9:15 am & 11:15 am
Rev. David Johnson
“What’s Your Passion?”
Energy takes on many forms. Money is one form of potential energy wherein we transform our principles and values into meaningful actions. As we launch our stewardship campaign for 2016-2017, we have the opportunity to "pay forward" the values that are now entrusted to us by our predecessors at WUU. Generous stewardship will strengthen the work of our Ministerial Search Committee as they seek the best among ministerial candidates to serve our congregation in the years ahead.
Share the Plate
We welcome to our Share the Plate Program a non-profit agency providing human services in our community. The STP collection for February 14 will benefit the Greater Williamsburg Chapter of the National Federation of the Blind and Visually Impaired (NFBV).
People can lose their eyesight completely for different reasons. Additionally, partial visual impairment can result from such things as accident or changes as a person ages. The local NFBV chapter provides help in many ways. It helps people adjust to the changes in life with eyesight changes - both morale support and by providing information on the help available in the area, in the state, and nationally. The chapter provides financial support for transportation, for scholarships to send new blind and low vision members to conventions, as well as blind children to summer camps for Braille enrichment for literacy and learning. It also provides scholarships to blind and low vision students in our communities. The agency also coordinates with other organizations to increase the awareness of the resources available for the blind and visually impaired. In sum, the Greater Williamsburg Chapter of the NFBV gives people the resources and support to assist them to live a content and independent life.
For further information on the national organization, please visit www.nfb.org. To nominate a future STP recipient, email stp@wuu.org.
Monday, February 15-Office Closed President's Day
5:30 pm, Workshop "I Need More Adroit", Parker House
7:00 pm, Buddhist Meditation, Sanctuary
Tuesday, February 16
8:00 am, Alternate Income Task Force, Parker House
5:30 pm, Board Game Night, Sanctuary
Wednesday, February 17
12:00 pm, Book Discussion Group, Sanctury
12:00 pm, Workshop "Listening to Experience", Parker House
6:15 pm, Adult Enrichment Fables "Caught in Her Own Web", Parker House
6:30 pm, Wake Up Meditation (for young adults), Fahs House
7:30 pm, Choir Rehearsal, Sanctuary
Thursday, February 18
10:00 am, Meditation, Sanctuary
7:30 pm, Leadership Team Meeting, Fahs House
9:15 am & 11:15 am
Led by WUU Mosaic Makers
“Black Lives Matter: Living The Action Of Immediate Witness”
The UUA General Assembly [GA] 2015 adopted an Action of Immediate Witness [AIW] supporting the BLACK LIVES MATTER MOVEMENT. AIWs are the product of considerable thought, collaboration, and commitment. The AIW process allows Unitarian Universalists to respond to social issues deemed urgent. If GA delegates adopt an AIW, then the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA), other UUA leaders, congregations, districts, and Unitarian Universalists organizations may use it as a basis for public statements on the matter and are urged to act on it. Led by our Mosaic Makers Team: Melissa Gregory, Wayne Moyer, Jessica O’Brien, Steven Sharp, John Whitley, and Melanie Williams.
On Sunday, February 21st at 3pm, WHRO-TV will be airing a video of Barbara Hamm Lee’s “Another View” program from last week on the role that religion played in the Freedom Movement throughout the US. Several local ministers take part in this discussion. If you are interested in viewing the program with other WUUs, please contact Jessica O’Brien at sjchair@wuu.org who will arrange a location.
RINGING THE BELL
Last week we announced that WUUs might want to ring the bell together at First Baptist Church and designated Saturday, February 27th, 11-12 as the time period in which to make your reservation. However, by the time the Spiral came out, all the slots for that hour were filled—as were all the slots for the whole day and every other Saturday! However, it is still possible for a group of us to ring the bell at that time. There are open periods between appointment times when unscheduled folk can ring. If we show up at First Baptist Church between 11 and 12, it should be possible for a number of people to be accommodated. In addition to the bell, there are some very interesting and eye-opening displays in the fellowship hall of the church on the history of First Baptist and race relations in Williamsburg and William & Mary. Don’t miss these! I hope to see you there at 11 on February 27th. Jessica O’Brien Questions: sjchair@wuu.org
March For Social Justice Sunday February 28, 2016 AT 1:30 PM.
The Historic First Baptist Church on Scotland Street is celebrating its 240th Anniversary for the full month of February 2016. This special celebration, as we “Let Freedom Ring” in cooperation with Colonial Williamsburg, highlights the historic significance of the church, challenges the nation to “ring the bell for freedom”, and shines a light on the unfinished work of our nation around equality and freedom.
