Join Congregation President Steve Benton for information and discussion of upcoming events and decisions at UU St. Pete. We will present information and invite input on:
- the state of church during this unusual time
- pledge campaign results and the budget for the 2020-2021 church year
- nominations for board members and church officers
- how to make decisions and conduct business for the May 17 Annual Congregational Meeting.
After the meeting, you are invited to stay online for a "virtual Coffee Hour" - we'll see how well this technology works for UUs who like to congregate!
All members will receive an e-mailed invitation with the password for joining the meeting via Zoom. But all interested people are welcome to join.
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This Week at a Glance:
Wednesday:
Adult Religious Studies Book Discussions (10am or 7pm)
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Pastor Jack's Weekly Wonder
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Dear Friends,
For last Sunday, I put my sermon question in a haiku, further revised here:
“Souls to great spirits?
Wait till nature evolves us?
Start growing yourself?”
On Tuesday, the online UUSP movie group discussed “Groundhog Day” – reflecting on the impact of learning to pay detailed attention to one’s character, motivations, and capacity for change.
In the meantime, UUSP member Kathleen Rehl sent a haiku that seemed to top the answers:
“Hope is possible
Dreaming a new world for all
Yes, we’re together “
Some of us are not feeling well in spirit these days – in fact, we may from time to time be feeling very badly. “Groundhog Day” might say in response, The only way out of it is through it.
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The Resurrection of Wednesday Adult Religious Studies Book Discussions
(Via ZOOM)
Starting Wednesday, April 29, 10:00am & 7:00pm
We will begin a five-session discussion of Frances Moore Lappe’s
Daring Democracy: Igniting Power, Meaning, and Connection for the America We Want
. Quotes will be provided as the focus of each discussion. Contact
Pastor Jack
to receive the Zoom Link.
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Children's Religious Education:
April 26, 2020
This month’s theme for Religious Education is
Liberation
.
This week's theme pertains to ‘Ramadan’. Check our lessons on the weekly newsletter.
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Check out our lessons and more in our weekly newsletter
What? - you aren't receiving it?
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Click on the pictures for the Lessons of the week from our RE Staff!
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Experimental Online Weekly Meditation Schedule
(feedback appreciated)
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Tuesdays & Thursdays Contemplative Meditation
Pastor Jack will offer a ten-minute online contemplative meditation based on selected readings. Readings this coming week are from Albert Einstein on “Our Task” and Rebecca Solnit on “Hope” Participate at
UUSP YouTube Channel
.
Mindfulness Meditation Sessions COMING SOON:
Pastor Jack is preparing to start a Zoom twenty-minute silent meditation time, with check-in time to follow. Other tasks have slowed him down. But please stay tuned. In the meantime, to find the time(s) most amenable to your schedules, please email
Pastor Jack
with a few of your preferences as to days and times.
You might consider the following: 1) Mornings: 6? 7? 8? 2) Noon? 3) Afternoons: 3? 4? 5? 6? 4) Preferred days of the week?
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Support the Coalition of Immokalee Workers
My thanks to those of you who signed last week’s petition demanding that Governor DeSantis fund protective equipment and sanitization materials to farmworkers and also provide access to free COVID-19 tests for those experiencing symptoms. Your action has had an impact in calling attention to the need.
Most farmworkers live in overcrowded housing units, are transported to and from the fields in packed vans and buses, and lack access to personal protective gear. If Florida's elected officials don't act, the virus will carve through the state’s agricultural workforce like wildfire, and in a matter of weeks, Florida will not have enough workers to harvest our crops.
Simply put, without farmworkers, there is no food.
Let’s flood Governor's office with our request.
Thank you. Karen Coale
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Legacy Builders Corner
Write Your Personal Legacy Letter For Family & Friends
Traditional estate planning is important to pass on your “stuff” in an organized manner. Your legal will, living trust, and other estate documents say what money and possessions you want to give your family and friends. This is important, especially in the new age of coronavirus. But you are much more than the financial assets and belongings you’ve accumulated during a lifetime. Your true treasures are worth more. That includes your values, hopes, dreams, memories, and stories. You can share your essence forever with those you love and care for through a lasting Legacy Letter.
Sponsored by UUSP Legacy Builders
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Caring & Connected Newsletter
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We are continuing to sent out the e-newsletter
“Caring & Connected”
to help sustain our UUSP community during uncertain times. Click
HERE
to read it and learn “how can I help?” and "how can I stay connected?” during the church closure.
for the Communications Team
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Staying Connected With Pastor Jack & Staff
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Pastor’s Open-Air Office Hours:
:
For those experiencing a serious sense of isolation, you are welcome to contact
Pastor Jack
(352-327-6166) to arrange a visit online or in the open air at the church.
For members with mobility limitations, upon request, I will be glad to visit with you at any open-air location (eg, backyards, porches, local parks).
UPDATED:
Our UUSP staff members will continue their duties in a safe, cautious manner to the fullest degree possible. Our Church Office Administrator is now working from home and can be reached at
officeuustpete.org@gmail.com
.
During this challenging time, may we remember that we need to pay close attention to how everybody is doing and how we can help.
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Helping One Another:
If you need help, or need to talk. Or if you know of a UUSPer who might? Please notify
Patti Hanks
, Care Committee or Reach out to Pastor Jack.
Our UUSP Sermons
(printed or audio) are available on
UUSP's website
: C
lick the Spirituality tab, click Worship Services and Sermons. Scroll down the services and you will see "Sermons and Readings" and Audio Icon (small speaker) and will now be on our
UUSP YouTube Channel
.
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Our mission is to be an
inclusive
,
evolving
religious community that inspires
spiritual
and
intellectual
growth to make our world a
better place
.
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Unitarian Universalist Church of St. Petersburg
727.898.3294
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