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Unitarian Universalist Village Church
403 Barcelona Road
Hot Springs Village, AR 71909
501-922-1255
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Getting To Know You by Rev. Mark Walz
How fortunate we are, in a culture where church attendance is shrinking, to find ours growing every month. It’s not by accident. The goodness of this religious community lies in our willingness to embrace and exhibit empathy, compassion, generosity, and kindness.
It is embedded in our new member covenant when we state that you don’t have to be better or smarter than you are at this moment. You simply must agree to embrace the concepts of a free pulpit and a free pew and share our stated values.
As we embrace the new year, it is incumbent upon us to determine an appropriate strategy, individually and collectively. To know how to proceed, we are asking everyone to take a spiritual inventory and share it with us. It can be anonymous if you prefer.
The reasons are simple and direct. How do we feed our spirits with Worship and Insight? How do we maintain the energy to write a better story for our collective future?
The Spiritual Inventory forms are available, please add yours to our efforts.
The world needs good people and because we lead with love, warmth, and mutual respect, good people seek us out. We look forward to getting to know each other better.
See you in church.
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Sundays in February
Theme: Beloved Community, Black History
February 02, Worship: Rev. Mark Walz, Building Up A World
February 09, Insight, Marsalis Weatherspoon - NAACP
February 16, Worship: Rev. Mark Walz, TBA
A brief business meeting to elect a nominating committee follows
February 23, Insight, Rebecca Hoffman - Little Rock 9
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President's Message by Debbie Bostick
UUVC is a part of the Unitarian Universalist Association. The UUA provides various resources to churches to support the growth of the movement. Delegates from UU churches meet each year for the General Assembly, or GA. People come from all over the world to be a part of this uplifting gathering. Here business is conducted, and delegates are involved in the voting process. This is also a time of impactful workshops, lectures, and discussion groups to deepen faith, foster justice and inspire meaningful connections for thousands of UU’s.
START THINKING ABOUT ATTENDING GA NOW!
Where: Baltimore Maryland - Baltimore Convention Center or Virtual
When: June 18-22, 2025
Registration: Now through March 31, 2025 (reduced rate) (same rate for in person or virtual)
Late registration: April 1, 2025 (additional cost starting April 1, 2025)
If you would like more information or are interested in becoming one of UUVC’s 3 delegates (or attend as a non-delegate) in person or online, contact Debbie Bostick, or Judy Johnson.
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Note from the Treasurer by John Gonzales
This is a busy time for your Church Treasurer. I have just emailed calendar year 2024 contribution statements to each of you. Some of you may still itemize on your tax returns and you will need this information to add to your charitable donations total. If you have not received it, let me know (but check your spam folder first.)
Within the next couple of weeks, I will be sending an update to each individual who pledged during our last campaign on where you stand with your pledge contributions at the midpoint of the budget year. Many have already submitted 100% of their pledge amount, which is great! Many more are halfway there, and a very few have not yet made any payments toward their pledge. Please check this carefully to make sure it agrees with your records, and let me know if something is awry. Overall pledge submissions have been coming in at a fairly regular rate, so thank you everyone for that!
Stay warm, stay safe and see you in church!
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Social Justice, by Kim Townsan
As part of our continuing support of Jackson House, UUVC needs everyone’s help… to collect the cardboard centers of toilet paper and paper towels rolls.
This year Jackson House will be celebrating 50 years and UUVC has volunteered to help provide supplies for their “Cheers for 50 Years” volunteer appreciation luncheon in April. Tammy Jones, Assistant Director at Jackson House would like to provide a thank you gift at their luncheon. And her idea is to create cute “poppers” out of the centers of toilet paper and paper towel rolls. The rolls will be filled with candy, wrapped up with tissue paper and tied at the ends with ribbons. She is estimating that they will need 400 rolls. There’s a bin in the hallway outside the office where you can place your rolls. We will try to reach the goal by the end of February. DISCLAIMER … This is in no way meant to encourage wanton use of TP and PT … but let’s SAVE THE CARDBOARD CENTERS!
As for our February Share the Plate in support of Black History Month, our selected organization is the Uzuri Project/P.H.O.E.B.E. located in Hot Springs. You can learn more about their work at theuzuriproject.org
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Membership by Gail Ashmore
On Sunday, January 19th, a New Member Ceremony was held, and six individuals joined the church. They are pictured below left to right: Katherine Alexander, Deb Fuller, Laurie Weems Fuller, Ruan Reast, Bob Howell. and Julie Gerush Coleman, a recent new member. New member Harlene Michaels also became a member of the UUVC congregation but was sharing her talent with us by singing in the choir. (I, Judy Johnson and Rev. Mark are standing behind them.) Please welcome these new members.
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Annual AED/CPR Class by Lee Zuege
For the past several years a Red Cross instructor has given us a two hour class on the use of our UUVC defibrillator machine which hangs on the wall in the foyer. If someone has cardiac arrest, this machine is capable of keeping that person alive until the arrival of our Village Ambulance Service.
