Domelight July

Domelight

Newsletter of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Tampa - July 2005

Rev. Marjorie Bowens-Wheatley, Minister Katie Culbert, RE Director

This, our 50^th year, is a time for looking back over our accomplishments. For such a small organization in such a non-religious liberal part of the country, to have survived for half a century is no small matter. Members of our predecessor church in the mid-1930’s made a stand for racial equality, incurring the violent wrath of the KKK. Likewise, the Civil Rights movement of the 1960’s was vigorously supported by the membership when located in south Tampa. During the 60’s and early 70’s, many members let their voices be heard against the imperialistic Viet Nam War, and at the same time honored returning veterans. Former minister the Rev. Mike Young was instrumental in helping form the Tampa/Hillsborough County Human Rights Council, and was an early president of that organization. UUCT has been a leading church within the Hillsborough Organization For Progress and Equality (H.O.P.E.), standing for economic and cultural justice in the Tampa area.

Looking ahead toward the next 50 years, we anticipate even greater accomplishments for our religious community. We intend to grow into a sizable presence, as our church increases membership. Creating new and expanding venues for social justice will keep us vital and engaged within our community, state and nation. Remaining a beacon of free religious inquiry for those coming out of oppressive orthodoxy is one of our major “callings” as people of faith. Seeking ways to become an increasingly diverse congregation remains another of our major goals as a people of compassion.

The Gift of this, our 50^th year is to be savored. Seek ways to participate in our year-long (and longer) celebration. Contribute your “historic story” to our growing collection. Join one or more of the planned events coming up. Plan to attend the festivities in February ‘06, when UUA President Bill Sinkford visits to celebrate with us. Create your own 50^th year activity and share it with us in photo and word.

With all our celebrating, let us remember to keep on financially supporting this, our wonderful church. The 2006 Pledge Drive will take place in October. Ensure our continued prosperity and growth by pledging generously.

THE GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION OF UUCT

Tampa UU church was established in July of 1955. This will be a year of Reverence, Revelry and Remembrance (3 R’s). We are collecting history, photos and memorabilia along with recollections of social justice work but the deadline is fast approaching. Contact: Grant Wilson as soon as possible (813-948-4630) or e-mail Grant.Wilson11@Verizon.net.

Lots of neat events are already planned, and several others are still under construction.

July: Gloria Holloway is investigating holding a 50^th Concert Festival
September 10: Welcome Home Dinner and Game Night
October: Harvest/Halloween event sponsored by CUPPS
November: Youth TBA event
December: (Just in time for Christmas giving) Craft Show
January: Social Action event (Martin Luther King Day)
January 21: (This date may change) Cabaret
February 18 & 19: The Rev. Bill Sinkford, UUA President, will join us for our Anniversary Dinner on the 18th (a delicious gourmet catered dinner to celebrate our 50^th year). And the Rev. Sinkford will be the featured speaker at the Sunday Service on the 19th.

Want to help or have any suggestions: the next meeting will be July 17 after church at 12:15 (Contact: Judy Lehman@ 813-866-0591 or e-mail jr.lehman@verizon.net.

President- Tempie Taudte
Vice President- Felice Richardson
Treasurer- Ed Benedict
Secretary- Jerry Elsenrath (term ending in August)
Member - Tito Basu
Member - Bill Blymiller
Member - Tom Hagner
Member - Mark Henneberry (term beginning in September)
Member - Ralph Lehman
Member - Martha Robinson (term ending in August)
Member - Diana Stevens (term beginning in September)

Attention everyone who is interested in fundraising!!!!!!!!!!! (no experience is necessary):

You are encouraged to attend a wine and cheese reception to be held in the home of Felice Richardson on July 29th at 7pm. The intent of this gathering is to network, generate enthusiasm, and discuss creative strategies in church fundraising activities.

Dan Dechichio, a UU previously from Boston and new to Tampa, is an experienced facilitator and will be present to discuss his successful experiences in generating fundraising income.

