Voices for 11/19/2014 - Unitarian Universalist Church of Charlotte

volume 39, issue 22
always available online at www.uuccharlotte.org
November 19, 2014
The Mission of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Charlotte is to inspire children, youth and adults to discover and articulate deeper
spiritual meaning evidenced in lives of integrity, compassion and stewardship of the earth.
La misión de la iglesia Unitaria Universalista de Charlotte es: inspirar a los niños, jóvenes y adultos para que descubran y articulen un significado espiritual profundo, evidente en una vida de integridad, compasión y en el manejo de los recursos de la tierra.
“A COMMUNITY OF PEOPLE WHO
CARE ABOUT EACH OTHER…”
KELLY GREENE JOINS
PROFESSIONAL STAFF
November 22, A Variety of Times
(for creating, worshipping, and eating)
In New Role as Membership Coordinator
I am delighted to offer this official announcement that Kelly Greene has now
been hired to fill the new role on our
professional staff as Membership Coordinator. Since 2007 Kelly has been one
of our most active, engaged members. She has been a part
of so much of what we offer and energetically translated her
involvement into leadership. Most notably, she has served
as a member of our Board of Trustees and as a Senior High
advisor.
The responsibilities of the Membership Coordinator will
include those previously undertaken by our Coordinator of
New Member Development. In addition, the expansion
from what was a quarter-time role to this new three-quarter
time position will allow Kelly to embark upon the important
work of volunteer coordination.
In expressing interest in being considered for this role,
Kelly ambitiously wrote:
On Saturday, November 22,
all members of our congregation will have an opportunity
to celebrate our caring community. Our young families
received an Evite invitation
to attend the craft party that
will run from 3:30 to 5:00
p.m. in Freeman Hall. Crafts made this day will be added
to care baskets, which are distributed in December to members unable to travel to church or who are going through a
difficult time. At 5:00 p.m., a contemporary service for all
ages will begin in the Sanctuary. Following the service at
5:45 p.m., all are invited to a community potluck in Freeman Hall. Participants are asked to bring a dinner entrée,
salad, or dessert. Please label all food as applicable (meat,
vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, peanuts, etc.); drinks will be
provided. Childcare will be offered from 4:45 to 6:45 p.m.
(Continued on page 4)
As Membership Coordinator, I would use the connections and experience I now have with the data I will
obtain to improve the experience of our membership
from the point of joining and throughout. New members will more quickly learn what our congregation
can offer them and how to use their talents and resources to help enhance our congregation. Ongoing
members, as their interests, availability and circumstances change, will find multiple ways to be involved.
In considering Kelly for this role, this assertion very succinctly summarized our hopes for this new role. Her visionary ambition for this position, her extensive involvement
over a number of years in the congregation, and her con-
ENVISIONING THE FUTURE:
A CONGREGATIONAL CONVERSATION
Sunday, November 23 at 4:00 p.m.
Join the UUCC Vision Steering Team on Sunday, November 23, from 4:00-6:00 p.m. in the Sanctuary for a conversation about the Vision Process. You will have an opportunity to meet the members of the Vision Steering Team, learn
about current and projected demographics of the Charlotte
Metropolitan/ Metrolina area, and participate in discussions
about the information provided. UUCC youth are encouraged to join the conversation. Childcare provided.
(Continued on page 11)
Page 1
FROM THE MINISTER
“excite you and energize your base.”
You may have seen the claim that Winston Churchill once
judged democracy as “the worst form of Government except for all those other forms . . .”
Of regular participation in our democracy, Bill Maher declares, “it’s not a movie where you stay home if the trailer
doesn’t grab you.” He ends by lowering the boom on all
who say that because the process is just too tainted now,
they don’t participate in order to remain above it all. “If
your hands aren’t dirty,” says Maher, “it’s not because
you’re pure, it’s because you aren’t helping.”
In actuality, what Churchill said in a November 1947 session of the House of Commons was:
Many forms of Government have been
tried, and will be tried in this world of sin
and woe. No one pretends that democracy
is perfect or all-wise. Indeed it has been
said that democracy is the worst form of
Government except for all those other
forms that have been tried from time to
time; but there is the broad feeling in our
country that the people should rule, continuously rule, and that public opinion, expressed by all constitutional means, should
shape, guide, and control the actions of
Ministers who are their servants and not
their masters.
Far from calling the virtue of democracy into question,
Churchill is offering a stirring defense of it.
He does so while still acknowledging that
democracy is neither “perfect nor all-wise.”
We’re now in the post-election blather period
when commentators prattle on and on in their
efforts to explain the results. Whatever else
you’ve concluded, I am absolutely certain that, after this
particular mid-term election, no one is inclined to think of
our democracy as either perfect or all-wise. (When in our
own record-breaking Senate race, supporters of the losing
candidate—a woman who spent almost $40 million dollars
trying to hang on to her seat—now declare that she was defeated by the interests of “big money,” we are approaching
something bordering on utter absurdity.)
Not surprisingly, Bill Maher had a scathing commentary in
response to the recent election. I’m not a big fan of the
sneering derision that so often characterizes Maher and others of his ilk, but in this case, he makes some apt observations about democracy in general and voting in particular.
Maher mocks “I Voted” stickers by saying: “Let’s stop patting ourselves on the back for something we’re supposed to
do anyway.”
