UUCG's Music Director, Kevin McKinney, is currently booking studio music lessons. The lessons are available for:
Lessons are held Tuesday and Wednesday evenings at UUCG; for details, contact Kevin in person, or visit his website at ispeakmusic.com Also available, Tuesday evenings only, are piano lessons taught by our very own Bryan Bishop. Contact Bryan for details.
The annual Mid-South District Healthy Congregations Conference will be in Auburn, Alabama on October 9. This conference is designed for those new to lay leadership or new to district involvement. Please mark your calendars and join the carpool crew from UUCG. Agenda, directions, and registration thru Mid-South District website or see the flyer.
The September issue of the Gwinnett News for UUs (GNUUS) is ready. You can get a printed copy from the credenza at UUCG, or an electronic copy online.
See Lisa McLeod for tickets to the Dave Ramsey event on Oct 2nd at Gwinnett Arena. They are discounted to $20 bucks a piece and are available on a first come first serve basis. Lisa and Bob write "We took Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace class at another local church. It had a dramatic impact on our lives, financially and personally. He's a great teacher, and his principles are totally in keeping with UU values. We're planning to teach Financial Peace University at UUCG this fall. We'd love for members of UUCG to join us at Dave Ramsey's live event on Oct. 2nd."
The Adult Religious Education Committee of the Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church is excited to offer a weekend of events, led by Rev. LoraKim Joyner, Unitarian Universalist minister and Certified Non-violent Communication Trainer.
Please see the attached flyer for more information. Learning to communicate compassionately is at the heart of NVC. This ability is central to our Unitarian Universalist liberal faith, founded as it is upon covenantal relationships. Please feel free to contact Tandy for more information.
To enroll in Coming of Age, please review the Parent Handbook, contact Donna if you missed the Parent Meeting on August 29, and bring the completed forms to the first class on September 12 at 6:00 PM.
UUCG now has a channel on YouTube.
Please complete the Ministerial Search Survey and return it at the Kickoff Party on August 20th 7 P.M. at the church. Collection Boxes will be placed in the church as well, after the kickoff party.
The UUCG monthly potluck on second Sundays continues in the summer. All are welcome. Please bring food to share.
Do you have some great shots from a service, a party, or a special ceremony? The Ministeral Search Comittee is looking for fabulous images of our beautiful congregation doing all the things we do best...build, gather, laugh, hug, teach, learn, cook, eat, clean, sing, drum, strum, dance, rest, and everything in between. Please contact anyone on the search team if you have shots to share. Thanks for your help!
On Saturday, September 11th, the First Annual Georgia UU Social Justice Conference will take place at High Street Church in Macon. UUs from three different districts will converge on Macon from 10A - 5P to learn from each others' experience, share the lessons we've learned from our work, and discern ways in which we can work together in the future to maximize our impact in the public arena.Registration is only $25. Our program will include an opening worship service, led by Reverend Rhett Baird, a keynote speech by Ana Garcia Ashley, breakout sessions on: GLBT issues, the environment, congregation-based community organizing, immigration and racial and ethnic concerns. At the conclusion of the day, we will reconvene to share what we have learned and make plans for the future. First Annual Georgia UU Social Justice Conference High Street Church Macon, GA Saturday, September 11th, 2010 10A - 5P You are all welcome to attend. You can check out the event information online or you call me with any questions you may have.
Mark your calendars for the upcoming Universal Sensations Concerts. These events provide wonderful music and a great time for food, fun, and fellowship. They also raise funds for UUCG. Please mark your calendars for the quarterly concerts for the next program year: August 28, 2010 November 6, 2010 February 5, 2011 April 16, 2011
Copies of our Sunday morning service are available for purchase immediately after the service concludes. Additionally, copies of past services are available in the white cabinet at the end of the hallway. A donation of $5 to the UUCG General Fund is suggested.
Graduating seniors are encouraged to sign-up for the free UUA's free "Bridge Connections" program that helps youth keep connected to Unitarian Universalism as they transition to adulthood. The reply cards are on the High School bulletin board at UUCG, or register online.
While dinners for Wednesdays With Friends is on summer vacation, there’s still exciting programming at UUCG on Wednesday nights. Check out the invitations below for Vespers and Welcoming Congregation Workshops, held on alternating weeks. All are welcome at services and workshops; come to one, a few, or all.
Vespers
Welcoming Congregation Workshops
Wednesdays With Friends is looking for new leadership and new team members. Contact Laura to learn more.
This Fall, UUCG will offer the new “Tapestry of Faith” curriculum for our children and teens which nurtures Unitarian Universalist identity, spiritual growth, a transforming faith, and vital communities of justice and love. Registration forms are available on the blue RE bulletin board and online.
In their ongoing efforts to provide excellent and personal attention to members of UUCG, the Care Team has recently divided the congregation into geographic areas called “Care Rings”. Each UUCG member is assigned to a Care Ring, and each Care Team member will have responsibilities associated with a particular Care Ring. (“Friends” of UUCG are welcome to participate.) A Care Ring map has been posted in the church's main hallway, and each color coded pin represents the address of a member or “friend” and the Care Ring to which they belong.
There is an exciting once-in-a-lifetime opportunity coming up that we wouldn't want your members to miss. To celebrate the bicentennial of Margaret Fuller's birth, there is an upcoming toured trip through Italy, where UUs can follow the same path that she did almost two centuries ago. For more information please see can be found in the Flyer and Press Release.
As a free church, the authority of UUCG lies with its members. We elect a Board of Trustees and Nominating Committee. The programs and events of UUCG are organized by volunteers.
UUCG offers a wide range of opportunities for members to get involved in a rich and rewarding church life. Whether you want to volunteer within the church or in the community, continue down your spiritual path, or just socialize, chances are UUCG has something for you. UUCG is always open to new activities and opportunities for growth.
