Beacon (May 2011)

May 2011

The Lowcountry

Beacon Unitarian

Universalist Congregation of the

Lowcountry

A Month of Sundays

Sunday Service: 10:00 am

May 1 “Dog Training as Spiritual

Practice” Janice Alden

May 8

“More Than Just Mothers” Rev. Dr. Nannette Pierson

May 15

“Where To, What Next?” Rev. Manuel Holland

May 22

“You Might Be a UU If…” Ann Harrison & UUCL

Youth

May 29 “In Search of the

Fountain of Youth” Doris Hammond

Dear Members and Friends,

The appreciation reception last Saturday for Tom was bittersweet. The host committee did a creative arrangement of chairs and tables which encouraged fellowship. The number and variety of hors d’oeu-vres prepared by many among us were impressive and delicious. The wines were great as were the servers.

Yet, we all knew that we were there to say goodbye to our friend and minister. It was not easy to do.

We want Tom, Rebecca and Will to know that beyond the gifts, card, and spoken best wishes there are many among us whose lives have been deeply touched for the better by their presence over the past five years and for that we are pro-foundly grateful.

Before we consider what could lie ahead for us let us look at how far we have come over the past five years.

Our current directory of members and friends lists over 75 adult members and friends and almost 40 children and youth who were not listed in our directory six years ago. Without all of these wonder-ful new persons we would hardly be able to function.

We are challenged as we seek to add to our membership to make sure that our existing members and friends, particularly the newer ones, are given an opportunity to become involved in those activities and leadership roles which appeal to them.

Also over the past five years we have added activities such as Family Promise and the Island Recreation events which have in-volved many of our members in meaningful and creative ways.

We have been wonderfully enter-tained with a number of gala events and we have been greatly inspired by our enhanced music program thanks to John S, Jeffrey W, the UUCL Singers, the Worship Committee and the Music Commit-tee.

To keep us from being stuck in a rut, over the past two years we have undergone a visioning proc-ess which has given us some very important goals and objectives for the years ahead. We must not lose sight of that great document as we move forward.

Looking back over the past five years we have to acknowledge that six years ago there were a large number of names in our di-rectory which are not in our current directory. Those are the names of persons who have died, moved away to be closer to family mem-bers or for other reasons, and some who have chosen to have their names removed. We remem-ber many of those persons with great joy for having known them and with great sadness that they are no longer among us.

In the months and years ahead we will have much to say about where we want to be as a beloved com-munity. We can do that with the certain knowledge that we will be building upon a rich heritage.

~Manuel Holland, Senior Minister

Standing on the Side of Love in Bluffton and Hilton Head Island for over 30 years.

2 The Lowcountry Beacon, May 2011


Programs, Meetings, and Special Events

UUCL Annual Business Meeting - Sunday, May 29th Immediately following service. Board Meeting - Thursday, May 26 at 6:30 pm. The monthly meeting of the Board of Trustees is held on the fourth Thursday of each month in the UUCL Clara Barton Conference Room. Visitors are always welcome. E-Team - NO MEETING THIS MONTH. The Environmental Team meets on the 4th Sunday of each month. Knitter’s Circle - Wednesday, May 25 from 6:30 - 8 pm. Meets on the last Wednesday of every month from 6:30-8 pm. We make Prayer Shawls, Comfort Blankets, Wraps, Hats, Baby Clothes, and other items to give to members and friends of the congregation in times of need. You do not have to be a Knitter to be in this group. Our doors are open to those who crochet, quilt, weave, sew, and do macramé. Bring whatever you are working on and come en-joy an evening with good company. For more information call Ann at 422-2598 or email [email protected]. Newsletter Deadline - Sunday, May 15. The deadline for the Beacon is on the 15th of each month. Items should be emailed to Mary-Michael at [email protected]. Picnic Potluck - Sunday, May 22 immediately following service. Our annual spring picnic at the beautiful Sea Pines Forest Pre-serve. Friends, family, children and dogs on leash are all welcome. Brochures and maps will be in the lobby along with a sign-up sheet. For more information call Libba at 363-2329 or email [email protected]. UU Animal Ministry - NO MEETING THIS MONTH. UU Animal Ministry meets the second Sunday of each month follow-ing the service. UU Singers - Sundays at 9:30 am. Singers are invited to arrive early before Sunday’s service to practice the hymns for that day. This is the first step to creating a Music Pro-gram here @ UUCL.

