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A liberal and inclusive pathway to finding community

Vol. 19, No. 6 January 2019

Sunday, January 6 “Jazz Sunday”

Please join Charleston's first poet laureate, Marcus Amaker, along with Richard White, Jr., Gavin Shelton and others as we celebrate our January theme of “Possibility” by exploring jazz as a gateway to the prophetic voice of freedom. Please stay for a congregational meeting immediately after service.

Sunday, January 13 “The Three Dimensions of a Complete Life, Abridged”

We celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. and his incredible contributions to the betterment of the world by immersing ourselves in his powerful words. His sermon, “The Three Dimensions of a Complete Life,” originally presented in 1953, offers poignantly relevant insights for the world of today, 65 years later. The sermon will be orated by KJ Ivery, a man who embodies the spirit of King through his life and work.

Sunday, January 20 “The Life That Is Waiting for You,” Rev. Ralph Garafano

Guest minister Rev. Ralph Garofano will invite us to consider “the life that is waiting for you.” To live that life of possibility, what will we need to let go? How will we find the courage to make changes to enhance our future life? And what will we do with it?

Sunday, January 27 “No Going Back,” Rev. Elaine Tenbrink

Our world is changing quickly, often in ways that are in deep conflict with our values. From immigration, to climate change, to foreign affairs, we wonder what to do with our despair, fear, and disorientation. Historically, religious liberals have seen ourselves as charged to keep catastrophe at bay by fixing the world's brokenness, and re-building the world in its proper shape. Instead, what if we imagined the Apocalypse not as a future event, but as one that is already behind us? How might this help us understand what is possible in our shared future?

Forums at 10 a.m. in Gage Hall

Sunday, January 6 “Walk for Life”

Frank Antonucci received a kidney transplant 17 years ago and now volunteers for Donate Life/Sharing Hope SC. He will discuss the group’s invaluable work here in the Lowcountry.

Sunday, January 13 “Secret Life of the Vestry”

Have you ever wondered what it's really like to be on the church's governing board, the Vestry? What jobs do Vestry members take on? What skills do they need for the task of running our church? And how does Vestry service move us closer to the goal of creating beloved community? Join a panel of current and recent past Vestry members to hear why they said yes to Vestry service, and learn more about why you might want to say yes to Vestry service too.

Sunday, January 20 “Tomatis Therapy”

Len Young will discuss the Tomatis® Method, a natural approach to neurosensory stimulation developed by the French doctor and researcher Alfred Tomatis. Its listening programs change music and voice in real time in order to capture the brain’s attention and to develop motor, emotional and cognitive skills.

Sunday, January 27 “Stewardship Snapshot”

Richard Hayes will present a snapshot of the current financial state of the church, a draft of the budget for 2020 reflecting the Finance Committee’s best projection of what it will take to keep the doors open during this time of pastoral transition, and this year’s different approach to the annual pledge drive.

Published monthly from September to June, and once during the

summer, by the Unitarian Church

in Charleston

Regina Ruopoli, Compositor

(843) 723-4617 communications@charlestonuu.org

February Deadline:

January 20

Services at 11 a.m. in the Sanctuary

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Among Our Family and Friends

Krista Wunsche, daughter of Werner Wunsche and Nancy Simpson, has just returned from Cameroon in East Africa after a two-year stint with the Peace Corps. She helped a small rural community with farming skills. This sounds like an amazing experience. I hope we’ll hear more about it soon.

Gayle Sauer, who now lives in Summerville, had heart surgery just before Christmas. She seems surprised that it went so well. Now she is looking forward to gaining her strength back for tennis. You can’t keep a good woman down!

Frank Hardie says he is recovering well from hip replacement. He says he has been doing a good deal of prescribed walking, and expresses his gratitude for

the cards and messages of care received during this time.

Quite recently, Fred Himmelein had spine surgery, which Abby says went well. At this writing Fred is on his way to a rehabilitation facility. Best wishes to you, Fred.

A few weeks ago, Amanda Gabriel, who worked with our young children in the nursery, had a bad turn in the healing of her knee replacement. We are sorry to hear this news, and hope she will be doing well soon.

Church member Eimer Kernan recently lost her husband, Shaun Doherty, after a brief illness. Our condolonces to you and your family, Eimer.