"Faith development is all we do. Unitarian Universalism is all we teach. The congregation is the curriculum." -adapted by Connie Goodbread from Maria Harris in “Fashioning a People” We welcome you.
Our Religious Education programs for children, youth, and adults includes:
Please register all children and teens for the upcoming 2010-2011 year and RSVP for the Coming of Age Parent meeting online. Newcomers are always welcome. For questions and more information, contact the UUCG office or the RE Committee.
Read or download latest edition of GNUUS and archive since 2000.
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Children's & Teen Religious Education classes are grouped by age and use age-appropriate curriculum incorporating the Unitarian Universalist Principles and Purposes. R.E. classes are fun and help develop a sense of individual worth, a regard and respect for each person's uniqueness, and a knowledge and reverence for the beauty and diversity in the world. In our classes, we include material on ethics, values, nature, cultures, Judeo-Christian heritage, world religions, and Unitarian Universalist history.
Classes are also fellowship and support groups for get-togethers like pool parties, movie marathons, fundraisers, and lockins.
Being a UU is all about exploring religious thought, so Adult Religious Education is an important part of our religious experience. A variety of educational and social interests are addressed in continuing or periodic groups. They are led by congregation members and our minister. Watch our newsletter and this web site details on adult programs as they're offered.Adult Education Activities - Wednesday with Friends
Wednesdays are for fellowship, community and learning. Starting September 9th, 2009, our doors will be open every Wednesday evening for dinner with your friends and a great education program. Child will be provided.
See our article on New UU classes.
Our partner church, in Kolosz, Romania, has existed since about the year 1000 when the pagans turned to Christianity According to Rev. Farkas.
Historically, Transylvania was part of Hungary - save for a brief period of time as an independent kingdom in the sixteenth century. After the defeat of the Austro-Hungarian Empire in World War I, Transylvania was awarded to Romania. Almost all of the surviving Unitarian churches (which at one time had numbered over 500 and now is about 160) in East Central Europe thus became not only a religious but also an ethnic minority in the vastly enlarged Romanian state. In the nineteen twenties the old American Unitarian Association instituted a "Sister Church Program" to match American with Transylvanian churches because for a time it looked as if the persecution of our co-religionists would entirely wipe out Unitarianism. After some time the "Sister Church Program" was nearly forgotten. The problem was finances, nor the expertise to adequately supervise the rapidly expanding program. It had never really had "foreign missions" and therefore had little experience in dealing with people with different cultures and histories than our own. The UUA decided to work with Dr. Judit Gellerd. Judit was the daughter of a famous Transylvanian Unitarian minister, Imre Gellerd, and had been living for some time in the United States. She was passionately committed to the cause of saving Transylvanian Unitarianism and had the knowledge and contacts in Transylvania the program desperately needed.
Most of the members of our partner church are elderly, with little income. Economic conditions in Romania are such (the legacies of communism and dictatorship) that their minister isn't paid. So donations are welcomed to provide some assistance to our Partner Church Minister, Denes Farkas (pictured).The Parsonage now has gas heat partly as a result of the funds we gave last year. The congregation voted to heat the parsonage but not the church. The funds we gave were matched by the Unitarian Church through the Bishop of our parish.
Donations for Repair of Church Damaged during Communist Era $30 per mo for medication of Epileptic Child $50 per mo Salary for our Minister Rev. Denes Farkas
More Information:The National Partner Church WEB site.If you have questions or would like to participate in any of our on-going Partner Church Projects, Please contact Ed Knights: email Ed or by phone 770-381-0012 (home)
New UU Classes are offered throughout the year, New UU classes offer participants a "taste" of the Unitarian Universalist experience. The program is enjoyed by non-members wanting to learn about UUism in general and UUCA in particular, as well as by members who want to update their commitment and further explore their religious journey.Besides being a pre-requisite for membership (except for those transferring from another UU congregation), participating in New UU is a fantastic way to meet people, gain knowledge, and strengthen ties all at once.For more details or to learn about when the next New UU classes will be held, lease contact the Membership Committee team at membership@uucg.org.
There's always lots of music at UUCG! Music Director Our music director is the talented performer, composer and director, Kevin McKinney, whose photo is at the top right. Choir Our choir currently rehearses on Sunday mornings at 9:00am at UUCG. Lydia Patrick is our choir coordinator. Newcomers should feel free to come to a rehearsal and join in. All voices are welcome. House Band / Jam Night Other musical options at UUCG include our “Jam Night”, typically the second Friday of each month. Come join with our house band for fun, fellowship, and musical experimentation. This is open to all instrumentalists, percussionists, and singers! Check the UUCG Calendar for dates and times. Universal Sensations Universal Sensations concerts feature UUCG performers and guest musicians and are held quarterly at UUCG on a Saturday evening. An eclectic mix of music is performed in an informal setting. Refreshments are served. Consult the UUCG Calendar for upcoming performances. More Information If you have questions or would like to know more about music at UUCG, please send email to music@uucg.org for more details.
If you like to greet visitors or can help out with service activities such as collecting the offering, please talk to one of the current Beacons on a Sunday morning to get connected.
If you're interested in volunteering to conduct a lay led service or you know of a guest speaker, please contact June Warfield: June's email or by phone (770) 985-6132
If you're interested in playing an instrument and/or singing during services - solos, duos (non chorus performances) - please speak to Kevin McKinney, our Music Director, after Sunday services.
