"The River"
Sunday Service, May 31, 10;30 AM

Speaker: Rev. Barbara Davenport
Celebrant: Rosemary Stevens
Reader: Peggy Bissell
"Truth"
What is truth and how can we tell truth from falsehood? An oft quoted Biblical quote is: “You shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free." For UUs perhaps the dictionary definition of truth ”that which is in accordance with fact or reality” has more relevance. We’ll explore methods we use to separate truth from falsehood and their consequences. 
Sunday Service On-Line
Regular Sunday services are offered on-line for the duration of this emergency.

We haven't found a way to transmit snacks and coffee, but otherwise we will reconstitute much of the experience of coming to the Fellowship.

The technology platform we're adopting, called Zoom, lends itself to a participatory experience.

We will be together at the same time. We will see each other, talk in turn, chat, listen, and watch. It will be like a campfire for the dispersed.
How to Attend Services On-Line
On Sunday morning you will get a brief e-mail from us with a link. That link will take you to the meeting and will automatically enter the password.

The link will also appear in the Announcements from the prior week.

Here is an invitation to Sunday's meeting
Topic: Sunday Service Truth
Time: May 31, 2020 10:30 AM Pacific Time (US and Canada)

The Zoom link will be emailed to you on Sunday!

The first time you use it, Zoom will ask to download and install its own app.

If that installation doesn't succeed, you will have the option to access the meeting through your regular web browser. It's not as good, but it works.
SUUF Grounds Thank you Pat and Dave Young for your hard work and for hauling away an entire pickup load of weeds and grass last Tuesday.
Still more to do. SUUF friends and members are all welcome to help keep the fellowship looking presentable. With the 6' social distancing in place, we might work at whatever time works for individuals instead of the traditional work party. Work on the area that looks like it needs improvement! Bring some tools to weed, prune, rake or what floats your boat. Thanks for your help! Pete
The Sunday morning GA worship will include a Community COVID Memorial. If you have lost someone to COVID-19, and would like to have their name honored during this service, please send your loved one’s name, UU congregation (if any) and age (if known), no later than June 20th to [email protected] .
Dear Skagit UU Fellowship,

We have a big experiment coming up for the Unitarian Universalist Association and that is our first ever Virtual General Assembly (GA) – our annual gathering of UUs from across our congregations and across the world – happening June 24-28! I invite you, as leaders in your congregation, to register for virtual GA and to share the invitation with your congregation.
Register for Virtual General Assembly Two weeks ago, I got a taste of some of the powerful content that will be a part of virtual GA when I participated in the UU the Vote: How We Thrive online event. It began with a rendition of “We Shall Be Known” by MaMuse performed by the UU the Vote choir and conducted by the incredible Jen Hayman, Music Director at All Souls Church Unitarian in Washington, D.C.

As the music began, my eyes filled with tears. To hear Unitarian Universalists from all over the country, many of whom I know and love, singing in a virtual space and being able to sing along with them – it moved my heart and spirit in a way that only music can. I needed it.

There are so many things I miss in this time of physical distance. There have also been beautiful, unexpected gifts. It is my hope that we will continue with some of the new ways we’ve found to gather even after this pandemic, because we’ve found them to be inclusive and meaningful. This includes opportunities created by a 100% virtual General Assembly.

For example, I invite your congregation to make GA Sunday Morning Worship your service on June 28. The Rev. Joan Javier Duval, minister of the Unitarian Church of Montpelier, Vermont, is leading the service, along with the Rev. Mykal Slack, Community Minister for Worship and Spiritual Care for Black Lives of Unitarian Universalism (BLUU), and Benjie Messer, Music Director at the UU Congregation of Phoenix who will lead the over 140 member virtual choir! I’ve also been told that Ysaÿe Barnwell and Emma’s Revolution will perform during the service.
Imagine 1,000 UU congregations and 100,000 UUs
sharing worship that reaches across the globe!
The service will stream live two times on Sunday, at 10 a.m. Eastern/9 a.m. Central and again at 10 a.m. Pacific/11 a.m. Mountain. Imagine having 1,000 congregations and 100,000 UU’s sharing worship that reaches across the globe!

