September 2018 Newsletter
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Piedmont Unitarian Universalist Church
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This month's theme:
Vision
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Starting in September -- New Service Time for Both Gatherings
Beginning September 2nd, the Sunday service time will be:
- 10:30 a.m. at the Salisbury Gathering
- 11:15 a.m. at the University Gathering
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A Letter from Your Lead Minister
Rev. Mary Frances Comer
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Your vision will become clear only when you look into your heart.
Who looks outside, dreams. Who looks inside, awakens.
~Carl Jung
Dear Folks,
Welcome to September and our monthly theme of VISION!
This is an exciting month as we usher in AND complete our Annual Commitment Time (also known as pledging). I’m excited to report that we’ve received our first two pledges of the year with the first one coming from an attendee of the Salisbury Gathering!
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Honor the Past • Serve the Present • Provide for the Future
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Beloved Community,
September is our Annual Commitment Time, and I'm very pleased to unveil our stewardship logo!
We chose a tree to represent that we are rooted in the past, living in the now, and reaching into the future--throughout the year.
We truly seek to honor the past--our founders as well as members of beloved community who are no longer with us; we seek to serve the present by doing all we can to nurture the spirit, cherish diversity, cultivate justice, and radiate love; and we seek to move beyond the "right now" to preparing and providing for the future and for our future UUs and children whose backpacks we blessed just a week ago.
This year, we are moving forward with...
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2018 Charlotte PRIDE Parade & Piedmont UU Congregants
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A big thank you to everyone who came out to march or ride our float for this year's Charlotte Pride. Special thanks to Jess Carter for decorating the float!
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Chalice Circles Begin this Month! Sign up here...
Dear Folks,
Much gratitude to our group leaders who commit to hosting a small group discussion on our current theme once per month. The small group setting is structured with a chalice lighting and opening words, questions for thought and discussion, meaningful quotes, moments of silence, and a chance to get to know other members of Beloved Community in a more intimate setting. Each group completes a service project at some point during the year.
The season of Chalice Circles begins in September and ends in June. Stay tuned for a weekly announcement about a fall get together!
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First Sunday Food Drive
Thank you for your ongoing contributions to our First Sunday Food Drive at both of our sites! Last month we collected 149 pounds of donations. The f
ood drive continues for Charlotte Loaves and Fishes on the first Sunday of September, September 2.
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Interested in becoming a Member of Piedmont UU Church?
Attend one of our Upcoming Newcomer Orientation Classes
led by Rev. Mary Frances along with a member of the board and someone from our Membership Team.
September 16
(University Gathering, Meeting House Board Room) 12:30-2:00 following the service - A light lunch will be provided.
October 14
(Salisbury Gathering) following the service - A light lunch will be provided.
November 28
(University Gathering) following the Pancake Dinner - Come at 5:30 for pancakes and fellowship in the sanctuary, and then head over to the Meeting House (Board Room) at 6:30 for the Newcomer Orientation Class OR just come at 6:30 for the class.
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Fall Equinox Celebration
On Friday September 21st we will gather to honor the Fall Equinox with a special Pagan Pride Peace ritual. Often called Mabon, the fall equinox is the cross quarter day between the Summer Solstice and Winter Solstice and is the astrological first day of fall. Please join us in the Sanctuary at the University location. Doors will open at 6:30 and our service will begin at 7pm. We will celebrate the Turning of the Wheel with song, drumming and meditation. We invite you to bring items to decorate the altar, drums, rattles, and a small snack to share after our rite. All are welcome! Minors must be accompanied by an adult.
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Save the Date for our next Pancake Dinner
Wednesday, September 26th at 5:30 p.m.
We're all set in the kitchen but would appreciate help with set up of tables and chairs and clean up (dishes, tables, chairs) afterward!
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Church leaders needed. Are you interested?
Leadership Development is charged with nominating persons to be elected in October to serve our church.
Candidates are sought for the offices of Treasurer, President Elect, Board member at large, Endowment Committee member and Leadership Development Committee Member.
