Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Lakeland

Dear UUCL Family and Friends,

Here is what's happening at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Lakeland. 
Click on the links for more information.

Sat February 4th, 2012
A Team from of UUCL leaders will be giving their Saturday to attend a Stewardship workshop in Clearwater. Thank a leader for their service!

7pm Caroline Aiken in Concert  The Friends of Joe not-for-profit concert series presents Atlanta artist Caroline Aiken. You can find more details here.

Sun February 5th, 2012

10am Religious Exploration for kids This year our students are exploring "Timeless Themes", about stories from the Bible and how, or maybe even if, they fit into their lives as contemporary UnitarianUniversalists in America.

10am Adult Discussion Group  "How did each of you acquire a philosophy of money management? What financial advice would you give to a young person?"

11am Worship Service  "Diversity not Divisiveness" It's human nature to split ourselves into like minded groups, but how does that work within our principles? How do we work to have diversity within our congregation and prevent the natural division into cliques that happens in large groups? Please join Tracie Barrett as she discusses the importance of reaching across the aisle to greet our fellow UU's regardless of their faith practice.

Noon Coffee and Conversation

1:30pm EarthFamilies "Imbolc Ritual" As the rays of the sun grow stronger and, in more northern climates, the first signs of life are beginning to reappear from under the snow, we take time to celebrate Imbolc, the Goddess Brighid, and the Archtypical Maiden. Join us as we celebrate the coming of Spring and the fresh growth from the womb of Winter.

2pm hUUmanists  The purpose of the hUUmanists is to give community for humanists looking for a place with like-minded individuals. If you are a humanist, want to know more about humanism, or just think this sounds like cool stuff to do, come join us!

Wed February 8, 2012
7pm Choir Practice

Chalice Circles
Would you like to participate in a Chalice Circle? You can sign up after service on Sunday. An open session will be offered after potluck on February 12th in the Library for those wanting a sample or unable to participate in the ongoing circles. You can find more information at this link.

Annual Dinner
By now you should have RSVP'ed for the Annual Dinner February 11th. If you did not, but want to support us financially, you can find details at this link. Polite requests for late RSVP might be honored.

Legislative Day
February 22 UU's from all over the state will join together in Tallahassee to interact with governance! Here is your chance to bring your voice together with others of like mind, hopefully making it heard! Dinner and lodging are being provided the night before by the UULMF for those who RSVP by February 10th. More details at this link.

Partial Scholarships for General Assembly!
The same awesome folks at UULMF are offering partial scholarships to needy Florida UU's to help them participate in "Justice General Assembly" this June in Arizona, go here for details.

Florida Jets
Four times each year Tiano Enterprises donates generously for our help taking the tickets at their radio control model airplane shows.Volunteers are needed Thursday March 1 through Sunday March 4 from about 8am-3pm daily. To sign-up go here
or contact Heather Curry. More details at this link.

Peace Conference
Waging Peace! More details are here.

February UUA Congregational Bulletin
At this link

The Hottest Story in Unitarian Universalism This Week
Included a meeting of visionary UU leaders, including UUA President Peter Morales, in Orlando! Check out Congregations and Beyond and follow the links.

Are you new at UUCL? 
You can find information about our faith at this link. If you like what you see, you might want to become a member. A class for those interested will be held after potluck on Sunday, February 12.  Plan to attend!

Hope to see you around UUCL!

Uniting in Diversity, Advocating for Love and Justice

Four times each year Tiano Enterprises donates generously for our help taking the tickets at their radio control model airplane shows. This is pretty easy work, we take the ticket money from cars as they arrive.  As a bonus, you can see the show for free before, after, or on another day if you volunteer, a $10 per ticket value!

Take advantage of this great opportunity to attend a fun event and help UUCL for just 3 hours of your time.  Volunteers are needed Thursday March 1 through Sunday March 4 from about 8am-3pm daily. To sign-up, go to http://www.volunteerspot.com/login/entry/772345634683088062 

or contact Heather Curry.

Dear UUCL Family and Friends,

Here is what's happening at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Lakeland. Click on the links for more information.

Wed January 25, 2012

5:30pm Annual Pledge Drive Task Force Meeting

7pm Choir Practice New voices and musicians welcomed!