Submitted by Judy Bruce

Our New Minister

We are thrilled to welcome a new minister, albeit a temporary one, in February.

Reverend Elaine Peresluha has agreed to serve our congregation from February through June of 2019. You will hear more about her in coming weeks, but we believe Reverend Elaine will serve us very well.

She is full of energy, has a stellar reputation for helping churches, and works well with congregations and staff. She gives fine sermons, and she will be of great help as we prepare to receive an Interim Minister in the fall. Her coming is truly a gift for us all.

If you want to learn more about Rev. Elaine, visit her web site: www.inthemiddleconsulting.com

Submitted by Sandra Selvitelli, Executive Director

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Art on Our Walls

The Fine Arts Committee welcomes UU Member Lee Westbrock's solo art show to Gage Hall. This show continues until January 18.

Submitted by Joanna Innes

Congregational Meeting

Please mark your calendars for a Congregational meeting on January 6 immediately following the church service. We will be voting to allocate up to $275,000 in funds for important Buildings and Grounds efforts for all of our buildings but primarily the sanctuary. Please check your weekly Gateway Update official notice and for further details. It is important we reach our quorum so we encourage all members to attend.

Submitted by Sandra Selvitelli, Executive Director

New Class for Church Elders

Hindsight, Humor and Hope Who Me, an Elder?

When: Six Mondays, February 4 - March 11, from 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. Where: Upper Gage Hall RSVP: Jan Stanton at jks@rocketmail.com (Please use the word HINDSIGHT in the subject line.)

Unitarian congregations are actively intergenerational. We value and encourage interaction between age groups. But sometimes adults begin to sense having moved over a threshold into “older folk” territory! The gift of extended years can evoke deep personal questions such as, Who am I now? What will I do that is meaningful?

Beginning on February 4, a six-week class called Hindsight, Humor and Hope will journey with people as they begin to redesign their later years into a time of reflection, discernment, soul stretching, and new life possibilities. In six two-hour workshops, this program will invite participants to develop deeper understanding and appreciation of their elder stage of life and the path they traveled to reach it. Each class will build on the one before, and some preparation by participants is required between classes.

This program will: • Encourage participants to support one another and not be alone

• Identify and explore the positives about being an elder • Use journaling as well as color and line as expressions of spirituality and creativity

• Lead participants to claim inner wisdom

• Help participants come to understand being an elder as a time of spiritual richness

• Invite participants to remain adventurous in thinking about the future

• Challenge participants to find ways to mentor others

In order to run this class, a minimum of six people must register. The maximum capacity is ten people. The cost for materials is $10, payable at the first session. The class will be facilitated by Jan Stanton.

Submitted Jan Stanton, Class Facilitator

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Green Sanctuary News

The Green Sanctuary committee, a subcommittee of Social Justice, has arranged for several interesting and informative speakers this spring: On February 17, our forum speaker will be Hollon Stillwell with the Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC), discussing environmental health issues in the Lowcountry. On March 3, the forum presenter will be Blan Holman of the Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC). On March 24, the forum will be given by Medical University of SC (MUSC) researcher Justin McGonigal on the topic of sustainable nutrition. On April 14, the Green Sanctuary Committee will present our annual Earth Day service with guest speaker Tony Bartelme, an award-winning reporter for the Post & Courier. On May 12, the forum speaker will be environmental scientist and church member Cindy Cooksey-Coale. Please join us!

As always, Green Sanctuary appreciates the support of the congregation and welcomes your input. Our mission is to lead the church’s effort to become more environmentally sustainable through capital improvements, education and outreach, under the seventh UUA principle: Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part. For more information, please visit charlestonuu.org/green-sanctuary.

Submitted by Laura Moses

The following song is dedicated to the fourteen Eden Keepers who worked on December 1—to be sung to the tune of “I’ve Been Working on the Railroad.”

I am working in the churchyard on a drizzly Saturday, I am working in the churchyard just to keep the weeds at bay. Yes, I did see it was raining when I rose up in the early day, But, I thought it wouldn’t last, that the rain would go away.

About the time we broke for lunch the rain did quit, but by the time our meeting was over, it came back with a vengeance! Oh, well, we were wet anyway and, thank goodness, it wasn’t cold.