Please call or e-mail Felice for directions to her home (in the New Tampa area) or if you have any questions (813-979-1505 or FambiFL@aol.com)

Mid-year pledge statements were mailed in early June. Your planned support of the ministry at UUCT is greatly appreciated. To inquire about the status of your pledge or correct an error on your statement, contact pledge secretary Joyce Formica (813-988-1907).

Unitarian Universalist Church of Tampa

One Place. All Faiths

PLAN TO ATTEND AN APPRECIATIVE INQUIRY GATHERING THIS SUMMER

Periodically, we should be examining our church to remember who we want to be, where we want to go, how we want to get there. Dreaming about our future together is a powerful way to determine the answers to those questions. It helps our minister in her work; it guides our leaders, committees and programs. It gives voice to our vision and our mission as a church community.

UUCT is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, so we have the opportunity to look back and time to dream forward.

Dreaming forward is what we are inviting you to do this summer. In a comfortable environment, within a small group, dream the dream. What do you love about this church? What would you love to see the church look and be like in the future?

This summer and into the fall, we will be holding a series of "Appreciative Inquiry Gatherings" to dream our future together. Then, we will gather all those dreams together and use them to power our steps as we move forward.

Sign up for an Appreciative Inquiry meeting this month! Sign up sheets will be posted by the Sanctuary on a bulletin Board. We hope to hold a meeting at times and locations that will allow everyone--member and friend, young and old--to attend. I will also be announcing newly-scheduled meetings on the church email list. Host a meeting, or learn to be a facilitator for the process. Be a part of dreaming about our shared future.

PLEDGE INFO:
When making a cash contribution toward your 2005 pledge, place the money in an envelope and please print your name on the envelope.

SUNDAY July 24—MUSE FOR MANY SOULS: A MULTICULTURAL CELEBRATION OF POETRY AND MUSIC

This is our second year for this popular summer service! We need Lovers of Poetry and Music to participate in the service on July 24, 2005, a celebration of poetry and music from different cultures that reflect the following part of the UU living tradition:

“Direct experience of that transcending mystery and wonder, affirmed in all cultures, which moves us to a renewal of the spirit and an openness to the forces which create and uphold life.”

There will be a selection of works from many poets of different cultures with many themes, including love of nature and the earth. Musicians who would like to share their gifts are most welcome and wanted! Share your songs of spirit, nature and mother earth. After the service, we will share an Indoor Picnic, so please bring a cold dish to share! Please join us and find food for the soul and the body. Please contact Rena Bird at 813-413-0126 or email: serenasdream@earthlink.net

The UUs of Napa, California invite you to a unique opportunity to enjoy two of America’s most scenic valleys, Napa and Sonoma.

We will help you choose from over 600 wineries and hundreds of world class restaurants, COPIA (the American Center for Food, Wine and the Arts), Jack London’s home, Francis Ford Coppola’s winery and movie museum, art galleries, miles of trails with breathtaking views and more.

Locally savvy UU guides will drive you to selected wineries, historic sites and mountain trails with breathtaking views. You will stay in UU homes for good conversation, good breakfasts and warm hospitality.

Our offer is limited to June, July and August. Plan three nights with two days of touring. Our fees are well below market rate for similar services. All proceeds benefit our Fellowship. We have limited openings, so contact us now for details. Tom Wilson (707) 254 7443, twilson9@sbcglobal.net.

Have you moved? Are you are planning to move? If either of these apply to you and you would like to continue receiving the Domelight, please put your change of address on the guest register, located on the reception table in the entrance foyer, noting address change. (Please print your new information clearly.)

As the keeper of the UUCT email list, I have been asked several times if a member or friend can put an ad on the list serve for their business. I have said NO, as this was not the purpose of the list. We did put ads in the Domelight at one point, but got in trouble with the Post Office and almost lost our bulk mail rights. However, it would be a good idea for us to have a Directory of Services so that we could use each other's services. I know I would like to go to someone from the church that I can trust.

