Care Circle
Meetings to ‘Sustain the Flame’
UUMAN's
Heart's Desire Auction – Boffo!
Adult
Enrichment Notes: From Evensong to Personal Theology
The UUMAN
Library…Not Just Books
The
Sustainability Committee’s Tip of the Month: Gloria In Eggshells-y Deo
A Month of
Sundays (March Worship Services)
And
Don’t Forget… (More UUMAN Calendar Items)
Rev. Paul has
left the building…
Haiti Relief:
UUMAN’s Generosity, and a word of thanks from the UUSC
Heads
Up—There’s a Summer camp for everyone!
Pay Yourself First
Over many years I have come to understand that we spend our hard-earned income on that which speaks most powerfully to our hearts and minds. In effect, we need to pay ourselves first for that which feeds our spirits and soul, and enriches our lives. After our basic survival needs are satisfied, much of the rest is fluff.
I believe that this church community fits in the category of a basic survival need. Without a spiritual life, we are empty shells doing the zombie stumble through life. I, for one, do not want to be a cast member in "Night of the Living Dead".
UUMAN exists to help you become fully human, to be alive to all that is good, beautiful, and life affirming. Our congregation provides you a safe haven to share your yearnings, disappointments, joys and contentment with others with whom you have grown in trust.
Here we each have the opportunity to form our own theology, create a spiritual life unique to each of us and to develop and share a moral code which can guide our lives and decisions.
There is no substitute for this special community which values diversity and your unique perspective on life. We honor and walk beside you on a journey to form yourself into a unique spiritual being that is honored for the contributions of heart and head equally as part of your struggle to become an integrated person. We insist on no creed and dogma to cling to as moral code, but rather support each other’s struggle to find meaning. We offer not a crutch but an understanding heart, a mind that challenges your preconceived ideas, and we offer a human hand up.
What value do you place on a community that offers all this and more? This church provides religious education for our children, mental and emotional enrichment for all adults, a place to learn how to become a leader, an opportunity to share deeply of your inner life, a place to serve to change the world, a opportunity to laugh and cry together, and to have as much fun as we do, especially over a shared meal and a little vino. Oh come on, of course we imbibe a little, even it is only diet soda and OJ.
As we enter our Stewardship campaign, I ask you to remember the love and benefits you receive as a member or friend of UUMAN. Please be as generous as you can to support the programs and the various ministries of this congregation.
Please pay yourself first with an open heart of gratitude. Remember the future of UUMAN is in your hands, heart and pocketbook. You are worth it.
Support this church so it can continue to serve you and the world in which we live. Thank you.
Yours in our
shared faith,
Rev. Paul D. Daniel
Care Circle Meetings to ‘Sustain the Flame’
As
part of our annual stewardship campaign, a series of
At these meetings, trained canvass facilitators will ask members to think about and share their experiences with UUism, and then discuss their hopes and dreams for UUMAN’s future. A gathering like this is a rare opportunity to engage in thoughtful discussion about your spiritual home and what lies ahead for its future.
Attendees will submit their pledges for the coming year at these meetings. However, this year’s canvass is “blind,” which means no one will see or discuss the amount of their pledges at the gathering. This is a very important time as we begin to think of our spiritual community’s activities for the upcoming year.
For additional information, contact Laurey Sherman (404-824-1008 or Stewardship@UUMAN.org).
--Chuck
Jones
Ed.
Note: See also Dave Hudson’s Stewardship
Testimonial, included in this newsletter.
UUMAN's Heart's Desire Auction – Boffo!
Only an adjective taken semi-directly from the headlines of a 1950's "Variety" headline in a thinly plotted movie musical will do to describe the Heart’s Desire Auction on the night of Feb. 27. Boffo, a seldom used term in the new millennium, means that it was a smash, a hit, SRO (standing room only and an occasional answer in a crossword puzzle). It raked in a grand total of over $10,000.
