UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST CONGREGATION OF MIAMI

MARCH 2011

Connections
Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Miami

11am- Sunday Services & Children’s Programs

March 6: Listening to Relationship- Art Friedrich

INSIDE Finding connection and meaning through difference. Please join
PG. 1 the Worship Committee and Art Friedrich for an exploration of
SCHEDULE the intersection of feminist and diversity theories. 

PG. 2
DREW’S NEWS

PG. 3
CONGREGATIONAL
LIFE
March 13: Fire of Thought- Rev. Drew Johnston
PG. 4 Ralph Waldo Emerson used this phrase to describe one aspect of
CONGREGATIONAL ministry.  Today we reflect on what it means to deal out a life -
LIFE passed through the fire of thought.

PG. 5
GROUPS AND
PROGRAMS

PG. 6
FROM THE BOARD March 20: Having Plenty- Rev. Drew Johnston
& CHILDREN’S How do you ever know if you have enough if you don’t know
RELIGIOUS what you need to start with?  A sense of lacking is often a result
EDUCATION of not recognizing the abundance all around you.

PG. 7
CALENDAR

March 27: What Could Be Better?-

Rev. Drew Johnston
We are always headed toward change of one kind or another. 
Sometimes we have some choice in things that will change, and in
order to make good choices it helps to reflect on what is worth
changing and what is worth hanging on to.

www.uumia.org 1
 DREW’S NEWS
MARCH 2011
The Reverend Drew Johnston
MARCH
This should be a time of anticipation and hope. If things go as hoped, you will be considering a specific person
as a potential called minister at the beginning of April!

I recently attended the installation service of a colleague in another Florida congregation, and I am reminded of
the roles everyone performs. In the Unitarian Universalist process, a congregation has the freedom and
responsibility to select a minister, who also has the freedom to apply where they choose. While an interim or
consulting minister works for and is hired by the governing Board of a congregation, a called minister is called by
an entire congregation. The relationship is different.
Your search committee has been looking at several prospects and can soon ask one of them to be your candidate.
You responsibility as members is to pay attention during candidate week and be an informed voter on April 10th.
Calling a minister is not done with a simple majority, it takes a very strong vote (I suggest more than 90%
approval, others have higher expectations) for a minister to agree to devote their life to a congregation, so you
really need to show up and pay attention! It should be a fun week!

I’m reminded of other roles in congregational life that need to be clear. Any minister, called or interim, is
essentially an advisor most of the time. The business of a congregation is managed by an elected Board and staff.
Here in Miami there has been a question for many years about who supervises the staff. The decision has now
been affirmed that the minister is head of staff. I have noticed that the congregation isn’t always clear about how
to treat staff, and some attention to kindness on Sundays is advisable. No staff member should be expected to
instantly respond to every church member, and sometimes it looks like that isn’t clear to folks. Every staff person
has certain duties to perform on Sunday and has to do constant triage as extra requests are made for their
attention. Please consider that a kind request is healthier than a loud demand.

Who supervises the minister? That depends on the relationship. A called minister has an agreement with the
congregation and, along with the congregation selects a Committee on Ministry (COM), whose task is to watch
over the ministry of the entire congregation, some of which relates to the minister. An interim minister uses a
Transition Team (TT) in a similar manner. If there is a time when someone has a concern about a minister and
is not willing to address them directly, the COM or TT is the place to go first. In the case of an interim, it can
also make sense to talk to the Board, since that is who hired the interim. A COM or TT will encourage and
facilitate direct communication whenever possible, since that is the most desirable way to communicate.

Earlier this year you learned about how the Board wants to hold themselves accountable to their task as trustees.
The Board created a covenant to guide their behavior. Some of the ideas of the covenant reflect learnings from
difficult situations in the past and the desire to do better in the future.

I like to think of all of the relationships in church life as covenantal. Our covenants are like promises guided by
how we desire to be together. The Board says:
We strive to demonstrate accountability and responsibility in order to serve our congregation with integrity and build mutual trust.
We are mindful in communicating clearly and honestly and make every attempt to keep communication as open and accessible as
appropriate.
We commit to act in good intent and put forward our best effort with understanding, humility, and compassion toward ourselves and
each other.

