UPDATED UNIverse Weekly June 12-18, 2020


UPDATED UNIverse Weekly June 12-18, 2020

  June 12-18, 2020 

 WORSHIP

June Worship Theme: Mistakes
 
 Join us on Sunday, June 14, at 10 am via webinar. 
 
Worship this week will be lead by our former DRE Christina Branum-Martin.  Beginning September 1 Christina will be the interim minister at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Clemson in South Carolina.  She will complete her chaplaincy at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta on August 31.
 The new link for Sunday services is this: bit.ly/NWUUC.  Note that it has all caps for NWUUC instead of lower case.

 The previous link expired and had to be replaced.


Dear NWUUC friends and family,
 
     I have ultimately good news, but I should warn you that it may seem alarming at first. (It’s really okay!)
     Some of you know that I have had health concerns for the past several months. After much testing and waiting (oh, so much waiting!) I was diagnosed with an intussusception in my small intestine.  That means a small portion of my digestive tract is reverse-telescoping into itself.  The reason(s) remain unclear.  
     Here’s the good news. On June 23rd, I will undergo surgery to repair the problem and to try to determine its underlying cause. 
     I am feeling so much relief!  I’m sure many of you can relate to the truth that knowing what’s going on is a great reliever of anxiety, even if we don’t really like the answers. I trust my excellent medical team.  I will be so glad to have this behind me so I can begin to focus my energy on healing.
     I am well cared-for.  
     NWUUC is well cared-for. 
     The Care Corps, the Committee on Ministry, the Board of Trustees, and our staff have all stepped up so generously as I’ve struggled with pain and fatigue, waited for a surgery date, and prepared to share this news widely. 
     Of course, there is no “good” time to be ill. But I will confess to you that it has seemed like a bit much right now, of all times. Considering all the other events of our world, our nation, our state, and our congregation, it is hard to know how and when to share anything that might increase anxiety even one half a notch higher. I know. But the other bit of good news is how resilient you have proven yourself to be in this strange year, NWUUC. 
     I am honored and proud to serve you.  Throughout my surgery and recovery, I plan to keep on serving you to the best of my ability, while recognizing that I cannot serve well unless I take time to heal well. 
     I know that you will all give me -and each other- the grace of the necessary healing time. And I do mean in ways that are much bigger than this treatable illness,
and will be more far-reaching in impact. We are so much stronger than we know, beloveds! I believe that about us. I believe in us. I believe in you. 
 
I love you,
Rev. Misha

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION

CALL FOR CHALICE LIGHTERS!

WE ARE SEEKING CHALICE LIGHTERS FOR JUNE AND JULY. PLEASE SIGN UP! NWUUC welcomes children’s participation in the weekly Sunday service. Options to participate include lighting a chalice live via Zoom during the service or submitting a video to re@nwuuc.org that can be played during the service. LED lighting options can be used instead of a flame. Please use this link to sign up: http://www.signupgenius.com/go/8050f4aaeac2f4-nwuuc

MUSIC MINISTRY

 

 


 

Art Reflects Life Series: Protesting Systemic Racist Practices
by Dr. Philip J. Rogers, Director of Music
 
           During a brief period between graduate studies and teaching in academia I attended corporate management classes for a company with which I was employed.  There, I was introduced to the concept of business forecasting strategies for long range planning.  Later while attending several music and education graduate courses at the University of Illinois I encountered varied arts resources regarding socio-political racial forecasting that were established as American policy.  For example, during an American Music History course we studied music documents and recordings revealing how President Andrew Jackson encouraged systemic negative imagery of slaves through black face mockery and demeaning character assassinations during frequent musical productions.  The “darkies,” were depicted as stupid, lazy animals not worthy of respect as human beings.
          During one Music education course we were introduced to the writings of education professional, Herbert Kliebard who described how the American education canon was developed around the Plato caste theory which professed societal classes [rulers, protectors and workers] that were used to perpetuate and maintain systemic enmity between racial and cultural groups.
          The sequential deaths of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery and Breonna Taylor finally and dramatically brought to light the truth of American “lynchings” condoned and concealed by government and law enforcement leadership.  The young organizers of the current marches, in concert with Civil Rights leaders and Black Americans, proclaim to America and the world the essence of the song, Make Them Hear You from the musical Ragtime.  This work implores each of us to take on the responsibility of proclaiming “freedom and justice for all” as a collective cry of humanity.

“True peace is not merely the absence of tension:
it is the presence of justice
” – M. L. King, Jr.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lccC4PE5VZU

 

Make Them Hear You
by Lynn Ahrens / Stephen Flaherty

 
Go out and tell our story; Let it echo far and wide.
Make them hear you.  Make them hear you.
 
How Justice was our battle; And how Justice was denied.
Make them hear you.  Make them hear you.
 
