Building the World We Dream About Workshop
March 13, 2010 ~ UU Fellowship of Boca Raton

This workshop is designed for Unitarian Universalist congregations to examine cultural competencies and gain tools and resources for effectively engaging in racial justice ministry. This hands-on event will leave your congregation equipped to take the next step in your racial justice ministry with the support of other congregations also committed to leading the way in “building the world we dream about.”

Building the World Workshop Flyer

*************************************************

The Florida District
Unitarian Universalist Association
Invites You to Our

Annual District Assembly
The Challenge Ahead
With Special Guest, Gini Courter
Moderator of the Unitarian Universalist Association
April 9-11, 2010
Hosted by the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Miami

Each year, delegates and guests from the forty-five Unitarian Universalist congregations of the Florida District come together in common Assembly to celebrate, to meet and to learn from each other.

We also come to conduct the District’s shared business. The notice of our District Assembly Annual Business meeting and delegates’ credentials will come to you separately. We have new officers to elect, a budget to adopt and some by-law revisions to permit youth participation on the Board.

Meanwhile, the District Assembly is a great moment of shared ministry. We welcome as our theme speaker Gini Courter read more

Annual Assembly Complete Brochure

Annual Assembly Info Flyer for Posting

Annual Assembly Event & Workshop Schedule

Annual Assembly Registration Form

Annual Assembly On-line Registration

************************************************

Now Accepting Nominations for District Awards

The Florida District Awards Committee requests your nominations to honor members and friends who have made significant contributions to their congregations and communities. Awards will be presented during our District Assembly, April 9-11, in Miami.

Award Information and Nomination Form

Please note, the deadline to submit nominations is March 15, 2010

**************************************************

Haiti Earthquake Distaster Response

Many Unitarian Universalists are moved to aid those stricken by Tuesday’s earthquake. In the wake of devastation wrought by the earthquake which struck the island of Haiti on January 12, 2010, the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee (UUSC) and the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) are launching a joint relief effort to bring aid to the impoverished island nation.  Read more

*******************************************************

Adult Advisor Training for Congregational Youth Groups

UU Church of Ft. Myers ~ April 24, 2010

Advisor Training Flyer

Advisor Training On-line Registration

*************************************************

Question: Were Unitarian Universalism outlawed, would there be enough evidence to convict you of your convictions?

Previously, in this space, I spoke of numerical growth: paying attention to how many people we actually serve. In our last issue, I asked how we might measure spiritual growth, suggesting that asking if one were becoming more religiously mature as one measure. In this note, I turn to incarnational growth or how we embody our faith.

In his great sermon, The Transient & Permanent in Christianity, (1841), the great abolitionist and Unitarian preacher Theodore Parker argued that the enduring quality of religion is found not in the creeds or liturgical practices, but in how we actually live. He saw the religion of Jesus to be healing human lives. He taught us that religion is a matter of ethics far more than an orthodoxy of belief.

Today, Unitarian Universalists broadly “walk the talk.” Our people see this as elemental to being part of our community. It is good to note many others share that idea. Three weeks after the tragic earthquake in Haiti, my local paper reported well over $1 million had been raised in our county for relief efforts; most of that came from faith communities.

(By the way, the joint UUSC/UUA Earthquake Relief Fund has exceeded $1.423,638 as of February 26th. See the “What you can do” at http://www.uusc.org/actforhaiti if you would like to contribute to this effort.)

A primary ministry teaches people how to witness as Unitarian Universalists. Our ministry says we should be known not just for our convictions but also for their ethical implications, even obligations. How lives are touched is what people treasure in their congregation. This shows up in how deeply we care for each other. It shows up too when we put our bodies on the line. To the extent we intentionally concern ourselves with moral living, individually and as a faith community, we are engaged in incarnational growth.

Over the years, it has become ever clearer to me that congregations need to show people how to walk the talk. Show people where they can volunteer what precious time they have. Guide people with how to give wisely their precious monetary gifts. Tell them where their unique talents are needed. That’s what a church should do.

Our members come wanting to incarnate their values; they expect the congregation to help by naming the need and showing how to serve. Here in the FLD, many congregations encourage members to volunteer in community projects. Others receive and distribute special gifts collections each month or totally give away their Sunday offerings to like-hearted, like-minded groups. Others actively commit annually to a congregational service project. Those that make faith real in these ways are usually our strongest.

Here’s a practical study project: ask your members how many hours they volunteer each month in some non-church activity. After a year, calculate the average. Then set a goal to increase those hours, say 5% in the next year. That would be incarnational growth!

A last question: What % of your congregation’s income from all sources (pledges, special gifts, etc.) currently goes to meet human need outside of the congregation? 1%? 5%? 10%? More? That should be an easy number to measure. May I be bold to suggest our congregations ought to give back to the community at least a tithe: 10%.

Embody-ing or witnessing to our values with time, talent, and treasure is incarnational growth. This is how others know we have a faith in the first place. Let the light of our faith shine, let it shine!

Blessings,
Rev. Kenn