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always available online at www.uuccharlotte.org

The Mission of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Charlotte is to inspire children, youth and adults to discover and articulate deeper spiritual meaning evidenced in lives of integrity, compassion and stewardship of the earth. La misión de la iglesia Unitaria Universalista de Charlotte es: inspirar a los niños, jóvenes y adultos para que descubran y articulen un signi-ficado espiritual profundo, evidente en una vida de integridad, compasión y en el manejo de los recursos de la tierra.

volume 40, issue 08 April 22, 2015

MEMBERS, VISITORS, YOUTH Have You Participated in a Meeting with the Vision Steering Team? If you have not yet participated in a meeting with the Vision Steering Team in 2015, please sign up to attend a session between services (10:30 – 11:15 a.m.) on April 26. You will be provided information and an opportunity to give feedback. You can reserve a space to attend a session by signing up on a sheet in Freeman Hall or online through Sign Up Genius at the following link: http://goo.gl/Lpocvh.

AH-HA! SOCIAL JUSTICE AUCTION ONLINE PRE-BIDDING CONTINUES The Social Justice Auction is quickly approaching—be sure to mark your calendar for May 2! Our congregation and friends have come forward with an exciting array of dona-tions, from original works of art to dinner parties, custom services and vacation homes, marking a wide range of price points. This year the auction catalog will be available through www.biddingowl.com/uuccauction. Visit the site to preview items that will be auctioned and plan your bids. You will find a description of each item, accompanied by photos and links to more information.

One of the great features of Bidding Owl is “pre-bidding”, which began on April 18 and will end on April 29. Pre-bidding does not guarantee that you will be the highest bidder because bidding will continue at the event on May 2. If you would like to pre-bid, you

should register on the site (click on “Register” in the upper right hand section of the website). Please register on the site, however, ONLY if you intend to make an online bid. If you will only be bidding in person on May 2, do not register

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OPPORTUNITY IS KNOCKING— WILL YOU ANSWER? We often miss opportunity because it's dressed in overalls and looks like work. ― Thomas A. Edison So there are some opportunities that might not on first look seem to be as inspirational and/or as fun as others that are going on all the time at UUCC. In the past I have been guilty of missing them be-cause they seemed like “work,” and I failed to show up. BUT, I have discovered that some of the work of our church community is also spiritually enriching, interest-ing, and very worthy of our atten-tion. Here are four examples: 1. Celebrate Commitment! First, of course, is the “Celebrate Commitment!” stewardship campaign. If you are a member, love this church and love what we do, then simply put, that comes with an obligation of financial support. As you in-vest your money, it’s a statement of commitment that al-lows us to continue to move forward as a joyful, dynamic community and to make a difference in the world. We were drawn here for a variety of reasons, all of which required financial commitment on the part of the members who pre-ceded us. Among many other things, your pledge ensures the same opportunity for future members. 2. Engage. Then there’s our Congregational Conversation (annual meeting), when much of the work of our communi-ty is recognized, explored, discussed, and voted on. How will your money be spent? What other decisions must we make as a congregation? A quorum for this annual event is

(Continued on page 3)

Marsha Kelly

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FROM THE MINISTER Waitstill Sharp was a minister at the Unitarian church in Wellesley, Massachusetts; Martha Sharp, his wife, was a noted social worker. In 1939, the Sharps received an invita-tion from the American Unitarian Association through its newly formed Commission for Service in Czechoslovakia to assist refugees who were victims of increasing Nazi per-secution in Europe.

Though they were parents of two young children, the Sharps nonetheless accepted the invitation and on February 4, 1939 they set sail for Europe. Over the next six years, first in Prague and then in Lisbon, the Sharps, later accom-panied by other Unitarians, were able to assist many refu-gees, often at great personal peril. When Israel’s national Holocaust memorial—Yad Vashem—established the title of “Righteous Among the Nations” in 1963 to honor non-Jews who risked their lives to save Jews during the Holo-caust, Martha Sharp was the first woman from the United States to be so honored. The courageous work of Martha and Waitstill Sharp assist-ed by Elisabeth and Robert Dexter and Charles Joy would, in time, serve to establish the Unitarian Service Committee (USC). The UUSC now “advances human rights through grassroots collaboration.” Working in more than a dozen countries throughout the world, this organization “fosters social justice and works toward a world free from oppres-sion” out of a belief “that all people have inherent power, dignity, and rights.”

