Domelight October

Domelight

Newsletter of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Tampa - October 2005

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

When it comes to news, they say that Americans have a short attention span. Even the most important news stories, we are told, remain in the public consciousness about 15 days. But like the 9/11 tragedy, Hurricane Katrina is much more than a news story. Through the news media, on a huge story such as Katrina, we learn so much about our culture.

One week before Katrina stuck the Gulf coast, rapper Kanye West was featured as a Time magazine cover story. This so-called “bourgeois” rap artist’s forthcoming album was touted as “compelling.” But when he said "George Bush doesn't care about black people" during an NBC telethon for hurricane relief, the network felt compelled to issue a disclaimer. But I heard of no disclaimers when Barbara Bush said: "So many of the people in the arena here, you know, were underprivileged anyway, so this [the Houston Astrodome]—this is working very well for them" or when Rep. Richard Baker (R-LA) was quoted in the Wall Street Journal as saying, "We finally cleaned up public housing in New Orleans. We couldn't do it, but God did."

As an African American from a working class background, I read Mrs. Bush’s and Rep. Baker’s statements to be what Dr. Vincent Harding has called “soul murdering.” They disturb my countenance in the deepest way to the point that once again, I must think about every move I make.

Yes, I counsel people to practice a spiritual discipline so that they are less likely to internalize whatever is disturbing in their environment. But when I read such comments, and that more than 70 percent of the U.S. population do not believe that the government’s slow response to the Katrina disaster (in New Orleans in particular) had anything to do with race, I do not feel safe. I do not feel safe because a great majority of Americans do not acknowledge what is obvious to many people of color. Or perhaps it is that we have different understandings of how race affects our society and, for that matter, different understandings of what racism is.

My partner, the Rev. Clyde Grubbs, pointed out to me that a great majority of people in the U.S. understand racism as personal prejudice, such as acts committed by the KKK. In this understanding, institutional racism is not recognized. Institutional racism considers historic factors such as the legacies of slavery and colonialism. These encompass systems that promote on-going social injustices like school systems that do not educate; discrimination in employment and housing, including the intentional creation of isolated underserved areas; transportation systems that punctuate this isolation and do not provide public transportation for such neighborhoods; prisons that warehouse those whom schools did not educate … and so on and so on.

If those who say that race had nothing to do with the slow response considered these things, I wonder if the response would be different.

In thinking about racism, many people focus on intent. When Kanye West said that the President doesn’t care about black people, I do not think that he was making a conclusive statement about what may or may not be in the heart of our national leader. Rather, I suspect that he was making a statement about the result—how long-term suffering of a people affected the response to a crisis. In other words, how systems affect people is what’s important. Individualism is so much a part of the American ethic that it is sometimes difficult to acknowledge how social systems work. We are made whole when the society in which we claim allegiance is also whole. That requires being active participants in the struggle for social justice, and racial justice is a huge part of social justice.

As I was preparing this column, I learned of a cross burning at an apartment complex in Wesley Chapel. Residents reported hearing racial epithets. I live in Wesley Chapel. Should I feel safe in our current cultural environment?

Unitarian Universalist Church of Tampa

One Place. All Faiths

President- Tempie Taudte
Vice President- Felice Richardson
Treasurer- Ed Benedict
Member - Tito Basu
Member - Bill Blymiller
Member - Tom Hagner
Member - Mark Henneberry
Member - Ralph Lehman
Member - Diana Stevens

Have you moved? Are you are planning to move? If either of these applies 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. Printing your new address & phone number clearly will help us keep our records updated.

THE PLEDGE DRIVE’S BIG ASK

While reading this, you are well aware that our annual Pledge Drive, known in previous years as the Annual Canvass, is in high gear. Our Kick-Off Drive on October 1 offers free dinner for all and an opportunity for each of us to be wined, dined, and entertained prior to a Pledge Drive Volunteer making the BIG ASK sometime within the following two week period. Not to make light of it, but the BIG ASK is hugely important to our Church community, since it is the source for providing the majority of the funding for our Church programs and keeping our facilities operational.

We UUs usually have hard time with the Pledge Drive’s BIG ASK. I do not know why, maybe we get defensive because of a perception that someone is trying to tell us what they think we should give to support the Church. I do know we have no trouble giving in an emergency. The congregation’s response to the Hurricane Katrina emergency appeal is phenomenal. Like wise, when things break at the church, and repair money is tight, generous members step up with donations to help with the repairs.