There are many specifics behind those words, but specifics are always limited to reactions to the past or what you
might imagine. A covenantal approach calls on us to always consider if, for example, we are putting forward our
best effort, rather than defining what that would be. In the near future, I hope your best effort includes showing
up and paying attention and being willing to learn so that your decisions are based in reality. This moment really
should be leading into a season of celebration!

See you in church,

Reverend Drew
www.uumia.org 2
 CONGREGATIONAL LIFE
MARCH 2011
Carol Reiter
Lotz Committee Path To Membership
Do you want to learn more
The Lotz Jazz Series ends its successful 2010-11 series with the exciting about Unitarian
percussionist, Sammy Figueroa and the Latin Jazz Explosion on Sunday Universalism? Are you
afternoon, March 27th at 4:00 PM. Admission is $15.00 adults, $10.00 considering joining the
minors (cash at door - no checks please). Sammy rounds out our year in which Unitarian Universalist
we have diligently tried to offer diversity (not only musically, but culturally). Congregation of Miami?
If so, we'd love to have you at
Sammy Figueroa has long been regarded as one of the world's great our next Path to
musicians. As one of the world's leading percussionists he has played on Membership, which is an
countless records, providing the rhythmical framework for hundreds of hits. orientation to Unitarian
Well-known for his versatility and professionalism, he is one of the few Universalism in general and
percussionists equally comfortable in a multitude of styles, from R & B, to to our UU Congregation in
rock, to pop, to bebop, to Latin, to Brazilian, to New Age. As one of New particular. It will be on
York's most sought after session players Sammy played on countless albums, Sunday, March 13, from
jingles, film scores and appeared often with both The David Letterman Band 1pm-3pm in the Emerson
and the Saturday Night Live Band. He has recorded and toured with Miles Room. If interested in
Davis, the Brecker Brothers (for 12 years!), Sonny Rollins, Michel Camilo attending, please speak to
(who wrote the tune 'And Sammy Walked In' in his honor), Chaka Khan, Margaret McAlister in
David Bowie, and Mariah Carey (in her multi-million selling MTV person, by phone
Unplugged). Sammy's famed sense of humor, ebullient personality, and open- (305-989-1623), or by email
heartedness is famous within the music industry and has further empowered (margmac55@yahoo.com),
him in his connection with musicians  and audiences alike. Sammy can be before March 7th. Childcare
heard locally on WDNA Mondays  at 11AM. will be provided.

Beyond this series the Lotz Series is supporting two other non-jazz concerts that we think deserve your attention
and presence. On Sunday, May 15th, Stacey Berkley and her husband, Tim Devine will again bring together their
group of fine musicians to bring us another afternoon from the World Music genre. Stacey is a well known harpist
and Tim is a pianist, arranger and the person who has brought live music back to Miami City Ballet.

Our second extra concert is "Unplugged" at the UU on Sunday, May 22 at 5:00 PM. Featuring original, creative,
new music by Miami's up and coming songwriters, musicians and artists.

Nannette Bartels Caribbean rhythms. He has,

Drummers &
Drummer
Hopefuls
Percussionist Sean Dibble
will be returning to our
congregation to lead two
free Drum Circles
(donations accepted) to be
followed by a six week Afro-
Caribbean drumming class. 
The cost of the classes will
be $10.00/class or a flat
discounted rate of $50.00
for the whole series. 
 
Sean is an experienced
teacher who empowers
“kids” of all ages to learn a
variety of African and
3
over the years, been able to
successfully bring together
folks of all abilities, newbie
to long-time drummer, and
create an atmosphere of fun
while sharing his knowledge
and talents.  Sessions will be
after services on Sundays
starting at 1:00 p.m.
 
You do not need a drum to
participate.  Sean will
provide the instruments.
 
