PO Box 1574, 6380 Valley Pike, Stephens City, VA 22655 Regular Office Hours: Mon - Fri. 10:00 am-2:00 pm, 540.869.6965 FROM THE MINISTER, REV. RUSS SAVAGE This weekend marks the kick-off of our annual Stewardship Campaign. Of course there is such a campaign every year, but this year’s is especially critical. Campaign chair Mark Lore and his committee have dubbed it “UUCSV at a Crossroads.” When the stewardship campaign started this time last year, UUCSV had a full-time minister. Since last summer we’ve had only a part-time minister. The challenge of this year’s campaign is to see if we can return to full-time ministry next year. It’s a big challenge but an important one for UUCSV. Can we step up to it, or will we be forced to continue with part-time ministry for the foreseeable future? Listen carefully as the details of our financial needs unfold in the campaign. Consider thoughtfully as you think about your own role at UUCSV and plan your pledge for the coming year. Together, we can move successfully through the crossroads we face. See you in church. Russ STEWARDSHIP COMMITTEE 2017-18 Pledge Drive Begins This Sunday! “UUCSV AT A CROSSROADS” Our annual pledge drive begins today, February 12, continuing to March 12. This is always a time to consider what our church means to us, what its future will be and how much we are willing to support it financially. And as always, your pledges are vital – they account for 80% of our revenues. But this year, the stakes are even higher. Our ability to recruit a full-time, settled minister by the summer of 2018 depends on whether we can show now that we will eventually be able to pay for one! Frankly, right now we can’t. Pledges fell this year by 18% to $175,000. At this level, we cannot hope to hire a full-time minister. But if we can produce a substantial increase for 2017-18, this can demonstrate that we have turned the corner and are back on an upward trajectory (a trajectory, remember, that we’ll have to sustain in future years). Accordingly, the Stewardship Committee has established a pledge target of $200,000 for FY17-18 – an increase of $25,000 or 14% over this year. Some of this may come from pledges from those members and friends who did not pledge in FY16-17. Some may come from new members and friends. But we will likely still have to increase our pledges overall by at least 10% to meet this goal. According to the Search Committee’s congregational survey last fall, a strong majority in our congregation wants a full-time, settled minister. Can we rebuild our finances to support this goal? As Rev. Russ will remind us this Sunday: “There’s no one here but us.” Every one of us needs to contribute – to the extent we are able -- if we are to meet this challenge. SPECIAL EVENTS THIS WEEK 02/12/2017 CALENDAR EVENTS Sun. Feb. 12 Pledge Drive Sunday! Share the Plate! Tues. Feb. 14 6:30 pm CYREC 7:00 pm Mindful Meditation with Shell Fischer – Living with Loving-Kindness Wed. Feb. 15 5:30 pm Community Dinner 6:30 pm Board Meeting Thurs. Feb. 16 6:30 pm Course in Miracles – Darwin’s Fish Room 7:00 pm Chalice Singers Sat. Feb. 18 3:00 pm 7 th -9 th OWL 7:00 pm Chamber Music Performance Sun. Feb. 19. 9:00 am 7 – 9 OWL 11:00 am Worship 12:30 pm Adult OWL 2:00 pm Meet the Artist Sun February 26 12:30 pm Transition Team – Healing Conversations March 24 Magic Lantern: In Plain Sight, Stories of Hope and Freedom March 25 Daylong Retreat April 22 Annual Auction February Donations The collection is for The SPCA in Winchester. Some items that they specifically need currently are: liquid laundry detergent, cat litter, dog and cat food There will be a designated, identified collection point in the Narthex.
Transcript
PO Box 1574, 6380 Valley Pike, Stephens City, VA 22655
This weekend marks the kick-off of our annual Stewardship Campaign. Of course there is such a
campaign every year, but this year’s is especially critical. Campaign chair Mark Lore and his
committee have dubbed it “UUCSV at a Crossroads.”
When the stewardship campaign started this time last year, UUCSV had a full-time minister.
Since last summer we’ve had only a part-time minister. The challenge of this year’s campaign is
to see if we can return to full-time ministry next year. It’s a big challenge but an important one
for UUCSV. Can we step up to it, or will we be forced to continue with part-time ministry for the
foreseeable future?
Listen carefully as the details of our financial needs unfold in the campaign. Consider
thoughtfully as you think about your own role at UUCSV and plan your pledge for the coming
year. Together, we can move successfully through the crossroads we face.
See you in church. Russ
STEWARDSHIP COMMITTEE
2017-18 Pledge Drive Begins This Sunday! “UUCSV AT A CROSSROADS”
Our annual pledge drive begins today, February 12, continuing to March 12.
