The Unitarian Universalist Fellowship will meet on Sunday, May 19 at 10:30 a.m. at the Tryon Youth Center on Rt. 176N.

The speaker will be Reverend Michael Carter, who will speak on the topic, “The Pebble In My Shoe.”

The sermon is basically Rev. Carter’s journey in wrestling with what it means to be a Unitarian Universalist Christian within the denomination.

“I have studied and practiced certain schools of Buddhism, identified as an atheist, as well as agnostic along the path; I have been a student of The Course In Miracles, Cherokee Spirituality, so called, “New Age Spirituality,” a humanist – you name it. Yet I still come back to the teachings of Yeshua Ben Yoseff, aka, the man we call Jesus,” Carter says.

Rev. Carter is originally from Baltimore, MD. He moved to New York City in 1980 and lived there for 27 years, working as a professional actor before moving to Asheville with his family to serve as a staff chaplain at Mission Hospital. Michael is an ordained interfaith minister and received his bachelor of arts degree in letters from the College of New Rochelle where he graduated cum laude. He received his masters in divinity degree from Union Theological Seminary in New York City (class of 2000). He has served as a staff chaplain (Board Certified) at Lenox Hill Hospital, Beth Israel Hospital, Beth Israel Cancer Center, Methodist Hospital and New York Hospital Queens.

While serving various Unitarian Universalist Congregations in New York City and surrounding areas, Carter was trained as an anti-racism trainer and has been recognized by President Clinton for his efforts.

Carter currently serves as the minister for the Unitarian Universalist Congregation in Black Mountain, N.C. while also serving as a diversity consultant for the Asheville community. He has worked with The Grove Park Inn, Asheville City School Foundation, The Asheville Buncombe Institute for Parity Achievement (ABIPA) and Eaton Electrical Company, which is an international organization.

Carter and his wife The Rev. Judy Long (A Unitarian Universalist Minister) reside in Arden, N.C. with their 6-year-old daughter Kevyn, their two cats Isis and Luna, and their two labs, Duchess and Dante.

Come early and join in fellowship and refreshments. For information, call 894-5776 or go to our website at uutryonnc.org.

– article submitted by Dan Dworkin