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Universalist Convocation 2015
We are very excited to host the Universalist Convocation on May 29-31. Rev Pat Ray and her team have pulled together a really exciting program of keynoters and workshops, including two of the recognized world experts on Unitarian and Universalist history.
We will need volunteers to help with a number of tasks, and we look forward to working together to make this event a success.
There are two events beyond the Convocation itself that BBUUC members may want to participate in:
- The Black History tour in St Augustine on the afternoon of Sunday, May 31. The cost is $20/person to participate, and we need two weeks' lead advance registration if you would like to participate. Please contact Rev. Pat Ray if you would like to take part.
- The Saturday evening music will be presented by Uncle Eddie and Robin, and will be open on a love offering basis. Uncle Eddie and Robin are well-known entertainers from St Augustine.
For more information about the Convocation, please speak with Rev. Pat Ray or go to the Convocation web site at www.BBUUC.org/uc2015.
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Convocation Volunteers Needed!
We need volunteers to help in a number of ways to host the Universalist Convocation, May 29-31. In particular, we need hospitality hosts to assist with serving and cleaning up meals. (The meals are catered, so no cooking is necessary.) We also need help setting up on Friday and breaking down on Saturday. Please contact Rev Pat Ray (reverendray@comcast.net) if you can help. She will hold a meeting at noon on Sunday, April 26 for people interested in volunteering. (You can volunteer even if you can't attend the meeting.)
(If you are a volunteer at/for the event from BBUUC, you are welcome to attend the speakers or workshops. However, all meals are catered. Thus meals are not included, and must be reserved/paid two weeks prior to the event per the caterer's contract.)
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BBUUC Annual Meeting and Election of Officers
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Sunday, May 17th at 12:15pm, following a light luncheon served after the service. Child care will be available during the meeting.
All voting members are urged to attend to participate in the governance of your congregation. The proposed budget will be submitted for approval by the congregation. Officers for fiscal year 2015/16 will be elected, a Bylaw revision will be presented for approval, annual reports will be presented to the congregation, and as of press time, there is a good possibility that there will also be a vote called to approve the purchase of property which adjoins our lot for additional parking.
Each member will receive an official notice of the meeting, along with the supporting materials for all voting matters, including the proposed budget. The slate of nominations for officers and nominating committee members will be presented, along with biographical information on each of the nominees. Our Nominating Committee takes great care and consideration in selecting each nominee, as these roles are very demanding, and require a high level of commitment and leadership skills.
The meeting materials will be sent out to each voting member the first week in May, no less than 10 days prior to the meeting on the 17th. They will be sent by email attachment, and for those members who do not have email access, they will be sent via US mail. We will post announcements to the "Communications to Members" section and budget information to the "Budget Process" section of the Members-Only section of the web site. Please check the "This Week at BBUUC" bulletin in coming weeks for additional updates.
Linda Mowers
President
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Parenting Book Group
Lifespan Religious Education facilitates a bi-weekly parenting book group on Sundays at noon. They will meet on May 10 and 24. The group discusses Tending the Flame - The Art of Unitarian Universalist Parenting. If you will need child care, please sign up on the sign-up sheet or by emailing religious_ed@bbuuc.org.
Tending the Flame includes information about developmental stages, suggestions for incorporating spiritual practices into family life, teaching the Principles in age-appropriate ways, and answering difficult questions on religious matters.
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CUUPS Schedule
The Covenant of UU Pagans (CUUPS) will meet at 7pm on Wednesday, May 6 and 20.
CUUPS provides a safe space within the BBUUC community where interested people can learn about and practice paganism. Contact cuups@bbuuc.org for more information.
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Animals as Partners, Healers, Teachers, and Guides
Rev. Elizabeth Teal of the Ministry of Animals will be continuing her 4-part series beginning April 29 on the varied ways of including animals into our faith. Rev. Teal and the CUUPS group will delve into animals as partners, healers, teachers, and friends.
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What do they give us, and how do we care for them in return? This series of talks will investigate the many ways we can work in tandem and share our spiritual lives with other species.
CUUPS continues this series on May 20, June 17, and Aug 19.
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Reiki
The next Reiki session will be at noon on May 10 at BBUUC. Reiki is a spiritual practice which seeks to balance energy and promote self-healing.
There is no need to undress. Just kick back and relax. Watch for the sign-up sheets at the rear of the sanctuary, and contact Rev. Pat Ray if you have any questions.
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Connected by having a son or daughter who is gay, parents across the country discuss their experiences in the documentary Anyone and Everyone.
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Lunch Bunch
The Lunch Bunch will meet on Wednesday, May 13 at 11:30am at Pengree's Restaurant in Orange Park (556 Kingsley Ave). This group meets the second Wednesday of each month for food and fellowship. All are welcome! Please contact Frances Kennicutt or admin@bbuuc.org if you plan to join us, so that we can reserve a table at the restaurant.
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Coffee Conversations
Each Sunday morning at 9:30, the Coffee Conversations group gathers for a friendly discussion of the issues of the day. All are welcome.
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Prayer Shawl Affinity Group
The Prayer Shawl affinity group creates shawls and lap blankets to comfort community members in need. The group will meet on the first Monday of each month, 10am-noon, at the Mandarin Panera (11111 San Jose Blvd). The next meeting will be May 4.
If you would like to attend, please contact Lisa Cromar at prayershawls@bbuuc.org no later than the day before the meeting. If there are no RSVPs, the meeting will be cancelled.
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The Holocaust, the Church and the Law of Unintended Consequences.
Anthony J. Sciolino, himself a Catholic, ... demonstrates that Nazism's racial anti-Semitism was rooted in Christian anti-Judaism. While tens of thousands of Christians risked their lives to save Jews, many more-including some members of the hierarchy-aided Hitler's campaign with their silence or their participation.
