to announce that UUA Congregational Stewardship Services Consultant Bill Clontz will be with us December 5-7 (Friday – Sunday). The purpose of the visit is to provide our congregation and our leaders with an objective eye in gathering information and identifying strengths, opportunities, and areas needing improvement.
This visit will examine all areas of the church; Bill will meet with the church staff, lay leaders, and volunteers throughout the visit.
We have been in correspondence with Bill for some time and are providing him a great deal of background information on our congregation and our operations. Following the visit, Bill will develop recommended priorities and actions, and will provide guides, examples, and links to help us on our way. These will be designed to help us attain our long-term goals and to address our near term requirements and opportunities, including our thinking about stewardship and what it means to be a member of the UU Church of Chattanooga.
Summary Observations and Recommendations will be given at the end of the visit, to be followed by a detailed written report within two weeks of the visit.
There will be a full day of meetings on Saturday, December 6. The agenda is being finalized now and will be available shortly for all to review. While meetings focus on particular areas and those who are most engaged in them, any member is welcome to observe any meeting.
There is an open session at the end of the day on Saturday, during which Bill is available to talk with anyone about any issue that may be of interest.
On Sunday, December 7 we expect Bill will speak briefly to the congregation during the service and he will remain for the coffee hour to meet and talk with members of the congregation. We hope you will take this opportunity to meet our consultant and to share your views and hopes about our future.
Questions? Please contact Buck O’Rear [email protected] . Thank you for helping our congregation get the most out of this visit; it’s a great opportunity for us to see where we are and where we are going, and to learn what is working for others that may be relevant to us.
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THE NUUSLETTER NOVEMBER, 2014
MONEY MATTERS by Daidee Springer, Treasurer
- $205,243 is our budget for fiscal year 2014-2015 - $ 35,311 was what we spent in the first three months of fiscal year 2014-2015 - $ 44,642 was our income for the first three months of fiscal year 2014-1015 - $ 36,470 was our pledge income for the first three months of fiscal year 2014-2015 - $ 37,997 was our pledge income for the first three months of fiscal year 2013-2014 - $ 8,296 was our pledge income in September, 2014 - $ 7,998 was our pledge income in September, 2013 - $ 30,731 represents our Unrestricted Net Assets as of September, 2014
As you can see, I've included a few more numbers this month. Maybe too many. Let me know your thoughts. Most of the numbers are self-explanatory, but the last might not be. Unrestricted Net Assets can be looked at as a barometer of our fiscal health. It's what we have in the bank at a particular point in time that we can spend for our day-to-day operating expenses. $30,731 would cover less than eight weeks. If there was no more income, we'd have to close our doors. I mention this to stress how very important regular pledge income is to the continued operation of the church. Thank you for pledging and for keeping up with your pledges. Money matters.
GIFTS TO THE CONGREGATION AUGUST 15 – SEPTEMBER 15
Jay Ku in memory of Helen Solomon Pat Mann in memory of Helen Solomon Claire Hale in memory of Bruce McDuffie Karl Hunt in support of underwriting on WUTC John & Lynna Ruth Standridge in support of underwriting on WUTC
UUCC MEMBERS UNDERWRITE WUTC
Many of us at UUCC are also regular listeners to WUTC, Chattanooga's National Public Radio affiliate station. If that's you, too, please read on.
We're so grateful that eternal fall pledge drive is finally over. Once again UUCC's name, programs, and values are on the air. We swell with pride when we hear "Support comes from the Unitarian Universalist Church of Chattanooga" opening words!
How did this happen? It is not part of UUCC's regular budget. It only happens because many of us have funneled our WUTC support through UUCC. We'll hear from UUCC on air only as long as our listener members keep writing WUTC support checks to UUCC. And these spots on WUTC are working! People are coming in our doors because of our announcements on WUTC.
So follow these simple steps: If you normally (or realize that you listen often and really ought to) support WUTC public radio, write your check to UUCC with WUTC in the memo line. WUTC gets the money; UUCC gets underwriting announcements. It's a good deal for all of us. There are also options to make monthly donations. Contact Chris in the UUCC office or call Steve Hollingsworth at (423) 240-3619.
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THE NUUSLETTER NOVEMBER, 2014
PAGAN
For the first Sunday meeting we will be meeting in the evening for a Dia de los Muertos gathering at the church. This event will begin at 5:30 and everyone in the church is invited, please bring something to share as this is a potluck dinner.
This is yet another busy month with many different holidays and celebrations in the pagan world, both past and present.