He chastises the non-participants in our democratic process
by announcing, “The fake excuses offend me.” Maher then
proceeds to excoriate those who don’t show up because
“politicians are all the same” or “it doesn’t matter who
wins” or because there wasn’t a candidate who could
Page 2
To be sure, democracy is messy business. The making of
that sausage is not for the faint of stomach. When any
group of humans is invited into the process of selfdetermination, the resulting activity is almost certainly not
going to be simple, easy, comfortable or unsullied by competing interests.
There are those who expect that democracy in a religious
setting will be, or at least should be, different. These seem
to think that simply because a group organizes in the name
of spiritual depth, participation should be straightforward,
undemanding, and free from any conflict or competing visions. And, it should, somehow, always prove exciting and
inspiring or, at the very least, personally interesting.
Aware that our own efforts at being a
democratic congregation are also comprised by non-participation, by those
who, proffering all sorts of excuses, opt
simply to sit it out, I am grateful for so
many of you who understand and act
otherwise.
 There are teachers here in our CYRE program who
show up on the Sundays they are excited to be here and
on the other Sundays too.
 There are members expressing care and concern for
those they know and to those they’ve never even met.
 There are members of our various program Teams who
come to meetings when it fits their schedules and who
adjust their schedules in order to keep their commitments.
 There are singers who trudge into this building on weary Wednesday evenings who probably don’t feel excited
or inspired on that particular evening.
 There are those who use neither age nor years nor prior
service as excuses for inaction but who keep showing
up and pitching in and making a difference.
 There are leaders on our Stewardship Team who endure
the dispiriting array of excuses they hear not just because they know we can’t exist without funding but because they actually see a connection between financial
commitment and spiritual depth.
 There are those behind the scenes who never get acclaim but who do so many of the things that make who
we are possible simply because they want to offer what
they can.
 There are members who are here Sunday after Sunday
and at other times as well, both when the topic or experience is of particular interest and when it may not be
because they know that without engaged and informed
participation on the part of our members, our claim to
be a democratic congregation gets called into question.
Thank you to all here who accept with kindness the fact that
this democratic congregation is not “perfect or all-wise.”
Thank you to all who understand deeply how informed involvement matters here just as it does in our larger democratic society. Thanks for the ways you embody our stated
affirmation to be a place that cultivates “lives of generosity
and responsibility, sharing our personal abundance.” You
make who we are trying to be possible; your hands are dirty
with helping. I am grateful.
Peace, Jay
MUSIC NEWS
UUCC Adult Choir and Chime Ensemble
to Perform at Avante
Sunday, December 7
The UUCC Adult Choir and Chime Ensemble return to the
Avante Assisted Living Center on Randolph Road on Sunday afternoon, December 7, to present a holiday music program for the residents there. Music has the ability to transcend so much of what separates us – age, health, income,
ideologies – and it did just that at the Avante outreach concert last year. It was such a moving experience for audience
members and musicians alike that it was decided to make
the visit an annual event. It also inspired this year’s holiday
music program at UUCC.
Holiday Treats Abound for Everyone
Saturday December 13 – Save the date!
OPEN DOOR SCHOOL
ODS Harvest Bake Sale
We hope you can stop by after each service on
Sunday, November 23 to purchase goodies and
support the Open Door School. We are also accepting your donations of baked goods! Bring us your best
cakes, pies, cookies, casseroles, breads, etc. Please have
any items packaged to sell in individual bags of 2-3 goodies
as well as an ingredient list (to address food allergies and
other dietary concerns). We will be accepting donations
during the week of November 17-21. You may drop off
your donations at the ODS office.
The staff at UUCC has
conspired to create an afternoon and evening filled
with holiday cheer, from
“Snacks with Santa” to a
community potluck and
holiday carol concert. The
festivities begin at 4:30
p.m. with the CYREsponsored “Snacks with Santa” in Freeman Hall. This annual event is geared towards children of all ages and includes
craft-making, games and photos with Santa at 5:30 p.m. At
6:00 p.m., the Community Building Team-sponsored community potluck will take place in Freeman Hall. Please
bring a labeled dish to share and a healthy appetite! Libations will be provided. The evening concludes with the Music Program-sponsored Holiday Concert at 7:00 p.m., which
will feature our Adult Choir, Children’s Choir, Chime Ensemble and UUCC instrumentalists presenting music of the
season, including sing-along carols for the audience.
John Herrick,
Director of Music
COORDINATING TEAM MINUTES
Each month the Coordinating Team creates a report for our
Board of Trustees. This report is comprised of vignettes
created by professional staff that reflect our progress toward
the achievement of our congregation’s Ends. A hard copy
of the entire report is posted on the office area bulletin
board. A full copy of this report is available on our website
or by clicking here.
Page 3
BUILDING AND GROUNDS
B&G “Gives a Lot of Love”
Team Spotlight
What’s the Building & Grounds Team? Looking up definitions…
 Building: A relatively permanent enclosed construction
over a plot of land, having a roof and usually windows
and often more than one level used for any of a wide
variety of activities.
 Grounds: The land surrounding for forming part of a
house or another building. Often used in the plural.
Our reasonably permanent building has a lot of character and
needs attention all of the time.
