March 22 - 28, 2018
The CommUUnicator
The Weekly Newsletter of
The Unitarian Society of Germantown
Building Beloved Community
THIS WEEKEND:
We march to say that we value our youth and others' lives more than guns, we celebrate Passover, and we learn about Jim Crow racism and Black UU History.
|
|
March for Our Lives
Intergen Sign-Making Party!
Friday, March 23, 7:00pm at USG
Many children, youth, families and concerned citizens will march on Philly and DC on Saturday, March 24. USG will be hosting an
intergen
sign making party the Friday night before the march. Come join us in the spirit of solidarity as we prepare for this historic event.
Supplies will be provided, but please feel free to bring your own.
|
|
|
March for Our Lives
Philadelphia Rally
Saturday, March 24
A USG Coalition will meet at Suburban Station at 9:00am
Organizers call for meeting
at 9:30am at 5th & Market
March begins at 10:00am
Main Rally at Lombard Circle until 2:00pm
March to end the epidemic of mass shootings and gun violence in our schools, on our streets, killing our youth.
OTHER OPTIONS:
Cathedral Villagers
plan a Rally at 11:00am at Ridge Ave & Cathedral Rd.
Click here
for a link to go to a bus going to D.C.
|
|
|
Book Launch for Marietta Tanner’s new novel:
Saturday, March 24, 2:00 - 4:30pm
Edna Jones Assembly Room at USG
Ms. Tanner will read selections from her
new book
, which is based on her memories about four African American women driving from NYC to Mexico in 1954, the year the Supreme Court decision, Brown vs. the Board of Education, was passed. She will present
artifacts and literature
which illustrate the racism which is pervasive in the book and which show White Supremacy's origins in ancient Greece and its perpetuation in the United States.
|
|
|
In Worship, 10:30am
Passover: Parting the Waters
Intern Minister Connie Simon
with Music Director Mark Daugherty and The USG Choir
|
Thirsty to the point of delusion, hungry beyond pain, Moses and the Israelites have fled Pharaoh’s troops, fought amongst themselves and run out of hope. Now they have to cross the Red Sea. Even when the odds seems quite impossible they take the first step – again – in the journey to secure freedom. How are you doing on your journey to freedom?
(The alert reader may have noticed that the image has changed for this sermon. So has the speaker. We persevere AND we adjust, and there's always a back story ;>).)
|
|
|
We Share The Plate This Sunday, March 25
with
Rebuilding Together Philadelphia
The collection this Sunday will be given to RTP, with whom USG has worked for the past seven years to help homeowners rebuild, making entire blocks happier, healthier places to live. Your donations buy
necessary supplies from
A
(allen wrench) to
Z
(zigzag folding rule) and everything in between!
|
|
|
In Child Spiritual Development
|
This Sunday morning,
children and youth
will be in the sanctuary with their families for the special Intergen Service.
Our High School program
changes weekly. The High School OWL Group meets this Sunday, March 25 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.
|
|
Opportunities
After the Worship Service
Greet members of Village 3 who will be the Fellowship Hour Hosts.
See
Linda Bernstein to volunteer for the
USG Rebuilding Together Philadelphia Team
.
Go to the Sullivan Hallway where Joanne Davis really WILL be there this time to take a
photo of your family for the USG online directory.
At 12:00pm, attend the
PUSH (Philadelphia Unitarian Society of Humanists) 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.
|
|
Black UU History Presentation
Sunday, March 25, 12:00 - 2:00pm
USG's Sanctuary
The history of Black UUs is a rich one
and very important in understanding where our faith movement is now. All are welcome to
this presentation
by Intern Minister Connie Simon. (
pictured here
).
|
|
|
Sunday, April 1, 10:30am
Easter Sunday:
Beginning Again with Grace
Rev. Kent Matthies
with Music Director Mark Daugherty & the USG Choir
Whether you believe the resurrection was real or a myth, come celebrate Easter with us! Even when you think all is lost in despair, hope can and does rise again.
|
|
|
USG's Annual Seder
Saturday, April 7, 5:00 - 8:00pm
(Please note corrected times.)
An event for all ages, our Seder will celebrate the beginning of Passover and the liberation of Israelites/Jews from the slavery of ancient Egypt.
Our Seder will consist of:
- Meal- traditional Jewish food as well as American food (after ritual)
- Reading from the Haggadah
- Music, etc
Please
click here
for information and to register by
April 1
. All are welcome! Hope to see you at this special evening.
|
|
|
The USG Team Works for Justice
at Rebuilding Together Philly
Friday, Saturday, Sunday - April 6, 7 & 8
8:30am - 4:00pm
One volunteer who is not able to help this year remarked, “ I will miss sharing the camaraderie and the feeling of truly meaningful and practical service that this project brings."
JOIN US!
|
|
|
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
|
|
|
DEADLINE FOR DONATIONS: APRIL 2
|
|
|
USG Service Auction
Saturday, April 21,2018
Enjoy appetizers at 5:00pm.
Sign up for poster auction events.
Live auction starts at 6:15pm.
Bid on silent auction items.
Desserts at end of evening.
