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Monthly News for February 2017
Minister's Message
Greetings To All,
For many of us, (but certainly not all of us) the time is upon us to practice compassionate activism to promote the society we say we want to live in. We say that we want to do this by peaceful means. The words of Dr. King come to mind when he said that peace is not the goal; peace is the means by which we achieve our goals. Gandhi reminds us that we must be the change (or peace) that we want to see in the world. Well, we wage a lot of war in this great land of ours, and not just wars in other countries. There’s the war on drugs. There’s the war on poverty. There are “peacekeeping missiles" (now there’s an oxymoron if ever there was one) that we have aimed at our enemies in order to keep the peace. Let’s not forget the war on cancer, the war on diabetes. Our very language betrays our love for war and violence. I have even heard sports announcers use the phrase “he pulled the trigger” when describing a quarterback in a football game throwing a pass, or a pitcher throwing the ball to a batter at the plate.

The fact of the matter is that we are in the year 2017 and collectively and individually humanity is still resisting the fact that we can only know peace when we are willing to be peaceful.
                                                           Minister's Column cont. 
Sunday Services 
Sunday, 5 February 2017, 11 am
Murphy Capps

"Unpacking Your Spiritual Baggage"

Murphy Capps will be offering a sermon entitled “Unpacking Your Spiritual Baggage” The topic is based on the concept that for some religion is a means of releasing one's burdens and for others it is its own burden. Murphy Funkhouser Capps is a speaker, author, performer, mother of three and business owner at Kudzu Brands in Black Mountain. She is also the creator of two award-winning one woman shows Crazy Bag and Carry On which have been performed from Denver to Asheville. Her plays reflect on her upbringing in the church, her subsequent rebellion and her eventual return to a deeply spiritual life.


Sunday, 12 February 2017, 11 am
Rev. Michael J.S. Carter
"Flirting"

Well, it’s that time of year again and I’m not referring to “ground hogs day.” No, it’s Valentine’s Day, the day for lovers! Tons of money will be on flowers, romantic dinners and candy, movies, and other gifts, no doubt babies will be made during this time as well. New romances will begin and old romances will be rekindled, well at least attempted to be rekindled, and it’s usually a fun time for many.  Bars will be filled with people drinking and having fun and most people will be doing the same thing—Flirting.  But what exactly is flirting? Let’s talk about it.

 
Sunday, 19 February 2017 11AM 
Rev. Shannon Spencer &  Ms. Gwendolyn Wharton
“Ministry of Hope”
 
The Ministry of Hope is a community-funded program which provides on-site chaplains at Swannanoa Correctional Center for Women (SCCW). The chaplains conduct religious services in the center's chapel and provide pastoral care and spiritual guidance to the inmates. The women at SCCW are within five years of release or parole. Rev. Cannon will talk to us about how the ministry offers the prisoners a sense of hope and real-world self-care tools for
the future. Inmate Gwendolyn Wharton will share her personal story.
 
Gwendolyn is from Greensboro, NC. She has been incarcerated for more than two decades. Her favorite foods are granola, string cheese, and Oreo cookies. While in prison she has earned a degree in dental technology and is looking forward to sharing her gifts upon release. Shannon is an ordained UCC minister serving part time at SCCW as a chaplain. She is also the Founding Director of Asheville Poverty Initiative and 12 Baskets Cafe, and adjunct Pastor for Missional Engagement at First Presbyterian Church of Asheville.
 
 
Sunday, 26 February 17, 11AM

Rev. Michael S. J. Carter
"The Politics of Human Nature"

 
How we see human nature is the most important political question of all.  Have you ever really thought about that? As offspring of the Protestant Reformation, UUs split away from Christian religious orthodoxy by declaring that humanity is always in a state of becoming or evolving and not stagnant and born in sin. We have a higher vision of what human beings can possibly become. Many religious and political conservatives (certainly not all) hold the belief that humankind is inherently bad and born in sin, and that we cannot evolve beyond a certain point because of something within us that is in arrested development.  Just as we can become dogmatic in our progressiveness or liberalism, the attitude (conscious or not) of many religious and political conservatives divides humanity into “us and them” because of this belief. Do you really believe in and trust the basic inherent goodness of humanity? Not just that we pay lip service to it, but what do we really believe deep down inside us. This is an important topic of discussion,  not only for your status as a “card carrying UU,”  but because your theological lives are at stake;   for as UUs we affirm that humanity is always in a state of becoming and not stagnant beings born in sin.  See you on Sunday the 26th!
 