November 1-2 Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) November 23 Roman Festival of Vulcanalia November 6 Full Moon November 27 Thanksgiving November 17 Dark Moon November 30 Festival of Hecate Trivia November 22 New Moon
Samhain marks the end of summer, the “light half” of the year, and the beginning of winter, the “dark half.” For the Celts, this was a time of feasting and plenty, with parallels today in the American Thanksgiving festivities which also take place in November. The Celts believed that ghosts could walk the Earth at Samhain, and late autumn festivals accordingly tend to focus on the remembrance of the dead and the battle of good against evil.
The Cherokee month of the Harvest Moon is followed in November by the month of the Trading Moon, or Nudadaequ. During this time, harvested crops, meat and skins from the hunt, and manufactured goods are traded between tribes as far afield as Canada and South America.
The first of this month (November 1st and 2nd) the pagan group will be sponsoring a Dia de los Muertos celebration on November 2nd at 5:30. Please contact James Joyner ([email protected]) with any questions or if you wish to participate and the event is open to anyone who wishes to attend.
The more powerful and original a mind, the more it will incline towards the religion of solitude… ~ Aldous Huxley
NOMINATING COMMITTEE
The time is here to start thinking about filling upcoming vacancies on the Board of Trustees and the Nominating Committee. Yes, I know - didn’t we just do that a few months ago? Well, yes, but it takes much more time than you realize to identify and approach members of the congregation about serving on the Board and the Nominating Committee.
Right now, your faithful Nomination/Leadership Development Committee would like to enlist your help in identifying potential congregational leaders. Most of us are regular attendees at Sunday services. We chat before and after church, we go to the Forum, we serve on committees, sing in the choir and are involved in the life of the church in many other ways. What we are asking of you now and for the next several months is to notice the people around you who stand out in some way. Perhaps it’s that woman on your committee who always seems to come up with a great idea, or that man whom you can count on to carry that same idea through to fruition. Maybe it’s the person in your Small Group who offer a fresh slant on the topic of discussion. It might be some enthusiastic soul who takes time during coffee hour to sign up people for a new activity. Many of our fellow congregants want to be assets to the church, but don’t know how to go about letting us know.
Please notice your fellow UU members, and if someone - or more than one - makes you think, “Hey, this person has a lot of potential,” we ask that you email the Nominating Committee at [email protected] with his or her name. Thank you all for your suggestions! Page 11 of 14
THE NUUSLETTER NOVEMBER, 2014
ART ON THE WALLS TEEN ABSTRACT ART PROJECT by Carol Hobbs
Fifteen UUCC teens gathered on September 7, 2014 to transform canvas and paint into colorful dynamic abstract art pieces. The exhibit of their art continues on our walls through November 30. In abstract art, the artist simply creates by intuition, whim, skill, and accident, with or without meaning. “For this reason the very nature of abstract art exemplifies creativity and imagination.” (www.abstractartistgallery.org) The art is for sale and all monies will be used to benefit the teen’s plans for trips and get-togethers.
Teen artists are Channon Arden, Emma Farrell-Oberschmidt, Samantha Jolly, Lily Joyner, Greg Kertay, Sam Kertay, wenona kurtz-kunesh, Isabelle McCurdy, Sophie McCurdy, Sky Papendorp, Tamblin Papendorp, Lauren Solomon, Hunter Stinnett, Caroline Vanderhoof, and Isabella Vanderhoof.
by Isabella Vanderhoof by Tamblin Papendorp
by Sam Kertay by Channon Arden
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THE NUUSLETTER NOVEMBER, 2014
WEDNESDAY EVENINGS AT UUCC
5.30 meditation downstairs, Sofia Fahs room w/music to meditate by Our meditation time is • sitting quietly for about 20 minutes • clearing our minds, focusing on something different, like breathing Our goal is a little bit more mental peace. We share leadership with whoever attends.
6.00 shared dinner / common meal bring what you want to share
SERVICE AND VOLUNTEER SCHEDULE
DATE 11/2 11/9 11/16 11/23 11/30 Love is the Living Advent The Good Taking Charge Rediscovering TOPIC Spirit of This Samaritan of Your Future Prayer Church Rev. Cathy Rev. Cathy Rev. Cathy Rev. Cathy SPEAKER Sandy Kurtz Harrington Harrington Harrington Harrington GREETERS Ken Nickerson Nicky Ozbek Sue Knight Elaine Hill Monique Lewis AND Mary Hunter Jim Welborn Margaret Hudson Carol Hobbs Richard Ralston USHERS Nancy Beel Sue Welborn Kristie McKinley Pat Mann Marge Pasch
CHATTANOOGA INSTITUTE OF NOETIC SCIENCE
Thomas Daniel Nehrer will present a unique standpoint on The Essence of Reality: Perceiving Life’s Oneness November 8, 10:30-noon.