So, I will be collecting business cards or business/service information to be put into a Directory of Services that will be made available at church for members and friends. Include as much information as you wish, but no pictures. I'll put them all in the same format. The deadline is August 1st for the information, and I will put out the Directory in time for Homecoming. There will be a supplement added after 6 months with new submissions and changes. A new Directory will be done each year. It will cost you $5.00 for each listing.

You can get your information to me by email diana.stevens@verizon.net (you will need to see me about the $5.00 fee) or by mail, 1523 Vandervort Rd., Lutz, Fl 33549, or by putting your information in an envelope and leaving it in the church office. Please mark the envelope very clearly that this is for me to use in the UUCT Directory of Services. Make all checks payable to UUCT. Cash is accepted.

If you have any questions, call me at 948-4630 or email me at the above address.

All the proceeds will go to the church's general fund. This is just an idea and we will see how it goes.

INTERWEAVE DOMELIGHT NOTICE:

Interweave is the UUA Affiliated organization of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgendered, Intersexed Unitarians and their Allies. The mission statement of the Interweave Continental, Inc.: Interweave is a membership organization affiliated with the Unitarian Universalist Association, dedicated to the spiritual, political, and social well-being of Unitarian Universalists who are confronting oppression as lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, transgender persons, and their heterosexual allies; and facilitates the celebration of the culture and lives of its members.

Our next regular meeting will be on July 10^th, 2005 after the service. Please join us.

MORE ABOUT H.O.P.E.
(Hillsborough Organization for Progress and Equality)

First, an update on the 2005 HOPE Support Drive. So far this year, members and friends of UUCT have invested $2400! It is not necessary to wait to be contacted. To help us meet or exceed our goal of $3000, make your checks out to HOPE and send to Carol Partington. (I record them so UUCT gets credit and pass them on to HOPE.) I encourage you to join the $100 or $200 Club if it fits your budget. Or invest whatever amount is comfortable to you for us to work together with diverse congregations in Hillsborough County for Fairness, Justice and Dignity.

Last month I gave you some background about HOPE, which all of us belong to as members of UUCT. This month I will outline HOPE's organizational structure with information directly stolen from a HOPE brochure. HOPE Membership: Open to organizations, except politically partisan groups, which will act on HOPE's mission and goals. All member applicants must be approved at a HOPE Unity Assembly and give annual membership dues based on membership size.

Biennial Convention: Brings hundreds of delegates together from member groups to elect the Board of Directors, authorize action agenda, make necessary changes to the Constitution and By-Laws, and celebrate the life of HOPE.

Unity Assembly: Quarterly membership meetings sanction the work of committees, approve and commit to implement action recommendations, approve applications for membership, and build relationships among
members.

Board of Directors: Individual members elected or appointed by member groups. The board meets monthly to develop and implement policy decisions, authorize and review budgets, and oversee activities between Assemblies.

Research/Planning Committees: Persons interested in a specific problem meet to research and develop action recommendations to address the root causes of that problem.

HOPE Staff work with members to carry out the activities of HOPE and are accountable to HOPE's Board of Directors.

HOPE is affiliated with the D.A.R.T. Network (Direct Action & Research Training Center) in Miami, FL, and is a member of the F.D.O.F. (Federation of DART Organizations, Florida).

"Justice at its best is love correcting everything that stands against love."
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Submitted by Carol Partington

UUA TRUSTEE TIDBITS
Joan Lund

By the time you read this I will have returned from General Assembly, but unfortunately the column (to meet deadlines) must be written early in the preceding month. Perhaps I will write about G.A. for the August newsletters. I know I will have seen many of you at G.A. Always a treat! All of us are keeping our fingers crossed that even though the weather folks predict another tough hurricane season, it will not happen. We must continue, and will support one another during times of stress and need.

This month I am writing about UUA Associate organizations and UUA Affiliate organizations, which sometimes may be confusing when trying to understand the difference. Actually it’s a fairly easy distinction since there are only three Associate Organizations: the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee (UUSC), the Unitarian Universalist United Nations Office (UU-UNO), and the Unitarian Universalist Women’s Federation (UUWF). These organizations have been granted membership by the UUA Board of Trustees and must fulfill certain criteria: its membership or constituency consists of individuals located throughout the Association; its purposes and programs are auxiliary to and supportive of the principles of the Association; and the organization pledges itself to financially support the Association.

Independent Affiliate memberships are granted by the UUA Board of Trustees to organizations whose purposes and intentions are found to be in sympathy with the principles of the Association and who support the Association by paying an annual contribution. The Office of the Executive Vice-president maintains a list of current affiliates and coordinates the annual review of each organization’s status as an independent affiliate. There are between 60 and 65 independent affiliate organization. Some of the more well-known groups are: the Covenant of UU Pagans; Diverse and Revolutionary UU Multicultural Ministries (DRUUMM); HUUmanists Association; Interweave; Latina/o UU Networking Association (LUUNA); Seventh Principle Project (I wrote about this group in a past column); The Mountain Retreat & Learning Centers, Inc.; The Universalist Men's Network (UUMeN); Unitarian Universalist Partner Church Council; Unitarian Universalist Women & Religion; and UU in the Pines, Inc., A Retreat/Conference Center.

If you wish to know more about associate or independent affiliate organizations you can contact organizations@uua.org or me jlund@uua.org. I will try my best to assist. Take care of each other and enjoy the summer.

CONCERTS IN THE UU DOME

At Domelight deadline, July plans are still pending; however, there’s a whopper coming up on August 1.

*******************************************************************
"CONCERTS IN THE UU DOME" PRESENTS:
WHO:    MICHAEL SMITH     michaelsmithmusic.com
WHEN: Monday August 1st    TIME: 7:30 pm
COST:    $ 12 AT THE DOOR
INFO: 813-988-8188   or www.uutampa.org click on concerts
WHERE: Unitarian Universalist Church of Tampa
**********************************************************************

QUOTES: One of the best songwriters in the English language… an enchanting and riveting performer. Chicago Magazine…… Michael Smith stands out as one of the few undisputed geniuses among singer-songwriters. Sing Out! Magazine

GAMBLE ROGERS CONNECTION: A few weeks ago, Michael was a headliner at the 10th Annual Gamble Rogers Folk Festival in St Augustine. (The late Gamble and Michael were good friends.) Per the festival producer: "It is fitting that Michael should be here to help us celebrate our 10th anniversary. When you go into a venture like this, you don't know if it’s the right thing or not. When Michael walked on to that stage at our first festival, we knew we had done it right. Michael is one of the best song-writers in the business. His wit, his voice, his guitar playing and especially his lyrics combine to make for a wonderful day."

BIO: Michael Smith was born in South Orange, NJ, on 9/7/41. He attended Our Lady of the Valley and Our Lady of Sorrows, Catholic schools (inspiration for some of his better known songs). At age 15 he bought a $5 guitar and started playing in a group inspired equally by the Kingston Trio and Harry Belafonte. They called themselves The Kalypso Kids and played a lot of VFW halls and psychiatric hospitals.

By college age Michael and his family had relocated to Florida. Michael attended St Petersburg Jr. College. There he formed a quartet called The Wanderers which played gigs on the beach and at local coffeehouses. After The Wanderers, he became a part of a duo called The Talismen. "We hit every coffee-house in the world," Michael recalls. "Those were days when you got hired by the week and people stood in line. They didn't even have to know who you were. It was Folk Music, and Folk Music was happening."

Following his stint with The Talismen, and at the height of the folk boom, he went to Miami where he appeared at the famed folk club, The Flick, six nights a week for three years. He did entirely his own material. "I would say, ‘This song is Fred Neil’s.’ People would say, 'Oh, I haven’t heard that one.' Then I'd say, 'It's one of his better ones, don't you think?’ '"

Michael has continued in the music business throughout his life. "I feel so grateful to get to do what I do. I feel I was born to write songs." Not only has Michael performed and recorded his own songs, but they (especially "The Dutchman") have also been recorded by numerous other artists. For instance, here’s a list of Michael’s songs covered by Steve Goodman: The Dutchman, Spoon River, Roving Cowboy, Danger, Hit and Run Lover, Vegematic Song, Elvis Imitator, Talk Backwards, Whispering Man, Crazy Mary and The Wonderful World of Sex.