This year, the UUSC is celebrating its 70th anniversary. As a part of this celebration, our congregation has been hon-ored with a request to host a special evening marking this organization’s decades of struggle for justice and human

rights. This commemoration will take place on Sunday, May 17 at 7:00 p.m. On this special occasion, we will welcome Rev. Dr. William F. Schulz, President and Chief Executive Officer of the UUSC. Bill’s distin-guished career in-cludes serving as the president of the Uni-tarian Universalist Association and as the executive director of Amnesty Interna-tional USA. He is a frequent radio and television analyst and prolific author. The New York Review of Books asserted, "William Schulz has done more than anyone in the American human rights movement to make human rights issues known in the United States." Make plans now to be a part of this momentous gathering. We’ll have an opportunity to view a film about the work of the UUSC and to hear remarks from Bill Schulz. We’re extending this invitation to our two sister congregations in the region and hope you’ll invite others as well for what will be a remarkable evening here in the UUCC.

Peace, Jay

Waitstill & Martha Sharp

Rev. Dr. William “Bill” Schulz

Help us have fresh flowers in the Niche Did you know that most of the ordered flowers for the niche on Sunday are locally and sustainably grown? Jane Hen-derson, who makes these arrangements says, “I grow most of what is used in the church arrangements... locally, sus-tainably grown flowers (and vegetables). I try to extend my seasons using unheated greenhouses and a makeshift green-house…. they fit UU values in general.” So acknowledge that special occasion while adhering to UU values. Com-memorate a birthday, an anniversary or acknowledge a spe-cial person or event by donating fresh flowers for the niche. Call Alesia in the office (704) 366-8623 to reserve the Sun-day you want. Then send a check for $55 to the office, and we’ll handle the rest.

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BOARD OF TRUSTEES NEWS CONTINUED

a mere 20 percent of our membership, and yet this is never reached. The alternative—allowing the meeting to proceed by an affirmative vote of at least 80 percent of the members present, despite the absence of a quorum—is always relied upon. This year, take advantage of the opportunity to en-gage in the conversation and vote on measures that will be on the ballot—measures that affect you and the entire con-gregation. Mark your calendar for Sunday, June 7, and watch for more details soon. The Board will provide infor-mation well in advance so you can familiarize yourself with any issues that are coming forward and make an informed vote. 3. Stay informed, and let us know how we’re doing. Tak-ing the time to learn about and appreciate the many UUCC volunteers and teams who keep us “up and running” is an opportunity that many of us may avoid. There’s a lot of very important work being done on behalf of all of us. Check out the bulletin boards in the office area every time you’re in church and read the Coordinating Team’s monthly report and the Board of Trustees’ meeting minutes, which are posted there. You might be surprised by how carefully your words and thoughts are considered. “Eyes and Ears,” for example, in which Board members share formal and informal feedback we’ve received from members, is the first part of every Board meeting. Please take advantage of this opportunity to let us know what you think. 4. Share your vision. Finally, communicate with the Vi-sion Steering Team (WhyVision@uuccharlotte.org) that is crafting an inspiring vision of the UUCC for the 21stcentu-ry. Your input is crucial for future decisions that will be made by—and affect—all of us. Ample opportunity is be-ing given to participate in the visioning process, and even though it might seem like a little bit of work to write out your thoughts or show up at a meeting, it’s your chance to dream big. If we build it, I believe they will come! I’m frequently inspired by the poet Mary Oliver, who says: “I don't want to end up simply having visited this world.” There’s more to do at UUCC than just showing up on Sun-day mornings. I encourage you to sometimes put on your overalls.

Marsha Kelly UUCC Board of Trustees

(“Opportunity is Knocking” continued from page 1)

Survey Says . . . It’s been almost 20 years since Tom Cruise told Renée Zellwe-ger, “You com-plete me,” and two months (ish) since the UUCC annual congrega-tional survey said basically the same thing to all of us mem-bers (if surveys could talk). Of course, in Jerry Maguire, “You complete me” was an awkward admission of love, and in the case of our annual survey, “You complete me” is an instruction to act. “You—yeah, I’m talkin’ to you,” the survey says. “Complete me.” The good news is, there’s still time for you to comply with the survey’s request! Included as part of your “Celebrate Commitment!” pledge mailing in February, the 2015 survey is also available online. As with any survey, the more people who partici-pate, the more meaningful and helpful the feedback will be. If you haven’t already done so, please take a few minutes to complete the survey, either online http://goo.gl/m9K6M4 or by filling out the paper question-naire and returning it to the church office. (If you need an-other copy, please see Alesia.) We’ve been using this feedback tool every year since 2012 as a way to chart our progress toward fulfilling our Congre-gational ends statements. This is your survey, and your op-portunity to share your personal perspective on the UUCC and your experience as a member. Please take advantage of it! The survey will officially close on April 30, so act now!

