Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of the Emerald Coast

Our Fellowship has accomplished a good deal recently. Members gathered and delivered needed goods to Alabama after the tornado disaster. Over $800 was also donated to the UU Mid-South District Emergency Fund. We had our largest ever Religious Exploration Sunday Service with children and youth presenting an outstanding program as organized by our energetic and innovative RE leaders. Our highly successful OWL program is wrapping up.

Just a few years ago, we were concerned our Fellowship was becoming older and set in our ways. We now have many families, in many forms, and our new members are taking active roles in our UU community. We should pause as we take part during our Services and 2nd Hour to think through these changes and how they not only support our young families, but also our ‘mature’ members. We have the advantage of many venues and many ways to serve, not only our UU community, but our community at large. Summer is always a time of pause. Attendance is lower and we have more guest speakers and varied programs.  And as we enjoy the warm season, let us think about what we’d like to see in the future and how we can add to our communities.

I hope many take advantage of attending the UU General Assembly in Charlotte NC 22-26 June. GA always hosts wonderful programs and an exciting time amongst many UUs. Come join us. Call me if you have any questions: 651-3040.

We have so many things going on in our Fellowship and in our Movement, and we learn about these through the many of our avenues of communication, and our Fellowship is lucky to have these resources. I was looking through our Fellowship website, uufec.org, and realized how up to date and how well maintained it is. Chris Jordan, our website manager is doing a fantastic job on this very important venue. We’d be surprised how many visitors and new members have found and researched our Fellowship through this informative site. If you missed one of Rod’s talks, it will be on the website…wonder what is coming up in the Fellowship, check the website. And if you are a member but don’t have the password, just give me a yell.

And talking about sharing information, you are reading one of the premier newsletters of our District.  It is so well presented and laid out that it is a pleasure to read. So many contributors and so many photos, but it is here thanks to the direct work of Chris Larson and her team.

Finally, we have our weekly form of communication during our Sunday services where John Drury keeps our microphones and speakers up and working and our music playing. I bet you don’t realize that few of us could hear the beautiful music Cecile plays without proper setting up of the power and output. We are lucky to have these venues and to have such dedicated, hardworking people behind the scenes keeping us informed.

Here we are at the start of Spring, and our Fellowship is growing in so many ways. Our Religious Exploration programs are expanding for both Adult and Children. You can see it in how our 2nd Hour programs are growing in attendance, and in how many kids come forward during our Story for All Ages. It is exciting to see all the growth and change. We are improving our sound system. Our choir is taking on new programs. Our minister is presenting very challenging talks. Sometimes, I find myself getting up Sunday morning and thinking about just relaxing, but I then I start looking forward to the Fellowship. And when I walk in, it’s like being recharged. I feel so good after spending the morning with friends and new visitors.

We also have our Pledge Drive ongoing, a chance for each of us to share in our commitment. And at the same time, we are actively raising funds to purchase the land next to our Fellowship in order to insure our future growth. I used the term ‘growth’ a number of times, but I really don’t mean the physical growth, but growth in friends. and growth in spirituality. I hope everyone is enjoying this journey as much as I am.

Each Sunday brings new people and families to our Fellowship. With the New Year, many take this time to review and make changes. I think that is why we see many visitors, they may be stepping out of the old and want to try something ‘new’, and here we are!

So what about us as a Fellowship?  We do have a number of challenges in front of us, but I was thinking more about what our Fellowship will do as a community for our community. The Rev. Debs spoke this last Sunday on why “You Can’t Get There From Here,” about changes we have to make if we wish to take a new path. I thought a lot about his talk and how I had to make some pretty significant changes. I couldn’t get to where I had wanted to be living the way I was, and I made changes. One of those changes was coming to our Fellowship. I needed a spiritual life, a spiritual self and coming here brought it to me. I think I have a deeper understanding of my relationship with my fellow travelers on this journey being a member here.