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Bethany is planning to offer Mindfulness Classes at BBUUC on four consecutive Thursdays, April 30 – May 21, from 6:00-7:15pm. Class size is limited, and she will take registration on a first-come-first-served basis. If the class fills up and there is enough interest, she might consider offering additional sessions.
The classes will be held in the Olympia Brown room. The cost of the classes will be $100 for the four sessions, paid to The Healing Tree Project. As with the Tai Chi classes, this is an independent offering to the BBUUC congregation. These classes do not require physical efforts, and no yoga mats or special clothing will be required.
If you want to participate in the upcoming four consecutive sessions, please email admin@bbuuc.org with your name and contact information, and a subject line of “Mindfulness Classes.” This will be passed along to Bethany, and an announcement will be made with the classes are full.
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Teen Overnight Trip Postponed
The April 24-25 overnight trip to St Augustine has been postponed due to the weather forecast. LRE will announce a new date for this activity when it is re-scheduled.
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MUUvies at UUFSA
On some Fridays at 6:30pm, UUFSA hosts a night at the mUUvies.
May 8 - Cedar Rapids - comedy - It's as conventional as its Midwestern setting, but Cedar Rapids boasts a terrific cast and a script that deftly blends R-rated raunch and endearing sweetness.
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The Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of St Augustine is planning a trip to the Jacksonville Zoo on Friday, May 22, 9 am. The group rate of $13.95 per person is available if at least 15 people pay one week in advance.
Those who saw the film "The Bonobo Connection" know how interesting these great apes are. The Jacksonville Zoo is one of the few zoos in the country who have a bonobo exhibit.
We could talk about bringing our lunch and perhaps eating on the grounds, in their beautiful Botanical Gardens. We will plan to car pool once we have a head count.
Contact Nana Royer for more information, nanaroyer@gmail.com
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UUFSA: Sanctuary St Augustine
"Sanctuary St Augustine" debuts on Wednesday, May 20 from 6:30 to 7:30 pm, in the UU Fellowship of St Augustine Sanctuary. Join in a celebration for all ages in co-creating a joyous "Love Song for the Earth". Appropriate for children 8 and up, and they are most welcome! Contact Nana Royer for more information, nanaroyer@gmail.com
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Past, Present, Future
Our Past
As BBUUC reaches the milestone of our 25th anniversary this month, I hope you will join me in celebrating. Our local roots extend back to 1907, when Duncan U. Fletcher (who served as Jacksonville Mayor and later U.S. Senator) founded the first Unitarian Church in Jacksonville. The congregation started as a small group, meeting in the Fletcher home—then grew until the Depression, which left the congregation struggling.
They disbanded in 1943. In 1950, a new congregation was formed and in 1957 they settled into a converted residential structure that they purchased in Avondale. The congregation grew and thrived, and in the mid sixties they purchased the land off of the Arlington Expressway that now houses the Unitarian Universalist Church of Jacksonville (UUCJ).
Fast forward again to the late eighties: UUCJ decided to foster the growth of our faith by starting up a new congregation. They created a task force, completed demographic and feasibility studies, received a grant, implemented advertising and outreach, sent two organizers (Bob Towers and Douglas Knight) to the UUA for training, and finally set up our first organizational meetings.
Thus began our own congregation! We had our first “official” worship service on the first Sunday in May, 1990 at the conference center of the Days Inn in Orange Park. From there, we met at the Orange Park Business Center for a brief time, and then on to the historic Mandarin Community Club, which housed us for 20 years. I guess you know the rest of the story!
Last February marked our fourth year in our very own home at Manresa and Collins Roads. The first 25 years has seen much bonding, building, growth and many milestones.
Four different ministers joined us for short periods during those years, but most of the time BBUUC was “lay-lead” by members with no paid staff. We made the important decision to professionally staff our religious education program, with Brenda Patterson as our first Director of Religious Education for 10 years. Dani Slader, our current DRE, has followed Brenda at the helm of a growing program as well as changing times for Unitarian Universalism. We have been so lucky to have such wonderful professionals paving the way in religious education.
Our Present
Today, BBUUC is again at an exciting transitional moment. Our Minister, the Rev. Jack Ford, has just come on board. Rev. Jack will be working with us over the next three years to develop our ministry, help us grow our church (not just in numbers, but in quality, commitment, outreach and action) and develop our shared ministry. He will also be on a path of personal growth to obtain final fellowship status as a UU minister – so it is truly a shared journey for all of us!
Our growing community currently includes 130 active adult members, about 30 active friends, and over 60 children and youth. We are moving from what is considered a small church toward a midsized church (151-549) in membership with the Unitarian Universalist Association.
We are now at a precipice. Many new changes and opportunities abound. Where do we go from here? Who are we collectively, this group of fervent individuals? How do we live into our Unitarian Universalist ideals? How do we make a difference in our world as faithful people? How can we insure the future of our congregation and a spiritual home for our children and theirs? This leads to….
Our Future
Unitarian Universalism is also at a precipice. As a faith, we have recognized that we are in our adolescence: that many of our practices have been well intentioned--but less than authentic. We are ready to move forward toward intentionality, faith, love and covenant.
We can work together to become more fundamentally inclusive, and generous of spirit. Nurturing our spirits, growing in community and helping to heal our world is a great mantra for Unitarian Universalists everywhere. I believe that the world would be a better place if there were more UUs. We have a message of hope, we can make a difference in this world, and we can make justice.
At BBUUC, there are many ways we can look to the future:
- Grow together by expanding our understanding of our UU Faith.
- Spread the word about Unitarian Universalism—be more visible.
- Strengthen & expand Ministries, including revitalizing our Young Adult Ministry.
- Reach out more fully to support people in life’s transitions; expand our caring network.
