Apr 11, 2023 | Sermons
Sunday, April 9, 2023 11am
Rev, Cathy Harrington, Interim Lead Minister
Who was Jesus really? “The first two centuries following Jesus’ death were not an interim period that allowed Christianity to get its act together, they ended up being an absorbing, unfinished story, or a series of unfinished stories” according to the authors of the book of After Jesus, Before Christianity. How did Jesus, the anti-Roman, anti-oppression egalitarian who was a political threat to the Roman Empire become the Son of God who died for our sins?
Apr 6, 2023 | Family Ministry
Hello Families! Happy spring to all of you! As you may have heard, there is a LOT going on at UU Asheville over the next couple of months so I wanted to give you all an update on our Religious Exploration Sunday schedule through the “end” of the year.
Sunday, April 9 – Easter Sunday – Special Program in RE: We’ll celebrate Spring by learning about Ostara & The Hare with some fun activities!
Sunday, April 16 – Regular RE Classes
Sunday, April 23 – Regular RE Classes – First Sunday of Candidating Week – Come meet our Ministerial Candidate!
Sunday, April 30 – Youth in 6th grade and up are invited to attend Worship for the second Sunday of Candidating Week (congregational vote!), there will be a special program for younger kids in RE Commons.
Sunday, May 7 – Faith Development Sunday! Join us for an all ages service all about Faith Development at UU Asheville. Rev. Claudia, Kim, and Jen will lead this fun service with help from our RE leaders and (hopefully) our children and youth. You’ll also hear about our adult Faith Development!
Sunday, May 14 – Regular RE Classes – Mother’s Day service led by Kim
Sunday, May 21 – Last day of RE and class celebrations! We’ll also have a fun, icy treat (free!) for children and youth after the service.
Sunday, May 28 – RE Play Day – Memorial Day weekend
Sunday, June 4 – First day of summer RE – helpers wanted for summer!
Have you heard this big news? We have a ministerial candidate! We are nearing the end of our process of interim ministry and our Ministerial Search Committee has chosen an excellent candidate that we hope to call as our next settled Minister. Candidating Week will be April 23-30th. Find out more about it here!
Summer Fun! This summer we are asking members of our community to join us to share their passions! Do you have a hobby or skill that you would love to share with our children and youth? Let Kim know about it! We are hoping to learn more about all the wonderful and unique gifts our church community members have to share! We are open to all sorts of things – indoor and outdoor! Want to help out but not sure about leading? We need assistants too! This is a great opportunity to get to know our children and youth in a more relaxed environment. If you want to help out, email Kim at Lrec@uuasheville.org
Pastoral Care Available RE staff (Kim and Jen) are available and willing to help provide pastoral support to children, teens, and families who may be struggling. We know that many families are still recovering from the height of the pandemic and that our children and youth have faced unprecedented challenges over the last few years. We know that mental health challenges for teens especially have skyrocketed. While we are not therapists and cannot offer that kind of support, please know that we are here to listen and to help in any way we can. Our congregation also has a pastoral care team to offer support to anyone in our congregation who is struggling. We can even help with practical things like meal trains and helping find child care and rides. Your UU Asheville community is here for you! We also wanted to share an article from The New York Times that may offer some helpful advice for parents. You can read it here.
Apr 4, 2023 | Candidate News, Weekly Message
If you haven’t heard, the ministerial search committee has some pretty big news to share, but first, let me remind you of the journey we’ve been on together these last 7 months. We’ve been following the 4 stages of the UUA’s lead minister search process.
Stage 1: Reflection
We started the search process by reflecting on who we are as a congregation and about our shared vision for the future. Through the Congregational Survey and 21 cottage meetings with congregants of all ages, we said that we long to be an engaged, vibrant, and welcoming community.
Stage 2: Sharing
Then we moved to the sharing phase and the search committee reflected back your hopes and vision for UU Asheville. You said you want to be connected, inspired, and challenged to live your values and that our lead minister should be collaborative, have good listening skills, and a kind heart.
Stage 3: Researching and Evaluating
Then came confidential work of researching and evaluating candidates. While you haven’t heard from us for a while, I assure you that the committee has not been slacking. Since January the committee has read over 200 pages of information about ministers, visited many, many websites and if I’m being honest, watched more UU sermons than I usually see in a year. And in March, we spent a weekend with each of our final 3 candidates conducting multi-day interviews and observing the candidates in pulpits around the area.
Stage 4: Candidating
All of this was in preparation for the day the committee could choose a candidate and then introduce that candidate to you. It was with great pleasure and excitement that the search committee introduced Dr. Rev. Audette Fulbright Fulson to the congregation this Sunday.
You can find lots of great information about Rev. Audette in her welcome message and bio, but here’s my favorite fun fact about her:
Rev. Audette has served this congregation before. In 1998, she came to UU Asheville as an intern planning to go into community ministry. It was her work with this congregation that convinced her parish ministry was where she should be.
Rev. Audette says returning to UU Asheville as lead minister, “feels like coming home.”
Let’s welcome Rev. Audette back to UU Asheville. Plan to meet and welcome her during Candidating Week April 23rd-30th. There are several “Get to Know Rev. Audette” events planned, with the week culminating in our congregational vote.