"…To guarantee a continuing, strong Unitarian Universalist presence in Gwinnett County, we seek to establish a solid foundation of financial security through generous funding of the short-term and long-term needs of our congregation."In 1996, we established the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Gwinnett Endowment Fund, Inc. (UUCGEF) as a separate entity to provide focused management of funds raised for our long-term needs. The UUCGEF is a tax-exempt, non-profit corporation, organized under the laws of the State of Georgia and charged with receiving and investing funds and property to create a robust trust fund that will grow over the years and benefit many UU generations to come.
We realize that the circumstances of every member and friend are unique, so we want to make you aware of the many alternative ways in which you can contribute to the Endowment Fund, both now and in the future.
Important factors in making a planned gift include maximizing personal benefits, while minimizing after-tax cost. Here are some examples of ways that you can contribute to the UUCGEF that will help strengthen the future growth of the congregation.
Because of the charitable deduction, the net cost to you will be lower than the face value of your gift. If you wish, your gift can be designated to honor or memorialize another person or to commemorate special occasions, such as anniversaries or birthdays.
Gifts of appreciated securities can be an excellent way to support the UUCGEF and minimize your capital-gains tax liability.
With careful planning, charitable gifts of certain types of assets, such as appreciated long-term capital gain securities and real-estate, can provide even greater tax benefits to you than a gift of equivalent value in cash.
After ensuring that your family is adequately provided for, simply revise your will or your insurance beneficiaries to include a specific amount or percentage to the Endowment Fund.
Providing a gift through the terms of your will is one of the most common ways of making charitable donations. Bequests can take various forms, including specific, residuary, contingent, or restricted.
The charitable remainder trust is similar to other types of trusts, except that it has a charitable beneficiary. In this case, you transfer property irrevocably to a trust and specify how the trust income and principal are to be distributed. You may create the trust to become effective during your life or upon your death. Until the remainder interest is conferred to the Endowment Fund, you may continue to receive the income.
The charitable lead trust is the reverse of the charitable remainder trust in that it provides for the gift of an income interest from property to the Endowment Fund for a term of years--after which the property either reverts to you or passes to a non-charitable beneficiary designated by you.
An annuity trust can provide for payment to the UUCGEF in a fixed annual amount of at least 5% of the initial fair market value of the gift in trust.
On-Line (Credit Card) DonationsIf you like, you can make an on-line contribution right now. We use a secure service provided by an organization called Helping.org to receive your credit card contribution online. Helping.org is sponsored by the AOL Foundation and provides secure donation processing to eligible non-profits nationwide.Check DonationsIf you would like to make a contribution by check, please use our printable Mail-In Contribution Form. Or, if you wish, just send your check to our address below--indicating any person honored or memorialized on your check:
UUCG Endowment Fund12 Bethesda Church RoadLawrenceville, GA 30044-4236Contribution of Securities, Property, Insurance or Contribution via Will or TrustIf you wish to make a contribution of securities or property, please contact one of the members of the UUCGEF Board.In addition, you should consult with your financial and legal advisors prior to arranging or making your contribution.
In the meantime, please consider donating through the UUCG Endowment Fund.
Our New Interim MinisterReverend Roy Reynolds started as UUCG's part-time Interim Minister on August 15, 2008. We're very pleased he is serving our congregation!In addition to his most previous position with the UU Church of Augusta, he has served Northwest Unitarian Universalist Congregation, Atlanta, as their Settled Minister (1992-2000), UU Congregation of Marietta as Consulting Minister, and three congregations in Mississippi and Alabama as Consulting Minister.
Our Bookstore is closed but if you like books, we bet you like to shop at Amazon.comWhen shop at Amazon.com, please use the link below. When you make a purchase, UUCG will receive a 5% commission.
Unitarian Universalism is a liberal religion that embraces theological diversity.
While our congregation upholds shared principles, individual Unitarian Universalists may discern their own beliefs about theological issues. As there is no official Unitarian Universalist creed, Unitarian Universalists are free to search for truth on many paths.
We welcome people who identify with and draw inspiration from Atheism and Agnosticism, Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Humanism, Judaism, Islam, Paganism, Theism and Deism, and religious or philosophical traditions.
Read more about UUism
From "Getting to Know UUCG" by Jeanne-Marie B. Bailey
A gathering of UUs living beyond the pale convened on Mother’s Day, 1981 at the Stone Mountain Depot in Stone Mountain Park. Members and friends of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Atlanta and the Church of the Larger Fellowship who were living east of I-85 received invitations to found a new Unitarian Universalist congregation. One week later, the Northeast Unitarian Universalist Fellowship formed. On May 31, 1981, we held our first service with about 40 adults and almost as many children. In August 1981, we elected a Board of Trustees and made a charter application to the UUA. As the congregation became more organized and slowly began to grow, we moved services from people’s homes to larger, temporary facilities.
In 1982, most of the congregation attended two important events at The Mountain. In the spring, we participated in our first Mountain Work Weekend (a tradition that continues) followed that fall by a retreat on growth. The retreat led to a planning meeting in which we identified our needs and set goals. We also became the UU Fellowship of Gwinnett and part of Rev. Bob Hill’s circuit. Rev. Hill was the District Extension Minister at the time. Rev. Hill held his first service in August and appeared bi-monthly through April 1983.
The Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Gwinnett continued to grow but experienced a brief slump in the winter of 1984-85 when several families moved away, suddenly reducing our numbers. At this time, we returned to bi-weekly meetings in members’ homes. At a meeting in September 1985, we decided to eliminate officers and be governed solely by the Board of Trustees.
In the spring of 1986, we met Rev. Frances West. The ten adult members issued a call to Rev. West to become our part-time minister, and changed our name to the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Gwinnett. As UUCG grew, services were held in a dance studio (often referred to as the Sanctuary of Mirrors), where we held our first Christmas caroling.