Thurs January 26, 2012

Beacon Deadline
We are making changes to the Beacon schedule to help it better match our work schedule. The current mismatch has resulted in repeated delays, so changes are being made to make the deadline after Ministry Sunday. Please send information for the next issue by Thursday January 26th.. Please include all activities through March 7th. Be sure to see the full details, including the deadlines for the rest of the year, at this link.

Blue is the New Green
The Florida Humanities Series at the Emerson Center at the UU Vero Beach presents Blue is the New Green Free to all.

Sat January 28th

7pm Common GroUUnds Event 
Come join our exclusive opening for a new year of Common GroUUnds. This is exclusive to UUCL members and those outside our congregation willing to work in order to provide our local singer/songwriters and artists a place to call home.

I want those who will bring ideas, are not afraid of change, or getting their hands dirty, and who think they can make CG a local sensation. This is a trial event with music, food and drinks (BYOB) to spark the beginning of a new CG. It's been too long, and I, for one, am ready to bring the revolution back to original artists of all genres. Please join us. For more info, please contact Daniel Whitt @Dwhitt83@gmail.com

Sun Jan 22, 2012

10am Religious Exploration for kids This year our students are exploring "Timeless Themes", about stories from the Bible and how, or maybe even if, they fit into their lives as contemporary UnitarianUniversalists in America.

10am Adult Discussion Group  Why is there such a gap between “moral”behavior and human nature?

11am Worship Service  "Imbolc Potential and the Charming of the Plow" Any month with five Sundays (like this one!) our fifth Sunday service is offered by our EarthFamilies chapter of the Covenant of Unitarian Universalist Pagans. Please join us as they present a service welcoming spring into our hearths and homes. Many of us do a physical spring cleaning during this time, let's not forget our spiritual and emotional spring cleaning.

12:15pm Executive Session The Board of Trustees will meet in a special Executive Session after service. Executive Sessions concern employment and other confidential issues, and are not open to the membership. However, this venue is for discussion only, and any action to be taken will be recorded as part of the minutes at the next meeting of the Board.

Chalice Circles
Would you like to participate in a Chalice Circle? You can sign up after service on Sunday. An open session will be offered after potluck on February 12th in the Library for those wanting a sample or unable to participate in the ongoing circles. You can find more information at this link.

Friends of Joe 
The next concert in the Friends of Joe not-for-profit concert series is Atlanta artist Caroline Aiken on Saturday Feb 4th. You can find more details here.

Annual Dinner
By now all members should have received an invitation to the Annual Dinner February 11th. If you did not, or if you are not a member but want to support us financially, you can find details at this link.

Are you new at UUCL? 
You can find information about our faith at this link. If you like what you see, you might want to become a member. A class for those interested will be held after potluck on Sunday, February 12. Plan to attend!

Hope to see you at UUCL!

Uniting in Diversity, Advocating for Love and Justice

Articles should be submitted to Beacon@UUCLakeland.org NO LATER THAN midnight of the deadline date.  

Here are the deadlines, and the Sundays included, through January 2013.

Interested in attending the “Justice GA” in Phoenix?

The UU Legislative Ministry is encouraging UUs in Florida to attend the UUA General Assembly in Phoenix, Arizona June 20-24, 2012, and will offer partial scholarships to needy UUs who want to attend.

This will be an historic GA, a gathering of UUs nationwide with multiple ways of engaging in justice work for people of all ages. “Joining with the people of Arizona, we will worship, witness, learn and work together. We will leave General Assembly grounded in our faith, energized for justice and with resources to bring this work home to our congregations”.See http://www.uua.org/ga/2012/index.shtml.

Registration and housing reservations start March 1. Act quickly. The GA Housing Reservation System opens on March 1. Expect that inexpensive rooms, especially inexpensive rooms that are close to the convention center, will sellout.

Please contact UULMF Co-Chairs SteveSegner (steve_segner@uulmf.org,386-788-3039, or Kindra Muntz (kindra_muntz@uulmf.org,941-497-1764) for more information.

Dear UUCL Family and Friends,

Here is what's happening at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Lakeland. Click on the links for more information.

Sun Jan 22, 2012

10am Religious Exploration for kids This year our students are exploring "Timeless Themes", about stories from the Bible and how, or maybe even if, they fit into their lives as contemporary UnitarianUniversalists in America.

10am Adult Discussion Group Why are liberalism and conservatism regional (city vs. country, New England vs. the South)? 