The hardy Eden Keepers that day were: Stan Boyer, Jim Burke, Deb Casavant, Sarah Cothran, Fran Ennis, Nia Hester, Tom Hartry, Tom Ivey, Bob Jontos, Jim Shanks, Ed Stevens, Sharon Strong, Tom Wiedemann and Christine Williamson.

The emphasis for the gardeners was to take down woody and invasive plants, such as ivy, Virginia creeper, smilax, and honeysuckle. By lunch time, the weary and wet gardeners came into Gage Hall for a repast of fried chicken, salads, fruit, snacks and two desserts. Yum!

The next work party will be on January 5, from 9 a.m.—12 p.m., followed by our usual covered dish lunch and the Churchyard Committee meeting, which is optional. As always, newcomers are not only welcome, they are encouraged—no, begged—to join us! Bring garden tools if you have them, gloves, water to drink while working, and a dish to share at lunch. See you in the New Year.

Submitted by Fran Ennis

The Eden Keepers

“Who loves a garden still his Eden keeps.” ~ Amos Bronson Alcott

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Gage Hall Cinema Series

presents

Hidden Figures

Friday, February 15, at 7:00 p.m.

(There will be no movie in January.)

This is the inspiring story of the African-American women mathematicians who calculated the orbits for NASA spaceflights in the era before the use of digital

computers, starring Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer, Janelle Monae, Kevin Costner, Kirsten Dunst and Jim Parsons.

We’ll enjoy the movie, popcorn and lemonade, and a discussion following the screening, for those who wish to participate.

Submitted by Stanley Frost and Betsy Grund

Tuesday, January 8, 12:00 noon, at The Glass Onion

1219 Savannah Highway in West Ashley

843-225-1717

Let’s Do Lunch is a monthly luncheon that is open to all Unitarian Universalists and their friends. It’s a time for socializing and catching up.

The Glass Onion is rated 4.5 stars with 479 Google reviews. Google calls it “an upbeat spot serving refined, locally sourced soul-food favorites in charming environs.” TripAdvisor ranks The Glass Onion as #36 of 804 restaurants in Charleston.

There is a small parking lot, handicapped parking and easy access to the ground-level restaurant. There is additional parking nearby with a short walk. There are vegetarian dishes available. Lunch prices are reasonable, and there’s a large choice of drinks. The owner, Chris Stewart, has worked at Magnolias, Slightly North of Broad and FIG, where he learned about Lowcountry flavors, produce and techniques. In 2008, he founded The Glass Onion and it has been successful since then.

Please let Bob Graham know if you will join by Monday, Janu-ary 7 so he can confirm reservations for our group. Late additions may be possible. Contact Bob Graham at 703-915-1694 or rgraham343@gmail.com.

Let’s Do Lunch

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UU Men’s Group

(No January Monthly Meeting) Please Join Us for Our Luncheon, Tuesday, January 15 at 12:00 p.m.

Location TBD

The UU Men’s Group is a way for thoughtful men to come together on a regular basis and share their life concerns, interests, and hopes for the future. Specifically, to provide emotional support, foster bonding, social interaction, and grow as individuals from group discussion and activities.

Each man has up to five minutes of uninterrupted time to share current life concerns and joys with the group. Group discussion of the chosen topic is led by a specific member of the group. Special activities will be planned from time to time on an ad hoc basis and, based on the interests of members, may involve nature trips, bicycle trips, visits to local sites, etc. Newcomers are always welcome. Contact Frank Hardie at 843-327-4785.

Submitted by Frank Hardie

January 13 at 5:30 p.m. The home of Barbara and Stan Goldberg

624 Cain Drive, Mt Pleasant, SC, 29464

The group will discuss parts 3, 4 and 5 of 21 Lessons for the 21st Century, by Yuval Harari. The next book read will be The Soul of America, by Jon Meacham. Newcomers are always welcome! Contact Ray Setser at 843-324-5683.

Books & Coffee

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Charleston Orchestra Class

Masterworks Series Listener's Guides

These informal discussions are intended to offer a practical guide for listeners - suggesting how things fit together musically, what to listen for and the artistic impact of the music offered at the Masterworks concerts of the Charleston Symphony Orchestra. Classes will be led by Fred Himmelein at 12:45 in the Charleston Day School Library.

