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   Week at a Glance   UUC Sunday Service  What's Happening at UUC Serve   UUC Committees Adult Religious Enrichment   UUC and Beyond    

UUC WEEK AT A GLANCE

January 12th, Friday, Art Show Opening, 5:00-7:00 pm, Octagon

The TAVA artists of Tampa Bay open their exciting, mixed-media art show tonight in the Octagon. Come for refreshments and mingle with the artists.

January 14th, Sunday - Special Guest at Sunday Service - Gospel Artist, Win Thompkins.

Open Issues: 9:30-10:20, Patio Room

Irene Ratner. “Current Events: A Conversation”. Let's start off the new year by examining the state of affairs in our country and the world. Most of us follow the news but seldom get the opportunity to share our reactions. This will be a time to process our thoughts on current happenings as well as to learn by listening to others. Irene will be moderator. 

Sunday Service: Beginning of 30 Days of Love

Service Leader: Rev Patrice Curtis and Black Lives Matter Committee, "A Vision of What Might Be Part II"

January 15th, Monday - Clearwater MLK Breakfast and March

Aquatic Recreation Center,  900 MLK Ave . , N. Greenwood, Clearwater.

Doors open at 7:30 am, Breakfast is at 8:00 am and the march is at 9:45 am.

Breakfast is $5.00 per person.

March processes to Coachman Park where the rally will begin around 11:00 am to 3:30 pm.

PLEASE SIGN UP AT THE SOCIAL JUSTICE TABLE IN THE UUC SOCIAL HALL FOR THE BREAKFAST, MARCH OR BOTH.

January 30th, Tuesday, 7:00-8:30 pm, Patio Room

Humanist of the Year

UUC Teaching Facilitator: Rev. Patrice Curtis

The 2017 Humanist of the Year award is given annually by the American Humanist Association. In 2017, the recipient was television personality, skeptic, and secular advocate Adam Savage. In this highly interactive discussion, come unpack the contents of Adam's speech and consider what it might mean for your spiritual growth.

Sign up sheets will be at Sunday service or call 727-531-7704

February 6 and 13, Wednesdays - 7:00-9:00 pm, Maxwell Library

Climate Change: How Bad Is It  and What Can We Do?

UUC Teaching Facilitator: Dale Potter

Session 1: A presentation and discussion based on the latest U.S. Global Research Program's Fourth National Climate Assessment titled Climate Science Special Report and other recent scientific findings.

Session 2: A presentation and discussions on the limitations of individual efforts and the need for collective efforts to address the social and economic changes that will be required to address the climate crisis.  Sign up sheets will be at Sunday service or call 727-531-7704

February 13 and 27, and March 13 and 27 , 7:30 to 8:30 pm, Patio Rm.

Faithful Communication

UUC Teaching Facilitators: Irene Ratner, Lore Eargle, Ray Williamson, Sally Ott, and Randy Munroe.

This course will help us understand and apply our UUC Covenant of Right Relations in our everyday lives. We will gain communications skills that we can use not only at UUC but at home and work. There will be role playing and should be fun as well as introspective.

Meets: in the Patio Room Feb. 13 and 27, and March 13 and 27

Sign up sheets will be at Sunday service or call 727-531-7704

This Sunday

January 14th, 2018

This week's Share the Plate is Black Lives UU (BLUU).

BLUU’s mission is to provide information, resources and support for Black Unitarian Universalists and it works to expand the role and visibility of Black UUs within the UU faith.

BLUU now has three paid staff in addition to their many unpaid volunteers: Lena Gardner, DiDi Delgado, and Rev. Mykal Slack. Together they are making available:

·    Exclusively Black worship online on third Sundays

·    One-on-one pastoral care

·    A closed Facebook group

·    An assessment for Black UUs to complete

 Meet the BLUU Team at   http://www.blacklivesuu.com/about-bluu

Adult Spiritual and Religious Development Programs Winter-Spring 2018. Get signed up now!

We all love Great Gospel Music

Gospel Great Win Thompkins joins us for service Jan.14th.

Win Thompkins is a renowned Gospel Artist who has achieved great success in the Gospel Music industry, and makes his transition to new thought. He’s produced 10 Gospel Inspirational CD's touching people’s lives all over the country by means of radio and live events. He believes this is his purpose for being here on this planet.