The fall of 1987 was busy and exciting. In September, the congregation purchased the property where we are currently. Also in Sept. of 1987, Dave Averyt, one of the founding members, hand forged and donated an iron chalice to the congregation to commemorate the dedication of his daughter, Erin. In October, we joined the Metro Council, and in December, the Children’s Choir formed. The following year, 1988, was a year of firsts for UUCG. We held the first services on our property, our first Ministerial Installation, and our first Auction. The first group of youth completed the Coming of Age program and became full members and we held the first Senior High Weekend event.
In 1990, we held our first Spaghetti Dinner and planned our building construction. Late that year, we finished the exterior and began on the inside. We finally completed construction and moved from the dance studio into our building in March 1991. From that moment, the church began to advance. We held our first Winter Solstice celebration, dedicated the building, and established a bookstore as well as a variety of interest groups. By the late 1990s, we held the annual church garage sale on the property and established the Memorial Garden.
By 1993, membership had grown to about 120 adults and 130 children. Unexpectedly, in the late spring, Rev. Frances West underwent major heart surgery. In her absence, we became lay-led and remained so when Rev. West announced her retirement in September. In the fall of 1994, Elena Rigg, then a student at Candler Seminary at Emory University, joined us as our interim minister. Also in 1994, we installed the stained glass window that hangs at the front of the sanctuary. Scott Cone designed and constructed the window itself and the frame was built by Paul Therrian. Paul along with Bob Churchill designed and built the altar table in 1992. The table was refinished by Bob in 2006.
In the fall of 1995, Rev. Heather Collins joined us as our first full-time minister. Under Rev. Collins’s leadership, the congregation continued to grow, reaching a peak of approximately 175 members. In addition, Rev. Collins helped create a strong relationship between our congregation and the Gwinnett Interfaith Alliance.
To ensure our long-term growth and financial stability, the UUCG Endowment Fund was established in 1996. The Endowment Fund continues to grow as people contribute to honor special people or events.
In the summer of 2000, Rev. Collins announced her decision to leave UUCG. Accepting her resignation, the congregation began conducting lay-led services once again and initiated a new ministerial search. The congregation continued to operate full-time, implementing the Our Whole Lives (OWL) human sexuality program for youth and a UU education class for prospective members. In April 2001, we celebrated our 10th anniversary in our own building and our 20th anniversary as a congregation with special events and programs.
In September 2001, as we continued our search for a full-time minister, we welcomed Rev. Angie Theisen as our interim minister for two year term. From June 2002 to May 2004, major transitions took place at our church home. We held on to our dreams through some struggles and setbacks and endeavored to make them a reality. It was with some imagination and sheer determination we found a way to call a settled minister.
After following all the rules for conducting a search for a settled Minister, our candidate answered the call at another congregation. After we concluded our contract with Interim Minister Rev. Dr. Angie Theisen, we hired a Consulting Minister and with time, patience, and love we discovered we had a good fit. With the consent of the UUA, we asked our Consulting Minister if he would answer our call. With great joy and enthusiasm, Rev. Dana Reynolds accepted.
Building on a firm foundation, we had many new things happen during this time. We proudly inducted several new Youth members who completed the Coming of Age curriculum. We installed a new fire/alarm system and the new deck was dedicated in memory of Steve Soloway, an active founding member who passed in 2000. Our senior high youth raised money for a youth pilgrimage to Boston. Pledging per member increased and we returned to operating with a cash budget. We updated and revised the Policies and Procedures book to reflect who we are today.
Rev. Dana, the Board, and the entire congregation worked tirelessly to revitalize UUCG. That revitalization included refreshing the church interior, re-instating the adult choir, adding a music program, adding more Religious Education programs such as Fellowship and Enrichment Night, Chalice Circles, and the Culture Camp, and increasing membership to over 145 adult members. None of this would have been possible without the generous donations of time, talent, and treasures of UUCG’s members and friends.
In 2006, we celebrated our 25th anniversary as a congregation and our 15th anniversary in our building. To address our seating and crowding issues, in 2006 the Board of Trustees approved the purchase of approximately 200 new chairs for the sanctuary and the Board Room.
In 2008, Rev. Dana Reynolds turned in his resignation as Minister. After a beautiful farewell to the Reynolds family we formed a Ministerial Search Committee. Careful deliberation led us to call Rev. Roy Reynolds as our new part-time interim Minister. On August 15 we welcomed Rev. Roy to our congregation. In June 2009, the congregation voted to have Rev. Roy continue as a consulting minister for another year.
Into the future, we will continue to pursue the question “What are we called to do in Gwinnett County?”
Many of our societies offer introductory sessions, study groups, videotapes, and increasingly, a World Wide Web homepage to acquaint those interested in membership with our history, Principles, and programs. Individual appointments with ministers and members are encouraged. Many pamphlets are available through the UUA Bookstore. Usually, these are readily accessible in a church's foyer, and even small fellowships may have a good library of Unitarian Uni-versalist writings. The UUA website at www.uua.org is another good source of information about Unitarian Universalism.
All of these, along with your presence with us at worship and in our many other activities, provide the means for learning more about who Unitarian Universalists are, and whether you want to become one of us.
The last act of joining the congregation is simple, but significant: You write your name on a membership card or in the membership book or parish register.
We have no creedal requirements. With your signature you affirm your pledge to enter and to remain in a continuing and tolerant dialogue concerning the ways of truth and love, a dialogue within which free persuasion may occur; to share in our fellowship and in our corporate decision making; and to support with your gifts of energy and money our common work for the common good.
Religious liberals put less emphasis on formal beliefs and more on practical living. Our interest is in deeds, not creeds. We appreciate the biblical text, "Be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only."