I, too, used to have a defensive attitude about the BIG ASK. What helped me get past it was to answer the question, “What would be gone from my life if my Church no longer existed?” I recalled that once in my life I lived in a small, isolated community in eastern New Mexico. The people there were nice, but they did not speak my religious language. My contact with a liberal religious community was through the mails, the UUA’s Church of the Larger Fellowship. It was NO substitute for the human contact I get at our Church, the UUCT. I found a home at the UUCT, and I need to support it with money, time and energy. To me, the BIG ASK has become my BIG GIVE.

When you get the BIG ASK this year, think of it as your opportunity for a BIG GIVE to sustain our Church for another year during troubled times. Who knows, with that attitude we may actually be able to fund our Church, for once, on the level to which we would like it to become accustomed, and not on the usual bare bones, tight money level that we have had to exist on since I have been Treasurer these past four years. As you may have noticed, in the ◘, the UUCT has not been able to afford even poor Church Mice.

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

Two of our recent new members shared some background about themselves to help us get to know them. A warm welcome to Russ Patterson and Heidi Starr King!

Who: Russell “Russ” Patterson

Previous UU contact: Unitarian since 1991. Member of Cambridge, England, Unitarian Church from 1991 to 1999; Rocky Mount (NC) UU Fellowship and Raleigh (NC) Fellowship 2001 to 2004; and have attended UU churches wherever my work and travels have brought me: St. Louis, Pittsburgh, Hartford (CT), Portland (ME), New Orleans, Baton Rouge and Little Rock.

Free religious thought without dogma. I could be true to myself. The sermons were meaty, and challenged me. It was a great mix between my Southern Baptist background and my views on religion then and now. What brought me to UUCT – we are the only game in town as far as I am concerned! However, I do like the people and enjoy the variety of our services.

Education Background: Graduate of USAF Academy, BS with a major in Economics; Masters in Business Management from Central Michigan University.

Professional Background: Career USAF Officer, retired in 1994. Flew as a navigator in KC and EC 135 aircraft (KC 135s fly out of MacDill AFB). Lived in Europe from 1981 to1999 after I retired from the USAF. Since retiring, I’ve worked on political and social action campaigns.

What do you hope to find at UUCT? A spiritual home – a place to wonder about “what it all means.” A place to make friends.

Anything. I’ve already volunteered to work on the Fall Canvass and am glad to be part of Social Action Committee. I’m also working on a special Defending Democracy project on promoting liberal moral values.

Who: Heidi Starr King

Are there specific UUCT activities you hope to become involved in? Starting in January, I would like to get involved in the welcome committee and maybe children's education.

If you have joined UUCT in the past year and have yet to be featured in the Domelight, please contact Liz Taylor at liztaylorfl@tampabay.rr.com or 813-237-8497 so we can learn more about you.

AUCTION AND PIZZA LUNCH

On December 4^th, after church, an auction and pizza luncheon is planned in conjunction with our 50^th Anniversary Celebrations. Our own Cay Cahalin will return to our midst to become “auctioneer extraordinaire”! But before the auction can take place we need YOU to donate Goods and Services for us to auction.

Members of the Care Committee are available to lend a hand in times of need. We can help with grocery shopping, transportation to the doctors or church, preparing a meal or a friendly phone call.

Help is just a phone call away by contacting one of our volunteers: Gwen Anderson (971-6369), Beverly Bethune (907-6730), Linda Chappell (977-2053), Denise Carrera (985-0695), Denise Dorsey (972-7728), Willow LaMonte (643-7285), Cheryl Phillips (909-2542), Suzy Siegel (866-5109), and Joe Weinstein (263-2989).

The Care Committee meets quarterly. If you are interested in volunteering please give Joyce Formica (813/988-1907) a call.

THE BEST R.E. YEAR…..EVER!

This year’s Religious Education program at UUCT could well be the most innovative and exciting one yet! Sunday school is being held during our regular church service time, 11:00 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. The children and youth will attend the first fifteen minutes of the service, then proceed to their own program. The six sources of Unitarian Universalism are the themes of 2005-06. The children will be using a personal “passport” to travel to activity/learning centers, three different ones on three successive Sundays; there will also be exciting guest teachers and field trips.