There are maintenance and enhancement projects that keep us
busy with this building, initially
built on these Sharon Amity
grounds in 1962. Your Building
and Grounds Team gives it a lot
of love. We’ve accomplished a
lot in the past year and are very happy with our progress
keeping the building running and making modest improvements where we can. Everything that we’ve been able to
accomplish has been a direct result of your generous contributions.
We meet monthly to identify which projects we can tackle
now and what to save for later. These projects are prioritized and vetted with team members researching each project, diving deep into different options and finding the best
value for the church. Many of the improvements that we’ve
made have required months upon months of research, collaborating with engineering experts and looking at each project through many different lenses to find the right solution.
We have a very dedicated and diverse team that helps guide
our decisions. They come with a wide variety of background and experience that serves this important obligation.
They are:
Pete Parks
Zeke Foard
Jim Hall
Mike Raible
Dick Kistler
Melanie Bussard
Dustin Taylor
Joe Spencer, contributing
Laurel Holtzapple, contributing
Doug Swaim, Staff
Page 4
If you would like to get more information or to contact the
building and grounds team, email Scott Royle, team chair at
scott.royle@irwin.com.
Fall Work Day Scheduled: One
of the best ways that you can help
out the Building & Grounds team is
to join us on our seasonal volunteer
days. We have one scheduled for
November 22, 9:00 a.m. until noon,
where we will spruce up the property, clean windows, prune trees, pick
up litter, blow the leaves and sticks
off of the roof and rake some leaves. Please join us if you
can. We’d be happy to have your helping hands! Please
email Scott at scott.royle@irwin.com to let him know you’ll
be pitching in. Thanks!
Scott Royle, Chair
Building & Grounds Team
COMMUNITY BUILDING
(“A Community of People . ..” continued from page 1)
Please note that we need volunteers to help with set up for
the Crafts Party and Potluck and then clean up after the Potluck. If you can help (it’s fun!), contact Event Coordinator,
Mary Walker, at mary.claire.walker@gmail.com or
Administrative Assistant, Belinda Parry, at
belinda@uuccharlotte.org.
And for those of you unable to attend but who want to
contribute to our care baskets …
In addition to all the wonderful homemade treats our children prepare for our care baskets, we ask for donations of
items such as fresh fruit, small Kleenex packs, small books
of find-a-word puzzles, sudoku, crossword puzzles, etc.,
small cartons of goldfish crackers, and retractable pens. A
full list will be included on the backs of the next few class
summary sheets handed out after Sunday CYRE classes and
on the bulletin board next to the CYRE office.
Open Mind Book Club
Monday, December 1 at 7:30 p.m. in the Conference Room
The Open Mind Book Club will meet at 7:30 p.m. on Monday, December 1 in the Conference Room. On December 1
we will have our holiday program when each participant
brings a favorite poem to share with the group. Please
RSVP to Gwynne Movius at (704) 366-9409 if you plan to
attend.
New Artwork in the Display Cabinet
Tables for Eight
Artwork by Nancy Cook
We are excited to feature the art work of another talented
member in our display cabinet in the downstairs vestibule.
Nancy G. Cook is an artist who has created in the fiber medium for the last 20 years. Her art has travelled the globe
with exhibits in Japan, Taiwan, Australia, New Zealand,
Brazil, The Netherlands, England, France, Italy, and Canada. She has exhibited in over 50 juried, invitational and
traveling exhibits in four continents and throughout the
USA. Eight solo and featured artist exhibitions from 2011
to 2013 featured her Seed Play series. Her art is also in several private and public collections throughout the USA and
she has won numerous awards. Her nature-inspired quilts
found a ready audience in health facilities including the
Women’s Hospital in Chicago and Duke Cancer Center in
Durham. Four of her quilts are in hospitals in Charlotte,
including one at Mercy Hospital and three at the Levine
Cancer Center.
Most recently, Nancy has returned to embroidery for creating art. The work in the Exhibit Case will be of her latest
embroidery work. Thank you, Nancy, for sharing your creative journey!
HELP NEEDED for our Holiday Traditions
We have two memorable rituals in December—the Solstice
Celebration beginning near sunset Saturday, December 20,
and the traditional Christmas Eve services.
For the Solstice event, we need volunteers to make ginger cookies. We’ll
even provide a simple recipe for 4 dozen cookies. Please sign up in Freeman
Hall or email martha@uuccharlotte.org
if your family would like to make these
cookies and bring them to church before the service.
For Christmas Eve, we will be hosting two receptions and
would love to have an array of cookies—all shapes and colors. Your SWEET donations will ensure that this is a JOYFUL event for all! Please sign up in Freeman Hall or send
an email to martha@uuccharlotte.org.
Tables for Eight is a wonderful, fun
way to get to know members in an
informal setting. We’re making a
slight change for this next round—
the participants will share the responsibility for the meal so that the host is more able to enjoy the evening along with the guests. Sign-ups begin this
Sunday, November 23 in Freeman Hall at the Adult Programming Table and will continue through December.
Please know that anyone over 18 can participate—singles,
couples, visitors, friends, and members. All are welcome!
 Dinners take place on fourth Saturdays of the month:
January 24, February 28, March 28 and April 25
 These four Tables will be potluck, with the host coordinating dishes.
 If you sign up you will see different people each month
in different homes, and have one chance to be a host
yourself.
 If there is just no way you can host, you can participate
as a substitute and will be notified when a spot is available.