In the meantime, watch your email for more information about Rev. Audette, Candidating Week, and the important role you play in the voting process.
Let’s show Rev. Audette how excited we are to welcome her!
Gina Phairas, Chair, Ministerial Search Committee
If you missed the announcement of the Rev. Dr. Audette Fulbright Fulson’s candidacy, check out her bio on the MSC Website.
Apr 3, 2023 | Faith Development
All our Soul Matters Groups will be exploring this month’s theme: Resistance. If you are new to UU Asheville, Rev. Claudia will be offering “A Taste of Soul” to provide an experience of a Soul Matters Group. Check out our calendar below for details.
BOOK STUDY WITH THE REVS
Join Revs. Cathy and Claudia for an opportunity to discuss novels (and an anthology) that invite us into covenanted, deep listening conversations about challenging issues. We will meet at noon in Sandburg Hall (bring a bagged lunch) or join us via Zoom at 7:00 PM.
Contact Rev. Claudia for the link.
Next month: May 4 – On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous: A Novel by Ocean Vuong
Spiritual Deepening Groups
Covenant of UU Pagans – CUUPS. Contact: Sherry Lundquist sherry_lundquist@yahoo.com
Buddhist Sanhga: meets 2nd and 4th Tuesdays at 7:30 pm in Sandburg Hall; Contact: Sequoyah Rich sequoyahrich333@gmail.com, or Stef Garvin stef@giftsintogold.com.
CALENDAR
April 5: Dinner 6PM & Vespers 7PM. Mid-week opportunity for fellowship and worship. There is no fee for dinner. Please RSVP.
Vespers Leader: Rev. Cathy Harrington
April 13: Curious Conversations
The Case for Reparations; Sandburg Hall; noon; bring a bagged lunch
https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2014/06/the-case-for-reparations/361631/
Facilitators: Rev. Cathy, Rev. Claudia
April 16: 8th Principle Panel and Q&A (in person)
Childcare Provided; 12:30 p.m. in Sanctuary. All are welcome.
April 27: A Taste of Soul
Noon-1:00 in Sandburg Hall; bring a bagged lunch or 7PM via Zoom
Experience and learn about our Soul Matters Groups. These groups offer an opportunity for practicing deep listening and theological reflection using the monthly themes to explore meaning and purpose in our lives.
Contact Rev. Claudia for the link.
Facilitator: Rev. Claudia
MORE OPPORTUNITIES
Online UU Theology Series – Open to All!
Wednesdays, April 12-May 17
8:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. Eastern (virtual event)
The Faith Forward program out of the First Unitarian Church of Dallas is excited to offer an online session of our UU Theology series for all congregations! This series explores theological concepts through a Unitarian Universalist lens and helps participants clarify and act on their beliefs. Cost $25 per person. For more information or to register, email Faith Forward Coordinator Rev. Lora Brandis at lbrandis@dallasuu.org. Scholarships available. Contact Rev. Claudia for details.
Suggest Amendment Ideas for Article 2!
Until April 30, 2023, any Unitarian Universalist may submit suggestions and ideas through an online form for ways they recommend modifying the Article II Study Commission proposal (PDF). In May, discussion groups will be organized to craft the amendments. Check the Article II webpage for more information and details! Submit your suggestions and ideas on the Article II proposal now!
Apr 3, 2023 | Justice Ministry
UU Avl Events
April 13- Curious Conversations – The Case for Reparations; Sandburg Hall; noon; bring a bagged lunch
https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2014/06/the-case-for-reparations/361631/
April 14 – UU Asheville Justice Movie Night via Zoom “8 BILLION ANGELS” explores the conflict between the size of the global population and the sustainability of our planet. Immersive, emotional and inspiring.
April 16 – Earth Day Service, 11am
April 16 – 8th Principle Panel and Q&A – Childcare Provided; 12:30 p.m. in Sanctuary
May 4 – Embracing Discomfort Book Book Study: On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong, noon, Sandburg Hall, bring a bagged Lunch; 7PM Zoom (contact Rev. Claudia for link)
May 7 – 8th Principle Voting Basics and Q&A – Childcare Provided; 12:30 p.m. in Sanctuary
Community Events
April 11 – Pisgah Legal Services offers an “Immigration Lunch and Learn,”noon, at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church. Get details here.
April 11 – 14 – “Activating Indigenous Beats: Hip Hop Nativo Festival” at UNCA. Get details here.
April 14 – 23 – “Faith Climate Week” sponsored by the NC Council of Churches. Get details here.
April 16 – The Ethical Humanist Society has invited Dr. Dwight Mullen to speak on Reparations, 2:30 pm. Get details here.
April 22 – 23 – Racial Equity Institute training. Registration is now open for those interested. Complete this form to express interest.
Next month…
May 6 –Beloved Auction (Justice Ministry Partner)
May 9-10 – Racial Equity Institute training. Registration is now open for those interested. Complete this form to express interest.
May 11 – “Private Plunder of Public Goods: The Threat of Medicare Privatization and the Need for Single Payer”, a presentation of Dr. Susan Rogers, 7 pm, at First Congregational UCC, 20 Oak Street. Get details from this flyer.
