Weekly E-News

Wed. Feb. 22 - Tues. Feb. 28

View Full Newsletter Here as a Webpage

There’s a new email address for your submissions - please send them to news@jruuc.org by Tuesday at 10:00 pm.

This Sunday, February 26, 2023

"What Would Love Do?"

with Rev. Karen Armina

We’ve talked a lot this month about ways we might center love in our relationships and our actions.  And we know that we face challenges daily that pull us away from that center.  This morning, we’ll explore some grounding ideas shared by Black writers and activists and people of faith, including understandings of love that include power and justice.

Link to service webpage

RSVP to attend in person
Zoom Link

The Share the Plate for Sunday February 19th and Sunday February 26th is Nehemiah Center for Urban Leadership Development. By lifting up Black voices and experiences with a focus on education, restoration, community empowerment and economic development, Nehemiah seeks to interrupt cycles of poverty, racism and discrimination. Programming areas include: youth empowerment and leadership development, community leadership & capacity building, justified anger, and reentry services.

Donate Here

Our February Theme: The Path of Love

Our February theme invites us to explore the many ways love shows up in our lives, and how we show up in its name. In this space, you’ll find a new invitation into reflection on our monthly theme every week.


Check-in question: What might happen if you were to ask, “What would love do here?”


“Love is a combination of six ingredients: care, commitment, knowledge, responsibility, respect and trust.  As you go about your life, you can ask: the action I'm taking, does it have the six ingredients?”

-- bell hooks

What's Happening in Our Congregation

rev karen image.jpg

Minister's Musings

We haven’t done much to explicitly acknowledge Black History Month during February worship, although much of the special music and my reflections have been informed by the experiences of African Americans in our nation and in our faith tradition.  So I’m looking forward to sharing wisdom readings from Black activists and writers on Sunday as we continue our explorations of the path of love.  And I’m excited to share that the UUA General Assembly Planning Team is thinking about African American history as they intentionally weave diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging into this year’s event.  I also want to share that the proposed revisions to Article II of the UUA Bylaws (putting “love at the center”) are intentionally informed by the experiences of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color in Unitarian Universalism.  I hope you’ll join me for some discussion of those revisions on Sunday- just stay in the sanctuary or on the Zoom meeting after the service, and we’ll gather for a multiplatform conversation after a short time of socializing.  If you want to look at the revisions or what I shared about them in worship a couple of weeks ago, just  follow this link.  See you on Sunday!

Minister's Availability
Tuesday 4-6 Zoom Office Hours Link

Religious Education and Family Ministry


This Sunday is a multigenerational service with everyone in the sanctuary. Genevieve will be at the busy hands table to help craft a project throughout the service to be presented to the congregation after the service. We are still looking for volunteers to help with RE classes. This is a once a month or less commitment either during or immediately after service. Please email Genevieve if you are interested in volunteering.

Read more 

Music Ministry

The Sacred Breath Choir gathers on Thursday evenings. Please send an email to music@jruuc.org with any questions or thoughts you have about music ministry at JRUUC.


This week’s shared music:

  • These Hands, This Heart” by Heather Pierson
  • Hymn #123 "Spirit Of Life"
  • Hymn #153 “Oh I Woke Up This Morning”
Read more

Small Group Ministries

Offering and Receiving Connection, Support, and Spiritual Practice

View Small Group Ministries Descriptions  
  • Octavia’s Parables Reflection Group Sundays at 1:00-2:00 pm
  • Me and White Supremacy Book Discussion Sundays through March 5 at 1pm on Zoom
  • Journaling Group next meets Monday 2/27 at 7:00 - contact Jean Skinner
  • Meditation With Friends Group Wednesdays at 6:30-7:00 (Beginners Welcome)
  • Sacred Breath Choir - Thursdays at 7:00 pm
Journaling Group Zoom Link - Monday 7:00
Meditation Zoom Link - Wednesday 6:30

Announcements & Upcoming Events

Two Important Conversations on Sunday, February 26


11:30 am: Let’s talk about the Article II Revisions! 