Win’s latest venture has him hosting his own radio show, (The LUV Factory) that airs on WTAN Tantalk radio 1340 Clearwater, a show that promotes love and unity every Thursday night.

Win's Bio:

At the tender age of 14, Win met Country singing star Zeke Clements who was so impressed with Win’s

voice that he signed him up for his first recording deal with Cross & Crown Records. Two years later, he and his brothers recorded their first album entitled “Keep on Pushing”. And as they say, the rest is

history…since then he has recorded more than 300 songs and has seven albums living in the

marketplace.

In 2002 Win released his first true inspirational new thought CD titled “With People in Mind” that he

performed at Local south Florida Science of Mind Centers, Unity Churches and Universal Truth Centers,

in between his Gospel tour dates, Win has been longing to get back to the freedom of sharing his true

heart beliefs through music without limitations, that he vows to do in 2017.

In 2004, he released an album which was the first of its kind. The title of the album was “Foot Stompin

(vol. 1)”. The album was a great success and many would say that while listening to the album you

couldn’t help stomping your feet clapping and dancing in the spirit. This album earned him the title of

the Ambassador of “FOOT STOMPIN” Gospel Music, which in turn led to a great relationship with

the Broward Meals on Wheels organization that is on going to this day.

One of his greatest achievements is the release of the “Leaning Tree” album in 2009. CD sales surpassed any previous cd sales as it spread rapidly throughout the southeast. This CD continues to have brisk sales and he now has a significant following of gospel music enthusiast that refer to him as the “Leaning Tree Man”.

Win’s 2013 Stellar nominee album entitled “I May Be Hoppin”, features an array of musical

combinations including steel guitar with a twist of country that transcends gospel music into a

captivating force that summons and embraces you with the sweetness of the spirit. That’s the call of

the Ambassador of FootStompin Gospel, Win Thompkins who shares the power of sharing.

Win’s aspirations and commitment to inspire others must have been an in-born trait to uplift through

music, and activism to brighten up people’s lives

Visit https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/winthompkins to review Win Thompkins “With People in Mind” CD

MLK Breakfast and March is January 15th

The Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Clearwater Breakfast and March is on Monday, January 15th, 2018 at the Aquatic Recreation Center, 900 MLK Ave.,N. Greenwood, Clearwater. This event is organized by the N. Pinellas branch of the NAACP and a number of organizations, individuals and local officials will be in attendance. Traditionally, UUC has a table or tables pre-booked for the Breakfast so that we can have a sizeable group supporting the event. You may attend the Breakfast ($5.00 per person, $3.00 for children under 10) or the March, or both.

The doors open at 7:30am. You do have some breathing room however, as breakfast starts around 8am and service takes some time. The March starts at 9:45am from the same location and processes to Coachman Park, where the rally begins around 11am and ends at 3:30pm.  

PLEASE SIGN UP AT THE SOCIAL JUSTICE TABLE IN THE UUC SOCIAL HALL FOR THE BREAKFAST, MARCH OR BOTH.

WE HAVE AFTERNOON VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE:  (at the above address)

   Organizers will be there to give direction.

   Please let Carol Hamilton know if you're interested or if you have questions.  727-447-3299  

SOCIAL JUSTICE…

Legislative Days -- How You Can Help

Your UU Justice Florida Action Network Leadership team is following a number of key bills that correspond to our  Core Issues  and have been introduced in the 2018 Legislative Session which convenes in Tallahassee for the next two months beginning January 9. These bills are listed in detail with current status on the  Legislative Tracker .

Here are four ways UUJF supporters can effectively influence or impact the outcome of these bills.

Register NOW for UUJF Legislative Days  on Jan. 22 and 23 and let the UUC Social Justice Council know you plan to attend ( [email protected] ) We will schedule a meeting with your Representative, Senator or Legislative staff member for the morning of January 23. You may be able to participate in a Committee meeting if one is coincidentally scheduled to hear bills of interest on the days we will be there. Whether or not you can attend Legislative Days, you can help those who do by getting key bills put on Committee agendas and voted on. Those of us who go to Tallahassee can’t press our legislators to pass a bill unless it is advancing through the committee process!

We will be sending targeted Action Alerts only to people who can help the bills move forward. Look for targeted alerts beginning January 2.

