|
|
Piedmont Unitarian Universalist Church
|
|
|
|
This month's theme: Emergence
|
|
A Letter from Your Lead Minister
Rev. Mary Frances Comer
|
Dear Folks,
Welcome to the month of April. Our theme for this month is Emergence! This seems fitting as we witness the miracle of spring and the beauty of nature as it comes into being.
The month of April is rich with opportunities to nurture the spirit at Piedmont. The first Sunday of April is Easter Day and our Annual Flower Communion Service. Bring a flower or flowers to share for our ritual if you like, and plan to enjoy watching our children hunt for Easter eggs following the service.
|
|
|
|
Black Lives Matter
Rev. Amy Brooks,
Minister of Education and Outreach
|
Greetings Friends,
With all the recent news coverage about the marches for ending gun violence, I was touched and impressed that the students of Parkland, FL thought to lift up their friends of color who have long been struggling with this issue in their communities. It is a great reminder that no matter the issue or place we find ourselves, we all have the chance to lift up our friends of color whose history, lives, and communities are so often overlooked.
As we know, our denomination has newly recommitted to studying issues of racial diversity and, fortunately for us, our ADORE group (A Dialogue on Race and Ethnicity) also brings to us ongoing opportunities for awareness and learning.
|
|
|
|
Covenants of Purpose and Covenants of Right Relations
Wrapping up our Feature Focus Sunday for March
Rev. Mary Frances Comer,
Lead Minister
|
Dear All,
Thirty years ago, the UUA gave a steering committee the task of developing a covenant in order to start a new religious community. Many months went into “learning the organizational skills necessary to start a new congregation and developing a vision for the future as a religious gathering.”* Out of that effort, the Covenant of Purposes that hangs in the hallway at the University Gathering was written. Some of our current members were instrumental in that task--particularly Sandra Woolsey, a charter member of this congregation.
|
|
|
|
Board of Trustees Goals for 2018
Sam Treadaway, Board of Trustees President
Greetings Members and Friends,
As the president of your Board of Trustees, I wanted to make you aware of the goals that the Board has identified for this church year. We established these goals at a Board retreat in January.
Enhanced Communication – Improving our communication with the congregation is a high priority for your Board. You may have noticed that our secretary, Anne Laukaitis, has distributed our Board meeting minutes and highlights in a very prompt manner. We have also committed to holding regular town hall meetings to better establish two-way communication with our members. Our first round of meetings is April 22nd for the University Gathering and April 29th for the Salisbury Gathering.
|
|
We Celebrate Our 30th Anniversary!
Anne Laukaitis,
Board of Trustees Secretary
On April 16, 1988, Piedmont Unitarian Universalist celebrated its charter service. Forty-five members signed the charter and of these, nine are still members: Jeff and Linda Blum; Jim, Sandra and Ted Woolsey; Harry Lancaster and Jane Henderson; Pam Bloom; and Ed Barrier. Rev. Dr. William F. Schulz, President of the Unitarian Universalist Association, was present for that momentous occasion and was the key speaker.
|
|
Resa Treadaway Named Annual Commitment Team Lead
Resa Treadaway
Last week, Rev. Mary Frances introduced me, Resa Treadaway, as Annual Commitment Team (ACT) Lead. I am honored to return to this role.
For those who do not know me, I am married to Sam Treadaway, the proud parent of two adult sons, and “grammy” to a 22-month-old granddaughter. Sam and I have been members of Piedmont UU Church for 26 years. Throughout this time, I have served on various committees and teams including:
|
|
Blood Drive Success
Dear Beloved Community,
Here's a recap of our March 11 Blood Drive. We had 23 people sign up! Thank you so much. Of those, only one was not able to attend. A few were not able to give due to low iron or high blood pressure, etc. We ended up with 17 pints (one was a "double") which means your generosity will have an impact on the lives of 51 local patients. The donor recruiter said this was "phenomenal!" We offered this blood drive in honor of Eva Dew Danner, and I believe she'd be proud of our giving.
The Community Blood Center of the Carolinas (CBCC) thanks you, and I thank you. We will have another blood drive during one of the summer months. This summer, you'll have the satisfaction of giving this priceless gift, and you'll also receive a t-shirt from CBCC.
I look forward to seeing you there!
Much gratitude,
Rev. Mary Frances
|
|
Pancakes Anyone?
Give yourself a break from thinking about what to have for dinner, and join us for our first Pancake Supper at 5 p.m. on April 11 at the University Gathering! We will have pancakes of various colors and sizes with plenty of laughter and conversation to whet your appetite. If you are interested in helping with table set up or cooking, please contact Rev. Amy at
amy@puuc.org
.
We hope to see you there!
|
|
Cakes For the Queen of Heaven
This popular goddess-based curriculum allows women to explore the ideas and experiences of a culture based on the sacred feminine. The group will start at 7 p.m. after the Pancake Supper on April 11 and continue for 5 weeks. All those who have signed up are registered for the class; however, we are at capacity and will be taking names for a waiting list. To get your name on the list, contact Rev. Amy at
amy@puuc.org
.
|
|
Music and Meditation Series -
April 27 at 7 p.m. (University Sanctuary)
Save the date for Nurturing Love and Kindness Within: A Gentle and Soulful Exploration through Meditation, Music, and Inspirational Readings.
