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Current News
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Meeting at 2:30 PM Friday, May 18 on Hamoodi Sentencing
Help Still Needed for All-Church Group Sale
New Church
Thermostat System Installed
Five New Members Elected to Board of Trustees
Call of Rev. Molly Housh Gordon Noted in Local News Media
May Faith-to-Action Collection for KOPN
Sign/Sculpture Model Unveiled
Want to Be a Delegate to the UUA General Assembly?
Start Thinking about Presenting a Summer Worship Service
The Bloomin' Idiots Need Your Help
Rev. Kiyimba Receives Award Upon
Nomination by Monica Miller
UU Life Writers' Group Begins Spring Session
Meeting at 2:30 PM Friday, May 18 on
Hamoodi
Sentencing
Several UUCC members were among supporters of Shakir
Hamoodi who attended his sentencing in federal court on Wednesday, May 16,
to three years in prison for sending money to family, friends and charities
in Iraq while sanctions were in effect between 1991 and 2003.
Columbia Daily Tribune article.
Supporters are invited to attend a meeting to plan a
response to the sentencing at 2:30 p.m. Friday, May 18, at Rock Bridge
Christian Church, 301 West green Meadows Road.
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Help Still Needed for All-Church Group
Sale
Marianne Erickson, coordinator of the All-Church Group
Sale scheduled from 7 a.m. to noon on both Friday, May 18, and Saturday, May
19, reports that helpers are still needed for the sale from 9:00 to 11:00
a.m. Saturday, and at 1:00 p.m. Saturday to haul off unsold items.
Contact Marianne if you can help. Home email. Work email.
More
information about the sale.
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New Church Thermostat System Installed
Church member Larry Lile recently finished installing a
new energy-efficient thermostat system for our church with the able
assistance of Petey Botts, son of church member Shelley Botts, and Stephan
Dorman, son of church members Stephanie and Larry Dorman.
Petey Botts ran most of the wiring for the new
thermostat system.
The new thermostats, in conjunction with a control
computer, will help reduce our electric bill. The thermostats are programmed
to cool the building gradually on Sunday mornings, avoiding a peak demand
charge from the utility. The computer limits our demand further, cycling the
air conditioners to maintain a low peak usage. We expect the system could
reduce our electric bill by up to a third.
Thermostat covers allow adjustment of the temperature, but
prevent changes to the program itself.
Larry and his helpers also moved the thermostat that was
on the chancel stage because it was located over a cooling duct, which kept
it cold all the time. Moving the thermostat allows it to sense the entire
room, better responding to the needs of the people in the room.
The City of Columbia has provided us with a new electric
meter, which sends digital information to our control computer about utility
usage, allowing us to respond by limiting peak usage.
Larry Lile fine-tuned the thermostat system on
May 13.
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Five Members Elected to Board
of Trustees
Church members elected five members to the Board of
Trustees from a field of seven candidates and approved the proposed 2012-13
church budget at a Congregational Meeting after the worship service on
Sunday, May 6, 2012.
The five elected to two-year terms beginning July 1 are:
Qhyrrae Michaelieu (incumbent)
Linda Osborne
Mary
Beth Schillinger
Steve Scott
Greg Suhler
The other two candidates were Mary Cate Denson and Jeffrey
Richter. An eighth candidate, Jenny Bossaller, had withdrawn her candidacy
before the election.
Photos and candidate statements of those elected appear
below.
Qhyrrae Michaelieu
I've been an active member of our Church for 15 years and
have served our spiritual community in a variety of ways. I
facilitated/taught OWL - Our Whole Lives (relationships and sexuality
curriculum) and then accompanied the YRUU (our youth group) on two of their
summer trips; I served as a worship associate; I helped out on our book
table, and I’m the co-leader of Exploring Spirituality. I’ve also served as
a delegate to GA (our annual national UU meeting) and served a term on the
Board of Trustees. I believe our church community has so much to offer, and
want to see us expand our offerings both inside and outside of our church. I
value our inclusivity, and it is very important to me that everyone’s voice
is heard. I want to make sure we focus on long-term sustainability, and do
what is best for our larger church community.
Linda Osborne
I have been a member of UUCC for three years and a
Unitarian Universalist for 25. I want to serve on the Board of Trustees to
help guide our church through the next couple of years, which I expect to be
very exciting. With our new governance model and energetic new minister,
UUCC will be on the path to an great future and I want to help us get there!
Mary Beth Schillinger
I joined our church in 1991. I have participated in
various committees, groups, services, programs and such during my time at
UUCC. For the past ten years or so, I have been working with children and
youth of our church by serving on the RE committee, teaching various classes
of Sunday School and co-facilitating junior high school OWL (Our Whole
Lives) sexuality education curriculum. I was also a member of the Interim
Minster Task Force and attended the service trip to Honduras in 2011. I am
interested in serving on the Board of UUCC to be actively engaged during
this time of transition. Our church has such potential with the coming of
Rev. Molly Housh Gordon; developing a vision and a clear mission statement
seems critical. I would like to be part of the process by sharing my skills
and talents as a member of the Board.