If you are interested contact Steve Whitfield, Beth Foreman, Robin Mara, and Karl Hesse at
leadership@puuc.org.
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Dear Justice Seekers:
We are fortunate to be hosting a wonderful
UU Justice Leadership Training the last weekend of September. This three day workshop will be offered by Sacred Fire Unitarian Universalist and trainers, Rev. Nathan Hollister, Rev. Karen Hutt, and Rev. Sara Green. This weekend intensive training is a great opportunity as we seek to reorganize and rededicate our own social justice ministry for the years ahead.
PRACTICING INTERDEPENDENCE
Racial Justice - Covenantal Social Justice - Congregational Social Justice
Some of the Features of our Workshop include the following...
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Piedmont UU Church Financial Health: August 2018
August Income $18,253
August Expense ($16,873)
August Cash Flow $1,380
Year to Date Income $149,585
Year to Date Expense ($92,836)
Year to Date Cash Flow $56,749
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Board of Trustees August 16, 2018 Meeting Highlights
- The board requests that all committees that report to the board submit monthly reports of their activities to the board.
- The board thanked Jim Craig for recent work to repair and improve the driveway.
- The board recognized the work being done by Resa Treadaway and Rev. Mary Frances to prepare for a successful Stewardship Campaign that will begin in September.
Lynne Godfrey, Karl Hesse, Anne Laukaitis, Frank Mabrey, Teresa Rowell, and Sam Treadaway
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Awakening the light: Claiming your #metoo Going-Forward Story
A Retreat at Myers Park Baptist Church
This Retreat is for women survivors of sexual abuse who have:
- Felt encouraged by the collective voices of women claiming their sexual abuse/ harassment stories,
- Wrestled with their story keeping them stuck and unable to live life fully and with vibrancy, and
- Desired to awaken and claim their Going-Forward Story through journaling exercises, reflection and storyboarding in an intimate, safe space
Retreat details
- These One-day retreats are held on Saturdays from 9:00 – 5:00 and include lunch
- September 22nd, October 27th, and November 17th, 2018
- Location: Myers Park Baptist Church, 1900 Queens Rd, Charlotte, 28207
- Registration: Contact Tambry Harris at tambryharris@bellsouth.net or 704-281-9637
- Space is limited to 10 participants and costs is $100 (includes lunch and all materials)
Facilitator Tambry Harris has a Masters degree in applied psychology, has been a certified leadership coach for 18+ years and a certified Spiritual Director for 4+ years. She teaches a course on retreats at the Charlotte Spirituality Center.
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September Services at Piedmont UU Church
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New Service Times!
10:30 a.m. at the Salisbury Gathering
11:15 a.m. at the University Gathering
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Sunday, September 2nd, 2018
"How Our UU Sources Inform Our Vision"
Salisbury Gathering
Bob Voelker, guest speaker
Our theme for September is Vision. What a perfect topic to kickoff our Annual Commitment Time! Join us today for an “interactive sermon” with Bob Voelker as we contemplate our Unitarian Universalist Sources and how those sources influence our individual and collective visions for the future.
"Pondering Visions"
University Gathering
Rev. Mary Frances Comer
Our theme for September is Vision. What a perfect topic to kickoff our Annual Commitment Time! Join us today as we contemplate our individual and collective visions for the future.
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Sunday, September 9th, 2018
"
Annual Ingathering and Water Communion"
Salisbury Gathering,
Rev. Mary Frances Comer
University Gathering,
Rev. Amy Brooks
Today's service is a special time of coming back together after summer travels, beginning a new church and school year, and celebrating our reunion with a ritual of Water Communion. Members and visitors alike are invited to bring small amounts of water that hold special meaning for them (whether from a favorite location or a special occasion), and during our service we will place the water into a single bowl in a shared ritual. Those who would like are invited to share the significance of the water they pour. We save a bit of this water each year and return the reminder to the Earth. Today is also the offical kickoff of our Annual Commitment Time (Stewardship Campaign)!
