April 5 - 11, 2018
The CommUUnicator
The Weekly Newsletter of
The Unitarian Society of Germantown
Building Beloved Community

THIS WEEKEND: We celebrate a Passover Seder, help Rebuilding Together Philadelphia, and reflect on dealing with suffering.
In Worship, 10:30am
Easter Sunday:
The First Noble Truth
Rev. Kent Matthies
with Music Director Mark Daugherty & the USG Choir
The First Noble Truth of Buddhism is that life is suffering. We get old, experience disease and heartbreak. Life is not always fair and we should never trick ourselves to believe otherwise. How do we deal with suffering?
In Child Spiritual Development
This Sunday morning, children and youth will be with their families in the Sanctuary until 10:45am, when they will be sung out to their classes.

Our High School program changes weekly. The High School OWL Group meets this Sunday, April 8 from 10:30am - 12:30pm in the Bristol Room.

For a detailed schedule of Youth Group Activities for the program year, click here and locate the Youth Group column.

Please click here for details of the Child and Youth Spiritual Development programs.

Childcare for children 4-5 years old and younger is offered this Sunday and most Sundays from 9:00am - 12:00pm in the Committee Room.
Opportunities
Before the Worship Service
Meditate in the Meditation Room
Meditation, reading, dharma and sharing are offered in Sullivan 3 on the First and Second Sundays of the month between 9:15 and 10:20am. All are welcome to join in quietly. On the other Sundays the space is open for those who choose to come and sit. For information on meditation, click here.

Drop off nonperishable food items to the designated carts in the Kitchen for delivery to St. Vincent's Food Pantry.
Coffee Hour
Opportunities
After the Worship Service
Purchase goodies at the Cradles to Crayons Bake Sale, hosted by a former USG Youth Group member, Michelle Madison, who is now a teen leader for the organization.

Go to the Assembly Room or Sullivan Hall where Joanne Davis, for one more time, will take a photo of your family for the USG online directory.

Write postcards on anti-gun violence legislation in the Assembly Room.

At 12:00pm, attend the Open Small Group Ministry meeting in the Daskam Room.

SignUp is the reminder tool USG uses to organize volunteers for our upcoming activities. Click Here to go to our group page to sign up online.
Sunday, April 15, 10:30am
ChurchGoers Live Longer and Better Lives
Rev. Kent Matthies
You don’t have to believe me. I am a biased Minister. In 2016, the Journal of the American Medical Association published a report ...(to learn more, click here ).

The service will be followed by the Free Stewardship Lunch, compliments of the Stewardship Committee.
The Stewardship Campaign
All-Church Free Luncheon
Sunday, April 15
Fill in your pledge form that will come in your mailbox this week and then celebrate your stewardship with us over lunch! Bon Appetit!
Christine Ginsburg (chair), Rick Rodes, Eric Foster, Tammi Talda, Kate Connolly, Eileen Whelan and Gerry Whelan
(The 2018-19 Stewardship Committee)
ERC's Monthly Movie:
Wednesday, April 18, 7:00pm
Get Out , an Academy Award-winning comedic horror movie dealing with race.
To learn more, click here.

FAMILY FRIENDLY EVENTS
USG Annual Service Auction
Saturday, April 21
5:00pm
  • Germantown Literature and History Adventure
  • Winter Game Fest
  • Dog Day Afternoons
  • Ice Cream Social
  • Book Swap Brunch
  • July 4th Parade & Barbecue
  • And More
The night of the auction, a movie and organized activities for children.
WE PUT THE FUN IN FUNDRAISING
Earth Day Fair
Sunday, April 22, 11:45 - 1:45pm
Stay after the service to enjoy the  Earth Day Fair in the Dining Room. Sign postcards and petitions, learn about climate change, and much more

