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Piedmont Unitarian Universalist Church
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This month's theme: Blessing
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A Letter from Your Lead Minister
Rev. Mary Frances Comer
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Dear Folks,
Welcome to the month of June and the theme of Blessing! Can you believe we’re halfway through the year?
As you’ll see from Rev. Amy’s article this month, she is concluding her 6 month contract with us. What a blessing she has been and is!
She and I ventured out together these last six months determined to get 2018 off to a good start.
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From Your Minister of Education and Outreach
Rev. Amy Brooks
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Greetings Friends,
As I begin my last month with Piedmont UU Church, I want to say how grateful I am for the opportunity to serve with you. I have enjoyed my time immensely and learned a lot. Here are a few of the things I have learned:
1.) I really like teaching and leading small groups.
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You’re Making a Difference!
First Sunday Food Drive
Thank you for the hundreds of pounds of food you've donated to local food banks this year. You're making a difference in the lives of people who struggle to meet basic needs.
Let's break our record this Sunday and bring 200 pounds! Place your donations by your front door (or back door!) so you'll be sure to remember to bring them with you. Non-perishable food items and diapers welcome!
Many thanks,
Rev. Mary Frances and Anne Laukaitis
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An Invitation to Sunday, June 3 ~ Bridging Service for Sarah Dutton
In the Unitarian Universalist faith, we seek to acknowledge life’s passages from beginning to end. We offer baby dedications and naming ceremonies. Children go through Coming of Age programs as middle schoolers and then a Bridging Ceremony as they enter adulthood.
The first Sunday of June, we will have a “Bridging” ceremony for our own Sarah Dutton at the University Gathering. Sarah has been a part of Piedmont UU Church since her parents brought her here as a baby! Now, she’s entering adulthood. I hope you’ll come help celebrate Sarah’s journey on June 3. There will be cake! If you’d like, bring some finger foods to share.
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Religious Education Updates
Greetings Families,
We had a few families who made it May 20th for a time to share what they want from religious education for the coming year. The youth who attended were especially articulate. I will be passing along all the information I received to our new Religious Education Coordinator, Lisa Hagan. This will help her with planning for next year. If you would still like to share your perspective (parents or youth), I welcome your input.
Religious Education Volunteers for June:
We need volunteers to lead a class for our children during the month of June. Majel has departed but she left us with 4 sessions we could use with the children at either site. If you are willing to take one week please contact Rev. Amy at
amy@puuc.org
. July we will have the Heart of the Carolinas curriculum about animals at the University Gathering site and all are invited.
With warm appreciation,
Rev. Amy
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News from Salisbury
Beth Foreman
, Salisbury Steering Team Lead
This has been a busy Spring for the Salisbury Gathering. Some activities and events members were/are involved in are: being an election official, providing information and registering local high schoolers to vote, campaigning for local candidates, attending NC Democracy local sessions on statewide issues, supporting local teachers, volunteering at schools, getting ready for Salisbury Pride (Piedmont UU Church is a Rainbow Sponsor this year), getting ready for our 2nd annual yard sale and for Chickweed, participating in Mom’s Against Gun Violence, and more.
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June is Yard Sale Month
Have fun with friends and make new ones while you volunteer at either of our upcoming yard sales.
• June 9th at the Salisbury Gathering
• June 16th at the University Gathering
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Summer Solstice Celebration
Summer has arrived! We will celebrate the warm season with a rite on Friday, June 22nd in the Sanctuary at our University location. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m. and our service will begin at 7 p.m. We will celebrate the Turning of the Wheel with song, drumming, and meditation. Please bring summer symbols and decorations for 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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Kids of All Ages, Save the Dates!
Looking Ahead to the Month of July ~ Special Religious Education Sessions with the Animal Ministry!
Hello K-12 Youth of Piedmont UU!
July is Animal Ministry month here at Piedmont UU Church. Taking care of all the planet’s animals can be complicated, but there are simple things we can do, too. We’d like you to know more about your role.
Animals and people are interconnected; they depend on one another.
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GreenFaith in Charlotte
I am working with GreenFaith, a non-profit that has connections to many organizations nationally and globally (including the UUA). GreenFaith is beginning to work at the local level in the Charlotte region and we are looking for individuals in different congregations to participate. A few individuals from Piedmont have already spoken with me and we would like to pull a meeting together. If you interested in learning more about this effort, I invite you to contact me at
amy@puuc.org.
Rev. Amy E. Brooks
Minister of Education and Outreach
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Grow Your Relationship with Piedmont
We are a community that values connection. We hope you will complete this survey to discover opportunities that you didn’t know existed, and reassess what’s of current interest to you. Contact Deb,
deb@puuc.org
, with questions.
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Over 15 gamers attended Game Night in May and enjoyed playing Rummikub, Scrabble, Tenzi, Timeline, and more. Hope you can join us at the next one!
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Piedmont UU Church Financial Health: April 2018
April Income $16,318
April Expenses ($11,352)
April Cash Flow $4,966
Year to Date Income $95,518
Year to Date Expense ($46,636)
Year to Date Cash Flow $48,882
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Board of Trustees May 17, 2018 Meeting Highlights
- Lisa Hagen has been selected to serve as Religious Education Coordinator. A notice was sent to the congregation on May 17 that provides information about her educational background and qualifications. Board members welcomed Lisa at the May 17 meeting.
- The board recognized all of the members who have contributed in March, April and May to the 1st Sunday Food Drive.March – 99 lbs. to Cooperative Christian Ministry in Concord. April – 188 lbs. to Loaves and Fishes in Charlotte. May - 145 lbs. to Rowan Helping Ministries in Salisbury. The drive continues each month on the first Sunday.
- The Policy Committee is continuing to work to update and revise the church bylaws and plans to have a draft ready to present to the congregation and the board by July 1. When the bylaws work is complete, the committee will begin work on revising and updating policies and procedures. President-elect Becky Schisler chairs this committee.
Lynne Godfrey, Karl Hesse, Anne Laukaitis, Frank Mabrey, Teresa Rowell, Becky Schisler, and Sam Treadaway
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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
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June 3rd, 2018
"
Finding Our True North Together: A Bridging Ceremony for Sarah Dutton
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University
Gathering
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Rev. Mary Frances Comer
Join us today as we consider our separate and collective journeys along this path we call life. In the spirit of Robert Frost's poem, The Road Not Taken, we consider the blessings of choosing wisely as we celebrate the "bridging" of Sarah Dutton from youth to adulthood.
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Two Roads Diverged
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Salisbury Gathering
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Rev. Mary Frances Comer
Join us today as we consider our separate and collective journeys along this path we call life. In the spirit of Robert Frost's poem, The Road Not Taken, we consider the blessings of choosing wisely.
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Blessings All Around Us
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UU Fellowship of Lake Norman, Rev. Amy Brooks
To give or receive a blessing takes courage, or perhaps vulnerability. Are we open to blessing or are we too busy or defensive to notice the blessings all around us?
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June 10th, 2018
"Blessings All Around Us"
University and Salisbury Gatherings,
Rev. Amy Brooks
To give or receive a blessing takes courage, or perhaps vulnerability. Are we open to blessing or are we too busy or defended to notice the blessings all around us.
"Thoughts about Meditation"
UU Fellowship of Lake Norman,
lay-led service
Join us as members of UUFLKN share the ways in which the arts (music, writing, painting, etc.) touch their spirits and feed their souls.
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June 17th, 2018
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Learning to Walk in the Dark
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University and Salisbury Gatherings,
Sam Treadaway
As the summer solstice nears, our days will soon begin lessening and the nights will grow longer. Darkness can be the absence of light in our physical world, but sometimes the light can go out in our emotional and spiritual world as well. Even when that light wanes or goes out altogether, there are treasures in the dark that we cannot always see by day. What we need is a spirituality that works in the night.
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Our Fathers
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UU Fellowship of Lake Norman,
Rev. Amy Brooks
From the image of the Father God to our biological fathers we are shaped many ways. What do we carry with us that we love and celebrate; what would we like to let go? Join for a time of reflection on the power of fathers in our lives.
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June 24th, 2018
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Forward Together
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University 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.
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Letter from my 26-year-old self: A Lesson in Anger, Humility, and Forgiveness"
Salisbury Gathering,
guest speaker
Dr. Damon Silas
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.
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Community Connections Potluck
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UU Fellowship of Lake Norman
Today we will learn about a local program to provide books to men in jail and take up a collection of books to donate.
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Contact Us:
Rev. Amy Brooks, Minister of Education and Outreach --
amy@puuc.org
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