This is always a time to consider what our church means to us, what its future will be and how much we are willing to support it financially. And as always, your pledges are vital – they account for 80% of our revenues. But this year, the stakes are even higher. Our ability to recruit a full-time, settled minister by the summer of 2018 depends on whether we can show now that we will eventually be able to pay for one! Frankly, right now we can’t. Pledges fell this year by 18% to $175,000. At this level, we cannot hope to hire a full-time minister. But if we can produce a substantial increase for 2017-18, this can demonstrate that we have turned the corner and are back on an upward trajectory (a trajectory, remember, that we’ll have to sustain in future years). Accordingly, the Stewardship Committee has established a pledge target of $200,000 for FY17-18 – an increase of $25,000 or 14% over this year. Some of this may come from pledges from those members and friends who did not pledge in FY16-17. Some may come from new members and friends. But we will likely still have to increase our pledges overall by at least 10% to meet this goal. According to the Search Committee’s congregational survey last fall, a strong majority in our congregation wants a full-time, settled minister. Can we rebuild our finances to support this goal? As Rev. Russ will remind us this Sunday: “There’s no one here but us.” Every one of us needs to contribute – to the extent we are able -- if we are to meet this challenge.
SPECIAL EVENTS THIS WEEK
02/12/2017
CALENDAR EVENTS
Sun. Feb. 12 Pledge Drive Sunday! Share the Plate! Tues. Feb. 14 6:30 pm CYREC 7:00 pm Mindful Meditation with Shell Fischer – Living with Loving-Kindness Wed. Feb. 15 5:30 pm Community Dinner 6:30 pm Board Meeting Thurs. Feb. 16 6:30 pm Course in Miracles – Darwin’s Fish Room 7:00 pm Chalice Singers Sat. Feb. 18 3:00 pm 7
th-9
th OWL
7:00 pm Chamber Music Performance Sun. Feb. 19. 9:00 am 7 – 9 OWL 11:00 am Worship 12:30 pm Adult OWL 2:00 pm Meet the Artist
Sun February 26 12:30 pm Transition Team – Healing Conversations
March 24 Magic Lantern: In Plain Sight, Stories of Hope and Freedom March 25 Daylong Retreat April 22 Annual Auction
February Donations The collection is for The SPCA in Winchester. Some
items that they specifically need currently are:
liquid laundry detergent, cat litter,
dog and cat food There will be a designated, identified collection point in the Narthex.
AUCTION COMMITTEE
MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE
Due to a scheduling conflict, a new UU Orientation date will be announced in the next newsletter. We are sorry for any problems this may cause.
NOMINATING COMMITTEE
Our church & our greater community are going through changes right now, and there has never been a better opportunity to step up and get involved. Your input & contributions are needed & appreciated. Please encourage those in your church family to serve on a committee or run for the board - or, even better, take on a leadership position yourself! Please contact any of us if you have any questions. Have you checked out this website yet?
UU Leadership Institute Leadership School in Your Pocket
http://www.uuinstitute.org/
If you haven't, you should. It offers a lot of interesting online courses & one of them will surely speak to you. Start with one of the free sample courses, like Passing the Torch: Leadership Development in Your Congregation or The Welcome Table: Creating Inclusive Faith Communities to get your feet wet & see what it's all about. Then, for only $30, consider one of the on demand or spring semester courses going on now. Coming of Age for Adults: Building a Faithful UU Identity, and Love Reaches Out: Outreach and Growth in a Time of Change both seemed particularly appropriate. Zelda, Mike & Gina
RELIGIOUS EDUCATION: ONGOING, FOR EVERYONE
UUCSV Book Club
FEBRUARY 22 @ 10:15 a.m.
A Man Called Ove: A Novel by Fredrik Backman
Showing up for Racial Justice SURJ Church news You are invited to join our reading group with Showing Up for Racial Justice - DC area! Marie Francis is the facilitator/organizer for the Shenandoah Valley group. She is pleased to announce that the reading group curriculums are now available to us for the new year. This group is planning on following the 2.0 general curriculum this year, with some supplementary materials, as needed.
They meet regularly on the 2nd Thursday of each month at the Unitarian Universalist Church of the Shenandoah Valley, in Stephens City, VA. For more details about our upcoming meeting on February 9th at 6:30 pm, please join the Facebook group and check out the event page for the initial 2.0 meeting where you will find links to the February materials.