For those of you who doubted my advertising...I did not exaggerate.
The committee members were dressed to the nines and eager to make sure all went smoothly.
Auctioneer Randy Blasch was dashing in his tux and by turns amusing, cajoling, and charming. (The word phenomenal was used as he even descended from the podium to exhort bidding from the amused crowd).
The bartenders were suave and offered wine and soft drinks with alacrity and bubbling conversation.
The kitchen mavens worked hard to present their freshly baked goods on silver trays with the promised doilies.
The guests were good lookin', chatty, at times a little raucous, and above all generous of spirit and wallet. Sequins abounded.
The food? Divine. The music? Sophisticated. The auction offerings? Well received.
Our thanks go to all who helped in the large and the small ways.
One of the kitchen experts pointed out (possibly correctly) that if all the people who volunteered for this event donated $2.00 an hour, we would end up with the same dollar benefit. But this evening, while about raising money, was even more important in that it saw old members, new members, and friends come together to share a night of single purpose: Community.
I
would certainly be remiss if I didn't especially thank the esteemed committee.
And while we all worked hard the one who kept us together, who took
responsibility for every detail, and the one who did it without garnering any
animosity was Elizabeth Rohan. {I will tell you this...if you ever see
There are many unsung heroes in this event...the husbands of the committee members, the people who helped without desire of recognition...but we all worked and made this a wonderful evening and a fun event.
Thanks to all who attended. You were boffo.
--Martina Queenth
PS I am in love (LOVE) with Blow Oscar (You had to be there…it’s Art) and with our new dishwasher!
Adult Enrichment Notes: From Evensong to Personal Theology
Evensong, offered through UUMAN’s Adult Enrichment program and led by Reverend Paul, has been meeting on the first and second Tuesdays of the past few months and finishes its course with its final meeting in early March. Evensong is an eight-week series of gatherings in which participants explore individual life journeys through sharing experiences and thoughts on religious and spiritual topics. Each gathering incorporates elements of worship and follows a curriculum that has as its core offering opportunities to listen attentively so that each person who speaks is drawn into a deeper sense of their own humanness and wholeness, encouraging openness about what matters to them.
In this format, our group provided a listening space for participants to share their views and feelings on various aspects of the divine, the human condition, the community, dealing with loss and death, and finding one’s purpose in life. Through our sharing exercises, our group had the pleasure of deep fellowship, as we grew to know ourselves and each other better.
Reverend Paul’s next offering will be a group exploring Personal Theology, planned to begin in April. Be on the lookout for sign-up information!
--Kim Palmer
The UUMAN Library…Not Just Books
In addition to the 1500 or so books and other items in the UUMAN library, we also have a small number of magazines, newsletters and periodicals for your use. They represent various social and political points of view. Look for them on the left as you enter, on the bottom shelf in plastic holders marked “Periodicals”.
As always, if you have borrowed a book and are through with it, we'd love to have it back.
--Lois Curry
The Worship Associates are seeking new members to help coordinate and conduct our services - particularly during the upcoming summer months.
If you are interested, contact Rev. Paul or Miriam Bellamy.
Don't discard those Egg Shells! Here are some Gardening benefits associated with Egg Shell composting:
Egg shells are about 95 % Calcium Carbonate, the active ingredient in garden lime.
When mixed in soil, egg shells help prevent blossom end rot in your Tomatoes. They also facilitate the growing of certain vegetables such as cabbages and beans by increasing the pH of acidic soil.
Eggshells contain Nitrogen, which will benefit plant leaf promotion.
Eggshells encourage birds to build nearby nesting sites; they'll peck at shell fragments for use as gullet gravel (also adds calcium to their diet).
Larger fragments placed in a circle around plants discourage slug, snail and cutworm attacks. Halved-fragments (White) can be used in a garden as Cabbage-White Butterfly "Scarecrows."
Water used to boil eggs acquires calcium, making it an effective liquid feed for houseplants once cooled.
