Unitarian Universalist Church of Jackson

NUUSLETTER

 A Newsletter for our Members and Friends

February 2006 - 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

February 5

Forum: Bring a new idea for 2006 that you would like to discuss and we will put it in the jester's hat.  Steve Bollinger will lead.

Service: Dr. James Bowley, of the Department of Religion and Philosophy at Millsaps College, will be speaking. At press time the topic was yet to be determined, so come delighting in the unknown and you will be rewarded!

February 12

Forum: Tom Head, "New Outreach and Social Justice Programs"

Service:  This date has been designated Evolution Day by The Clergy Letter Project, in which Rev. Luck has been participating, and she will be preaching on this timely topic. Not only is February the month of Valentines and of the birthdays of Washington and Lincoln, it is the birthday of Charles Darwin. Join us.

February 19

Forum: Fran Leber, "Legislative Issues for 2006"

Service: Patricia Ice will be the speaker.

February 26

Forum: "Brown Bag Forum."  Bill Gressett has a brown bag full of interesting questions.  What is your answer?

Service: Mary Lou Creves, from our Home Church, will be the guest speaker.

 

Deadline for submissions to the March UUCJ NUUSletter: February 18.  Please make submissions to NUUSletter@uujackson.org.

If you would like to receive the NUUsletter by email, please user our NUUS subscription form.

Mississippi Musings

How is Your Seeing?

You know, how we see things makes a difference in possibilities. It amazes me how I get caught on this over and over again. I vow I'll do better, and then before I know it, I am caught again, red-handed! Take this evening, I have been struggling to find a word I need for the crossword puzzle I am working. I mean, really working it and all those words around it, hoping to find something to change. Finally in frustration I take a peak at the solution. Yes, I sometimes peak. I figure there is enough in this world to get worked up over, and this is supposed to be fun. I peak at the solution. Bam!

That is so simple! I can't believe it! I was so focused on one meaning of the word that I was oblivious to others! I did it again!

I like to think I am not alone in this. You know, how you can see the glass is half full or half empty? In The Day of Shalom, Bo Turner expounds on this topic further in an essay, Seeing is Believing (55):

A defeatist thinks the other team has beaten them; a winner will think that time simply ran out before his team could get ahead. But the fatalist thinks it would not have made any difference which way the game ended, the referees would cheat them out of it anyhow.  

As we begin a new year, it makes sense for all of us to do a perspective check up on ourselves. In this case, I like the thinking of Bo's winner. That winner made me smile when I read the description, and I am smiling still as I write. Sure it’s simplistic, but I'd rather approach life with such expectations. It's a choice, an approach to life, not a denial.

We could go in many directions with this, and I hope you do, but I will point to a Stewardship Party. UUCJ is changing its perspective on receiving its financial sustenance. This congregation is having a party to celebrate and laugh together while financing the Church and its programs! I hear there will be drawings that evening to add to the excitement.

Why not have fun? This church means so much to you that you attend Sunday after Sunday, year after year. It is your faith community, and it is important for you and for the community outside its walls. You are a people with a cause, with a purpose. No more canvas doldrums in February! Pledging to support progressive religion, and your community and its dreams is rewarding! Let it be known that supporting The Unitarian Universalist Church of Jackson, Mississippi, is fun!

And, while you are having so much fun with changing of perspectives, you might consider changing your perspective on how much you wish to give. I'll never forget the shock I felt when in 1999 someone pointed out that some people routinely still put a dollar in the offering! I remember elders of mine putting a dollar in the basket, and that was what I always had done, that is, until I was urged to think about MY contribution! Amazing how easily we get lulled into one meaning of a word, or one amount to contribute, or whether we ran out of time before we could win, or whether the coffers are half empty or half full. So, How is your seeing?

Jacqueline

 

The President’s Corner

How can I express my satisfaction with the outcome of our congregational meeting Sunday, January 15, in which we voted to offer Jacqueline Luck a letter of agreement for a fulltime ministry position beginning September 1, 2006?  This is a goal toward which we have been working at least seven years, probably longer, but that is when I began to envision this boon to congregational life.  We have followed a classic path toward goal achievement, taking small steps one at a time with our ultimate vision of a fulltime minister leading us though we may have been unaware.

