Affirming the Inherent Worth and Dignity of Every Person

Timberland Unitarian Universalist Fellowship

TUUF Happenings

In the spring, the UUSC sponsors Social Justice Sunday which focuses on a current issue the UUSC is working.  Social Justice Sunday 2007 seeks to break the silence on the situation in the Darfur region of Sudan and inspire action in people of conscience.

“Social Justice Sunday”

April 1, 2007

April 2007

Timberland Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, 1510 North Timberland Drive (bus. 59), Lufkin, TX  75901. Mailing address: P.O. Box 155212, Lufkin, TX 75915-5212.  Fellowship phone number: 936-634-9633.

Questions, comments or stories for the TUUF Happenings?  Like more information about TUUF?  Email us at information@tuuf.org or call 936-634-9474.

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Having trouble viewing the newsletter?  Missed a previous edition?  Newsletters are posted on our website at www.tuuf.org. 

Robert Griggs will be reading excerpts from “The Prophet” by Kahlil Gibran (1883-1931).  Lebanese by birth, Gibran emigrated to America in 1895 and became an artist, philosopher, and author.  Published in 1923, “The Prophet” shares wisdom on subjects such as Love, Laws, Freedom, Pain, Religion & Death. 

“Thoughts from Kahlil Gibran’s ‘The Prophet’”

April 8, 2007

Our mission is to provide a special, safe place where people of diverse backgrounds and beliefs can come together to renew spiritual energy, find intellectual stimulation, and create loving friendships.

Text Box: TUUF Mission

“Re-Inventing the American Dream: Learning to Live with Less”

April 15, 2007

April’s guest speaker will be Brenda Morgan.  Brenda describes the presentation as “a workshop/presentation to assist the willing in de-cluttering our lives, reforming our attitudes towards wilderness and wildlife, and focusing on personal action that will lead to a healthier planet and unencumbered, debt free lives.”  Following this extended service, we will have a potluck lunch with discussion.
Text Box: Journaling

Journaling will resume on April 3rd at 12:30 in the fellowship office.  Come for writing and sharing!

“Earth Day Mass”

April 22, 2007

Angelyn Bassinger will present Earth Day Mass, a tradition within TUUF, with a twist this year.  Remember to bring your flowers for the Flower Communion and prepare to listen to the beautiful music of the whales.

Everyone is Welcome!

Everyone is invited for Sunday’s fellowship and service.  Coffee and fellowship begin at 10:30 am along with children’s religious education.  Services begin at 11 am with child care provided.  Please come and bring a friend to Fellowship.

Service at Greater Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church

April 29, 2007

E.J. Walker, our child care provider, has graciously invited the entire TUUF congregation to visit his church.  We will meet at the fellowship building at 10:15 for a brief fellowship time before heading to the service.  Further details will be forthcoming.  Alternative programming can be arranged for those who do not choose to attend.
Text Box: Celebrate!

April reasons to celebrate, think of others and be thankful!  Palm Sunday, Theravada Buddhist New Year, Passover, Good Friday, Easter/Pascha, Baisakhi, Yom HaShoah, American Tax Day, Feast of Ridvan, Yom Hazikaron, Earth Day, Yom Haatzmaut, Administrative Professional’s Day, Liberation Day (Italy), & Greenery Day (Japan).
Letter from the President, Julie Gaylord

April is a time of reflection for our Fellowship.  Toward the end of May we will hold our Congregational Meeting and elect a president, vice president/program chair, secretary, and treasurer to serve as board members, along with the past president, for the next two years.

This month, as president, I will appoint two people who, along with Angelyn, our current past president, will serve as the Nominating Committee for these positions.

According to our By-Laws*, which place a two-consecutive-term service limit on a given position, Angelyn, Jane, and I are no longer eligible to serve in our current positions. 

With this in mind I would like to ask members of the Fellowship to please give careful thought to offering to serve on the Board or continuing to serve on the Board, possibly in a different position.

A Word about the Board/Congregation – On its website under “About Unitarian Universalism” the UUA states the following:

                      …Our congregations are self-governing.  Authority and responsibility are vested in the membership of the congregation.

In our fellowship all major decisions are made by the Congregation as a Whole after each member has had an opportunity to be heard and consensus can be reached through discussion.  Our Board functions to inform, plan, and facilitate.  While there are only two scheduled board meetings yearly – one in November and the other in May – additional meetings are called when needed and officers confer with one another on a regular basis.

Service on the Board requires a commitment of time and energy - It offers the opportunity of growth and the satisfaction of giving and accomplishment.     Julie

*Copies of the By-Laws available at the Fellowship or electronically upon request.
Excerpt from “The Prophet” by Kahlil Gibran

Then a woman said, "Speak to us of Joy and Sorrow."

And he answered:

Your joy is your sorrow unmasked.

And the selfsame well from which your laughter rises was oftentimes filled with your tears.

And how else can it be?

The deeper that sorrow carves into your being, the more joy you can contain.

Portrait of “The Prophet” drawn by Kahli Gibran
General Assembly 2007

Time is running out!  Prices for GA rise May 1st and the best rooms are going fast!  TUUF needs a delegate to vote our positions in this year’s elections and in the discussions on changes to the Seven Principles. GA is being held in Portland, OR from June 20-24 with UU University held from June 19-20.