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Shakem Akhet speaking at the Feb. 9th memorial drum circle for our friend, Black Lives Matter activist Muhiyidin Moye d'Baha.
Photo credit: Jeremy Rutledge
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February 14, 2019
Dear Friends,
Black History Month, as I understand it, is a time to commit ourselves to learning histories that we need to know and telling stories that we need to tell. This week, I'll reflect on Pauli Murray, one of our greatest American voices yet still relatively unknown. Writing in The New Yorker last year, Kathryn Shulz described her in the following words:
"A poet, writer, activist, labor organizer, legal theorist, and Episcopal priest, Murray palled around in her youth with Langston Hughes, joined James Baldwin at the MacDowell Colony the first year it admitted African-Americans, maintained a twenty-three-year friendship with Eleanor Roosevelt, and helped Betty Friedan found the National Organization for Women. Along the way, she articulated the intellectual foundations of two of the most important social-justice movements of the twentieth century: first, when she made her argument for overturning Plessy, and, later, when she co-wrote a law-review article subsequently used by a rising star at the A.C.L.U.-one Ruth Bader Ginsburg-to convince the Supreme Court that the Equal Protection Clause applies to women."
I'd like to focus on Murray's faith as the wellspring of her work. And her poetry, which I've been reading, and which has taken my breath away.
With aloha,
Jeremy
Texts: Luke 6.17-26
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Conversations in Faith
February 17 and 24, 9:45 a.m.
Join us in the Wingard room as we do a second screening of "Walk with Me" for those who did not get a chance to watch it at Circular's movie night.
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The movie is a "...meditative film about a community of Zen Buddhist monks and nuns who have dedicated their lives to mastering the art of mindfulness with their world-famous teacher Thich Nhat Hanh." (IMDb) We will watch it in two parts, with time for discussion after each.
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3rd Sunday Book Club Meets Feb. 17
We'll be discussing Jon Meacham's The Soul of America led by Carter Hudgins, at the Hudgins' home at 70 Bull St. after the 11am service on Feb 17. All are invited!
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Parenting Group,
Sundays at 9:45 a.m.
We have begun our study of Jesus and Buddha: Paths to Awakening. The Four Noble Truths are the distilled essence of Buddhist teaching. The wisdom found in these Truths is closely related to the wisdom found in the teachings of Jesus.
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Learn from two masterful teachers, who explore the parallels between these two paths to spiritual awakening. Hear and see in new ways and allow yourself to awaken to God's presence in every detail of your daily life.
All parents are welcome to join us in Jeremy's office for this thought-provoking journey. Drop in at anytime during the study and we hope to see you on Sunday!
Contact
[email protected]
with questions and
if you would like to be added to the Parenting Group Facebook page (our primary means of communication).
Circular's Parenting Group meets Sundays at 9:45 a.m. in Jeremy's office on the first floor of the Meeting House (close to the elevator). The nursery is open and Sunday school classes meet at the same time.
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Vote for Circular in Best of Charleston 2019
It has been a few years since we last won Best Place of Worship in The City Paper's Best of Charleston.
Cast your ballot to help Circular win once again! You'll find our category in the Attractions and City Living section.
Voting ends Tuesday, March 5th. |
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Follow-up to Maria Popova Sermon
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Dining for Women
February 21
Join us in supporting DFW with their February's grant (see below) with your donation to DFW.
Thursday, February 21st, at 6:30 p.m.
Meeting and pot luck dinner at the home of Lucy Maxwell: 642 Royall Avenue, Mt. Pleasant, SC 29464. 843-884-5049 (Can park in driveway/backyard).
In March we plan to celebrate the start of our 6th year with a special celebration!
Project Title:
A Holistic Approach to Menstrual Hygiene Management
Location:
Mara Region, Tanzania
Grant Amount:
$49,995 (over two years)
Grantee Website:
www.majisafigroup.org
Areas of Impact:
Education, Gender Equality
Mission of Maji Safi Group -
Maji Safi Group's mission is to promote health and disease prevention in underserved and impoverished areas through holistic community empowerment and by working predominantly with local women and youth.
Project Summary -
Maji Safi Group aims to reduce the stigma related to Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM), decrease school absence rates related to menstruation, increase the self-confidence of young women in rural Tanzania, and give them access to a variety of female WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) products, including sustainable menstrual cups.
Why We Love This Project -
We love Maji Safi Group's long history of participatory community development on public health issues in the Mara region of Tanzania. This project will positively impact the education of adolescent girls by keeping them in school and encouraging leadership and self-esteem, while reducing the cultural stigma around menstrual hygiene and providing sustainable menstrual cups.
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Family Movie Night Friday, March 1
Join us for our next Circular Family Movie Night Friday, March 1 at 6:00 p.m. when we'll gather to watch Wes Anderson's 2009 classic, "Fantastic Mr. Fox."
As always, everyone is welcome, pajamas are appropriate attire, and/or capes and bandit hats (if you've seen the film). Parents, the film is rated PG for cartoon fighting and suspense.
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FANTASTIC MR. FOX - Official Theatrical Trailer
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6:00 pm - social time with $3 pizza slices and $1 drinks.
6:30 pm - screening begins.