At our board meeting on January 13^th, we voted to continue our support of the sponsorship of programs on Mississippi Public Radio.  We will join with the other five Mississippi congregations to keep ourselves in the public’s hearing through these short messages. An endowment by some folks at Our Home Universalist-Unitarian Church made it possible to start this last August

In November we voted to repave our parking lot and to install better outdoor lighting. Expect to see this completed in the near future.  Please tell board members how important this improvement is to you and others.  Board members put much thought and energy into making our place a good place to be. They need to know you appreciate their efforts.

This month is our Pledge Drive month.  We kicked it off with a barbeque dinner on January 28^th where many members agreed to help support our progress toward an even more exciting church.  Those who were unable to attend missed a fun evening.  The Pledge Committee will be contacting those who were not there or have not returned their pledge cards during the next month so that we have a good idea of what resources we can expect for the congregational meeting March 19^th.  We will be voting on the budget for the upcoming fiscal year which starts July 1, 2006-June 30, 2007.

 Margaret

Children’s RE News

 

If dragons are signs of good fortunes, 2006 should be a very lucky year for us.  The children worked together to decorate a colorful dragon for a dragon parade during our inter-generational celebration of the Chinese New Year on January 29, and they created stick puppets for the characters they were portraying in their telling of the story, "Everyone Knows What a Dragon Looks Like".

In February we will resume our study of UU Super Heroes and will have lessons and activities focusing on Elizabeth Blackwell, Malvina Reynolds, Theodore Parker, and Lewis Latimer.

Reminder to parents: It would be helpful if you could bring your children to the R.E. building at least 5-10 minutes prior to the adult service, so we could know whether an additional adult will be needed to assist with the youngest children.

Dary Shenefelt

 

Membership Report: 2005

UUCJ gained eleven new members in 2005:  Kelly Bradshaw, Trina Cameron, Karen Cathey-Austin, Thomas Garrett, Tom Head, Michael Horne, Charity Klueckman, Barbara Lewis, Natalie Maynor, Barbara Scobee, and Esther Denise Young.

Early 2006 should see continued growth as people who have signed the Stepping Stones Book become members.  Already in 2006, Elise Morse-Gagné has moved from the Stepping Stones Book to the Membership Book.  Others who signed the Stepping Stones Book in late 2005 are Alice Allen, Rick Gagné, Renée Marble, and Harriet Tanzman.

R.E. has benefited from the children brought by these new members and soon-to-be members:  Caitlyn and Claire, David and Katie, Jaqueline and Jordan, Hartmann, and Barbara's granddaughters, Halle and Emily, along with some of their cousins.

 

The Building and Grounds Committee is wanting of members.  You’re aware that we at the UUCJ come together in doing the physical chores required to keep our grounds, the RE building, and our sanctuary facilities in top condition.

In 2006, the months of April (29^th), July (29^th), September (30^th), and December (30^th) each have 5 Saturdays.  From as early as 8 a.m. until as late as you are able, our members, family, and friends gather at UUCJ on these “Fifth Saturdays” to attend to areas of need.  Please be aware of these ongoing efforts to maintain and improve our church properties.

An outside painting event is being considered to freshen the RE building.  There are lots of opportunities for you to use your handiwork, lend moral support, or bring snacks.

If you wish to add your support to our “chore days,” see Brian Heffner to commit to working on these group efforts.

Announcements

The Third Sunday of the month, February 19^th is the day to collect contributions of soap and toiletries for the boys at the Detention Center.

A Congregational meeting and potluck will be held March 19^th to elect a few new officers and to approve the 2006-2007 budget.  Put it on your calendar.  We need everybody there.  

The Roots Class will not meet February 5 but will the 12^th.

The Science and Religions Class will meet Tuesday, February 7, at 10:00. Please join us.