And say to those who blame us; For the way we chose to fight;
That sometimes there are battles; That are more than black or white.
And I could not put down my sword,
When Justice was my right; Make them hear you…
 
Go out and tell our story to your daughters and your sons.
Make them hear you.  Make them hear you
 
And tell them, “In our struggle we were not the only ones;”
Make them hear you.  Make them hear you
 
Your sword could be a sermon; Or the power of the pen;
Teach every child to raise his voice; And then my brothers, then…
 
Will justice be demanded by ten million righteous men;
Make them hear you; When they hear you, I’ll be near you again!

OUR NWUUC FAMILY (CARE CORPS)

Would you like to schedule a private meeting with Rev. Misha? Please call the main number, 770-955-1408, to set up a time.

During this period of confinement and social distancing the Care Corps Team members are calling to check on our Northwest families.  But don’t wait for a call.  Please let us know what your joys and sorrows are and if we may share them in the Northwest Newsletter or in our gathered worship space here on Sunday mornings.  

Joys and Sorrows

Grier Page had gall bladder surgery last week and is at home and doing well.  A Joy.  Grier’s surgery was initially delayed as nonessential.  We are glad to know he is on the mend and it was a pleasure to see him join us for Coffee Hour on Sunday.

A joy and a concern from member Marti Wilson. “My nephew Ryan Wilson was moved this week from Kennestone Hospital where he has been since April 19 to Windy Hill Rehab Hospital.  He has an incredible will to LIVE.  Unfortunately his mother, who has a form of leukemia, was hospitalized last Saturday night with possible bone cancer.  Please transfer your thoughts and prayers to her as well.  Thanks to all of you for your prayers and thoughts for Ryan.  Love to you all, Marti.  

 

From Rev. Joan:

In 1986 I spent a semester of supervised ministry at the old Bolton Homes Housing Project in Northwest Atlanta.  My clinical supervisor, an African American man, was a student activist in the 1960s.  He told a story that always comes to mind when the topic is racism.

He related the experience of walking along Peachtree Street after hours.  The sidewalks were largely empty, but the commuter traffic was still heavy.   As he walked alongside a line of cars stopped for a traffic light there was the sound – click, click, click – of the locks on car doors as he passed by. 

That story is an example of implicit bias.  We all have implicit bias, but it can be overcome.  Slow down. Stop. Think.  We don’t have to act on our perceptions.  I remember that story because twenty years later my supervisor still told it with emotion in his voice.  

How many generations of men – and boys – of color have been damaged by experiences like that?

 

Prayer

Spirit of Life, remind us that our struggles for liberation are connected from our ancestors to George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Tony McDade; to protestors — especially the black and brown protestors lifting their voices.  May we all remember how inextricably we are linked in this fight for justice and freedom.  May it be so. – Rev. Otto O’Connor

 

If you have a joy or sorrow you would like to have shared in the UNIverse please call or email Lil Woolf at 404-276-6189 or publications@nwuuc.org.

If you are going through difficult times and would like emotional support or are in any situation where support and caring are needed contact:
 Rev. Misha Sanders, Minister, 770-955-1408 
Rev. Joan A. Davis, Community Minister, 404-275-0236
Maria Drinkard, 678-644-6480
Karen Edmonds, 770-851-1354
Linton Hopkins, 678-938-8858
Valerie Johnson, 470-209-9864
Lil Woolf, 404-276-6189




(770) 955-1408    Office Hours M-F 9 am to 5 pm     office@nwuuc.org

 ANNOUNCEMENTS

ALERT****ALERT****ALERT****ALERT

Friends: Please be aware that the scammers are at it again (still??) and are sending texts, pretending to be Rev Misha asking for immediate help. They will ask you to send gift cards to make purchases on eBay or other sites. Remember–and we can’t emphasize this enough–REV MISHA WILL NEVER TEXT YOU ASKING FOR MONEY. If you get a text like this just delete it. Do not respond.


NWUUC Book Groupies

The NWUUC Book Groupies will not be meeting in June. However, we will meet at 7 pm on Tuesday, July 14th, to discuss The Girl With Seven Names by Hyeonseo Lee who tells the harrowing story of her escape from her birthplace, North Korea, against all odds. North Korea is a country most of us know little about and that also makes this a particularly gripping read. We will be meeting on Zoom so, if you are interested in joining the discussion, please email Penny Raney at raneypb@cs.com, with Book Groupies in the subject line, and you will receive an email to link to the meeting as we get closer to that time.  Also, if you would like to purchase a copy of the book from our NWUUC bookstore, give Penny a call at 770 551 8817 and she will get a copy to you.


Information on Bellwether Bookstore
and we are still selling books!

