Beth Foreman, Alice Carnes, Bill Rogers, Merna Hesse The Healthy Congregation Team (HCT) would like to thank all Piedmont UU Church members who have participated in Nonviolent Communication (NVC) and Restorative Circle sessions in 2016. We have and are learning so much about new ways to engage in conflict and to see conflict, not as […]

Keeper of the Flame
This is the first article of 2017 in a series where I, Lee Elliott Carnes, President – Board of Trustees, ask questions to the Leaders of our gatherings. This month, Lauren Neal, 2016 Chair of the ADORE Team (A Dialogue on Race and Ethnicity), shares her experience and wisdom with us. Lee Elliott Carnes: What […]
From Rev. Lee
Dear Piedmont Congregations, Hello. My name is Leland Bond-Upson, but please call me Lee, or Rev. Lee if that feels better. My wife Deborah Bond and I hyphenated our name the day before our first child was born in 1979. Her name is Gwendolyn and she is a wonderful person, as are my other three, […]
From Your Minister of Congregational Care
Dear Folks: Welcome to January, Beloveds. This month we welcome a new year, a new minister, and a host of opportunities for growth as we seek to live into who we are—a community that nurtures the spirit, cherishes diversity, and cultivates justice. Appropriately, our theme for the month of January is “change.” What an interesting […]
Spiritually Speaking: The Art of Waiting
When I announced that I would be leaving after the service on Christmas Day of this year, it seemed a long way off as I made the announcement in May. I shared that the general advice for leaving was that one should not announce their departure more than three months in advance. I joked that […]
From Your Minister of Congregational
Dear Folks (and Dear Rev. Robin), Greetings from your minister of Congregational Care. Fall has arrived, bringing with it cooler weather, “shorter” days and reminders of the seasons and transitions of life. This fall also ushers in a new season for our Beloved Community as we approach Rev. Robin’s departure date in December. As we […]

Jolena James-Szanton- Keeper of the Flame
This is the second article in a series where I, Lee Elliott Carnes President-Elect of the Board of Trustees, ask questions to the Leaders of our gatherings. This month, Jolena James-Szanton, Director of Religious Education will share her experience and wisdom. Jolena has many responsibilities including: designing the annual curriculum for our gatherings; leading the […]
A Message from the Healthy Congregation Team
Team Members: Beth Foreman, Alice Carnes, Merna Hesse, Hugh Hammond, and Rev. Robin Tanner. The Healthy Congregation Team (HCT) continues its mission to promote the emotional health of our beloved community. You might be wondering; how does the HCT do this? In the past year, the HCT has promoted two exciting learning opportunities at Piedmont […]
Lake Norman Update
Dear Lake Norman Gathering and Piedmont Friends, As our congregation continues to deepen our relationship with the Piedmont congregation, I would like to announce the members of the Lake Norman steering team. This group will plan and facilitate the ongoing programs for our gathering. They are: Team Facilitator: Nicole Gantz Membership: Marjorie Flowers Fellowship: Grace […]

Keepers of the Flame
This is the first article in a series where the President-Elect of the Board of Trustees, ask questions to the Lay Leaders of our gatherings. Each month, our leaders will answer a few questions about their: committee/teams, experiences, and aspirations. In the next year, we will learn more about the Committees/Teams of: ADORE, Buildings & […]