This year’s class will be offered on March 13 from 2:00 until 4:00 pm. In our Community Hall. There is no charge for this class and no certification is issued. It is our hope to train many members and friends in the proper use of this life saving device. The more of us who become trained in the use of our AED (Automatic External Defibrillator), the greater the likelihood that one of us could be saved if stricken with a cardias issue while at church. Some basic “hands only” CPR will be learned and practiced as well.
Class participants will practice these techniques on manikins on the floor, so comfortable attire is required to allow you to get down on the carpet. It is also recommended that you bring a towel or pillow to kneel on. Signup sheets will be in the Community Hall at the signup tables on Sundays. Class size is limited. Call Lee Zuege if you have questions. 501-209-0424..
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A Note on "Anger Management" by Vivian Walz
Members and Friends of UUVC,
You may be searching for ways to resist being consumed with anger, outrage, resentment, fear and sadness. Our Meditation Group follows Buddhist teachings using mindfulness, guided meditation and relevant talks and discussions as a practical guide. Quoting Timber Hawkeye “Mindfulness doesn’t make other people less irritating, it makes us less irritable.”
You are welcome to join us Saturday mornings 10 to 11:30 a.m. in the sanctuary.
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Program/Education/Library
We'll Soon Need More Room! by Steve Rittenmeyer
Recently, the Bud Hearn Memorial Library received still more books to add to the already burgeoning collection.
First from Rev. Mark Walz, four books on different topics have been added to the library: The Gospel of Inclusion...(UU-P) by Bishop Carlton Pearson. (Many will remember Bishop Pearson, of the Tulsa UU), Becoming (SE-O), an autobiography by Michelle Obama, Oath and Honor: A Memoir and Warning (SE-C), by Liz Cheney, former Congresswoman and Vice Chair of the Congressional investigation of the January 6, 2021 assault on the US Capitol. Finally, Born A Crime (SJ-N) by Trevor Noah, about his youth in South Africa. They are all categorized and available for checkout.
Second, from me, a collection of books on the important topic of Christian Nationalism. These books defy a single, or a few, categories within the Hearn Library system. So they are all together in one corner with a red dot on their spines. Numbering around thirty and dealing with most sides of the issue. They are also available for check out.
Good reading!
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Events Committee by Cloe Bayer
At its January meeting, the Events Committee presented a schedule of activities for the spring season at UUVC.
First up is a Mardi Gras Murder Mystery Dinner Party in February. This is a first time event for us, an expanded version of a murder mystery party you may have attended at someone’s home in the past. Dressing up in Mardi Gras colors of green, gold and purple, if you so desire, is encouraged, and would make the party truly festive.
This event is scheduled for February 22 at 4 PM in the Community Hall. Watch for the sign up sheet and flyer. Oh, the flyer is below!
Hope to see you there!
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Unravel the Mystery at the UUVC Mardi Gras Cocktail Party!
FUN, MYSTERY, EXCITEMENT
February 22
Get ready for an unforgettable evening of FUN and INTRIGUE at the MARDI GRAS MYSTERY COCKTAIL PARTY hosted by the Events Committee. Join us for an evening where laughter meets suspense, and friendships bloom amidst the thrill of the unknown.
There is a sign-up sheet in the Community Hall. Next to it is a list of characters you may wish to portray. You may come just as an invited guest ... or you may chose to come as one of the characters. We will have an Events Volunteer at the sign-up table to answer your questions.
Events Coordinator: Marge Lakey
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Interest Groups
Dinners for Six: To join one of the groups, contact Jim Tripcony at 501-993-3885 or tripcong@iCloud.com. Each group determines its dining schedule and place.
UUVC Pickle Ball: UUVC Pickleball plays at 6:00 p.m. on Tuesdays AS WEATHER PERMITS at the DeSoto Courts. Contact Dane Nielsen at 501-915-4450
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Mah Jongg: Mondays at 1:00 in the Community Hall. Contact Dee Offerman at offermanrn@gmail.com
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Sleeping Mat Group: First and Third Wednesdays of the month from 9:30 – 11:30 in the Community Hall. Contact Marilyn Matzek, 501-922-4909
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Stitchers: Second Wednesday from 1:00 - 3:00 in the conference room. Contact Marjorie McCleskey, 501-915-0237
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Women’s Breakfast:: Wednesdays at 8:30 a.m. Debra’s Good Eats, 198 Carmona Rd., Contact Susan Cockrell, 817-307-9350
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Men's Group: Thursdays, 8:30 - 9:30 a.m. at Debra's Good Eats, 198 Carmona Rd. Contact Rev. Walz, 214-755-4315
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Friday Golf: 18-Hole Golf 8:00 - 1:00, AS WEATHER PERMITS. Contact Tom Tirrell, 501-915-2436
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Reiki Circle: 9:00 - 11:00 a.m. the 2nd Friday of the month in Room 2. Contact Sunny Loften 916 316-1798
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Meditation Group (Sangha): Saturdays 10:00 - Noon in the Sanctuary. All UUVC members and friends are welcomed. No experience necessary. Contact Toby Hamilton 405-919-6253
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Game Night: Second Saturday at 5:00. Bring a snack to share. Drinks provided. Play board games you know or learn new ones. Contact: Jean Campbell or Susan Cockrell.
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