Our members have been active leaders in the struggles for racial equality, civil liberty, international peace, and equal rights for all people. We work as individuals, in congregational social action, and in other groupings, including such denominational efforts as the UUA's Faith in Action Department and the UU-UN Office. We also work with the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee, which brings critically needed social change to many parts of the world.
The program of religious education is determined, as are all other programs, by members of the local congregation. A wide range of courses is available through our Association. These are adapted by members as they choose. Courses appropriate for children may be offered in subjects as varied as interpersonal relations, ethical questions, the Bible, world religions, nature and ecology, heroes and heroines of social reform, Unitarian Universalist history, and holy days around the world. The same is true of adult religious education.
In most of our congregations, regular children's worship-often held during a portion of the adult service-is part of the program. We seek to teach our children to be responsible for their own thinking and to nurture their own impulses of reverence, morality, respect for others, and self-respect.
Yes and no.
Yes, some Unitarian Universalists are Christian. Personal encounter with the spirit of Jesus as the christ richly informs their religious lives.
No, Unitarian Universalists are not Christian, if by Christian you mean those who think that acceptance of any creedal belief whatsoever is necessary for salvation. Unitarian Universalist Christians are considered heretics by those orthodox Christians who claim none but Christians are "saved." (Fortunately, not all the orthodox make that claim.)
Yes, Unitarian Universalists are Christian in the sense that both Unitarian and Universalist history are part of Christian history. Our core principles and practices were first articulated and established by liberal Christians.
Some Unitarian Universalists are not Christian. For though they may acknowledge the Christian history of our faith, Christian stories and symbols are no longer primary for them. They draw their personal faith from many sources: nature, intuition, other cultures, science, civil liberation movements, and so on.
We regard the highest values to be integrity, caring, compassion, social justice, truth, personal peace and harmony. Advancing these values is a major purpose of our congregations.
Our ceremonies-of marriage and starting a new family, naming or dedicating our children, and memorializing our dead-are phrased in simple, contemporary language. We observe these rites in community, not because they are required by some rule or dogma, but because in them we may voice our affection, hopes, and dedication.
Though practices vary in our congregations and change over time, UUs celebrate many of the great religious holidays with enthusiasm. Whether we gather to celebrate Christmas, Passover, or the Hindu holiday Divali, we do so in a universal context, recognizing and honoring religious observances and festivals as innate and needful in all human cultures.
The English word salvation derives from the Latin salus, meaning health. Unitarian Universalists are as concerned with salvation, in the sense of spiritual health or wholeness, as any other religious people.
However, in many Western churches, salvation has come to be associated with a specific set of beliefs or a spiritual transformation of a very limited type.
Among Unitarian Universalists, instead of salvation you will hear of our yearning for, and our experience of, personal growth, increased wisdom, strength of character, and gifts of insight, understanding, inner and outer peace, courage, patience, and compassion. The ways in which these things come to, change, and heal us, are many indeed. We seek and celebrate them in our worship.
In most of our congregations, our children learn Bible stories as a part of their church school curricula. It is not unusual to find adult study groups in the churches, or in workshops at summer camps and conferences, focusing on the Bible. Allusions to biblical symbols and events are frequent in our sermons. In most of our congregations, the Bible is read as any other sacred text might be-from time to time, but not routinely.
We have especially cherished the prophetic books of the Bible. Amos, Hosea, Isaiah, and other prophets dared to speak critical words of love to the powerful, calling for justice for the oppressed. Many Unitarian and Universalist social reformers have been inspired by the biblical prophets. We hallow the names of Unitarian and Universalist prophets: Joseph Tuckerman, Dorothea Dix, Clara Barton, Theodore Parker, Susan B. Anthony, and many others.
We do not, however, hold the Bible-or any other account of human experience-to be either an infallible guide or the exclusive source of truth. Much biblical material is mythical or legendary. Not that it should be discarded for that reason! Rather, it should be treasured for what it is. We believe that we should read the Bible as we read other books (or the newspaper)-with imagination and a critical eye.
We also respect the sacred literature of other religions. Contemporary works of science, art, and social commentary are valued as well. We hold, in the words of an old liberal formulation, that "revelation is not sealed."
Unitarian Universalists aspire to truth as wide as the world-we look to find truth anywhere, universally.
Classically, Unitarian Universalist Christians have understood Jesus as a savior because he was a God-filled human being, not a supernatural being. He was, and still is for many UUs, an exemplar, one who has shown the way of redemptive love, in whose spirit anyone may live generously and abundantly. Among us, Jesus' very human life and teaching have been understood as products of, and in line with, the great Jewish tradition of prophets and teachers.
He neither broke with that tradition nor superseded it.
Many of us honor Jesus, and many of us honor other master teachers of past or present generations, like Moses or the Buddha. As a result, mixed-tradition families may find common ground in the UU fellowship without compromising other loyalties.
Some Unitarian Universalists are nontheists and do not find language about God useful. The faith of other Unitarian Universalists in God may be profound, though among these, too, talk of God may be restrained. Why?
The word God is much abused. Far too often, the word seems to refer to a kind of granddaddy in the sky or a super magician. To avoid confusion, many Unitarian Universalists are more apt to speak of "reverence for life" (in the words of Albert Schweitzer, a Unitarian), the spirit of love or truth, the holy, or the gracious. Many also prefer such language because it is inclusive; it is used with integrity by theist and nontheist members.
Whatever our theological persuasion, Unitarian Universalists generally agree that the fruits of religious belief matter more than beliefs about religion-even about God. So we usually speak more of the fruits: gratitude for blessings, worthy aspirations, the renewal of hope, and service on behalf of justice.
More than one thousand congregations in the United States and Canada belong to the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) of Congregations, with headquarters in Boston, Massachusetts.
