1. family and parenting
2. children

volume 40, issue 02
always available online at www.uuccharlotte.org
January 28, 2015
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.
“CELEBRATE COMMITMENT”
COMES ‘ROUND AGAIN
Stewardship 2015
It’s the most wonderful time of the
year… No, you’re not experiencing
déjà vu. I’m not singing about
Christmas, but about the kickoff of
the annual Stewardship campaign!
This year, we’re keeping with the
“Celebrate Commitment” theme we
introduced last year. Our reason for
that is twofold: Firstly, we mean
it! We believe that stewardship is
not something we think about once a year (my musical introduction notwithstanding), but an ongoing relationship
between our members and our collective enterprise that is
the UUCC. It’s a commitment, and we do celebrate it.
Secondly, we like it! Why not celebrate the wonderful
thing we have going here? It’s certainly worthy of a celebration or two. Let’s bring on the music, the sparkly lights
and the merriment!
So what do you have to look forward to? Glad you
asked. We have mailed pledge materials this week. You
may have received yours already; if not, they’ll arrive
soon. I know you are itching to mail your pledge card right
back, but if you are planning to come to church Sunday,
February 8, we ask that you hang onto the card and bring it
with you to the service that day. February 8 will be Celebration Sunday – a day when everyone can come to the
front of the sanctuary and deposit their pledge card in the
basket, in a visible act of commitment and community.
However, if you don’t plan on being at church that day, by
all means, send that pledge card back to us!
In your pledge packet, you’ll find a brochure called “Baking
Up the Budget Pie.” This is your Stewardship Team’s
(Continued on page 6)
UUCC SOCIAL JUSTICE AUCTION
The UUCC Social Justice
Team is excited to announce that Hardin Minor
will preside over the 2015
AH-HA! Social Justice
Auction. Hardin is a fixture
around Charlotte, performing solo presentations as
Captain Rainbow, Professor
Letterhead, Whistlestop
Willie, Dr. Know and Banana Claus, to name a few. He
is also Charlotte’s Mime-inMotion at Omimeo Mime Theatre and Charlotte Youth Ballet’s perennial Herr Drosselmeyer. Combining unusual theatrical techniques in unique contexts, Hardin can be counted
on to delight audiences with the full force of his imagination
and energy. So, put May 2 on your calendar!
And remember that all funds raised through the AH-HA!
Social Justice Auction are granted to Charlotte-based agencies working to address the root causes of homelessness in
our community. This is our one and only fundraiser for
these funds. Your participation makes it possible for us to
make a real difference to our homeless neighbors and the
organizations working to support them.
STEWARDSHIP CALENDAR OF EVENTS
Sunday, February 8
“Celebration Sunday” kicks off the campaign
Saturday, February 14
“Sweethearts Serenade” Valentine’s cabaret and dance
Saturday, March 14
“We’re in the Green!” St. Paddy’s celebration and dance
Sunday, March 15
All pledges due by this date.
Page 1
FROM THE MINISTER
One of the readings in the back of our Singing the Living
Tradition hymnal offers this prayer: “May we know once
again that we are not isolated beings but connected, in mystery and miracle, to the universe, to this community and to
each other.”
This is an inspiring aspiration, especially since many, probably most of us feel at times like
“isolated beings.” We experience
things, we ponder things, we struggle
with things that can make us feel disconnected, leaving us wondering who
else would understand, much less care
about our particular issues.
So, part of the role of the spiritual community is to venture into the deep experiences of life, to risk talking about
things that are often silenced or avoided. We take on life’s
tough stuff in part because, if it is not OK to admit such
things here, then where might we go for some sense that we
are connected to something larger than our own personal
experiences?
On Sunday, February 1 our service will consider one of
life’s really tough realities—suicide. We’ll reflect on this
subject through the larger lens of our liberating religion,
asking how our core values relate to this most difficult subject.
Not many of us who live for very long escape some personal experience with suicide—a family member, a friend,
some colleague or public figure whose choice to end her or
his own life in such a way that it has a deep impact on
us. And yet, how rarely do we discuss these experiences,
how few are the places where we can go to admit our own
struggles.
I want to be clear about what we will consider. There are
those now actively advocating for the right to make end of
life choices that may include a compassionate death, the
timing of which one chooses in concert with family members and medical professionals. We have an upcoming
Adult Religious Education/Spiritual Development
(ARESD) offering on mortality that will include consideration of this possibility. However, on this upcoming Sunday
that is not at all what I have in mind.
This day is devoted to a more tragic reality—the choice
some make to take their own lives out of some sense of despair or feeling of worthlessness or experience of intense
disconnection or struggle with some debilitating mental illness.