Join us for the first installment of a Spring/Summer Soulful Series of Meditative Music and Art! The first in this contemplative series will feature singer, songwriter, and guitarist, Elaine Deck. Rev. Mary Frances will lead us in meditative moments of silence, inspirational readings, and prayer—interspersed with Elaine's beautiful music.
|
|
Piedmont UU Church Financial Health: February 2018
February Income $15,338
February Expenses ($7,708)
February Cash Flow $7,630
Year to Date Income $59,225
Year to Date Expense ($23,916)
Year to Date Cash Flow $35,309
|
|
Board of Trustees March 15, 2018 Meeting Highlights
- The church will celebrate the 30th anniversary of its charter service at a joint service with both the University Gathering and the Salisbury Gathering on Sunday, April 15, at the University Gathering.
- The Finance Committee and the Board of Trustees will hold a joint meeting on Tuesday, April 17, 2018, at 6:30 p.m. to review the 2018 budget and consider needed changes.
- There will be a town hall meeting after the service on Sunday, April 22, at the University Gathering and on Sunday, April 29, after the Salisbury service. A town hall meeting is intended for information and discussion and is NOT a voting meeting.
- The 5th Sunday of April, April 29, will be a Service Sunday and will benefit Partners in Education.
- The 50-50 plate collection was a success during January and February, and the collection was approved to continue through the remainder of 2018.
- Michele Deese, Director of Piedmont Progressive Preschool, attended the board meeting to discuss a hoped-for expansion of the preschool to add a transitional kindergarten class.
- The board met in Executive Session to discuss personnel related policies.
Lynne Godfrey, Karl Hesse, Anne Laukaitis, Frank Mabrey, Teresa Rowell, Becky Schisler, and Sam Treadaway
|
|
9:30 a.m. at the University Gathering
11:00 a.m. at the UU Fellowship of Lake Norman
11:30 a.m. at the Salisbury Gathering
|
|
April 1st, 2018
"
Annual Flower Communion Service
"
University Gathering,
Rev. Mary Frances Comer
Join Beloved Community for our annual Flower Communion Service on this Easter Day. Bring some flowers to share if you like. An Easter egg hunt will follow the service!
"Annual Flower Communion Service"
Salisbury Gathering, Guest Speaker
Shakeisha Gray
Join Beloved Community and guest speaker, Shakeisha Gray, for our yearly Flower Communion Service on this Easter day. Bring some flowers to share if you like. An Easter egg hunt will follow the service.
"
Celebrate Spring!
"
UU Fellowship of Lake Norman,
Rev. Amy Brooks
Join Beloved Community for our annual Flower Communion Service on this Easter Day. Bring some flowers to share as we celebrate the arrival of spring and renewal of the spirit!
|
|
April 8th, 2018
"Letter from my 26-year-old Self: A Lesson in Anger, Humility, and Forgiveness"
University Gathering,
Guest Speaker Dr. Damon Silas
Letter from my 26-year-old self: A Lesson in Anger, Humility, and Forgiveness
Today we welcome Dr. Damon Silas. His sermon is taken from a letter written 12 years ago, expressing such emotions as anger, frustration, and disappointment in the system that all too often seems stacked against people (and especially young men) of color. This was written about the speaker’s encounter being pulled over by the police, detailing the anger and helplessness that boiled over after having this experience approximately 5 times up to that point.
"
Giving Life the Shape of Justice
"
Salisbury Gathering, Guest Speaker Bill Crowley
Join us today for an Introduction to the Unitarian Universalist Justice Ministry of North Carolina (UUJMNC) from our own Bill Crowley, a member of the Forward Together UUJMNC Board of Directors.
"
Humanist Lessons I Learned from My Christian Mother
"
UU Fellowship of Lake Norman,
Guest Speaker
Karen Clark
Stories and lessons from my service trips to Guatemala with Habitat for Humanity
|
|
April 15th, 2018
"Celebrating a Dream and Living into Our Visions Piedmont Unitarian Universalist Church 30th Anniversary Service"
University Gathering, Rev. Mary Frances Comer
Today is our 30th Anniversary Service. Join us today for a sermon by our newly called minister, Rev. Mary Frances Comer, as we celebrate who we are and where we are on our journey. Bring a dish to share for a potluck celebration after the service!
Please note there is no service at the Salisbury Gathering this Sunday.
All members and friends of Piedmont UU Church are invited to attend our 30th Anniversary Service at the University Gathering.
"What's Next--Emerging into Beloved Community"
UU Fellowship of Lake Norman, Rev. Amy Brooks
Our congregation will be 10 years old next year! What have we learned and what vision do we hold for our future? Join us for a time to reflect and share our hopes and dreams for the UU community of Lake Norman and beyond.
|
|
April 22nd, 2018
"
Creation Care--My Spiritual Journey
"
University and Salisbury Gatherings, Rev. Amy Brooks
As we celebrate Earth Day, how do we deepen our connection to the earth, not just in our hearts but in our living.
"Community Connections Potluck Sunday"
UU Fellowship of Lake Norman
Our Community Connections Potluck features our connection with the Earth, in honor of Earth Day.
|
|
April 29th, 2018
"Feature Sunday:
Partners in Education
"
University and Salisbury Gatherings
"
The Power of Vulnerability
"
UU Fellowship of Lake Norman, Guest Speaker Laurie Walker
Today we explore the power of vulnerability using Brene Brown's TED talk as the starting point for our conversation.
|
|
Contact Us:
Rev. Amy Brooks, Minister of Education and Outreach --
amy@puuc.org
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
