*~*~* UUC HAPPENINGS *~*~* |
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Important Information
As we continue to adhere to guidelines of avoiding gatherings of 10 or more people, we invite you to join us for virtual Sunday services via Zoom.
We appreciate everyone's support, kindness and patience. Thank you for joining us, wherever you are!
The Zoom link is the same one for all upcoming Sunday services.
Join Zoom Meeting @ 10:30 am, Sunday, April 4, 2021
Meeting ID: 967 1190 1492
You can also join from your landline or cell phone by calling 301 715 8592 and entering 967 1190 1492 when prompted to enter the meeting ID.
Sermon:
Rev. Dave Franks, Pulpit and Pastoral Care Minister
"Throw Stars"
Worship Associate: Margie Manning
Technical Support: Jeremy Dillow
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SHARE A JOY….SHARE A SORROW
Each Sunday, we pause to lift-up those times in our lives when joy either caught us by surprise or met us as a moment we awaited with anticipation and life felt good. We drop a stone to remember those moments. We follow those stones with those we carry for whom life is having too much of its way with us, sometimes from losses or burdens to weighty to carry on one’s own. We drop a stone to remember those moments of sorrow. We drop such stones as a way of sharing our lives together in covenant.
By clicking on the link below, you have the opportunity to share such joys and sorrows in this Sunday’s service. The joy or sorrow you name will be read during the service and a stone dropped in the vase.
Link for a Joy or Sorrow submission:
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2021-2022 STEWARDSHIP NEWS |
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Dear Members and Friends,
The 2021-2022 Stewardship Campaign is rapidly approaching the deadline and we’re almost to our goal. UUC needs you to act now. Please respond to your steward, mail in a paper pledge form, or pledge online at www.uuc.org/giving today!
The newsletter shows how the current budget supports UUC, the vision for UUC’s future, and testimonials from members sharing their reasons for their continued support. Please know that your pledge, no matter the amount, is critical to building and maintaining our beloved community.
With love, light, and hope,
Bill Norsworthy and Sally Otto, Campaign Co-chairs
Lauren Logan, Editor
Are you interested in contributing, but have questions?
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NOTE: IF YOU MISS A SERVICE, BE SURE TO CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE -- we typically post them the week after the service.
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Update on Policy Review
April 2, 2021
Last fall, the UUC Board of Trustees established a task force to revise and update existing UUC policies.
The task force, currently made up of Margie Manning and April Cook, has developed a policy handbook ("UUC Policy Handbook"). The draft form of this handbook was reviewed and approved by the Board of Trustees on March 24, 2021. The approved UUC Policy Handbook has now been posted in the members section of the UUC website (https://www.uuc.org/members).
Language was added to some existing policies to take into account that we are operating largely in an online world. Some policies were revised to eliminate confusing wording or to eliminate references to committees or teams that no longer exist. The membership policy was expanded to include our focus on covenantal relationships.
The handbook does not currently include the children’s religious enrichment safety policy and procedures. The task force is working with Reverend Roberta and Meredith Olson, transitional director of religious enrichment, as well as with board vice president Sally Otto, to revise that policy. When that work is completed it also will be presented to the board for consideration.
Gratitude to all who helped with this work, offering perspectives on current practices, as well as to David Anderson, who formerly served on the task force.
-Margie Manning
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COVID VACCINE
For those Pinellas County residents interested in information regarding the COVID-19 vaccine rollout (including how to register to receive the vaccine), click on the link below:
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Open Issues
Sunday, April 4, 2021
This Sunday, Meredith Olsen will talk to us about how Unitarianism and Universalism went from being Christian denominations to including more sources of wisdom (history of the six UU sources). Discussion following.
Join us via Zoom at 9:30 (you can join a few minutes early):
Zoom link: Join Zoom Meeting
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Covid-19 Community Outreach
April Recipient: Coalition of Immokalee Workers
We are wrapping up the March collection for the Haven of HVA as of March 31st. We thank all those who have donated to the Haven, the money will be put to good use! On April 1st we will start collecting donations for the Coalition of Immokalee Workers.
Almost 30 years ago, a group of 6 farmworkers met to develop ways to obtain more humane working conditions in the tomato fields of Immokalee. Today, the Coalition of Immokalee has created conditions that the world can be proud of. The Coalition of Immokalee Workers (CIW) has eliminated human trafficking, modern day slavery, sub-poverty wages and physical and sexual abuse in their tomato fields. They have received many national and international awards because of their outstanding accomplishments.
In their quest for their rights they called on people of faith to help them. Members of UUC joined with them to support the Taco Bell boycott which began in 2005.