Page 2
It is never our intent to offer any service that would be morose. So, on Sunday, February 1, our services will not linger in the morass of overly somber emotions. Nor, however, will we avoid the admission that many of us carry the
pain of connection to some suicide that hurts deeply. We
might even hope for some healing, some small step forward
if only through the sense that we are not “isolated beings”
alone in our experiences.
After each service we
will offer brief open discussion sessions in the
Bernstein Room. These
will not be intended as
therapeutic encounters
but more modestly simply as times to come together and share from our
own experiences, to
know that we are connected “to this community and to each other.”
Regardless of your personal experience, I hope you’ll plan
to be a part of the 9:15 or 11:15 service on Sunday, February 1. This may be helpful in enabling you to reflect on experiences you’ve had. Or, this may help prepare you for
some experience yet to come. Or, your presence may help
assure others here that they are not alone and isolated but
are a part of a caring, connected spiritual community.
Peace, Jay
CONGREGATIONAL CARE NEWS
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.
HELP US HAVE FRESH
FLOWERS IN THE NICHE
Commemorate a birthday, an anniversary or acknowledge a
special person or event by donating fresh flowers for the
niche. Call Alesia in the office (704) 366-8623 to reserve
the Sunday you want. Then send a check for $55 to the office, and we’ll handle the rest.
WHAT’S NEW!
TEAM SPOTLIGHT
THE NEW UUCC WEBSITE:
Community Building Team
UPCOMING CUSTOMER-SATISFACTION SESSIONS
Over the last several months, a task group at UUCC has
been working on the redesign of the uuccharlotte.org website that you will be able to access from your desktop computer, laptop, and mobile devices. In March 2015, the site
will go live, with new features and a new look and feel. Before the site goes live, we would like your input.
In February, UUCC member Paul Turner will conduct
customer-satisfaction sessions with members and nonmembers. These one-on-one, in-person sessions with Paul
will take place at UUCC on two Sundays, February 15 and
February 22, before and after Sunday services. Each session
takes 45 to 60 minutes. For your convenience, we can also
schedule these sessions at UUCC on other days (daytime
and evening slots). If you are interested in participating,
please contact Paul by email: paulhturner1@verizon.net
Your UUCC Website Task Group
NEW ENTRANCE CONTROL REGIMEN
TO TAKE EFFECT FEBRUARY 9
In an effort to make life easier for UUCC members and
staff, we will switch to a new entrance control system as of
Monday, February 9. The new system will rely on numerical keypads which have been installed at both main doors
into the vestibule. Here’s what you need to know:
 Everyone who attends a scheduled meeting or activity
at the UUCC will be given a 4-digit code that will open
the vestibule doors.
 These codes will be given to the leaders of our teams,
groups, classes and activities who will, in turn, be responsible for passing them out to all their group’s participants.
 The only time we will need keys is when the electricity
is off in the building, and so we will “decommission”
all existing keys as of February 9.
Anyone who needs to get into the building who doesn’t
have a code (or who forgets their code) can use the call boxes that have been added to the system. The call boxes are
tied into our telephone system and once you are identified,
you can be “buzzed in” from any phone in the building.
Please bear with us as it will inevitably take a few weeks to
work through any kinks in the new regimen. Your staff
feels confident this new system will be a big improvement
while still providing the level of security we need. Contact
Alesia in the church office if you have questions or concerns. Thanks for your cooperation!
We, the Community Building
Team, are always looking for ways
to support our mission and ends as
a “joyful, dynamic community of
people who care about and are connected to each other.” This month
Rita Heath Singer joined us as the
new chair of the Community Building Team. She has a
long history in our congregation. You may know her as a
supporter of Congregational Care, and as a writer and
performer of our annual Follies production. Speaking of
Follies, Mic Elvenstar heads our zany Theater group and
it’s rumored that they’ll have a part in an upcoming social
event in March. Stay tuned!
Shannon Bradley is invaluable as our organizer of the
Coffee Service on Sundays in Freeman Hall. We thank her
and all of the members who show up on a regular basis with
their smiling faces to make coffee early Sunday mornings,
and then stay to clean up well after everyone leaves. Karen
Achor plays a vital role behind the scenes as she keeps our
kitchen organized with necessary supplies. We also don’t
know what we would do without Pete Parks who makes sure
we don’t run out of paper goods.
Tables for Eight have been a huge success this year under
the leadership of Althea Clark. It continues to be a great
way to get to know folks in the more intimate setting of
members’ homes on the last Saturday of the month. Lisa
Hagen and her family have brought high energy and
enthusiasm for Potlucks and Game nights on Friday
evenings, two Picnics in the early fall and late spring, a very
successful Christmas Day dinner. We also need to thank all
who contributed for the Solstice and Christmas Eve receptions—an annual highlight for many families. A special
thank you to Bernice Mar for her additional support this
year during those two events. We look forward to a Potato
Bar and Game night March 6! A Seder is also being
planned for the first Saturday in April. Ralph Hanson plans
hikes for the Outdoor Adventure Group, usually on the
first Saturday of the month. A Parent Support Group
meets for potluck and discussion on the second Friday of the
month.