- Expand the music in our worship service and support additional music programs.
- Create a meaningful leadership development program.
- Use more technology—social media, live streaming, etc. (without losing our ability to be together in person.)
- Expand our parking area and look at improving our property with the memorial garden, playground for children, and additional expansion with a fellowship hall.
- Deepen our connections and partnership with other UU congregations.
- Strengthen and build our interfaith Social Justice ministry through ICARE, and expand other areas of service, action and community involvement.
- Strengthen partnership with organizations who share our values
- Find ways to be more inclusive in race, culture and faith.
- Continue to become a church that gives generously to support our own ministries, and those in our community that align with our values.
What would you add to this list?
I hope that you will all plan to join us for the first Sunday in May when we celebrate our 25th Anniversary!
In the words of former UUA President William Schulz:
This is the mission of our faith:
To teach the fragile art of hospitality;
To revere both the critical mind and the generous heart;
To prove that diversity need not mean divisiveness;
And to witness to all that we must hold the whole world in our hands.
In love and faith,
Linda Mowers
President, BBUUC
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Rev. Jack Ford
Wolf Tracks
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It has been a busy month! On Easter weekend I drove up to the UU Mountain Retreat and Learning Center in Highlands, NC, to join with a group of 40+ volunteers on a work weekend. On Saturday I helped erect a new sign for the Office and clean and mulch the beautiful Labyrinth. On Sunday I lead the Easter morning worship service.
As I write this I have just returned from a 3-day Spring Retreat with the Florida UU Ministers’ Association [FUUMA]. My faith in the call to ministry is always renewed by time spent with my colleagues. Our retreat was led by Jason Shelton, award-winning composer, singer, and Associate Minister of Music at the First UU Church in Nashville. He offered us inspiring ways to enhance the experience of worship through music.
Another exciting development: the Rev. Janet Onnie from the UU Fellowship of Marion County has graciously consented to be my Mentor for the next three years as I work toward Final Fellowship with the UUA. This is part of the requirement from the Ministerial Fellowship Committee while serving as your minister on a half-time basis. I will soon be working with our Board of Directors to create a Committee on Ministry. Look for more information about this in the coming weeks.
Following our ministers’ retreat, I went directly to the final meeting of our Florida District in Orlando. It’s official: the Florida District is being dissolved. In a near unanimous vote, four districts of the UUA – Florida, Mid-South, Southeast and Southwest – chose to merge into one legal entity; the Southern Region of the UUA. You can read more about this historic event in Scott Cromar’s article below on Denominational News, and on the UUASouthernRegion.org website.
Our Southern Region is leading the country in this effort. We are also leading the UUA in church growth. While other denominations are losing members rapidly and struggling to find ministers, priests, and professional leadership, Unitarian Universalism marches on at a steady pace. This would seem to be an ideal time for us at BBUUC to revisit our own mission as a church. I invite all of us to reflect on why we come to church and what role we see this congregation serving in our lives and the larger community. Even as I write this we have just turned out a large attendance at the Nehemiah Assembly for the local I-Care ministry. I am deeply touched to see our members answering the call for faith in action.
In Love and Hope,
Rev Jack (Wolf)
Minister
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I have a confession. I’m a terrible note taker—a victim of restless energy, I have always been terrible at focusing on the holistic point of a lecture. As a result my notes tend to read like a reflection of my inner psyche. When I get excited I type in caps, and quotes. I try to pour myself, and my excitement or anger about what being said into my notations. Later when I review my notes I tend to wonder to myself what do things like “Cat + refrigeration = life challenge” mean.
I do have a cure to that challenge though; it’s my faith—at General and District Assemblies I tend to find myself getting whole quotes and impressions down, because my heart and my head tend to be in agreement. For my article this month I’d like to share with you 5 of the nuggets that touched my heart, and called me and I believe our congregation, to be better.
1. “There are arms of community to hold us even as we struggle”—Kathy McGowan.
To me, if we took nothing away from our time together as a district but this, it would be worth it. Our churches and congregants are ultimately here to help one another. We support each other when exhaustion strikes, we love one another enough to embrace in spite of anger, and we offer grace comfort and a home. That is why we come together, for a crazy thing called spiritual community. Which brings me to my next point—
2. “What is the mission of your church? […] What is a Congregant—someone who pays the bills or shares the space?”—Bart Frost
Bart Frost offered this thought about youth involvement in church, and it struck a chord deep within me. Youth Ministry involves the whole congregation. I would say that all ministry involves the whole congregation. We are called to take an interest in one another, to care for the person in the seat next to us. We need to push ourselves beyond our typical friends at church, and be willing to listen to each other’s stories. It’s time to notice when there is an empty chair where a person should be.
3. “We’ve gone wider, but we need to go deeper, and really think about what life is calling us to do.”—Jeanne Pupke
4. “Growth is caused by the discipline of paying attention to the people around us. Growth needs to be about being more welcoming […] Growth is the Measure Not The Goal.”—Peter Morales
The notes above resonated with me because they are very personal comments about individual churches, and while applicable to the faith at large, are pointed to small church life and personal reflection. They made me want to ask our church, are we welcoming to everyone? Do we care about the individuals that come through our doors every Sunday, and not just the first? Are we sure we’re in the building for a reason? Do we honor the reasons, do we honor each other?
Lastly I come to this quote:
5. “When the doing is done, we want to believe that what we did made a difference, and that is the need for religious institutions”—Jeanne Pupke
The fact of the matter is that, when we pool our resources, we are the people who can cause great change. We can be front lines of social justice, but that is not the only difference I want us to make. I want us to make a difference to each other. I want us to be better than we were when we leave on Sunday morning or Wednesday evening. I want my faith to make me better, so that I can make the world better.
