NEWSLETTER

NEWSLETTER
September 2014
UUCA
SeptemberThe
Theme:
Beloved Community
Also Inside:
September Exhibit: Ruth Gogel
Summer Travels: Barbara Begner
Answering Rev. Boeke’s Question: Duncan E. Teague, M. Div.
Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Atlanta
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Rev Jane Thickstun: R U UU?
There’s a bumper sticker that says, “IM UU RU?”
(You can order it at shopuniuni.com)
With my new responsibilities in Religious
Exploration, I’m concerned with creating
more UU’s. Unitarian Universalism is a freeing,
transforming faith that I am eager to pass on to
children and adults alike.
Unfortunately, many see our faith as merely
a forum for talking about other religions, or
about philosophy, or about anything at all.
I’ve heard that people who grow up in our
faith can get through their religious education
and upon graduating, feel they now need to
choose among the different faith options we
have taught them.
We teach about other religions because we
wish to promote greater understanding, and
because they all have something to teach
us. Because learning about other religions
can make us better UU’s. But we also need
to teach about Unitarian Universalism first
and foremost, because we UU’s have a
unique history and perspective that itself
has much to offer the world.
I hope to create a greater focus on
Unitarian Universalism in our Religious
Education at UUCA, especially in the Adult
progam offerings. My goal is to equip
parents and other adults to be able to
create more UU’s in their families and in
their lives outside this congregation. If
we can spread the word about this great
faith, we can help others live up to their
potential and make the world a better
place.
Social Justice Action Cluster
The North Georgia Social Justice Action Cluster
(NGSJAC) held the quarterly meeting Saturday,
August 16, 2014, at the Georgia Mountains
Congregation in Dahlonega.
The upcoming goal of MM is to make
this a statewide effort and the Emerson
representative reported that their
congregation is working in Cobb County to
form a Cobb County chapter of MM. All UUs
Items discussed included the congregations
are urged to attend MM demonstrations and
continued participation in Guest at Your Table, to wear their standing-on-the-side-of-love tee
Moral Monday (MM) and Jobs with Justice
shirts.Because of the new gun law in Georgia,
(JWJ) issues, the new gun law, immigration
NGSJAC is working on collecting the policy of
reform, Healing Our Hearts at Wounded Knee, each congregation in the region in order to
Lawrence Lessig’s Rootstrikers initiative and
write and issue a collective statement in the
UUA’s Social Justice Empowerment Workshop. form of a press release.
Congregations in the NGSJAC are very involved
in Moral Monday and Jobs With Justice
NGSJAC suggests that for the 2015 picnic social
activities. The cluster feels this fits perfectly
justice action pictures from each congregation
with the study/action issue, “Escalating
be compiled and shared in a video at the
Inequality” chosen at the UUA General
picnic.
Assembly.
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Whoever you are, whatever path you are on, you are welcome here.
The next meeting of NGSJAC will be
held at UUCA, Nov. 15, 2014, 10am-1pm.
Anyone wanting to attend can contact
Mary Crawley, mcrawley@wans.net. Mary
can also be contacted about anything
discussed at the August meeting and
details on submitting pictures for the 2015
picnic.
Michelle’s Musings:
A Note of Gratititude
M i c h e l l e B i s h o p , C h i l d r e n ’s P r o g r a m s C o o r d i n a t o r
We alI have heard it said that a picture is worth a thousand words. Well I hope this picture at least shares a few. I offer a huge thank you to the
people who stepped up and offered to be class guides this Fall quarter in Religious Exploration. Some of you are new while others have been at
it for some time. Either way, I know all of you will bring amazing skills to the position. Thank you!
Children’s Sabbath: Save the Date
Joy Borra
UUCA will join thousands of churches,
synagogues, mosques, and temples across
the country in the 2014 National Observance
of Children’s Sabbaths on October 19, 2014.
These celebrations invite people of faith to
renew and live out their moral responsibility to
care, protect and advocate for all children.
Stationed at tables throughout the social
hall, UUCA groups will be eager to share what
they are already doing to improve the lives of
children and their families.
Our celebration dovetails with other
Sabbaths being held in Atlanta. All are part
of the Interfaith Children’s Movement which
At UUCA, Rev. Makar will lead special worship mobilizes local religious congregations in a
services on October 19. and members may also common commitment to work for justice for
participate in a “Lunch and Learn event from
children. UUCA helped start ICM and the 14th
12:30 – 2:00 about specific children’s issues
annual ICM Prayer Breakfast which follows our
(more later).
Sabbath on October 22. Let’s all work together
to keep this wonderful tradition alive!
Our Children, both precious and
mischevious! You can share your best
photos for our Children’s Sabbath
info campaign. Email to
PromisetheChildren@uuca.org.
These two imps (left) are Tony & Joy
Borra’s grandchildren, 5-year-olds,
Aiden Borra and Jamie Chiao.
Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Atlanta
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Join Interweave at Atlanta Pride
Joetta Proust
Let’s make UUCA’s participation in the 2014
Atlanta Pride Festival even bigger than
last year! This year’s parade takes place
on Sunday Oct. 12, 2014. The 200+ UUCA
congregants who participated last year had a
GREAT time and our goal this year is to have
400 people spreading the message of our
life-affirming faith by walking and riding in
the parade!
We hope everyone will wear the UU
trademark bright yellow Standing on the
Side of Love t-shirts. Interweave will provide
more details about the parade plans as we
get closer to the parade date. In addition
to participating in the parade, you can also
sign up to be a Unitarian Universalist Love
Ambassador! LOVE REACHES OUT will be
the theme of our booth at the Festival and
we’ll need volunteers to staff the booth on
Saturday Oct. 11 and Sunday Oct. 12.
Here are five ways to learn more about our
UUCA involvement with the Atlanta Pride
Festival:
•
Join us for lunch on Sunday Aug. 24
at Uncle Maddio’s Pizza in Toco Hills (3027 N
Druid Hills Rd NE, Atlanta 30329) after second
service at 12:45;
•
Stop by the Interweave table in the
Social Hall on Sunday mornings;
•
Send an email to Interweave@uuca.
org;
•
Join the Interweave email list (also
called a listserv) which is used to distribute
information about activities and topics of
interest. Join our Yahoo listserv at http://
groups.yahoo.com/group/UUCA_Interweave
(Note: you need to create a Yahoo account
and then indicate that you want to join the
Interweave UUCA group. You can change
your settings to receive the messages via your
preferred email address; and
•
Join the UUCA Interweave Facebook
page - https://www.facebook.com/groups/
uuca.interweave/
For more information, contact interweave@
uuca.org or speak with Joetta Prost.
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Whoever you are, whatever path you are on, you are welcome here.
Community Connection Corner
Summer Travels by Barbara Begner
This summer I took one of the best vacations
of my lifetime. My son Zack has been living in
Paris, France for the past year. I took a couple
of weeks this summer to visit him . I was
happy as a lark simply strolling the streets of
Paris sipping espressos along sidewalk cafes
and eating croissants from the boulangeries.
We took trains to Lyon and St. Suzanne ( a
medieval village in which my brother owns a
home) then flew to England to see my niece
and her husband. We boated on the River
Thames, enjoying wild life on the river banks,
navigated through locks and moored at a pub
for a delightful lunch.
The highlight of my trip though was visiting
Stonehenge. I had been to England a number
of times and had never found the opportunity
to take the journey to Stonehenge. If I had
a bucket list, I guess Stonehenge would be
somewhere up towards the top, perhaps
alongside the Pyramids of Egypt. I wasn’t
sure what my reaction to finally seeing this
ancient wonder. I have heard some say
“it’s just a bunch of rocks in the middle of a
“To travel is to take a personal
journey into yourself.”
Danny Kaye
field, in the middle of nowhere!” As I crested
the hill however and had my first glimpse
I began to feel the magic of the place.
Peaceful, majestic, towering stones placed
thousands of years prior to my standing in
front of them touched my innermost self. A
calm sense of wonder flowed through me. I
could have stayed for hours absorbing the
landscape, imagining the people who came
before and wondering what their reasons
were for traveling so far, and what spiritual
experiences had transpired there. My own
spirit was moved by a sense of wonder. Why
would people gather massive stones from
hundreds of miles away and place them in
such precise order?? Why would people take
pilgrimages for thousands of years to a place
that has no clear spiritual significance?? What
am I doing for my spiritual journey??
The mysteries of how Stonehenge was built
and for what purpose still exist today. I think
that may be one of the reasons I was so drawn
to it. We don’t have all the answers….. My
life continues to be a journey, searching for
answers, never finding all of them, and being
absolutely OK with that!
The lyrics from one of our UUCA hymnals
comes to mind:
“Mystery, Mystery,
Life is a riddle and a Mystery…….
May it continue to be so.”
Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Atlanta
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September Exhibit: Views of India
Ruth Gogel
The September art show at UUCA features
photos of the 2014 choir trip to India. Before
the group departed, members of the choir
sat in on the “How to Take Great Vacation
Shots” class taught by Roger Easley, UUCA’s
resident photographer, so choir members
had their cameras clicking throughout the
trip. To share the resulting wealth of images,
John Hinkle, the show’s curator, persuaded
Ruth Gogel, UUCA’s art gallery guru, to let this
exhibit include more photographs than her
usually carefully spaced shows. The committee
making the selection of photos hanging on
the UUCA walls had over 4,000 shots from
which to select, half of which were probably
junk, and only 10% that might be great, but
it was difficult culling to the 60 photos that
are making our walls come alive with great
pictures of life in India—its majesty, its squalor,
its richness, its raw humanity.
One quarter of the exhibit shows the choir’s
involvement with our gracious hosts,
members of the Unitarian congregations
of North East India, who treated the choir
members like royal dignitaries. Another
fourth of the exhibit shows the heartwarming story of the orphanage, schools,
and wonderful children with whom the
group met. The remaining half of the display
concerns the visit of the choir members who
went early to visit the Golden Triangle area
and includes views of the Taj Mahal, the
elephant ride at the Amber Fort, and the 17th
century Jantar Mantar Observatory.
Since this is a photography show, many
of the works are available as prints (minus
frames) at a reduced cost, with proceeds
to go to further the work of the Unitarian
Universalist Partner Church Council, the
Annie Margaret Barr Children’s Village
orphanage, and the Unitarian school near
Mawsynjri in the Khasi Hills of North East
India.
Reflections on UU Jewish Voices
In March, we were proud to represent UUCA
at the 2nd Unitarian Universalists for Jewish
Awareness (UUJA) gathering in Morristown,
NJ. Our congregation was also the proud host
of the 1st gathering in 2011.
voice to this community’s struggles, wisdom
and contributions.”
During the conference, small fellowship groups
(“chavurah”) gathered to discuss and reflect on
four questions:
The theme of this year’s conference was based •
How do we identify with being
on a new book, Jewish Voices in Unitarian
Jewish and Unitarian Universalist?
Universalism, co-edited by our former
•
How does the Jewish source tradition
Associate Minister, Marti Keller (available from nurture or challenge our UUism?
Skinner House, Amazon.com and our UUCA
•
How does repairing the world
Bookstore.) This collection of essays from 20 (“tikkun olam”) inform our theology, beliefs &
writers (including Marti Keller and our own
values?
Jaclyn Kottman) explores “the blessings and
•
What joys and/or pain have you
challenges of Jewish Unitarian Universalist
experienced in your Jewish UU identity?
identity and community. While there has
After our UUCA community gathers this fall to
been a long and consistent presence of Jewish celebrate Rosh Hashanah (Wednesday, 9/24)
culture and people in Unitarian Universalism, and Yom Kippur (Friday, 10/3), L’Chaim will
this poignant anthology is the first to give
offer a book discussion on “Jewish Voices” (stay
tuned for dates/times).
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Whoever you are, whatever path you are on, you are welcome here.
May this season be a time of exploration of
each of our voices for spiritual renewal and
peace!
Blessings,
Robin Kottman & Carole Galanty
Co-Chairs, L’Chaim (Jewish Celebrations &
Awareness at UUCA)
SoulSeeds: September 2014
As I write these words, I (like many of you) am
watching in horror as the events in Ferguson,
Missouri unfold. My colleague the Rev. Meg
Riley describes it well: “A young African
American man, Michael Brown, was walking
with friends, unarmed…. Stories diverge
wildly between the police and the witnesses
about what happened next, and the police
did not wear cameras, but what we do know
is this: Brown was shot with multiple bullets
by a reportedly white police officer, and killed.