The oldest Unitarian congregations are in Romania. There are large Unitarian congregations in the Khasi Hills of India. Others are found in Hungary, the Czech Republic, Poland, Germany, France, Great Britain, Australia, Nigeria, South Africa, the Philippines, and Japan. (Some of these are Unitarian and some are Universalist.)
North American Unitarian Universalists maintain ties with other Unitarian Universalists throughout the world, mostly through our membership in the International Association for Religious Freedom (IARF), organized in 1900.
Members of the IARF include other liberal Christian groups as well as Humanist, Hindu Reform, Shinto, and Buddhist groups.
In North America, Unitarianism and Universalism developed separately. Universalist congregations began to be established in the 1770s. Other congregations, many established earlier, began to take the Unitarian name in the 1820s. Over the decades the two groups converged in their liberal emphasis and style, and in 1961 they merged to become the Unitarian Universalist Association.
We are a religious people who have woven strands of a rich past into a tapestry of the present.
In the first centuries of the Christian era, Christians held a variety of beliefs concerning the nature of Jesus. In 325 CE, however, the Council of Nicea promulgated the doctrine of the Trinity-God as Father, Son, and Holy Ghost-and denounced all those who believed differently as heretics.
At a Unitarian Universalist worship service or meeting, you are likely to find members whose positions on faith may be derived from a variety of religious beliefs: Jewish, Christian, Buddhist, naturist, atheist, or agnostic. Members might tell you that they are religious humanists, liberal Christians, or world religionists. All these people, and others who label their beliefs still differently, are faithful Unitarian Universalists committed to the practice of free religion. We worship, sing, play, study, teach, and work for social justice together as congregations-all the while remaining strong in our individual convictions.
If Unitarian Universalists hold such varied convictions, what does it mean to be a Unitarian Universalist?
Explore the FAQ menu to your right to learn more.
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“It matters what we believe” —Sophia Lyon Fahs The members and friends of our Unitarian Universalist fellowship are committed to a lifetime of learning—from our youngest children to our oldest members. We are a dynamic and diverse religious community. We grow, play and learn together. We both challenge and care for one another.
We have no one doctrine, we believe in an open exchange of ideas. If you believe that you have the right to freely ask questions about the nature of God, and believe that living a life of dignity, compassion, and respect is more important than adherence to a specific creed, then a Unitarian Universalist Church may just be the place for you.
Because of the great diversity of Sunday services, as well as educational and social activities, you might want to experience several activities to get a sense of the “flavor” and “personality” of who we are.
While many people in our culture are seeking a spiritual community that honors their individual search for religious truth, very often these seekers are unfamiliar with our historic faith. If you are one of those who see exploration as a vital part of the process of developing one’s faith, then we hope you will take the time to learn more about our fellowship and our historic faith.
We welcome visitors.
Thank you for visiting our congregation’s website. We hope you'll come and visit our congregation.
Memorials:Stephen M. Soloway, D.V.M.
Planned Additions:Albert "Al" ColwellEd Heath
We are a casual group, wearing casual attire. Our building is a non-smoking facility. Our building is 50 feet wide by 150 feet long. The main meeting room is 2500 square feet and can seat over 150 people easily. Smaller meeting rooms are available for groups of four to twenty. A modest kitchen is also available.
Our Building ia available for Weddings or Special Events
If you are interested in finding out more about use of our facility, please contact: The church office at 770-717-7913, or send us an email.
We're located approximately 20 miles Northeast of downtown Atlanta. We are in a lightly wooded area adjacent to the Ronald Reagan Parkway and the Bethesda Park recreation area. The modern shopping development of Gwinnett Place, the quaint craftshops of Stone Mountain Village, and Stone Mountain Park are just minutes away.
We are a supportive religious community whose purposes are to explore spirituality, celebrate humanity, and respect diversity, inspired by the Principles and Purposes of the Unitarian Universalist Association.
We affirm that we at UUCG intend to nourish the spirit. We affirm a spiritual community that recognizes that individuals are on their own paths. We celebrate the magic and mystery of diversity as we develop our appreciation of each other.
We, the members of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Gwinnett, in covenant with each other, honor this entire congregation, its spiritual growth, and mission.
It is our deeply held belief and commitment that this be a community of love.
We sustain our community through trust, compassion, and inquiry.