Bellwether Books was started in 1985 by Esther Jensen and Penny Raney at a time when NWUUC was having financial problems not unlike what we face today. We knew that our members were intelligent and active readers who might be willing to donate their used books to raise some extra cash for NWUUC. The space that is now the kitchen had been the minister’s office and was vacant so we dove into that prime area to start our used book selling. Soon we had enough cash from sales to buy books from the UUA bookstore and Beacon Press as well as other popular and requested new books so that the profits which go 100% to NWUUC became hundreds of dollars  each year. Then along came Amazon and the gradual erosion of sales over the years. Now Amazon is struggling with delivery issues as are some other large booksellers but we little guys can get books to you often more quickly and we are willing to personally deliver to you with gloves, masks and books in paper bags often at a discounted price as well as free delivery in the metro area. Just call 770 551 8817, leave a message and Penny will get back to you. 


Building Progress and Financial Status 
 
Construction on Subramanian Hall and the sanctuary is scheduled to be completed in September. While the recent photos look impressive, the feel of the place is quite a bit more thrilling and we look forward to the time when we can all be there together. 
 
 
 
Photos courtesy of Dave Zenner
The current financial picture is as follows: 
 
$449,000 remains to be paid to the contractor. Payments are disbursed as work is completed. All requests for payment are reviewed by the committee and visual inspections made to confirm accuracy of the request for payment. We are very pleased with the process and our relationship with the contractor. 
 
$304,000 is the amount of cash on hand, leaving $145,000 to be covered by either loans, new donations, or fulfillment of pledges made to the capital campaign that remain unpaid. 
 
Four families have stepped forward to loan Northwest $85,000, leaving $60,000 needed. That amount will be reduced to $40,000 if the outstanding pledges of $20,000 are fulfilled. 
 
If you are able to consider a loan to the congregation, now is the time. You can contact a member of the committee Kristen Fowks, Constance Dierickx, David Zenner, Hannah Cowart, Larry Wallis or Pam Freeman, Finance Trustee, for details. Receipt of loaned funds by July 1st will enable us to take out the smallest possible commercial loan. 
 
Pledge payments to the capital campaign can be made even after completion of the project. In this case, payments will be applied to the debt service. 

IT HelpDesk

We have a new IT Help Desk that is available to help members with issues of getting on line with Zoom, Realm or our Facebook Group page.  This desk is managed by Cameron Moore, Katy Lockhart, Kuru George, David Morgen and Russ Martin.  To reach one of them email your questions to techhelp@nwuuc.org.

JUNE BIRTHDAYS AND JOINING ANNIVERSARIES 2020

June Birthdays                                 June Anniversaries
Laura Kearns               06/03
Kat Benoy                    06/04
Linda Irving                  06/04
Jay Kiskel                    06/12
Sally Mitchell               06/17
Constance Dierickx     06/26
John McManus            06/30

 

Cathryn DuBow                       06/02/1993
Richard DuBow                       06/02/1993
Tammy Clabby                        06/28/2009
Hannah Johnson                     06/09/2013
Valerie Johnson                       06/09/2013
Gregg North                             06/09/2013
Melanie North                          06/09/2013
Kristan Wagner                        06/23/2013
John Maynard                          06/23/2013
Alison Williams                         06/01/2014
Brian Williams                          06/01/2014
Jamie Williams                         06/01/2014
Jesse Williams                         06/01/2014
Jessa Fagan                            06/08/2014
Marc von Mandel                     06/16/2014
Tom Couch                              06/07/2015
Verna Barrett                           06/14/2015
Jay Hall                                   06/14/2015
Julie Medlin                             06/14/2015
Michael Cain                           06/12/2016
Kester Chau                            06/19/2016
Sonny Chau                            06/19/2016
Kathy Miller                             06/19/2016
Kuruvilla George                     06/24/2018

 

 

CALENDAR

      Sunday, June 14, 10 am, virtual Worship 
11 am,
Coffee following worship 

 NORTHWEST LEADERSHIP

Board of Trustees 2019-2020
President                     David Stewart           
President Elect            Lil Woolf             
Finance Trustee          Pam Freeman         
Secretary                     Sandy Davis         
Trustee at Large          Katy Lockhart              
Trustee at Large          Larry Wallis          
Trustee at Large          Chloe Morgen
Imm. Past President    Hannah Cowart  
            
Ministries Team Leaders

Adult Learning             Marilyn Matlock         

Adult Learning             Greg Pattison
Communications         David Morgen
Community                  Kristan Wagner            
Community                  Brian Freeman
Gardens & Spaces      Beryl Grall-Petty
Justice                         Dave Zenner                
Stewardship                Cameron Moore 
Worship                       Vacant

Staff
Rev. Misha Sanders, Senior Minister
Rev. Joan Armstrong-Davis, Community Minster
Adia Fields-Udofia, Religious Education Director
Dr. Philip Rogers, Music Director
 

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