Pastor Jack's Weekly Wonder
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Dear Friends,
Today, May 15, is National Endangered Species Day
. And guess who is the endangered species? Never saw that coming.
I took a course once on ritual, studied from an anthropologist’s point of view. The essential lesson was that a ritual is to help a person transition through an intermediary (liminal, threshold) time, moving in that time from an established way of being to an unknown way of being. Communion, Bar/Bat Mitzvah and Confirmation, Weddings, the Blessing of the Sick or Threatened, and Funerals are such rituals.
When you enter community or adulthood or marriage, when you leave school and parents for enter employment and “independence,” when you must say farewell to a loved one, you really have no idea what’s coming. If you are lucky, your family and community provide some education as to what to expect. Recognizing your responsibility for that knowledge is to happen during the liminal time.
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UUA Virtual General Assembly
June 24 - 28, 2020
Have you ever attended a UU General Assembly? This year, for the first time, General Assembly is 100% virtual. You can learn more about the this year's theme
here
. Registration is $150 - quite the bargain, with no travel expenses! You can
register here
. Several UUSP members are already registered.
We can't think of a better time to be Rooted, Inspired, & Ready! — Michael Killoren
.
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Wednesday Zoom Adult Religious Studies Book Discussions
May 15, 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 and Discussion points.
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Children's Religious Education:
May 17, 2020
This month’s theme for Religious Education is
Thresholds
.
Reflecting on the many ways we transition through our life.
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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!
Miss Trish (above) K - 3rd grade
Miss Jeanay (below) 4th - 12th grade
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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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Movie Meetup - Tuesday May 19 at 7pm
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Please join us for a discussion of the movie “Changing Lanes” with Samuel L. Jackson and Ben Affleck. The film follows a successful, young
Wall Street
lawyer (Affleck) who accidentally crashes his car into a vehicle driven by a middle-aged, recovering alcoholic insurance salesman (Jackson). After the lawyer leaves the scene of the accident, the two men try to get back at each other, engaging in a variety of immoral and illegal actions that end up having a major impact on each man's life.
Just watch the movie on Netflix or Amazon Prime (or wherever) before the discussion. Then at 7:00 pm on Tuesday, May 19, click on Movie Meetup Zoom Meeting Link to join in on our discussion.
Meeting ID: 770 480 0200
BYO popcorn. See you AFTER the movie!
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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, he will be glad to visit with you at any open-air location (eg, backyards, porches, local parks).
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
.
Joys & Concerns:
Share those
joys
you are having during this time of separation, as they will help us all feel the light. You may also have
concerns
, reach out to
Pastor Jack
or
Patti Hanks
so we can help lift you up or lift those that may need it.
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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Thank you for your interest in UU St. Petersburg!
From me to you and to those around you, Be Safe and Be Well!
Kelli DeGraw, part of your Communications Team.
Feedback and suggestions are welcome (pubs@uustpete.org).
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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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