Today, UUC needs to follow their long tradition of supporting the CIW. Recent events have brought them 2 emergencies outside the fields. The first is the murder of Nicholas Morales who was shot by the Collier County sheriff. The second is the urgent need to demand immunizations for the workers. They will be heading North to pick other crops in a few weeks. If they are not immunized before they leave, they will not have an opportunity to be vaccinated until they return to Florida in the Fall. Let's help them add to the fund for young Nicholas and to campaign for having vaccines available to them.
If you would like to help us with this effort, you may donate online:
Text Giving is also possible: (727) 500-2410
Be sure to choose "Coalition of Immokalee Workers" from the drop-down menu.
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SPIRITUAL POTPOURRI
Friday, April 2, 2021
Friday April 2, we will take time to share what this time year means to us. Come and share remembrances of how you have celebrated the spring holidays in the past, and how you do that now! Whether it is a complicated time, or simply a wonderful time to think about renewal...let's have fun together virtually!
Save the date: Friday April 9, Jay Hardman will come and share his deep knowledge about the Tocabaga Indians that lived in Pinellas County . Eloise will share her knowledge as well.
=> If you have trouble logging in, please let Kathy Krohn know <=
Everyone is welcome, always.
Hope you can join us!
Join Zoom Meeting (every Friday, at 1:00 PM)
Meeting ID: 984 4209 0304
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Join us for Digital Coffee Hour every Sunday (right after service on Sundays). It's located in the same Zoom meeting as the service.
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IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT ONLINE GIVING and PLEDGING
In lieu of our traditional collection baskets that you see during the Offertory on Sundays, we are trying out some different ways to make online donating easier. You may also try:
Text Giving
(727) 500-2410
If you prefer to donate online, feel free to click the button below.
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A Note from the Care Circle
April...a month of many gifts (spring flowers reaching for the vibrant blue sky comes to my mind). It's the official month to observe Hope and Humor, among other things (and we've surely needed both of those this past year!). One of those other "officially observed" this month is Diversity. Ms. Angelou says it best:
In diversity there is beauty and there is strength. -Maya Angelou
If you need short-term assistance from the UUC Care Circle for your injuries or illnesses, please contact co-chairs Susan Hegner or Eloise Hardman, or the UUC Office (727) 531-7704.
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Compassion & Choices Meeting
Thursday, April 8, 2021 @ 1:30 - 3:00 PM via Zoom
Our Compassion & Choices meeting for Thursday, April 8th, from 1:30 – 3 pm will feature a video, Bob’s Choice: Why a Seattle Man Chose Death with Dignity, about a man exercising his end-of-life choice for MAID.
You may join our Zoom meeting at 1:25 pm We will start the content promptly! I look forward to seeing you then.
Meeting ID: 996 0046 0913
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PASTORAL CARE
Please remember that Pastoral Care is still available if you need it. To connect with one of our dedicated Pastoral Associates, please call the office (727-531-7704, Ext. 5). Rev. David Franks is also on hand to provide assistance to those who need him (contact a Pastoral Associate, who will help you get in touch with him).
Sally Otto: March 29 - April 4
Kathy Krohn: April 5 - April 11
Susan Hegner: April 12 - April 18
Sally Otto: April 19 - April 25
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Racial Justice Group Meeting
April 3, 2021 @ 3:30 PM via Zoom
The Racial Justice Group will meet April 3rd at 3:30 pm. We are going to discuss the video about the 8th principle.
Find us at Zoom
Meeting ID: 912 0606 9880
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FAST Nehemiah is a Huge Success! |
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Linda Stoller and Larilyn Pittman (pictured above) attended the FAST Nehemiah in the parking lot of Sacred Heart Catholic Church.
Over 2000 people from over 40 congregations attended the FAST Nehemiah in the parking lot and by zoom. 167 members and friends from UUC registered for the event. We cheered the CEOs from local organizations who established a phone number which can serve as a beginning of the unified access for mental health services and asked the county administrator to work with these agencies. We celebrated the police chiefs of Clearwater, the Sheriff, and others to committed to work with us to improve the adult diversion program and got two commissioners to commit to prioritizing people who make $56,000 or less for affordable housing. For more detailed information on the Nehemiah please click here.
Thanks go to our UUC FAST Team Leaders Bruce Gotts, Lore Eargle, Doug Norcross and Linda Stoller for their hard work and commitment to justice in our community. Finally, a thanks to the UUC FAST network members for holding FAST to their UU values and showing up to make a difference in our larger community.
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Religious Enrichment
TORCH
TORCH, the youth group, will meet in-person at UUC on Sunday, April 4 at 1:00-2:00pm. Al Swinyard and Aryna Ryan will be the advisors present.
If you have a question or are interested in Religious Enrichment at UUC,
e-mail Meredith at re@uuc.org or call them at (727) 531-7704, ext. 205.
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