November 15 - 21, 2018
The CommUUnicator
The Weekly Newsletter of
The Unitarian Society of Germantown
Building Beloved Community
THIS WEEK:
This Friday we view RED CRY to honor this country's Native Americans; on Sunday, we join with others in this beloved spiritual community for our Annual Community Day and Bread Communion.
|
|
In Worship, 10:30am
USG's Annual Community Day
9:15am - Spiritual Development Workshops
- Meditation
- Yoga for All Ages
- Drumming for All Ages
- Exploring Social Action Opportunities
- Singing in the Wannabe Choir
10:30am - Community Worship Service
11:30am - All Church Brunch
One way that we celebrate Thanksgiving here at USG is by coming together in our annual inter-generational Community Day (the brain-child of Gerry Whelan), where we can celebrate and give thanks for each other!
We start at 9:15 with a choice of workshops
, each designed to introduce or reinforce some form of spiritual exercise. You can choose from sitting in sacred silence during
mindfulness meditation
, stretching your notion of spirit in
yoga,
syncing your inner and outer self in
drumming
,
exploring social action
as a spiritual exercise, or praying twice by
singing in the Wannabe Choir
.
Then at
10:30
we all come together for an inter-generational worship service in which we will explore what it means and what it takes to really love and be loved in Beloved Community. Our annual Bread Communion will be a part of this service. Children will distribute baked, warm rolls out as a symbol of the nourishment that community provides us.
Finally, at 11:30,
a delicious finale: a genuine sit down brunch of egg casserole with all the trimmings. Eat slowly, savor your food, hang out a while. Don’t miss this special day where we all come together to celebrate…US!
|
|
|
In Child Spiritual Development
This Sunday morning, the Children may partake in either the Yoga or Drumming workshops at 9:15am. At 10:30am, they will begin the Worship Service in the Sanctuary with their families, and then will be "sung out" to help the Bakery Department warm, butter, and assemble the rolls for Bread Communion.
Childcare
for children 4-5 years old and younger is offered this Sunday and most Sundays from 9:00am - 12:00pm in the Committee Room.
|
|
|
Opportunities
Before the Worship Service
Our usual 9:15am Sunday morning
Meditation
will not be offered this Sunday, as we offer Meditation as one of our 9:15am Workshops.
BRING IN nonperishable food items for our annual
Fall Food Drive and put them on
the designated carts in the Kitchen. Donations in October and November will be divided and then delivered to both St. Vincent de Paul's Food Pantry and the UU House Outreach Program.
Please check expiration dates.
|
|
Opportunities
After the Worship Service
Enjoy the
all-church sit-down brunch
hosted by the Adult Spiritual Development team and the Brunch Bunch, headed by Margaret Kinnevy and the Exploring Elderhood group.
At 12:00pm, attend
UU-101 in the Daskam Room.
|
|
Sunday, November 25, 10:30am
Thanksgiving Sunday
Oh, We Give Thanks
For atheists, agnostics and theists, saying “thank you” for the blessings in your life is a great practice. We come together on the Sunday after the American Seder, Thanksgiving, to engage in the sacred act of saying “thanks.” Out of our gratitude comes a strong desire to be generous and give back to life.
|
|
|
Click here
for an easy list of all Upcoming Events!
Yep, they are all right there on the usguu.org website, thanks to Treva Burger.
|
|
|
ERC Movie of the Month:
Red Cry
Friday, November 16, 7:00 - 9:00pm, Edna Jones Room
November is National Native American Heritage Month. In honor of that, the Ending Racism Committee invites you to a screening of
Red Cry
, a groundbreaking documentary created through the combined efforts of The Strong Heart Warrior Society of the Independent Lakota Nation (The Cante Tenza Okolakiciye), the Lakota Solidarity Project team, Lakota elders, activists, and grassroots people. The Lakota Solidarity Project team and USG's Ending Racism Committee encourage everyone to watch this movie.
The Cante Tenza Okolakiciye is an ancient Lakota warrior society as well as a modern day human rights movement working to protect, enforce, and restore treaty rights, civil rights, and sovereignty of Indigenous peoples across Turtle Island.
|
|
|
Leaf Raking Day! SAVE THE DATE!
December 1, 2018
9:00 am - 12:00 pm
Come for any amount of time. Bring the family, bring a friend, your gloves, your rakes, tarps and especially your leaf blowers! Join us for this annual labor of love to spruce up the church grounds. The more the merrier! Childcare, coffee and lunch will be provided. Please
RSVP at this link
to let us know you are coming so we can plan accordingly for lunch. Questions, contact Mike Rogers at
[email protected]
or Gloria Guldager at
[email protected]
.
|
|
|
Video Project Narrative Release
by The Ending Racism Committee
Sunday, December 2, 12:00 - 2:00pm
In 2015, in honor of USG’s 150th anniversary, the Ending Racism Committee (ERC) decided to make an offering to the congregation. Selected congregants and ERC members were interviewed on questions pertaining to race relations and systemic racism (from their perspective while attending USG). A condensed narrative of 14 interviews has been created.