In faith, gratitude... and completion,

Pete Moore UUCC Board of Trustees

P.S. Bonus points to anyone who remembers the other fa-mous line from Jerry Maguire, and how it relates to our 2015-2016 stewardship campaign …

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ADULT RELIGIOUS EDUCATION

“The African Americans: Many Rivers to Cross” A Facilitated Conversation for our Congregation Beginning Thursday, April 30 Our minister, Jay Leach, and our Affiliated Community Minister, Melissa Mummert, will lead a six-week series that will include showing Henry Louis Gates, Jr.’s PBS series “The African Americans: Many Rivers to Cross.” We’ll view the sessions together and engage in paired conversa-tion between the sessions. Because we’re hoping for a group of participants that is di-verse in age, experience and identity, this class will be of-fered at two different times on Thursdays beginning April 30. An afternoon session will be held from 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. and an evening session from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. This experience will be significantly enhanced by participants’ commitment to participate in every session and to engage in conversation between sessions. There are a few spots left and/or you can add your name to the waiting list. To sign-up for this class go to the Adult Programming Table in Freeman Hall on Sundays or email our Adult Programming Coordinator Martha Kniseley at martha@uuccharlotte.org. Priority sign-ups will go to members of the congregation with this offering also availa-ble to visitors should space allow.

2nd Sunday Topic Discussion Sunday, May 10 at 10:30 a.m. in the Bernstein Room This is an opportunity to meet with the Minister to share your thoughts, ask questions, and hear others’ views relative to the sermon topic for that day. Begins promptly at 10:30 a.m. in the Bernstein Room. May Topic: Liberal Religious Path

Credo: A Personal Spiritual Journey Sunday, April 26 at 10:30 a.m. in the Bernstein Room Speaker: Cathy Canepa Cathy Canepa will share her spiritual jour-ney at 10:30 on Sunday, April 26 in the Bernstein Room. Cathy's mother came from secular Russian Jews and her father was an atheist from the Dominican Repub-lic. When pressed her parents said "God is in the rock, tree, compost heap, and in us" and "that all people are basically good, but may become frightened by different ideas,” and said never to speak of their beliefs outside the house. During McCar-thyism of the 1950s, her family was suspect in many ways, and especially because they were not religious. Cathy will talk about her journey from seeing religion as an enemy of her values of justice and compassion, to seeing them merge with her spirituality. Childcare provided.

What need do you have that might be addressed by our Adult Religious Education/Spiritual Development program-ming? What kinds of courses/topics are of interest to you? Please stop by the Adult Programming Table in Freeman

Hall on Sunday mornings to add your feedback to our IDEA box!

Mystics & Metaphysics: The Energetics of Sound with Jordi Wood Thursday, May 14 Indigenous cultures throughout the ages have understood the vibratory nature of our universe and have mastered the use of sound as a tool for transformation and healing. Join us and special guest Jordi Wood as we explore sound as a means of balancing, harmonizing and shifting our lives. Beginning as a classi-cal pianist and profes-sional jazz, rock, and western musician, Jordi sought more expansive means of musical expression through the healing art of song and sound. Studying with world class musicians, shamans and healers from Australia, South America, Africa and the Middle East, he blends this knowledge with holistic healing practices which include sound, Reiki, herbs, and ceremony to provide sacred space for individuals to explore

TED for the Soul (Evening) Tuesday, May 5 at 7:00 p.m. in the Bernstein Room  How are the thought processes of liberals and conservatives different and how can we use that knowledge to create a better community for all of us? Do we all have of some-thing valuable to contribute? What happens when we sur-round ourselves with all like-minded people? Come to the TED talk Tuesday, May 5 at 7:00 p.m. in the Sybil Bern-stein room to watch a video and discuss how it impacts all of us.

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A Night of Poetry, Power and Ethics, and Classroom Education Thursday, May 14 If you enjoy interesting conversation and appreciate the in-tellectual and emotional stimulation from discovering new books, you won’t want to miss the last UUCC Authors Night on Thursday, May 14! According to previous testi-monials, each evening has been very interactive and de-lightfully engaging. One of the authors from last month’s event surprised the audience by incorporating unusual visu-al aids into his presentation —a KISS album and a figurine from Lord of the Rings!

The lineup of authors scheduled for May covers diverse subject matter with a broad range of depth. This last session of the series will include a presentation about Searching for Maypops, written by Doris Browder. Her chapbook of 26 poems is a narra-tive of a young girl’s growing up and living into old age. (If you don’t know what a chapbook is, here’s a perfect opportunity to find out!) You can also find out how and why Doris came to write this book—and others.

Katy Ridnouer will be discussing her guide for nurturing adolescents, Man-aging Your Classroom with Heart. Katy has taught students of many age ranges in ethnically and economically diverse classrooms and is currently embarking on an exciting new pro-gram. As a teacher, she has worked with students with many types of backgrounds, values, family dynam-ics, and belief systems. This book

Lotus Path Sundays, at 8:00 a.m. in Schweitzer Consider starting your Sunday mornings at 8:00 a.m. by joining us. During these sessions we study and discuss vari-ous eastern spiritual philosophies with consideration of their applicability in modern times and their relevance to our own personal experience. We alternate studies of Buddhism, Tao Te Ching, the I Ching, and other sources as offered by members of the group. The class is scheduled so that at-tendees can seamlessly continue with Sunday Morning Meditation, a guided meditation, at 8:30 a.m. if you so choose.