Imagine having the opportunity to teach our children and youth about the wisdom from the world’s religions; or to impart your knowledge about our Jewish and Christian traditions; or being a part of their learning about the words and deeds of women and men which challenge us to confront the powers and structures of evil with justice, compassion, and the transformation through love; or helping them to experience the spiritual teachings of earth-centered traditions which celebrate the sacred circle of life and instruct us to live in harmony with the rhythms of nature; or sharing your knowledge of humanistic teachings which counsel us to heed the guidance of reason and the results of science, and warn us against idolatries of the mind and spirit; or being a part of the direct experience of transcending mystery and wonder, affirmed in all cultures, which moves us to a renewed spirit an openness to the forces which create and uphold life.

Each of us has important unique talents and knowledge to be gifted to our church community and passed on to our younger UUs. Many of you will be asked to be a facilitator in our R.E. program this year for a four-week commitment. Not only will you be contributing to our church growth, you will be able to experience first-hand the enthusiasm and excitement of our kids, all the while having fun, growing personally, further developing your personal belief system, making new young friends, and developing closer relationships with other R.E. adults through team work. You will “get back” so much more than you give working with “our kids.” But the very best gift may be the one you receive in knowing you are helping maintain our church’s healthy and strong vitality.

Even though Sunday school began on September 18^th, it is not too late to enroll your kids in this fun, fabulous learning experience. The plans for this church year’s R.E. program are so exciting we know you will want to invite friends and neighbors to bring their children for this wonderful “passport adventure” too. We are looking forward to seeing you and being with your children. Contact Katie Culbert, R.E. Director, at the Church, for further information and/or questions.

(Covenant of Unitarian Universalist Pagans)

Come and join our Full Moon Celebration on October 15 at 7:30pm and our CUUPS meeting, on November 7 is at 7:00 pm, followed with a workshop on Hands-on-Healing.

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.

UUA TRUSTEE TIDBITS

As I receive (some on line) and read the various interesting and informative newsletters I am sent from our congregations, I am struck by how active and vital each group is, often in very different ways. The initiatives many individuals and congregations undertook after the devastation of Katrina made me realize how caring and committed we are. The latest information I received from the UUA reported the money sent for relief was $857,648, from 4,815 contributors, including one anonymous donation of $100,000. By the time you read this, hopefully it will be so much more.

Generosity seems to be my theme for September and October. After writing about the Veatch Program last month, I thought you might like to know about the UU Holdeen India Program (UUHIP), established in 1984 thanks to a generous bequest to the UUA from Jonathan Holdeen, an attorney and business man who was interested in assisting impoverished people of India. UUHIP currently is a non-sectarian religious and philanthropic trust.

Since its establishment, UUHIP has supported more than 70 groups of marginalized peoples to help increase their organized strength and self-reliance; have access to productive resources, services, and opportunities; increase their livelihoods, assets, economic independence and security; influence government policies; challenge discriminatory social practices; and build, manage, and control their own institutions. UUHIP supports long term partnerships with democratically governed poor peoples’ organizations that can advocate on their own behalf and are committed to non-violence in their approaches to dealing with social injustices. UUHIP offers strategic support to these organizations that will strengthen their ability to innovate, work, and grow effectively.

Financial assistance is given in the form of grants which are used for a variety of activities, including leadership building, strategic planning strengthening, organizing, advocacy, and problem solving skills, and promoting government accountability. Funds may be used to union organization and technical/legal expertise. These are just some of the ways the grants may be used. Seed money provided by UUHIP sometimes enables groups to generate additional funding from other private and public donors both Indian and international sources.

UUHIP is part of the UUA Office of International Relations and maintains a small office in Washington, D.C. Holdeen is governed by the UUA Board of Trustees and UUHIP’s own Board of Advisors. If you wish to learn more go to the UUA website’s search box and enter “Holdeen”. If you wish to contact me, I can be reached at jlund@uua.org. I look forward to hearing from you.