 If your schedule conflicts with one dinner, indicate that
month when you sign up. (If you know that you’ll be
gone more than one time, then you may want to join at
a different time.)
 Hosts will call guests two weeks before the scheduled
Table to give directions, and coordinate dinner.
 Participants will receive a roster of participants and
schedule of the four Tables in early January.
Please contact Althea Clark with questions:
altheaclark@verizon.net.
UUCC Women’s Circle
Tuesday, December 9 (Offsite)
The Women's Circle will be meeting at Mimi Vollum's
house for the December 9 meeting. Attendees are asked to
bring a snack or appetizer. Please email Sandy Vermillion
if you plan to attend slv13@carolina.rr.com.
CONGREGATIONAL CARE NEWS
Help make these two events even more memorable!
Also, Lisa Hagen and her family are organizing the Christmas Day Dinner in Freeman Hall. We will have a sign-up
in Freeman Hall for those who would like to attend. We
welcome all who would like to share a meal together late
afternoon on December 25.
If you know about a need in our congregation—an
illness or injury, a hospitalization or surgery, a
death—what can you do? Please inform a member
of our professional staff.
Page 5
ADULT RELIGIOUS EDUCATION
Third Friday Film Night
November 21 at 7:00 in the Sanctuary and Bernstein Room
Bob Gorman has chosen a film that will address our Second
Sunday Topic for November: Justice.
TED for the Soul (Evening)
Tuesday, December 2 at 7:00 p.m. in the Bernstein Room
Do we find meaning or do we forge it? Tonight’s TED Talk
speaker posits a relationship between adversity, identity
and meaning. Join us in the Bernstein Room on Tuesday,
December 2 at 7:00 p.m. to watch the talk and discuss how
we may apply this message to our own lives.
(Adults) Made in Dagenham (England, 2010) Starring
Sally Hawkins and Bob Hoskins. Directed by Nigel Cole.
A dramatization of the 1968 strike at the Ford Dagenham
car plant, where female workers walked out in protest
against sexual discrimination. Rated R for language and
brief sexuality.
(Children) Hotel for Dogs (US, 2009) Starring Emma Roberts and Jake T. Austen. Two
foster children set up a shelter for stray dogs in
an abandoned hotel. Rated PG for brief mild
thematic elements, language and some crude
humor. 100 minutes. The children’s film is
shown at 7:00 p.m. in the Bernstein Room.
Credo: A Spiritual Journey
Formerly This I Believe, This I Practice
This I Believe/This I Practice will be transitioning to a new name, Credo: A Spiritual Journey. This change will reflect the language of
our mission statement, our Sunday Services, as well as the
CYRE Coming of Age program. The sessions for Credo: A
Spiritual Journey will continue with the same format—a
member of the UUCC will present his/her spiritual journey,
usually on the 4th Sunday, between services in the Bernstein
room.
 Join us Sunday, November 23, at 10:30 a.m. in the
Bernstein Room. Our minister, Jay Leach, will share
his thoughts on the meaning of the term Credo.
 Jen Neitzel will present her spiritual journey on Decem-
ber 7. (Note: first Sunday of the month!)
Consider a DiscoverGroup
Are you a member looking for a way to become more connected within our congregation? Perhaps you’d also like to
explore deeper spiritual questions, while reaching out to
one another in caring and support. A new DiscoverGroup,
with two trained co-facilitators, will begin in January. If
you would like to know more about this year- long commitment, along with available dates and times, please sign-up
in Freeman Hall at the Adult Programming Table or email
martha@uuccharlotte.org.
Page 6
“All Things Considered”
December 3, at 7:00 p.m. in the Schweitzer Room
At the December “All Things Considered” session we will
view and discuss the DVD "Consider the Conversation.”
This is a DVD of personal experiences of struggle with
communication and preparation at the end of life. This film
is not a story about death, its a film about living life to its
fullest up to the very end.
This project sheds light on a natural life event that many
avoid. Throughout the film, there are intimate accounts of
the emotional, spiritual, physical and social burdens associated with the historical shift that has occurred with dying.
Exploring Humanism
Thursday, December 4 at 7:00 p.m. in the Bernstein Room
“Just the Facts, Ma’am” The Impact of Human
Development (and Education) on Open-Mindedness:
On December 4, Shelagh Gallagher, Ph.D., author of several educational books including Teaching the Gifted Child
and Problem-Based Learning in the Classroom, will be the
presenter for the evening. Ever wonder why it is that some
people just can’t seem to see both sides of an issue? Or
why others seem to be able to find all of the questions but
none of the answers? One part of the answer lies in human
development and a series of shifts in understanding that
continue to develop as we move from adolescence through
early adulthood. This session will focus on the different
stages of adult cognitive development and the impact they
have on everyday interactions, especially on the capacity to
embrace diversity in a number of dimensions. We will also
briefly discuss historical and contemporary efforts to limit
instruction of open-mindedness in public schools.
