The Meridian
Message from the Minister
Beloveds, It has been so wonderful to meet more of you in person and that more of you have been able to attend events online. We want to see you all represented in our display in the sanctuary. If you have not had the opportunity to participate yet, there is still time. You are invited…
Message from the Director of Religious Exploration
Beloveds, One of my favorite parenting coaches is Dr. Becky Kennedy, and one of the best parenting tricks I’ve learned from her is this simple phrase: “You didn’t want that to happen.” I love this phrase because it is non-judgemental and validating, and can be used in so many circumstances. Kiddo spilled their juice? “Oops, you didn’t…
Message from the Music Director
See you all very soon! To my beloved congregation and colleagues at UUCT. The spiritual segment of my Sabbatical has begun. When I return in June to Tallahassee, less than three months away, I would have completed what seems like a daunting yet exhilarating journey to the Amazons. I am both grateful and honored to…
Board Notes- March 2022
The Executive Board meeting centered around topics that highlighted the ongoing work required to create and maintain a community─ honoring our Covenant of Right Relations, contributing our time and talents readily, and being flexible. Prior to the meeting, members of the congregation shared their reactions to the recent announcement that our DRE must relocate out…
New Frameworks for Building a Culture of Inclusion- Saturday, April 16, 2022
Whether you are wondering if we need to adopt an 8th Principle at UUCT, or if you have already formed an opinion — either in favor or opposed to adopting the 8th Principle, please make the time to attend a workshop facilitated by Paula Cole Jones. Register now online or by contacting Linda Wright. Paula Cole…
Beyond Welcome Discussions
Often first-time visitors to our church note that this is a friendly community. They report that they felt welcome here. But, is that enough? How can we go beyond that first greeting to create an inclusive community? That’s the question that stands behind all the essays in “Beyond Welcome: Building Communities of Love.” A community…
Centering BIPOC Voices: Europe, Then Back to America
The April 9th discussion will take us into the history of Africans in Europe as we go back through time with Olivette Otele. Her work “African Europeans” chronicles lives that many of us know little about. In May and June, discussions will center on “The 1619 Project” (Nikole Hannah-Jones, editor). The book, like its predecessor from…
Reading for a Change
At a recent book discussion with people in their 70’s and 80’s one of the participants said, “I don’t want to learn anything new. I’m too old.” I hope I don’t ever get that old. As one of those folks in their 70’s I’m grateful to be able to adopt new reading habits. When I…
SUUSI 2022 Going Live!
How would you define “Paradise”: a week immersed with fellow UUs? After two years online, the Southeast UU Summer Institute (SUUSI) will be back on the beautiful Western Carolina University campus in Cullowhee, North Carolina July 17 – 23. There will be workshops, concerts, worship services, nature trips, night life, and more! The catalog is now…
Board Notes- February 2022
At the February meeting, the UUCT Executive Board voted to: Approve January financial reports and board minutes. Appoint Anna Bethea to the Nominating Committee through June 2022. The Nominating Committee is seeking eight candidates for various positions. The congregational votes on nominees at the May annual meeting. The Nominating Committee asked the board to make…
Got Your Back – Security Updates at UUCT
As we transition back to in-person (hopefully) church services during 2022, your UUCT Ad Hoc Safety Team has been working on its charge to increase security in our church facilities. A few team members met in January to walk the grounds and wander through buildings to figure out some short-term changes that could be done…
Living Our Principles: Mark your calendar now!
Saturday, April 16 for a workshop on Building a Culture of Inclusion. Unitarian Universalist congregations like ours are looking to create change not only in the communities that surround them, but their own churches, too. This April we will have a singular opportunity to begin the process of addressing remnants of racism and oppression in…