Unitarian Universalist Church of Jackson

NUUSLETTER

 A Newsletter for our Members and Friends

July 2005 - Web Edition

Love is the spirit of this church, and service is our law.

To dwell together in peace, to seek the truth in love, and to help one another.

This is our covenant

WORSHIP SCHEDULE

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

Forums: See “A New Leaf” for details.

July 3

Forum: Speaking of Faith

Service: UUCJ will hold its traditional "Soap Box" Sunday where anyone can get on our soapbox and speak his or her mind!  (Of course, we have a few rules of decorum, but otherwise, you can have the floor for a few minutes to speak on your favorite topic, or gripe your favorite gripe.)  Come on out, folks!  This is always a great time. 

July 10

Forum: Speaking of Faith

Service: Margaret Drake will share her information from the June General Assembly held in Fort Worth, TX

July 17

Forum: Speaking of Faith

Service: Speaker Esther Young--Intern Chaplain at the VA Medical Center and UUCJ member.  Potluck lunch and congregational meeting follow.

July 24

Forum: Speaking of Faith

Service: "Reframing Religious Metaphors."  Speaker Karen Cathey Austin, Intern Chaplain at the VA Medical Center and UUCJ member. 

July 31

Forum: Speaking of Faith

Service: "Nor All Your Frailties, Nor Wit . . . ."  Hypocrisies, foibles, and blunders in our search for truth.  Bill Gressett, speaker.

 

Deadline for submissions to the August UUCJ NUUSletter: July18.  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     

By Rev. Jacqueline Luck

 

Summer is upon us, it’s hot, and it feels like an old friend returned.  I find myself this morning remembering summer days spent in Arkansas with my grandmother because of the heat, the lazy dragonflies and the sweetness of Cape Jasmine blooms, and the porch swing where we used to spend so much time talking. I am spending these last days before I go to General Assembly in Ellisville, and then I plan to fly to Chicago for the Fourth to be with two sons and daughter by her marriage.  Also must get out to Pasadena to see Sofie, whom I’ve seen once…she’s now nine months old. And yes, I will be thrilled to see her parents. I will see my son and his family in Baton Rouge, and sisters and brother in Shreveport. I have a stack of books to read, and plan to return to MS refreshed and ready for another good year.

Some of the program committee, Fran, JoAnn, Margaret, Steve Bollinger, Esther Young and Karen-Cathey-Austin, and I, met to plan the summer services recently, and there are some exciting things on the horizon. By the time you read this you will have heard from long time member Dr. D.E. Magee on Father’s Day. Author Wayne Sorge will have spoken the next Sunday, the 26th, on the death penalty. Summer services vary; some resemble forums in topics--the good, true and holy comes to us in many forms.

I regret that I will not be in town for the traditional soap box sermonizing done Freedom Sunday, July 3.  The closest thing I’ve seen to it would be Speaker’s Corner in London where many warn the coming end to the world, etc. For those not yet initiated, it seems those in the congregation are offered five minutes to speak on a topic of their choice, while standing on an actual speaker’s box. It sounds veeery intereeesting!

On July 10^th, Margaret Drake will share with the congregation some of what she experienced and learned at the General Assembly.  Esther Young and Karen-Cathey-Austin, two ministers who have joined UUCJ this year, are each doing a sermon in July. Esther is preaching on July 17, and Karen is preaching July 24, on religious metaphors. We are graced by these two women’s presence and willingness to fill the pulpit.

Brian Heffner has offered to do the forums during the summer on Krista Tippett’s, Speaking of Faith, on MPR from 9 o’clock to 10.  Listen as you drive to UUCJ for 9:30 and finish listening with the group. There will be a discussion following. This show is a very intelligent conversation about faith and ethics. Other plans are being made for the summer that you don’t want to miss if you are in town. I hope the congregation will be supportive to those doing the summer programming as much effort is going into providing excellent services

Have a wonderful summer, and save a little water from places you journey to for the Blending of the Waters ceremony in August. You may reach me by emailing (include this address as well as the revluck one, Luck@yeehaaa.com) or call on my cell phone if I am needed. Margaret will be able to locate me.

 

In beauty,

Jacqueline

The President’s Corner

The President’s Corner:

 

June was an exciting month for your president.   The first weekend, I attended the Mid-South District President’s Convocation in Episcopal Camp McDowell near Jasper, Alabama.  Fifteen of the thirty two Mid-South District congregation presidents were present.  Our District Executive, Eunice Benton, our new quarter time Religious Education consultant Laurel Amabile, Rev. Alice Sylte of Huntsville, former District President Dick Creswell of Macon, GA, who has visited us to consult on finances, and current District President Carleen McDowell of Nashville presented information and led discussions on topics such as Board of Trustees Relationships, Committee on Ministry, Religious Education and Healthy Congregations, to name just a few. 