What better way to conclude this historic venture than by marching together, with churches leading the way, showing unity, a spirit of cooperation and a willingness to work together to achieve that goal of equal justice and opportunity for all.
The march will be covered by local and national media, as we bring Black History Month and the “Let Freedom Ring Challenge” to a close. It will start in the area near First Baptist Church, up Scotland Street to Nassau Street (location of the original First African Church), and end at the Abbie Aldrich Museum under a large heated tent. There will be a brief service, addressing the challenging social issues facing our nation today.
Help Wanted--Fish Liaison Chair
The FISH liaison chair or team picks up donations to FISH from the red wagon , checks to see that there is a current "use by" date, that cans are not damaged and packages are not opened.
The donations are then transported to FISH and recorded by a FISH volunteer in a book of church donations
In the past the chair has written a monthly or seasonal request for certain food items that is sent to the social justice chair, the newsletter editor and the program assistant. It is printed in the newsletter and repeated in each weekly Spiral.
New packages of underwear and socks are also collected each December, placed under the Christmas tree and then delivered to FISH. If interested please contact the Social Justice Chair sjchair@wuu.org.
Food For FISH (Our local community food & clothing pantry)
The winter months are here!
Let's bring some soups and filling, hearty foods!
Please remember to check those dates. Thank you for your generosity!
WUU Youth ❤’s FISH
Each month we will ask you to bring a different food item for the families in Williamsburg who are in need. We will name a "food of the month" as a suggestion. The FISH wagon is by the front door of the sanctuary and there will be a green bucket there as well for you (the children and youth) to put your donations in! This month we will collect cans of soup.
Place items in the green bucket by the front door of the sanctuary and thank you!
“I Need More Adroit!”
Mondays, 5:30 to 6:40 pm, Parker House
February 15, 22, 29; and March 07, 14
What circumstances sometimes drive you crazy? When you feel trapped, confronted, or paralyzed by events that are beyond your control, what are the options for re-claiming and strengthening “the best of who you are”? How might the qualities of resilience, agility, and adaptive responsiveness be fostered in our individual and relational lives? These are among the questions which we will explore in this series of conversations based on Rabbi Edwin Friedman’s consultations with Unitarian Universalist lay leaders. We will include supplementary readings from Friedman’s unpublished memoirs.
“Listening to Experience:
Breakthrough Congregations & Ministries”
Wednesdays, 12 noon to 1:10 pm, Parker House
February 17, 24; and March 02, 09, 16, 23
What insights might we draw from the experiences of other UU congregations? What have several of the most skilled UU ministers observed – in 20-20 hindsight – as the factors which have been most crucial in fostering congregational vitality? These are among the questions we will consider with case-study examples from “Breakthrough Congregations” and from conversations with twelve of the most skilled (and highly-acclaimed) UU ministers.
“Of Bonds and Binds: Fables for Our Time”
Wednesdays, 6:15 to 7:20 pm, Parker House
Come join us for this exploration of intriguing fables by Rabbi Edwin Friedman. Remaining dates and topics in the series are:
Wed 17 February “Caught in Her Own Web”
Wed 02 Mar “The Wallflower”
Wed 16 Mar “Panic”
Wed 30 Mar “Burnout”
Wed 06 April “Narcissus”
Wed 13 April “Tradition”
Wed 20 April “The People of the Charm” (by Rev. Peter Steinke)
Many members of our congregation are involved in this event – please consider assisting!
Hands Together Historic Triangle was created to serve the homeless and precariously housed in the Historical Triangle. This year’s event is Monday, March 7 from 10 am to 3 pm at the Quarterpath Recreation Center.
“Hands Together” is a one-day, one-stop access to resources available in the community to help out neighbors in need. The event is designed to not only help our neighbors in need, but also educate our community and build a community of compassion. www.handstogetherhistorictriangle.com
To accomplish this huge endeavor, please consider supporting the project by:
Volunteeringto assist our guests as a navigator on the day of the event
Serve on the leadership committee
Make a financial donationor hold a drive for needed items.
Stay after either service Sunday for information about this year's pledge drive. Grab a Valentine's Day chocolate-dipped strawberry (thanks to Ellyn), some cheese and crackers, and a few cookies and hear about how you can pledge. Bring your pen or phone if you want to pledge online on Sunday.