Sunday, 5 March 2017, 11 am
Kitty Rodgers
"Human Revolution:" Antidote to Violence"
 
Kitty Richards will offer a sermon based on her life experiences as a “Bipolar Buddhist.” The topic is based on her struggles and triumphs, her work with developmentally challenged individuals, and her spiritual practice. A Black Mountain resident, is affiliated with NAMI, a national grassroots organization for mental health awareness, support and recovery. She’s also a published author of memoir, poetry and essays, and has appeared in the WNC Woman Magazine. Her book, Battles of a Bipolar Buddhist, won first place in a Buncombe County library contest and is available on Amazon. In addition, she is an alternative healing practitioner and a Buddhist teacher and inspirational speaker.
Mardi Gras Blast!

 
 
Coming Soon!
 
Food Fun Music Fortunes Dancing
 
 
This is your official invitation to the Mardi Gras Blast!
On Saturday, February 25, at 6 pm, we’ll kick off our annual pledge drive by celebrating Mardi Gras at UUCSV.   The family-friendly evening will feature a Cajun cook-off, a light supper, the Owen High Jazz Ensemble, karaoke, zydeco dance lessons, a fortune-telling booth, Tarot card readings, mask-decorating, and a Grand Parade presided over by the King and Queen of Mardi Gras.  Something fun for everyone!  Along with the fun, the event will give us early birds the opportunity to make our UUCSV pledges for the upcoming year.
 
But to make the evening successful, we need YOU.  Will you cook something for the cookoff, help set up and decorate, work at the mask-decorating table, sing karaoke, help clean-up or just come, prepared to enjoy yourself?  However you want to participate, we’ll be glad to have you.  .  
 
So please mark your calendars, come to Mardi Gras, have a BLAST, and maybe make your pledge.  Contact: Tina Rosato, 828-686-0530
Religious Education
Greetings from the Religious Education department! 
 
With the coming celebrat of Valentine's Day, I hope you all will take the time to let everyone you love and hold dear know how special that are to you.
 
Our attendance has been down over the holidays & because of snow. Hopefully the unseasonably mild weather will encourage everyone to join us as we look toward Spring and make our plans!
 
Speaking of plans, you may or may not know that one of our preschool class teachers will be going on maternity leave soon. It would be wonderful to have 2 or 3 names who would fill in for just 1 Sunday a month. Please see Linda or Beata to choose your date.
February Town Hall
Official Notice: Your Board of Trustees and our UUCSV Treasurer invite you to attend a Town Hall Meeting, Sunday, February 12th, after the service. We can enjoy our lunch plates of potluck food in the Sanctuary during this informational meeting.  The purpose of the meeting is to explore with the congregation our ability to employ a full-time minister.  
 
At the meeting you’ll hear from a member of our congregation, advocating  for hiring Michael as a full time minister. We will get appropriate updates on contributions vs.budget.  Lee Reading will discuss this year’s operating budget. Tina will present  the UUA recommendations on salary and benefit package for a full-time minister in a congregation of our size. There will be time for Q & A. Board President, David Reid, will be asking for committee chairs and interested members to serve on the 2017-18 Fiscal Year Budget Development Committee.  Hope you will plan to attend.  Information is a very good thing, indeed!
Chalice Lighter Call
On February 19, UUCSV will send a portion of the offering to the Southern Region Chalice Lighter Call.  If you care to include additional offering for this valuable cause, you may do so either with cash or a check designated for "First UU of Richmond - Chalice Lighters."  Our congregation has benefitted from this fund.  Now it's our turn to help other congregations.  Thank you.
 
