August 16 - 22, 2018
The CommUUnicator
The Weekly Newsletter of
The Unitarian Society of Germantown
Building Beloved Community
THIS WEEK:
Maggie Beaumont, who carries her wisdom and compassion with easy grace, is in the pulpit this Sunday; and we begin two weeks of co-hosting with Grace Epiphany Episcopal.
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In Worship, 10:30am
Bountiful Harvest – Natural Cycles in Everyday Life
,
Maggie Beaumont,
with music from Gerry Whelan and Sarah DiGioia-Gaston
It may be more blessed to give than to receive … but both are essential.
Maggie Beaumont has been a Unitarian Universalist and a Wiccan since 1998 and joined this congregation in 2014. She is a former dean of students at Cherry Hill Seminary and a past board member of the Covenant of Unitarian Universalist Pagans (CUUPS). After a varied career in mechanical engineering, journalism, real estate, and adult education, she earned a master’s degree in Spiritual Psychology and serves today as a hospice and hospital chaplain.
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We
Share The Plate
this Sunday with...
Las Americas
in El Paso,
the organization for which Sarah Frazier volunteered this summer. Sarah will briefly explain the help this organization is giving to immigrants.
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In Child Spiritual Development
Children will begin their USG morning in the Sanctuary with their families and then at 10:45am, will be sung out to their Summer CSD programs:
·
For 6-yr-olds and younger,
Summer Arts and Crafts
will be in the Committee Room and Dining Room.
·
For 7-yr-olds and older, the
Feeling the Spirit Through Music
program will be in Sullivan 2 and 3.
Details about the programs and schedules can be found on the
Usguu.org
website under the Spiritual Development tab.
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.
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Opportunities
Before the Worship Service
Meditate in the Meditation Room
Meditation, reading, dharma and sharing are offered in Sullivan 3 on the
First and Second Sundays of the month between 9:15 and 10:20am. All are welcome to join in quietly.
On the other Sundays the space is open for those who choose to come and sit. For information on meditation,
click here.
There is a
continued
urgent
need for food for our neighbors.
Drop off nonperishable food items to the designated carts in the Kitchen for delivery to St. Vincent's Food Pantry.
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Opportunities
After the Worship Service
Enjoy refreshments, compliments of Village 4.
At 12:00pm, attend
UU-101
in the Daskam Room.
SignUp
is the reminder tool USG uses to organize volunteers for our upcoming activities.
Click Here
to go to our group page to sign up online.
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Sunday, August 26, 10:30am
Make Space for Grace,
Rev. Kent Matthies
The poet Hafiz wrote, “Like the morning breeze, if you bring to the morning good deeds, the rose of our desire will open and bloom.” Summer can be a time to feel the morning breeze. Often this can lead to a more active, enriching engagement with life. Slow summer days can spaciously allow for blessings to flow. As we transition back to the “school year,” how can we make space for grace?
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A Still-Open Auction Event:
Classic Dealer's Choice Penny Ante Poker
Friday 21, 2018 at 7:00pm.
At Gerry and Eileen Whelan's home in Wyndmoor.
$15. There is space for 3 more. Interested?
Contact
Kay Weiser
.
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Wednesday, August 22, 7:00pm
Labor Day Weekend, Friday - Monday, August 31- Sept.3
USG's In-Gathering Celebration!
Sunday, September 9, 10:30am
Details coming soon!
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Help Stock the Local Food Pantry
Every month, a USG Volunteer delivers nonperishable food donated by USG members and friends to St. Vincent's Food Pantry. Ingrid Brown made the delivery on August 6 and reported that the need is
still urgent
AND that she felt proud that our donation was so generous. She hopes it can be as plentiful EVERY month.
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What's Going On in Your Village?
Since the USG Village program began a year ago, Villages have been doing a tremendous job providing refreshments and hospitality for Fellowship Hour. We would like to learn about and share other experiences people are having with their Villages. If your Village has had a social event, or responded to a Caring need as a Village, or car pooled, etc., please share your experience with the Welcoming team at
welcoming@usguu.org
. Thanks!
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A Donation from ERC to Men Who Care of Germantown
On Sunday, August 5, the Ending Racism Committee at USG presented a check to Men Who Care of Germantown (MWCOG).
ERC will pursue involvement in their work with Germantown youth at Roosevelt Elementary School and Martin Luther King High School and will keep the congregation aware of opportunities for meaningful engagement going forward.
Pictured L to R: Dev Howerton, Parvathy Menon, Lois Murphy, Tom Grabe of Germantown Friends Meeting, Clayton Justice (MWCOG) and Barbara Dowdall
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USG's Summer Office Hours
Throughout August
, our hours will be 9:30am until 1:00pm, M through F.