Second Sunday Topic Discussion
Sunday, December 14 at 10:30 a.m. in the Bernstein Room
This is an opportunity to meet with the Minister to share
your thoughts, ask questions, and hear others’ views relative
to the sermon topic. Begins promptly at 10:30 a.m. in the
Bernstein Room. December’s Theme: Wonder
COMING IN JANUARY
Writing Your Spiritual Journey
A New look at UU History
“Writing Your Spiritual Journey is about so much more
than writing. Yes, you write, but you also read your work
out loud, to a group of people who are silently, intently listening to every single word, really paying attention. And
then, what's even better is that you get to be that same attentive loving audience as everyone else reads. It is such a gift
to be present, to be still and listen to beautiful, true, insightful, funny writing being read aloud by the author sitting
right next to you. I'm definitely a better writer than I used to
be, but I'm also a better listener.” ~UUCC member and participant
Long Strange Trip is a six-part documentary new film series
that provides an engaging oral and pictorial history of Unitarian and Universalist thought from the beginning of the
Christian era to what we know today as Unitarian Universalism. This series will be facilitated UUCC member and
5th Generation UU, Lincoln Baxter, who upon viewing
these films said, "These films are long overdue, and have
filled in many of the gaps in my own understanding of the
history of our faith. I knew many of the individual facts,
but this series brings the whole tapestry together."
If you are curious about your spiritual path and the stories of other’s
experiences, then join us to explore the holiness of the ordinary
in our lives. This shared experience offers space to see and make
sense of your life experience
through discussion, writing exercises, drawing and reading with
the intent to produce a short spiritual autobiography.
Perhaps you seek continuity between your inner world and
the outer world, between your past self and who you are
now, or between what you claim to believe and how you
live. Perhaps you sense a power beyond you that influences
and gives greater meaning to your life. Perhaps your life is
shifting in focus and intention. It is with curiosity and an
eye to the sacred in each life that we write our stories.
We’ll gather for six sessions that include warm-up prompts,
individual writing, revising and readings. We’ll write three
preliminary pieces and create a spiritual roadmap in preparation for writing a draft of our spiritual autobiography.
The course is limited to 12 members, Thursdays, January 8March 5, 7:00-9:00. To sign-up email
martha@uuccharlotte.org or at the Adult Programming
Table in Freeman Hall.
Spirit In Practice
Begins January 20
Spirit In Practice is an overview of spiritual practices that
provides support and guidance for the spiritual journey.
The nine workshops explore spiritual growth through worship, justice work, personal practice, and more. Tuesdays,
beginning January 20, 2015. Sign-ups begin in December.
We will view and discuss each of the films in two or three
segments per session, each interspersed with group discussion and reflection. This course will present our rich (and
largely suppressed history) and give participants the opportunity to relate this history to contemporary Unitarian Universalism and connect our individual journeys to this history, Unitarian Universalism in general, and the UUCC in
particular. It will be enriching for those who have been
raised in the Faith, as well as for those who know almost
nothing about Unitarian Universalism. We will gather on
Thursdays, January 15-February 19, 7:00-8:30 p.m. To sign
up email martha@uuccharlotte.org or in Freeman Hall at the
Adult Programming Table.
Adult Our Whole Lives (OWL )
Please Vote on Dates if Interested
Many of you have shared your interest in participating in the UUA’s Adult Our Whole Lives sexuality education class. What we heard with our first attempt
to schedule one this fall was that the dates didn’t work and
the time commitment was too great. With this in mind, the
facilitators met in early November and made the decision to
offer the class as two partial retreats this winter (Fri 6-9pm
and Sat 9am-5pm). Participants MUST attend the first retreat but then have the choice of attending the second –
which, while highly recommended, is not required. The
facilitators will choose the content of the first retreat so it is
a solid stand-alone experience. The sessions offered in the
second retreat will enhance those presented in the first.
If you are serious about wanting to participate, we ask that
you vote here (http://doodle.com/37gqr9c2gxmbnvvg) to
choose which of the possible partial weekends work for
you. Obviously we need to know if BOTH Friday and Saturday of a weekend will work so don’t vote for just one of
the days. Class weekends will be announced in midDecember. Sign-ups will then be offered at the Adult RE/
SD table in Freeman Hall or by emailing Martha Kniseley at
martha@uuccharlotte.org.
Page 7
RELIGIOUS EDUCATION FOR
CHILDREN AND YOUTH (CYRE)
From the Director
How many of you will be celebrating Christmas in some
fashion this year? And how many of you have trouble with
the religious meaning of the holiday?
If you find it difficult, think
how it is for your children,
most of whom have selfidentified themselves as nonChristians. While many enjoy the commercial trappings
of the holiday—the tree, the
gifts, the special parties and
events—they did not grow up
attending midnight mass or
singing Christmas carols or
“opening the doors” on their
Advent calendars. Do they even know what the holiday is
all about beyond the hoopla of the commercialism?
Sure, most know the nativity story but do they understand
how that story relates to THEM?
I like to think the answer is “yes” because of what you have
taught them at home and what we have taught them through
chapels, lessons here in our RE program, and our Christmas
Eve services. I hope they understand that Christmas is not
ultimately about gift-giving, but about love and caring for
others; about praying and working for peace in a world of
hate and war; and about hope above all else. Hope that the
world can be all they want it to be.
I came across something last year that I then recommended
to our families as a great way to drive this message home.
Often at this time of year, it’s easy to focus on the things we
don’t have enough of—time, money, leisure—and hard to
remember how relatively rich we really are in the scheme of
things. So I offer an alternative advent calendar to use with
your family as a fun way to help you count your blessings.