And that is what I’d like to challenge each of us to consider, and for our Fellowship as a whole to consider. What is Worthy of our Fellowship to do? What do we want to step forward and take on as a community? I have no answers, not even any suggestions. This is for us as a community to consider.

Recently, the UUFEC Board approved a policy to promote UU Principles in postings and public discussions at our Fellowship. The Board held an in-depth discussion regarding freedom of expression and the nature of any policy that could be perceived as restrictive. UUFEC encourages open discussions and the sharing of opinions and opposing views. It is a hallmark of UU life. At the same time, we have covenanted as members and participants in UU community to be respectful. Our Principles promote the inherent worth and dignity of everyone while exercising a responsible search for truth and meaning. One of the major draws for me joining this community is that it challenges me to look beyond my own biases and presumptions. We will disagree on many issues, but we are encouraged to voice personal opinions and to challenge each other in a respectful manner. We ask everyone to share respectfully, within the context of compassion and listen to each others’ views. We strive to make UUFEC a safe place to learn who we are and who we are meant to be. This Posting Policy aspiration is to encourage respectful expression and strengthen our church. I hope this new Policy opens us all to discussions on what it means to be a UU – how do we share our views in a manner that recognizes and respects every person’s spiritual journey.

POSTING POLICY

“Public Speech and Postings on UUFEC property shall reflect Unitarian Universalist values as covenanted in the Principles and Sources. The President, in consultation with the Executive Committee of the Board, the Minister and the person posting, if known, may remove any postings deemed inconsistent with this policy or take other appropriate action. Questions or concerns about any particular posting or public speech should be referred to the Congregational Ministry Committee.”

We start our new year for our Fellowship with our new Board members as follows.

Executive Board

President   Denny Lauer
Vice President Micah Krider
Secretary   Diane Gibson
Treasurer   Ed Farley
Past President Don Harrison

Members at Large

Chris Larson 12/11
Karen Lauer 12/11
Millie Williams 12/12
Scotty Zilinsky 12/12
Kathy Roniger 12/13
Sandra Topp 12/13

The Rev. Rod Debs (receiving a Board award below) is an ex-officio (non-voting) member. If you have any questions or wish to make suggestions, please contact any of us.

Here we are at the start of the ‘Giving (and receiving) Season’ and I wish all good wishes and cheer.  Our Fellowship is in fine shape as can be seen by the growth in our Religious Exploration, both children and adult programs, in our attendance on Sundays and at Circles, and in our work in the community.  2010 Season of the Lights, we are approaching an opportunity, the chance to buy the land adjacent to us. It will give us so many options, some of which I spoke on last month. This land will give us a secure future for growth and ways to support our community at large. For example, we’ve not had a full-Fellowship dinner in a while – not because we can’t feed our growing members and friends, but mainly because of logistics – setting up a dining area and then supporting a Sunday service and Second Hour. The building on this land can be modified for such events. It can also be for meeting areas. It gives us so many options!

But for it to be a part of our future, we need the funds to secure this acquisition. We do not want to float another mortgage, but hope to purchase the land pretty much outright – this means we need donations for this effort and we need them soon. We have already received a number of very generous gifts, but we need our members to step up and make this purchase possible by making a personal financial commitment. If you are interested, please contact one of the following: Judy Byrne Riley, Finance chair; Don Hawkins, Emerson Society Chair; Denny Lauer, President. We are putting together the finances through our long range giving committee, the Emerson Society, which was formed for just this type of effort.

So please join us in securing our  future. If you have any questions, please contact one of us, or any member of the Board with your questions.

It seems each month brings a new challenge to our community. And each challenge comes as a positive change to our Fellowship faces. We are now looking at the opportunity to grow, physically. The adjacent land with the A-frame house west of us is up for sale and we are moving forward to see if we can purchase it. We are approaching this opportunity two-fold: negotiate a price with the owner, and ask our members to support this financially. We ask members to make a financial commitment that will reduce the mortgage, and a monthly commitment. Negotiations are ongoing, so we need our members and friends to step up and commit. To make a commitment, please contact me, Judy Byrne Riley, our Finance committee chair, or Don Hawkins of our Endowment Committee.