March Date TBD. If you
are interested contact
Nannette Bartels at:
nbartel@earthlink.net or
305-230-9789 www.uumia.org
 CONGREGATIONAL LIFE CONT.
Dorothy Menadier
Herrschaft News
In January & February we sponsored a series of
three film events on the subject of relationships
among LGBTQ persons and the religious
traditions in which they were raised called “God’s
Love Is Proud”, the brain child of
InterFaithOUT. Three films were shown, All
God’s Children, A Fish Out of Water & Jihad for Love.
A discussion followed the screenings moderated
by Dr. Elsie Miranda, Professor of Religious
Studies at Barry University. On March 27th at
2:00 PM, Jerusalem Is Proud to Present will be
shown. The Herrschaft Committee is delighted
to have the opportunity to be co-sponsors to this
event, along with the Wolfsonian FIU, FIU
Women’s Studies Center, Program in the Study
of Spirituality at FIU, and the News Café.
Anyone wishing to attend the next free screening
must make advance reservation with Lydia Lopez
at 305-535-2644 or lydia@thewolf.fiu.edu. And
please make them early. A wine reception follows
each screening.
Margaret McAllister
Membership Committee- Spring Fling
On Sunday, March 26th at 6pm join us for a Potluck Dinner, Games, Talent Show, Cash Bar, DJ &
Dancing! We invite you to come dressed in your favorite outfit. PJ’s are okay, or come dressed as
someone you’d really like to be. Discounted Drink tickets ($2 wine, $1 soda- will each be a dollar
more that evening) will be sold in the breezeway before services on Sunday March 6,13 & 20.
4
Ben Morgan, Search Committee Co-Chair
Search Committee News
We have completed the “pre-candidate” phase
of the search process along with visits to Miami
by the pre-candidates and guest sermons at
other area congregations. There are three very
talented and skilled individuals under
consideration for the best match to our
congregation. Any of them would be a good
minister, but we know you want the best.
During this process we have carefully tried to
put the needs and desires as expressed in
cottage/individual meetings, survey results and
expressed goals of the congregation first and
foremost. The pre-candidates will also have to
make a decision if Miami is right for them.
“Candidating” week is scheduled for April 2nd
through April 10th 2011.
 
Thanks for your patience and being polite and
not asking lots of questions as we have been
going about the area in the last few weeks with
Chili Cook-Off
Back by popular demand, the RE will be
sponsoring the annual Chili Cook-off on
Sunday, March 27th, after services. Proceeds
will go to Habitat for Humanity in Haiti. The
4 Chili categories are: Meat, Vegetarian,
Spicy & Exotic. Please email Margaret
McAlister at margmac55@yahoo.com or call
305-989-1623 by March 20th if you’d like to
participate.
We also need volunteers to bring the
following: Rice, Cornbread and Salad.
www.uumia.org
 GROUPS AND PROGRAMS
NEWS & UPCOMING EVENTS
Iris Massey
Spiritual Reality
Spiritual Reality offers an opportunity for spiritual
exploration and growth through selected readings and
commentary by the group. Those who attend are
encouraged to comment on the readings and/or share their
personal concerns. We are not a therapy group, but a group
of caring friends who come together to listen and to learn.
Please join us on Sunday mornings at 9:30AM in the
Emerson Room.
Alice Lingswiler
Grief Support Group
The Grief support group meets on the 1st and 3rd Sunday
of each month in the Emerson Room at 1:15pm. You are
welcome to join us whether your loss is recent or long ago.
See Connie Bartels or Alice Lingswiler.
John Bost
Humanist Group
Meeting March 8, 2010, 7:30pm in the Emerson Room.
Featuring  "Philosophy & Intellectual History” by Prof.
Patrick Grim. Join the discussion.
Lunch Bunch
Bring a bag lunch and join us as we enjoy a friendly lunch
and discuss a reading from an inspirational book each
Wednesdays from 12pm-2pm in the Emerson Room. Every
3rd Wednesday is Poetry Day so bring your favorite poems
to share. Hope to see you there.
Margaret McAlister & Sandy Howard
PFLAG
PFLAG Kendall meets at 12pm on the 2nd Saturday of
each month at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of
Miami. PFLAG Homestead meets at 12pm the fourth
Saturday of each month at St. John’s Episcopal
Church, 145 NE 10 Street in Homestead. For more info
contact pflagkendall@gmail.com or
pflaghomestead@gmail.com
Marilyn Rutgers
Welcoming Cong regation
The Welcoming Congregation Committee meets on the 1st
Sunday of each month at 1:00PM. Please come share your
ideas with us! Lavender Salon, which we sponsor, is an
Intergenerational Event for Miami's LGBTQ Community.   struggle for: Jobs & Benefits; Workers’ rights to unionize &
Held on the 2nd Saturday of the month at 6:30 PM, in the
Emerson Room. We start with a delicious potluck, followed
by an evening of fun and educational events. For more   Rights; The right to gender/sexual equality; The right to
info, please contact Marilyn Rutgers or Dave Roelant.
Susan Hangge
The Alliance
Our yearly outing will be on March 5th to the New World
Symphony Hall on Miami Beach. Meet up at the UUCM
at 10am with your lunch to carpool over. Non-Alliance
5
MARCH 2011
members are invited to join. For more info contact Susan
Hangge (305) 271-6918 or Kay Kuge (305) 665-1750.
Janice Hynes
Buddhist Group
Meeting every Tuesday at 6:30pm in the Emerson Room.
Second Tuesdays in the Sanctuary. Come join us.
Ben Morgan
A Look Ahead-Candidate Week
Candidate week will be from April 2nd to April 10th 2011.
What is that you ask? The ministerial search committee’s
recommended candidate will visit the congregation to meet
with the members, attend meetings with the Board of
Trustees and various committees and groups, meet staff
and learn more about the local community. It will give
them time to get a more detailed feel of the congregation
and community. They’ll present 2 Sunday services. Then at
a congregational meeting following the second service a
vote is taken to “Call” the candidate as the new minister.
Since our UU congregations operate under a democratic
process the final approval or “Calling” will be a decision of
the congregation as a whole. Under Unitarian Universal
Association ministerial search rules the candidate cannot be
notified until March 15th 2011 that we wish to invite them
to the candidate week. Once they are notified and accept
the search committee’s invitation then the congregation will
be notified of the name of the candidate. A detailed
schedule will be worked out with the Board and the Search
Committee.
Bill Turner
Social Justice
We’ve adopted an approach to social justice work that calls
for action, support and participation in the struggle for
economic justice, as foremost in the work and conscience of
our committee and our congregation. We are in the midst
of a no-holds-barred assault against all the social, political
and economic advances we have struggled for and won,
over the past 100 years. Economic Justice encompasses all
of our rights and freedoms. We cannot retain or maintain
any economic justice, unless we also have social and
political rights and responsibilities. To struggle for
economic justice, is to inform and unite our communities in
bargain for pay and benefits, The right to universal access
to good affordable education and healthcare; Human
freedom from corporate control & invasion of privacy; The
rights of immigrant workers, and the right to participate in
publicly funded, free/fair election procedures. The time to
join in the struggle is now. It is our opportunity and our
responsibility. Each of us, working together, can make
smaller steps grow into the momentum that will bring
about big changes for. We have the power if we take the
responsibility.
www.uumia.org
 NOTE FROM THE BOARD