Date Topic

January 27 Bach to the Future—Richter: “Four Seasons Recomposed”

February 24 Wherefore Art Thou—Prokofiev: “Romeo and Juliet”

March 24 Last But Not Least--Mozart: Requiem

April 14 Rach Around the Clock—Rachmaninoff: Symphony No. 1

Backpack Buddies

Meet in lobby at Lowcountry Food Bank.

Saturday, January 19, 9:00 a.m.—12:00 p.m. Ages 9 and up can participate with a parent present.

No parent needed after age 16.

Wear closed-toe shoes!

Bring your friends and neighbors to join us in assembling these bags; we make it fun and rewarding!

Backpack Buddies is designed to fight weekend hunger. Thousands of children in our community rely

on the free or reduced-priced meals they receive at school. Children at partner schools who

experience hunger are enrolled in the program and receive a backpack each Friday containing

nutritious food to eat during the weekends. If you would like to join us, please Contact Lisa Hajjar at

843-425-3050 or John Klintworth at 843-819-8675.

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Gage Hall Coffeehouse

presents

The Hungry Monks

featuring John Holenko, Ellie Jos, Hazel Ketchum and John Kennedy

Saturday, January 19 at 7:30 p.m. Gage Hall, 4 Archdale Street

Bring your own bottle of wine, some friends, and enjoy amazing music in our beautiful listening room! Coffee, sodas, snacks and home-baked desserts will be available for purchase.

Proceeds benefit underserved students at Mitchell Elementary School. Suggested Donation: $15 / $5 Students

The 2019 Gage Hall Coffeehouse Series opens with an exciting evening of outstanding acoustic music performed by Charleston’s famous world music band, the Hungry Monks. The Hungry Monks feature Hazel Ketchum (vocals, guitar and banjo), John Holenko (vocals, guitar, mandolin), Ellie Jos (violin) and John Kennedy (bass). The Hungry Monks draw on a range of influences including medieval and renaissance music, folk, blues and jazz. The group has performed in clubs, and at contra dances and festivals. Founded more than 20 years ago, the band has been featured on TV and radio throughout the U.S. Combining strong original songs and instrumental compositions with an ear toward improvisation, the Hungry Monks create a tapestry of sound grounded in the folk traditions of many cultures. The group has released several recordings on its own label, Hungry Monk Recordings. As well as being active performers, The Hungry Monks are music educators, and publish their own work through Hungry Monk Publications.

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Candlelight Concert Series

Our Candlelight Concert Series features Chamber music by candlelight in our historic Gothic Revival church. Concerts start at 7:30 p.m. and last about one hour, followed by a reception and art opening in Gage Hall. Suggested donations are Adults/$15; under 18/$5; under 12/free. Donations are taken at the door, or individual and season tickets may be purchased in Gage Hall af-ter church. Childcare is available. Season Passes are still available during Coffee Hour after church. Proceeds from this series go toward funding music education programs for at-risk youth.

February 8, 2019: Khoma/ Vynnytsky Duo

The electrifying duo of Natalia Khoma, cellist, and Volodymyr Vynnytsky, pianist, exquisitely pairs two renowned virtuoso soloists into one extraordinary experience.

This duo has been hailed worldwide as “most excellent,” “perfectly controlled and beautifully expressive,” “magical…deeply touching,” “with virtuosity,” “passion, profundity and poignancy,” the two are “cellist, pianist solo soulmates.”

These beloved College of Charleston professors tour world-wide and are some of the top performers in Charleston’s classical music scene. This concert will be the official CD Release for Khoma’s new record-ing of all of the Bach Cello Suites. She used our historic s anctuary to record the video footage for the DVD edition of this release, which will be distributed world-wide!

Read more at: http://www.nataliakhoma.com

April 5, 2019: The Magnolia Singers

The Magnolia Singers, directed by Ann Caldwell, pay homage to the ancestors with a program of a cappella Gullah spirituals and stories indigenous to the Lowcountry. Their traditional call and response style of singing will have you singing, clapping, stomping and dancing. Caldwell has the quiet ener-gy of a windmill, yet the soulful voice and power of a locomotive. Her rich and resonant sound wraps around a note, then takes it and the listener to a dif-ferent place.