To live our commitment…
Roy's Reflections - UUCG adopts Covenant of Right Relations
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Have you seen the news that Pastor Terry Jones, of Dove World Outreach Center (a fundamentalist church) plans to hold an “International Burn a Quran Day” on September 11, 2010? You talk about madness! That man is crazy and his attitude fuels a dangerous sentiment in the country. Wanna know more? Jones wrote a book titled “Islam is of the Devil,” and his church sells coffee mugs and shirts featuring the phrase. On the church’s website, a section lists “Ten Reasons to Burn a Koran.” (Source: CNN) Have you seen the latest Time Magazine? Its feature article asks the question, “Is America Islamophobic?” The initial story is not about the proposed mosque two blocks from ‘Ground Zero.’ It’s about a small Wisconsin town planning commission hearing where a local MD (and land owner) is applying to open a mosque nearby. There the doctor hears comments he would never hear in the privacy of an examination room. People there openly “…pour scorn and hostility on [his] proposal… It’s about [his] faith. Islam is a religion of hate, they say. Muslims are out to wipe out Christianity…One resident says, ‘I just think it’s not America.’” (Source: Time Magazine) Add to this the insanity that a substantial portion (24%) of the voting American public actually think that our President, Barack Obama, is a practicing Muslim. Quite frankly, it would not matter to me in the least if he was a Muslim. But he is not, and yet this rumor continues across the nation among Americans receptive to being incited by the anger and hatred toward seemingly all people of Islamic faith. We have here a problem that all Unitarian Universalists can help solve. How would you go about it? My recommendation, especially at the local level of a congregation, would be emphasize our compatibilities with the Islamic faith, and show that simpatico through words and actions that made the Lawrenceville/Gwinnett community aware that we ‘Stand on the Side of Love,’ to use the language of one of our hymns. Specific action would take the form of open advocacy and support for local mosques and Muslims, hold a ‘Share the Quran Dinner’ and invite local Muslims, sponsor a public forum to build interfaith understanding, consider building interfaith relations through shared projects (eg, Habitat House). We could also teach the Quran in RE. I would ask the Social Justice Committee to take the lead in developing a full strategy, but I would (myself) write public letters of support and be present (if possible) for such events as the above. In Augusta, when I was interim minister there, clergy representatives from various faiths met together, including the local Imam, on a monthly basis. Now they hold an annual interfaith service on the birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr. There are lots of things you/we could do. In my view, the whole matter centers on loving kindness and mutual acceptance of people of good will demonstrating solidarity through empathy and compassion. Taking a stand against people like Pastor Jones, and the anti-Islam hatred he and his congregation voice, would only fuel more hatred. Our stance needs to always be one that affirms the healing power of love through ever-building the Beloved Community. Rev. Roy
I take a risk in sharing with you a column on something as complex and important as empathy and as troublesome as bias toward other groups of people. Obviously I cannot give this a full treatment in a short column. I increase my risk even more by revealing that my renewed interest in the importance of empathy comes from participation in spiritual retreats with Robert Sardello and his spouse and partner, Cheryl Sanders Sardello. I have now attended two four-day retreats with them in rural Benson, NC. Their approach goes by the name “Contemplative Spiritual Psychology.” I feel compelled, however, to offer some observations and insights. What I have recently realized can help the UUCG community better navigate the core tenets of the new Covenant of Right Relations: to maintain “a community of love through trust, compassion, and inquiry.” As UUs we profess to “affirm and promote the inherent worth and dignity of every person.” That’s the first principle (or value) stated in the UU Principles and Purposes Statement. Yet there are times and circumstances (maybe at a church social or in a small group setting) when we may forget our ideals while the more pervasive American habits of individual freedoms creep in and crowd out the respect and worth we wish to practice as UUs. This is only natural, and hard to even notice, because American society has more power over our habits than do our UU ideals. I have witnessed this occur in every UU church with which I have been associated. Out of habit we ‘slip’ and find ourselves ‘othering’ people and beliefs that we think are silly, naïve, less intelligent, or flat-out wrong. The most common UU habit of ‘othering’ is judgment toward mainstream Christians. It is quite typical to hear slurs towards Christians in UU churches. Oppositional thinking is another name for this. In a non-UU setting, I was present with someone recently who talked repeatedly about “them,” when I knew clearly that he was talking about “all black people.” After I realized he wasn’t going to stop that discrimination, I asked him to cease making those insinuations. Such overt discrimination is not frequent in UU churches. But we do come across expressions of religious, political and intellectual bias and opposition. I am personally convinced that those slips arise especially because we lump whole groups of people into categories toward which it feels okay to speak derisively. UUCG has lost members due to this. I have witnessed it. What does ‘othering’ have to do with empathy? Quite a bit. When we slip and speak judgmentally about a whole group of people, we show that we do not feel empathy for them. We have put them in some cognitive box and dismissed them and the box from our feelings of respect, empathy, and compassion. We toss them out of our hearts. I realized something important about this last weekend while attending a spiritual retreat. In fact, the place I came to that realization was while contemplatively walking a labyrinth. It came to me clear as a bell. There were associations and memories and feelings of people important to me that preceded my insight. Those laid the intuitive groundwork. Then a whole pattern of awareness washed over me and bathed me in feelings of love. Out of that came the insight: “We are in this world to give birth to each other, and to ourselves.” The sense of birth was a metaphor. We are here in society and in nature, so I felt, to serve each other by creating safe spaces that invite forth heart-felt yearnings and hopes and interests of others into the world. We are mid-wives, I felt. The feminist Nelle Morton, said it differently. She said, of women in their quest for self awakening, “Our purpose is to hear each other into speech.” We cannot do that without the profound relational power of empathy; without listening with empathy. Something to remember. Rev. Roy