Wish List Corner

As Treasurer I have seen such gen-erosity during this past year and I feel it should be recognized. I will not attempt to put every individual who donates but rather individual donations or acts not specifically asked for.

For this month I would like to ac-knowledge the following:

Jeffrey W whose sponsored run raised $1105 half of the money raised was donated to Family Prom-ise and the other half donated to UUCL.

Dorothy F donated $500 with half going toward the purchase of 4 ta-bles that we use for special func-tions and half going toward the sponsoring of live music for our Sunday services.

Ron and Karen M donated several pieces of office furniture that will make our office more attractive and functional. They have since moved away and so a very special thanks to them, we will miss them.

Dan and Joely T donated a lawn mower. Jeffrey D donated a new mailbox.

For this month I must mention the tremendous support and generosity that all of our friends and members showed during the pledge cam-paign.

It was extremely successful and came just shy of the goal. I ask everyone to be thinking of items that can be placed on a "wish list" and we will see if dreams can come true.

Thanks to all, ~Dan Tweel (Treasurer)

Please plan to attend the

UUCL ANNUAL BUSINESS MEETING

Immediately following service

on Sunday, May 29th.

mailto:[email protected]

mailto:[email protected]?subject=Beacon%20Newsletter%20Submission

http://mrd.mail.yahoo.com/compose?To=libba.beerman%40gmail.com



It's time again for our annual spring picnic at the Sea Pines Forest Preserve on Sunday, May 22nd, immediately following service. The Sea Pines Forest Preserve is a beautiful 605-acre preserve lo-cated in Sea Pines Plantation.

Friends, family, children and dogs (on leash) are welcome. Please bring a potluck dish to share. The picnic site is sheltered. Try fishing on Lake Joe. Go spotting for alligators and a wide variety of birds. Enjoy wild-flowers while you hike or bike the trails. Visit the Indian Shell Ring located on the site of a 4,000 year old In-dian village. Explore a secluded forest on the boardwalk through the Vanishing Swamp.

Brochures and maps will be in the lobby along with a sign-up sheet. For more information contact Libba at 363-2329 or [email protected].

Directions South on Pope Avenue to Cordillo Parkway.

Keep right at fork head, toward the Ocean Gatehouse.

Tell guard you are a “Beerman Guest.”

Turn right at Lawton Road.

Pass Hilton Head Preparatory School.

Turn right into Forest Preserve.

Look for signs/balloons for where to park.

As we bring this year’s Canvass to a close we have much to be thankful for. Albeit slightly shy of our goal (we are at 95% at this time with perhaps a couple of stragglers still outstanding), our pledges this year total more than both last year’s original canvas PLUS the results of a supple-mental plea that followed. As we collectively gave real meaning to this year’s slogan “Renewing Our Vision,” it be-came clear that the future of UUCL; indeed, that of “Liberal Religion” here in the Lowcoun-try, will be one that will have us all standing proud.

At a time of some unsettling change within, coupled with an extremely slow rebounding economy, folks at UUCL re-sponded to the question of “Can we do it?” with a resounding “YES WE CAN”. Just as “it takes a village to raise a child”, it takes a lot of caring people to have a successful Canvass. Even with the possibility of for-getting someone (please for-give) I would be remiss if I didn’t recognize the following who, in some way, provided the much needed leadership for the suc-

EVERY MEMBER & FRIEND CANVASS cessful Canvass: Dan T, Doro-thy F, Linda N, Bill B, Kathy M, John K, Joely T, Donna T, Paul B, Peggy T, Fran F, Les L, Mary M, Kathie L, Frank F, Pat A, Vir-ginia J, Gordon S, John and Kathy Q, Doug V, and Rosalind and Jack A. It was a privilege for me to have had an opportunity to work with these wonderful members of our church community.

~ Ron Titus

(Chairman, Every Member and Friend Canvass)

http://mrd.mail.yahoo.com/compose?To=libba.beerman%40gmail.com



Saturday, April 16th was a grand night for singing at the UUCL! Attendees were treated to a wonderful array of music and singing by our many talented members. Thanks to everyone who participated and helped with the last fund raising event for the fiscal year.

Interested in learning how to bead? Starting Saturday, June 18th there will be a beading group meeting at UUCL from 9am to 12 noon. The group will meet for five Saturdays. Cost is $40 or what you can afford. (Money goes to the church). If the group decides, we will take turns making and serving a simple lunch. Size of group will be 8 maximum or four minimum. Any age or gender. Call Folly at 682-3191 or email [email protected] for more in-formation.