We urge you to call ahead - 215-844-1157 - if you need entry to the building. You can also contact
communications@usguu.org
.
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We are excited to announce our new Give+ Text option for making pledge and contribution payments to USG!
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Please
click here
to learn how to use this convenient tool.
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Thank You, Villagers!
Thank you so much to all who participate! If you are willing to coordinate Fellowship Hour for your Village, please let Treva Burger,
trevawb@gmail.com
know. Below is the schedule for
Fellowship Hour Hosting in August.
- August 19 - Village 4
- August 26 - Village 5
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Greater Philly UU Cluster Events
UU Community Weekend (Labor Day weekend) – Registration deadline: Aug 18!
A Labor Day weekend getaway filled with fun, relaxation and loving community. Join members and families of Philadelphia area UU churches for this fun fest at Camp Canadensis in the beautiful Pocono Mountains. For more info, visit:
mluc.org/community/community-weekend
Building Community: What's In Your Toolbox?
September 22, 9:30 am - 4:00 pm
First Unitarian Church of Wilmington, DE
Breakout sessions, networking, etc. Event details and registration coming shortly.
GPC Meeting
September 29, 9:30 - 11:30 am (9:00 meet and greet)
UC of West Chester, 501 S. High Street, West Chester, PA 19382
- we'll debrief the UU Community Weekend, discuss upcoming Legislative Advocacy training, and more. All are welcome!
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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.
Please note that some groups are now on summer hiatus and thus not listed below. Check back in September to see what's new!
20's & 30's SGM Group
- Second Thursday, September 13, 6:30pm, Drop-in Young Adults Small Group Ministry group. For more information, please contact Stephanie Bonner at
slbonner2@gmail.com
or on Facebook where they maintain an active invite-only activities group.
(A big shout-out to this group, who has come forward with many volunteers to host PIHN families!)
Book Group on Friday Morning
- Will resume its regular Third Friday, 10:30am, discussions
September 21
at Cathedral Village. If interested in joining, please contact
Barbara Dowdall.
The 2017-2018 Book List is posted on
usguu.org> About> Affinity Groups> Book Group
.
In late August, the 2018-2019 List will be posted.
CAMI (Citizens Against Mass Incarceration)
- Fourth Monday, August 27, 7:00pm. At USG. Contact
Nancy Anderson
.
Caregiver Support Group
- Second Friday, September 14, 11:00am - 1:00pm. At USG. Contact
Maura Gallagher
.
EarthSpirit Circle
. First Monday, except for holiday weekends: (e.g., September 10). Next meeting
September 10
, 7:00pm. At USG. Contact Donya Coldwell at
earth@usguu.org
.
ERC (Ending Racism Committee)
- First Sunday, September 2, 12:00 - 1:30pm. At USG. Contact
Barbara Dowdall
.
Humanists - PUSH
-
Philadelphia Unitarian Society of Humanists
, Fourth Sunday, August 26, 12:00pm. At USG. Contact
Paul Teti
.
Nature Walking at Valley Green - Every Monday and Thursday at
9:00am
(please note summer start time), 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
-
Next meeting will be September 5,
1:30 - 3:00pm, off-site.
(Usually
First Wednesday). Contact
Margaret Thompson
.
Open Small Group Ministry
- Second Sunday, September 9, 12:00pm, Daskam Room at USG. This group is available to people who want to try out Small Group Ministry or attend occasionally. For more information, contact Mark B,
mark.bangela@gmail.com
, or just show up.
UU-101
-
Third Sunday, August 19, 12:00-1:00pm.
UU-101
is an Introduction to Unitarian Universalism, held at USG in the Daskam Room, and childcare is provided. Please let the leader, Eric Foster know that you plan to attend by emailing him at
uu101@usguu.org. If unable to email, you can call Eric at 484-347-8998.
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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
P.U.S.H. Philadelphia Unitarian Society of Humanists
Exploring Elderhood
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We are grateful to...
...all the people who volunteered to provide groceries and host the PIHN families during their two-week stay at Grace Epiphany, with whom we are partnering this year. We are grateful to those still-stalwart "old-timers" who help out year after year and thrilled to have some younger folks volunteering their time, too. We know it's a sacrifice, and we appreciate it. You are the best.
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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
caring@usguu.org
If you call a caring team member and do not speak directly, leave a voice mail and your call will be returned ASAP.
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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
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The Unitarian Society of Germantown
| 215-844-1157 | 6511 Lincoln Drive, Philadelphia, PA 19119
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