Podcasts of Jay’s Sunday Sermons Available on UUCC Website If you have missed a recent Sunday service or you would like would like to hear a podcast of just Jay’s Sunday ser-mons, please visit our website at http://www.uuccharlotte.org/learn-more/sermons/. Sermons are also available on iTunes, our RSS feed and via our Face-book page.

chronicles her discovery of how to live her UU principles while meeting her students’ academic, emotional, and spir-itual needs. Chuck Kelly, considers himself an analyst and writing mechanic. He has written a number of books including The Destructive Achiever, power and ethics in the American corporation; The Great Limbaugh Con, and other right wing assaults on common sense; Class War in America, how eco-nomic and political conservatives are exploiting middle- and low-income Americans; and Farewell Fantasyland, time for political and economic reality. Chuck plans to talk about The Destruc-tive Achiever—his best explanation about why organizations tend to degenerate as they get bigger, older and more com-plex. Please join us for the final, fabulous evening of the UUCC Authors Night series. As always, friends and family are welcomed! For more information or questions, stop by the ARESD table in Freeman Hall on Sundays.

their inner terrain to create balance and harmony. Jordi will teach us chants from traditions that have long used sound and song to invoke powerful energies and create shifts in consciousness. You will walk away with a better understanding of how, through intention and intonation, we can use our own voic-es as potent healing and communication tools. Join us on May 14, from 7:00-8:30 p.m. with optional Q&A until 9:00 p.m., Schweitzer Room. Space limited, please register in advance: Susan Orrell, susaneorrell@gmail.com, (704) 661-7082.

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If you know about a need in our congregation—an illness or injury, a hospitalization or surgery, a death—what can you do? Please inform a member of our professional staff.

CONGREGATIONAL CARE NEWS

Open Mind Book Club Monday, May 4 at 7:30 p.m. in the Conference Room The Open Mind Book Club will meet at 7:30 p.m. on Monday, May 4 in the Conference Room. We will be discussing The Inven-tion of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd. Please RSVP to Gwynne Movius at (704) 366-9409 if you plan to attend. Upcoming Title: June 1: House-keeping by Marilynne Robinson

COMMUNITY BUILDING

Women’s Circle Second Tuesdays of Each Month

The Women’s Circle is a gathering of women to discuss issues, life and interests. Together we share ideas, make connections and create new friendships. Meetings are held the second Tuesday of each month at either UUCC Schweitzer Room from 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. or at members’ homes. Occasionally we plan short excursions to places of mutual interest. If you are interested in coming to a meet-ing or for additional information, contact Sandra Vermillion at slv13@carolina.rr.com.

Tables for Eight Tables for Eight is a wonderful, fun way to get to know members in an informal setting. The participants share the responsibility for the meal so that the host is more able to enjoy the evening along with the guests. Sign-ups are underway in Freeman Hall at the Adult Programming Table. Please know that anyone over 18 can participate—singles, couples, visitors, friends, and members. All are welcome! Dinners take place on fourth Saturdays of the month in

May, June, July and August. These four Tables will be potluck, with the host coordi-

nating dishes. If you sign up you will see different people each month

in different homes, and have one chance to be a host yourself.

If there is just no way you can host, you can participate as a substitute and will be notified when a spot is avail-able.

If your schedule conflicts with one dinner, indicate that month when you sign up. (If you know that you’ll be gone more than one time, then you may want to join at a different time.)

Hosts will call guests two weeks before the scheduled Table to give directions and coordinate dinner.

Participants will receive a roster of participants and schedule of the four Saturdays.

Please contact Althea Clark with questions: altheaclark@verizon.net.

End-of-the year PICNIC We are planning a UU community picnic with the Lake Norman and Piedmont UU congregants. We have rented a large shelter at Reedy Creek Park on Saturday, May 30. Stay tuned for more details!

SL”UU”GS are Back The UUCC Sluugs softball team is cranking up and is eagerly looking for some new tal-ent. Team plays once a week Monday-Thursday at 6:30 p.m. from now until mid-June. It’s competitive with an emphasis on having fun, so if you are over 16 and interested, contact Greg Schropp at schg02@aol.com or (704) 376-2163.