Read more at: www.anncaldwell.com

Submitted by Susan Conant, Interim Music Director

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Better Alternatives to Plastic

Part 2

The 5 Gyres Institute is a leading environmental research and action

organization dedicated to eliminating plastic pollution. They have just

released their Plastics Better Alternatives Now (BAN) List 2.0, which

identifies the most polluting plastic materials, and suggests solutions.

Part 1 was in last month’s newsletter. Here is part 2, the next group of

Better Alternatives to Plastic.

4. PLASTIC BAGS

Ubiquitous in the environment, plastic bags pose threats to wildlife on land and sea, while

polluting our lakes, rivers, beaches, and ocean. Plastic bags are “escape artists” blowing out of

trash cans, landfills, getting stuck in trees and tall fences, as well as clogging storm water

drains, all of which are added costs to municipal waste management and create urban blight.

Increasingly, animals like goats, cows, horses and camels, are treated for plastic bag ingestion,

which results in blockages, dehydration, starvation, or sepsis from bacterial infections. Plastic

bags can also damage recycling infrastructure at Material Recovery Facilities and lead to

costly shutdowns and repairs. When they are collected, they are often too dirty for domestic

recycling markets, and therefore often exported to southeast Asia where environmental and

worker health standards are low or nonexistent.

Better Alternatives:

Studies show that plastic bag pollution can be dramatically reduced through policies that

place fees on bags or ban their use outright, as well as encouraging reusable bags.

Disposable shopping bags made from high-recycled-content paper or other non-plastic,

biodegradable alternatives help prevent plastic pollution. Grocers, retailers and take-out

food service establishments can implement in-store policies to encourage reusable bags

and phase out disposable plastic ones.

5 . STRAWS AND STIRRERS

Plastic straws and coffee stirrers are also common throughout the United States, topping the

list on trash surveys. They’re everywhere, and like bottle caps, plastic straws float. They

threaten wildlife and contribute to the growing ocean plastic epidemic.

Better Alternatives

Restaurants and food-service establishments can help by switching to a “straws upon

request” policy and by providing paper, rye wheat, bamboo, reusable glass, steel or

metal straws for eat-in dining. For take-out, 100% paper straws can be substituted for

continued on next page

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plastic, while coffee shops can provide reusable spoons or wooden stirrers. Some paper

straws have a plastic lining, which should be avoided. Policymakers should look to

plastic straw bans combined with “straws upon request” requirements as a way to

encourage universal adoption of these changes.

6. LIDS

Coffee and beverage cup lids are another high-pollution item. Coffee lids are typically made

from polystyrene; styrene, a primary component of polystyrene, is a suspected human

carcinogen. Workers in polystyrene factories are at greatest risk for harmful health impacts

from styrene exposure.

Better Alternatives

The best solution is for coffee shops to encourage customers to bring reusable cups with

lids, through discount incentives. Soda lid waste can also be cut down through strategies

to encourage refillable containers at soda and juice fountains. While some companies

have recently switched from polystyrene to polypropylene lids, we suggest the next best

alternative would be to substitute with a compostable or biodegradable lid. Another

important consideration is the role heat plays in drawing volatile compounds out of any

plastic, therefore it is especially important that any lid designed to contain hot liquids be

free of harmful additives.

Excerpted from 5 Gyres Institute B.A.N. List 2.0

Submitted by Nina Fair, Green Sanctuary Committee

“The greatness of a community is most accurately measured

by the compassionate actions of its members, a heart of grace, and a soul generated by love.”

~ Coretta Scott King

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Membership Happenings

Somewhere, a signal has arrived. Now. Now. Now, it says. Stop waiting. Begin. Move despite the trembling. Don't wait for any of it to be perfect. Just move.

~ Julia Fehrenbacher

Happy New Year to all! I hope your holiday was some wonderful combination of festive and restful. The turn of the year brings, for many, talk of resolutions, of doing better in some aspect of living. My past resolutions have been concrete and goal-oriented, usually toward establishing a new healthful habit and I’ve usually

forgotten them by Groundhog Day. Our Soul Matters theme this month is Possibility. Possibility invites us to ask, “Why not?” Possibility urges us to take a chance, to forgive, and to invite others along an uncharted road.