Steve Scott
At UUCC, I have found my spiritual home, as well as an
extraordinary sense of warmth, community and friendship. I want to see our
church grow in many ways to better share with the community at large our
message of love and social, economic and environmental justice. Service as a
Worship Associate, as a member of the Ministerial Search Committee, and as
webmaster has given me opportunities to work toward those goals. As we look
forward to an exciting future with a new minister, I would like to serve on
the Board of Trustees to continue that work.
Gregg Suhler
I never expected to join any church, although we tried
through example to expose our children to organized religion as they have
been growing up. To my evolving and pleasant surprise, after about eight
months getting to know UUCC, my wife Diane and I joined March 2011. If the
Board continues its transition from a hands-on Committee style to a Policy
oriented Board, then I could bring extensive policy experience at all
levels. Most of my policy work has been with governments and at local,
state, and national levels through ongoing policy analysis and non-advocacy
support. I also have experience in Japan (1988-2000) with think tanks,
government agencies, international organizations, and different models of
policy analysis and development. My experience involves people working
together in common purpose yet with inevitable differences to get worthwhile
and necessary things done, time and again, and in good spirit.
View the
approved 2012-13 church budget.
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Call of Rev. Molly Housh
Gordon Noted in Local News Media
Our call of the Rev. Molly Housh Gordon as our next
settled minister has been noted in two local news outlets through the
efforts of our Publicity/Public Relations Committee.
The Columbia Daily Tribune published a short
article on its weekly religion page, "Spiritual Life," on Saturday, April 5:
http://www.columbiatribune.com/news/2012/may/05/spiritual-briefs/?spirituallife
On Sunday, April 6, there was a more extensive article in
the "From Readers" section of the online Columbia Missourian,
including four photographs. The first link below is the "front page" of the
section. The second link is the extended article with additional
photographs.
http://www.columbiamissourian.com/p/fromreaders/
http://www.columbiamissourian.com/stories/2012/05/06/unitarian-universalist-church-columbia-calls-new-settled-minister/
The Missourian has indicated that a version of
the article also may appear at some point in the print version of the
newspaper. Keep an eye out for it.
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May Faith-to-Action Collection for
KOPN
The recipient of the Faith-to-Action Collection for the
month of May, 2012, will be the KOPN radio station.
KOPN defines itself as a non-commercial, non-profit,
community radio station, which means that the station operates on a
shoestring budget provided primarily by its listeners, that it is the most
accessible broadcasting operation in central Missouri, and that its
programming is among the most diverse anyone can find anywhere.
A functional democracy requires a well-informed public. At
a time when much of the broadcasting community increasingly offers juvenile
forms of art and conservative opinion in place of facts and mature
discussion, KOPN continues to explore challenging and diverse art forms, to
present in-depth news and analysis, and to discuss hard questions about the
state of the world.
Valuable as its presence is to our community, KOPN
struggles to maintain its existence. Your substantial contribution to the
May Faith-to-Action Collection will allow our church to help our community
keep and continue to benefit from this remarkable community asset.
Please make checks payable to the UU church, and write
“Faith to Action” on the check memo line.
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Sign/Sculpture Model Unveiled
Local artist Chris Morrey's scale model of a
sign/sculpture to replace our church's current exterior sign, pictured
above, was approved in early April by the Interior/Exterior Design Task
Force and is now on display in the Greeting Area.
The sculpture will be made of steel – it will rust but is expected to last
for hundreds of years. The chalice and lettering will be made of silvery
polished steel and will be mounted on short stalks so they will stand out
from the surface. The base will be concrete and about 16 inches tall to
facilitate sitting on it. A small spotlight will illuminate the name of the
church at night.
The panel with lettering will be about 4 feet tall, while
the third panel will be about 9 feet tall. The sculpture will be placed
roughly in the center of the grassy area between Shepard Boulevard and our
church parking lot. The panel with the lettering will face west so people
can see it as they approach the church.
We expect the project to be completed by mid to late
August. Most of the money to pay for the project already has been donated in
the form of undesignated Memorial Fund contributions, and the donors will be
recognized.
Almost 40 people have been involved in planning this
project over the past two years. The initial concept
for the project was developed by church member Dennis Murphy.
Questions may be directed to Janet Groat, Chair of the Interior/Exterior
Design Task Force.
Artist Chris Morrey recently was featured in an
online article about artists who have earned public commissions.
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Want to Be a Delegate to
the UUA General Assembly?
If you would like to serve as a delegate from our church
at the UUA's General Assembly in Phoenix, AZ from June 20 to June 24, please
contact Rev. Sue Redfern-Campbell or Stephanie Dorman. There is a small
amount of money in our 2011-12 budget to help with the registration fee.
Delegates are expected to attend the plenary (business)
sessions and provide a written or oral report to the Board about what they
learned at General Assembly.
More
information about General Assembly.
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New Church Pictorial
Directory Planned
We are excited to announce that we are going to create a
new pictorial directory of our church family. The directory will help our
new minister and the congregation to connect names with faces. It will also
be an ideal outreach tool and will capture the history of our church
congregation.