This potential purchase can be looked at from two perspectives: as a commitment to support growth by providing us more space, and also as good business decision. Our Second Hour Religious Exploration programs are limited by the space we have available in our current building. This purchase would insure we could meet future growth. When our Fellowship made the decision to move to our present building in the early ‘90s, we saw we were no longer growing because of the limited space of our location, and we made the commitment and brought us to where we are now. As a business decision, procuring this land adds to the value of our infrastructure. This gives our Fellowship many options, and our decisions now can help secure our future. Once we have a price and know what commitment we have from our Fellowship, we will ask members to agree to this procurement. We will do this as a community. Please join us with your support. Your help is needed.

Our service on the Qur’an highlighted the inspiring UU advocacy project, “Standing on the Side of Love.” The project was instigated two years ago after a man walked into the Tennessee Valley UU Church and killed two people. The reaction of UU communities was to reaffirm our belief that hatred will cease only through love. This gave birth to our “Standing on the Side of Love” movement which captures the essence of being a UU. ‘Though not unique to UUs it defines our overall UU Principles and Covenant. It supports the gay and lesbian community struggle for equal rights and our nation’s challenges with immigration. Now it is the cornerstone of how we react to the hatred and fear expressed against Islam.

Our Fellowship stepped forward on these issues. We resolved to remain rooted in love, focused on our Principles which are rooted in values from many faiths and Humanist rationality. Our church is a Welcoming Congregation, honoring all people; we are certified as a Green Sanctuary, acknowledging our commitment to conserving our Earth home, and our building is a dedicated Peace Site.

Now we stand with Muslims in honor of the love and truths to be found in that great religion. Our respect for many paths and truths is not to be confused with validity for all. White supremacy, anti-Semitism, environmental exploitation, homophobia, and Islamophobia have no place in a UU community. Period. UUs honor the inherent worth of all people. Those who would stereotype and harm others do not honor their inherent worth. Hatred and bigotry are not acceptable. “Standing on the Side of Love” empowers and focuses our best energy. Let us keep the words of Martin Luther King Jr. alive in our hearts: “Hatred paralyzes life; love releases it. Hatred confuses life; love harmonizes it. Hatred darkens life; love illuminates it.”

Go in peace.

A few Sunday’s ago, I asked the Fellowship three questions. I received 60+ responses. And here is a sampling of the responses:

1. What brought you here and why do you stay?

-        There is no other community that is so inclusive, so compassionate.

-        We stay for the warmth of friends and the sanctuary of reason and open-mindedness.

-        To give my children a greater family and instill in them UU values.

-        Come to focus on things that are bigger than me. The Services, Rev Debs.

-        Strong women, respected for who they are. A balance between secular and spiritual life.

2. What has changed in you since attending?

-        We have been inspired to share the UU perspective. I have gained a feeling of acceptance.

-        Relief from self-centeredness. Caused me to ‘rethink’ former positions.

-        Inspired by the children. Want to see this UU Fellowship be here after I am gone.

-        New ideas, traditions. Challenged by Minister’s talks. My life has changed by this church.

-        First day. So far so good. Very open-minded. Love it.

3. What do you want our Fellowship to do in our Community?

-        Provides music appreciation program. Provide book study group. Continue supporting charities.

-        Start a community and garden on our land. Let’s go for the building purchase.

-        Help support local student groups which don’t fit into set categories.

-        Our Fellowship should reach out to Christian communities to foster a climate of tolerance.

-        Could support food banks, or members. Habitat for Humanity.

-        Support solar power for the church in the next few years.

Do any of these touch you? If you’d like, send me your responses to these questions to: kdlauer2@gmail.com.