MARCH 2011

David Traupman, President of the Board

MARK YOUR CALENDARS

Notice of Congregational Meeting

Sunday, March 20th, 1:00 - 2:30 p.m., Sanctuary
Nursery and child care will be provided.

The draft agenda includes: 1) Mission Statement Update; 2) Settled Minister Search Update; 3)
Proposed Bylaws Revisions Presentation; and 4) Preliminary 2011-2012 Budget Discussion. A copy of
the proposed bylaw revisions will be available for review in advance of the meeting. Stay tuned to e-
blasts and order of service printed announcements for details. Per our current bylaws, a quorum of at
least 20% of eligible members in attendance is required. The right to vote at Congregational Meetings
shall be limited to those at least 16 yrs who have been members for at least 30 days & have made a
recorded, prorated minimal contribution for the current fiscal year at least 30 days prior to the meeting.
Instances of financial hardship will be taken into consideration.

Calling Our Settled Minister

Sunday, April 10th, 12:30 - 1:30 p.m., Sanctuary

CHILDREN’S RELIGIOUS EDUCATION

MARCH 2011

"The very spring and root of honesty and virtue lie in good education." Plutarch,
Morals Greek biographer & moralist (46 AD - 120 AD)
Monica Rizzo- Director of RE
March, a wonderful
month!
Daylight Savings begins,
Spring begins...what a busy
month!  In our Religious
Education program we have a
busy month as well.  We will
have regular classes every
Sunday except for March 13,
which is the beginning of
spring break.  On that Sunday
we will have an all ages class in
room 3.  Otherwise the
children will be with their
regular classes.  Please see the
weekly Order of Service for
details on the lesson and
teachers.
 Also, each Sunday the nursery
is open at 10:45 for infants-2
years old.  Children ages 3 and
6
up will stay in the sanctuary
with their responsible adults
until after the Story for All
Ages.  Classes meet their
teachers in the breezeway and
then go to their individual
classrooms for a lesson.  Please
pick your child up promptly
after service.
 