WE PUT THE FUN IN FUNDRAISING
|
|
|
SAVE THE DATE
Saturday, May 5
The All-Church Dinner
|
|
|
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.
|
|
|
Rebuilding Together Philly Block Build -
WE NEED YOU!
Friday, Saturday, Sunday
April 6, 7, 8
Team USG volunteers for their
8th time
on the weekend of Friday through Sunday, April 6 - 7 - 8, working from 8:30am till 4:00pm all three days. You can volunteer one, two, or all three days.
Join us for rewarding work and pleasant camaraderie!
Interested? Please RSVP to Linda Bernstein at
[email protected]
.
|
|
|
A Gift of Ordination
Ordaining a Minister confers authority onto a spiritual leader to change the world and brings joy and deep satisfaction to a congregation. This year USG has the honor to ordain
two
Ministers. On Saturday, May 19th USG will ordain
McKinley Sims
at our congregation. On Sunday, June 10th we will co-ordain
Connie Simon
with our sister congregation, the First Unitarian Church of Philadelphia. Connie’s ordination will take place at the First Unitarian Church.
We invite you to financially support one or both ordinations
. Please
click here
for more information.
Blessings and Love to you,
Kent
|
|
|
UUPLAN Welcomes A New Director
Richard Williams
, a retired architect and former independent elected Luzerne County Councilman, was selected as the new
Director of UU PA Legislative Advocacy Network (UUPLAN
) beginning in January, 2018. Please
click here
for more information.
|
|
|
Stewardship of Our Community,
Your Community
The Campaign has begun and pledge materials have been mailed, so please
watch for them in your mailbox
.
Members and friends can pledge 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.
|
|
|
Assistance needed to research electronic lock and entry systems
The B&G committee and the Security Task Force are looking for someone to assist them in researching electronic lock and accessible entry systems to improve the security and ease of access to our church building. If you would be interested in working on this project or would like more information, please contact Gloria at
[email protected]
. Knowledge of these systems would be great, but not
required.
|
|
|
One new email address for USG Communications!
For any communications questions or blurbs (
for weekly SPIRIT, CommUUnicator, Sunday Announcements, slide shows, etc.)
we now have
ONE
email address that will reach
both
Gloria and Carolyn:
[email protected]
.
|
|
|
We are excited to announce our new Give+ Text option for making pledge and contribution payments to USG!
|
To give via text, please do the following:
1.Send text to this 10-digit Give+ Text number:
215-607-6191
2.In the message field, put the amount and the fund you wish to donate to, either pledge or stp,
example
: 25 pledge ($25 would be donated to pledge payment) or 30 stp ($30 would be donated to Share The Plate).
3.Press send.
4.You will receive a registration link, click the link and enter your contact and payment information.
5.Tap “Process.”
6.After registration is complete, you will receive a verification text as well as a receipt via email.
For future giving, simply send a text with the amount and fund you wish to give, and it will process automatically.
|
|
|
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 Sullivan Hallway (honest!) 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, [email protected] know. Below is the schedule for
Fellowship Hour Hosting in April.
- April 1 - Welcoming Team?
- April 8 - Village 4
- April 15 - Village 5
- April 22
- April 29
|
|
|
Invitation to All Philly UUs
Join others at the UU Church of the Restoration
for a Social Justice Potluck & Brainstorming Session
Wednesday, March 28, 6:30pm
|
|
|
Announcing...
...A Greater Philly Cluster (GPC) Choral Workshop
to help plan the mass choir repertoire for a GPC music concert next church year.
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
|
|
|
A Greater Philly Cluster (GPC) Workshop
on
"Path to Membership"
Saturday, April 24, 2018
9:00am - 12:00pm
UU Church of Delaware
|
|
|
SAVE THE DATE
Sunday afternoon, April 29
Philadelphia Interfaith Walk for Peace & Reconciliation
|
|
|
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
[email protected]
or Carly Danielsen on Facebook where they maintain an active invite-only activities group.
CAMI (Citizens Against Mass Incarceration)
- Fourth Monday, March 26, 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
.
ERC (Ending Racism Committee)
- First Sunday, April 1, 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). At USG. Welcome to new chair Donya Coldwell! Contact Donya at
[email protected]
.
NEW: Flute Circle for All Ages - Every other Wednesday, 7:00 - 8:00pm, until
April 11.
Next circle March 28. At USG. Please bring your instrument, although some will be available. Contact
Jason Bender.
Humanists - PUSH
-
Philadelphia Unitarian Society of Humanists
, Fourth Sunday, March 25, 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,
NEW MEETING TIME 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, April 4, 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,
[email protected]
, or just show up.
UU-101
-
Please note changes in day and time
:
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
[email protected]
. 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, April 15, 12:00 - 1:30pm.
At USG. Contact
Walt Ceglowski
.
|
|
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
|
|
We are thrilled to announce that...
...Debbie and David Ward
happily welcome grandson
Theo Ward Dunsmore
, born on March 17 at 8 lbs-9 oz. Daughter
Molly
, who grew up in USG, Lee Dunsmore, and baby Theo are all doing well.
|
|
|
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
[email protected]
If you call a caring team member and do not speak directly, leave a voice mail and your call will be returned ASAP.
|
|
|
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
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