The first regional Chalice Lighters call in the Unitarian Universalist Association Southern Region is to support extending the Pledge to End Racism program from First UU Church of Richmond to all interested congregations in the Southern Region. This program is designed using a leadership development model so participants gain skills and develop competence in not only talking about racism, but in facilitating discussions about race, and then working together to organize Living the Pledge workshops for people throughout their community. Instead of just talking about racism, this program develops knowledgeable, passionate leaders who can do something to address it. The Pledge strengthens local antiracism efforts, brings congregations together with other faith communities with like commitments, and creates teams of people involved on the local level in making change in their own communities.
MLK  Breakfast
The annual Martin Luther King, Jr. prayer breakfast sponsored by the MLK Corporation of the Swannanoa Valley will be held on Saturday, February 25 at 8 a.m. at Camp Dorothy Walls. Guest speaker will be the Rev. Larry Hill, the minister at Woodland Presbyterian Church in Charlotte and the author of two books. Tickets are available from Roberta Madden and Diane Hutchins, MLK board members, for $15 for adults and $6 for children. Proceeds from the annual event are used for scholarships for local students.
Board Report
The UUCSV Board of Trustees met on Monday, January 23, 2017. These are the meeting highlights. A complete version is posted in the lobby.  
     Our volunteer treasurer, Lee Reading, reported that our balance sheet is strong.  Lee reported that our liquid assets are $93,000.  Half way through the fiscal year our income is in line with our expenses.  Printing & copying expenses are high. The water bill was high because of three leaking toilets. David Reid said he would take a look at repairing them.
     The Town Hall Meeting is advertised.
     The Mardi Gras Party and Canvass Kickoff is moving ahead.  There is still a need for muscles for set up and clean up.
Language on the financial commitment cards is being changed to read “intention” rather than “pledge” so donor designed funds can donate. 
     Tina nominated Lee Reading to be chair of the canvass this year, and Lee accepted.  Lee will recruit 3 to 6 people to help canvass those persons who did not fill out an intention card at the Mardi Gras Party.  A discussion about the budget amount was held.  The target for a full time minister would add $27,000 to our current budget. That would mean that the goal for the Canvass would be $111,000.  The Board of Trustees said the congregation wants a full time minister so they need to know what it costs to make Michael full time.  March 12th was set for the sermon about the canvas.
     The UUA Southeast Region has a chalice lighter grant request and suggest congregations do a plate offering to fund the grant.  Our cash collection plate on February 19th will go to the regional chalice lighter grant. 
     There was a request by a family in the neighborhood to use our parking lot to sell Girl Scout cookies, at times when we do not have church functions.  The girl scouts have their own insurance.The  Board decided it was okay for use of our parking lot  for the sales to happen. 
Minister's Column cont.
Fighting to have you way does not bring peace. Fighting others about their ways does not increase your peace. Refusing to acknowledge when you have made a mistake does not increase your peace. Refusing to acknowledge and embrace your shortcomings does not increase your peace. Pointing out the shortcomings of others does not increase your peace. Constantly telling yourself that you are flawed and defective; telling yourself that there is something fundamentally wrong with you does not increase your peace. Not asking for what you want does not increase your peace. Trying to prove your worth and value does not increase your peace. Failing to take responsibility for yourself and your actions does not increase you peace. Taking on the responsibility for the lives of others does not increase your peace. Avoiding unpleasant things does not increase your peace. Trusting that you are always trying to evolve and doing the best you can does increase your peace. Being gentle with yourself and others does increase you peace.

Yes, you and I may have engaged in behaviors and activities that disturbed our peace of mind and the peace of mind of others. But let’s try, at least for today to increase the peace—for ourselves and others. Let’s engage in self-loving, self-nurturing, self-supporting behaviors and activities. Let’s strive to be joyful even after considering all of the facts!

Peace and Richest Blessings,
Michael  

In this issue:
Sunday Services 
Mardi Gras Blast!
Religious Education
February Town Hall
Chalice Lighter Call
MLK  Breakfast
Board Report

Social Action 
Covenant Groups
Luunch Bunch
Women's Group
UUCSV  Choir
Cooks Needed
Psi Group
Friday Fling
UUFH Race Dialog 
 
Social Action 
How to be an Effective Ally, a Conversation
The UUCSV Social Action Committee invites the congregation and the community to an hour-long conversation and exploration of How To Be An Effective Ally, Sunday, February 5, 12:30 to 1:30 PM in the church's sanctuary.

With the recent spike of harassment and hate-activity experienced here and around the country, the need is great for folks to stand by those targeted so no one feels alone in the face of a bigoted remark, workplace discrimination, or outright violence.
 
Our conversation will be led by Monroe Gilmour who has worked with targets and victims of hate activity for nearly thirty years. He is Coordinator of Western North Carolina Citizens Ending Institutional Bigotry. Monroe will draw on his own work experiences and the Southern Poverty Law Center's Ten Ways to Fight Hate. We hope you will join us for this important, action-oriented conversation. For more information, please call 669-6677.
Covenant Groups
UPDATE from Bob:
Sign up now (thru Feb. 5) for one of two covenant groups that are being formed by mailing Bob at 
robertjfalanga@gmail.com
 
The good news is that we will have enough people for a Tuesday evening meeting.  But we do not have enough people for a Sunday afternoon group.
 