11am Worship Service "The Late Martin Luther King, Jr.” In his later years, Martin moved closer to Malcolm X and Malcolm’s view of the plight of blacks in the cities of the North. Where might each one of them be now? Rev Susanne will share her thoughts.

12:15pm Ministry Team Sunday  Do you want to help with the work of the congregation? This is where you get started. It's also where you should go if you have questions or comments about how our work as done. You can get more information at this link.

1:30pm EarthFamilies Guided Meditation: Healing Join us for our post-holiday tradition of a guided meditation for healing, relaxation and rejuvenation. For more details see the calendar at the bottom of theEarthFamilies page.

Wed Jan 25, 2012

7pm Choir Practice Contact Music Director Ron Nickolas through thelink under "Choir" on this page for more information.

Thurs January 26, 2012

Beacon Deadline
We are making changes to the Beacon schedule to help it better match our work schedule. The current mismatch has resulted in repeated delays, so changes are being made to make the deadline after Ministry Sunday. Please send information for the next issue by Thursday January 26^th.. Please include all activities through March 7th. Be sure to see the full details, including the deadlines for the rest of the year, at this link.

Blue is the New Green
The Florida Humanities Series at the Emerson Center at the UU Vero Beach presents Blue is the New Green Free to all.

Sat January 28th

7pm Common GroUUnds Event 
Come join our exclusive opening for a new year of Common GroUUnds. This is exclusive to UUCL members and those outside our congregation willing to work in order to provide our local singer/songwriters and artists a place to call home.

I want those who will bring ideas, are not afraid of change, or getting their hands dirty, and who think they can make CG a local sensation. This is a trial event with music, food and drinks (BYOB) to spark the beginning of a new CG. It's been too long, and I, for one, am ready to bring the revolution back to original artists of all genres. Please join us. For more info, please contact Daniel Whitt @Dwhitt83@gmail.com

Sun January 29th

The Board of Trustees will meet in a special Executive Session after service. Executive Sessions concern employment and other confidential issues, and are not open to the membership. However, this venue is for discussion only, and any action to be taken will be recorded as part of the minutes at the next meeting of the Board.

Chalice Circles
Would you like to participate in a Chalice Circle? You can find more information at this link and sign up after service on Sunday.

Friends of Joe 
The next concert in the Friends of Joe not-for-profit concert series is Atlanta artist Caroline Aiken on Saturday Feb 4th. You can find more details here.

Annual Dinner
By now all members should have received an invitation to the Annual Dinner February 11th. If you did not, or if you are not a member but want to support us financially, you can find details at this link.

UULMF Legislative Day in Tallahassee
February 21-22 the UU Legislative Ministry is offering a special opportunity that includes housing and a meal while learning about our state governance. You can get more information here.

They are also offering some partial scholarships for General Assembly, more information is at this link.

Peace Conference
Save the date! Saturday March 4th the Heart of Florida Peace Alliance will present it's 4th Annual Peace Conference. Details are here.

Are you new at UUCL? 
You can find information about our faith at this link. If you like what you see, you might want to become a member. A class for those interested will be held after potluck on Sunday, February 12. Plan to attend!

The current issue of the Beacon newsletter is attached and will be available at the website soon if it is not already.

Hope to see you at UUCL!

Uniting in Diversity, Advocating for Love and Justice

A Chalice Circle is a small relational group made up of 6-12 people who meet regularly to establish and nurture themselves. These circles provide an opportunity for group members to build strong relationships with each other and with the congregation through deep listening. 

We currently have a few openings in the East Polk Circle (currently meets Thursday afternoon in Haines City) and in the Men’sgroup (meets Sunday evening). If there is enough interest, anothergroup will be started.

Sign up for these after service on January 22and 29, or contact Janet Stevens by February 13, via email atjstevens6@tampabay.rr.com or call her at 863-510-5184 and let her know what evenings or days you would be available.

We will also be doing an Open Chalice Circle on Sunday Feb. 12th at 12:30pm in the library. No registration is needed, but a minimum of 3 participants (in addition to the facilitator) are required.

Concerned about voter suppression in Florida?

Join us February 22^nd for
LEGISLATIVE DAY in Tallahassee with the
UU Legislative Ministry of Florida partnering with the
League of Women Voters.

Steve Segner and Kindra Muntz,Co-Chairs,
UU Legislative Ministry of Florida, www.uulmf.org,