Please come to The Dome and experience Michael firsthand. You’ll be glad you did. I guaran-darn-tee it!

CIRCLES IN THE WOODS CUUPS

All are welcome to join our Full Moon Celebration on July 23^rd at 7:30pm, where we will honor the balance reflected in nature and celebrate the masculine and the three incarnations of the God, the Conquering Youth, the Mature Lover, and the Lord of Death.

Our next CUUPS meeting, on August 1^st at 7:00pm, will be followed by a Lammas ritual. All are welcome!

Also CUUPS provides “rites of passage” rituals of Handfastings (marriage), Wiccanings, House Blessings, Womanings, and other life and spiritual celebrations. Just drop of a message in the CUUPS mailbox at UUCT, or email gldnpuma@earthlink, net and we will get back to you. Congratulations to the Knight family on their new home!

Join the DRUMMING CIRCLE on Monday, July 25 from 7 –9pm. DRUMMING CIRCLES have been scheduled for the 4^th Monday of every month in the large Dome. This will not be a group of “expert drummers” so you do not need any previous experience to join in. If you do not have a drum, that’s okay because most likely there will be some drums to share. Also, join in with rattles, shakers or other instruments. There will be no charge, but we will provide some drinks and snacks, so bring a few coins in your pocket.

Have a particular sermon you want to hear again? Really liked that choir anthem and would like a copy? Your favorite son/daughter/friend was featured in the service and you would like a keepsake? All the services are recorded and available on cd. Just stop by the sound room and ask. Copies are $5 and are generally available the week following the request.

SUMMER BOOK DISCUSSION GROUP

The Adult Religious Education Committee has started a book discussion series. Participants will meet on Sundays following the service to have lunch and discuss the assigned books. The current program is:

The Gods of Science Fiction Series – focusing on religion and gods as seen in three different novels from three generations of Science Fiction writers.

7/3    Small Gods – Terry Pratchett (led by Bill Blymiller)
7/17   A Canticle for Leibowitz – Walter Miller (led by Bill Blymiller)
11/1   The Bluest Eye – Toni Morrison (led by Marjorie Bowens-Wheatley)

Contact the leader for information. If you would like to lead a discussion contact Denise Dorsey, Chairperson of the Adult Religious Education Committee (813 972-7728).

IT'S HERE NOW! - ELECTRONIC PLEDGES

UU Church of Tampa is now able to provide members with the ability to fulfill their pledge contributions electronically. This will allow members and friends to have their pledge automatically debited from either their bank account or their credit cards. This process will eliminate the need to write checks to complete pledge obligations. Since contributions will be listed on bank/credit card account statements record keeping will be simple. Electronic transfers will also provide additional security since they can't be misplaced, lost or stolen, as a check might.

The Vanco organization, which the church has engaged to provide this service, currently processes electronic contributions for thousands of churches. A significant number of the churches currently using the services of Vanco are Unitarian Universalist Churches. These churches range from several dozen members up to several thousand members. Vanco is a member of he Upper Midwest Automated Clearing House Association and has over 15 years of experience processing electronic transactions through the ACH (Automated Clearing House) Network.

Enclosed within this issue of the Domelight is a form which you may use to signup for this service. Please send completed forms to the Finance Committee at the church. We hope you will be pleased with this new benefit which the Finance Committee now offers to our members and friends.

RELATIONSHIP, CONNECTION, FELLOWSHIP

….that’s what it is all about in our beloved church. In order to grow both in richness of personal experience, commitment, and numbers, UUCT will be starting small/covenant groups. These will be groups of 8 to 10 people who covenant to meet regularly in order to build relationships and grow spiritually. They will provide a safe space for listening and sharing. Some small groups have specific themes or membership characteristics and others are simply about building relationships. Are you interested in learning more and/or being a member of such a group? Please sign up on the Small Group Ministry sheet in the church hall or telephone Joan Lund, (813-931-9727).