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RELIGIOUS EDUCATION FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH (CYRE)

Parents of Preschoolers and Early Elementary Children Mark your calendars for Sunday, May 17 12:45 p.m. So—you’ve been bringing your child to church for a year now and you know her class is referred to as a SpiritPlay class—but what exactly does that mean? Join our Director of Children and Youth Religious Educa-tion, Kathleen Carpenter, and volunteers active in our CYRE Program as we discuss programming opportunities for our youngest UUs and their families. We’ll begin all together for a fun activity and then divide by age. Parents will have the opportunity to hear more about the SpiritPlay program—why do we think it is the best approach for our young children? What do we hope to achieve using it in-stead of a traditional written curriculum? What is our CYRE philosophy? Why rituals? We’ll then divide into smaller groups and ask you about your family’s needs. And how you can get more involved in our congregation. We will end by 2:15 p.m. A light lunch will be offered; details to follow. If you want to help with lunch or if you have questions, please contact Kathleen.

A Place for Friendly Conversation – About ten years ago, I started an email “brainstorming” list in which I would introduce provocative questions in the areas of religious education and moral development. It on-ly went to parents as the primary goal was to get feedback to help guide the program. It resulted in many spirited and thoughtful conversations, sometimes quite outside the origi-nal topic area. It was a great way to allow those with an interest in doing so to dig a bit deeper. It seems only natural that these brainstorming conversations would evolve into a blog. You may have noticed that our congregation’s new website has two blogs, one for Senior Minister Jay Leach and one for me. Mine will be a place where conversations around faith development and Unitarian Uni-versalist identity are introduced and fostered. It will be a forum for par-enting and family issues—yet it should also be of interest to anyone seeking to discover deeper spiritual meaning in their lives because I hope our conversations allow such dis-covery. And the beauty of a blog is that each comment deepens the conversation—or at least, provides new per-spectives. I don’t plan to write all the blog posts myself, by the way. I’ll be sharing others I find particularly insightful— and I’ll be recruiting from members here. Below are a few topics that I am considering. I welcome suggestions. See you online! Our Mission and Your Children: Our congregation’s

mission statement says we will “inspire children, youth, and adults to discover and articulate deeper spiritual meaning as evidenced in lives of integrity, compassion, and stewardship of the earth.” What does that mean to you in terms of your children and what they will find here?

Sunday Mornings: What do you like about the way we do Sunday mornings at the UUCC—and what do you dislike?

Why Attend?: What can we give you here that you can’t get elsewhere?

Invitations: Have you ever invited a friend to join you for a church service or event? If so, how did it turn out? If not, why not?

Immersion Experiences for our Teens: What are the best uses of our limited resources to meet the needs of teens and their parents?

Worshiping with Your Children: Do you like attending worship services with your children? Do you wish there were more or fewer such opportunities?

Death: What have you told your children about death? Faith Development / Spiritual Development: What’s

the difference? How do we provide opportunities for both in our CYRE Program?

UU History: Is it important for our children—and us! —to be familiar with our religious history? Why or why not?

Holidays: Assuming you celebrate at least one or two religious holidays with your children, which ones do you celebrate and how do you explain them to your kids?

Church Attendance: What do you tell your kids in order to avoid arguments over church attendance? Has it worked and why or why not?

CYRE Program Outcomes: What do you want to see as participant outcomes for our program—what do we want our children to leave the program having internal-ized—about world religions, UU history and identity, our Jewish and Christian heritage, the UU commitment to social justice, self-esteem, values, etc.

Kathleen Carpenter

Director of Religious Education for Children and Youth

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GATHERINGS OF INTEREST

Calendar of Events (*must be pre-registered) Sunday, April 26:

All children and youth and their families attend this Service for the Whole Congregation. Only preschool classes will be held. The Middle School youth will lead the service.

Sunday, April 26, 10:00 a.m.: Teacher/OWL Facilitator Brunch

Tuesday, May 12, 6:00 p.m.: 2015 Mission Trip Meeting Sunday, May 17, 12:45 p.m.: SpiritPlay and More! (see

article on page 7)

Young Adult Group (YAG) Join Us

Our Young Adult Group (YAG) welcomes anyone be-tween the ages of 18-35 (ish). The monthly gatherings are held every first Sunday at 5:00 p.m. in the Bernstein Room (game night & potluck) and every third Sunday at 12:30

p.m. in the Schweitzer room (discussions). Special events are held from time to time. Because the first Sunday in June will be our Congregational Conversation, the group will meet on the 14th for game night instead of the 7th. Please email uucc-yag@googlegroups.com to get in touch with the group.