Please participate! All we ask is that you have your
picture taken by the professional Photographer and meet with a Portrait
Consultant at the church. For the next several weeks, we will be making
appointments before and after services and meetings at the church or you can
sign up online at
www.signup.Olanmills.com.
Please sign up as soon as possible to get the
best appointment to fit your schedule.
Instructions for
Online Sign-Up (PDF)
Here are some important facts about the project:
-
Every participating family/household that selects a
pose for the directory will receive a free directory and a complimentary
8 X 10 Custom Natural Portrait.
-
You will come to the church only once for photography
and for portrait viewing.
-
The program is available at no cost to the church
budget.
-
You will have the opportunity to order additional
portraits during your scheduled appointment time.
-
If you wish to purchase extras, the portraits come
with a 100% Satisfaction Guarantee.
-
Whether you decide to dress formally or casually, you
will want to make the most of this opportunity.
The scheduled dates for photography and portrait
viewing are:
-
Tuesday, May 1, 2012 from 2:00 p.m. to 9:20 p.m.
-
Wednesday, May 2, 2012 from 2:00 p.m. to 9:20 p.m.
-
Thursday, May 3, 2012 from 12:00 noon to 6:00 p.m.
-
Friday, May 4, 2012 from 2:00 p.m. to 9:20 p.m.
-
Saturday, May 5, 2012 from 9:30 a.m. to 5:10 p.m.
If you have questions, please contact Rita Tucker.
Church Directory.
We look forward to seeing everyone in the directory. Our
new pictorial directory just won't be complete without you!
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Start Thinking about Presenting a
Summer Worship Service
These unusually warm days are a sure sign that Summer is
just around the corner. Our formal church year will come to a close and our
lay-led Summer services will begin.
The nearing of summer always reminds me of our beloved
Unitarian summer camp, Bayside. There I was introduced to the notion of
lay-led ministry and witnessed its ability to touch, inspire and build
community. Our own church tradition of lay-led services has reaffirmed that
belief.
What I believe is that each of us has at least one good
sermon to share with the congregation. Within each member of our church lies
a story begging to be shared. It may be a life-changing experience, or a
simple joy. It may be a great sadness or a small wish. Summertime is your
chance to tell that story!
You do not have to do this alone! The Worship Associates
stand ready to help you organize the service, find musicians and readings
and help with whatever else you need. All you need do is bring your idea and
tell your story! Just let us know if you would like to do a service.
Together, we’ll pick a Sunday in June, July or August. We look forward to
working with you and to hearing your story this summer. For more
information, contact Interim Minister Sue Spencer or any one of the
Worship Associates.
– Cande Iveson, Member of
the Worship Associates
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The Bloomin' Idiots Need Your Help
It's time to get those gardener's juices flowing for the
annual pruning of grasses and shrubs during the month of March. Clearing
away the debris from last year's growing season, we can experience the
excitement and anticipation of Spring's glorious season of color and
planting.
Bring your trimmers, pruning tools and gardening
enthusiasm for a session of planning and readying the ground for this year's
garden.
Our first work and planning session will be on March 6
(weather permitting) at 5:00 p.m. and every Tuesday at 5:00 p.m. thereafter.
For more information, contact Joann Vest.
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Rev. Kiyimba
Receives Award Upon Nomination by Monica Miller
After hearing Rev. Mark Kiyimba
speak at our church on
November 27, 2011, UUCC member Monica Miller nominated Rev. Kiyimba,
minister of the Unitarian Universalist Association in Kampala, Uganda, for
the National Education Association's Virginia Uribe Award for Creative
Leadership in Human Rights. In mid February Rev. Kiyimba received word
that he won the award.
Virginia Uribe was a high school teacher and counselor and
a leader in the movement to improve the lives of gay and lesbian youth. In
1984, she founded California’s Project 10, the first school-based dropout
prevention program for students facing sexual orientation discrimination and
harassment. NEA presents the Virginia Uribe Award for Creative Leadership in
Human Rights to a nominee whose activities in human rights significantly
impact education and the achievement of equal opportunity for those facing
discrimination due to their sexual orientation.
Monica submitted evidence of the work Rev. Kiyimba does to
fight discrimination against gays and lesbians in his home country,
including a video of Rev. Kiyimba's sermon at our church. Rev. Kiyimba and
other NEA Human Rights honorees will be recognized at the Human and Civil
Rights Awards dinner on July 1, 2012 in Washington D.C.
Congratulations, Rev. Kiyimba! And thanks to Monica for
taking the initiative to nominate Rev. Kiyimba!
[Article adapted from March 2012 Searchlight]
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UU Life Writers' Group Begins Spring Session
The UU Life Writers’ Group recently began its Spring session. All
writers, unpublished and published, are welcome to attend. You do not have
to be an accomplished writer, but one who enjoys writing life experiences
and family stories.
This session’s theme is “Roots of Our Beliefs.”
The group meets in the Centering Room on the first and third Saturdays at 10:30 to
12:30. Upcoming Spring dates include:
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