To Prepare the Shells:
1. Rinse cracked egg shells to clean out residual membrane/yoke/whites (Shells from Boiled Eggs are already clean).
2. Bake the Shells on a cookie sheet for 20 minutes at 220°F to kill any dormant salmonella. (Microwaving at high temperatures is also effective)
3. Pulverize the eggshells using a mortar and pestle, rolling pin, or food processor. Powdery shell fragments are ideal for soil mixture and gullet gravel; larger fragments will be more effective in deterring garden pests (see above).
NOTE: Composting eggs (in addition to egg shells) is NOT recommended!
—Steve Allerton
A Month of Sundays (March
Worship Services)
March 7—Every Consideration
Sen no Rikyu, the 16th century master of the Japanese Tea Ceremony, suggested hospitality is a mindful awareness of the other. Our guest speaker Rev. Alison Eskildsen will explore the spiritual and ethical dimensions of preparing tea and making room for others.
March 14—Generosities as a Spiritual Practice
A measure of who we are as spiritual people is what we give to each other and our community. Rev. Paul will explore how giving is good for the soul or at least a way to honor our values in a concrete manner.
March 21—Three Prophets of Liberal Religion
We will explore the historic works of Emerson, Channing and Parker and their contribution to the formation of our faith as we know it today.
March 28—State Sponsored Death
The sermon will address whether the death penalty is cruel and unusual punishment. You will have an opportunity to provide your views during a polylog following the sermon.
And Don’t Forget… (More UUMAN Calendar Items)
March 1—Early discounted registration for the 2010 Unitarian
Universalist Association General Assembly (GA) in
March 5-7—UU History Weekend Workshop. UUMAN is hosting the UUA Renaissance Module Training over the March 5-7th weekend. This training is one of 9 specialized professional trainings offered by the UUA. The title and theme will be Unitarian Universalist History. You can learn more about The Renaissance Module program here - http://www.uua.org/leaders/leadership/religiouseducation/renaissanceprogram/index.shtml
March 14,
11.45am—21st Century Humanism
will meet in the Sanctuary. The discussion topic will be “The trial of
terrorists: Where would the punishment best fit the crime: Military tribunals;
Civilian courts; or …?” For information on this or other meetings
contact John Peltier: 
.
All are invited to attend."
March 23,
6pm—A discussion of the book Acts of Faith. This session will be led
by Dr. Linda M. Johnston: 
.
April 3—The annual Passover Seder will start at 5 or 5:30- TBD.
Well, "Lawdy Miss Clawdy," the UUMAN pulpit was recently filled by a mysterious stranger who looked sort of like ... well ... he was wearing black leather ... a stylish scarf ... and trademark shades.
We couldn't tell if he had "Blue Suede Shoes." Forgive our "Suspicious Minds," but while he said he came from "Viva Las Vegas", we suspected it was more like "Jailhouse Rock."
He had his audience "All Shook Up" as he spoke about a proposed new UU principle called "Love Me Tender." Or was it "Burning Love?" Alas, this "Big Boss Man" wasn't a rock 'n roll icon; we were left "Crying in the Chapel," longing for a room at the "Heartbreak Hotel," as we realized he ain't nothing but a "Hound Dog" ... a "Devil in Disguise" ... our own "Teddy Bear" -- Rev. Paul. For sure, this outfit was "T-R-O-U-B-L-E" and will be "Always On My Mind.”
As many of you are aware, in late January we asked our congregation to include, along with the regular offering, a donation to the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee to assist in the Haitian relief efforts. Our members contributed nearly a thousand dollars at this one-time offering, and for our efforts, the UUSC sent UUMAN an official thank-you, which included, in part, these kind words:
Since 1939, supporters like you have helped UUSC become a leading voice in advancing human rights worldwide. We pledge to honor your commitment to us through our efforts to defend the human right to water, to restore and protect our civil liberties, to ensure workers’ rights, and to preserve the rights of vulnerable people after disasters…
Thank you again for your generous contribution to our work
promoting human rights and social justice. Your support will make a real
difference in the lives of people in the
Heads Up—There’s a Summer camp for everyone!
