As of Thursday, June 4 at 5pm,

we have received pledges from 52 households.

Current pledges total $212,355.00

Thank you very much to all who have pledged.

If you haven't yet, we need you because we are all in this together .

We GROW in search of wisdom,

we CARE in support of community, we ACT in service of justice.

This Sunday at 1st UU: June 7th

Sunday Service 11AM

Looking for a Sign of Hope: Bridging

Six seniors are graduating this year: Lia Deasy, David Heinen,

Ben Lee, Elena Marshel, Luke Wojahn and Jake Wojahn.

You will hear the kind and powerful voices of generation Z speak on their experience in our community, what it is like to be graduating

in a time of COVID 19 and the death of George Floyd.

Religious Education News

Please contact Rhonda Wingfield

Children's Chapel

Chalice Lighting Time

What do you think might happen if

Two Rivers got into an argument?

Join your friends for an interactive

time of meditation and a story.

Bring your chalices!

Sundays, 10:30 am

Look for an email on Saturday with links to both services.

"Bring-Your-Own" Coffee Hour to immediately follow the 11 am Sunday Service, here

You can find our prior services on our YouTube channel, here . And while you're there, please click on the subscribe button. Thanks!

Desi Is On The Move!

Our beloved Administrator Desiree Woodson is opening a new chapter in her life, becoming a Spiritual Director and Mentor. After 12 years we want to celebrate all she has done in her administrator role, help her transition to community member and offer appreciation to her. Join us in the first few minutes of coffee hour on Jun 14th, 5 minutes after the end of service.

How You Can Support 1st UU Richmond

As we have learned that gathering in person is going to be a longer way off than any of us hoped, we continue to be called into community and into supporting this congregation.

Giving reminds us that we are not alone.

It is a tangible reminder that we are part of a community that needs our gifts and offerings. You have the opportunity to provide consistent financial stewardship for this congregation in several ways. Here are a few options:

GivePlus+

With GivePlus+ you can quickly and easily give to First UU using your smartphone. Just go to your favorite app store, download the GivePlus+ app, and follow the prompts

 

Text to Give

The number has been updated to 844-207-5634.

On our website

Click on the DONATE button to make an immediate donation; or visit us here to commit to ongoing support https://richmonduu.org/giving/pledge-form/

 

Write a check and mail it to First UU

First Unitarian Universalist Church

Attn: Bookkeeper

1000 Blanton Ave.

Richmond, VA 23221

SHARE THE PLATE

The Share the Plate beneficiary for June 2020 is the Richmond SPCA, nominated by the First UU High School Class. They have prepared this explanation:

The Richmond SPCA, founded in 1891, holds forth a bold mission: “At all times and in every way, we are advocates for animals. We provide for their safety and comfort, strive to alleviate their suffering and work to place them in homes that provide a responsible lifetime commitment to them. We speak out publicly to promote and defend their interests. We oppose all forms of animal cruelty. We promote spaying and neutering to achieve and retain a no-kill community. We oppose any taking of the lives of healthy or treatable animals and do not participate in such conduct ourselves. We provide services that promote responsible pet ownership and humane attitudes toward all life.”

Approximately 1,200 volunteer staff keep this mission strong and thriving here in greater Richmond. In doing so, only 8% of their annual budget is devoted to administration. During this pandemic, they have continued to faithfully care for and place animals in loving homes. As so many other organizations, the funds are stretched. Knowing many of us enjoy the innumerable ways in which pets enrich our lives, and in keeping with our Unitarian Universalist Seventh Principle to affirm and promote the interdependent web of existence of which we are all a part, we encourage you to give generously to the Richmond SPCA today.

The Artist's Way - A Spiritual Path

These new and uncertain times call for new ways of seeing and being. This summer beginning the first Sunday in June or the second Wednesday in June and continuing each week through August, Rev. Sue is offering The Artist's Way, a Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity created by Julia Cameron. There will be two opportunities, Sundays from 9:15 to 10:30am or Wednesdays from 6 to 7:15pm.