OUR MISSION/VISION PROCESS: AN APPRECIATIVE INQUIRY UPDATE

What defines UUCT as a community? What holds us together? What do we all believe in? What values do we share? This 50th year of our church, we decided to try to address some of these fundamental questions.   Appreciative Inquiry Gatherings are the means by which we are trying to answer those questions. The process involves pairs of people interviewing one another about these very individual, fundamental matters. Then, we gather into a larger group to further consider the same questions. Groups are kept small in size so that even the quietest voice has an opportunity to be heard. It requires that we be in relationship with one another. The members and friends who have already participated tell me it is a comfortable and affirming process.

The more people involved, the greater the number of voices heard, the better, stronger and more representative the mission and vision statements will be.

My goal is to gather your voices so that others can help find the common themes from which our vision and mission statements might be crafted. We need to move on with that project, so I ask you try to carve a couple of hours out of your schedule to make your voice heard. A final few gatherings have been scheduled:

Friday, Sept 30, 7 - 9 pm -- in Valrico (Mall & Charles Giles' home)
Thursday, Oct 12, 7 - 9 pm -- in South Tampa (Pam Lathen's home)
Sunday, Oct 23 12:45 - 2:45 pm -- after church, AT the church.

If these don't meet your needs, I hope you will let me know so that we can arrange something that will fit into your schedule.
Ara Rogers
(813) 264-3157 evenings; (813) 974-5263 days. or Email at mizzara@mindspring.com

FRIENDSHIP DINNERS ARE UNDERWAY AGAIN!!!

We have no less than 3 (three…count ‘em) hosts for our first month’s Friendship Dinners this season.

If you are new to this fun way of meeting and getting to know folks from UUCT in a more intimate, conversation-provoking setting, here’s how it works: There will be a sign up sheet posted in the foyer of the church…or you may call Martha Robinson (818/985-4777) (mrobins7@tampabay.rr.com) to sign up with the host that best fits your circumstances (location, time, date). The list of persons wishing to attend is then given to the host who will call you and find out where your talents lie, food wise. The host usually opts to fix the main dish but that is not a hard and fast rule. Those attending may choose from appetizers, side dishes, bread, salad, wine or dessert or any combination thereof to complement the main course….then you just show up with your dish and a hearty appetite on the designated day and time, ready to enjoy good conversation and great food.

If you would like to host a dinner in any of the months between now and June (we may also schedule during the summer months if there is enough interest to do so) contact, again, Martha Robinson, (818/985-777)(mrobins7@tampabay.rr.com)

The date is usually the 2^nd Saturday of the month, but that also is not a hard and fast rule...the host, may pick another date that is better for them, and it will be on the sign up sheet as well as the number of people they can comfortably accommodate.

We have also had dinners based around a particular zip code (I have a list of the whole congregation members and friends listed by zip code available) or a theme dinner (Cuban, Italian, Mexican, etc.). Hosts have also invited family, friends and neighbors to help fill out a scanty list (great way to introduce folks to the UUCT community…who knows, they may enjoy the company so much, they will decide to find out more about UU’s and start attending church!) You as a host can set the mood for your particular dinner. It is great fun.

JOYS & CONCERNS

If you feel moved to share either a joy or concern, you are encouraged first to write iton the form on the clipboard located in the reception area just outside the minister’s office hallway door. Your participation in this process will help the minister and the Care Committee to better serve our church community.

If you need a little help or know of someone who is in need of help or support, call someone on the Care Committee. Gwen Anderson, Denise Carrera, Linda Chappell, Denise Dorsey, Joyce Formica & Joe Weinstein will try to fulfill your request.

WITCHES MASQUERADE 50TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION
Which witch is a witch???
Come one! Come all!…to the Witches Masquerade Ball!
October 29, 2005, 6 pm - ???, UUCT Large Dome.

Circles in the Woods CUUPS commemorates the 50th Anniversary of UUCT and welcomes everyone to come celebrate Halloween / Samhain. We have a special night of family fun planned for you with -
☻ Costume Contest - start planning! (Head Judge - Rena Bird)
☻ Carved Pumpkin Contest (Head Judge Susan Miller)
☻ Haunted House (thanks to the UUCT Youth Group)
☻ Music and dancing (DJ Bill Blymiller assisted by Chris Hendrix)
☻ Food and Drinks (Electro Baked Punished Potatoes, Count Dracula Chili and more!)
☻ Tarot Readings (Loren McAdams, and others)
☻Witches Attic - drop in for a spell! (Mary Francis and Candie Torres)
☻Bardic Scary or Ghost Story Circle (Ollis Hughes
☻Everyone - Bring a picture or item for the Ancestor Altar
☻ Raffle (thank you Liz Bleu for the beautiful knitted shawl!)
" And more!