With Hope,
Dani Slader
Director of Religious Education
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Friends Are Like Flowers
Friends are like flowers.
Passive, if they need be,
But also gentle and sweet,
Like a daisy in a garden.
Family is like a tree,
holding you to your roots.
Everybody's branches are connected,
bound together by love.
Pets are like rivers,
Always running in the same direction beside you.
They will always stay loyal
And never change course.
Everybody's lives are interconnected,
like a colossal spiderweb,
glistening with morning dew
And teeming with new life.
Abby Crisp
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Stewardship Task Force
Thank You!
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The mission of the stewardship task force is to promote a culture of generosity in the BBUUC congregation. As we near the end of this, our first year of operation, we want to thank the many congregation members and friends who have shown their generosity in myriad ways.
Many of you have helped us through your participation in the canvass, as an interviewer, or an interviewee. Others have donated special gifts for our pledge drawing. And a record number of you have made financial pledges that will help with our ongoing expenses: our religious education program, our minister, the many services and programs we offer, and the upkeep of our building.
And of course, we have so many unsung heroes who donate their time, treasure and talent throughout the year.
We thank you all, and look forward to an even better 2015/2016.
Lee Albright and Linda Crawford
Stewardship Task Force
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Pledge Drive Continuing
Our pledge drive so far has exceeded last year’s pledges by more than $10,000. Thank you to the many generous pledgers for your show of confidence in our church. And, congratulations to our Stewardship Task Force for the excellent job that they have done in canvassing and leading the pledge drive.
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Even after exceeding last year’s pledges, though, we are over $20,000 short of the ambitious target that we set for ourselves for this next year. I ask that those of you who have not yet returned your pledge card to either turn it in this next Sunday or email the treasurer at treasurer@bbuuc.org or call him at 904-291-2708 with your pledge. For those of you who have already turned in your pledge card, if you can increase your pledge, it will help us meet our target. Just let the treasurer know should you be able to increase your previous pledge.
In the words of UU Minister Tim Temerson: “Make a financial commitment to this congregation because doing so tells the truth about who you are. Make a financial commitment to this congregation because you matter, because you are grateful for life’s many blessings, and because you yearn to be connected to something larger than yourself.”
In love and faith,
Linda Mowers, President
On behalf of the BBUUC Board
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Treasurer's Corner:
Donations Made Easy
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During this year's canvass we had several inquiries about easier methods for paying one's pledge or making other contributions to BBUUC.
Banking has changed a lot in the past few years, from automatic bill pay to check deposits from your mobile phone. Now most banks allow you to send money to anyone using the recipient’s email address, mobile number or bank account information. Setting up these transfers is very simple and you can send money from your smartphone, computer or tablet anytime day or night.
Five of the largest banks have a person to person transfer service through ClearXchange.com. Banks using this method are Bank of America, Capital One, Chase, First Bank, and Wells Fargo.
My bank is Wells Fargo. To sign up for this transfer service at Wells Fargo, access your account on-line, and then click on the transfer tab. You should then have a choice of three options, one of which is WF SurePay. Click on the WF SurePay tab, and then it is straightforward to set up a transfer from one of your accounts directly into the church’s account by using the email address of finance@bbuuc.org.
Once you have set up the transfer, the site will tell you what, if any, fee there is for this service. My transfer was free, but I don’t know if the transfers are always free. Be sure to include any special instructions in the description box, such as whether all or part of the donation is intended for a special fund, such as the Emergency Caring Fund or the Ministerial Support Fund. At Wells Fargo, this service is also available through their cell phone app. If you use any of the other four banks, see the transfer instructions on that bank’s website.
If you don’t use one of these five large banks, then check to see if your bank or credit union is one of the over 1,400 banks and credit unions offering Popmoney to their customers – often with no fees. Popmoney is an Internet Banking service that eliminates the hassle of writing checks and using cash and it can be a great alternative to sending a wire. Sending and receiving money is as easy as emailing and texting. Go to Popmoney.com to search for your bank or credit union. If, when you select your bank, a Create Profile screen comes up, then your institution does not offer Popmoney as a service. You can also search your bank’s website for external transfers to see what they offer. You may need to talk directly with your bank’s representative for help determining what services they offer and how to set up that service.
Here is an example set of instructions for Popmoney from VyStar Credit Union:
Sending money:
- Log in to your Internet Banking account, go to the "Move Money" tab and select Make a Transfer; then select “External Transfers" on the menu.
- On the screen under “Pay Other People” (Popmoney) – click the "Select" button to get started.
- Send money or payment to anyone using their email address, mobile number or bank account information. If sending money to the church, use the finance@bbuuc.org address, and be sure to describe your intentions for the money.
- You will be notified when the transaction is completed. A Popmoney transfer can be stopped (stop payment) any time before the money is deposited into the recipient’s account.
Your particular bank may have a transfer service different than the transfer services described above. Please talk to your banking representative to find out exactly what your bank offers.
Almost all banks offer a Bill Pay service. This service mails a paper check from your account directly to the church, which we then deposit to the church’s account. All you need is the church’s mailing address, which is:
Buckman Bridge Unitarian Universalist Church
P O Box 844
Orange Park, Florida 32067
The Bill Pay option is usually free, with no charge for postage, check, or envelope. You can also usually set up a recurring, automatic payment with Bill Pay, an option that may not be available with these transfer services.
Finance Committee members can also receive payments on the church’s behalf via credit or debit card. We take American Express, Discover, Master Card, and Visa.
We also accept payments via PayPal at finance@bbuuc.org. We have a link to make PayPal donations at www.bbuuc.org/giving/, or you can use the free PayPal cell phone app.
The church must pay a fee of 2.75% for payments by credit and debit cards and about 3% for PayPal payments, while the transfer services described in the paragraphs above will generally be free to the church. The specific fees to the sender for these transfer services depend on the sender’s bank and type of account.