This is your opportunity to evoke your creative self to explore your creative self and to bring insight, helping you see what holds you back and how to move forward.

You can purchase the text, find it in the library, and probably download an e-copy. We will use the text as a guide. If you cannot attend a particular session, you can keep up with the course.

To sign up, email Rev. Sue-  [email protected] . Let me know which class, Sunday or Wednesday, you want to join.

We want to go into the future more alive, more aware, open to new possibilities. This is a path for us. All ages are welcome.

Click here for Sunday morning sessions.

And here for Wednesday sessions.

Do You Own A Small Business?

Do you have a business, or are you affiliated with a small local business? If so, we want to help you survive this pandemic. Please reply to this email with your business name, service or product you offer, contact info, hours of operation, and we'll compile a list of our congregants' businesses on our website .

This Coming Week's Schedule

Schedule Your Gatherings on Zoom

Weekday evenings are getting quite full with Zoom meetings (and that's a good thing!) Can your group consider meeting during the daytime hours? We have plenty of times available during the day. Request a meeting (24 hours ahead or better) by emailing Margaret Rush or Dianna MacPherson with the subject line “Zoom Request.”

Midday Spiritual Practices

Noon, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays . Take a break from work, the news & the attention grabbing thoughts and worries. Join me and people from First UU of Richmond for an hour of quiet reflection and time to check in with your spirit. We will gather on Zoom to light a chalice, listen to a reading, breathe and listen deeply to one another. Meeting ID 382 632 2150 Rev. Sue

Happy Hour with Rev. Sherman

Mondays at 7 pm Join via Zoom . You may also need this information: Meeting ID: 930 0906 2952. Password: 636479

Terrific Tuesday Story Time ! An interactive experience for children, Pre-K to ~Grade 2; Tuesdays at 10 am. Zoom in for this week's Sstory a bout overcoming fear of the unknown, trying new things, and reaching out to make new friends. The Very Last Castle shows that bravery comes in packages both big and small. By Travis Jonker.  M eeting ID: 973 1616 3041

Tuesday Afternoon Tea

Join Rev. Jeanne for Tea on Tuesdays , 3 pm, Meeting ID: 939 0663 7963; PW: 993361

Wednesday Evening Vespers and Community Conversation  

Vespers at 6:00 pm; Sign In at 5:45 pm     Zoom link. You may need this information as well: Meeting ID: 968 2642 2440 Password: 153461

Forming Positive Habits

This week's discussion question: What are your routines and how do they serve you? Join us via zoom , Thursdays at 10am.

"Forget inspiration. Habit is more dependable.

Habit will sustain you whether you're inspired or not."

- Octavia Butler  

UU Yoga

Join Beth Kimbriel on Saturdays at 10 AM for UU Yoga via Zoom !  Newcomers should join the meeting at 9:50 to review basic information. Class admission will close at 10:05 sharp, so be on time!  W ear comfortable clothes & bare feet. If you have a yoga mat & two yoga blocks, bring them. If not, choose a non-slip surface & maybe two full toilet paper rolls (if you possess such wealth!) instead of blocks. Set up your device so that you can been seen head-to-toe while standing if possible. If you have trouble getting up off of the floor without assistance, bring a sturdy chair without arms. A small pillow for your head might come in handy, too.

Civil Discussions

First Thursdays at 6:30 pm. If you are interested in participating, email Anne-Marie McCartan for details.

In a funk? Struggling with life issues? Set up a Pastoral Visit via Zoom or by phone with:

Rev. Jeanne:  804 426 1882

Rev. Sherman: 804 514 8465

Rev. Sue: 757 254 6389

Team Kindness Coordinator for June is Kat Spring 804 272 0270.

Lay Pastoral Care Associate for June is Wendy DeGroat , 804 652 9579

If you witness a beautiful sight, whether it’s while you’re out for a walk or just sitting in your backyard, we would like you to capture a minute or two of it on video and share it with us. We are creating a personal meditation playlist on First UU’s YouTube channel so that all of us can share in the beauty in each other’s environments. You’re welcome to submit edited or unedited videos. Please limit your videos to no longer than two minutes. Submit as many as you like!