DENOMINATIONAL CONNECTIONS

The Southeast District of the UUA Has Been Dissolved! Where does that leave our congregation? Are you aware that our congregation is part of a much larg-er denominational organization? You may have heard about the Unitarian Universalist Association, headquartered in Boston. Our church is one of many that make up that Association. But how are we connected closer to home? Up until very recently—a week ago—our congregation was a part of the Southeast District of the UUA (which used to be the Thomas Jefferson District). However, while the dis-trict was very active and was staffed for many years, it had gradually been phased out as our denomination moves to-ward a larger regional structure. So—what does all that mean for the congregations in the southeast? Thanks to Rich Greene, who represented our congregation at the final District meeting held in Greensboro earlier this month, we have a firsthand account. If you have any ques-tions after reading his comments, please feel free to contact Rich Greene (rkgreene66@gmail.com) directly. On April 18, 2015, our District dissolved itself. This was the next step in the process of switching from 19 Districts to 5 Regions. Our Region, the Southern Region has about 200 congregations while the old district had 50 congregations, and it goes from Virginia to Texas. The main advantage of the larger region is the efficient use of regional professional staff. But there are also several challenges to the larger region, the first being its size. It is hard to drive to Dallas for a workshop that might have been in Greensboro. Another disadvantage is the dependence on clusters of congregations where clusters have not yet

formed. Also, there is less opportunity for lay leadership in place, although there is a concept of Elders that is still be-ing defined. There is a Regional Advisory Team for the UUA Vice President of Congregational Life. Financially, the regional staff is funded by the UUA through the single GIFT program whereby each congrega-tion is asked to give 7% of its operating budget to the UUA. The GIFT program has been pilot tested in the Southern Region. How will our congregation be impacted by this change? Stay tuned…

Green Sanctuary Meeting Sunday, May 17 at 1:00 p.m. in Bernstein Join a group of like-minded environmentally-focused church members who are pursuing the UUA Green Sanctuary Accred-itation program for the UUCC. This multi-year effort that involves introspection and action, both at an individual and congrega-tional level, that is focused on the 7th UU principle of respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are part. Please join a spirited group of individuals as we move into the next phase of the program! For more information please contact jonathan.harding@gmail.com.

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An Intimate Look at our Pipe Organ: The History and the Music it Makes Thursday, May 21 at 7:30 p.m. The pipe organ is a unique musi-cal instrument and very few are not moved by the various sounds it renders. We at UUCC are for-tunate to hear our own organ played often during Sunday ser-vices. On Thursday, May 21 from 7:30 to 9:00 p.m., Ronald Ellis, a member of the UUCC and former President of the Moller Pipe Organ Company, along with John Herrick, our Director of Music, will present a seminar on this the “King of Instruments.”

(Continued on page 10)

Member Directory Now Online Visit the New UUCC Website UUCC members have been asking for an up-to-date, easy-to-access directory of our membership. Now we have it, and we need your help to make sure your own information is current—and to post photos of you and your family. Click on the blue button at the bottom of any page of the new UUCC website. That will take you to an introductory page with instructions for logging into Ac-cess UUCC, the members section of the website and the directory.

A volunteer task group and UUCC staff created the new website to improve communications with members and to provide enhanced information for members, visitors and prospective members. We welcome your feedback. Send an email to kelly@uuccharlotte.org or to Communications Team chair Barry Ahrendt at bahrendt1@carolina.rr.com. And thank you for your financial support of the UUCC, which has made this new website possible.

Unsung Heroes (Well, sort of…) “Unsung heroes” seems like a strange moniker when apply-ing it the majority of people who make music here at UUCC, those who sing or play an instrument, but stay with me for a moment. Just coming off of Music Sunday, I am reminded how much participants in the music program con-tribute to our spiritual community. Those who sing and those who chime spend countless hours in rehearsal (including travel time, an average of 90 to 160 hours/year in rehearsal, depending on the number of ensembles they par-ticipate in), plus there’s the showing up early on Sunday mornings (7:45 a.m. for our chimers on Music Sunday) and participating in two services. Beyond the time factor, there’s the issue of bravery—allowing oneself to be vulnerable and little uncomfortable at times when making music in front of peers or an entire congregation. When we sing or play an instrument, we share from deep inside ourselves. So yes, I am in awe of our music volunteers (our paid staff too!). There wouldn’t be a music program without them. In my correspondence to music program volunteers, I typically sign off with, “Thank you for all that you do!” I couldn’t be more sincere. The next time you happen upon one of our musicians, please take a moment to thank them for their contribution to this place. It’s huge!

John Herrick Director of Music

MEMBERSHIP

Visitors with Children You are welcome! We love visitors in our classes, events, and services—but it’s hard to communicate with you if we don’t know who you are beyond your child’s name on a class attendance sheet. If you have determined that this MIGHT be the place for you and want to be more connected, we recommend you go to our church website and complete the registration form for the CYRE (Children and Youth Religious Education) Program. Once registered, you are on our email list for up-dates and important notices concerning our families. At any time, should you decide this congregation and our children’s program no longer work for you, you can just contact CYRE staff and ask to be removed. Of course, we will be sad to see you go.