Needless to say, we will continue to accept cash and checks as we have in the past.
Dale Crawford
Treasurer
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Letter from the Editor:
Social Media Policy
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There are a lot of ways that we communicate with one another as members of the BBUUC community. We have regular publications (like the monthly Journey newsletter and the weekly "This Week at BBUUC" bulletin), which are open to subscriptions by the general public. We have official policy and member communications from leaders, which are available on the website by using the password that members can receive by registering on the site. And we have social media facilities that allow people to communicate with each other.
The social media outlets that most people are familiar with are the church Yahoo! group and the church Facebook group and Facebook page. BBUUC members may join any of these facilities. Friends of the congregation may join the Yahoo! group as moderated participants, and may also "like" the public BBUUC Facebook page. (Links to all these facilities are at the bottom of this article and in the footer for each Journey and This Week.)
We have a few rules associated with using these social media facilities. The complete Social Media Policy is Appendix B of the PR Policies and Procedures on the web site. But most of the policy boils down to a few common sense rules:
- Keep your comments relevant to the church community and activities.
- State your opinion clearly and respectfully.
- Don't speak for other people.
- Assume good intent by other posters.
When in doubt, there are a couple of documents on the web to look over. All BBUUC members have agreed to follow the Covenant of Right Relations. And when there are disagreements, please review our guidelines on how to disagree agreeably.
Social media provides a great way for us to come together as a community and to promote the lively discussion that is a natural part of the democratic process. Please speak up, express your opinion, and then listen as respectfully as you want others to listen to you.
Scott Cromar
PR/Communications co-chair
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Joys:
- Congratulations to Valerie Bouffard on her retirement
Concerns:
- Shanna Gardner recovering from recent illness
- David Christenson 's sister has been very ill. Wishes for a good recovery. Please keep them in your thoughts
- Pam Richard's has had the loss of three people in her life recently... Her sister's fiancé, a friend, and a daughter-in-law's grandmother. Condolences to Pam.
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Happy Anniversary!
Ann Marie and Carl Schrader (May 15)
Anna and David Strickland (May 27)
Linda Gillespie and Carlos Marina (May 27)
Pam Edwards-Roiné and Pedro Roiné (May 28)
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Christine Rothberg (May 8)
Lucy Warner (May 12)
Ariel Cook (May 17)
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Karen Walsh (May 19)
Kris Kines (May 23)
Dale Crawford (May 31)
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New Member Ceremony
Welcome to the new members from the April 12 New Member Ceremony!
- Kim Clontz
- Ben Barone
- Tiffany and Jonathan Wagner
- Sarah Bridges
- Billie-Anne Lentz-Lester and Jimmy Lester
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BBUUC Membership Anniversaries
Pam Edwards-Roiné (1990)
Barry Heath (1990)
Frances Kennicutt (1990)
Cliff and Joani Maskell (1990)
Linda Mowers (1990)
Pedro Roiné (1994)
Joyce Johnson (1995)
Jennifer Stokes (2001)
Candace Gerding (2006)
Deborah Jones (2006)
Michael Bernos (2010)
Don DeStephano (2011)
Eileen Morrison (2011)
Jeremy and Sarah Ritzmann (2011)
Carol Waters (2011)
Lee Albright (2012)
Lisa and William Cromar (2012)
Erik Slader (2012)
Kesho Griggs (2012, 2014)
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Please help us keep our records up to date. If you see birthday, anniversary, or membership anniversary information that needs to be corrected or added to our list, send it to membership@bbuuc.org.
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Introducing:
Scarlet LeBlanc
Greetings! I’m Scarlet LeBlanc, I’m 27 years old and have been in Jacksonville for 10 years this September. I am originally from Fort Walton Beach, Florida but such a little town was not for me apparently.
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I have not exactly thrived in Jacksonville as I have a few social anxiety issues as well as major depression but I’m working through it! I enjoy knitting, crocheting, and playing video games. I have several shows I watch during the week, and I have recently started working on a short story. I have 3 wonderful and insane children.
Alyss (pronounced Alice) is 6 years old, a kindergartener, and a Girl Scout Daisy. Her name is from the book The Looking Glass Wars by Frank Beddor which is a reimagining of Alice in Wonderland. She is so incredibly smart and hilarious. She is considering doing the Virtual Public School next year as she is not fond of riding a bus to school but her school is very far from our house. It would be a challenge essentially homeschooling with 2 toddlers also in the house but we will try.
Next up is Joseph, he is 3 and a half, very very silly and is madly in love with Paw Patrol and Octonauts. He recently got his own Kindle and loves playing learning games and coloring. He is not a great eater but he somehow magically gains weight.
Last, but definitely not least, we have Malcolm who is 1 and half. He was named after Captain Malcolm Reynolds from the cancelled (too soon) TV Show Firefly. He’s a cool kid, he likes ducks and using his play vacuum when we vacuum. He also has a very intense love affair with the regular vacuum to the point where we have had to remove it from his sight.
The father of these three wonderful children is Joshua. We have been together for almost 10 years. His church is Sunday fishing!
The things I like best about BBUUC is the community. I’ve only been in the church a short time but I already feel like I am becoming part of “the fold” so to speak. I love the children’s program and have seen my daughter thrive in Spirit Play. I really like the Parenting group that just started. It’s nice to be able to sit around and get ideas for holidays, bringing UU into the home, and such. I have no particular faith that I follow, I was raised Southern Baptist and have dabbled in Pagan things but I have not found anything that moves my soul. I would love to find a faith that gave me a sense of peace like so many people enjoy. I am fascinated by all religions and am currently in the works to finish my AA at FSCJ so that I can transfer to UNF and become a Religions Major. I love the similarities and differences between religions and what I have learned about them at BBUUC.