This evening is open to everyone, so drop in for a spell!
Cost $8 per person with children under 12 free. (Bring extra “coins” as there will be lots of spooky things to purchase!)

We hope to see many faces from UUCT and need volunteers to help with many of the above and decorations, etc. So if you are interested and willing, just drop off a message in the CUUPS mailbox at UUCT, or email
gldnpuma@earthlink.net or Diana Stevens diana.stevens@verizon.net.

813-837-6572, gshello@tampabay.rr.com

Please keep tuned to the concert link at the church web site so you can get the latest updates to calendar. You can also find concert info on my blog www.gloriasmusic.blogspot.com

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Sun/Oct 2nd / 3pm/ $10/ SAM PACETTI (sampacettimusic.com) An extraordinary guitarist, in the same league as Martin Simpson and Leo Kottke. A strong singer; a fine songwriter; an inventive arranger of traditional American and Irish songs. Sam carries on the legacy of the late Gamble Rogers with whom he spent considerable time as a teenager in St Augustine learning Gamble's songs and stories. You'll find classical, flamenco, bluegrass, Irish, and other influences in his playing.

Fri/Oct 7th /8pm/$8 advance; $10 door. PHYLLIS McEWEN PORTRAYS ZORA NEALE HURSTON. We interrupt our regular concert series so Zora, an anthropologist, folklorist and writer, can tell us the stories and sing the songs she collected in Florida turpentine camps and jook joints during the 1920s and 30s while she was with the Works Progress Administration (WPA). Though teens are welcome, this is an adult presentation and is not suitable for small children. Phyllis, a popular poet and performance artist and former Black Studies Specialist at USF, has received widespread acclaim for her wonderful portrayal of Zora. For advance tickets, please contact Gloria.

Tues/Oct 11th/ 8pm/$10. GREG GREENWAY (greggreenway.com ) Greg's archived interview on NPR's All Things Considered can be heard at http://tinyurl.com/cewzq . In addition to Carnegie Hall, music festivals, clubs, coffee houses, house concerts and the likes, Greg appears at UU Concert Series across the country and has also been featured at SWIM, SUUSI, & General Assembly. A favorite with UUs and non-UUs too.

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.

Music Sunday this year will be on October 23 at the 11:00 A.M. Service. If you would like to participate and lend your talents to the always fantastic fun of Music Sunday, please call Dan Miller at 813 932-2726 or Dean Luethi (cell phone: 920-265-1740)

DRUMMING CIRCLE

Join the DRUM CIRCLE sponsored by CUUPS on the fourth Monday of every month - October 24 / November 28 / December 26, from 7 –9 pm in the large dome. This is not 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.

INTERWEAVE DOMELIGHT ANOUNCEMENT,

October 9th at Willow's home in Valrico. This will be a potluck and social meeting. Directions to Willows home will be available at church, or you may contact the church office.

Interweave UUCT is an affiliated group with Interweave Continental.

All those interested in the concerns and issues of the Lesbian, Transgender, Bisexual, and Gay community are welcome to attend and to join our UUCT Interweave chapter. Straight Allies are encouraged!. To find out more about us and Interweave, contact Joe Weinstein or Jonathan Roudabush through the church office.

SUNDAY SERVICES NOW BROADCAST ON FM RADIO

Are you having some trouble hearing all the parts of the Sunday Service? Do you have to be at the little Dome or in the playground during the Service? We have acquired an FM broadcasting device that will send the service out on 108.0 on your radio dial. Just bring your Walkman or FM radio and tune to 108.0 and check it out. If you have a hearing aid with a "T" or Telephone setting, Bill Blymiller would like to talk to you about testing out a way to get the audio from your FM radio directly into your hearing aid without headphones.

Try it out!