[F]erguson is still reeling, not only from that
shooting, but from the arrival of police in riot
gear … to disrupt a peaceful memorial vigil
for Brown. Tanks, curfews, and tear gas are
now overrunning the small town, intimidating
and brutalizing residents. Journalists are not
allowed to document it. People are being told
they can’t be in their own yards.”
I am here for your sons and grandsons.”
we are committedBe sure to join us on
September 14, when the work of EnterCulture
We are all in this together.
goes “above radar.” I’ll introduce the team
to the congregation as well as preach on
It is now more than 50 years since Dr. King
the topic of “Let’s Talk About Race.” That’s
preached his dream from the steps of the
our overarching goal for this year: for us to
Lincoln Memorial, in 1963. A lot of good has
learn how to talk about race matters more
happened since then. For example, look who
skillfully and sensitively. This includes, by the
is now President of these United States: Barack way, becoming a congregation that is more
Obama! You can’t get from there to here unless congenial and welcoming to people of color.
a whole lot has changed. What’s gone away is EnterCulture is organizing any number of
the old-fashioned bigotry we have long known activities and programs in support of this. Stay
in America that would have made Obama’s
tuned for more information coming your way!
election utterly impossible, like slavery,
disenfranchisement, and Jim Crow.
When I met with the EnterCulture team on
August 13, we spent some time imagining
A lot of good has happened. But there’s still so outcomes from our work in the 2014-2015
much yet to achieve. What happened to Mike program year that would truly make us proud.
Brown is only the most recent glaring example One had to do with my hiring a person of
of that.
color as our settled Associate Minister of
After almost a week of clashes between
Lifelong Learning and Growth. Another had
protesters and police, Missouri’s governor Jay Our Seven Unitarian Universalist Principles
to do with setting up a dynamic arts program
Nixon realized that a radical change in tactics challenge us to be part of the solution, not the steeped in multiculturalism. A third had to
was urgently needed. So he put Highway
problem. Yes, UUCA was the first integrated
do with hosting a variety of workshops that
Patrol Captain Ron Johnson in charge of
congregation in the entirety of Atlanta.
address issues of interest to congregants
security in the town. One of the first things
who are white as well as to those who
Captain Johnson, who is black, did, was march But that was then, and this is now. What will
are not. But the outcome that seemed to
with the protesters. “It’s because of this young our blessing to Atlanta be now?
generate the most pride was UUCA as a united
man right here,” Johnson told a CNN reporter,
congregation making a formal statement
as the captain held up a picture of Brown to
Every Sunday morning worship, we hear
about its commitment to becoming more a
shouts of approval from protesters around
these words: “Good Morning! Welcome to
multicultural, multiracial, multigenerational
him. “It’s about justice for everyone.”
the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of
faith community—the congregation taking a
Atlanta, where we are building a multiracial,
vote in overwhelming favor of this.
Thank you, Captain Johnson.
multicultural, multigenerational faith
community that changes lives.” These are
Let’s see where the year takes us.
Closer to home, there were vigils and protests not empty words. We really are building
joining the vigils and protests taking place
towards this and the resulting impact on us
As UUCA member Dana Taylor said, “I am here
all over America in solidarity with Ferguson.
as individuals, families, and the larger Atlanta for my sons and grandsons. I am here for your
At the protest in Decatur, one speaker said,
community.
sons and grandsons.”
“We deserved to be protected by the police.
Black men do not deserve to be gunned down The Board is actively exploring ways in which Racial injustice makes us all hurt. Let’s be there
and left in the street like animals. Every time
our policies might more explicitly reflect
for each other.
it happens you want to hope that it is the last this. And I’m working with a special team
time – but then, it’s not.” The classic gesture
of folks to help steer us towards this vital
Love and courage,
of surrender—Hands up, don’t shoot!—was
vision in a programmatic sense. This team
transformed into a symbol of protest. People is called “EnterCulture: UUCA’s Inclusivity
Anthony
held up signs like “Stop Police Brutality.”