The Program Committee met at Fran Leber’s home June 9^th. The seven people in attendance planned our Sunday programs up until the middle of October.  Steve Bollinger is coordinating the Forums. 

The following weekend, our Board of Trustees had an orientation retreat in our church. The members of the Nominating Committee, Susan Haik, Steve Bollinger & Ray Shenefelt, attended as well. I provided Board Notebooks for each attendee, which contain many of our church documents and policies.  Fran Leber, who is still recovering from a hip replacement, was able to join us.  In her honor we made our powder room more handicapped accessible.  Perhaps we need a plaque on that restroom dedicating it to her.

From June 23- 26, I attended the General Assembly in Fort Worth, Texas.  Our denominational president, William Sinkford, had made a special offer to excuse the registration cost for all local presidents if they attended all the special events and training sessions designed for them.  Over the next year, I hope to share what I learned in these sessions.  General Assemble is always an enlivening event.  On July 10^th, I will share the best parts during the service.  I hope I can convey to you what inspired me and that it will be contagious.

Margaret

I love America more than any other country in this world, and, exactly for this reason, I insist on the right to criticize her perpetually.

 
James A. Baldwin

Children’s RE News

The children and I have completed our quilt project, and we will display it when we gather with the adults for the "Blending of Waters" Service on August 28. Then our quilt will be sent to "More Than Warmth," an organization which uses quilts created by children in church or school groups to bring love and joy into the lives of children who have endured traumatic experiences due to war, poverty, or natural disasters.

R.E. Volunteers for June have been Bill Gressett, Charity Klueckman, and Waverly Lyles. In July Margaret Drake, Peter Haik, Marianne Hill, Graham O'Regan, and Barbara Scobee plan to share their hobbies with the children.

I am in the process of recruiting volunteers for our fall program. Let me know if you are interested in assisting in the nursery or serving on a teaching team.

Dary Shenefelt                    

 

NOTICE OF SPECIAL CONGREGATIONAL MEETING JULY 17 TO ELECT CALM COMMITTEE MEMBERS

 

Immediately following the worship service July 17th, there will be a congregational meeting to elect four members to the CALM Committee, which according to our bylaws is available to help maintain a healthy church community by communicating with members related to conflict or relationships.  It is understood that CALM members are free to consult with other CALM members on all issues, including those that are confidential. All reports of CALM Committee activities are given to the President.  The CALM Committee may make recommendations to the Board of Trustees.

The terms of all former CALM Committee members have expired.  Please think of members whom you know have such skills and ask them before the meeting if they are willing to be nominated.  The election will be by secret ballot.  Please plan to stay after service so we will have a quorum of church members to participate in this important task.  When you think about the lack of energy for US citizens to participate in democracy, please remember that the same thoughts apply to church democracy, a UU principle.

 

Mississippi Public Broadcasting Plans

 On July 9^th, there will be a meeting with members from the other five Mid-South Congregations to plan for our notices of UU sponsorship of Sound and Spirit and Speaking of Faith.  We will meet at the church at noon and go to a nearby restaurant for lunch.  District executive Eunice Benton will attend.  All are invited.

 

July 4^th Barbeque at the Vockroth’s

 

On July Fourth, we hope you will join us in carpooling and caravanning to the new home of George & Marilyn Vockroth.  It is an evening picnic from 4-8 pm.  We are encouraged to wear “camping clothes” with long sleeves and pants or jeans and walking shoes.  Bring bug spray and wear a hat.  Their new property has opportunities for a walk down the red brick road to a bridge over a creek, to the barn to visit with the black cats, to the grape arbor, or to take the “creek” walk.   If you choose the latter, wear shoes that can get wet.  We can visit the tree plantation and the vegetable and rose garden.  There are opportunities to play croquet, to whittle wood and gaze at the sky, or to visit with other Jackson UUs. Bring lawn chairs & kids.  The Vockroths will provide all the drinks, utensils, paper goods and condiments.  We will take the meat or vegetables to be barbequed and also other picnic specialties.  Let’s have a wonderful “church picnic.”

 

Contact the church for directions. 

 

Magazines

Please bring your old UU World magazines to the church to share with new members and visitors.  You can obliterate your name and address from the magazine and simply put them in the Lucite rack on the Welcome Table in the entry hall.

Additionally, if you have other secular magazine you would like to pass on, bring them to the church and we will put out UUCJ label over your name and address and distribute them to waiting rooms around the city.  Labels are available in the church office.  If you have an upcoming doctor’s appointment, take some labeled magazine to donate to the waiting room.