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Linda Crawford (left) receives Skinner Award certificate from Vanessa Birchell (right)
Linda Crawford Sermon Wins Award
The UUA Florida District recognized Linda Crawford's sermon "Being a UU in the Bible Belt, What Do We Do with Our Anger?" with the Clarence R Skinner award for the sermon that best exemplifies UU values. This sermon, along with many other BBUUC sermons, is available at www.bbuuc.org/sermons-on-the-web/. Vanessa Birchell, one of BBUUC's delegates at District Assembly, accepted the award certificate on Linda's behalf at District Assembly.
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Winter Sunset by Sarah Ricke will be displayed in BBUUC's Artist's Corner in May
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May Artist's Corner: Sarah Ricke
BBUUC's Artist's Corner will feature Sarah Ricke in May. She says, "For the BBUUC Artist’s Corner this month, I have chosen a nature theme. The Earth has always been a sacred thing for me, and I have long taken solace in the natural world. I hope these paintings convey the love I have for the World to you."
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The April Artist's Corner has featured photos by David Siebert
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April Artist's Corner: David Siebert
We have enjoyed David Siebert's photos in the April Artist's Corner. He is a hospitalist physician originally from Detroit, MI. He is married to Suzanna Siebert and has a daughter, Gabriela and a son, Victor. He and his family enjoy taking regular trips to Suzanna's home country of Brazil. Wherever his travels take him, his Canon 6D camera is usually at his side.
The April exhibit has included pictures from Jaffa, Israel; Alberta, Canada; Istanbul, Turkey; and Trancoso, Brazil.
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Introduce Yourself!
If you are a recent member and we have not run an introduction article about you for the Journey yet, please feel free to contact publishing@bbuuc.org. We're interested in how you found BBUUC, what you like here, and what you would like other members of the BBUUC community to know about you.
We can help you write the article, or you can write a 400 word article about yourself. We would also like a photo so that people know who you are and can introduce themselves to you during Fellowship Time after the service.
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Nehemiah Assembly Holds Officials Accountable
43 members and friends of the BBUUC community joined with nearly 2000 participants from several Jacksonville-area churches in the 2015 Nehemiah Assembly. The Nehemiah Assembly is ICARE's annual meeting where community officials are held to account for commitments made to increase social justice in the Jacksonville area.
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Close to 2,000 people attended in spite of rain and a tornado warning. Between now and next year’s Nehemiah Assembly, there will be a Celebration May 5 to kick off the Investment Drive. Justice Ministry House Meetings in each congregation, and a city-wide Community Problems Assembly will determine next year’s issues in early fall. Issue Committees, composed of volunteers from the 40 congregations, will work to find realistic solutions to present at the next Nehemiah Assembly.
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The 2015 Nehemiah Assembly addressed Restorative Justice for first-time, nonviolent youth offenders; funding for the Day Resource Center for homeless individuals; improving employment opportunities in Northwest Jacksonville; stopping the school-to-prison pipeline and improving the elementary school reading program; and expanding available mental health services.
Public officials appear at the annual assembly to publicly answer questions they have been given in advance and/or to take credit for following through on previous commitments. They are also held to account when commitments are not fulfilled. Our presence motivates them to respond positively. And often they thank us for our support for doing the right thing!
If you are interested in becoming involved with BBUUC's Justice Ministry or ICARE, please contact social_action@bbuuc.org.
(BBUUC's membership in ICARE is funded in part by the Congregation-Based Community Organizing Matching Grants Program of the Fund for Unitarian Universalist Social Responsibility.)
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(BBUUC Social Action Chair Ken Christiansen addresses Nehemiah Assembly)
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BBUUC Earth Day Booth
On April 18, Social Action coordinated a booth for BBUUC at Jacksonville's Earth Day celebration. Thank you to everyone who made this activity a success. We had several people take a turn in our booth: Rev Elizabeth Teal, David Dean, John Giordano, Marv Kramer, Karen and Ken Christiansen. Beacon youth assembled 270 bird feeder kits, using pine cones collected by Megan Kaminski. BBUUC volunteers distributed 360 bird feeder kits with information about BBUUC.
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(David Dean and Rev Elizabeth Teal assist visitors to BBUUC's Earth Day booth.)
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Buy One Give One
BBUUC is collecting nonperishable items that are not covered by SNAP or the Food Stamp Program. For example, some of the items collected include paper towels, toilet paper, diapers, feminine products, Depends, toiletries, detergent, soap, sheets, blankets, towels, toothbrushes and toothpaste. Please place donations in the laundry hampers at the rear of the sanctuary any time. Donated items are delivered to the Clothes Closet every week after the Sunday service. Thanks for your support.
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Overflow Parking
The Facilities Committee has made arrangements with G&T Construction to allow us to park in their parking lot during our Sunday services on an overflow basis.
The G&T lot is located on the opposite side of Manresa from the church, just beyond (to the south) the church on the right (west) side of Manresa. (See the picture below.) Manresa is the street that is located between the church and Atlantic Storage, parallel to Roosevelt Avenue (U S 17). Cars should be removed from the G&T parking lot before 12:30 pm.
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Ministerial Support Fund Update
Thanks to the generosity of the congregation, the amount collected for the Ministerial Support Fund is nearing $40,000. (Donations to the Ministerial Support Fund are doubled thanks to a matching grant by an anonymous donor.) If you are current on your 2014/15 pledge, you can contribute to the Ministerial Support Fund by specifying "MSF" on the memo field of your check or on a donation envelope.
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Regionalization Plan Approved
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On April 18, the four districts comprising the UUA Southern Region voted to dissolve in favor of a new unified regional structure. Votes during Joint District Assembly meetings of the Florida, Mid-South, Southeast and Southwestern conferences approved the proposal.