Rev. Karen will host an open multiplatform conversation about the new values and inspirations. If you attend worship in person, just come back to the sanctuary after a brief social time. If you attend virtually, stay on the Zoom meeting and you’ll be brought back to the sanctuary when the conversation begins.


4:30 pm: First “Building Our Racial Awareness” Congregational Discussion

This conversation is hosted by the 8th Principle Project Team, and will be on Zoom. Participants are invited to bring news items related to racism in our local community to facilitate conversation and to sharpen our awareness of the inequities surrounding us here at home. Zoom Link

Board Listening Sessions Next Week!


Virtual: Wednesday March 1 at 7:30 pm Zoom Link

In- person: Sunday March 5 after service, 11:30 am

Questions will include:

  • What helps you feel connected to the congregation?
  • What prevents you from feeling more connected to the congregation?
  • What would inspire you to be more involved in the congregation?

Share the Plate Nominations Needed!


Each week this congregation gives half of all offerings collected in our plate to local organizations

whose work furthers our mission.

Do you know of an organization you'd like us to give to? Please nominate them!


Guidelines for Nominees


Click here to go to our nomination form

Join Your Worship and Music Team!


We are continually looking for people to serve as Worship Associates and Tech Wizards. We’ve simplified zoom hosting and it is now done in the sanctuary, along with audio-visual work! Please email Rev. Karen with your interest or questions.

View JRUUC Events & Activities Calendar
More Ways to Be of Service Within Our Congregation

What's Happening in Our Community

See our Justice and Community Update page for activities & events


MOSES is seeking an organizer and working on dyslexia education - Criminal Justice Reform


Healthcare is a Human Right Campaign


Sustainable Saturday Night February Potluck Canceled

Sustainable Saturday Night has been a beloved tradition for JRUUC and other community members. However, with attendance dropping and organizer capacity limited, it's time to open ourselves up to change. To weigh in on the future of Sustainable Saturday Night (and especially to step up as a leader!) please fill out this short survey.

There will be no SSN in February or March. Expect a final wrap-up event or continuation plan to be announced in April.

What's Happening In Unitarian Universalism

New Purposes and Principles Drafted!


The Article II Study Commission has completed its two year study, and created a new draft of our Purposes and Principles! The Report to the UUA Board of Trustees from the Article II Study Commission (PDF) summarizes the revision process and contains the Study Commission's recommended revisions to Article II. Read here to see what happens next!

Early bird registration rates end on Tuesday, February 28!


General Assembly is the annual gathering of Unitarian Universalists, where we conduct business of the Association, explore the theological underpinnings of our faith, and lean fully into our mission and principles. This is a great year to go, especially for first-timers! There will be exciting work done on the process of revising Article II of our Bylaws, worship is always wonderful, and it’s an amazing experience to be surrounded by thousands of UUs. Early bird registration ends on February 28, and there are many opportunities for financial support. Follow these links for general information, volunteer opportunities, other financial support, registration, and housing reservations.


The General Assembly and Conference Services Team leads the initiative to ensure that diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) are woven throughout, from planning to fruition.  You’re invited to watch this video about historical trauma and transformative healing, which is informing our work.

More UUA Updates

Click the banner to learn what you can do to promote social justice along with our national organization.

2022 Actions of Immediate Witness

 Abortion, Anti-Racism, Reparations, Restorative Justice, Medicare

Click the banner to learn how you can get involved in getting out the vote. 


Donate to JRUUC
Visit JRUUC Website
Visit UUA Website

Do you have an announcement for our congregation?

Please send it to news@jruuc.org and specify where you would like it listed by writing Sunday Announcement and/or Weekly and/or Website in the subject line of your email

and submit by 10 p.m. on Tuesdays - earlier if possible!

 

Our office is the central point of contact for all Reeb communications. The office@jruuc.org email is being monitored for emails regarding all communications.