On December 2, ERC will host Fellowship Hour followed by the Video Project Narrative Release, 12:00 - 2:00pm, in the Edna Jones Assembly Room
.
One of the fourteen interviews is accessible now on the
ERC web page
. (See the clip below).)The interviewee,
Mrs. Marion Watlington
, is a long-term member of USG and had been a member of ERC until recently. After December 2, the narrative will be available online and through the ERC lending library.
|
|
|
And in case you missed these Spiritual Development events in Tuesday's SPIRIT...
SAVE THE DATE for another special Oren Jay Sofer Mindfulness Event
:
Saturday, January 12, 2019: "The Art of Mindful Communication
:
Finding Clarity and Poise in Life.”
A mindful approach to nonviolent communication. How to find your voice, speak your truth, and listen deeply.
Led by Oren Jay Sofer, author, and teacher of mindfulness and communication.
Spaces fill up fast, so register soon
:
click here.
A new
Difficult Conversation: Abortion
,
with
USG folks and parishioners of Our Mother of Consolation Catholic Church in Chestnut Hill invited to participate. Contact
Gerry Whelan
if interested.
Please note:
The Tuesday evening Dialogues are being discontinued here at USG
. If you are interested in dialogues being held elsewhere or have any questions or comments, contact
Parvathy Mennon
.
|
|
|
Service Auction Poster Item with Openings for December
MindEscape
MindEscape is a top-rated escape room adventure. Join Maggie Chapman and Janet Haas for an adrenaline-filled hour trying to escape a Thai prison. MindEscape is located at 521 S. 4th Street. Plan to meet at the location at 11:45 am for gaming, and those who wish, may join Maggie and Janet for lunch afterwards in the area. There is a $25 ticket cost for a minimum party of 10 adults and children, due at the time of admission. Children are welcome.
Sat. Dec. 1, 2018 at 11:45 am. Adult: $10, Child: $5. Room for 4-6 more.
|
|
|
USG Holiday POINSETTIAS! Order NOW!
Deadline for ordering: December 7
Our annual poinsettia display in the chancel will be set up on December 14. Contact Elaine Hills by email or phone:
[email protected]
or 215-206-6257, to tell her
- how many, what color (red or white, or pink),
- what the brief dedication should be for the orders of service, and
- when you intend to take your plants.
Order now, payment before Christmas Eve. Payment is by cash or check (made out to USG with "poinsettia" in the memo line), sent to Elaine at home (25 Red Oak Rd., Oreland, PA 19075) or in her church office mailbox. The cost per each large plant is $23. Elaine will confirm any orders she receives.
|
|
|
Come Join the Choir!
The illustrious USG choir is looking for some additional singers! All that is necessary is the ability to match pitch and a desire to be a part of a venerable USG tradition that regularly rehearses (on Thursday evenings and on Sunday mornings) and sings at most Sunday services from September through the end of May. Interested? Please see
Mark Daugherty
, our music man.
|
|
|
The Archives Corner
The Archives Committee plans to display items of interest from our holdings in the two locked exhibit cases in the Narthex. These displays will change periodically.
Take a look at our November display: two archival copies of sermons by the Rev. Dr. David B. Parke, former minister of USG and our guest speaker for Sunday, November 11. The sermons, "The Liberal Vocation," delivered January 23, 1966 and "An Inner Music," delivered December 8, 1965, are also scanned and available to interested readers on the USG website at
usguu.org/archives-corner/
|
|
|
It's Ready!
Have you requested a name tag recently? A shiny new one with your name on it is waiting at the Welcoming Table at Fellowship Hour after service. (Believe it or not, there are dozens of unclaimed tags!) Spare your friends the embarrassment of forgetting your name! Wear your name tag proudly!
|
|
|
We have
one
new person on
USG's Creative Teams...
We are looking for more!
Do you enjoy telling stories with images? Working with PowerPoint or on a website? Are you a budding videographer?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, USG NEEDS YOU....
1)
to
work with Rev. Kent and the various guest speakers and worship associates on Sunday worship slides creation and/or projector operations, and/or
2) to videotape the Sunday services, which Jeff Smith has done for many years, and/or
3) to help create and maintain information about our programs and activities on our website.
|
|
|
We are excited to announce our new Give+ Text option for making pledge and contribution payments to USG!
Please
click here
to learn how to use this convenient tool.
|
|
|
Thank You, Villagers!
Thank you to all who participate in hosting Fellowship Hour! If you are willing to coordinate for your Village, please let Treva Burger,
[email protected]
know. Below is the schedule for upcoming
Fellowship Hour Hostings:
- November 18 - Fall Community Day Brunch
- November 25 - Village 3
- December 2 - Ending Racism Committee
- December 9 - Village 4
|
|
|
Sound the trumpets!
Registration is now open for our Central East Region
New Day Rising
Conference:
Identifying Your Congregation’s Next Steps in the Struggle with White Supremacy Culture
,
Saturday, January 26 in Fairfax, VA
Slightly overwhelmed by all the options available for tackling white supremacy culture in your congregation? Feeling stuck, or coming up against resistance from some folx? How do you know where to start? Or what comes next?Join with Central East Region staff and UU congregational leaders for this day of learning.