The idea to merge the four districts emerged during a 2010 meeting in Orlando, which resulted in the Orlando Platform. Further refinements to the plan were approved in a September 2013 meeting between the district boards and detailed in a series of posts on the Southern Region web site beginning in November 2014.
(An index to these posts is available at www.bbuuc.org/regionalization-information/, along with notes and information from BBUUC's delegates to the Florida District Assembly meeting.)
Under the new structure, the staff members previously assigned to the different districts have become employees of the UUA and are shared among the areas formerly covered by the four districts. Due to efficiencies that have been realized by consolidating operations, additional staff resources have become available to provide services to congregations.
Governance activities are now handled through the UUA Board rather than having congregations represented by Boards at multiple organizational levels. The UUA Board has committed to increased direct contact with congregations through linkage structures that are in the process of being defined.
Rev Peter Morales, UUA President, attended the Florida District Assembly meeting in Orlando. He answered several questions from the delegates about how the new structure will work and the direction we will be taking. (Notes from the Q&A session are available on the BBUUC Regionalization Information page.)
The new structure emphasizes relationships. To that end, the new organization will emphasize clusters of congregations along both geographic lines and to promote cooperation between congregations with similar interests. The new structure also implements a new system of Elders, who may be leaders of any age and who are selected by congregations to focus on strengthening ties between congregations and fostering the growth of the faith. Sarah Ritzmann was approved as one of Florida's representatives on the initial Council of Elders.
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Morales Condemns Indiana Law
The Rev. Peter Morales, president of the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA), issued this statement following the signing of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) by Indiana Governor Mike Pence:
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"On March 27, Indiana Governor Mike Pence signed into law the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA), a thinly-veiled attack on the civil rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people. The bill was promoted as being necessary to preserve religious freedom in Indiana, but make no mistake: this bill was passed in order to legally permit blatant discrimination against the LGBT community. As president of the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA), I am appalled at the passage of this bill and condemn its desperate attempt to create second-class citizens.
Last year, when the courts struck down Indiana’s ban on same-sex marriage as unconstitutional, we celebrated another significant step forward for marriage equality. The passage of RFRA, however, reminds us that the road to equality is long and arduous with many obstacles in our path. But our resolve will not waver. This act of fear will not deter us. Legislators in Indiana need to acknowledge what a majority of Americans now profess: that LGBT people are deserving of full civil rights under the law, including the right to marry, and should not be subjected to discrimination on the basis of their sexual orientation.
I am heartened by the opposition to RFRA by many corporations such as Salesforce.com and Apple. I applaud our Unitarian Universalist congregations in Indiana who are standing on the side of love to combat this deplorable legislation. And I vow to continue to fight against other bills – such as Arkansas’s HB1228 – that threaten the civil rights of LGBT people. Please join me."
Rev Peter Morales
UUA President
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Climate Justice Month
Unitarian Universalists (UUs) and other people of faith and conscience participated in Climate Justice Month from World Water Day (March 22) to Earth Day (April 22). Climate Justice Month is a time of reflection and spiritual grounding leading to commitment to long-term actions for climate justice.
“It is no longer just about saving our planet, but about saving humanity. We all must respond to the call for creating a sustainable future. We hope this period of reflection and discernment prepares us for the challenge ahead,” said the Rev. Peter Morales, president of the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA).
Each week of Climate Justice Month focuses on a different theme:
- Week 1 (Water)—rejoicing in connection with the natural world and its gifts.
- Week 2 (Fire)—injustices resulting from climate change and our energy choices.
- Week 3 (Air)—the importance of relationships in achieving our goals.
- Week 4 (Earth)—commitments to long-term actions and to championing human rights.
Climate Justice Month was organized by Commit2Respond, the new climate justice initiative led by UU groups including the UUA and the UUSC.
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On March 23 and 24, 41 people from 11 UU congregations met with legislators in Tallahassee to promote a legislative agenda, including:
- OPPOSE (University Transparency (HB 223/SB182) and Guns on Campus HB 4005/SB176)
- SUPPORT the Anti-fracking bill (HB 169/SB166)
- SUPPORT the bill for civil citations rather than criminal penalties for first time child offenders (HB 99/SB378)
- ENLIST CO-SPONSORS for the resolution (Memorial) HM1321 for campaign finance reform and overturning corporate personhood and money as speech (Move to Amend)
For more information on how to get involved, visit www.uujusticefl.org.
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Founded in 1979 by Unitarian Universalists, The Mountain Retreat and Learning Center is a nonprofit, year round retreat center and summer camp open to all. The Mountain is located in Highlands, NC and is approximately a two hour drive from Atlanta, GA, Greenville, SC and Asheville, NC. Visit our website, mountaincenters.org, to learn more.
Upcoming Programs
Mountain Hiking Retreats: April 26- May 1; May 17-22; June 1-4 Come enjoy a week of Day Hikes on foot trails along ridges and rivers, over mountains, and to waterfalls on the Highlands Plateau. Enjoy several 2 to 5 mile moderate day hikes, education, fellowship, recreation, fun and good food!
Appalachian Spring: May 25-29 Friends of The Mountain are blessed to know the sacred earth that lies atop Little Scaly Mountain. We walk the trails, meditate on a rock outcropping, and laugh with friends as we overlook the valleys below.
Fun and Adventure Week: June 29-July 5 Take a new rafting trip on the Chattooga River or do a "duckie" on the Nantahala River. Kids and Grandparents can enjoy a Great Smokey Mountain Train ride...or zip line...or hike...or all these choices and more.
Health and Wellness Retreat: July 21-24 This weekday retreat is designed by long time yoga teacher and life skills retreat leader, Cathy Woods. She has created a program where you can spend quality time with yourself and like minded individuals all coming together with intention of self care and renewal. View flyer here.