SAVE THE DATES!
The All-Church Dinner has been cancelled BUT...
We have a plethora of pleasant possibilities phor pholks!!!
Ordination for McKinley Sims - Saturday, May 19
USG Annual Meeting - Sunday, May 20
All-Church Retreat - Saturday, June 2 (see below)
Ordination Celebration Dinner for Connie Simon - Saturday, June 9
Ordination for Connie Simon - Sunday, June 10
SAVE THE DATE
Saturday, June 2
for an All Church Retreat
at Diamond Ridge Conference Center in Jamison. It is 45 minutes from USG and has excellent facilities for all ages: pool, pond for boating and fishing, street hockey, basketball and tennis courts, fields, mini golf, a beautiful indoor space for workshops such as yoga or meditation, and more. Details to come, but please save the date.

Thank you, Team USG!
Mr. Rogers would think that our USG Team working on Rebuilding Together Philadelphia all of this weekend are the very best of good neighbors. We sure do.

Thank you, super-duper co-captains Eli Scearce and Linda Bernstein and super-duper trouper workers, most working for 1 day but some for 2 or 3!
  • Nancy LaFauci -2 days
  • George Buckmann - 3
  • Shelley Rich - 2
  • Betsy Gabriel - 2
  • Tom Smith
  • Kent Matthies
  • Eileen Whelan
  • Nancy O’Malley
  • Gerry Whelan
  • James Salom - 2
  • August Anderson
  • Charles Gabriel - 2
  • Barbara Ginn - 3
  • Susan Chisholm -2
  • Susan Smith
  • Maurice (Mo) Gaston
  • Sarah DiGioia
  • Donna Cotzen
  • Maggie Chapman
  • Avery Hamill
  • Patricia Hamill
  • Carl Leiby
Interested in joining USG?
The next New Member Signing is on Sunday, April 29 . We ask that you take a UU-101 class, offered the third Sunday of each month after the service, and a New Member Orientation (next offered on Sunday, April 15) before joining. We welcome people into Membership four times a year. Please visit the Membership page in the Home menu on our website,  usguu.org  or contact Treva Burger at  trevawb@gmail.com  for more information. 
A Gift of Ordination
This year USG has the honor to ordain two Ministers, McKinley Sims and Connie Simon. We invite you to financially support one or both ordinations . Please click here for more information.
THANK YOU to All who Have Pledged for 2018-2019
Have YOU sent YOUR Pledge in yet?
If you have not, please do so via mail, online at   usguu.org/page/pledge-form , or by putting the form in the box at the table in the dining room following Sunday services.

The All-Church Stewardship Luncheon is rescheduled for Sunday, April 15.
One new email address for USG Communications!
For any communications questions or blurbs, we now have ONE email address that will reach both Gloria and Carolyn: communications@usguu.org .