If you see possibility in a deeper relationship with this congregation, I’d love to hear your story and help you find a way to be more involved. If you need information about how to join a committee or other church group, please contact me, Carol Oates, via email or see me at church on Sunday. If you are interested in either joining or starting a new Connecting Circle, sign up at the Welcome Table in Gage Hall or contact me at membership@charlestonuu.org.

Update Your Directory Photo at the Welcome Table on January 20

Photographers will be available to take your picture, and Christine Magnarella Ray will help you upload it and answer your questions about the online directory.

Membership Classes

New to Charleston UU: January 13, 12:30 – 1:30

Gage Hall, Upstairs

This is a class geared toward those new to our congregation who would like to receive basic information about Unitarian Universalism and the Unitarian Church in Charleston. Bring your questions! Childcare is available. Please Contact Carol Oates, Membership Coordinator, at membership@charlestonuu.org.

Pathways to Membership: January 27 and February 3, 12:15 - 2:30

Charleston Day School (across the street from the church)

Pathways is a 2-session class for people who have attended the New to Charleston UU Introductory Class and are ready to explore what it means to be a Member of the Unitarian Church in Charleston. Lunch served, and childcare provided.

Sign up at the Membership Table in Gage Hall, or contact Carol Oates, Membership Coordinator, at membership@charlestonuu.org.

Submitted by Carol Oates, Membership Coordinator

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Children and Youth

Looking back at December, I am feeling so grateful for our wonderful families and friends. December was a fun packed month filled with gingerbread houses, beautiful music and a hysterical Christmas Pageant. Everyone came together to make sure each event was memorable for our children, and for that I am very thankful and appreciative.

Now, as we enter into a new year, I am looking forward to embracing the Soul Matters curriculum. While exploring the theme of possibility, our kiddos will build with recycled materials and deconstruct old electronics to discover the impossible possibilities.

Upcoming Events

UU Parenting Circle

Join us on Friday, January 11 from 6 p.m. - 8 p.m. to socialize and discuss the Soul Matters theme of being a “family of possibility.” Location is TBD. Please RSVP to Danielle Lopez at dre@charlestonuu.org.

Martin Luther King Day Parade

Come join us for the 2nd annual UU Charleston participation in the Charleston YWCA MLK Parade on January 21. Line up at Burke High School on President Street between 9 - 9:30 a.m.. The parade starts at 10 a.m. and travels down King Street, ending near Gaillard Auditorium. Return transportation to Burke needs to be arranged privately. A float will available for riders. All ages are encouraged to join us!

Last year it was a lively, spirited event! You don't want to miss it!

Submitted by Danielle Lopez, Religious Education Administrator

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Notes from the Risers

Thanks to all the many, many folks who lent their musical talents to our services in December. We heard wonderful music from both new and well-loved faces. And what fun everyone had!

On December 2 we were treated to Natalia Khoma’s sublime interpretation of the Bach cello suites. Mark your calendars for Natalia’s upcoming Candlelight Concert on February 8! This world-renowned cellist will play along with her equally talented spouse, pianist Volodymyr Vynnytsky. These beloved College of Charleston professors tour worldwide and are some of the top performers in Charleston’s classical music scene. This concert will be the official CD Release for Khoma’s new recording of all of the Bach Cello Suites. She used our Sanctuary to record the video footage for the DVD edition, which will be distributed worldwide! Read more at: http://www.nataliakhoma.com

Others who participated in December (please forgive me if I forget someone in this long list): The 21-member strong Cantata Choir, the Christmas Eve Choir, Hazel Ketchum and John Holenko from The Hungry Monks, Diane Boyer, Stan Boyer, Helena Dilling, Bob Egelson, Johanna Evenson, Savannah Gignac, Margaret Grant, Connie Hayes, Joanna Innes, Ann Knight, Karin McQuade, Kennedy Ross, Tom Ross, Regina Ruopoli, Gail Schiffer, Gale Simmons, Carl Thompson, Garret Thompson, and our stalwart accompanists Rick Stanton and Richard White, Jr.

With the excitement of December music now passed, our music team will have a chance to relax a bit. Our three music staff members will be featured in January, each with their own Sunday. Our regular choir will return in mid-January hopefully refreshed and renewed after a few weeks of respite.