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Sunday, September 16th, 2018
"
Empowering Our Vision of the Voyage"
Salisbury Gathering,
Rev. Mary Frances Comer (via video!) and Resa Treadaway
Join us after our service this morning for a meal provided by our Annual Commitment Team! Today, we continue our monthly theme as we consider the power of Vision in shaping our shared as well as our individual journeys.
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Empowering Our Vision of the Voyage"
University Gathering,
Rev. Mary Frances Comer
Today, we continue our monthly theme as we consider the power of Vision in shaping our shared as well as our individual journeys.
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Sunday, September 23rd, 2018
"
Commitment Sunday: Honoring the Past, Serving the Present, Preparing for the Future"
Salisbury Gathering
Sam Treadaway, guest speaker
Today we wrap up our Annual Commitment Time and our theme of what it means to be a people of Vision. Hope to see you there!
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Commitment Sunday: Honoring the Past, Serving the Present, Preparing for the Future"
University Gathering
Rev. Mary Frances Comer
Join us after our service this morning for a shared meal provided by our Annual Commitment Team. Today, we wrap up our Annual Commitment Time and our theme of what it means to be a people of Vision. Hope to see you there!
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Sunday, September 30th, 2018
"Visions of Justice"
Salisbury Gathering
Rev. Mary Frances Comer (via video)
Join us today for a video message from our minister followed by a discussion circle as we focus our vision for our justice ministry.
"Visions of Justice"
University Gathering
Sacred Fire Unitarian Universalist and Rev. Nathan Hollister
Today, we finish up our canvas (Annual Commitment Time) and welcome Sacred Fire Unitarian Universalist as they host our morning service as part of our weekend focus on Justice Leadership.
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Greetings Friends from your Neighboring UU Congregation to the North,
Rev. Amy Brooks, minister at the UU Fellowship at Lake Norman
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The UU Fellowship of Lake Norman is busy with our new church year and already thinking about 2019. Here is a short update about our activities.
Our humanist group and book group continue to meet regularly. In an effort to increase our connections with one another, we hope to begin some group dinners that focus on a question to ground the group. We will also begin a Chalice Circle in the Lake Norman area. Our Covenant Group continues to meet to reflect on the feedback from the congregation an we hope to have a covenant in place by the end of the year.
The Children's SE Program is off to a wonderful start with a focus on World Religions for the Fall semester.
Our biggest concern is our location. Our current space is not conducive to growth. We are looking once again to see whether something affordable and comfortable shows up for us in the LKN area. Please send us your good thoughts!
I continue to be thankful for our relationship with Piedmont UU Church.
We wish you a wonderful start to the congregational year. May we join together in our common goal of creating a kinder, and more just and peaceful world.
With much gratitude,
Rev. Amy
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Sept. Schedule for the UU Fellowship of Lake Norman
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11:00 a.m. at the UU Fellowship of Lake Norman
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Sunday, September 2nd, 2018
"Green Labor"
Rev. Amy Brooks
September 8 is the Rise for Climate Jobs and Justice followed by the Global Climate Action Summit (12-14) in San Francisco. Let's consider the importance of labor in the effort to create a sustainable world.
Sunday, September 9th, 2018
"The More I Wonder, the More I Love"
Alice Walker's
The Color Purple
Laurie Walker, guest speaker
To wonder is to open up to possibilities. Join member, Laurie Walker, and discover the transformational qualities of a year dedicated to wonder.
Sunday, September 16th, 2018
"The Delight of Children's Stories"
Rev. Amy Brooks
Children's books are full of imagination, creativity and beauty, not to mention nuggets of wisdom. This Sunday we will share some of our favorite children's stories and why they continue to guide us as adults. Participantion welcome! Please contact Rev. Amy if you have a story you love or would like to read or share as a part of this service.
Sunday, September 23rd, 2018
"Envisioning the Future"
Rev. Amy Brooks
This week we will hear from leadership some plans for next year. We would like to hear from you too. So be sure to join us as we share plans for 2019 and envision the future together!
Sunday, September 30th, 2018
Guest Speaker
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