We thank all who have supported these activities and we
hope you’ll join us as we strive to make the UUCC a
vibrant, welcoming home. We hope it becomes easier for
all members to be involved and find deep connections.
Rita Heath Singer, Chair
Martha Kniseley, Staff
Page 3
ADULT RELIGIOUS EDUCATION
DiscoverGroups 2015
Last chance to sign-up for this year!
Deadline is Monday, February 2
“I appreciated the opportunity to express my
thoughts, on profound or deep subjects, in a safe
environment. The worry was taken away about
saying the wrong thing at the wrong time, since
everyone else was there for the same purpose and
agreed to a covenant of respect. Conversely, the
opportunity to deeply listen to the experiences
and ideas of other folks was enlightening. What a
soul-satisfying way to connect to church members
and build friendships.”
—From a current member…
DiscoverGroups meet once a month for
a year. The 12-member groups are led
by two co-facilitators. Each session is
based on the Second Sunday topic, and
includes Chalice Lighting, Check-in,
Readings, and Sharing Questions. In
this smaller setting, you are invited to
“share your concerns and focus through
attentive listening to what matters most to the human soul.”
We hope you’ll join us as this experience can be TRANSFORMATIONAL and make a real difference in your life at
the UUCC. For more information contact Martha Kniseley
at martha@uuccharlotte.org.
TED for the Soul (Evening Version)
Tuesday, February 3 at 7:00 p.m. in the Bernstein Room
Can you think of someone you have known who truly exemplifies the qualities of compassion, empathy, passion,
vulnerability, openness, and intensity? This TED speaker
posits a theory that modern society systematically suppresses these ways of feeling. Join us in the Bernstein Room on
Tuesday, February 3 at 7:00 p.m. to watch the talk and work
together as a group to define and understand this provocative message.
2 Sunday Topic Discussion
nd
Sunday, February 8 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 for that day. Begins promptly at 10:30
a.m. in the Bernstein Room. February Topic: Generosity.
Childcare provided.
Page 4
Exploring Humanism
Thursday, February 5 at 7:00 p.m. in the Sanctuary
Marshall Brain, founder of How Stuff Works, has tackled a
new subject in his book How God Works: A Logical Inquiry
on Faith.
"Does God exist? Using an intellectually rigorous, scientific approach,
Marshall Brain sets out to resolve the
eternal debate once and for all. With
a compelling sense of curiosity, he
breaks down mankind's search for a
higher power, tackling such quandaries as: Who is God? What are his
attributes? What is God doing and
why? How does God interact with
humanity? And ultimately, how can
humans know with certainty whether God is real or imaginary? How God Works is an enlightening journey in critical
thinking that challenges readers to boldly approach the subject of personal faith and put aside intuition in favor of objectivity and logic." Join us on Thursday, February 5, 7:00
-9:00 p.m. in the Sanctuary.
Conversations About Our Mortality
What Do You Want for the End of Your Life?
This course will focus on the decisions that we and our family members will inevitably face as we approach the end of
our lives. The six sessions will include:
 Hospice and Palliative Care (Carol Anne Lawler,
M.Div., Hospice Faith Community Educator)
 Advanced Care: Considering Your Documents
(Marilyn Morenz, BSN, Advanced Health Care Planning Consultant),
 End-of-Life Choices (two sessions with Dan Carrigan,
Compassion and Choices Charlotte Friends),
 Dying a Good Death (Janet Frederick, LCSW, Hospice
Social Worker)
 Some Practicalities: Planning Your Own Memorial
Service and Other Matters (Jay Leach, UUCC Senior
Minister)
Classes are full, but wait lists are available.
Evenings: Mondays, February 9 & 23, March 9 & 23, April
6 and May 4 from 7:00-8:30 p.m.
Days: Tuesdays, February 10 & 24, March 10 & 24, April 7
and May 5 from 1:00-2:30 p.m.
Sign-up at the Adult Programming Table or email
martha@uuccharlotte.org. Please indicate which version
you will be attending.
Mystics & Metaphysics Group
Walking the Shamanic Path-Living the Sacred Connection to All-That-Is
Thursday, February 19, in the Sanctuary from 7:00-8:30 p.m.
with optional Q&A until 9:00 p.m.
(Note: Date and room change from our regular schedule)
Come join guest speaker Marcela McBride to explore what
it means to be an urban shaman in our modern times.
