the nUUsletter

Special Thanksgiving Service

Do you know what it’s like to actually “give thanks”? Do you physically give something to someone, or is that just a metaphor for a spiritual event? What would it be like to “give thanks” if we actually gave something? What, exactly, would we give?

On November 21st, you’ll have a chance to find out. At a special Thanksgiving worship service, we’ll actually give something in thanks. This will be a participatory service in which the liturgy is mostly comprised of what the congregation brings to the service.

Here’s how it will work: Before the service, over the next few days, consider deeply for what or for whom you are truly grateful. It may be your job, your spouse, your family, your son, your home, the weather, your partner, it could be just about anything, but it must be something for which you are deeply, deeply thankful.

Now write it down in 25 words or less on a 3x5 card and bring it with you when you come to church on Sunday morning. Decorate your card if you wish. If you forget your card, we’ll have some available for you that morning.

Please join us on Sunday, November 21st for a truly thankful worship service.

Thank You!

Some well-deserved Thank–You's need to be expressed to some benefactors in the church. When you see these fine people, please express your gratitude to them.

Ray Solomon had a larger and better sign constructed and with the help of Fred Tregaskis, put it in a legal and appropriate location on the East Ridge side of Navajo Drive. Visitors should have no problem finding us. Thanks, Ray!

Leslie Walters donated a crib for the nursery. Now the little tykes have a bed to call their own. Thanks, Leslie!

A few steps will be replaced and a handrail installed on the path from the lower parking lot to the church, thanks to John Spehar. Safe steps and a handrail make it easier for folks to get to church and we appreciate John’s thoughtfulness. Thanks, John!

We’ll show our colors with a US flag donated by Kay Spehar. Watch for it soon.

Thanks so much to everyone who makes donations to the church. You’re wondeful.

Help Wanted

by Rev. Jeff Briere

Boy! Around here, we have no shortage of ideas! Seems like every day, I get a good suggestion about church life or worship services or the music or religious education program or the bathrooms. Suggestions about the bathrooms I pass on to Paul Adler, but the others I hold until I can act on them.

We’ve got some good ideas right now that we’d like to implement. Only problem is, we cannot make these things happen without your help. And so this column is sort of like a “help wanted ad.”

The nUUsletter needs a Photographer. Actually, the church needs a photographer to shoot a couple photos every week of the worship service and the fellowship hour; special events like the auction or the garage sale and our members involved in other activities away from the church. For ease of publication, we prefer photos taken with a digital camera and the minister has one that doesn’t get much use. He said he’d be happy to have someone use it. This is an open–ended volunteer position and could be shared among two or three people.

The church needs a Birthday Wizard. We’d like to create a simple database (pen & paper will do) that shows members’ names and their birthdays and/or anniversaries. The work is pretty simple: You ask people a couple of questions and record their answers. This volunteer project will continue until completed.

The church needs a Floral Agent. Due to increasing demands on her time, Kate Briere finds it difficult to coordinate the “Flower Power” program with as much attention as it needs. This volunteer position involves checking the sign–up board and coordinating the appropriate floral arrangement with Gil and Curt. Attention to detail is a plus in this job.

The church needs another Sound Technician. Rich Dwyer did not resign his position as honorable guru of the mixing console, but he could use some help. If you are the lucky person who gets this volunteer position, you’ll receive hands–on training in microphone technique from world–renowned experts, and you’ll benefit from immediate feedback on job performance. (Turn it up!) Availability on Sunday mornings a plus.

We have an excellent idea for fund–raising, but we need an Impresario. Despite the job title, knowledge of Italian is not required in this volunteer position. What is required is some phone work, some leg work, coordination of people and things, lots of communication and perhaps recruitment of a couple of gophers (Go for this; go for that...). In English, this person would be called a producer. What this person will produce is a gastronomic and musical event. Details are sketchy right now, but a good impresario can see the possibilities.

This church does not run on the efforts of the staff alone. The minister, the religious education director and the administrator cannot do it all. Please consider what you can do and how you can help. If you have a special skill or some desire to add something to the life of the church, please make it known to the administrator or the minister. With your efforts, this church can be what it needs to be to serve the interests of liberal religion in Chattanooga.

Angels In the Church

Have you noticed the new stoves in the kitchen? They were given to us by an anonymous angel who saw that we had two old stoves with only one working oven. We’re very glad to have angels around who can help us out when we need something.

Unitarian Universalist angels don’t have wings. They don’t sit on clouds and watch the mortals below while sipping ambrosia. UU angels get their kicks making good things happen at their favorite church.

Elsewhere in this nUUsletter you can read about four angels who donated steps & handrails, a flag, a crib and a new sign. And then there’s the angel who donated the stoves. And the new parking lot. We have a lot of UU angels in our church. You might be a UU angel and not even know it.

Below is aa Angel List for UU angels to consider. We’ll print this list occasionally, as it will be updated as angels arrive and other items are needed.

Membership Sunday

On December 5th, the Unitarian Universalist Church of Chattanooga will welcome new members into the congregation. This twice-yearly service contains a special welcoming ceremony for people joining the church. It’s a time when we recognize our growth and our connectedness.

If you have considered becoming a member of the congregation, this would be a good time to make your commitment to liberal religion in Chattanooga. Please speak to Cecile DeRocher or the Rev. Jeff Briere as soon as possible to learn what is entailed as a member of the church.