Reverence, Revelry & Remembrance

Here are the firmed up activities for the rest of our anniversary year (ending in February of 2006)

•Mid October.T-Shirt Sale advance orders will be taken (Felice Richardson and Diana Stevens)

•Oct. 29^th : Witches Masquerade Ball event with CUPPS: Ollis Hughes (facilitator)

•Jan. 2006 Martin Luther King Day Social Action activity •Jan. 7th: “Cabaret” (Tom Hagner facilitator)

And the grand finale in February: Our Esteemed Guest: The Reverend Bill Sinkford, UUA President

•Feb 18^th: Anniversary Gourmet Dinner- catered at church, cost $50/person (Diana Stevens, Martha Robinson and Felice Richardson will lead this)

• Memory Slide Show-We are for still looking for photos of Marjorie’s Installation (Gene Pizzo)

•Historic Remembrances (Pamphlet: UUCT “Did you know?” Grant Wilson & Patricia McCracken)

•Fond Memories of Sermons & Social Justice Work of past ministers (Joan Lund & Marjorie) with Photos of Past Ministers framed and displayed.

• Improvements to the Memorial Garden (Fran Davin, the Care Committee and Grantford Wilson.)

• A compilation Marjorie’s “pre-collection jokes” to be sold as a fundraiser .

(If you see something in this list that inspires you or you have a knowledge or skill that could help the facilitator of that project…..Please contact that faciltator.) d

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 has begun a Small Group Ministry program, also known as Covenanting Groups. These are groups of 8 to 10 people who covenant to meet regularly in order to build relationships and grow spiritually. They provide a safe place for listening and sharing. Some small groups have specific themes or membership characteristics and others are simply about building friendships. At this time there are three Small Group Ministries who have formed and interest in forming more. 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 or telephone Joan Lund (931-9727).

MOVIES

The 2005-2006 POPCORN & OPINIONS series continues this month. We are still in need of a few more hosts and facilitators for some of the movies. Please email ddorsey3@tampabay.rr.com if you're interested in either position. The host needs to provide the house, popcorn, and either a big screen TV or normal sized TV. The facilitator needs to provide the DVD and to prepare some questions in advance for the discussion following the movie. Guests need to bring along their favorite snacks and/or drinks to share. There will be a donation box available for anyone who would like to contribute to the purchase of a multi-media projector for the Dome.

October's movie, Bread & Roses features Maya, a spirited young Mexican woman who is propelled by her dreams of a better life in America. After a close call with border guards and unscrupulous "coyotes" who smuggle her into the country, she arrives in Los Angeles, ready and eager to work. . . . Quickly, Maya's optimism sours. Her lecherous boss demands a commission of two months' salary just for giving her the job, the hours are long, the wages are ridiculously low, and there is no security. . . The janitors are reconciled to their fates, until Sam, a young and disarming union organizer, opens their eyes. . . Maya's political and social awakening is a difficult one. . . . Maya refuses to believe that she cannot win every battle on her own terms. . . .But every action has its price. Just at the moment when the workers are successful in their efforts to unionize, Maya must face her own harsh realities. In a bittersweet conclusion, she experiences victory and defeat. --

October 21st, 2005 - Bread & Roses; hosted by Tito & Michele Basu: facilitated by Tito Basu

November 18, 2005 - Real Women Have Curves - hosted by Judy and Ralph Lehman; facilitated by TBA

January 20, 2006- Whale Rider - hosted by Diana Stevens and Grant Wilson; facilitated by Suzie Siegel

February 17, 2006 - Moolade -hosted by Harriet & Bill Blymiller; facilitated by Rev. Marjorie Bowens-Wheatley

March 17, 2006 - Irish film (TBA) facilitated by and hosted by Kathleen O’Rourke

April 21, 2006- Strawberry & Chocolate - hosted by TBA; facilitated by TBA

May 19, 2006- Chutney Popcorn - hosted by TBA; facilitated by Suzie Siegel

Anyone who is interested in facilitating a book discussion, please contact Denise Dorsey at ddorsey3@tampabay.rr.com. The groups will meet on the designated Sundays following Service. Bring a bag lunch and be ready for a lively discussion. If the book discussion date happens to coincide with a Picnic at the Dome day, you are in luck. You can forget the bag lunch and purchase an incredible meal instead.

October's book discussion with Fran Davin is not to be missed. The Editorial Review from Amazon.com states:

In his debut novel, The Kite Runner, Khaled Hosseini accomplishes what very few contemporary novelists are able to do. He manages to provide an educational and eye-opening account of a country's political turmoil--in this case, Afghanistan--while also developing characters whose heartbreaking struggles and emotional triumphs resonate with readers long after the last page has been turned over. And he does this on his first try.