Marcela will share her experience of walking this sacred,
ancient path and then lead our group through a sound healing journey using the native tools of Tibetan singing bowl,
Native American drum, bells, rattles and voice to restore
life force energies to your Body, Mind & Spirit. Many feel
release of tension and energetic blocks, receive clarity on
their path, and messages from Spirit (and perhaps meet an
animal totem or guide ;-). You will walk away feeling relaxed, energized, lighter and more deeply connected to
yourself and the world around you. You may participate in
the sound journey lying down or seated. Feel free to bring
a mat and blanket for your comfort. Mystics and Metaphysics is an open group and all are welcome to
attend! More info: Carol Smith, smithcarolc@gmail.com,
(704) 953-4146.
Third Friday Film Night
February 20 at 7:00 in the Sanctuary and Bernstein Room
Join us for Third Friday Film Night on February 20 at 7:00.
We’ll watch a film based on the Second Sunday topic—
Generosity—and followed by a discussion with Bob Gorman. A separate film is also offered for children. (Adults) Big Miracle (US, 2012)
Starring Drew Barrymore and John
Krasinski. Directed by Ken Kwapis. In
a film based on a real life event, native
Alaskans and residents of a small town
in Alaska work tirelessly in an attempt to
save a pod of whales trapped under the
ice. Rated PG for language. 107
minutes.
(Children) Willy Wonka and the
Chocolate Factory (US, 1971) A
poor boy wins a special ticket to tour a
chocolate factory where he learns lessons in generosity and understanding
along the way. Rated G. 100 mins.
Save The Date for the first in the series of
the UUCC Authors Nights
Are you an avid
reader? Do you enjoy how a great book
can transport you to
a new dimension of
thought, time and
space? Have you
experienced how
words can conjure a
made-to-order world
of fantasy, fact, or
fiction? (It’s okay to admit it!!) Have you ever been curious about the life of a writer and the highways and byways
through which an author’s writing moves until the finished
product reveals itself? If any of your answers were “Yes!”
please join us for engaging conversations and an opportunity to meet and greet several UUCC authors – and learn
about a wide variety of their published works.
We will gather together for the first of three “UUCC Authors Nights” on Thursday, March 12 in the Sanctuary
from 7:00 p.m.-8:30 p.m. for a bird’s eye view into the experiences of our talented, thought-provoking authors and
hear their personal stories. This special event will include
individual presentations by each author, a panel discussion
and a light reception afterwards. Beginning around midFebruary, the books that will be discussed in this series will
be shown in the display cabinet on the first floor.
Podcasts of Jay’s Sunday Sermons
Available on UUCC Website
If you have missed a recent Sunday service or you would
like would like to hear a podcast of just Jay’s Sunday sermons, please visit our website at
http://www.uuccharlotte.org/all_podcasts.asp. Sermons are
also available on iTunes, our RSS feed and via our Facebook page.
Audio Copies of Sunday Services
If you have missed a service and would like to hear it, there
is a loaner copy available in the Library that can be checked
out. If you would like to purchase a CD copy of any of our
Sunday services you may do so for only $5. Stop by our
bookstore in Freeman Hall after Sunday services to request
a copy or contact Bill Cooke at (704) 364-2107. If you
currently have copies of the Sunday Services checked out,
please return them as soon as possible.
Page 5
How It Works:
UUCC Stewardship
in 7 Easy Steps
1.
The UUCC operates on a Julythrough-June fiscal year. We are
a little over halfway through
fiscal year 2014-2015.
2.
The stewardship campaign that
is just beginning is to obtain
pledges of financial support for
fiscal year 2015-2016 that begins this coming July 1.
3.
If you joined within the last six
months and pledged as part of
the joining process, your pledge
was for the current year that
ends June 30, not the upcoming
year. We are only now beginning to accept pledges for the
new year.
4.
5.
6.
You do not have to make a
pledge to be a member of the
UUCC. Our bylaws require only
that you make “an annual contribution of record.”
However, you are strongly encouraged to pledge because we
rely on our members’ pledges of
support to make a budget for the
upcoming year. The budget will
be prepared this spring based on
the results of the stewardship
campaign. The budget must be
approved by the membership at
its annual meeting in June.
You decide for yourself what
you are able to pledge. Whereas
many mainline denominations
ask for a “tithe” – 10% of their
members’ household income –
we aspire to a pledge of 5% of
your household income and
hope that you will also support
other worthy causes of your
choosing.
7. We realize every member’s circumstances are different. Pledge
what you are able. We do believe that a substantial financial
commitment to your religious
community leads to a deeper
engagement with that community. We invite that deeper engagement.
Page 6
Join Us for ‘Sweethearts Serenade’
Valentine’s Day, February 14!
The Stewardship Team and Music Program invite you to a delightful evening of love
songs – jazz standards, Broadway tunes and opera – on Saturday evening, February 14,
beginning at 7 p.m. in Freeman Fellowship Hall (magically transformed). Featured musicians that evening will be singer Sheila Lay, re-united with her former band member
and noted jazz pianist Alan Kaufman, singer Kaarin Leach of the Pandora Trio, opera
singer Paul Turner and pianist John Herrick. A dessert buffet will be served and childcare will be available. The evening will conclude with dancing to the music of in-house
DJ Doug (“It’s-Raining-Men”) Swaim. The event serves as a glamorous kick-off to the
2015 Stewardship Campaign. You’re encouraged to wear party attire and invite a sweetheart or friend. Please sign up online or in the UUCC office to bring a dessert or wine.
(“CELEBRATE COMMITMENT” continued from page 1)
attempt at making the UUCC’s finances more meaningful and understandable to the members. You want
to know how your dollars are making a difference?
“Baking Up the Budget Pie” will show you just what
your pledges are accomplishing in our UU community
and the larger community. It’s pretty impressive what
your dollars are doing, and I encourage you to read it.
Baking Up the Budget Pie also presents our major
stewardship challenge for the upcoming year. If we are
going to follow through on our long-held intention of
hiring a Second Minister, then next year’s pie must
exceed this year’s by about 10%. And that’s quite a
challenge!
Finally, along with your card and the “pie” brochure, you will be getting your membership survey. I’ll be honest, it’s going to look substantially like the survey you got last
year, and the year before that. But wait – don’t stop reading! There’s an important
reason we send out this survey each year. One of the few ways we can track our progress serving our members and pursuing our stated “ends” is to compare apples to
apples – or in this case, responses to the same questions – from year to year. So while it
may not be the most scintillating thing you do this week, it provides important information for us. We would really appreciate it if you take ten minutes to fill it out and
send it back, or use the online option (there’s a link in the package) to respond electronically.
Your reward for all this hard work? Not one but two great parties: A kickoff event on
Valentine’s Day, with our own UUCC crooners, luscious desserts and a hint of romance
in the air (see “Sweethearts Serenade” above), and an end-of-campaign Saint Patrick’s
Day party on March 14, with a deejay spinning dance music and everyone reveling “in
the green.”
Which brings me to the final piece of information: On March 15, the party is over, and
the dreaded canvassing stage of the campaign begins. (Did someone say, “Beware the
Ides?”) Please have your pledge in by March 14, whether by putting the card in the basket on February 8, by mailing it in, or by filling out your pledge online. Thanks – we’re
counting on you!
Catherine Barnes
Stewardship Team
COMMUNITY BUILDING
Display Case Showcases
the Sacred Feminine
“Just as our congregation’s spiritual journey is nourished by
both the women and the men among us, we also thrive individually when we honor and understand our feminine and
masculine sources of wisdom. Our culture, however, has
largely abandoned the sacred feminine. We hope in this
service – and in the Luna Rising gathering next Saturday –
to reclaim some of the power of the sacred feminine that
has been lost over the years.”
If you attended the service on January 25, you heard these
opening words which also included an invitation for all
those present to be open “to new ideas and possibilities.”
Whether you attended the service or not, you are encouraged to check out this month’s display in the vestibule cabinet (near the name tags). The display is dedicated to the
sacred feminine, to our congregation’s annual celebration of
that concept - Luna Rising - and to all the wonderful women and girls who attend that gathering. The display was created by Luna Rising Planning Team member, Kimberly
Melton.
Kimberly, a long time member of this congregation, has
been a central part of the women and girls programing of
this church. She has organized and led a variety of girls’
groups including GAG (Girls Are Great), LYLAS (Love
You Like A Sister), and HUUGs (Heavenly UU Girls), as
well as the first UUCC Moon Ceremony for girls and was
also the creative force behind the first Luna Rising.
Save the Date: First Friday in March
Potato Bar and Game Night! 6:00 p.m. on Friday, March 6
Community Seder
Saturday, April 4, 2015 at 4:00 p.m. in Freeman Hall
All are invited to this holiday celebration of freedom and family. Passover
is a major Jewish spring
holiday, commemorating
the Exodus from Egypt
over 3,000 years ago. The ritual observance of this holiday
centers around a special service called the Seder (order) and
a festive meal. Please join us as we conduct an intergenerational Seder complete with readings from the hagaddah,
which contains the order of prayers, rituals, readings and
songs for the Passover Seder. Additional information and
sign-ups will soon be available. For additional information
please contact Rita Heath Singer at
jsinger@carolina.rr.com.
GATHERINGS OF INTEREST
Young Adult Group (YAG)
Looking for people your age and
trying to figure out where the
younger professionals and "new
adults" hang out? Want to find a
social place to meet friends? The
Young Adult Group is active,
and if you are between the ages
of 18-35 (ish), you are invited to
join us every third Sunday at 12:30 p.m. in the Schweitzer
room, and each first Sunday evening in the Bernstein Room
at 5:00 p.m. for a game night and potluck! We occasionally
schedule other outside events and hang out, so please come
join us and get to know everyone! Our next meet-up is on
January 30, to see the movie Selma, at Regal Cinemas Phillips Place Stadium 10, 7:00 p.m. showing. Please email
uucc-yag@googlegroups.com to get in touch with the
group, or ask for one of us after service (and grab some coffee and come meet some like-minded people)!
Green Sanctuary Group Meeting
Sunday, February 15, 1:00 p.m. in the Sanctuary
A group of like-minded environmentally
focused UUCC members are interested
in the UUA Green Sanctuary Accreditation program. Please join us learn what
this program might bring to the UUCC on
Sunday, February 15 in the Sanctuary at
1:00 p.m. Contact jonathan.harding@gmail.com with questions.
Page 7
RELIGIOUS EDUCATION FOR
CHILDREN AND YOUTH (CYRE)
Youth Mission Trip Forms and Payments
Due March 1 (or earlier!)
Spring Mountain Conferences (CONS)
Our annual high school youth trip to Hartsville is scheduled
for Sunday, June 14 through Friday, June 19. The trip focuses on the construction of one or more Habitat houses in
this small South Carolina town by our youth, with supervision and/or construction advice from UUCC adult volunteers. Our group is hosted by a local church which provide
places to gather and sleep (on air mattresses on the floor)
and eat. Other churches and the local habitat for Humanity
Board host most of the dinners.
Registration is Open
All parents with children
interested in attending one
of the spring Mountain
Cons, please note both the
con dates and OUR deadlines. As a reminder, although you register for the
cons on-line with the
Mountain, you are not officially registered with our church until you ALSO bring
your $30 transportation fee to the CYRE office by the stated deadline. We (the CYRE staff) must know in advance
how many youth are registered so we can recruit advisors
and line up transportation.
As a further reminder, parents who want to be advisors
should write that request on the envelope containing their
child’s transportation fee.
 March 13-15: Elementary, Grades 3-5 (deadline
February 22)
 March 20-22: Middle School, Grades 6-8 (deadline
March 1)
 April 10-12: High School, Grades 9-12 (deadline
March 22)
All this information will be sent directly to parents in midJanuary. Consider this a heads-up.
New Parent Group Meeting Sundays
A new parent group has been formed that is meeting Sundays at 1:30 p.m. through March 1 (and longer if requested). Although it was created for the parents of children in
this year’s Our Whole Lives classes, the parent group welcomes any parents of children 5th grade and older in the
CYRE program. While issues around sexuality will come
up (since there will be an attempt to link discussion to the
classes), the group prefers to remain informal, as more of a
support group around topics of interest to parents of middle
(and soon-to-be middle) and high school youth.
Childcare is not provided unless requested a week earlier.
The group will meet in the Bernstein Room on a drop in
basis. Expect lively discussions! Contact Kathleen
(kathleen@uuccharlotte.org) with questions.
Page 8
This trip is open to all youth in our 2014-15 high school
program. And because we do not want anyone to be denied
the privilege of volunteering because of the $300 fee, contact Kathleen to request a reduction if cost is a deterrent.
UU Kids Living Out Their Values
Let us hear about YOUR kids!
Has your child demonstrated his or her commitment to our
values through personal achievement/leadership? If so,
send a few lines to Kathleen@uuccharlotte.org.
OPEN DOOR SCHOOL (ODS)
Open Door School News
Open House
If you are interested in learning more about
the preschool that is a mission of the UUCC,
please join us for an Open House on February 3,
from 6:30 - 8:00. Open Door School follows a discovery learning philosophy from progressive education — the
belief that learning, growing, and developing are natural,
intuitive, and inevitable processes. We offer classes for children ages two to five. If you want to learn more and are unable to attend the Open House, please contact Amy Crew or
Sheila Locklear at opendoorschool1966@gmail.com.
Link Your Harris Teeter Vic Card
Remember to link your Harris Teeter VIC card to support Open Door School. You can enter code 2752 or search
under Open Door School, online or at the store.
Toiletry Drive
The Open Door School is collecting toiletries to be
brought to A Child's Place. There will be boxes outside of
each classroom during the week of February 9-13. A Child's
Place is committed to working to erase the impact of homelessness on children and their education.
MEMORIAL ENDOWMENT TRUST (MET)
MUSIC NEWS
The MET Is Making History!
Please Join Us for Our Singing Valentine
on Sunday, February 15!
The UUCC Memorial Endowment Trust is poised to do
something it has never done before in its 35 year history.
An endowment trust has much to do with securing the future of a beloved institution or organization. And, an endowment fund often supports endeavors in the present that
are consistent with the institution’s mission.