For business issues to Gloria, please send to usgadmin@usguu.org .
We are excited to announce our new Give+ Text option for making pledge and contribution payments to USG!
Please click here to learn how to use this convenient tool.
Have YOU sent in YOUR FAMILY's photo yet?
This Sunday, let photographer Joanne Davis snap a photo of you and for family for our online directory. Joanne will be in the Assembly Room or Sullivan Hall following the worship service.
Thank You, Villagers!
Thank you so much to all who participate in the Village Fellowship Hours! If you are willing to coordinate Fellowship Hour for your Village, please let Treva Burger, trevawb@gmail.com know. Below is the (reconfigured) schedule for Fellowship Hour Hosting in April.
  • April 8 - Bake Sale for Cradles to Crayons
  • April 15 - Stewardship Luncheon
  • April 22 - Village 4
  • April 29 - New Members
Looking For New Members
Do you have a passion for your congregation and UUism in general? The Central East Region (CER) Congregational Life Advisory Council uua.org/central-east/about/clac is looking for new members. Click here for details.
Announcing...
...A Greater Philly Cluster (GPC) Choral Workshop to help plan the mass choir repertoire for a GPC music concert next church year.
THIS Saturday, April 7, 2018
Main Line Unitarian Church in Devon, PA
12:30 – 5:00 PM
(12:30 – 1:30 Brown bag lunch; 1:30 – 5:00 workshop)
All ministers, music ministry teams, directors, choir members, and any member/friend (who’d like to sing in the mass choir) from the 14 GPC congregations are invited to the workshop. The goal of this workshop is to determine the repertoire for the mass choir in addition to forming a steering committee to help launch the first concert. Click here and here to learn more and to register.
The Country We Want to Be: A Faith-Based Reflection on Immigrants and Refugees in the 21st Century
A Lecture by Donald M. Kerwin
Executive Director of the Center for Migration Studies, New York City
Friday, April 13
7:00 - 8:30pm
Main Room of the SugarLoaf Chateau of Chestnut Hill College
Co-operative Nursery School (CNS) at USG
50th Anniversary Celebration
Saturday, April 28, 2:00 - 5:0pm
Click here for details.
SAVE THE DATE
Sunday afternoon, April 29
Philadelphia Interfaith Walk for Peace & Reconciliation
Information at InterfaithPeaceWalk.org
More Greater Philly UU Cluster Spring & Summer Events
(We are hopeful it will eventually get warmer.)
GPC Meeting - Saturday, May 19, 9:00- 10:00am
New Hope Pride Parade - Saturday, May 19, Starting 11:00am
UUMAC Retreat - July 8 - 14
UU Community Weekend (Labor Day weekend) - Registration opens April 5
Get Involved! Meet Fellow UUs!  
Follow links below to join and find out more information about the events and groups at USG that occur usually once a month. Questions? Click on the contact links.


20's & 30's SGM Group - Second Thursday, April 12, 6:30pm, Drop-in Young Adults Small Group Ministry group. For more information, please contact Stephanie Bonner at slbonner2@gmail.com or Carly Danielsen on Facebook where they maintain an active invite-only activities group. 

Book Group on Friday Morning - Third Friday, April 20, 10:30am, at Cathedral Village. If interested in joining the discussion, please contact Barbara Dowdall. The 2017-2018 Book List is posted on usguu.org> About> Affinity Groups> Book Group .

CAMI (Citizens Against Mass Incarceration) - Fourth Monday, April 23, 7:00pm. At USG. Contact Nancy Anderson .

Caregiver Support Group - Second Friday, April 13, 11:00am - 1:00pm. At USG. Contact Maura Gallagher .

Choir Rehearsal - (Almost) Every Thursday evening, 7:30 - 9:30pm. At USG. Newcomers welcome. Contact Linda Smith or Andrea Parry .

Dialogue - Every Tuesday, 7:00 - 8:30pm. This group uses dialogue as a means for self-exploration. At USG. Contact Jason Bender, dsd@usguu.org. Also check out meetup.com/Dialogues-on-Consciousness

ERC (Ending Racism Committee) - First Sunday, May 6, 12:00 - 2:00pm. At USG. Contact Barbara Dowdall .

Exploring Elderhood - Second Friday gatherings, April 13, 2:00pm. At USG. Contact Gerry Whelan , ASD Chair.

Finding Our Roots - Earth Honoring Traditions . First Monday, except for holiday weekends: (September 10). Next meeting is May 7, 7:00pm. At USG. Contact Donya Coldwell at earth@usguu.org .

NEW: Flute Circle for All Ages - Every other Wednesday, 7:00 - 8:00pm. Next & last circle, April 11. At USG. Please bring your instrument, although some will be available. Contact Jason Bender.

Humanists - PUSH - Philadelphia Unitarian Society of Humanists , Fourth Sunday, April 22, 12:00pm. At USG. Contact Paul Teti .

Men's Group - Third Tuesday, April 17, 7:30pm. At USG. Contact Mark Tuveson .

Mindfulness Meditation with Rev. Kent - Every Thursday, 6:30 - 7:15pm. At USG. Contact Rev. Kent Matthies .