Upcoming Music

January 6 – Our talented jazz pianist, Richard White, Jr., will preside over our annual “Jazz Sunday” music, with appearances by Gavin Shelton, Marcus Amaker and others. Watch the weekly Gateway Updates for more details about this popular service.

January 13 – The Choir will sing gospel style anthem with Richard White, Jr. at the piano.

January 20 – Rick Stanton and friends will provide a Sunday full of sublime classical piano and organ music.

January 27 – Choir Sunday

Choir Resumes January 9

Scheduled choir practices are from 6:45 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in Gage Hall on Wednesdays, January 9, 16, 23 and 30. The choir will sing on Sundays, January 13 and 27. Anyone who loves to sing is invited to join the Choir. You can sing every Sunday or join for limited time frames. All music is taught; easy-to-use practice resources are provided.

More Ways to Join In

The Unitarian Church in Charleston welcomes all kinds of music and artistic expression. Do you have a special musical talent? Play an instrument? Are you a dancer? Puppeteer or puppet maker? Let us know. Contact Susan Conant at musicdirector@charlestonuu.org.

Drum Equipment Needed

We are seeking donations of selected drum set equipment to make up a small cocktail drum kit that can be kept in the Sanctuary. If you have potential equipment to donate, please contact Susan Conant at musicdirector@charlestonuu.org. Submitted by Susan Conant, Interim Music Director

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Vestry Values

What a wonderful Christmas Season we had! The Cantata, despite the threat of floods, was spectacular! The Christmas Pageant was delightful! The Christmas Eve services had just the right touch! And the decorations made the church festive and welcoming, even on cold and rainy days. Many, many thanks to all who made this a holiday season to remember – Susan Conant and her troupe of singers and musicians, Danielle Lopez and her myriad of helpers and performers, Nancy Pellegrini and all who helped out on Christmas Eve, and Dave Ruef ,who led our volunteer decorators!

A round of thanks, too, to Carol Oates, who has been introducing many of our Connecting Circles to Soul Matters, a program that promises to add much meaning to the monthly meetings of those groups who have chosen to participate.

Kudos to Stanley Frost and Betsy Grund, who organize our Gage Hall Cinema Series, showing movies that provoke discussion of our Unitarian Universalist Values!

Submitted by Gail Schiffer, Vestry Chair

Charleston’s Third Annual Celebration of Food and Faith

Charleston Interreligious Council Invites You To:

Blessings: A Dialogue Between Muslims and Jews

Monday, January 28, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Arnold Hall, 96 Wentworth Street, Charleston, SC

Admission is free and all are welcome!

Join fellow community members for a conversation about cultural and religious points of view between Jews and Muslims regarding their use of "blessings" in prayer and ritual. The program begins with dialogue between Rabbi Michael Davies, rabbi of Congregation Dor Tikvah, and Imam Shamu Shamudeen, imam at Chas. Central Mosque, moderated by Elijah Siegler, Chair of Religious Studies at the College of Charleston.

Following the moderated discussion, attendees will form breakout groups and discuss issues beyond food, including Jewish and Muslim prayer practices, pilgrimage, clothing, scripture and charity. Discussions will coincide with a sampling of traditional Jewish (Kosher) foods and Halal dishes from the Muslim world.

Co-sponsored by the College of Charleston Department of Religious Studies, Yaschik/Arnold Jewish Studies Program, College of Charleston Jewish Student Union/ Hillel, Mosque of Charleston, Interfaith Partners of South Carolina, and the Roper St. Francis Mission Department.

The Charleston Interreligious Council is an organization that seeks to build bridges of understanding to promote sensitivity, tolerance, respect and fellowship among all faith groups. For more information, please contact Ken Fox at 843-763-3150.