Do you remember hearing something late last spring about
a change in the MET’s Agreement in relation to the distribution of Trust funds? This all-important change means
instead of distributing income to the UUCC operating budget each year as required under the old MET Agreement, the
MET may distribute annually up to 5% of its assets to
fund—through a grant process—internal projects that will
further the mission of the UUCC. Proposals for the grant
monies must originate or come through one of the UUCC
teams or recognized groups within the church, and grant
monies will not be given for expenses ordinarily included in
the annual budget. (The Trust still requires that it be managed to provide a perpetual, stable source of income to support this new grant process.)
The MET Board of Trustees is delighted to announce that
the amount available this year to fund new and dynamic
endeavors at the UUCC is $27,500!!! For more information,
check the Grant Guidelines and the Grant Application
Form, which are available on the UUCC website.
It is important to note that this money does not support the
UUCC Annual Budget, and, thus, we still need to make
generous pledges to support the Stewardship Campaign.
Additionally, the MET Board of Trustees wants to thank
you for making contributions to the fund over the years,
encourages you to continue to do so, and hopes you share in
our excitement about the now expanding role the MET will
play in the UUCC’s dynamic present and future!
Laurie Reed
MET Board of Trustees
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 here.
All are invited to join
UUCC singers as they
take songs of love to assisted living facilities in
Charlotte on Sunday afternoon, February 15.
The group will render
sweetheart standards,
such as “Moonglow,”
“Chapel of Love,” “Love
Me Tender” and “Let Me Call You Sweetheart,” in addition
to other favorites. Afterwards, singers are invited to the
home of Nancy and Eddie Wielunski for a potluck supper.
The Singing Valentine singers will rehearse on Sunday,
February 1 and Sunday, February 8, from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m.
in the sanctuary (following the second service). On the day
of the Singing Valentine (February 15), we’ll meet at 1:15
p.m. in the sanctuary for a 30-minute rehearsal before heading to our first destination. This event is one of the musical
highlights of the year!
WANT TO HELP CRITIQUE OUR
SPIRITPLAY STORIES?
The Children and Youth Religious
Education Program (CYRE) is
looking for educators, writers, and
creative types to join us as we critique the stories currently being
used in the SpiritPlay classes of
our Children and Youth Religious
Education Program. SpiritPlay is
a story-based approach to curriculum delivery that allows our youngest children to hear a
story (told using small manipulative figures) and then respond both verbally (to “wonder” statements) and through
activities. In addition to critiquing the current stories, we
will brainstorm what types of new stories should be added
to our collection. We may even need some writers to write
a few more for us! Most of this work can be done from
home and we only anticipate a couple of meetings. It
should be fun!
Contact Kathleen (kathleen@uuccharlotte.org) by February
6 and you will be informed of the first meeting date and
time.
Page 9
SOCIAL JUSTICE NEWS
(“Social Justice Auction” continued from page 1)
Your participation could be
through making a donation
or volunteering on one of
the auction committees (or
both)!
We are seeking donations
in the form of an item, service, or event. Be creative
– think about your talents, what you like to do, and what
others might enjoy having or doing.
We Need a Few Good Adults
Youth Mission Trip
Our annual high school youth trip to Hartsville is scheduled
for Sunday, June 14 through Friday, June 19. The trip focuses on the construction of one or more Habitat houses in
this small South Carolina town by our youth, with supervision and/or construction advice from UUCC adult volunteers. Our group is hosted by a local church which provide
places to gather and sleep (on air mattresses on the floor)
and eat. Other churches and the local habitat for Humanity
Board host most of the dinners.
 “Snooty French Dinner Party” – serve a French-themed
dinner party to 8 or 10 bidders
 Guided nature hike on your favorite trail
 Professional consultation (legal, design, computer, financial)
This trip is a great way for non-parent adults to support our
teens while enjoying the satisfaction of helping provide low
income housing. Adult volunteers are needed both for the
full week and for 2-3 day shifts. Since Hartsville is only
two hours from Charlotte, volunteers can easily come for a
short time. All adult volunteers must be UUCC members
and must be vetted, including a background check. They
must also enjoy teens (and FYI: our teens are fabulous!).
Contact Kathleen Carpenter (kathleen@uuccharlotte.org)
for additional information or to volunteer.
For more information or to get involved, contact auction cochairs Craig Miller (craiguuccauction@gmail.com) or Trish
Hevey (trishhevey@yahoo.com).
Room in the Inn
Examples to inspire you:
Trish Hevey
Our Food Bank Recipients Thank You
Close to 100 individuals in 29 families receive food from our church
food bank once a month. It helps
them stretch their precious food dollars and the canned goods provided
by UUCC members help them provide nutritious meals. Please remember to bring canned goods to the
barrels located in Freeman Hall.