Ministry.” Its members include Nancy Bartlett,
“Justice for Mike Brown.” “Am I Next?” The sign Conrado Marion-Landais, Candi Reddick,
Rev. Anthony Makar
held by UUCA member Dana Taylor read, “I am Tony Stringer, and Nina West. It’s a great
Senior Minister, UUCA
here for my sons and grandsons.
team. We are diverse, we are visionary, and
Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Atlanta
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Answering Rev. Boeke’s Question
Duncan E. Teague, M. Div.
In a Unitarian Universalist Congregation
of Atlanta (UUCA) hallway, I was
beckoned out of the Lay Ministry
by Rev. Johanna (Jopie) Boeke. I had
preached with her husband, Rev.
Richard Boeke, a conversation sermon
based upon Rev. Howard Thurman’s
passages. She questioned me, “Young
man, when are you going to become ‘a
real minister’?” We are both now glad
to answer, “On Saturday, September 27,
2014 at 2:00pm.”
It is a truly meaningful experience
to behold when we UU exercise the
power of our structure and practice
as UUCA unanimously did during the
vote of ordination. What a show of
our strength of community standing
behind a ministry. This is the type
of faith I have experienced since
Minister Emeritus, Rev. Dr. Edward
Frost, welcomed me on the Lay
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Ministry Team before I officially joined.
I have been mentored by all the ministers
who have served UUCA since that time.
Our ministerial credentialing body, the
Ministerial Fellowship Committee (MFC)
invited me back, a third time, as the
Liaison to the committee. This is a sign
of my successfully having “redefined” my
life within our process. This has not been
easy work and this ordination has also
provided the basis for an extention of
communal gratitude. Our celebration will
also reflect and honor the differences in
our theological diversity.
The Teague Ordination Committee invites
you to join in the celebration on Saturday,
September 27, 2014 at 2PM. Let’s join
together in saying “yes” to Rev. Jopie
Boeke as we clebrate the opportunity
to answer our indiviual callings within
the many theologically diverse ministries
offered here at UUCA.
Whoever you are, whatever path you are on, you are welcome here.
“Spiritual Growth is like
learning to walk. We
stand up, fall, stand up,
fall, take a step, fall, take a
couple of steps, fall, walk
a little better, wobble a
bit, fall, run, and finally,
eventually, fly.”
Geri Larkin
August Community Highlights:
Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Atlanta
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Ens & Outs September Activities
August 30-September 1 Sat. – Mon. Labor Day
Weekend at Mountain Cabin
For the Labor Day weekend, join Betsy
Rivard at her mountain cabin and grist mill
overlooking a beautiful mountain stream near
Cashiers with hikes and great potluck food.
For details and to sign up, contact her at:
betsy.rivard@gmail.com.
Sept. 13 Sat.Biological Stream Monitoring
Meet Nancy Wylie and Larry Kloet at 10:00am
along South Peachtree Creek at Medlock Park
behind the ball field for fun and important
stream monitoring and data collection.
Contact Nancy (nancywylie@mindspring.com)
for more information.
Ens & Outs is UUCA’s
environmental activities and
advocacy fellowship group,
where folks gather for hikes
and other outdoor adventures.
Watch this newsletter for
monthly activity listings or join
the Ens & Outs Yahoo Group
at groups.yahoo.com/groups/
ensandouts.
Sept. 20 Sat. Raven Cliffs Waterfall Hike
Raven Cliff Falls Trail is a moderate 5 mile
in and out hike along a beautiful cascading
stream to a large bluff surprise waterfall. The
parking lot near Helen, GA, fills up quickly on
the weekends so we need to leave at
8:15 am from the UUCA parking lot. Bring
water and a picnic lunch to eat at the falls.
Contact leader Greg Tucker at
gregstucker@gmail.com for more info and to
sign up.
Sept. 27 Sat. In-Town Frazier Reserve
Explore the beautiful new Atlanta greenspace
reserve in the Oakgrove area and then have
lunch at Sprig. For more information and to
sign up contact: Madeline Reamy at
mlreamy@gmail.com.