A BIRTHDAY PARTY’S CA BIRTHDAY PARTY’S COMING!OMING! The Unitarian Universalist Association turns 50 next year and planning for that milestone is well underway. The anniversary of the consolidation of the Universalist Church of America and the American Unitarian Association is actually May 15, 2011, but the real festivities start a month later at General Assembly 2011 in Charlotte, N.C.

The opening ceremony on June 22 will be given over to a cele-bration of that anniversary. One of the highlights will be a hymn, commissioned for the occasion, with words by the Rev. Thomas Mikelson and music by composer Tom Benjamin.

After the opening worship the wall dividing the plenary hall from the exhibit hall will be rolled back and a party, sponsored by ex-hibitors, the Planning Committee, and the 50th Anniversary Task Force, will commence in the exhibit hall. “There will be cake for 3,500 people,” said Don Plante, General Assembly and Meeting Services planner.

Registration starts March 1st.

http://us.mc1127.mail.yahoo.com/mc/[email protected]



Religious Ed Group Visits Hilton Head Animal Shelter

On April 10th, Janette, Meg, Kathleen, Carol, John, Richard and I went with the children in our RE program to the Ani-mal Shelter to deliver donations collected from our congregation. Besides a lot of dog & cat food, we gave them things they can use like a hose, and bleach, notebooks and money! They were very grateful for the gifts and a young Vet Tech named Maggie gave us a wonderful tour. If Eleanor and Adkins Lowell were still alive today, I’m pretty sure they would be happy to know that we are supporting the shelter. Like us, they believed in the worth and dignity of every living being.

~ Ann (Religious Education)

Our very own UU Youth will lead our service of wor-ship on May 22. If you have ever read “You Might Be a Redneck, if…..” by Jeff Foxworthy or seen him do his stand-up comedy, you will understand where the kids got the idea for their service, which is: “You Might Be a UU, if…….”. In order to come prepared, you might want to think about how you would finish that sentence.

Rea C. and Richard F. came up with this as a way to creatively help the kids build their Unitarian Univer-salist identity. While figuring out how “they might be a UU, if….”, they have had a few good laughs. It is their hope that they may give you a chuckle or two during this service.

The focus will be on taking a look at the things we believe in, and by so doing take a light-hearted look at ourselves. Be ready to feel upbeat and inspired!

Did you know that The Animal Shelter on Hilton Head was started by members of our church? That’s right! Eleanor and Adkins Lowell were members of the Unitarian Fellowship of Hilton Head Island when they founded the Hilton Head Humane Association in 1976 after discovering that local fisherman were using cats for fish-ing bait! They began rescuing the cats and then needed a place for them to live. I will never forget meeting Eleanor Lowell. It was 13 years ago, and I had just started working at The Cypress on Hilton Head. I was walking through the parking lot out behind the kitchen when I heard something rustling in the bushes. When I looked, I was sur-prised to see a little old woman in the middle of the bush. I thought she was lost. When I went over to help her, I found out that she wasn’t lost at all. She knew exactly what she was doing. She had gone into the bushes to check the trap that she had set for the feral cats. After catching the cats, she would bring them down to the shelter to have them neutered and spayed. She really was quite an amazing lady, and I’m sure there are some people in our con-gregation who still remember her.

Easter Bunny visits UUCL.



move slowing in opposite directions, facing each other, so participants can exchange goodbyes --whether a knowing nod, a friendly comment, a quip or two, a warm smile, a sudden hug and, for many, a parting tear.

Had enough? Well, SUSSI has UU counterparts else-where during the summer.

If you’re up for a road trip or want to take flight, try any of these:

Ferry Beach Camp and Conference Center, Saco, Maine (http://www.ferrybeach.org/)

Star Island Education & Religious Center, off the coast of Portsmouth, New Hampshire (http://uugrowth.com/2011/02/16/star-re-week/)

Western UU Life Festival, Ghost Ranch, north of Albu-querque, New Mexico (http://www.wuulf.org/)

Midwestern Unitarian Universalist Summer; Trout Lodge, in the Missouri Ozarks (http://www.muusa.org/)

Murray Grove Retreat and Conference Center in Lanoka Harbor, New Jersey. Traditionally considered the site where Universalism in America began. (http://www.murraygrove.org/)

If you’re not sated by now, there is always the year-end UU Southeast Winter Institute (SWIM) in Miami (http://www.swimuu.org/)

Along the way, you may want to keep at your side “UU’re Home”. That’s the UU Bed and Breakfast Direc-tory. For more information, click here: http://uurehome.com/index.php.