Some folks can't do evenings and would prefer an afternoon group.
It is possible for us to mount a Wednesday 1-3 pm group if enough folks are interested.
 
The deadline for signing up is Feb. 5. So please email me - as soon as you can - if you would like to belong to a Wednesday 1-3 pm Covenant Group.
 
Whether we can launch an afternoon group or not -- we will proceed with our Tuesday evening group.
 
Please note that the schedule for the Tuesday evening group has changed. It will meet
Tuesdays, 7:00 - 9:00 pm on the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays for eight sessions beginning February 28.
 
As a reminder, here are the commitments required. Members will:
*attend all sessions.
*speak personally employing  only "I" statements.
*promise to keep confidential the contents of the group.
*observe the "no cross talk" rule: listen intently to the speaker and do not interrupt; do not respond either verbally or non-verbally to the speaker.
 
For more info see the UUCSV Covenant Groups page on our website.  You can also read more about Small Group Ministry on the UUA website.
Luunch Bunch
The  Luunch Bunch will meet on February 7th at noon in the church.  The topic will be "Legacy from the Heart".
Women's Group
The women's group will meet at 1:00 pm Friday February 10 at the Lynx Condo Meeting room. The topic will be unconditional love. What is it? How does one get to that place? Is it a misused term that relates to boundaries? How does one protect oneself from possible abuse from a loved one?
UUCSV  Choir
In January, we loved singing for the two expectant moms, and being part of the Volunteer Fair.   As usual, you are very welcome to come sing with us!  In February we will sing on the 26th.  We will rehearse first on Sunday the 19th at 12:15, then on the following Wednesday at 7 PM, and then on the day of performance, the 26th at 10 AM. Come join us-  we're very friendly!
 Linda Metzner,  Choir Director
Cooks Needed
For the February 25 Mardi Gras Blast, we are in need of several creative people to provide hors d’oeuvres and finger food to complement the 19-pound turkey that will be provided by Tina Rosato and Phil Evanzo.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
If you’re feeling especially creative, try to think of a dish to prepare for the Cajun Cookoff to be held that night.
 
Please call 828-255-4583 or email Alice or Dave Wells to indicate what you intend to bring. 
Psi Group
The Intuitive Development (Psi) group will meet Tuesday February 21 at 1:00 pm to work with Dream Interpretation. Bring your notes about the content of a dream you had in the last month.Thank you, Lois Heintz 357-5152
Friday Fling
February’s Friday Fling, a fun party for grown-ups, usually every third Friday of the month, will be held on 17 February at the UUCSV church. Red and white refreshments will be provided; please bring a potluck dish to share. First movie choice: Safety Not Guaranteed (2012; Aubrey Plaza, Mark Duplass; an offbeat romantic comedy about an eccentric paranoid who believes he's solved the riddle of time travel). Second movie choice: A Very Long Engagement (2005; Audrey Tautou; a beautiful story of love and faith in World War I France). Potluck begins at 6:30. For further information call Norm Kowal (458-4537).
UUFH Race Dialog 
At the Hendersonville UU Fellowship "Dialogue On The Subject of Race" continues, meeting on Thursday, February 16  & Thursday, March 23rd,  6 pm to 8 pm
 
Our talks will center on the DVDs entitled Back To Eden,  Lee Mun Wah’s film about nine women and men who begin an honest and emotionally charged conversation about how racism and sexism has affected their lives and families.The Rev. Jim Mckinley and The Rev. Michael J Carter will be facilitating.  Looking forward to seeing you!
Next Newsletter 
The deadline for the March Newsletter is February 25rd. Please submit items to newsletter.uucsv@ 
gmail.com The best format is simply in the body of an email. 
Thanks,
Ginny and Jackie 
UUCSV Leadership
Board of Trustees:
Diane Graham
Sarah Kirkpatrick
Frank Pizzardi
David Reid, President
Tina Rosato
Carol Sheeler
Dave Wells, Vice-Pres.
 
Minister,
Rev. Michael Carter,
ex-officio, non-voting
Board Member
 
Treasurer:
Lee Reading

UUCSV  •  500 Montreat Road  •  Black Mountain, NC 28711

https://uusv.org

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