Our guest speakers for the August 21^st service will be Debra Hussong and Faith Frippinger.

Faith Frippinger is a retired teacher--of blind children. Faith lived with residents of Baghdad and served as a “Human Shield” during the early months of the attack on Iraq. Her works with the innocent victims (and all victims) of the ravages of war reach the true heart of the words “heroine/hero” and “patriot”. She currently lives in Sarasota.

Debra Hussong is an independent film-producer/director (www.DAHfilms.com). DVD’s of her documentary films, “Human Shield” and “Battered, Bruised and Broken” can be borrowed through the church office or by contacting John Jeter (813-914-8534). Debra’s films on issues of social justice have been featured at numerous film festivals.

Invite others for this presentation as Faith and Debra’s works serve as a much needed unifying beacon for people of widely divergent views.

Unitarian Universalist Church of Tampa

One Place. All Faiths

As most of you know, Office Administrator and Director of Religious Education, Katie Culbert, is expecting her first child at the end of July/beginning of August. While she is away on maternity leave (approximately late-July through mid-September) she will be relying upon the help of volunteers and the congregation to keep things running smoothly. Please make a note of the following:

Each week a volunteer will be helping out with basic office duties including checking the voice mail and e-mail for messages, sorting the mail, and printing and folding the Sunday Worship order of service. If you are interested in helping, please contact Katie at church.

Order of service Announcements: In an effort to make the office volunteer’s job easier, there will be no written announcements in the worship bulletins while Katie is away. All announcements will need to be shared during the announcements portion of the service and/or posted on the announcements board, located in the hallway.

Bulletin boards: The office administrator is responsible for posting fliers on the bulletin boards and making sure items are taken down in a timely fashion. In her absence, please post your own fliers on the appropriate bulletin board and make sure to take them down when the event has passed.

Calendaring events to take place at the church: Check the calendar (located in the office) to see that the church space you need is available on the date you need it. You MUST have someone with a key to open and close for your event before reserving space. Fill out a calendar request form. Put your event on the calendar. Leave the calendar request in the blue folder.

RE classes are not held during the summer. Childcare will be available in the small dome/on the playground during the 11:00 Sunday morning worship. There will not be childcare for infants but the nursery will be unlocked and available during service.

The first day of Religious Education class for children and youth is September 18^th. Please note the following changes:

RE will begin at 11:00, with all children and youth joining their families in the sanctuary for the first 15 minutes of service. Afterwards, they will be dismissed with their teachers and all children and youth will walk over to the small dome. Parents/guardians will be responsible for retrieving their children immediately following service and bringing them back to the big dome for coffee/juice hour.

Parents/guardians will be receiving a letter this summer with more details about the fall program. If you have any questions while Katie is away please feel free to contact a member of the RE committee. The RE Committee contact info is on the RE Bulletin board, located next to the RE Office.

CALENDAR OF WEEKLY EVENTS

SUNDAY

10am                        Meditation in the Meadow (follow Signs)
10am                                          Current Affairs (Large Dome)
11am                                                                  Sunday Service
11am                                                  Child Care (Small Dome)

WEDNESDAY

6pm Wonderful Wednesday Potluck

THURSDAY

CALENDAR OF JULY EVENTS

July 1 (7pm-???)……………..1^st Friday Potluck @ Jerry’s
July 9 (9am-1pm)….…...………..…Building and Grounds
July17…………………August DOMELIGHT DEADLINE
July 18 (7pm)…………….……………..Finance Committee
July 21 (7pm)…………………....……………Board Meeting
July 23 (7:30-10:30pm)….….Full Moon Celebration(Open)
July 25 (7-9:30pm)………..……………………Drum Circle

A group of UU’s meet on at Lettuce Lake Park Thursday mornings at 8:30 am for a brisk walk on the paved path and good conversation. To find the parking area and meeting place, take the Lettuce Lake Parkway to the end. Turn left and then immediately turn right into the parking lot. We will gather there and begin the walk at 8:30. You are welcome to join us. For more information contact Patricia McCracken at 988-6453.