MUSIC NEWS

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DO YOU ENJOY CHILDREN AND CREATIVE EXPRESSION? Consider our Summer Program’s paid coordinator positions in our CYRE Program Summer in our Children and Youth Religious Education Program is much more relaxed than September - May. We offer classes for children preschool—5th grade at 9:15 a.m. and preschool - high school at 11:15 a.m. While we still rely on volunteers to make these classes successful, we pro-vide program continuity through the hiring of two paid co-ordinators. The Religious Education program for our children and youth runs from the Sunday after Labor Day until the Sunday before Memorial Day. Coordina-tors commit to at least 11 of the 14 Sunday morn-ings. No outside or prep work is required. If you are interested in applying for one of the two CYRE Summer Sundays Program Coordinator positions (one for the Preschool classes and the other for the Elementary), please contact Kathleen Carpenter at kathleen@uuccharlotte.org. Applicants must be 18 or older.

online—you will receive your bidder number when you arrive at the auction. If you visit the site today, you will see just some of the Items that have been donated, as we are still loading the site. Check back regularly between now and May 2 to see everything that will be available. Please note as well that live auction items will be shown on the website, but will not be available for pre-bidding. We are looking forward to a fun and successful event. If you haven’t purchased tickets yet, you can also do that on the Bidding Owl website or at the Social Justice table in Freeman Hall on Sundays. Tickets are $10 in advance and $15 at the door. If you have any questions, please contact Craig Miller at craiguuccauction@gmail.com or Trish Ber-nard Hevey at trishhevey@yahoo.com.

(“AH-HA Auction” continued from page 1)

The organ at UUCC is part of a more than seven-century legacy of organs in churches. A strange and glorious instru-ment, the pipe organ has multiple keyboards, pedals for the feet, knobs that are pushed and pulled, and a wide variety of sounds ranging from sweet to raucous, and volume that is sometimes very soft and other times very loud. John and Ron will share a brief history of the development of organs across the centuries, a demonstration of various kinds of actual organ pipes, and play a sample of types and styles of music from Bach and Pachelbel down to the pre-sent. And, for the stalwart and inquisitive, there will even be a “walking tour” through our own pipe organ chamber (located behind the pipes exposed on the front wall.) For more information contact Martha Kniseley at martha@uuccharlotte.org.

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Power in our Cans   Does a can of soup have “power”? – YES, for a child that needs a nourishing meal after a long day at school. Does a can of vegetables have “power”? – YES for a senior citizen whose fixed income nev-er quite stretches the whole month. Does a can of fruit have “power”? – YES, for a working Mom whose minimum wage job can’t always cover healthy food options. So the next time you come to church, put some POWER in your bag and drop it into the food barrel in Freeman Hall. Your donations of healthy canned goods can really POWER UP the boxes of food we distribute each month to 27 needy families. More Power to You!

SOCIAL JUSTICE NEWS CONT’

COORDINATING TEAM’S REPORT TO THE BOARD Each month the Coordinating Team creates a report for our Board of Trustees. This report is comprised of vignettes created by professional staff that reflect our progress toward the achievement of our congregation’s Ends. A hard copy of the entire report is posted on the office area bulletin board. A full copy of this report is available on our website at http://goo.gl/Khg0Qe.

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ONGOING GROUP MEETINGS Newcomers and drop-ins are welcome! For more information about these groups please visit www.uuccharlotte.org and select “Programs/Get Involved.”

Meeting Location/Room

Time Contact

All Things Considered Schweitzer 7:00 p.m. 3rd Wednesday (May 20) Ron Maccaroni maccaronir@gmail.com Exploring Humanism Sanctuary 7:00 p.m. (May 23) Steve Bivens wsbivens@aol.com Healing Threads: A Prayer Shawl Ministry

Home of Joy Bruce

7:00 p.m. 2nd Monday (May 11) Kathleen Moloney-Tarr (704) 661-5409

Jabberwocks Conference 10:00 a.m. 3rd Friday (May 15) Doris Thomas Browder Lotus Path Schweitzer 8:00 a.m. Sundays Edie Gelber-Beechler erg_b2@hotmail.com Mystics and Metaphysics Bernstein 7:00 p.m. (May 14) Carol Smith smithcarolc@gmail.com Sunday Morning Meditation Schweitzer 8:30 a.m. Sundays Debbie George (704) 763-2193

Straight Spouse Support Group Conference 7:00 p.m. 1st Tuesday (May 5) Sage Brook (704) 366-7983 “T.E.D for the Soul” (Day) Bernstein 12:00 p.m. 3rd Monday

(May 18) Melissa Mummert mummertville@yahoo.com

“T.E.D for the Soul” (Evening)

Bernstein 7:00 p.m. 1st Tuesday (May 5) Susan Cox scox44@earthlink.net Trish Hevey trishhevey@yahoo.com

Women’s Circle Schweitzer 7:00 p.m. 2nd Tuesday (May 12) Sandy Vermillion slv13@carolina.rr.com Please RSVP to Sandy to attend.