Please pick up your pledge envelopes in the lobby before or after each service. If you cannot attend this Sunday, your pledging material will be mailed to you this week.
In the earliest years of this church I could not have predicted the church I see here today. True, beginning with the principles of UUism and studying already established congregations, I could have formed a picture of what programs would be offered and what ethical stands we would take.
Yet, it is in particularity, in dailyness that the texture and color and shape of the church would be formed. I could not have known that a Beca Delbos would become our youngest Worship Associate; not have foreseen Bill Geary and I waiting at the Norfolk airport for Roy Reynolds, our first minister, and his wife Jean Lamer to arrive; could not have predicted the ceremony of commitment of Debra and Camilla; that Howard Fraser, our first treasurer, the “Man in the Blue Jacket”, would leave us before his time; that the amazing Genevieve McGiffert would create our choir and pass it on to the expert direction of Jamie Bartlett; a choir some of whose members would sing for us for over 2 decades; a small ceremony of remembrance for transgendered people who would be murdered for simply being who they were; “Miracle Sunday” on which our interim minister Mark Edmiston Lang would threaten to continue preaching until we pledged enough money to build this sanctuary. I could not have known the delight and joy I would feel watching the children gather around Austen during the Story for all Ages. In those days it was beyond my knowing all the joys, the grief, the laughter and the fine friendships that would be in store for me and for the community.
And now, on the 27th anniversary of Charter Sunday, I can no better predict the future than I could in 1989. But what there is now, is the strong conviction that I am absolutely in the right place, that this is home and that you are my family. I have changed, I have grown and I have aged, and I have found a peace here I had not known before. Thank you for being here, and thank you for being who you are - Unitarian Universalists.
Austen needs a gently loved basketball for the playground and as many yoga and Pilates balls as we can muster. Contact austen@wuu.org to donate.
February 20 Workshop
February 20: Workshop: Bob Day, UUA Compensation Consultant here to help WUU ensure that all our staff positions have reasonable expectations and are properly compensated. Also to be considered are future positions -- those that people suggest: "If only we had, or we need, a paid person to ____." All interested or just curious folks are welcome. Please let Lola Warren know if you plan to attend. president@wuu.org.
Compassion, Conflict, Communication and Covenant Workshop Rescheduled
Due to weather this workshop (originally scheduled for January 23) will now be held on March 19th in Norfolk. The Unitarian Church of Norfolk Committee on Ministries is very excited to be hosting a daylong workshop, “Compassion, Conflict, Communication and Covenant,” for members of the Unitarian Universalist Tidewater Cluster and beyond. As a faith of covenants, the more we learn how to communicate nonviolently, compassionately and with love, the stronger our faith will become. If you have any questions please contact minister@ucnorfolk.org.
From the Cluttered Desk and Mind of Your Yard Sale Chair
Get in-touch with your inner talents! Informally connect with UU’s and Friends. No meetings!
Join the WUU 2016 Yard Sale Revolution on Friday, May 20th and Saturday, May 21st:
Ruth NEEDS You!
CO-CHAIR(S) On-site training, I promise. I am looking for one or two people who will work side-by-side with me; co-chair(s) who will learn how to plan and organize our Yard Sale.
INTERNET RESEARCHER: Someone to do selected Internet Research to determine re-sale estimate of value.
EBAY SELLER: Someone who will place selected donated items on EBAY.
FURNITURE ‘MOVERS’: Many, many people needed to help transport furniture donations from member’s homes to storage places.
FOOT SOLDIERS…Dozens upon dozens of volunteers needed to price and organize donations beginning Monday, May 16, 2016 through Saturday, May 21st.
BAKE SALE TABLE: Recruit bake sale donations. Be present on Yard Sale dates to sell the donated items.
TABLE LOAN: An additional 10 to 12 long tables are needed to make space for member donations.
Contact Ruth Hopkinson: ruthhop46@gmail.com 757-879-9080 (cell) or 757-565-3298 (home).
Ruth Hopkinson is encouraging you to identify furniture items you wish to donate to our Annual Yard Sale. Although the Yard Sale doesn't occur until May 20/21, WUU has the opportunity to reap ongoing profits from the sale of furniture items beginning this month and throughout the year. Early pick-up can be arranged for your unused, unwanted furniture items if they are in good to excellent condition. Ruth urges you to call her at 565-3298 (home) or 879-9080 (cell) or email ruthhop46@gmail.com for further information.
