Save the Date: May 31, 2020 11am
Annual Congregational Meeting
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Our Annual Congregational Meeting will focus on the 2020-2021 Budget and nominations for new Board Members, Endowment Board Members, and church officers. A Zoom meeting will be set up, and invitations will be sent out via email the week before the meeting. All members will receive a mailing with information about the proposed budget and nominees.
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This Week at a Glance:
Tuesday:
Zoom Lunchtime Check-in/Chat 12:30pm
(mindful meditation* on your own, pre or post).
Wednesday:
Zoom Adult Religious Studies Book Discussions (10am or 7pm) F.M. Lappe's Daring Democracy, Chapt 2.
Friday:
Zoom Lunchtime Check-in/Chat 12:30pm
(mindful meditation* on your own, pre or post).
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Pastor Jack's Weekly Wonder
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Dear Friends,
I came across a new and useful word this week:
Karunavirus.
Karuna
means
“compassion”
in Sanskrit, the ancient language of India and its religions. So a
karunavirus
would be “contagious or infectious compassion.” Its symptoms would be the decease of suffering and the spread of well-being.
Humans are known carriers of this virus. But it’s weak at first. It must be cultured to grow within one. It also requires being connected somehow with others in order to take effect and to spread.
People who have
karunavirus
find it much less necessary to wear masques. They seem to have immunity to negative energies. People who have it seem never to wash their hands of it.
What an easier, more joyful way to live! May I suggest we enculture going
karunaviral?
See you soon, zooming at least. Stay caring. Stay in touch.
Blessings for the week,
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Wednesday Zoom Adult Religious Studies Book Discussions
Starting Wednesday, May 6, 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 3, 2020
This month’s theme for Religious Education is
Thresholds
.
Explore the ways that thresholds
protects us.
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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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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:
Mindful Meditation (Vipassana/Insight Meditation) guidelines:
1) Set your alarm for 5 to 40 minutes;
2) Sit erect, breathe deeply once or twice to relax;
3) Breathe normally, watching your breath come and go;
4) Count in cycles of ten breaths if it helps stay focused on your breath;
5) If breath-focus is lost in thoughts or feelings, note them and return to your breath;
6) Sometimes, for deeper peace, try shifting attention to consciousness itself or to just being.
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Your Support for the Coalition of Immokalee Workers
H
ad an Impact!
Your calls and emails to Governor DeSantis made a difference. Collier County Public Health has obtained 1,000 COVID tests and will begin testing farmworkers in Immokalee this coming Sunday. This is a step forward — but we must continue to advocate on behalf of all 25,000 farmworkers in Immokalee.
- Set up a field hospital, or alternative care facility, in Immokalee to provide both treatment for COVID-19 patients with severe symptoms, and a separate quarantine space to allow workers with milder symptoms to self-isolate.
- Require agricultural employers to provide personal protective gear, particularly masks, to farmworkers for use while they are traveling to and from the fields
This population is very vulnerable , which could lead to Florida not having enough workers to harvest our crops.
You can also help by making masks for the farmworkers. Email
Dani
to help out.
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FAST Update
This week, the Pinellas County Commission Approved the Pinellas CARES financial assistance program. This program provides up to $4000 per individual for relief with past due rent and utility payments. There are certain guidelines, such as not having liquid assets of more than $4000 and you must be below 200% of the federal poverty level for income (around $50,000 for a family of four). There is $135 million total available for this program and it is only open through June 1st. They also approved a $35 million program for small business grants. Information on the individual assistance program can be found
HERE
and information on the small business grants can be found
HERE
.
The county is unclear how long the money will last so people should apply soon! We've heard from some who have accessed the program already that the county might be flexible on some of the application requirements, so we encourage anyone who needs help to apply regardless of whether or not they meet all the qualifications. To access the program, residents should call 2-1-1- or text COVIDCARES to 898211.
Thank you,
Pat Fling
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Sex Work, Trafficking, Violence
and Legislative Policy
A May 7, 5:00 p.m., Webinar Presentation by UUSP's Jill McCracken, PhD, for the National Organization of Women (NOW).
For over a decade, Dr. McCracken, chair of the English Department at USF/St. Pete, has studied, written and taught about these issues and the controversies they have stirred in public debate. She has been asked by Florida NOW, in collaboration with Massachusetts NOW, to provide a webinar about them. These are challenging and divisive social justice issues. UUSP members who would like a chance to hear Jill's presentation and contribute questions may
register for the webinar.
Articles on the issues are linked below:
The Feminist Divide over Decriminalizing Sex Work
A War over Sex Work is Raging inside the Nation's Biggest Feminist Group
Liberal Feminism has a Sex Work Problem
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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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Metaphors Meetup - Tuesday May 12 at 7pm
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If you like poetry, or want to learn more about poetry, please join our next Metaphors Meetup. The poem(s) we’ll discuss are very accessible to all, and will be sent to you before the meetup.
Paul Burnore is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: Metaphors Meetup
Time: May 12, 2020 07:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 770 480 0200
Please let
Paul Burnore
know you’ll be joining so that the poem(s) can be sent to you.
And send any questions you might’ve.
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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
[email protected]
.
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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Thank you for your interest in UU St. Pete!
From me to you and to those around you, Be Safe and Be Well!
Kelli DeGraw and your Communications Team.
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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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