•  Respond to a targeted Action Alert for bills we support that have been referred to a Committee and ask that Committee’s leadership to place such bills on its next meeting agenda to be heard.

•  Respond to a targeted Action Alert with your message of support or opposition for bills that have already been placed on a Committee agenda and are scheduled for a discussion and vote by the whole Committee.

•  Respond to an Action Alert on bills that have passed all Committee referrals and will go to the House or Senate floor for a final vote.

You will receive a targeted Action Alert only if you reside in a Legislative District represented by a leader or member of a Committee to which a particular bill has been referred. UUJF will provide recipients of Action Alerts and Legislative Days registrants brief talking points for each bill of interest although you are encouraged to add any additional points or personal stories to support your position. You do not need to be registered for Legislative Days to respond to Action Alerts.

To receive Action Alerts we need your correct ZIP+4 address code. If   your zip code-  is not your correct code please go to the  UUJF Action Sign Up page and update your contact information or reply to this email with your home ZIP CODE + 4 which you can find at this link . 

Then click this  link to sign up for Legislative Days  to follow up in person with your legislator.  Registration deadline is January 15  to secure your room and dinner reservation.

Together, let’s bring values of compassion, equity and justice to our legislators in Tallahassee.

See you January 22nd!

Kindra, for the UU Justice Florida Action Network Board

UUC Committee Meetings and Events

Please get your meeting information to [email protected] NO LATER than one week before the next E-Octagram (publishes on Thursdays). If there are changes, they must get to the above email NO LATER than the Wednesday before publishing. Thank you. 

Environmental Justice Committee, Sunday January 28th, 12-2:00 pm, Maxwell Library

End of Life Choices, Thursday, February 1st, 1:30-3:00 pm, Westwood Room

Important Legislation Needs Your Support

A wonderful surprise for this year: POLST was introduced into both the Florida House and the Florida Senate. It has previously been introduced into the Senate twice. The Florida legislative session lasts only sixty days, so we need to let our legislators know very soon that we want this legislation passed. And, since many people are scared of Compassion & Choices, it is important to leave that out of our letters. Here is a sample letter that you may use or modify any way you wish. Also here is the place where you can find your representatives:  http://www.flsenate.gov/Senators/Findhttp://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Representatives/myrepresentative.aspx  for your senator and  http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Representatives/myrepresentative.aspx  for your representative to the House. Please send letters to both of your representatives.

Sample letter:

I’m writing to express my support of the legislation to have POLST in Florida, H 1339, S 474. As you probably know, POLST stands for Physician Orders for Life Sustaining Treatment, and it allows patients and their doctors to discuss and decide upon what kind of treatment the patient wants and can reasonably expect to be successful. Most of us do not want to end up as a vegetable on a machine, but since 80% of the people who die are over 60, and Florida has the most people in this age range of any state, this is a particularly important program in Florida. POLST is more powerful than an Advance Directive because it is doctor's orders, and so carries weight in a hospital or nursing care facility. I have supported this program for some time, and I know that other states have used it successfully, so I hope you will add your voice to help it become law in Florida.

Thank you for your support and help,

Marcia

Beyond UUC...

The 2018 United Faiths Walk of Peace

The 2018 United Faiths Walk of Peace will take place on February 4th from 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm In Dunedin. This year UUC will be a sponsor and we hope that many of you will join the UUC group. We invite EVERYONE to walk, talk, connect, and strive for peace among all people in the nation and the world.

The parade will assemble at Pioneer Park, 400 Main Street in Dunedin . We will walk about

two miles, stopping at several venues for reflections on peace led by a variety of faith leaders.

Over 500 people from different faiths walked in 2017. As this is UUC's first year we hope that many will join us wearing your UUC T-shirts or the commemorative shirts that are available (sign up for one at UUC Social Justice table).

"Stand Up Together"

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Interfaith Memorial Service

January 14th, Sunday, 3:00-4:30 pm

Keynote Speaker: Rev. Dr. Russell L. Meyer, Executive Director of Florida Council of Churches

With St. Petersburg Christ Gospel Choir and Tampa Bay Lumina Aurora Children's Chorus

A Love Offering will be taken to benefit Fairmount Park Elementary School.

Cathedral of St. Jude the Apostle, 5815 5th Avenue North

Sponsored by Interfaith Tampa Bay, Contact: Imam Abdul K. Ali, 727-560-2567