UUCA September Activities
Wonderful Wednesdays
Third Thursday Cinema
Jewish High Holiday Services 2014
Join us on Wednesday nights, September 17,
2014 – May 13, 2015, for a variety of programs
we call “Wonderful Wednesday.”Activities
include adult religious exploration classes,
Vesper services, music rehearsals, and
children’s and teen’s activities. Childcare is
available, by advance reservation, from 6:00
to 9:15 pm. The Community Dinner begins
at 6:15 pm and is served by members of
UUCA. Proceeds to go to UUCA programs
and other good causes. Suggested
donations: $7/adult, $3/child, $17/family max.
Interested in catering a Wonderful Wednesday
dinner and making money for your program
or favorite cause? Contact Jerolyn Lowry at
jlowry@uuca.org.
Sept. 18, 2014 7:00pm
The Dark Side of the Digital Revolution
Cyber espionage and cyber war are topics
increasingly finding their way into serious
discussions about the future. Terrorist
computer hackings have the potential to
cripple banks and public utilities, posing a
threat to the economy and our very survival.
Our dependence on digital technologies
makes us vulnerable in ways that were
unimaginable just a few years ago.
Come celebrate Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish
New Year, and Yom Kippur, Day of Atonement,
at UUCA! Our annual UUCA Rosh Hashanah
service will be held on Wednesday, Sept. 24,
at 7:30 pm, in the sanctuary. Our meaningful
service is highlighted with symbolic music led
by Donald Milton III. An apples and honey,
challah and wine celebration will take place in
the Social Hall following the service.
The UUCA Yom Kippur Service will be on
Friday, October 4, at 7:30 pm in the sanctuary.
Join us for this annual Kol Nidre service of
personal reflection. There are no fees for the
services. Childcare is provided via reservation
on UUCA’s website one week prior to the
each service. [Reservation deadline for Rosh
Hashanah is Sept. 17 and deadline for Yom
Kippur is Sept. 26.] For more information
about L’Chaim (UUCA’s Jewish Awareness &
Celebrations Group), contact Carole Galanty,
404-872-3373, carolegalanty@yahoo.com or
Robin Kottman, kottmanr@bellsouth.net.
Richard Clarke, former National Coordinator
for Security, Infrastructure Protection, and
Counter-terrorism, joined Rand Beers, former
Secretary for Homeland Security, as guests of
the Lifelong Education at Dartmouth summer
Women’s A Cappella Singing
lecture series this past July. In this film they
provide valuable information, insights and a
All women are invited to come sing September way forward in dealing with these complex
7th in the community theater after the second issues.
service. No auditions or experience needed,
just a fun time singing together. We may start
A $3.00 donation is suggested for the
with our favorites from the hymnals. Hopefully, evening, sponsored by the UUCA Peace
this will turn into a regular gathering. Any
Network, which includes refreshments and a
questions call or email Jean Spencer at
moderated discussion.
706-372-6346 or 54pontiac@gmail.com.
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Whoever you are, whatever path you are on, you are welcome here.
Upcoming Sunday Services
UUCA’s worship services are organized around monthly spiritual themes that play a
significant part in the development of a well-grounded religious and spiritual life. Seriously
engaging them and other similar religious/theological themes could change your life! All
the sermons in September explore the issue of “Beloved Community” from a unique angle.
Additional resources for exploration are available on the UUCA website in the form of the
Touchstone Journal. Each Touchstone Journal offers:
1. Introduction to the theme
2. A wisdom story for all ages
3. In-depth theological reflection
4. “Family Matters” section for use by parents and religious educators
5. Small group discussion guide
6. “Readings from the Common Bowl” (a quotation on the theme for each day of the month)
7. Contemplations (a guide to go deeper and an invitation to receive a brief reading three
days a week)
At UUCA, we are committed to the spiritual growth of people of all ages. Whoever you are,
whatever path you are on, you are welcome here!
Sunday, September 21, 2014
“Neighborliness”
Rev. Jane Thickstun
Who is our neighbor? How do we talk to our
neighbor? How often do we speak from our
fearfulness, and hurt others in the process?
Can we treat all our neighbors with love and
kindness, with neighborliness, even when we
disagree?