Submitted by Sandra Selvitelli, Executive Director

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S-Sanctuary; GH-Lower Gage Hall (ground floor Gage Hall); GH #1-4-individual classrooms upstairs in GH; A-Annex; UA-Annex Upstairs; C-churchyard; CDS-Charleston Day School

1 New Year’s Day

(Office Closed)

7 Support Group (GH)

2

10 Staff Mtg. (GH4)

3

2 Personnel Comm. (GH)

4

10 Docent Tours (S)

5

9 Eden Keepers ©

9 Diversity Workshop (GH) 10 Docent Tours (S)

6

9:45 Meditation (UA) 10 Forum

10 Nom. Comm. (GH4) 11 Service (S) 12 Congreg. Mtg. (S) 12 Coffee Hour (GH) 12:30 Docent Tours (S) 12:30 Worship Comm. (GH4) 2 Green Sanctuary (GH4)

7

6:30 Support Group (UA)

8

10 Staff Mtg. (GH4)

12 Let’s Do Lunch (OS)

7 Support Group (GH)

9

5:45 KKBE Tour (S) 6:45 Choir (GH)

10

6 Gary Smith Class(GH2)

6:30 Caring Comm. (GH4)

11

10 Docent Tours (S)

6 UU Parenting (OS) 7 Docent Party (GH)

12

10 Docent Tours (S)

12:30 Alliance Planning Lunch (OS)

4 Private Event (GH)

13

King St. 2nd Sunday

9:45 Meditation (UA) 10 Forum (GH) 11 Service (S) 12 Coffee Hour (GH) 12:15 Music Comm (GH2) 12:30 Docent Tours (S) 12:30 New to Chas UU (GH4)

5:30 Books & Coffee (OS)

14

6:30 Support Group (UA)

15

10 Staff Meeting (GH4)

12 Men’s Group Lunch (OS)

7 Support Group (GH)

16

6:45 Choir (GH)

17

6 Vestry Mtg. (GH4)

18

10 Docent Tour (S)

4:45 Private Event (S)

19

9 Backpack Buddies (OS)

10 Docent Tours (S)

5:00 Private Event (S)

7:30 Coffeehouse Concert (GH)

20 9:45 Meditation (UA) 10 Forum (GH) 11 Service (S) 12 Coffee Hour (GH) 12:30 Docent Tours (S) 12:30 CAJM Team Ldr. (GHD) 12:30 Finance Comm. (GH4)

4 Secular Humanists (GH)

21 M.L. King Day

(Office Closed)

6:30 Support Group (UA)

22

10 Staff Mtg. (GH4) 10 Private Event (GH4)

7 Support Group (GH)

23

6:45 Choir (GH)

24

25

10 Docent Tours (S)

26

9 - Private Event (GH)

10 Docent Tours (S)

27

9:45 Meditation (UA) 10 Forum (GH) 11 Service (S) 12 Coffee Hour (GH) 12:30 Docent Tours (S) 12:30 Pathways (CDS)

28

10:30 Pastoral Care (GH4)

6:30 Social Justice Comm (GH) 6:30 Support Group (UA)

29

10 Staff Mtg. (GH4)

3:30 Private Event (GH)

7 Support Group (GH)

30

6:45 Choir (GH)

31

JANUARY 2019

SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY

17

The Unitarian Church

4 Archdale Street Charleston, SC 29401

RETURN SERVICES REQUESTED

Assistant Minister, Rev. Nancy Bird Pellegrini communityminister@charlestonuu.org

Executive Director, Sandra Selvitelli office@charlestonuu.org

Interim Music Director, Susan Conant musicdirector@charlestonuu.org

Membership Coordinator, Carol Oates

membership@charlestonuu.org

Communications Manager, Regina Ruopoli communications@charlestonuu.org

Religious Education Administrator, Danielle Lopez

dre@charlestonuu.org

Sexton, Joe McCormack

sexton@charlestonuu.org

Vestry Chair, Gail Schiffer (‘19) 1st Vice Chair, Priscilla Shumway (‘21) 2nd Vice Chair, John Hyatt (‘19) Secretary, Diane Narkunas (‘20) Treasurer, Zachariah Conover (‘20)

Vestry Members

Mary Ellen Giess (‘21) Joe Krause (‘21) Tommy Hughston (‘19) Mark Madden (‘20) (Vestry meetings 3rd Thursday of the month at 6:00 p.m.)

Office Hours: Monday - 8-4

Tuesday - 8-2

Wednesday - Hours vary/staff may work from home/available by email. Thursday 8 - 4 Sunday 8 - 2

Phone: (843) 723-4617 Email: office@charlestonuu.org

The Gateway is printed on recycled paper and is also available online.

Unitarian Universalism— open faith, open hearts, open minds.

A Green Sanctuary Congregation