January 22, 2023

10:30 am

“BLUU GENES FOR UNITARIAN UNIVERSALISM”

Speakers: Rev. Mel Hoover & Rev. Rose Edington

Celebrant: James Heard

Melvin Hoover will be presenting alongside his wife Rev. Rose Edington, who wrote a dissertation on that period in the 60's when the UUA lost a tradition of heavy membership and participation from People of Color. It covers the recent decades of effort to "widen the circle of concern", an effort in which Mel was at the center and in the lead.

Mel is a recipient of the Unitarian Universalist Association’s annual Distinguished Service Award in recog­nition of his work in anti-racism, anti-oppression, community-building, gender equality and environmental jus­tice.

For many years Mel served as the director of the UUA’s Faith in Action Department and as a member of the UUA Executive Council. Mel also served as co­-minister of the UU Congregation of Charleston, WV, with his wife, the Rev. Rose Edington.

Rose's ministry has primarily been to UU congregations. Her Doctor of Ministry thesis in Feminist Liberation Theology centered on the role of the UU minister in congregational antiracism work. As an expression of their ongoing involvement in social justice concerns, in retirement, Mel and Rose co-founded MelRose Ministries for Positive Transformational Change. Now living in Bellingham WA, they co-lead, with minister Paul Beckel and RE Director Genia Allen-Schmid BUF's "Widening the Circle" study. 

This is 4th Sunday for Social Justice. Your offering will go to Jan - BLUU  Donations to Black Lives of UU go to helping us live out our Mission & Vision in the world.

Services are in person 10:30 am at the Fellowship, 500 W Section St, Mount Vernon and on Zoom

If attending services in our building

You need to be fully vaccinated and boosted against COVID-19 per the current CDC guidelines. 

 Masks are still to be worn during the service and masks are now optional during coffee hour. Do NOT attend if you have had a runny nose or cough or fever in the previous 5 days.  

Services coming in January

Jan 29

Matt Meyer

Drum service

SUUF Events and news

Ritual at Old Year’s End: A Composting Communion  Rev. Bruce Bode's January 1, 2023 service. The congregation wrote their thoughts on the past year or hopes for the new year and placed them in a bowl. Rev. Bode then added the compost to the tree that Rev. Lena Breen planted in the backyard.

From Rosemary Stevens

The Anacortes SUUF group will meet on Friday, January 20 at Lori Keuffel's home. If you live in the Anacortes area and didn't get an email regarding this, please contact me. Rosemary

If you became a member recently and didn't sign the 'Membership Book", please do so. This archives our members and is used to determine our dues to the UUA. See me for questions. 

Happy January birthdays!!! Best wishes to Valerie, Lily, Dundas, Yolanda, Jim, Joy, Bethany, and any others celebrating your special day this month.

SUUF Movie Night!!

SUUF Movie Night is the 2nd Saturday of the month

Come join the fun!

Doors open at 7pm, movie starts at 7:30pm

SUUF Zoom Links For This Week

(Click on an item during the meeting time to attend.)

Sunday, January 22, 10:30 AM | Sunday Service 

Tuesday, January 24, 5:30 PM | Covenant Circle



Thursday, February 9, 6:30 PM | Board Meeting

The Covenant Circle is a mid-week gathering, a chance to chat and share with others outside of the Sunday service.

Covenant Circle 

Tuesdays at 5:30. All are welcome! The conversation is wide-ranging and easygoing. ("Who could ask for anything more?")

Zoom link here

Passcode: 407993

4th Sunday recipients list

You can send your donation using our online donation link or by mailing a check to SUUF.

Feb - Wise Caregivomg -  offers workshops, retreats, and presentations to help professional and private caregivers thrive in today’s challenging environment.

Mar -: SFEG

 Apr - Familia Unidas por la Justica

^{May - OPOP One parish One prisoner}

Jun - Helping hands foodbank

Hospitality

If you are attending services in person, drinks or snacks that you bring to share are much appreciated

News from SUUF members and Friends This space awaits a photo or poem or news or reminiscence from you when you're ready. Email your contributions to the office.

A poem for 2023, Author unknown

Why do we start a new year, with promises to improve?

Who began this tradition of never-ending pressure?

I say, the end of a year should be filled with congratulations, for all we survived.

And I say a new year should start with promises to be kinder to ourselves, to understand better just how much we bear, as humans on this exhausting treadmill of life.

And if we are to promise more, let’s pledge to rest, before our bodies force us.

Let’s pledge to stop, and drink in life as it happens.

Let’s pledge to strip away a layer of perfection to reveal the flawed and wondrous humanity we truly are inside.

Why start another year, gifted to us on this earth, with demands on that already over-strained humanity,

When we could be learning to accept that we were always supposed to be imperfect.

And that is where the beauty lives, actually.

And if we can only find that beauty, we would also find peace.

I wish you peace in 2023.

Everything else is all just a part of it.

Let it be so.

Kathy R-Z

As a Californian, the shapes of disasters in the west are familiar. I have lived through fires and floods, mudslides and earthquakes. I recall vividly the canoes folks paddled through my low-lying middle school in the early 80’s when it wouldn’t stop raining, but I had no experience growing up of blizzards or hurricanes and I didn’t understand how damaging they could be. Now that I live in the east, I am often surprised that folks here are so removed from events that impact me viscerally.

At times like these, I’m especially grateful for the UUA Disaster Relief Fund, which is available to congregations impacted by disaster. Congregations can apply for funds to make repairs, help impacted members, or their local community. As the climate changes and extreme weather events become more frequent, we are here to support one another. We are here to help even when our sibling communities are facing disasters we don’t fully understand. 

We will share more information about UU congregations affected by these storms as we have it. If your congregation has been impacted by the rains in California, consider reaching out for support. And if you would like to help, please consider making a disaster fund gift today.

In the most trying times, we are here for one another. When the world turns upside down, your congregation and community are not alone. Such a blessing.

May your 2023 be safe and warm.

In faith,

Rev. Lauren Smith

Director of Stewardship and Development

Should your congregation wish to hold a special collection for the Disaster Relief Fund, a slide has been created for your use.

Find this slide (PDF) and more info on UUA.org. 

Doris Brevoort

WA Environmental Justice Legislative Summit

January 28, 2023    9:00 am -1:00 pm

January 28^th, JUUstWA will be networking with WA legislators. This year they will be addressing climate change, salmon recovery, the breaching of the Lower Snake River dams and other environmental justice issues. (Legislative summits for other issues are being still being developed and will be held at later dates). For more information an agenda contact: Brenda Cook, [email protected] or (360) 424-5003.

Sad news. Long-time member Joy Lindberg passed away on her 95th birthday January 11 at her home following a celebration with friends and family. She will be remembered fondly at SUUF, and her lovely, generous spirit will live on in our hearts. Joy made many contributions to SUUF. She organized the annual craft shows, counted the offering, helped in the office, and much more. She is missed. Our condolences to her daughter and husband Karen and Ray Powell.

The contact person for OPOP (One Parish, One Prisoner) is Eileen Gribble.

Community events and news

Your OPOP (One Parish One Prisoner) is Eileen Grimble