Sunday, September 24, 2014
Rosh Hashanah Service
Don Milton & Travis Vaughn
Sunday, September 28, 2014
“A Place for Seeking the Holy”
Rev. Anthony Makar
Phoenix Choir
In his book Growing a Beloved Community,
the Rev. Tom Owen-Towle says that “A church
is not a social club, a hospital wing, a political
action center, or even a spiritual refuge,
although all these disparate components
are part of what a church is. Rather, healthy
Race is hard to talk about. This past July, UUCA congregations are primarily sites for seeking
and spreading the holy, however variously
congregant Christine Ristaino published an
referenced by Unitarian Universalist[s]....”
article in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Owen-Towle’s very definition of a church is a
about this in which she said, “Too often, this
“site [a place] for seeking the holy.”
is what it feels like for white people to talk
about race: Tentative, tiptoeing, halting fits
and starts, and finally, fleeing for dear life.
It’s a counterproductive dance that after our
We send our love and condolences to the
long history we should be getting better
at.” As a congregation with a white majority
\ following UUCAers who have lost loved ones
but is becoming increasingly multiracial and
since the August Newsletter was published.
multicultural, we need to learn how to have
the conversation. We can expect no less from
Stacy Kottman’s father died July 17.
our Beloved Community. After the service,
there will be opportunities to continue the
Josh and Julianna Stewart lost their son Jamie
conversation. Today we will be introduced
at 20 weeks gestation on August 30.
to the members of UUCA’s Inclusivity
Ministry called “EnterCulture,” and we’ll also
Kevin Stephenson’s grandfather died in midwitness the unveiling of a special visual arts
August.
installment called “I am UU.”
Sunday, September 19, 2014
“Let’s Talk About Race”
Rev. Anthony Makar
Phoenix Choir
Sunday, September 7, 2014
“Becoming Beloved”
Rev. Anthony Makar
SuperGroup and Tapestry Choir
Just as it makes no sense to say, “I believe
in medicine but I do not believe in medical
schools, hospitals and clinics,” it also makes
no sense to say “I believe in spirituality but I
do not believe in spiritual community.” Today
we explore why Beloved Community is so
important and some exciting developments
in play at UUCA that will only increase the
love!
Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Atlanta
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Ministerial Staff
Rev. Anthony David Makar, Senior Minister
Rev. Jane Thickstun, Interim Associate Minister
Rev. Dr. Edward Frost, Minister Emeritus
Rev. Dr. Eugene Pickett, Minister Emeritus
Program Staff
Jessica Seales, Director of Congregational Life
Sonya Tinsley Hook, Fun & Fellowship Coordinator,
Michelle Bishop, Children’s Programs Coordinator,
Rev. Jonathan Rogers, Youth Programs Coordinator,
Donald Milton III, Director of Music
Travis Vaughn III, Assistant Director of Music
Administrative Staff
Clark Thomas, Business Administrator
Erian Wright, Marketing & Communications Specialist
Travis Vaughn III, Office Administrator
Bo Gaiason & Dan Moore, Building Attendants
Board of Trustees (board@uuca.org)
June Lester,, President
Amelia Shenstone, President-elect
Grier Page, Finance Trustee
Christian Harden
Cindy Hoffner
Howard Lewis
Melissa Marion-Landais
Karen Martin
Publication Deadlines
Newsletter: Deadline for submissions is at 5pm the third
Satruday of the month prior to publication. Send submissions to
newsletter@uuca.org. Editors reserve the right to edit submissions for
consistency, clarity, and length.
Newsletter Team
Erian Wright, Executive Editor
Caryll Rinehart, Copy Editor
Roger Easley, UUCA Photography
Weekly Update: Weekly Update submissions are due Tuesdays at 5pm.
Send submissions to weeklyupdate@uuca.org. Submissions to the
Weekly Update are incorporated into the UUCA website and Facebook
page as appropriate.
Get
Connected
Bill Mengel
Laura Murvartian
Marie Palena
Erin Stanfill
Should you have any questions,
please contact contact us
404-634-5134
uuca.org | facebook.com/UUCAtl | @UUCA
The UUCA Office is staffed by an office volunteer at the reception
desk Monday — Friday from 10 am to 2 pm. Office hours for
Universalist Unitarian Church of Atlanta
1911 Cliff Valley Way, NE
Atlanta, GA 30329
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Whoever you are, whatever path you are on, you are welcome here.