RSVP to [email protected] if you're able so we have a sense of how much pizza to order. Please include any special dietary needs. |
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Centering Prayer Retreat at Circular
March 9th,
9 am - 3 pm in Upper Lance Hall
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Centering Prayer is a meditative practice that opens up new ways of being in the world. This practice has ancient Christian roots, yet is not well known in most Christian circles.
Drawing from the work of Cynthia Bourgeault and the Center for Action and Contemplation, Evelyn Oliveira will facilitate this retreat. She will give some background information about Centering Prayer as well as direction so that participants may practice together.
This will be a mostly silent retreat, with some instruction, direction and chants spread out throughout the day.
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A simple vegetarian lunch is included. The cost for the retreat, including a catered lunch, is $15. Register early!
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Circular's Mission Fund: Helping You Help Others
What would you like to do here in Charleston to address human need, challenge injustice or racism, counteract forces of poverty, promote health and healing, or perform a ministry of reconciliation and peace-making?
Circular can help make your idea a reality. We have a Mission Fund that provides grants to financially support our members' new outreach ideas and a Mission Fund Committee to help you develop your ideas and provide guidance.
Please be thinking about a project you'd like to work on. The Mission Fund Committee will be accepting new grant applications this Spring from February 25 until March 22, 2019, and we look forward to working with you!
Details are on our website.
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The Charlestones Return to Circular
February 16 at 7:00 p.m.
Charleston's premier a cappella quartet returns to Circular for their 5th annual Love Is in the Air concert! Featuring a cappella love songs in genres from Renaissance to jazz, Broadway to barbershop, and country to pop, there's something for everyone!
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"Frederick Douglass . . . No Turning Back"
Sunday, Feb. 17, 4:00 p.m. at Circular
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Presented by Actors' Theatre of South Carolina
for Black History Month.
"...commanding...an American hero...uplifting...." Chase Ferren, Post & Courier.
"...a theatrical triumph...so real...so raw and poignant...one of the best
performances of the Spoleto season of 2017..."
Mark Leon, Charleston Daily
, 2017
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Frederick Douglass, one of our greatest American heroes, was an
electrifying orator, abolitionist, Christian leader, and newspaper
editor. He thrilled audiences across America and England in his quest
to abolish slavery and create true freedom in America.
Douglass was a slave until he escaped at age 20 in 1838, and soon
began his astounding accomplishments as a stunning and eloquent agent
of social reform. He could have chosen to live in Europe, but he felt
God called him to create freedom for all people in America, so he
returned and spent his life praying for and challenging our society.
Douglass' newspaper The North Star's motto was "Right is of no Sex -
Truth is of no Color - God is the Father of us all, and we are all
brethren."
Kyle Taylor, who stars as Mr. Douglass, has appeared in theater
productions in New York City and Los Angeles. The play is compiled and
directed by Chris Weatherhead.
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The Citadel Gospel Choir: "An Evening of Inspiration and Unity"
Sunday, February 24, 4:00pm
Summerall Chapel, The Citadel
Free admission and parking.
Open to everyone.
Circular member Conway Saylor extends this invitation and writes,
"The unity concert concept grew out of an initiative our mission grant helped support two years ago and I like to keep reminding people about the impact and the opportunity to share in the joy. THANKS."
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Thank you Bart Saylor, and choir for leading worship last Sunday.
2-17 8:30 special music by Patty Pearce.
9:30 choir rehearsal singing, Music for Quieting, "Sweet Hour of Prayer", and Anthem, "Brother James's Air"
arr. by Jacob.
Thank you to choir members for their help in supporting our choir family member, Michael Laird and partner Vanessa Moody-Laird.
Marilyn
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Helping
a
Circular Family
Vanessa Moody-Laird took a fall on Sunday, February 3rd and fractured her left ankle and right foot in three places. Michael is her care giver and would appreciate some assistance that would help the family manage during this challenging time.
Michael drives their children (Silas age 8 and Darby age 12) to Mt. Pleasant for classes on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays. A sitter is needed to visit with Vanessa from about 4 PM to 6 PM on these days while Michael transports the boys.
Please sign up to provide a visit (4:00 - 6:00 p.m) and/or a simple meal at TakeThemAMeal.com.
Recipient last name:
Moody-Laird
. Password:
Vanessa
.
Click Find.
Click Let's Go.
For those who want to help but are not able to visit, meal delivery through
Uber Eats or
Grubhub is an option to consider.
To reach Michael and Vanessa:
Michael Laird & Vanessa Moody-Laird
Vanessa:
770-608-0009,
Michael: 770-855-1393,
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Feb. 14 - 27
Rev. Clara Benson
570-220-6596
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Worship
Leaders & Volunteers
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Charlotte Hope
TBD (8:30)
Bruce Tyndall (11:00)
Conway Saylor,
Ellen Morrow (8:30)
Sue & Skip Johnson
(11:00)
Liturgist:
Barbara Cole
Children's Welcome:
Conway Saylor
Fellowship Hosts:
TBD
(8:30)
Carie Tyndall (11:00)
Freida McDuffie
Jamie George
Podcast Recorder & Editor
David Wyanski
Closer:
Stu Kimball
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Newsletter submissions are due before noon on Tuesdays
for inclusion in same week's newsletter to
Please note that pieces should be sent ready to print along with any graphics, images, links, and related documents to be included.
Please keep submissions brief and include your contact information.
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