SUMMER UPDATE |August 2022
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August 2022 | 10:00am
Summer Sundays
Rev. Dr. Victoria Weinstein, Parish Minister
Rev. Chris Scheller, Minister of
Community Life and Learning
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Worship with us at 10:00am
in our Air Conditioned Parish Hall
and on Facebook Live!
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Worship will feature a liturgy of healing, sharing, prayer, and meditation. Rev. Chris, will lead our August 7 Summer Sunday, Rev. Vicki will lead the remaining Summer Sundays, with August 28th being a Community Conversation (see details below). There will be no service September 4, Labor Day weekend. Ingathering Sunday is September 11.
Our summer services are more casual than they are the rest of the year: our choir takes a break, our parish minister takes some vacation time, and our formal religious education program for children and youth goes on hiatus until the fall. Children of all ages are always welcome and we have a comfortable playroom for parents who may need to take them out of the service if they get fidgety.
These Summer Sundays will be held in our air conditioned Parish Hall and will be live-streamed on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/UUCGL]. Please note that because of the air conditioning, the live-stream sound quality may be less than expected. The Summer Sundays will not be posted on our YouTube channel. For the morning offertory you may also donate online: uucgl.org/donate.
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Revitalize, Re-Engage
A Community Conversation
August 28 Summer Sunday
As our Sunday gathering for the last weekend in August, I would like to invite the congregation to participate in a Re-Engage/Rejuvenate process. We will begin with a few minutes of centering music and meditation and move into a facilitated conversation about revitalization for our church in 2022-23. Every single one of you is important to this conversation as we discuss our various ministries, how they are (or are not) currently functioning, what is needed to reenergize them (or let them go!), and what role you will play in that renewed vitality. We will provide childcare.
In preparation, I would ask you all to please acquaint yourselves with our Path of Engagement, found on the website under the Membership and Hospitality Ministry Team section here: https://www.uucgl.org/ministry-teams. Where are you, or where will you be, on the Connecting-Engaging – Covenanting-Legacy continuum? Our church’s future depends on everyone taking this question seriously and committing to revitalization of community in 2022-23. The world desperately needs us prepared, and faithfully engaged.
In faith, hope and love,
Rev. Vicki
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UUCGL Office Closed Mondays & Tuesdays
To allow for staff vacations, the office will be closed on Mondays and Tuesdays July 4-September 5. Staff will return your calls or emails as soon as possible each week.
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The next issue: September 11, 2022
Deadline: Wednesday, Sept. 7, 10am
We resume our weekly schedule with this issue.
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Summer Garden Volunteers Needed!
The children in the RE program planted veggies and herbs in the church's raised beds this spring and they need your help keeping the garden tended over the summer! Tasks include watering as needed and harvesting whatever you'd like to enjoy. Sign up to be a garden volunteer at https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0848ABAE2FA2F85-uucgl2. Thank you!
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Reopening Task Force Update
With the rise in Covid cases, including recent cases within our congregation, we urge everyone to continue to exercise caution, even as we begin resuming some of our "normal" activities. A few reminders as we move forward here at UUCGL:
- Masks are not required but are appreciated.
- If you have been exposed to someone who tests positive, please wear a well-fitting mask at church for ten full days after exposure.
- If you test positive and have no symptoms, please stay home for five days and wear a well-fitting mask for ten days.
- If you test positive and have symptoms, please stay home for at least five full days after your symptoms improve and continue to wear a well-fitting mask for ten full days after the positive test.
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Comic Improvisation Workshop
Art & Spirituality series continues!
Sunday, August 7 | 11:15am
Fellowship Room at UUCGL
Regina Millis will lead us in the fine art of improv comedy after worship on Sunday, August 7, at 11:15am. We will explore group games and techniques to tap into our creativity, truly a gift from Spirit, and together find the humor in life. Let's practice not taking ourselves too seriously! Everyone is welcome. No experience is necessary -- just bring an open mind and playful attitude.
Regina Millis has had over 20 years experience in various local improv groups, including King Richard’s Faire, Scurvy Dogs, Pirates of Pickering Wharf, and Stonehenge Productions.
Please RSVP to [email protected] so that we can plan appropriately. This event is open to the larger community, so please feel free to bring a friend and spread the word!
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Wisdom Circle
August 10 | 12-1:30pm
Second Wednesday of each month
Skylight Room
Wisdom Circle is a monthly gathering geared toward seniors to share the perspectives and life experiences of older age. It is intended to be supportive and informative, a program both of faith development and pastoral ministry.
The facilitators are Gloria Kozlosky and Ruth Griffin.