Are you looking for a great, affordable experience for your family, one with lots of adventures and filled with friends? If so, then come to Southeast Unitarian Universalist Summer Institute.
(affectionately known as SUUSI!)
You'll be welcomed warmly and invited into our community. Together, we'll create a week of conversation, of reflection, of activity, and of family.
You'll be challenged intellectually and nurtured spiritually. You can stay up all night dancing or making music, and spend all day communing with nature or exploring your personal growth. We have special programs for youth, teens and young adults, so be sure to bring the whole family.
When: July 18-24
Where:
Look at last year’s catalog at this link.
--Susan Wilson
A little over a year ago my wife, Kate, and Jim Saunders brought me here on a Saturday evening on a ruse – ostensibly for Jim to pick up a piece of art. In fact, I’d been delivered to a surprise party. More than one hundred members of the congregation had gathered to wish me a happy 60th birthday. I was deeply moved. I had come back to a Unitarian Universalist church – after a hiatus of four years – as I told the revelers that evening – because, when I die, I want someone to care. These people cared; I had found the community that had been lacking in my life.
I come back to UUMAN week-after-week and day-after-day because it is a wonderful community, but UUMAN’s meaning for me – as it is for Kate- is much deeper than that. We have belonged to two other wonderful UU congregations, where we were involved and where we felt immersed in community. But something makes this place different for us.
Rev. Paul says that he can do the long hours of ministry because he doesn’t think of it as work. I feel the same way. I have been overly involved, perhaps, in the life of UUMAN during the past three years – a critical period of transition from one settled ministry to another. I have done it because of a passionate desire for a successful, meaningful transition. This work does not drain me; it enervates me. I know I’m doing too much; I know it when I see details slip through the cracks. But it does feed me.
UUMAN has become a part of the fiber of my being – in a way that other churches – however loved – have not because of what has happened to me here; I have been transformed here. Some of you have heard this story; indulge me, please, the telling of it.
Among the deepest elements of the UU faith are the beliefs that we can grow in our individual understandings of Truth, Beauty, and Goodness; that we grow and develop as people; that there is a True Self – good and beautiful – at the core of each of us; and that we can grow to a deep and profound understanding of that self – that we can grow to wholeness.
UUMAN has put me on that path – a path that UU religious leaders now speak of as “faith development”. And for that I will be eternally grateful.
It began with Greg Ward’s Spiritual
Autobiography/Sermon Writing class in early 2001 – even before I had
signed the membership book. It continued through other iterations of that
class; I took it five times – because it continued to bring me closer to
understanding who I am. And Bill Horton’s Personal
Theology class. And Pat Shea’s Spiritual
Explorations class. And Greg’s workshop on
prayer. I became a regular lay speaker here, allowing me to explore
issues of theology and spirituality on my own. In fact, researching for and
writing sermons have become a kind of spiritual practice for me. I have taken
an online course in the underpinnings of UU theology at
UUMAN has become for me the community where one hundred friends can come to share my birthday celebration – but – more than that – it is the place that changed my life – that put me on a path toward awareness and understanding.
I am compelled to share this life transformation with other UUs – here and throughout the district – by speaking – by offering the same kinds of classes that changed my life – and by serving as a congregational consultant.
And I am compelled to share it by giving financially to this place. It is no accident that our annual pledge – Kate’s and mine - has risen dramatically during our time here – as UUMAN has changed and nourished us – and as we have become increasingly aware of its impact. How can our pledge not reflect the impact that UUMAN has had on our lives? We encourage you to consider your own experience here and consider a financial pledge that reflects the significance of it.
--Dave Hudson
UUMANTimes is the newsletter of Unitarian Universalist
Metro Atlanta North (UUMAN), located at 