The Kite Runner follows the story of Amir, the privileged son of a wealthy businessman in Kabul, and Hassan, the son of Amir's father's servant. As children in the relatively stable Afghanistan of the early 1970s, the boys are inseparable. They spend idyllic days running kites and telling stories of mystical places and powerful warriors until an unspeakable event changes the nature of their relationship forever, and eventually cements their bond in ways neither boy could have ever predicted. Even after Amir and his father flee to America, Amir remains haunted by his cowardly actions and disloyalty. In part, it is these demons and the sometimes impossible quest for forgiveness that bring him back to his war-torn native land after it comes under Taliban rule…Hosseini has created characters that seem so real that one almost forgets that The Kite Runner is a novel and not a memoir. At a time when Afghanistan has been thrust into the forefront of America's collective consciousness ("people sipping lattes at Starbucks were talking about the battle for Kunduz"), Hosseini offers an honest, sometimes tragic, sometimes funny, but always heartfelt view of a fascinating land. Perhaps the only true flaw in this extraordinary novel is that it ends all too soon.

November 13th - The Bluest Eye - by Toni Morrison, led by Rev. Marjorie Bowen-Wheatley

December 4th - For the Love of a Dog, by Elisabeth Rose, led by (Elisabeth) Lisa Rose

February 19th- The Dance of the Dissident Daughter by Sue Monk Kidd, led by Rena Bird

CLASSES/EVENTS

1. CUUPS will be sponsoring a Drumming Circle that is open to all on the 4th Monday of every month at 7:30 PM. Please contact Mary Francis for more information. gldnpuma@earthlink.net

2. The Knitting Circle will meet at 9:30 AM in the small dome, before the Sunday Service. For more information, please contact Liz Bleau lizbleau@verizon.net or Emily Nelson Emily.Nelson3@verizon.net .

3. SHAG (Secular Humanist Agnostic Group) group continues to meet periodically during the month on evenings. Check the order of service for dates.

4. The Current Events group meets t 10:00 AM in the small dome before the service.

5. Living in Simplicity classes began in September. They will run for a total of 8 weeks. Contact Betty Kaminker (813-246-6568) for more infomation.

6. Women's Circle "Goddess Gathering" will meet Sun. Oct 9, 6:30-8:30 pm. (Note date change!) Topic this month will be "Honoring those who walked this land before us, Native Americans." Dream Catchers, medicine wheels, chants and dances...our Circle is an open experience for all women who attend the UU church. Please bring related books, music and anything you would like to share. For information contact Barbara Rogers 813-391-8246

7. Small Group Ministry: Groups of six to ten people who covenant to be together to share the richness of personal experience, growth and service. Groups are facilitated. Some have organized around a particular theme, while others are more open. When the group reaches capacity, a new group is formed. For further information, contact Joan Lund at lundjb@verizon.net or 981-9727.

1. Building Your Own Theology (1-5) facilitated by Rev. Marjorie Bowens-Wheatley; Tuesday evenings at 7PM, September 20 & 27, and October 4, 18, & 25.

2. Exploring Humanism, facilitated by Dr. Tito Basu; Tuesday evenings at 7PM: 11-1-05, 11-15-05, 12-6-05, 12-13-05.

3. Building Your Own Theology, (6-10), facilitated by Rev. Marjorie Bowens-Wheatley; Tuesday evenings at 7PM, 1-24-06 through 2-24-06.

4. Ethical Issues, facilitated by TBA; Tuesday evenings at 7PM, 3-7-05 through 3-28-05.

THE PLEDGE DRIVE’S BIG ASK

Who: Russell “Russ” Patterson

Who: Heidi Starr King

AUCTION AND PIZZA LUNCH

THE BEST R.E. YEAR…..EVER!

FRIENDSHIP DINNERS ARE UNDERWAY AGAIN!!!

JOYS & CONCERNS

SUNDAY SERVICES NOW BROADCAST ON FM RADIO

Try it out!

Reverence, Revelry & Remembrance

RELATIONSHIP, CONNECTION, FELLOWSHIP

MOVIES

CLASSES/EVENTS

CALENDAR OF WEEKLY EVENTS

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY