UUMANTimes-Masthead-August2008

Yep, it's different.
After years of UUMANTimes newsletters that were composed on MSWord, loaded online as a PDF, and printed sporadically, your humble editor has been dragged kicking and screaming into the 1990s or thereabouts and is presenting this as more Web-friendly and emailable (but still eminently printable). This is going to be learn-as-we-go and as always, I'm more than happy to listen to suggestions for improvement. Got any? Email Mister Ed. at newsletter@umman.org per usual.

In a nutshell, the idea is to post the headlines up top, and link folks to articles below. We won't be so confined as to place strict size limits on articles; also, you'll be able to get an idea of what's in the whole issue right away, and navigate more immediately to an item of interest.

 

Margi Pietsch joins music staff

article submitted by: Randy Wilber
UUMAN is proud to announce the addition of Margi Pietsch to our growing music department. Margi succeeds Karl Lepp as our primary pianist/accompanist. Karl will continue as UUMAN's "go to" man when Margi is not available. The following bio is provided here so that UUMAN will know a little about this amazing and talented woman.
Margi Pietsch - new pianist

Margi Pietsch, composer and teacher, is a professional music director, accompanist and vocal coach. She is thrilled to be back with UUMAN. Margi has coached voices on Broadway (Jonathon Groff, star of the new hit, “Spring Awakenings” and Eliseo Roman of the revised “Godspell” Broadway recording).

Margi has musically directed and coached for local, regional and national theatres in New York, Colorado, Florida, Iowa, Pennsylvania, Maryland and now Georgia. She developed curriculum and was on staff with the Fulton Academy in Lancaster, PA. She attended Millersville University for Piano Pedagogy - Performance where she was the
recipient of the Leo Asher Composition award as well as the Lucrietia Boyd-Hartzell Piano Performance Award. She has also accompanied Karen Parks, Soprano and Ottimavoce Inc. and the Studio for Vocal Refinement. Margi was the Artistic Director of the Central Pennsylvania Womyn’s Chorus for several years. She recently served as accompanist for the Atlanta Feminist Women’s Chorus and staff accompanist for Kennesaw State University Music department. In her numerous years of experience with liturgical music in both Pennsylvania and Georgia she has served as pianist, organist, music director and choir master (including a Catholic church).

Her debut CD, “Beyond the Face of Fear” was released in 2008. Her original compositions are meditative, mesmerizing and hypnotic. Her angelic, spiritual touch will enliven & calm your spirit. Margi recently moved to Atlanta with her partner of ten years, Leah Iverson, and their family dogs & cats. Margi & Leah will soon become foster and adoptive parents for the state of Georgia. Margi is currently accepting new vocal and piano students.

To contact Margi: musicbymargi@bellsouth.net or 770.364.5720

Chalice Choir Announces New Fall Schedule

article submitted by: Randy Wilber
After a brief summer break, the Chalice Choir will begin a new “singing season” on Wednesday night, August 20th. 

You heard right. The choir is going to join with most other church choirs and institute a midweek rehearsal.  This additional time will enable the choir to attempt more challenging literature, and give us more time to really work on the fine details of each piece the choir presents.

The rehearsals will be divided evenly between the female and male singers. The men of the choir will rehearse the 1st and 3rd Wednesday nights and the women will rehearse the 2nd and 4th Wednesday nights. This way time will be spent on learning anthems that are for just men or just women. Each month the Chalice Choir will generally sing two Sundays and either the women’s choir or the men’s choir will then make up the other Sundays. There will also be plenty of opportunity for smaller groups, new groups, instrumentalists, soloists, etc. to provide special music for Sunday worship as well.

If you are currently not singing with the choir and would like to try it out for a few weeks, let Randy know and he will give you more details as to what to expect. You don’t have to have a solo voice. However, the ability to read music at a moderate level is pretty important.

Contact Randy: 404-992-8140 or randywilbur@bellsouth.net

A Message From the Settled Minister Search Committee

Article submitted by: Larry Curry
It takes a congregation…

…to find a new minister!

Your Settled Minister Search Committee (SC) has been formed and has started the process to find a new minister for UUMAN. If we are to be successful and find the best available minister to fit our needs, your participation is a critical part of the process. We need to know what you think, need and want. We need to truly understand the diversity that is UUMAN. The Congregational Survey will help in that search. If you haven’t already taken the survey, please go to http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=ZGqV44_2fcx4_2bB5hk0ZshBuw_3d_3d and give us your opinion. Paper copies of the survey are available upon request.