RE Meeting
The Religious Education
committee meeting will be
Sunday, March 6 at 12:45
pm in the Religious Education
Office.  All parents, teachers
and anyone else in the
congregation are invited to
help plan and let your voice be
heard for Religious Education.
New to the Program?
If you are new to the program
and would like more
information about Religious
Education, please feel free to
contact Monica Rizzo, the
Director of Religious
Education (DRE), at
mrizzodre@gmail.com to chat
by email, set up a phone call or
schedule a face-to-face
meeting.
www.uumia.org
 CONGREGATION CALENDAR

MARCH 2011

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1 2 3 4 5
5pm- Finance 12pm- Lunch 7:30pm- Choir 7pm- Young Adult 10am- Alliance,
Committee, Bunch, ER Practice, ER Group, ER Field Trip to
S6:30pm- Buddhist 7:30pm- Miami Beach
Membership
Reflections, ER
Committee, ER

6 7 8 9 10 11 12
9:30am- Spiritual 12pm- Caring 12pm- Lunch 7:30pm- Choir 9:30am- Worship
Reality, ER Committee, ER Bunch, ER Practice, ER Associate
11am Worship 6:30pm- Buddhist 7:30pm- Board of Workshop, S
Service, S Reflections, S Trustees, ER 12pm- PFLAG, ER
1pm- Welcoming 7:30pm- Humanist 6:30pm- Lavender
Congregation Group, ER Salon, ER
Committee, R3
1:15pm- Grief
Support, ER

13 14 15 16 17 18 19
9:30am- Spiritual 6:30pm- Buddhist 12pm- Lunch 7:30pm- Choir
Reality, ER Reflections, ER Bunch, ER Practice, ER
11am Worship
Service, S
12pm- Caring
Committee, ER
1pm- Path to
Membership, ER

20 21 22 23 24 25 26
9:30am- Spiritual 6:30pm- Buddhist 12pm- Lunch 7:30pm- Choir 6pm- “Getting to
Reality, ER Reflections, ER Bunch, ER Practice, ER Know you” Spring
11am Worship Fling, Membership
Service, S Committee Event,
11:30pm- Blood S
Drive
12:45- Worship
Committee, R6
1pm-
Congregational
Meeting, S
1:15pm- Grief
Support, ER

27 28 29 30 31
9:30am- Spiritual 6:30pm- Buddhist 12pm- Lunch 7:30pm- Choir
Reality, ER Reflections, ER Bunch, ER Practice, ER
11am Worship
Service, S
12:30pm- Chili
Cook-off, S
4pm- Lotz
Concert, S

Legend:
ER= Emerson Room TBD= To Be Determined, See Calendar Online
S= Sanctuary for most recent information
R= Room www.uumia.org 7
 UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST CONGREGATION OF MIAMI
NOVEMBER
MARCH 2011
2010

Staff Schedule & Contact Info

Rev. Drew Johnston, Transitional Minister- 305- 667-3697, email:
miamirevdrew@me.com

Susie Green, Office Administrator- M-F 10am-3pm & Sun

10:30am-12:30pm,
Ph: 305-6673697, Fx: 305-667-9585, Email: uucongmia@bellsouth.net

Monica Rizzo, Director of Religious Education- mrizzodre@gmail.com

Dr. Tim Buchholtz, Choir Director- timbuch@me.com

The newsletter’s distribution is made possible by the
help of John Asgeirson & Paul McCabe, Irv
Loibman. Thank you gentlemen for proofing,
folding, labeling, stamping and distributing
Connections to our community!
Zoltan Bakos, Custodian- M- 8am-9:30am & 3pm-6:30pm, Tues- 8am-3pm,
Thurs- 10am-5pm, Fri-8am-9:30am & 3pm-6:30pm, Sat- 9am-2pm, Sun-
8am-2pm

Unitarian Universalist
Congregation of Miami
7701 SW 76 Ave
Miami, Fl 33143

March 2011
Deadline for April’s Newsletter Articles: 3/15/11
Suggested donation for annual subscriptions: $25

Sunday Service- 11am