A SPECIAL THANKS goes out to those who volunteer
their time to help sort food at Second Harvest Food
Bank: Tom and Louise Cleveland, Eileen and Ed HansonKelly, Pat Parks, who has recruited her friends, Alice
Daugherty, Barb Amico, and Ginny McGirr. Their volunteer hours help us get other items at Second Harvest to fill
the monthly boxes.
Eileen Hanson-Kelly
Food Bank Coordinator
Page 10
Where will you be sleeping tonight?
Room in the Inn, an interfaith program sponsored by
Urban Ministry, provides a
warm bed and 3 meals each
day from December through
March for folks who would
otherwise be out in the cold.
We provide shelter for 9
adults each Sunday night. The simple goal of Urban Ministry’s Room in the Inn program is to keep homeless people
from freezing on cold winter nights. If you 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.
Habitat for Humanity Book Drive
Please don’t forget to continue to bring in your
donations for the book drive. Please keep in
mind that not only are books acceptable donations, but DVDs, VHS tapes, and CDs are as
well. The bin for donations can be found in
Freeman Hall just inside the doors to the left. If you would
like to sign up to transport the books for any week, contact
Grace Clements grace.clements@providenceday.org.
MEMBERSHIP
VISITOR’S CORNER
We Want to Know You!
“Getting to Know Us”
Have you found yourself
in an engaging Freeman
Hall conversation with
someone whose name
you really wished you
could remember? Imagine how difficult it is for
new members, meeting
the almost 700 of us for
the first time! Please wear your name tag and help us to
welcome newcomers and create more connections
among members.
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.
Sunday, February 1
The UUCC Welcomes the
Following New Members
“Meet the Minister”
Sunday, February 15
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.
Audio Copies of Past Sunday Services
Louise Cleveland
Available at Visitor Table
Stop by our bookstore in Freeman Hall after Sunday services to request a copy or contact Bill Cooke at (704) 3642107 (cost $5). Visitors can also check out audio copies of
past services at the visitors table on Sunday after services.
Jill Morin
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
Jabberwocks
Sanctuary
Home of Joy
Bruce
Conference
7:00 p.m. 1st Wednesday
(February 4 )
7:00 p.m. 1st Thursday (February 5)
7:00 p.m. 2nd Monday (February 9)
Steve Bivens wsbivens@aol.com
Kathleen Moloney-Tarr (704) 661-5409
10:00 a.m. 3rd Friday (February 20)
Doris Thomas Browder
Lotus Path
Schweitzer
8:00 a.m. Sundays
Mystics and Metaphysics
Sunday Morning Meditation
Sanctuary
Schweitzer
7:00 p.m. (February 19)
8:30 a.m. Sundays
Richard Kushmaul
rkushmaul@carolina.rr.com
Carol Smith smithcarolc@gmail.com
Debbie George (704) 763-2193
Straight Spouse Support Group
“T.E.D for the Soul” (Day)
Conference
Bernstein
“T.E.D for the Soul” (Evening)
Bernstein
7:00 p.m. 1st Tuesday (February 3)
12:00 p.m. 3rd Monday
(February 16)
7:00 p.m. 1st Tuesday (February 3)
Women’s Circle
Schweitzer
7:00 p.m. 2nd Tuesday (February 10)
Young Adult Group (YAG)
Schweitzer
12:45 p.m. 3rd Sunday
(February 15)
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 40, Issue 02
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, February 8, 2015 for the next issue which will be
published on Wednesday, February 11, 2015. 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. 6034
Children and Youth Religious Education
Denominational Connections
Young Adult Group
Donna Fisher
Children’s Choir Director
donnfish@bellsouth.net
John Herrick
Director of Music
john@uuccharlotte.org ext. 6037
Alesia Hutto
Office Administrator
alesia@uuccharlotte.org ext. 6030
Martha Kniseley
Adult Programming Coordinator
martha@uuccharlotte.org ext. 6036
Kelly Greene
Membership Coordinator
kelly@uuccharlotte.org ext. 6039
Jay Leach
Senior Minister
jay@uuccharlotte.org ext. 6032
Belinda Parry
Administrative Assistant
belinda@uuccharlotte.org ext. 6033
Page 12
Doug Swaim
Interim Director of Administration
doug@uuccharlotte.org ext. 6032
Children’s Choir
Music
Worship Team
Administrative Support
Communications
Adult Religious Education and Spiritual Development
Community Building
Congregational Care
New Members
Visitors
Volunteer Coordination
Chief of Staff
Coordinating Team
Social Justice Team
Worship Team
Part Time Administrative/CYRE Support
Building & Grounds
Coordinating Team
Memorial Endowment Trust
Stewardship
Communications
Finance
Open Door School