What happens after the survey is completed and tabulated? The SC will use the information to complete a profile of UUMAN called the Congregational Record. This record gives a history of UUMAN, profiles our congregations wants and needs and will describe the type of minister UUMAN would like.
 In addition to the survey, the SC will hold congregational meetings and conduct personal interviews with the lay leaders during Aug/Sept.

Once the Congregational Record is completed by the end of October, we will officially announce via the UUA that we are searching for a minister. Our Congregational Record will then be made available to all interested ministers who will send us a “ministerial packet” which will provide the SC with details of each applicant’s history. In turn, the ministerial applicant will receive a “UUMAN packet “ which gives a detailed history and the current face of UUMAN. The packet will also contain pictures of our facilities, groups, information on the Roswell area, etc, etc… This should take place during Nov/Dec.

In January, the SC will meet and review the ministerial packets we have received.  Based upon that review and with the results of the Transition Team’s findings, the congregational survey, and the interviews, the SC will select candidates who best fit the UUMAN profile and if the interest is reciprocal, the SC will choose the top 3-4 candidates.

In Feb/Mar we will meet with these individuals, arrange for them to preach in a neutral pulpit and ultimately select the one that best fits UUMAN.
If a particular candidate is truly interested in us, then in Apr/May this candidate will be invited to come to UUMAN for a week. The candidate will preach a Sunday sermon, then spend the rest of the week meeting with the various groups at UUMAN and preach the following Sunday. After that second service, the congregation will vote on whether or not to call the minister to the UUMAN pulpit.

The UUMAN by-laws(which are currently under review) call for at least an 80% vote in favor of calling the minister.  As you can appreciate, just like any job search, this process has to have some confidentiality as the applicants may currently serve a congregation and if it is know that they are “searching”, it could create problems for them. Thus we will not be announcing who is interested. The ministerial packets supplied by all applicants will be sent back to them once they are out of contention. 

This is a brief recap of the process. Details have been omitted, but anyone on the SC would be glad to provide more information about the process, while maintaining an appropriate level of confidentiality. In addition, you can send an e-mail to the SC at uumansearch@yahoogroups.com and minutes of our meetings are available at wiki.uuman.org on the Search Committee page.

However, the bottom line is that we need your help. We are not selecting the minister by ourselves, we are only your surrogates and we will do our utmost to find the best available minister for UUMAN based upon you needs and desires as expressed in the survey, the interviews, and meetings we will conduct.
Remember, it takes a congregation to find a new minister!

The UUMAN Search Committee members are Margot Bogue, Larry Curry, Matthew Elliott, Margie Jacobs, Linda Johnston, Bruce Langston, and Mark Sexton.

Time to ditch the plastic bag?

article submitted by: Kara Sweeney
Most (if not all) grocery stores are now selling reusable grocery bags at an inexpensive price.  This move is an attempt to reduce the number and volume of cheap, flimsy plastic bags most of us consume every time we go to the store.  (Data released by the United States Environmental Protection Agency shows that somewhere between 500 billion and a trillion plastic bags are consumed worldwide each year.  Source: National Geographic News September 2, 2003.) 
  picture of trash heap
Not only does the production of these bags take a toll on our environment but the disposal of them is causing many issues around the planet.
 
“A study in 1975, showed oceangoing vessels together dumped 8 million pounds of plastic annually. The real reason that the world's landfills weren't overflowing with plastic was because most of it ended up in an ocean fill – US National Academy of Science”
Wildlife 
Our wildlife, in particular, are getting caught up in and often killed by ingesting or becoming terminally entangled.  According to the World Wildlife Fund Report for 2005, Nearly 200 different species of sea Nearly 200 different species of sea life including whales, dolphins, seals life including whales, dolphins, seals and turtles die due to plastic bags.
 
So consider reducing your plastic bag consumption by investing in some sturdy, reusable shopping bags.  (My favorite kinds are from Whole Foods or Trader Joes due to their large capacity and versatility.)  The cost of bags range from $1-$5 each.
 
If just 1 out of 5 people in our country did this we would save 1,330,560,000,000 bags over our life time!
canvas bag
Tip of the Month
Take reusable bags to the grocery store!  Keep them in your car and grab every time you go to the store.
They can hold a lot of items and are strong and practical!

UUMAN Membership Classes in August

article submitted by: Sue Holden
If you are interested in joining the Unitarian Universalist Metro Atlanta North congregation or just interested in learning more about Unitarian Universalism, please join us on August 17 in the Sanctuary from 4 to 6 p.m.   We will present an overview of UU history and UUMAN history.  We will get acquainted with each other and share some refreshments.
 