I am excited to experience and learn from our virtual business sessions. This year, the reduced costs may make it possible for every congregation to send a delegate to GA. What will we learn from this experience that we can carry forward to continue to have the governance of the Association be more widely participatory and inclusive?

As always, GA will feature prominent leaders from within and beyond our tradition. I am looking forward to the Ware Lecture by Naomi Klein, as well as our Featured Speaker Series that includes authors such as Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz, Robyn Henderson-Espinoza, Howard Bryant, and Unitarian Universalists Rosemary Bray McNatt and Elías Ortega (Presidents of Starr King School for the Ministry and Meadville Lombard Theological School, respectively), and former UUA President John Buehrens.

While I will dearly miss being in person with thousands of Unitarian Universalists, I am excited about the opportunity virtual GA offers for more people to be a part of the conversations, inspiration, and connection of GA. We are definitely learning as we go. Trying to pull off a large-scale virtual event in such a short time, in the midst of a global pandemic, is an enormous lift. So I remember my own words: “Perfection is not the goal.” Connection, community, spiritual growth, love, and justice – these are the values that guide us and bring us together.

Thank you for amplifying the information for GA with your congregation. I hope you and your congregation will participate in new ways through the new opportunities available at this year’s virtual General Assembly.

Yours in community,

Susan
P.S. The UUA Board of Trustees is hosting webinars on What to Expect at GA 2020 .

Doris Brevoort has begun hosting the Covenant Circle as a midweek Zoom meeting. C hatter and chitchat with your cherished chums at Wonderful Wednesdays at One.

Topic: Wonderful Wednesdays at One

Time: June 3, 2020 01:00 PM Pacific Time

The Zoom Link will be emailed to you on Wednesday!
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.
We recently attended this webinar presentation by Dr. Doug Tallamy on Native keystone plants...feed insects, birds and other wildlife that are lifes web. 
Here is the YouTube version. Hope you get a chance to watch it if you haven't already seen it. Brenda and Dundas 
Happy May birthdays!!!  Best wishes to Laura, Ashley, Marsha, Anneliese, Pat, Patti, and any others celebrating your special day this month.
Helping Kindness: a note received from Tatum Kenn

Hope all is well, 

Just wanted to put it out there that if there's anyone in our Congregation who is at-risk and would like assistance with receiving groceries or other goods, if handed a list and money, I can make some trips.  

Best, Tatum.

Volunteer for the Ad-Hoc Program Committee

While we ride through this epidemic we will be holding ourselves together as a community through new varieties of activity. Interested in help to create and roll out some new approaches to spiritual enlightenment, social interaction, and the pursuit of justice? E-mail us.
Skagit Unitarian Universalist Fellowship (SUUF)
PO Box 1203
Mount Vernon, WA 98273

Here's the address above for mailing pledge checks and donations. Thank you for your continuing support!
Activities hosted at Diversity Hall ( See flyers and information posted on the Renters Bulletin Board in the hall.)
Cancelled -Spiritual Movement Exploration
With Andra Heath
March 16, 23, 30.  

We will come together weekly for some light instruction about how the human body moves. Then together we explore movements to enhance the spirit within us. Finally, self-exploration is encouraged. Find your own "feel-good" movements as music plays in the background. It is for all ages.
Come for;    Emotional and Physical Healing
Comradery
better Mobility
and just plain Feeling Good. 
5 weekly sessions each Monday night in March 2020 7:00pm – 8:30pm
Suggested donation $5 each week or $20 for all 5 weeks paid in advance.

Kadampa Meditation - cancelled
Saturday, May 23, 9:30 am to 1:30 pm
Drop-in class in meditation and modern Buddhism
For more information call 206-526-9565 or visit website below.
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Office Administrator, Newsletter : Claire Phillips [email protected] Hours: Tue. & Thur. 12-4 pm

Worship Team Leader : Sally Riggers [email protected]

Board contact: Jim Heard [email protected]
Skagit Unitarian Universalist Fellowship
500 West Section St.
PO Box 1203
Mount Vernon, WA 98273