One of the finest books I have read since the year 2000 is A Hidden Wholeness, by Parker J. Palmer. That book will form the basis for a book discussion group to be held at UUCG during Wednesdays with Friends on the following dates: September 8 and 22, and October 6, 13, and 20. The purpose of offering this book is that it fits so well the principles that were adopted as the core ethic of the Covenant of Right Relations. That core message – the ‘spiritual center’ - is that UUCG seeks to ‘maintain a community of love through trust, compassion and inquiry.’ Frankly, I know of no better book that articulates the values and practices for creating safe space for cultivating authentic, caring, and mutually empowering human relations. There’s a lot ‘out there,’ but this I find is the best. I am excited about this upcoming program and I want to provide plenty of time for you to preregister for this course, and for those interested to purchase a copy of the book through the UUCG web site portal to Amazon I will limit the group to twelve people. Just because I found this book engaging, may not mean that it will work for your temperament and interests. This is not a book intended to stimulate you intellectually or politically, though it is both intellectually and politically very relevant. Neither is its purpose meant to prompt strong opinions around which we can have a good debate. It is not ‘issue-oriented.’ It is spiritually grounded in a set of well tested group practices that provide safety for the human soul to emerge and be given voice in a small group setting. The primary practice is that of learning how to create and maintain ‘circles of trust.’ This may sound like the UUCG Chalice Circles that have existed, and still exist in one or two cases. Circles of trust are similar to Chalice Circles, but they differ in a number of ways. Probably the biggest difference is that circles of trust are not focused on a designated topic or theme each time the circle gathers. The emphasis is not on opinions or ideas, though sometimes themes help frame the experience. The focus is on ‘holding the space’ so that each person present feels the safety, if he or she chooses, to express his/her soul’s yearnings. This, as you might expect, makes circles of trust rare indeed. The book discussion group will evolve toward becoming a circle of trust as the learning and conversations proceed. After the course, it may be that UUCG will move toward having one or more circles of trust. That is yet to be determined by the participants and to see if any of them actually want to serve as facilitators in creating a circle of trust based on the guidelines given through Palmer’s book. If this intrigues you or has your interest piqued, please feel free to chat with me, or email me; and be sure to place your name on the sign up sheet. The course registration will be on a first come, first served basis. This fall is the only time I will lead this book discussion group at UUCG. If you are really curious, and want to learn more, check out the reviews at Amazon.com. You will see why I think this teacher and his book are so important. Rev. Roy
I am so proud of you people! I am writing this column five days after the congregational meeting of Sunday, May 16th. One of the triumphs of that meeting was the adoption of the new ‘Covenant of Right Relations.’ There were several other things from that meeting for which you can feel proud - your financial stewardship, your ongoing strength of leadership, and more. I choose to highlight the covenant because I think it serves as tangible evidence of how well you dedicated members have cultivated the soil within which your fine gifts of community grow. As I view it, UUCG has now become a mature congregational community with a deepened sense of integrity and stability. This is no flimsy compliment. I mean it. On Sunday President Marina Peed presented in PowerPoint fashion the proposed Covenant of Right Relations that was crafted by the Task Force of Louise McKinney (chair and principle author), Karl Adams, Martha Dyer, Steph Mabie, and Deb Millette. I led us all in reading the covenant in unison. Then, following brief Q&A discussion, the covenant was adopted by the assembled membership (well over a quorum) in a unanimous vote to approve that wording as a guide to member relations and accountability. What an impressive accomplishment this is for UUCG! I obviously don’t just mean the technical accomplishment. I mean the heartfelt desire you exhibited in choosing to relate with one another and conduct yourselves in a healthy manner, mindful of the importance of communal civility, and with all sincerity to maintain collaborative and compassionate communications. Of course you know, and we all know, that we fall short at times. There will be times of conflict and disagreement. Human differences surface in dialogue where opinions are expressed. We bring these acknowledgements into awareness, while emphasizing the importance of forgiveness as well as accountability. This is no panacea. It is a guide. Here are the words you affirmed:
UUCG Covenant of Right Relations We, the members of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Gwinnett, in covenant with each other, honor this entire congregation, its spiritual growth, and mission. It is our deeply held belief and commitment that this be a community of love. We sustain our community through trust, compassion, and inquiry. To live our commitment…
Yesterday UUCG marked a major step forward in the congregation’s momentum toward full-time settled ministry. I speak, or course, of the visit by the Mid-South District’s Ministerial Settlement Representative (MSR), Dick Creswell. You could not have asked for a better overview of the search process, the steps involved, and the important role of the Ministerial Search Committee. The attendance was very good, and the questions revealed not only the attentiveness of the congregation, but also the savvy, experience, and commitment of those who engaged Dick in open dialogue. You can now say, without reservation, that UUCG is immersed in the ministerial search process. What comes next? What might you expect as this process unfolds? I will not offer you an exhaustive list of steps. I want to highlight certain junctures in which you will have good opportunities to help shape the ministerial search results between now and the early fall 2010. Two key steps: 1) Selecting the Search Committee and 2) Participating in the Congregational Self-Study. Selecting the Search Committee An eventful moment is coming soon for the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Gwinnett. At the Annual Congregational Meeting, May 16th, the Nominating Committee will put forth a slate of seven members to be voted on as the Ministerial Search Committee. I recommend that you attend this important meeting and cast your vote as an active member of the congregation. Participating in the Congregational Self-Study This vital aspect of the search process is open democracy in action. This self-study process will offer you several opportunities to make your thoughts known to the Search Committee. It will also give you various ways to engage in key conversations with your fellow members regarding the qualities of ministry you would like to see in your future minister, as well as the qualities of ministry you would like to see cultivated in the life of your congregation. The questions and learnings that have emerged during the past (almost) two years of transition ministry can find their place in helping you formulate a vision of ministry for UUCG. The soil has been well tilled, and now it is your turn to give voice to your hopes and desires as this church community moves forward into a new phase of its congregational life. To paraphrase Dick Creswell (MSR) with my own words, UUCG is poised to move intentionally into the fullness of its promise. You are almost there, and it is clear that you are headed there. That must feel good; I certainly sense it. You will be given opportunities for input into the process through a survey, through cottage meetings, and possibly through personal interviews. Take full advantage of all of these opportunities so that not only is democracy in action, but also that the conversation regarding UUCG’s emerging ministry (its shared ministry of professional and lay people alike) can animate your ethic, your spirit, and your love of this vital community for you and the youth of UUCG. I am deeply touched by the earnest commitment you have made and are making to build and sustain exemplary liberal religious community. I will companion you through this important next step as you journey forward. In trust, compassion, and inquiry, Rev. Roy
Dear UUCG Members, I write you today with great pride and appreciation for the collective wisdom and congregational maturity you demonstrated at your recent Congregational Meeting (Dec. 13th). Your vote to enter the ministerial search process was almost unanimous, and you also voted approval of the new half-time position of Church Administrator. You did this with a very high turnout of the membership present. That meeting, in my view, will become an important moment in the life of UUCG. Not only the democratic decisions made by the church-as-a-whole, but also the thoughtful questions and respectful yet earnest discussion were indicative of a congregation truly ready to move forward. Congratulations UUCG!
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