One Hundred Questions That Non-Members Ask About Unitarian Universalism, from the Unitarian Universalist Church of Nashua, NH.

We will update this page when we have more information. Please return again.

There are many ways to help the folks who were flooded out by Katrina.

Consider volunteering for the American Red Cross. A one-day training session is mandatory, followed by 3 weeks work in a shelter for displaced people. Food, transportaiton and lodging is provided by the Red Cross. What they need is your manpower. Or womanpower. Call Rose Ann Copeland at 423/265-3455.

If you wish to donate to the Gulf Coast Relief Fund, as administered by the Unitarian Universalist Association, please make your check payable to Unitarian Universalist Church of Chattanooga and mark it “Gulf Coast Relief.” Send it to 3224 Navajo Drive, Chattanooga TN 37411.

Visit the UUA web site uua.org/news/2005/050831_katrina/donate.html to learn more.

Information about how to help Unitarian Universalists in and around New Orleans is available at the Southwest District website www.swuuc.org/hurricane.html. At this website, you can register to provide shelter to a family.

Information about the needs and conditions of Unitarian Universalists in Southern Mississippi is available at the Mid–South District site msd.uua.org.

The Thomas Jefferson District, UUA and this church are coordinating a backpack and baby bag project.

To participate, buy a new backpack (available on sale now at several stores) and fill it with items for a child entering a new school. Writing & drawing paper, pens & pencils, snmall toys, non-perishable snacks, and bottled water are good items. For more, just asdk any parent of a school-aged child.

Or you can buy a baby bag and fill it with items a parent will need to care for an infant. Disaposable diapers, formula, small toys, wipes, etc.

When you finsih packing the bag or backpack, bring it to the church and we'll get it to the people who need it.

Hurricane Relief for Chattanooga, Tennessee

From the Hamilton County Emergency Services Operations Center

If you are a resident of Hamilton County and want to help:

* Make financial contributions to the charity of your choice or to the Community Foundation of Greater Chattanooga and designate your gift for the Katrina Relief Fund. Mail contributions to:

Community Foundation of Greater Chattanooga
1270 Market Street
Chattanooga, TN 37402
For: Katrina Relief Fund

* If you have housing units you will allow evacuees to use, call the Hurricane Information line at 211 or with a cell phone at 256-8000.

* If you wish to volunteer please call the Hurricane Information line at 211 or with a cell phone at 256-8000.

If you are an evacuee and need assistance, the following resources are available:

* Shelter services have been set up at Hixson United Methodist Church and at the South Chattanooga Recreation Center. People who have evacuated from the Gulf Coast may make arrangements to use the emergency shelter services by calling the Hurricane Information Center at 211 or with a cell phone at 265-8000.

* Those evacuated Gulf Coast residents in need of medical assistance should call the Hurricane Information line at 211 or with a cell phone on 265-8000. Those who need emergency medical assistance should call 911.

* Those in need of financial assistance should call the Hurricane Information line at 211 or with a cell phone on 265-8000.

* Those looking for family members should use the Red Cross family registry website at www.redcross.org or call 1-877-Loved1S (1-877-568-3317).

* If you are providing assistance to evacuees it is possible that you may be reimbursed for some expenses. For information call the FEMA helpline at 1-800-621-FEMA.

All media inquiries related to the Chattanooga relief effort should be directed to Todd Womack at 423-425-7800 or 423-364-2220.

All other people looking for information should contact the Hurricane Relief information line at 211 or with a cell phone on 265-8000. Information is also available here.

Please consider volunteering with the American Red Cross. Call your local chapter and ask how you can help.

The play is the gripping true story of six inmates on death row who, in the face of new evidence, are exonerated before their executions. It is a powerful show because the stories are personal and told by the inmates themselves with flashbacks from their past.

We have an angel who is sponsoring the show and we have the support of the Tennessee Coalition for the Abolition of State Killing. At this early date, we have high hopes for this production as a way to make a name for ourselves and as a fund raiser, too.

Unitarian Universalist churches in the Memphis area, in Nashville and in Oak Ridge have expressed an interest in hosting our production, so the show might travel. We also have strong interest from UTC and a group in Sewanee. The option of travel depends on many factors, the foremost being the availability of actors. All travel dates and arrangements are TBA.

There is much to be done and everyone can help. We will post a list of people who are in charge of various aspects of the production. When they call on you, please give them your support.

