Newsletter 9/24/26
Sept. 27 – Rev. Ken Fuquay: ‘What’s it all About, Alfie?’
 Sunday Service, 3 P.M.: FRIENDS MEETING HOUSE 625 SOUTH ST., DAVIDSON Please visit our events calendar for more information. Mail: P.O. Box 991 Davidson, NC 28036 PLEASE SCROLL DOWN TO THE END OF THE NEWSLETTER Sept. 27 – Rev. Ken Fuquay: ‘What’s it all About, Alfie?’ A story can do what an argument often cannot. It can capture the imagination, illuminate hidden truths, and invite us to see ourselves differently. Across the centuries, great teachers have used stories to reveal profound realities hidden within ordinary life. Jesus was a master storyteller, and the parable was His chosen medium. This Sunday, we’ll step inside one of His parables, consider its meaning for its first audience, and reflect on how its timeless truth can shape our lives today. A native North Carolinian, Rev. Ken Fuquay has worn many hats over the years, including broadcaster, business owner, pastor, and nonprofit leader. Today, as an ordained Minister of Word and Sacrament in the Presbyterian Church (USA), he pastors M2M Charlotte, a new church plant in Charlotte, while also serving as CEO of LIFESPAN Services, a nonprofit that supports more than 1,000 individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities across 23 N.C. counties. Ken and his husband of 42 years make their home in Mount Holly, where they enjoy life with their mini goldendoodle, Abbydail.  Services can be viewed live at 3:10 p.m. Sundays, and later for replays, by clicking here to reach them on our website. Information on upcoming services can also be found on our Facebook page. Oct. 4 – Rev. Pat Jobe: ‘Circles Within Circles’ We all know how this works. Among the best of us there is a limit to how much we can care and for whom. Those we consider are sometimes “on the other side.” Whether it is in politics or religion or business or family life, there always feels to be another side, an outer circle, people who define us often tragically by whom we are not. But we need to look again. There’ll be a story of how death brought some friends together and helped us redefine those “on the other side.” There will be a death and a hurricane. The Rev. Pat Jobe joined our Fellowship on Aug. 1, 2020. He is married to his lovely spouse Gabe and is an enthusiastic supporter of UU Lake Norman, FeedNC, Heart of the Carolinas UU Animal Ministry, the Barefoot Ministry, and all work done by UUs in our area.  Our work together is always personal. We enjoy our connections at movies, our book club, Chalice Circles, fence builds, litter pick-up, post card writing and other activism. Somehow we have gotten very good at standing on protest lines and holding signs. Beyond all that activity, we are deeply sensitive to the fact that we have lots of members who do none of those things and even some who have tried those things and found they didn’t like them. We deeply appreciate each other. Without a congregation, regardless of our individual acts of activism, we could not function. Being with us on Sunday afternoons is the glue that holds the whole thing together. Never doubt your importance even if you are not active in our outside service. Never doubt your importance simply by showing up and doing what you can while with us on Sunday afternoons. We deeply appreciate each other.  It was all about scarves at Jeannie Miller’s home recently! Unitarians of Lake Norman gathered for another of our fun auction items.  Can you guess which dog is Pebbles, Rosie, Bandit or Roxie? (Gizmo and Bounty are shy and did not want their pictures taken.) You are invited to join Heart of the Carolinas UU Animal Ministry this Saturday, Sept. 26, at 9 a.m. to create a safe place for six dogs to run and play. Four of the six have been living outside on chains. Since HOC began building fenced enclosures we have created safe spaces for over 447 dogs and helped 188 families!If you have never been to a fence build, this would be a great time to experience the joy and satisfaction of volunteering with other animal lovers. We provide the tools and will teach you what to do at a build — just show up and be prepared for a delightful and enriching adventure. We welcome teenagers (with parents’ supervision) to join us to get community service hours that are required by some schools. You’re also invited to join us for lunch after the build. ________________________________ Our recent guest speaker, UNC Charlotte Professor Chris Cameron, has invited Fish Stark, executive director of the American Humanist Association and a UU, to speak at UNCC on Saturday, Oct. 3 from 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. The location on campus is Denny 111 at 9201 University City Blvd. Stark will speak on “Confronting Christian Nationalism.” The talk coincides with the UU Justice Ministry’s upcoming Dogwood Faith Project aimed at the same issue. The event is cosponsored by the Humanists of Piedmont NC — click here to email the group.  This Friday, UU Justice NC’s Action Hour will look at election protection and voter turnout roles in the homestretchof the coming election. Volunteers are needed for election monitoring, rides to the polls, ballot curing and materials distribution for Democracy NC. UU Justice NC’s Kaleb Graves has studied and taught about resisting Christian nationalism, an organized and well-funded project to ultimately define the nation as a Christian nation. Kaleb will offer training before canvassing at the Halloween Happenings event in Monroe on Saturday, Oct. 17, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sign up by clicking here. Review this week’s resources and actions on our Google doc — click here to view it. Join us this Friday morning at 11 by clicking on this Zoom link. If Friday doesn’t work for you, please take a moment to look over the Google doc, updated every week to describe small actions you can take to support Unitarian values. Sign up for our Friday Action Hour weekly email by clicking here. Mooresville Interfaith Thanksgiving ServiceUnitarians of Lake Norman will not meet at the Quaker Meeting House in Davidson on Nov. 15. Instead, we will take part in the Mooresville Interfaith Thanksgiving Service that day from 3-5 p.m. at St. Patrick’s Episcopal Church, 164 Fairview Rd. in Mooresville. It’s free to the public but donations of new gloves would be appreciated. For more information, click here to email the organizers.  UU Lake Norman’s Building Fund accepts donations to help ensure our future. For more information, please contact Alan Perkinson. FROM OUR TREASURERThanks to all who have pledged to keep our Fellowship strong. You can mail your pledge to: UU Lake Norman, P.O. Box 991, Davidson 28036. To set up easy online giving from our website, just click the “Pledge or Donate” tab at the top of the page. Join us? If you are not a member but would like more information on becoming a member, please contact Marjorie Flowers at admin@UULakeNorman.org. Rev. Pat Jobe UU Lake Norman Minister 2026 Board of Trustees Greg Davis, President Jim Price, Vice President Jim Arnold, Past President Véronique Singerman, Secretary Karen Abrams & Linda Heydenburg, Co-Treasurers Gail Arnold, Trustee at Large We walk diverse paths to find meaning and purpose, but we are united by our belief in the inherent worth and dignity of all, and the obligation to express our faith through acts of justice and compassion. Join us as we create a diverse, spirit-curious, and justice-seeking community. Please send your newsletter items, suggestions or comments to news@uulakenorman.org. The deadline for each week’s newsletter is 5 p.m. Wednesday. Lake Norman UU Fellowship P O Box 991, Davidson 28036 www.uulakenorman.org   Copyright © 2026 UU Fellowship of Lake Norman, All rights reserved. |