SUUFI 2015: October 4-9 We have a great new program planned again for our 4th Fall Institute! Come enjoy SUUFI's blend of personal growth and fun, inspiration and relaxation, community and space. Our 2015 program will test your mind and your experiential skills, yet we trust you'll learn and leave with new options and commitment.
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Schedule of Services
Services are held Sundays at 10:30 a.m. at
8447 Manresa Avenue, Jacksonville, FL 32244
Church Phone: (904) 276-3739 • Website: www.BBUUC.org
Check the BBUUC Calendar for information on other programming.
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May 3 Service:
BBUUC 25th Anniversary
"Past Present Future"
Worship Leader: Linda Mowers
Accompanied By: Gary Smart
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Come celebrate our 25th Anniversary with a special collaborative service featuring the history and stories of our congregation, as told by the members themselves.
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Pennies from Heaven is May 3
Please bring your extra change for a special collection to benefit our local Meals on Wheels program.
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May 10 Speaker:
Rev. Jack Ford
"Mothers I Have Known"
Worship Associate: Vanessa Birchell
Accompanied By: Gary Smart
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Not everyone is raised and nurtured by a Mother who set a shining example of unconditional love. But I would guess that most of us know people who are nurturers, who care for children, nurse the sick, or grace the lives of those they touch. Let us take this opportunity on Mother’s Day to celebrate the love we know, the love we seek, the love we share.
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May 17 Speaker:
Linda Crawford
"Do We Really Have Free Will?"
Worship Leader: Kris Kines
Accompanied By: Ellen Miceli
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Linda never questioned our unlimited ability to make choices in our lives until 1986. That year, the aftermath of a thyroid cancer diagnosis caused her to undergo a permanent personality change. She began to wonder how much our behavior is determined by nature, nurture, our own experiences, and what happened before we were born.
Linda Crawford
Linda Crawford and her husband Dale have been members of BBUUC for about seven years. Linda's academic background is in art history, and she loves sharing this passion with others. The Florida District Unitarian Universalist Association awarded Linda the 2015 Clarence R. Skinner Award for “UUs In The Bible Belt: What Do We Do With Our Anger?” as the sermon best exemplifying Unitarian Universalist principles.
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May 24 Speaker:
Dr Sudhir Prabhu
"Hinduism And You"
Worship Leader: Jeremy Ritzmann
Accompanied By: Gary Smart
Special Musical Guest: Tonic Trio
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The third of the eight part “Our Sources Series,” Dr. Prabhu will explain how Americans in general and Unitarian Universalists in particular, honor and draw upon Hindu wisdom traditions.
Dr Sudhir Prabhu
An ardent student of Vedanta, Dr. Sudhir Prabhu is a founding member of the Hindu Society of Northeast Florida, and the Jacksonville Ganesha Temple. He served as the Joint Secretary of Hindu Collective Initiative of North America and on the Board of the Ekal Foundation USA, a non-profit dedicated to improving literacy in remote villages of India. Sudhir is also the founder of two NGOs related to promoting livelihood training in poor populations in rural India. A Board certified Allergist in private practice in Jacksonville; Dr. Prabhu is the founder of The Community Asthma Project and has been actively involved in the American Red Cross, the American Lung Association, and the Sulzbacher Center for the homeless.
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May 31 Speaker:
Rev Mark Harris
"A Faith For A Few?"
Worship Leader: Linda Mowers
Accompanied By: Eileen Morrison
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Margaret Fuller, a leading Transcendentalist, once received a letter from her Unitarian father, “Your reluctance to go ‘among strangers’ cannot too soon be overcome; & the way to overcome it, is not to remain at home, but to go among them and resolve to deserve & obtain the love & esteem of those, who have never before known you. With them you have a fair opportunity to begin the world anew…”
Our UU theology says this vision to “begin the world anew” must be with all kinds of people, not just with the social class circle we create or like-minded liberals. It must be practiced in an ever-intentional manner and in ever-widening circles if our faith is going to be truly transformational. Perhaps this is how Unitarian Universalism can fulfill its democratic vision, and become more than a faith for a few.
Rev. Mark Harris
Rev. Mark Harris is a UU historian, author and minister of First Parish in Watertown, Massachusetts. He earned his M.Div. from Starr King School for the Ministry. In 1985, he was the UUA Director of Information, the denominational historian and archivist. Currently he is an Adjunct Professor in history and congregational polity at Andover Newton Theological School and Starr King School for the Ministry. He is the author of many denominational pamphlets, books and historical articles.
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Buckman Bridge Unitarian Universalist Church offers a warm, diverse,and welcoming community that embraces intellectual and spiritual growth for all ages.
-BBUUC Mission Statement
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Rev. Jack Ford
Rev. Jack Ford is minister of BBUUC. Jack studied at Stetson University and Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. As a Fellowshipped (Preliminary) UU minister, he served at the Valdosta UU Church for seven years. Jack is currently working towards his Final Fellowship certification with the UUA Ministerial Services Committee.
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The Journey is the official newsletter of the Buckman Bridge Unitarian Universalist Church. It is distributed monthly by electronic means to members and friends of the BBUUC community. If you would like to subscribe, please send an email to publishing@bbuuc.org.
Physical printouts of the Journey are also available at the Membership Table in the Sanctuary. (If a pledging member of the community does not have home Internet or computer access, a mailed printout can be requested from admin@bbuuc.org, or by contacting the church administrator at 904-276-3739.)
If you have comments or suggestions about the format or content of the Journey, please contact the editorial team at publishing@bbuuc.org.
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P.O. Box 844
Orange Park, FL 32067
904.276.3739
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8447 Manresa Ave
Jacksonville, FL 32244
904.276.3739
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