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Dialogue Group
August 14 | 5pm - Zoom
2nd & 4th Sunday each month
[Note: the group will not meet on August 28]
"Dialogue" is a way of practicing deep listening that enables us to share personal experiences and thoughts in a way that collectively builds a more expansive understanding of ourselves and the world around us. Dialogue and the discursive meditation are part of the method of Cafh, a path of spiritual unfolding. Click for more information about the discursive meditation, and Cafh here. You can connect to the Zoom meeting here.
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Ways to Help Our Community |
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Meal Bags for My Brother's Table
Tuesday, August 23 | 6:30-8:30pm
UUCGL Parish Hall
Join us August 23, at 6:30pm in the Parish Hall as we make lunch and dinner bags for My Brother's Table. The bags are given out to the guests to supplement their main meal. We are making 75 lunch bags and 175 dinner bags. It takes about 10 of us a little over an hour to make these bags. If you are interested in helping out, please email Michael at [email protected].
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Food Insecurity in Our Local Communities
How can you help?
Please visit the Social Justice Ministry Team's page here to read about how to contribute food to our partners St. Stephen's Food Pantry and My Brother's Table. Sending a check (or donating online) is very helpful, as is volunteering to unload the truck from the Greater Boston Food Bank at St. Stephen's and helping guests get their bags filled. There are also community refrigerators in Lynn that you can fill with fresh produce and Anchor Food Pantry in Swampscott that also makes it very easy to volunteer.
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Green Sanctuary Ministry Team -
Our Environment and Opportunities
to Take Action
Would you like to do more for our environment? Would you like to find ways that you can help? The Green Sanctuary Ministry Team offers a list of organizations that support the environment and offer opportunities to take action, click here for their resource list. For more information about current and past activities of the UUCGL Green Sanctuary Ministry Team, click here.
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UUCGL Church History Ministry Team
The Church History Team's mission is to preserve, organize, and make available pertinent materials relating to our church. Materials include church relics and documents, such as minister's sermons, annual reports, minutes of the church board, ministry teams and church committees and other church records. The Team usually meets on the first Sunday of each month. Anyone interested in preserving and organizing important church records is welcome to the meetings.
The History Team will be on hiatus for the summer months, but will meet again on Sunday, September 11th. For those who have not yet visited the Lydia Breed retrospective exhibit at the Lynn Museum, we encourage you to make a visit in July or August -- especially on a Second Saturday, when admission is free and a fun art activity is included. To learn more about Lydia Breed click here.
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There are three easy ways to make a donation to the church. Please indicate whether your payment is toward your pledge or for another purpose.
- Send or deliver your check to the church (101 Forest Avenue, Swampscott, MA 01907).
- Set up a bill-pay system with your bank and have the check sent to the above address.
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Donate online. To donate online, click here for our website and click “Donate” in the upper right-hand corner. After you fill in the information page, click “Submit.” You will then be offered options to pay through your PayPal account, if you have one, or through your credit card.
Thank you for your support!
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Stay Connected with UUCGL
Please feel free to reach out to us with any questions or if we can help. Click below to email one of us. Stay well, stay connected!
The Rev. Dr. Victoria Weinstein, Rev. Chris Scheller, MCLL, Mary Gatlin, UUCGL President, Elizabeth Muller, Business Administrator, Angie Kern, Administrative Assistant, Kenneth Griffith, Director of Music, Chris Hansen, Grants Coordinator
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Contact Information Reminder |
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Does the Office Know Your Current
Contact Information?
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Please keep your name, address, phone number, and e-mail current in the church office. E-mail Elizabeth Muller with your correct information.
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Not sure what information we have on file for you?
Call Elizabeth at:
781-595-8836, ext. 10
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Recurring UUCGL Programming |
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Meditation
Group
Mornings
7:30-7:50am Zoom
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All are welcome to be a part of a small group ministry to practice mindfulness meditation. Now more than ever, our connections with each other are vital to our sense of calm and hope. Click here for sign up, more information.
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Dialogue
Group
2nd & 4th Sunday each month
5pm - Zoom
[Note: we will not meet August 28]
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"Dialogue" is a way of practicing deep listening that enables us to share personal experiences and thoughts in a way that collectively builds a more expansive understanding of ourselves and the world around us. Dialogue and the discursive meditation are part of the method of Cafh, a path of spiritual unfolding. Click for more information about the discursive meditation, and Cafh here. You can connect to the Zoom meeting here.
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Wisdom
Circle
2nd Wednesday each month
12-1:30pm
at UUCGL
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A monthly gathering geared toward seniors to share the perspectives and life experiences of older age. All are welcome, even if you have not participated before. More information can and be found on our website in our Lifelong Learning page. For meeting information contact Gloria Kozlosky or Ruth Griffin.
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Sunday Schedule
Fellowship Hour: 11am
(781) 595-8836
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