Unitarian Universalist Church of Jackson

NUUSLETTER

 A Newsletter for our Members and Friends

  March 2005 - Web Edition

WORSHIP SCHEDULE

Every Sunday Fellowship at 9:30am, Service at 11:00am

 

March 6

Forum: Unwelcome Advances: Is Sexual Harassment Real?

Service: "Reflections: One Woman's Religious Search for Openness."  Guest worship leader is Karen Cathy-Austin, a chaplain resident at the VAMC in Jackson. Karen has earned a Masters of Divinity from Candler School of Theology at Emory, a M.A in Counseling Education, a M.A. in Telecommunications, and a B.A. in Mass Communications, AND she is in the process of joining UUCJ with an eye to the ministry within our faith tradition!

 March 13

 Forum: Economic Justice: Where Do Taxes Fit?

 Service: Celebration Sunday!  A service to celebrate the offerings and pledges of this year's canvas by UUCJ members and its friends. Rev. Luck will preach on the Pursuit of Happiness.  Annual Meeting and Potluck follow.

March 20

Forum: Issues to be discussed at the General Assembly in June, 2005;  Environmental Justice -The Seventh Principle Project

Service: Paganism - History, Practices and Prejudice.  Bob Kearan of Central MS CUUPS Chapter, speaker.

March 25

Good Friday Tenebrae Service - 7:00 to 8:00.  On this most somber of days, we at UUCJ will have a special service in which we hold the pain and suffering of life through readings and music. Please let Jacqueline know if child care is needed.

March 27

Forum: Religion and the State: Should We Apply for a Faith Based grant?

Service: Easter Sunday Service.  This will be an intergenerational service in which the children will participate.

 

Deadline for submissions to the April UUCJ NUUSletter: March 18.  Please make submissions to Susan Voisin at NUUSletter@uujackson.org.

If you would like to receive the NUUsletter by email, contact Susan at the email address above.

     A New Leaf     

February 2005

By Rev. Jacqueline Luck

This has been a fascinating time for UUCJ since I last wrote; you are in the midst of a canvas to raise monies for the stewardship of the beloved community of your church as well as the greater community. Your presence and what you stand for is greatly needed at this time in Jackson and in our country.

Last Saturday I had an appreciation dinner for the financial guardians of UUCJ and Michael and Connie Dowd at my home. Those guardians pledge two thousand dollars and above each year,  and they are deserving of appreciation, as well as those who support the church with their time and energy. We are in the process of scheduling an Appreciation Sunday this Spring to recognize UUCJ’s volunteer guardians.

I think those of us that attended church Sunday, February 13,  were very appreciative of the work Connie Barlow and Michael Dowd are doing around the intersection of science and religion and the conversation they have raised at UUCJ. I must note your generosity as Michael told me few churches have been so generous to them monetarily! Perhaps a reality check is needed here as I have often been told you were too small and too financially limited to make your dreams come true…You are doing it!

It seems this important conversation around science and religion should continue at UUCJ, perhaps in the form of a study group. I bought several tapes and DVD’s, and Dary very generously volunteered to spend some of her Religious Education budget to buy other materials for Adult R.E. Please speak to me if you would be interested in such a group (revluck@uujackson.org or leave a message on the church phone). 

“The best laid plans…” was the theme Sunday January 30^th for UUCJ’s canvas kick off, but speaker Lisa McCleod was not able to fly from Atlanta on Saturday as the airport closed due to an ice storm.  I produced a sermon in very short order, and though I was disappointed as I’m sure you were, spirits were high that Sunday. I am pleased to tell you Ray says the pledges are coming in at a higher percentage than last year! If you have not signed on to support the vision for an empowered UUCJ, I’m sure you’ll want to take advantage of this opportunity to stand up for what is good, true and of deep moral and spiritual beauty in your church and in your community.

Speaking of what is good and true reminds me of our Unitarian and Universalist roots. I would love to go in great depth about that with you, but this Spring we are planning a shorter form of a “Roots” class for those new to this faith tradition, followed by an ingathering of new members later in May. It occurs to me some members of UUCJ might like a refresher course and are certainly welcome to also sign up with me ASAP (revluck@uujackson.org or leave a message on the church phone).

You, yes You, are building the beloved community in Jackson, and you are building on a solid foundation: UUCJ’s history, committed financial stewardship, and the emotional and spiritual strength of the congregation.  To do less would endanger the future!

In beauty it is begun,

Jacqueline

The President’s Corner

The President’s Corner:

Not Enough Chairs! Not Enough Chairs!

Finally,...Not Enough Chairs!

JoAnn               

In every community, there is work to be done. 

In every nation, there are wounds to heal.

 In every heart, there is the power to do it.

                                                                                                                 - Marianne Williamson

Children’s RE News

The children delighted in decorating cookies and creating a variety of Valentines, including some potato prints, Styrofoam prints, and linoleum block prints, to distribute during their Valentine Luncheon for the Benefit of Tsunami Survivors. Ranjan Batra, Mary Margaret and Steve Bollinger, Susan Haik, and Susan Voisin assisted us with our project. We received $250 in donations for the UU Service Committee's Tsunami Relief Fund.

In January and February Keely and Elena, on their own initiative, collected in their neighborhoods donations totaling $80.95 for Stewpot Community Services. We also received several bags of boys' clothing to add to our usual Sunday offerings of canned goods for Stewpot.

The children will be participating in the Easter/Flower Communion Intergenerational Service planned by Rev. Jacqueline Luck on March 27. Children may bring baskets for the egg hunt following the service. Eggs will be provided by R.E.

                                                    

Dary Shenefelt                    

NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING

SUNDAY, MARCH 13, 2005

 

Calendar Notes:

Campbell Soup Nights at Jacqueline's, Thursdays at 5:30 to 8:00. Feb. 24, March10 and 24. This will be a viewing of the Bill Moyers’ interviews of Joseph Campbell on The Power Of Myth. Please RSVP to Church phone or revluck@uujackson.org ASAP.  Directions to her home will follow your call.

Evensong will continue Sunday afternoons 5:00 to 6:30, Feb. 27, March 13 and possibly Easter Sunday.