True visionaries perceive the Consciousness/Reality “Oneness” neither as ethereal nor idealistic, but real: that’s How Life Works. Beliefs absorbed during childhood, however, dim personal awareness of life’s inner-outer connection. Thus, attaining “Clear Awareness” involves dispelling synthetic notions, not grasping new ones.
Clarifying life’s illusions, Tom Nehrer illuminates that Oneness: real, personal issues always reflect explicit subconscious elements. Removed within, health, success and improved relationships manifest – and awareness grows. Tom vigorously exposes religion, many popular and esoteric notions and even science as dualistic: separating Consciousness from Reality.
Tom Nehrer morphed from chemical engineer – later software developer – to intractable visionary. Triggered by an early mystic experience, spurred by an ever-questioning intellect, Tom delved inward. Mastering techniques to explore the psyche, he personally reshaped his technical career – from inside out – into a life of travel, writing and speaking. Tom’s website, accessed widely and always free, three books and some 200 international talks communicate unique awareness of life’s inner-outer flow.
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THE NUUSLETTER NOVEMBER, 2014
November, 2014 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat November 1 12:30 - 5:30 pm UCG
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 - 10 am Choir 9 am - 9 am - 12 pm 9 am - 12 pm 10 am - 2 pm 5 - 9:30 10 am - 12 pm 12 DRE Office DRE Office Minister Office pm CHIONS 9:30 - 10:30 am Forum DRE Move to 11 am - 12 pm 10 am - 2 pm 10 am - 2 pm 12:30 - 8:30 pm Office Amend Minister Office Minister Office UCG Worship Service Mtg & 6:30 - 8:30 pm 5:30 pm - 6 pm 12:10 pm - 2:10 pm Movie Nominating Comm Finance Comm Meditation 5:30 - 9:30 pm 7 pm - 9 pm 6 pm - 6:45 pm SGM Wednesday Dinner Pagan Group
9 10 11 12 13 14 15 9 - 10 am Choir 9 am - 9 am - 12 pm 9 am - 12 pm 10 am - 2 pm 12:30 - 5:30 pm 12 DRE Office DRE Office Minister Office UCG 9:30 - 10:30 RE Mtg DRE 9:30 - 10:30 am Forum 10 am - 2 pm 10 am - 2 pm 6:30 - 8:30 Office Minister Office Minister Office pm 11 am - 12 pm SGM Worship Service 6:30 - 8:30 pm 10 am - 12 pm SGM SGM 11:15 - 12:15 RE 5:30 pm - 6 pm 12 pm - 1 pm Meditation Congregational Mtg 6 pm - 6:45 pm Wednesday Dinner
16 17 18 19 20 21 22 9 am - 10 am Choir 9 am - 9 am - 12 pm 9 am - 12 pm DRE 10 am - 2 pm 12:30 - 5:30 pm 9:30 - 10:30 am Forum 12 DRE Office 10 am - 2 pm Minister Minister Office UCG DRE 11 am - 12 pm 9 am - 12 pm 5:30 - 6 pm Meditation 6 pm - 9 pm 6:35 - 9:35 pm Office LPC Transgender Bridge Group Worship Service 6 - 6:45 pm Dinner Day of 11:15 - 12:15 RE 10 am - 2 pm 6:30- 9 pm Board Mtg Remembrance Minister Office 6:30 - 8:30 pm 7 pm - 9 pm Love Beyond Belief SGM
23 24 25 26 27 28 29 9 - 10 am Choir 9 am - 9 am - 12 pm 9 am - 12 pm 10 am - 2 pm 12:30 - 5:30 pm 12 DRE Office DRE Office Minister Office UCG 9:30 - 10:30 am Forum DRE 10 - 10:45 am 10 am - 2 pm 10 am - 2 pm 6:30 - 8:30 Office Poetry Circle Minister Office Minister Office pm SGM 11 am - 12 pm 7 - 9 pm 10 am - 12 pm Worship Service Social Justice SGM Meeting 11:15 - 12:15 RE 5:30 pm - 6 pm Meditation 6 - 6:45 pm Dinner
30 9 - 10 am Choir 9:30 - 10:30 am Forum 11 am - 12 pm Worship Service 11:15 - 12:15 RE
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