The concept is that for every day in December, your child
will note a certain material privilege or blessing in his or
her life and set a designated amount of money aside. The
total collected at the end of the month would then go to the
charity of their choice. For example,
December 1 – 10¢ for every hot water tap in your house
December 2 – 75¢ for every vehicle your family owns
December 3 – 10¢ for every pair of jeans your family owns
December 4 – 25¢ if your family subscribes to a newspaper
Page 8
Obviously, you could change these to fit your family.
I spoke with several families who used this practice with
their families last December who said it worked beautifully
and led to some great conversations with their child(ren).
It’s amazing to see how blessed we are when we take time
to count the things we normally take for granted.
(UU) Rev. Fred L Hammond shares these words about Advent: “Advent for Unitarian Universalists can be a time of
planning, of preparing the way, of welcoming the coming; if not of the Christ then of the arrival of another life
[ours] lived in compassion towards our neighbors seen in
the activities to rid the world of oppression and injustice. Such a life demands spiritual fortitude and spiritual
practice to re-weave us when the cloth of compassion wears
thin. Advent can be that season where we re-fortify ourselves for the work we have chosen for this specific time
and this specific place. And we had better get to it. We had
better get to it.”
We will be celebrating these ideals over the next 6 weeks:
with our Care Baskets, in our multigenerational Solstice
service on December 20, in children’s chapel on December
21, and in the Christmas Eve services on December 24 at
both 4:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m.
Kathleen Carpenter, Director
Religious Education for Children and Youth (CYRE)
Let me finish by recommending the following blog post by
my good friend, Michelle Richards who writes the parenting blog for UUA.World.org: http://goo.gl/bebhTc.
Mark Your Calendars
Friday, November 21: Friday Film Night at 7:00 p.m.
Saturday, November 22:
3:30 p.m. Craft Party for
Care Baskets followed by a
Blessing of the Crafts Service followed by a Potluck
Dinner.
Sunday, November 23:
Family Dedications in both
services; Elementary children attend service; Vision Steering Team – Congregational Conversation 4:00 p.m.
Friday, November 28: Deadline for OWL Registration for
all youth classes
Sunday, November 30: CYRE Sunday classes will not be
held; childcare provided for children preschool – 5th grade;
older children attend service
Saturday, December 13: Snacks with Santa/ Potluck/ Holiday Concert (see details on page 3)
STEWARDSHIP
Thankful for Your Commitment!
do all the other forward looking things that keep us reaching
out and moving towards our Ends. Participating in the upcoming 2014-2015 stewardship campaign is a great way to
do your part.
Each year as the Thanksgiving holiday approaches, I reflect on the many
positive aspects of my life: spending
time with my wife and kids, engaging
in my church and hanging out with
friends. It is also a time to consider
how I can best make a difference for
others.
The Stewardship team is committed to communicating the
goals, progress and outcomes of our campaign to the membership throughout the year—not just during the pledge
campaign. We wish you and yours a happy and thoughtful
Thanksgiving!
I believe personal connections are
everything. Last year, I noted the same gentleman holding a
homemade sign “seeking work” at an intersection near my
office as I passed on my way to work. One day, I offered
him a ride and a meal at a nearby restaurant. We enjoyed
getting to know one another. Making a personal connection
is a great way to engage on an individual level. But how
can I reach out more effectively?
SOCIAL JUSTICE
As a UUCC member, I am able to reach out on both the
local and state level through my contribution to the stewardship campaign. I’m proud to support our efforts in the community as they relate to addressing the homeless. I’m proud
that I can support Senior Minister Jay Leach’s leadership
and engagement in the Moral Monday initiative, which
seeks to protect the rights of all North Carolinians.
As a member of the Stewardship Team, I am thankful for
the generosity of our members. Last year, we exceeded our
“Celebrate Commitment” stewardship campaign goal. Importantly, this success has allowed us to fund the new Membership Coordinator position that Kelly Greene is stepping
into just this week (see “Kelly Greene Joins Professional
Staff” on page 1). It has also allowed us to budget funds for
the second minister search that is now underway. Both positions are critical to our growth as a congregation and to
maximizing our impact in the community.
Extra income from contributions is also helping to bring
tangible results in the form of building and infrastructure
improvements. Last year’s surplus is funding the educational wing rehab project, the conversion of the old nursery into
office and meeting space, the upcoming replacement of our
main exterior doors, new telephone, data and security systems, a new sidewalk to the main entrance, and the creation
of our next generation website.
The UUCC operates under governing policies that insure
sound financial management. So we make plans based on
conservative projections of income, and the only way that
we can project income is based on member pledges. We
have to have your pledges if we are going to add staff and
Britt Weaver
UUCC Stewardship Team
Room In the Inn
Where will you be sleeping tonight?
Room in the Inn, an interfaith program sponsored by Urban Ministry, provides a warm bed and
three meals each day from December through March for
folks who would otherwise be out in the cold. UUCC has
participated in this very worthy project for many years. We
provide shelter for nine adults each Sunday night, and our
first date this season will be December 7.
We need your help! If you are not already on the list and
would like to consider being one of the approximately 20
volunteers who make this shelter happen each week by setting up, driving, cooking, hosting, and/or cleaning, please
email Rocky Hendrick at rockyhendrick@mindspring.com
or go to www.signupgenius.com and pick a date.