Nature Walking at Valley Green - Every Monday and Thursday at 10:00am, you can meet others - whoever shows up- at Valley Green in Chestnut Hill for a morning walk. Contact Tim Beckham, who is usually there.

Needle Exchange, a Handwork Group - First Wednesday, May 2, 1:30 - 3:00pm, off-site. Contact Gale Gibbons .

Open Small Group Ministry - Second Sunday, April 8, 12:00pm, Daskam Room at USG. This group is available to people who want to try out Small Group Ministry or attend occasionally. For more information, contact Mark B, mark.bangela@gmail.com , or just show up.

UU-101 - Third Sunday, April 15, 12:00 - 1:20pm. UU-101 is an Introduction to Unitarian Universalism, held at USG in the Daskam Room, and childcare is provided. To RSVP or get more information, click here or email uu101@usguu.org . Starting in May and June, we welcome new leaders Charles Gabriel and Eric Foster, and we warmly thank outgoing leaders Andi Bernstein and Gale Gibbons.

UUJPIP - UUs for Justice & Peace in Israel & Palestine.  Third Sunday. Next meeting May 20, 12:00 - 1:30pm. (April meeting cancelled). At USG. Contact Walt Ceglowski .
facebook
Join A USG Facebook Group!   
You can join a USG Facebook group as well as meet in person!
To find out about special events, post photos, and stay in touch, here are some of USG's groups and their Facebook links:

ASD (Adult Spiritual Development) facebook
 
CSD (Child Spiritual Development)
 
YRUU (Young Religious Unitarian Universalists) A Closed Group great to know about and if desired, ask to join.
 
YA - Young Adults
 
PLEASE NOTE CHANGE:
UU Greater Philly Social Justice is changing its name to
"Greater Philly UUs" as this FB will now include other items as well as Social Justice

P.U.S.H. Philadelphia Unitarian Society of Humanists

Exploring Elderhood
caring square
Our thoughts and prayers are with...
...Jessica Slivak , who suffered a fall on March 25 and fractured several bones, and continues to recuperate at home. She and Carl are incredibly grateful for the meals, cards, emails and phone calls from the USG community. They have all helped to brighten her spirits as she recovers.

We are happy to announce that...
...Bonnie Leiby has shared the good news that she was married on March 17 to David Goldstein in a ceremony at Congregation Beth Or in Maple Glen. They will be living in Spring House.

We will remember and honor...
...Irene Magaziner, a long-time member and former USG Board President, in a memorial service at USG on June 3 at 1:30pm.  Irene died on March 11. Her loving, humorous spirit lives on in surviving family, including her children Stephen, James, Sally and their families.

Our Caring Team
Linda Bernstein (chair), 
Bonnie McDairmant, Sarah West,
Rev. Kent Matthies & Intern Minister Connie Simon

If you are aware of any joys or concerns that should be part of our caring system, please let us know. You can email caring@usguu.org
If you call a caring team member and do not speak directly, leave a voice mail and your call will be returned ASAP.
Rev. Kent Matthies, Minister - kmatthies@usguu.org
Constance Simon, Intern Minister - internminister@usguu.org
Jason Bender, Director of Spiritual Development - dsd@usguu.org
Mark Daugherty, Music Director - musicdirector@usguu.org
Gloria Guldager, Church Administrator- usgadmin@usguu.org
Carolyn Scott, Asst. Administrator- communications@usguu.org
Carolyn Cotton, Rental Coordinator - rental@usguu.org
Mike Rogers, Sunday Morning and Special Events Sexton - sexton@usguu.org  
Tuesday's SPIRIT (not every Tuesday in the Summer) - Friday by 3:00pm
Thursday's Weekly eCommUUnicator - Wednesday by noon
Sunday's Announcements - Thursday by noon

The Unitarian Society of Germantown | 215-844-1157 | 6511 Lincoln Drive, Philadelphia, PA 19119