 

How to submit your video

·       If you have a Google Account, log in, complete this form, and upload the video directly to the form: Video Information and Upload Form

·      If you do not have a Google Account, complete this form about your video, and send it to us in one of the ways listed on the form: Video Information Form

 

Thank you! We look forward to seeing your video(s)!

You are cordially invited to Greg Greenway's Free Concert - Songs From The Beginning 2. Mark your calendars for June 11 at 7:30 pm EDT.

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83498167598

Meeting ID: 834 9816 7598

   

Dial by your location

    +1 301 715 8592 US

Meeting ID: 834 9816 7598

To donate to the artist by PayPal -  https://www.paypal.com/pools/c/8ogtbqAthR

If you prefer Venmo -  https://venmo.com  username @Greg-Greenway-2

DRUUMM (Diverse & Revolutionary Unitarian Universalist Multicultural Ministries) is a growing network of over 500 UU People of Color. We are primarily a volunteer and member-led organization without any regular staff. The primary governance and workgroup is the DRUUMM Steering Committee. We invite you and members of your UU POC group to stay connected to receive periodic email announcements, our DRUUMM Beat Newsletter ( back issues here and on FB), and engage in dialogue through The DRUUMM Gathering Place on Facebook. There is a regular monthly drop-in session on 4th Tuesdays at 8 pm ET. You can learn more, and sign up for those through any of the links in this block.

There is a range of upcoming activities including culturally-specific and UU POC specific programs during the UUA General Assembly, youth and young adults of color gatherings, and other events for DRUUMM members. You can join at www.druumm.org or contact Dawn Robinson [email protected] .

Please join us for our Richmond Earth Series, where we host zoom sessions featuring speakers and videos on topics related to environmental justice, conservation, and Earth healing practices. We partner with the Living Water Community Center and the Foundation for Family and Community Healing to bring this series to First UU! Please use this  form  to register for upcoming events:

REVISED DATE for Upcoming meeting due to Father's Day - Sunday, June 14 at noon by zoom: https://zoom.us/s/7065429963   Join us as we will be discussing pursuing  Green Sanctuary status  for First UU.

Environmental justice listserv - Please contact  [email protected]  if you wish to be added to the mailing list

Access-  tips and resources for being greener in your home, thanks to Eric Goplerud at the Faith Alliance for Climate Solutions. 

Now I see the secret of making the best person: it is to

grow in the open air and to eat and sleep with the earth.

- Walt Whitman

Many of us are experiencing confinement and social distancing for the first time. Abbie has been experiencing this since June 2018, when she was forced to move herself and her family to 1st UU in order to save her life. But she is even more alone now that the church is closed. Let’s send her a little joy, and remind her that we are thinking of her even when we are not physically present. We can do this by sending Abbie a “care letter.” Write a letter by hand, and if you are not proficient in Spanish, type it using Google Translate, and then write the Spanish language version next to your original letter. Mail the letter to Abbie Arevalo c/o 1st UU Church of Richmond, 1000 Blanton Avenue, Richmond, VA 23221. Remember how good you feel when you get a hand written letter in the mail?

Security Volunteers needed! First UU members, along with members of local Quaker congregations and community volunteers, have been able to provide Abbie with 24x7 companionship since she was forced to enter Sanctuary almost two years ago. Having a volunteer here at all times has provided her with an important extra layer of security, and the sense that she is not alone. However, we need more volunteers! Security shifts are very flexible, with some volunteers choosing to fill the same shift on a weekly basis, and others filling in an hour or two at a time as they are able - we will work with your schedule. Join the community of Sanctuary volunteers who are helping Abbie and her family to feel welcome and secure – contact [email protected] to arrange training.

Check us out on social media!

Your copy should address 3 key questions: Who am I writing for? (Audience) Why should they care? (Benefit) What do I want them to do here? (Call-to-Action)

Create a great offer by adding words like "free" "personalized" "complimentary" or "customized." A sense of urgency often helps readers take an action, so think about inserting phrases like "for a limited time only" or "only 7 remaining!"