Forum on Child Refugees
from Central America
Tuesday, December 9
The UUCC Social Justice Team is sponsoring a forum on
Tuesday, December 9, from 7:00-9:00 p.m. on the current
situation involving thousands of unaccompanied child refugees fleeing horrendous gang violence and poverty in El
Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala. This event is being
cosponsored by the Immigration Solidarity Committee of
Charlotte, and representatives of the Charlotte Compassion
Action Network for Children, representing faith communities, businesses, legal and humanitarian service organizations in support of unaccompanied child refugees, will also
be present. If you can’t make it on December 9 but are interested in helping these children, contact Dan Neuspiel
(dneuspiel@gmail.com) or Cathy Canepa
(ccanepamd@gmail.com).
Page 9
MEMORIAL ENDOWMENT TRUST (MET)
The Memorial Endowment Trust provides a perpetual, prudently managed fund for generous legacy giving to support the
UUCC, its present and future members, and its liberal religious mission. The Memorial Endowment Trust grows its assets
through contribution and investment. Our hope is that the MET might be a substantial resource to further UUCC goals in the
years ahead. You may support our church’s future in three ways:
 Make a contribution in honor of an individual or group of individuals
 Make a gift in memory of a loved one
 Include the UUCC’s Memorial Endowment Trust in your estate documents.
Please contact the Memorial Endowment Trustees (Dana Hershey, Gwynne Movius, Richard Pratt, Laurie Reed, and Cathlean Utzig) if you have any questions.
Since October 2013 the Memorial Endowment Trust is grateful to have received gifts from the following people.
These gifts represent memorial gifts and honorariums as well as bequests from estates.
Dale & Sage Brook
Mark & Cindy Fox
Nancy & Rich Greene
Nancy and Dana Hershey
Lois and Charles Lee
Pat & Pete Parks
Ann Ray
Norden Weingarten
Anna Wood
Nancy Cook
Janet Frederick
Jane Henderson & Harry Lancaster
Richard & Elaine Kushmaul
Jan & Patrick McNeely
Calvert Pelletier
Lil Roberts
George Weir & Betsy Decker
Estate of Sally Kochendofer Raines
In MEMORY of the following individuals:
Ken Corbitt
Marilyn Crawford
Judy Jones
Loyd Dillon’s Mother
Jennie Robertson’s Mother
Phyllis Bertke’s Mother
Nancy Greene’s Father
Norden Weingarten’s Sister
Nancy Cook’s Son
Marsha Kelly’s Mother
Nancy Cook’s Sister
MEMBERSHIP
The UUCC Welcomes the Following New
Members
Gabriel Fair and Ariana Alexandescu
Wendy Pond
Ross Hartfield
Peter Huxtable
Susan Cox
Carol & Bill Gay
Judy Ghoneim
Jane Kusterer
Monday Night Women’s Group
Richard & Liz Pratt
Carol Rousey
Randy & Barbara Whitt
Frances R.A. Paterson Living Trust
And in HONOR of the following individuals:
Richard and Liz Pratt’s Grandchildren
Small Group
Gwynne & Lee Movius’ 40th Anniversary
Susan Cox on her 60th Birthday
Gratitude for UUCC
“Just Because”
VISITOR’S CORNER
“Getting to Know Us”
Sunday, December 7
Every 1st Sunday after each service, visitors are invited to
an informal Q&A with a long-standing UU Church of
Charlotte member. Grab a cup of coffee from Freeman
Hall and meet downstairs in the Conference Room immediately following either 1st or 2nd service. Hear about another person’s journey to finding her/his spiritual home
here at the UUCC.
“Meet the Minister”
Sunday, December 21
Edward “Ed” VanArsdale
Page 10
You’ve seen him behind the pulpit…now here’s an opportunity for visitors to get to know Jay Leach on a more personal level. Stop by the Conference Room for an informal
chat on the 3rd Sunday of each month at 10:30 a.m.
(“Kelly Greene” Continued from page 1)
sistent active commitment in welcoming newcomers here
combine to make Kelly Greene the ideal person to be our
new Membership Coordinator.
Not surprisingly, members of our Board of Trustees responded with great enthusiasm upon learning of this new
hire. “Outstanding!” “We couldn’t have found a more dedicated member to assume this role! How wonderful!”
“Excellent news indeed. . . . She will be the ideal person for
this job.” “Awesome!”
Kelly has now begun in this role and will be spending the
coming weeks learning the ropes here. She is the new contact person for any visitors who are now considering membership and can be reached at kelly@uuccharlotte.org.
With Kelly joining our staff, we bid a very grateful farewell
to Kristi Lauderbaugh whose extensive professional responsibilities outside the congregation helped her determine that
she could not be a candidate for this new role. Under the
significant limitation of a quarter-time role, Kristi has been
a warm and welcoming presence for many of our newest
members over the course of this past year. She has been
consistent and reliable and has helped embody our commitment to be a place where “people are welcomed, heard, included and respected.” I know you join me in thanking
Kristi for her devotion to this role.
Thanks are also due to the members of our congregation
whose generous pledges made this expansion of our professional staff possible. Our Stewardship Team approached
you early this year and asked for the most generous finan-
cial pledge you could make. And many of you responded,
giving us the confidence to create the largest budget we’ve
ever had as a congregation. Money is not nearly the most
important thing here; but it would be foolish to deny that it
is, in fact, an essential component in making what we do
possible. So, it is to those of you who pledged generously
that we owe special thanks for helping us to create a role
from which all of our current and future members will gain
benefit.