CHARACTER DESCRIPTIONS

Delbert–African-American, 50. A seminary dropout, radical and poet

Sunny–White, 50. A mom, positive with great depth and clarity.

Robert–African-American, 30. Former horse groomer from Mississippi, sense of humor.

Gary–White,45. Hippie from the Midwest. Organic farmer, good natured, friendly, smart.

Kerry–White, 45. Texan, imprisoned for 22 of his 45 years. Connects with whomever he is talking to.

David–African-American, 40. Had aspirations to the ministry. Gentle, sad, in a battle between resignation and hope.

Georgia/Ensemble–African American, 30. Robert’s wife, southern, opinionated, loves to speake her mind.

Sandra/ Ensemble–White, 40. Kerry’s wife, sweet, nurturing.

Sue–White, 40. Gary’s wife, salt of the earth with a strong midwestern accent.

Male Ensemble 1 and 2–White and 35-50. Both play police officers, attorneys, suspects and other supporting characters.

Jessica, Megan, and Rebecca Lovell began lessons in classical violin and piano at age five. The girls also sang frequently as a vocal trio and in the church choir. All three were members of string quartets and youth symphonies. Straying from their classical roots into bluegrass, the Lovell Sisters were hooked when they heard the Jerry Douglas album, Slide Rule.

The girls took lessons on several instruments: banjo, fiddle, mandolin, guitar, bass, and dobro. Displaying a musical maturity beyond their years, the Lovell Sisters are inspired by Alison Krauss, Andrea Bocelli and the Allman Brothers, among many more. Family friend Andy Nall first played guitar with the band and has recently moved to the acoustic bass due to a severe bout of tendinitis. Josh Miller, the most recent addition to the band, has been involved in bluegrass music as long as he can remember and loves all styles of music. In addition to playing (and teaching) piano, guitar, banjo, mandolin, fiddle and drums, Josh has written extensively.

Limited seating—only 225 tickets available. One night only.

Tickets for the Lovell Sisters Band are $18 each and will be available mid-August. You may call the office at 423-624-2985 beginning August 24^th to make your reservations and pick up your tickets. To hear a few clips from the performances on Prairie Home Companion and to learn more about an upcoming debut CD, visit the Lovell Sisters Band at www.lovellsistersband.com.

“But the words are different,” she recalls. “In the Unitarian Universalist church, God could be a woman!”

For her, that was the moment she became a Unitarian Universalist. For me, it didn’t happen until I had attended worship services for a few weeks at the First Unitarian Universalist Society of Syracuse, NY. During the fellowship hour, I was approached by a woman who had to step down from the finance committee. She asked me to take her place.

I didn’t know nothin’ about church finance. I can’t even balance my checkbook without a computer and an accounting program. But I was asked to contribute. And I began to realize that religion can be as much about building a community as it could be about saving your soul.

I am a Unitarian Universalist because I need community. I need to feel part of something bigger than Jeff Briere. As a minister, I am called to use my head, my heart and my hands to build that community. I am called to speak the truth as I see it and help people make connections.

I like to make connections, because I think God lives in the tiny little space between people in a relationship. I think of God as a homeless person, wandering around all day, panhandling and looking for work. When two people make a connection, then God has a place to sleep that night. So I don’t pray to God. I pray for God.

I am a Unitarian Universalist because of the infinite possibilities offered by a theology that is not closed, but still evolving. This is difficult, because it calls me to live in the gray area all the time. I recall a minister once saying to me, “You’re a Unitarian Universalist. That must be easy. You can believe most anything you want.”

“Actually, it’s not easy,” I replied. “Nothing is given to me. No one tells me the truth, no one tells me the right thing to do, and no one gives me all the answers. I have to discover them for myself. And that’s hard work.”

I didn’t tell him that it was also a lot of fun.

Cyndi Lauper is my favorite theologian. According to her, “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun,” but I think that’s what everyone wants. And I try to bring fun to worship services and other events in the life of the church.

Please join us on Sunday as we build our community. Life is not always a pleasure, but it can always be fun.

The good news is that we have re-scheduled it for Friday night, February 4th. Same time, same place.

The better news is that Patsy Cline cleared her calendar so that she'd be able to attend, too!

The best news is that you have more time to make reservations to attend and have fun! Please call the office for details, 624-2985.