Happy trails to UU all.

~Mike B.

UU Can Be There Summer soon will be upon us. Are you thinking about planning some cool vacation time? Want it in a UU en-vironment?

There are a number of fabulous get-a-ways worth look-ing into that welcome families, couples and singles alike, with lots to do and see, reasonably priced, and brimming with bonhomie.

Closest and best known in this part of the country, is the Southeast Unitarian Universalist Summer Institute (SUUSI). The SUUSI is held in Southern Virginia at Radford University from July 17th to July 23rd. Upwards of 1,000 UU’s typically attend and there is an incredible menu of things to do, see and experience.

SUUSI offers the opportunity to attend worship, theme services and religious discussions that provide spiritual inspiration, personal growth and renewal. Meditate, muse, or watch the parade of diverse and intriguing Uni-tarians pass by.

Interested in communing with nature? SUUSI offers op-portunities to take a walk, hike, rock climb, swim, bike, or canoe. Workshops are numerous and varied ranging from discussion of classic literature to painting watercol-ors.

At night you can enjoy waltzing, circle and contra-dancing, Latin and Irish ceili dancing. Or sit back and watch a cast of talented attendee-singers and other amateur cabaret performers.

One of the traditional highlights of SUUSI is the opening event which is a campus-wide parade by groups of at-tendees proudly showing off colorful and artistic banners identifying their individual congregations.

Another highlight is the closing event. All attendees gather to hold hands in two concentric circles. They

(Left) Aerial view of Radford University campus in southern Virginia where the Southeast Unitarian Universalist Summer Institute is held. (Right) Attendees during the campus-wide parade, the opening event of the SUUSI.

http://www.ferrybeach.org/

http://uugrowth.com/2011/02/16/star-re-week/

http://www.wuulf.org/

http://www.muusa.org/

http://www.murraygrove.org/

http://www.swimuu.org/

http://uurehome.com/index.php



President, Peggy Tweel offers Rev. Tom Schmidt a slice of cake following the April 24th

President’s Message As most of you know, Rev. Tom’s last sermon for our congregation was on Easter Sunday. For those of you who were unable to attend the re-ception in his honor on Saturday evening, April 23rd, he was presented with a gift from UUCL members and friends in the amount of $3055.50. Thanks to all those who helped make the evening so very special, in-cluding a beautiful floral arrangement sent “in honor and appreciation of Rev. Tom and his family” by Judy Busch and Hal Pope. We wish Rev. Tom all the best and thank him again for his service these past 5 years. The Annual Business Meeting of the Congregation is called for Sun-day, May 29, 2011, immediately following the service. The agenda for this meeting includes: election of officers and members of the Board of Trustees for 2011-2012, adopting the annual operating budget as sub-mitted by the Board, receiving annual reports from Director of Religious Education and Treasurer, and presentation of some plans for the com-ing year. Please plan to attend this important meeting. Our annual spring picnic potluck will be on Sunday, May 22nd immedi-ately following our service. This year it will be held at the Sea Pines Forest Preserve, a beautiful 605-acre preserve located in Sea Pines Plantation. Please read details in this newsletter, and thank you Libba B for planning this event! Each of us brings something unique and special to our Congregation, with each individual important to the whole. We who serve on your Board and/or as Committee Chairs want to understand your needs as well as your gifts and help facilitate your efforts to contribute your spe-cial talents and energies to our Congregation. So if you have ideas for how you want to be a part of the unfolding journey of UUCL, please share them with us! As we face our challenges and move closer to our goals and dreams, may we continue to nurture and inspire each other throughout our jour-ney together to ensure that UUCL will remain a beacon of liberal faith in our local and world communities for generations to come!

In warm fellowship,

Peggy Tweel

Welcome New Member Pat Thompson

After growing up in West Virginia, my adult life has been spent in Virginia, New York and Pennsylvania before moving to Hilton Head Island in 1984.

I am now retired and spend most of my time caring for my 14 year old shelter dog “Arlo.”

