A discussion of the practice of contemplation, not just for individuals, but for communities.

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Reflections on what unconditional love really means.

    Recently, my kids and I combed through the aisles of "Stuff-Mart" searching for a birthday gift for their cousin. As we perused the summer fun section I was astounded by all of the new gadgets: water slides, turbo water sprinklers, soakers, snorkeling gear, inflatable whales, and on and on. My gaze returned to the water slide encased in a giant cardboard box. I smiled. Ah, yes, the cardboard box, that had been my favorite summer toy as a child.

    My dad had owned a television repair shop and each week, without fail, he would come home with a giant empty television box jammed behind his seat. The neighborhood kids, my brother, and I would immediately get to work. For the first few days we left it intact using it as a stage for puppet shows or a secret hideout. Next, we would turn it over and cut out a door and several windows. After we tired of the little house, we pushed it side-ways and crawled inside moving it across the yard in a barrel roll. Eventually, it would become soft and rip, and we were left with a large flat piece of slippery cardboard; a homemade slip and slide! And just as the last remnants of the television box found its destiny in the burn pile, my dad would come home with another. Our summer fun continued!

    My thoughts returned to my present quest. What to get their cousin for her birthday? "Hey, kids, how about a cardboard box?!" I exclaimed. They both gave me blank stares. They just didn’t understand!

    Remember to celebrate the little joys of summer: ice-cream cones, fresh blackberries, evening walks, lightening bugs, and, perhaps, a cardboard box!

    ¬ Summer Program Continues ¬

 Children in grades K-5 continue to learn about UU Super Heroes. They meet each Sunday until August 7 at 10:30 in the Arthur room. A culminating worship service will be held on August 14.

    ¬ Attention RE Teachers of 2005-2006 ¬

Mark your calendars. Our teacher training is scheduled for Saturday, September 10, from 9-2 in the Parish House. The first day of regular RE classes is scheduled for Sunday, September 11. I’m looking forward to another great year!!!!

    Thank you, Kathy Zinz!

    For the past two years Kathy Zinz has given her time, energy, and support to our youth. Her leadership and guidance have been an inspiration. She will be missed at youth group, but we know she will not be far away. We look forward to seeing her in worship! Thanks again, Kathy, for everything!

    Welcome Bill and Sue Fuller!

    Bill and Sue are excited to begin this fall as new advisors to our youth group joining Laura Parker-McGlynn and Nathan Temple. They will be attending a youth advisor workshop in August at our church led by our OMD RE consultant Karen Lapidus.

    In April of 1999 the UU Community Church in Augusta, Maine launched a Small Group Ministry program which significantly changed the life of their congregation. Church members felt reconnected to the church, the minister, and each other. Their membership grew and their canvass increased by twenty-six percent. However, in order for a church to have a successful Small Group Ministry (SGM) program, the Rev. Calvin O. Dame writes that there must be "...a shared vision that this is a different way to be a church."

(Above information taken from Small Group Ministry Resource Book prepared by Rev. Calvin O. Dame.)

    In the upcoming weeks the Adult Religious Education Committee which presently includes Adult RE Chair, Sandy Stupiansky, Rev. Kate Walker, Lee Ann Wester, and Emmy Boughton will be presenting information about SGM. If you are interested in learning more about SGM right now, material is available from the UUCC at <http://home.gwi.net/`uuccaug/ or you can contact an Adult Religious Education Committee member.

¬ Stay tuned ¬

    If anyone was confused about the date of the Annual Pledge Drive dinner as it appeared in the Fellowship Committee report in Board Highlights of 6-13, it is October 22. The Annual Meeting of the Congregation is always the first week in December. Sorry! I misread my minutes.

    The Membership Committee is in need of Greeters for the months of July (rest of), August, September, October, November and December. If you haven’t been a Greeter this year and can help out, please see Carolyn Chase.

    The Membership Committee is seeking new members. If you would like to join us, we can use your assistance. Please see Carolyn Chase.

    It takes more than the Membership Committee to welcome new-comers and visitors. When was the last time you made a special effort to speak to a visitor? Please don’t depend on the membership committee to do it all. Sometimes most of our committee isn’t even at coffee hour. Or, perhaps, we are visiting with a friend that we haven’t seen for a week, or talking to someone about church business. Making visitors and newcomers feel welcome is a congregational responsibility. Please... do your part. Don’t be afraid to say:

1. Have we met before?

2. What are your interests?

3. What brought you here today?

Let’s make our visitors feel welcome.

Thank you,

    The hollyhocks behind the church are glorious. When I spent summers as a child in Nova Scotia, every house and barn had a row of hollyhocks growing against the wall, bright red against the graying shingles.

    To me, a tall hollyhock was an entire boy box. The blossoms made beds for the fairies that lived under the nasturtiums in the big iron kettle on the lawn. The leaves were coverlets for the beds.

    On sunny days, when there was a slight breeze blowing, I could go to the ballet. Once the fairies were taken care of – beds made and acorn cup bowls filled with the fruit of wild sweet peas – I would gather half a dozen or so of the hollyhock blossoms and float them face down on the rain water barrel. The breeze would blow them gently around like a delicate corps de ballet. I would watch, entranced, until I was called in to lunch.

    When I saw the blossoms at church this morning, my instinct was to pick some of the lovely ballerinas. Alas, there was no rain barrel for them to dance on.

Hi all,

A short note to show the effect, even if only in a small way, that GA can have on an area. On Sunday night my wife and I went out to dinner late after a meeting. We ended up at Bennigans’s for dinner. When we sat down our server came over and opened up with "I love you guys!" He’d made his rent in two days (so we must be ok tippers!) And said that everyone had been so polite and nice that he was going to find his local UU congregation and check it out!

So, simply by being in the area and being nice we have an effect. Potentially a large one when you think of the number of people we can touch with a group as large as GA. It’s great to know that we’re setting a good example.

Dalroy, UUCC

    On the night of Alison’s ordination, a woman’s black, full-length raincoat with removable lining was left in the Parish House. The name on the label is "Gallery" and it is a size 1. One of our out of town guests that evening lost an identical coat, except that hers is a size 12. It looks like the coats were accidentally switched so if you own a coat that fits this description please check the size. Thank you.

    As you enjoy your summer adventures, please make a note for yourself to collect a small sample of water from your travels. At the September 11 service, we’ll collect all the waters from our returning members and friends during our worship service.

    Do you dream of inexpensive vacation travel to interesting destinations where you can stay in the homes of friendly people who share your ideals and are happy to pro-vide directions and advice for their area?

    The UU bed and breakfast directory UU’re Home (formerly Homecomings) can fulfill your dream. For 25 years, we’ve provided a network of hosts in the United States (and a few abroad) who enjoy meeting new friends and who are happy to open their home to like-minded people. You can also become a host and be listed in the directory. Contact us at 828-281-3253 or at <info@uurehome.com>, and we will gladly send you information about listing your accommodations. UU’re Home has recently launched a new website at <www.UU’reHome.com>, where entries are updated whenever changes are made or new hosts are added. The paper edition, which is published every year in April, is still available (and has many more listings than the website). For a copy of the 2005 directory, please send a check for $18 to UU’re Home, 43 Vermont Court, Asheville, NC 28806.