Jay Leach , Senior Minister
COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS AND YOUR CANS
As we count our blessings in this land of plenty, remember
that many in our community are also counting on YOUR
help to see them through the holidays. The cans you bring
to fill our food barrels (in Freeman Hall) help 29 families
(95 individuals) each month to have a few extras on their
table. Many of our recipients are children or elderly, living
on fixed incomes. Our holiday distributions will be Dec 3
and Dec. 12, so please fill the food barrels in the next few
weeks so these families can count YOU as a blessing!
Thanks to the youth (and adults too) who volunteered to
help with a food drive by Second Harvest Food Bank on
Nov. 22 at Stonecrest Shopping Center. Their volunteer
hours will earn us credit towards our monthly bill that will
enable us to “shop” at Second Harvest during December.
ONGOING GROUP MEETINGS
Newcomers and drop-ins are welcome! For more information about
these groups please visit www.uuccharlotte.org and select “Programs/
Get Involved.”
Meeting
Location/
Room
Time
Contact
All Things Considered
Schweitzer
Ron Maccaroni maccaronir@gmail.com
Exploring Humanism
Healing Threads: A Prayer
Shawl Ministry
Holding Circle
Bernstein
Home of Joy
Bruce
Bernstein
7:00 p.m. 1st Wednesday
(November 5 )
7:00 p.m. 1st Thursday (December 4)
7:00 p.m. 2nd Monday (December 8)
Jabberwocks
Steve Bivens wsbivens@aol.com
Kathleen Moloney-Tarr (704) 661-5409
Camilla Mazzotta millcharlotte@aol.com
Conference
12:45 p.m. 3rd Sunday
(December 21)
10:00 a.m. 3rd Friday (November 20)
Lotus Path
Schweitzer
8:00 a.m. Sundays
Mystics and Metaphysics
Sunday Morning Meditation
Schweitzer
Schweitzer
7:00 p.m. 3rd Tuesday (December 16)
8:30 a.m. Sundays
Richard Kushmaul
rkushmaul01@gmail.com
Carol Smith smithcarolc@gmail.com
Debbie George (704) 763-2193
Straight Spouse Support Group
“T.E.D for the Soul” (Day)
Offsite
Bernstein
“T.E.D for the Soul” (Evening)
Bernstein
7:00 p.m. 1st Tuesday (December 2)
12:00 p.m. 3rd Monday
(December 15)
7:00 p.m. 1st Tuesday (December 2)
Women’s Circle
Offsite
7:00 p.m. 2nd Tuesday (December 9)
Young Adult Group (YAG)
Schweitzer
12:45 p.m. 3rd Sunday
(December 21)
Doris Thomas Browder
Sage Brook (704) 366-7983
Melissa Mummert
mummertville@yahoo.com
Susan Cox scox44@earthlink.net
Trish Hevey trishhevey@yahoo.com
Sandy Vermillion svl13@carolina.rr.com
Please RSVP to Sandy to attend.
Lincoln Baxter III
Page 11
lincolnbaxter@gmail.com
Periodical
Non-Profit Organization
Postage Paid
Charlotte, NC
Volume 39, Issue 22
USPS 346-850
Published biweekly by the
Unitarian Universalist Church of Charlotte
234 N Sharon Amity Rd
Charlotte NC 28211-3004
Postmaster: Please send address corrections to above.
The deadline for the next
is:
Sunday, November 30, 2014 for the next issue which will
be published on Wednesday, December 3, 2014. Please
include your name and phone number on your submissions
in case there are questions. The Voices editor reserves the
right to edit all submissions to the newsletter for brevity,
grammar, clarity and consistency as space will allow. The
preferred submission is by email to: uucc@uuccharlotte.org
Address Label
Church Office hours:
Monday – Friday 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM Phone: (704) 366-8623 / Fax: (704) 366-8812
E-mail: uucc@uuccharlotte.org; Website: http://www.uuccharlotte.org
Staff Member
Professional Responsibilities
Kathleen Carpenter
Director of Religious Education
for Children & Youth
kathleen@uuccharlotte.org ext. 225
Children and Youth Religious Education
Denominational Connections
Donna Fisher
Children’s Choir Director
donnfish@bellsouth.net
John Herrick
Director of Music
john@uuccharlotte.org ext. 230
Alesia Hutto
Office Administrator
alesia@uuccharlotte.org ext. 221
Martha Kniseley
Adult Programming Coordinator
martha@uuccharlotte.org ext. 229
Kelly Greene
Membership Coordinator
kelly@uuccharlotte.org
Page 12
Children’s Choir
Music
Worship Team
Administrative Support
Communications
Adult Religious Education and Spiritual Development
Community Building
Congregational Care
New Members
Visitors
Jay Leach
Senior Minister
jay@uuccharlotte.org ext. 223
Chief of Staff
Coordinating Team
Social Justice Team
Worship Team
Belinda Parry
Administrative Assistant
belinda@uuccharlotte.org ext. 224
Part Time Administrative/CYRE Support
Doug Swaim
Interim Director of Administration
doug@uuccharlotte.org ext. 222
Building & Grounds
Coordinating Team
Memorial Endowment Trust
Stewardship
Communications
Finance
Open Door School