Click here
to learn more.
|
|
|
Fall Food Drive - October and November
In this season of harvest, let’s remember those who need support. Please bring canned and non-perishable foods when you come to USG and leave them on the designated carts in the kitchen. Donations will be shared between St. Vincent de Paul's Food Pantry and the UU House Outreach Program, which provides support to older people in the Germantown area.
Please check expiration dates.
|
|
|
Click here
to download the Fundraising for Lingelbach flyer above, which you will need when shopping at
five below
between October 26 - November 26. 10% of your purchases will be donated to Lingelbach Elementary School.
|
|
|
Greater Philly UU Cluster Events
Missa Gaia
UU Concert Rehearsal
Saturday, November 17, 9:00am - 12:00pm
|
|
|
Get Involved! Meet Fellow UUs!
Follow links below to find out more information about the events and groups at USG that occur usually once a month.
20's & 30's SGM Group
- Second Thursday, December 13, 6:30pm, Drop-in Young Adults Small Group Ministry group. For more information, please contact Stephanie Bonner at
[email protected]
or on Facebook where they maintain an active invite-only activities group.
CAMI (Citizens Against Mass Incarceration)
- Fourth Monday, November 26, 7:00pm. At USG. Contact
Nancy Anderson
.
Caregiver Support Group
- Second Friday, December 14, 11:00am - 1:00pm. At USG. Contact
Maura Gallagher
.
Coffee Hour for Social Justice
- Next: December 16, 9:15 - 10:15am (none for November). Usually Third Sunday. Usually in Dining Room at USG. Get up. Get coffee. Get involved.
EarthSpirit Circle
. First Monday, except for holiday weekends. Next meeting December 3, 7:00pm. At USG. Contact Donya at
[email protected].
ERC (Ending Racism Committee)
- First Sunday, December 2, 12:00 - 2:00pm. Special Video Project Narrative. More information forthcoming. At USG. Contact
Barbara Dowdall
.
ERC Movie of the Month
- Movies from ERC and Social Justice will continue to be offered, but not on a regularly scheduled basis.
Humanists - PUSH
-
Philadelphia Unitarian Society of Humanists
, Fourth Sunday, November 25, 12:00pm. At USG. Contact
Paul Teti
.
Nature Walking at Valley Green - Every Monday and Thursday at
9:00am, you can meet others - whoever shows up- at Valley Green in Chestnut Hill for a morning walk.
Point Person is
Steve Conrad, who is usually there.
Needle Exchange, a Handwork Group
-
First Wednesday, December 5,
1:30 - 3:00pm, off-site. Contact
Margaret Thompson
.
Open Small Group Ministry
- Second Sunday, December 9, 12:00 - 1:30pm. Those new to SGMs can get a "sample" before making a commitment. For more information, contact
Mark Bangela
.
Racism Book Study Group - Next session: December 10, second Monday, 7:30 - 9:00pm. Contact
Treva Burger.
UU-101
-
Third Sunday, November 18, 12:00-1:00pm.
UU-101
is an Introduction to Unitarian Universalism, held at USG, and childcare is provided. Please let a leader, Charles Gabriel or Eric Foster, know that you plan to attend by emailing to
[email protected]. If unable to email, you can call Eric at 484-347-8998.
|
|
Join A USG Facebook Group!
You can join a USG Facebook group as well as meet in person!
To find out about special events, post photos, and stay in touch, here are some of USG's groups and their Facebook links:
ASD (Adult Spiritual Development) facebook
CSD (Child Spiritual Development)
YRUU (Young Religious Unitarian Universalists) A Closed Group great to know about and if desired, ask to join.
YA - Young Adults
Greater Philly UUs - Social Justice & Other Greater Philly UU News
It is a "closed" group, so find "Greater Philly UUs" on Facebook and click the button to request to join.
P.U.S.H. Philadelphia Unitarian Society of Humanists
Exploring Elderhood
|
|
We share the joy of ...
...
Debbie Kish-Silver and Howard Silver
on the birth of their first grandchild. Daughter Jessica Silver and her husband Christopher Blinky are the parents of Luke David Blinky who arrived on November 13, weighing 8 lbs. 6 ounces. Mom and baby are doing well.
Our thoughts and prayers are with...
...all in our USG community and beyond who are struggling with one of life's problems or who are celebrating one of life's joys.
|
|
|
Caring Team
Linda Bernstein (chair), Sarah West, Rev. Kent Matthies
If you are aware of any joys or concerns that should be part of our caring system, please let us know. You can email
[email protected]
If you call a caring team member and do not speak directly, leave a voice mail and your call will be returned ASAP.
|
|
|
Tuesday's
SPIRIT
(not every Tuesday in the Summer) - Friday by 3:00pm
Thursday's Weekly
eCommUUnicator
- Wednesday by noon
Sunday's Announcements
- Thursday by noon
|
|
The Unitarian Society of Germantown
| 215-844-1157 | 6511 Lincoln Drive, Philadelphia, PA 19119
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