Young Adult Group (YAG) Schweitzer/Bernstein

12:45 p.m. 3rd Sunday (May 17) 5:00 p.m. 1st Sunday (May 3)

Lincoln Baxter, III uucc-yag@googlegroups.com

GET INVOLVED

Coffee Service Volunteers Needed Would you like to help serve coffee once a month on Sunday morning? There are cur-rently two positions open, fourth Sunday sec-ond service and fifth Sunday first service. Please contact Shannon Bradley at uucccoffeeservice@gmail.com or sign up at the adult pro-gramming table. Volunteers are also needed as extras to fill in occasionally.

Are you Passionate about the Arts? Do they feed your Spirit? If so, consider volunteering for one Sunday morning this summer Each summer, our elementary children’s summer class fo-cuses on a different topic with a focus on “discovering deeper spiritual meaning.” Last year it was the human con-nection to nature; the year before, traveling as a spiritual practice; and the year before that, ethical eating. Our goal is to have guest speakers/performers every Sunday who can bring the excitement of personal experience or expertise to the classroom. This summer’s theme will be “Spirituality Through the Arts.” We know we have some creative people in this congrega-tion. And while we love the truly talented, we are equally appreciative of the less proficient but truly passionate! If you find your form of creative expression is more than just an enjoyable past time, that it connects you to something larger, something undefinable perhaps, we want you! When we offered this particular arts class in 2011, our guests included actors and musicians (including a drum-mer, a flutist, a harpist and several vocalists), a weaver, jewelry makers, a potter, a passionate advocate of soul col-lage, an origami artist, a painter, and several people who love creating with various craft materials. Oh—and one magician! Each visitor was asked to share why their art touches their spirit. Their responses ranged from powerful to touching to side splitting funny. We welcome all ages and stages of presenters—from teens to the more well-seasoned among us. Non-parents and par-ents with grown children are especially welcome, as are teenagers. Contact Kathleen Carpenter at kathleen@uuccharlotte.org if interested.

Hold on to your Children’s Books! As a reminder, our youth take boxes of donated children’s books (for preschool - middle school aged children) with them as a gift to the Hartsville community in June when they go down for their mission trip. Each year they are giv-en to a different group, based on recommendations by com-munity leaders. You can begin bringing books in to the CYRE office on May 22.

Building and Grounds Work Day Join the Building and Grounds Team and other volunteers as we spruce up our property for spring and summer. The next work day is scheduled for Saturday, May 9 at 9:00 a.m. No specialized skills necessary, just a willingness to get your hands dirty. We’ll have jobs for all. Contact Scott Royle or Doug Swaim for more details.

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Address Label

Periodical Non-Profit Organization

Postage Paid Charlotte, NC

The deadline for the next is:

Sunday, May 3, 2015 for the next issue which will be pub-lished on Wednesday, May 6, 2015. Please include your name and phone number on your submissions in case there are questions. The Voices editor reserves the right to edit all submissions to the newsletter for brevity, grammar, clari-ty and consistency as space will allow. The preferred sub-mission is by email to: uucc@uuccharlotte.org

Volume 40, Issue 08 USPS 346-850 Published biweekly by the Unitarian Universalist Church of Charlotte 234 N Sharon Amity Rd Charlotte NC 28211-3004

Postmaster: Please send address corrections to above.

Church Office hours: Monday – Friday 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM Phone: (704) 366-8623 / Fax: (704) 366-8812

E-mail: uucc@uuccharlotte.org; Website: http://www.uuccharlotte.org

Staff Member Professional Responsibilities Kathleen Carpenter

Director of Religious Education for Children & Youth

kathleen@uuccharlotte.org ext. 6034

Children and Youth Religious Education Denominational Connections

Young Adult Group

Donna Fisher Children’s Choir Director donnfish@bellsouth.net

Children’s Choir

Kelly Greene Membership Coordinator

kelly@uuccharlotte.org ext. 6039

New Members Visitors

Volunteer Coordination

John Herrick Director of Music

john@uuccharlotte.org ext. 6037

Music Worship Team

Alesia Hutto Office Administrator

alesia@uuccharlotte.org ext. 6030

Administrative Support Communications

Martha Kniseley Adult Programming Coordinator

martha@uuccharlotte.org ext. 6036

Adult Religious Education and Spiritual Development Community Building Congregational Care

Jay Leach Senior Minister

jay@uuccharlotte.org ext. 6032

Chief of Staff Coordinating Team Social Justice Team

Worship Team Belinda Parry

Administrative Assistant belinda@uuccharlotte.org ext. 6033

Part Time Administrative/CYRE Support

Doug Swaim Interim Director of Administration doug@uuccharlotte.org ext. 6032

Building & Grounds Communications Coordinating Team Finance Memorial Endowment Trust Open Door School Stewardship Security