It is with pleasure that I join this congre-gation and look forward to a future of spiritual growth and friendship.

Donations Needed for People and Pets

Sandlewood Food Bank PO BOX 5061

Hilton Head Island, SC 29938 Phone: 843.645-0935

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.sandalwoodfoodbank.com/

Please remember to bring food dona-tions on Sundays, which are donated to the Sandalwood Food Bank.

HOSTS NEEDED

If you are interested in hosting a speaker on a Saturday night this summer please contact Cheryl McCarthy at [email protected]. This will help reduce costs to our visiting speakers and make them feel welcome.


http://www.sandalwoodfoodbank.com/







The Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the Lowcountry covenants to affirm and promote:

• The inherent worth and dignity of every person;

• Justice, equity, and compassion in human relations;

• Acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth in our congregations;

• A free and responsible search for truth and meaning;

• The right of conscience and the use of the democratic process within our congregation and in the society at large;

• The goal of world community with peace, liberty, and justice for all;

• Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part.

The Living Tradition Which We Share Draws From Many Sources:

• Direct experience of that transcending mystery and wonder; affirmed in all cultures, which moves us to a renewal of the spirit and an openness to the forces which create and uphold life;

• Words and deeds of prophetic women and men which challenge us to confront powers and structures of evil with justice, compassion, and the transforming power of love;

• Wisdom from the world’s religions which inspire us in our ethical and spiritual life;

• Jewish and Christian teachings which call us to respond to God’s love by loving our neighbors as ourselves;

• Humanist teachings which counsel us to heed the guidance of reason and the results of science, and warn us against idolatries of the mind and spirit;

• Spiritual teachings of earth-centered traditions which celebrate the sa-cred circle of life and instruct us to live in harmony with the rhythms of nature.

Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the Lowcountry

Our Mission To enrich and clarify our understanding of religious thought;

to provide experiences for spiritual growth; to encourage and protect the right of individual freedom of belief;

to promote the democratic process in human relations; and to advance these principles for the benefit of each other,

our community and our world.

Committees Aesthetics & Décor Fran Farrell Peggy Tweel Building Maintenance Doug VanNostran

Care Committee Dan Tweel

Grounds Paul Brophy Mary A. Walker Finance Dan Tweel

Fund Raising Janice Alden

Hospitality & Kitchen Kathleen Mirin

Membership Kathy Quirk

Music Rosalind Ayers

Planned Giving Coordinator Rev. Manuel Holland

Promotion & Publicity Sandra Rumanek

Religious Education Richard Friedman

Social Activities Libba Beerman

Strategic Vision Team Mary Alice Walker Worship Cheryl McCarthy

Social Justice Groups: E Team Harry Gregory Family Promise UU Animal Ministry Peggy Tweel

Editor Mary-Michael Hanbury

Email: [email protected]

Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the Lowcounty

110 Malphrus Road Bluffton, SC 29910

(843) 837-3330

[email protected]

www.UULowcountry.org

Office Hours Volunteer Office Staff

Thursdays 10:00 am - 12:00 pm

Senior Minister Manuel Holland

Religious Education Ann Harrison

President Peggy Tweel

Leadership Staff



http://www.UULowcountry.org



10

Th

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ntry

Beaco

n, M

ay 2

01

1

Standing on the Side of Love in

Bluffton and Hilton

Head Island for over 30 years.

May 2011 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 9:30 UU Singers 10:00 Worship “Dog Training as Spiritual Practice” (Janice Alden)

2 3 4 5 6 7

8 9:30 UU Singers 10:00 Worship “More Than Just Mothers” (Rev. Dr. Nannette Pierson)

9 10

11

12

13

14

15 9:30 UU Singers 10:00 Worship “Where To, What Next?” (Rev. Manuel Holland)

July Newsletter Deadline

16

17

18

19

20

21

22 9:30 UU Singers 10:00 Worship “You Might Be a UU If…” (Ann & Religious Educa-tion Group) Picnic Potluck Sea Pines Forest Preserve (Following service)

23 24

25

6:30 pm Knitter’s Circle

26

6:30 pm Board Meeting

27

28

29

9:30 UU Singers 10:00 Worship “In Search of the Fountain of Youth” (Doris Hammond) Annual Business Meeting (Immediately following service)

30 31

"The world's favorite season is the spring. All things seem possible in May." ~Edwin Way Teale

Documents

Beacon (May 2011)