If you plan to attend, please reply by phone or e-mail listed below.  Also, childcare will be available if you let us know the name and age of each child
when you reply. The second session, UU 102, will be held August 24 and the new member ceremony will be held Sunday, September 14, during the morning worship service.
 
Any questions, please call me at 770-886-5306 or e-mail saholden1@bellsouth.net. I'm looking forward to meeting you!

Ministry with Children and Youth

article submitted by Toniann Read
Welcome to UUMAN’s MCY. Welcome for the first time. Welcome back…

…welcome to the place where you will always find a friend waiting, to a place where what you say, what you think, what you feel and what you believe really matters! Welcome to a place where you will find a promise that you will be valued,  loved and supported and where we will expect the same from you in return. Welcome to a place where Love & Justice are tenets of our faith, a faith that holds us to our promises to one another. Welcome to a place where we ‘snuggle and struggle’ with ourselves and each other as we grow in faith together. Welcome to your Church home.
I hope that you have all had a wonderful summer and now I am so glad that YOU are here! We have some great RE Teams shaping up & a fantastic MCY Council who have already been busy making plans for a year full of wonderful experiences for us to create & share. I am excited about the work that we will do together!

Welcome to all those who are joining the Youth (YRUU) for the first time. I am looking forward to having you become a part of the youth groups that we all care about so much. We want you to play an active role in youth programs at UUMAN and I know that your fellow youth will support your contributions and leadership in any way they can.

So, I invite you all to join me with arms, minds & hearts wide open as we look forward to being together again!

MCY CALENDAR HIGHLIGHTS - AUGUST 2008
Aug 3 – Youth ‘Back to School Party’ (12-4pm)
Aug 10 – MCY Council Meeting  (12-2.30pm) DH
Aug 16 – MCY Volunteer Training  (8.30am-1pm) FH
Aug 23 – Jr & Sr Youth ‘Plan & Play Day’ (10am-6pm)
Aug 24 – MCY Council Meeting  (12-2.30pm) DH

REGISTER NOW!
Preschool & Pre-K “We Are Many, We Are One”
K-1st grade “Treasure Hunting Take 2”
2-3rd grade “Moral Tales” & “Holidays & Holy Days”
4-5th grade “Bibleodeon”
Jr Youth “Neighboring Faiths”
Sr Youth “You The Creator”

MCY volunteer training
Saturday August 16th 2008, 8.30am-1.00pm
All MCY Volunteers are asked to join your MCY Council for a morning of learning,  leadership, fellowship & fun…See you there!
Breakfast & childcare provided

Jr & Sr Youth 
‘Plan & Play Day’!
Saturday August 23rd, (10am-5pm)
ALL UUMAN Youth (gr 6-12) are invited to get together for a day of planning, fellowship & fun! Come along & help plan for the coming year, participate in youth worship & spend an afternoon playing with new (& old) friends...
 
Cost - $15.00 (Laser Tag) RSVP & Permission Slip required!
Contact Toniann (770) 558-4476

Our Whole Lives
8 & 9th grade Parents Meeting
September 7th (time TBA)

Seeking Youth Advisors  
Are you interested in creating intergenerational community?
Are you intrigued by the idea of Youth/Adult alliances?
Do you like playing games, deep conversation & worshipping at midnight (followed by breakfast at Waffle House)?
Are you over a UUMAN member over 25 years old? 

We have a program waiting for YOU! Please see Toniann about joining our MCY as a Jr or Sr Youth Advisor. Job descriptions are available at the MCY Table on Sunday mornings

CONTACT TONIANN
Office Hours
Wednesday 10.00am-3.00pm
Friday 10.00am-3.00pm
Sunday 9.30am-2.30pm
Office Telephone: (770) 992-3949
Email: dtzjread@comcast.net
 

Meet your new MCY Council…

Merri Beth Stephens – Chair
Matthew Elliott – Vision Team Coordinator
Melanie Coggen – Secretary
 
OPEN - RE Associate Coordinator
OPEN – Curriculum Team Coordinator
 
Melissa Estes – Social Action Coordinator
Kara Sweeney – Worship Coordinator
Jean McAulay – Family Ministry Team Coordinator

A Bit About the Church Website

If you haven't been to the UUMAN.org website's calendar, you really owe yourself a visit. Linked from the homepage, and utilizing the mighty power of The Google, it includes more events than ever, and updated regularly. Thanks again to Dan Ben-David and all those who've kept the site humming all these years!

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UUMANTimes is the newsletter of the Unitarian Universalist Metro Atlanta North congregation. We welcome all types of newsletter submissions, and usually publish them too. Please send us your articles, editorials, poems, rants, and announcements, to newsletter@uuman.org