*Tip: these meetings increase in quality of learning for all when you come prepared. Please allow time in the week or so prior to each meeting to listen/read and reflect on the relevant links.* For more information you may contact:-Marie Francis [email protected], 540-514-1428
SoulCollage® Workshop Sue Ann Is a SoulCollage® facilitator and contract art therapist, meaning she works freelance at various settings, not from an office. Her goal is to share what she has learned through art therapy with as many as possible, so they too may experience arts ability to free the soul. Her work involves many diverse populations, from children to aging adults with varying levels of ability. There are no limitations when it comes to doing art therapy, you need not have any art experience or talent, only a willingness to explore and express yourself. Sue Ann is a joyful soul that loves sharing her passion for self-care through self-expression.
FACILITATOR: Sue Ann Hastings MA, Art Therapist, LGPAT HOST: Unitarian Universalist Church of the Shenandoah Valley 6380 Valley Pike, Stephens City DATE: Saturday, April 8th, 2017 TIME: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. COST: $20/person includes all supplies, please bring a sack lunch. A light snack and hot tea and coffee will be provided For reservation call or email Cory: [email protected]
Children & Youth: Child Dedication Ceremony Are you committed to UUCSV and do you feel like UUCSV is committed to you and your family? Would you like your child to be dedicated at UUCSV? In our Unitarian Universalist dedication ceremonies, our congregation pledges to support you and your child(ren) throughout your lives and to help you grow in mind, body and spirit both as individuals and as a family. This special child dedication ceremony will take place during the worship service in the near future. Please contact Rev. Russ or Cory to have your child(ren) included.
SOCIAL COMMITTEE
You are Invited!
Community Dinner Wednesday, February 15 at 5:30pm
Each month the Social Committee puts together 2 community meals for anyone who would like to attend. While we hope everyone will come at some point we conveniently hold the dinners on the nights of COC and Board meetings. You do not need to attend meetings! Please come as you can. This coming week we will provide breakfast for dinner (waffles). If you plan to attend please bring a dish to share. Bring your feastware (place setting) so we won't have to spend too much time in the kitchen cleaning up or use paper products.
Help is always welcome. If you'd like to come early and set up tables at 5:00 or help clear up at 6:30, it would be appreciated. Contact Mary Haskins with your questions: [email protected]
SOCIAL ACTION AND JUSTICE COMMITTEE
Share the Plate The Share the Plate Recipient for February will be the Concern hotline. As always the collection will be taken on the second Saturday of the month (today, February 12th). Bruce White is a volunteer at the hotline and will provide an overview of the organization.
WATTS If you are an early riser we could use more help for the WATTS breakfast on February 23rd. (I do mean early... 6:00 AM to appx 8AM) .Contact Gloria Kelm at [email protected] if you would like to volunteer either to help serve breakfast or contribute something for the meal.
Highland Food Pantry is looking for the following: 1. Empty 1 dozen egg cartons (box in the Narthex) 2. Volunteers to work when the Pantry opens an additional morning to assist the expanding number of clients. Talk with Sandy Lore, Ann Cross or Barbara Peters (540-869-3722)
CEDAR Lane – Seminary for a Day 2/17/2017 Register here: http://bit.ly/SeminaryForADay17 Join us from 9 - 3 p.m. at Cedar Lane. Our keynote speaker is the Rev. Dr. Jacqueline Lewis, Senior Minister, Middle Collegiate Church, New York, a 900-member multiracial, welcoming, pluralistic, and inclusive congregation in New York City. She is an activist, preacher, author, and fierce advocate for racial equality, economic justice, and LGBTQ equality. Middle Church and Jacqui's prophetic activism for these issues has been featured widely in the media. Jacqui will be joined by thought leaders and activists from around the region who will lead workshops and discussion groups on a range of topics including intersectionality, combating Islamophobia, protecting immigrant rights, and being a sanctuary.
Workshop Presenters Include:
Rev. Rob Keithan, All Souls UU Church in Washington, DC
Rachel Laser, Trainer on white privilege & racism
Pablo DeJesus, Executive Director, UUs for Social Justice (UUSJ)
Joelle Novey, Director, Greater Washington Interfaith Power & Light
Fred Johnson, Intersections International Representatives from the Kunzang Palyul Choling Buddhist Temple
TRANSITION COMMITTEE
Opportunities for Healing Conversations – Our church Transition Team was organized more than a year ago, to help us transition through this period of interim/part-time ministry and our search for a new settled minister. As part of our responsibilities, the Board has asked us to provide an opportunity for individual members of the congregation to meet with us in small groups to share feelings and concerns about the events in our church over the past few years. It is our hope that providing a safe place for expressing and validating these feelings will help to heal some of the wounds and, perhaps, provide some measure of closure. We offer two more opportunities to participate – after service on February 26th, and a date yet to be determined in March. If you feel that your participation in one of these small group meetings would be beneficial, please contact one of us, so we can ensure the group is kept to an appropriate size. We‘d be happy to answer any questions you have and look forward to hearing from you.
