NUUC September 2024 Newsletter

September 2024

Congregagtional Meeting Called for September 15

Your Board of Trustees has called a congregational meeting for immediately after worshop on September 15 for the purposes of approving the Fiscal Year 2025 budget. We anticipate the meeting to not be very long; children will remain in the Religious Exploration classes until the meeting is concluded.

Ingathering Sunday September 8

Kitchen Dedication and BBQ cookoff

During worship we will officially dedicate our renovated kitchen space to the memory of our beloved member Jan Bourke. And in Jan's honor, after worship, we will hold a BBQ cookoff competition fundraiser! Bring any BBQ dish you like--either a main dish, or a side dish. All the food will be shared without expectation of donation, but people will be able to vote for their favorite dishes by placing cash in the associated mason jar. You can sign up to bring a dish any time by clicking here. Please do be sure to sign up if you are bringing a dish so our set up crew knows how to prepare!

NEW FALL 2024 ACTIVITIES AND PROGRAMS

Play games with persons of all ages the second Sunday of the month. There will be both board games and role playing games. We will have a mix of fast-paced family games, strategy games, and fun collaborative games.After worship of the Second Sunday of the month, grab some food and/or a beverage and then head to Room 1 if you'd like to participate in a role playing game, and Room 3 if you'd like to try play a board game. No experience or sign up necessary!

What Moves Us: Unitarian Universalist Theology --First Sundays at 11:45 AM led by Rev. Susan the first Sunday of the month each month starting in October 2024. Both adults and teens are welcome. Join No need to sign up, just show up to Room 1 at 11:45 AM. . You are welcome to attend just a few or all of these sessions. Through shared direct experiences and reflection exercises, readings and lessons, and ethical deliberations, What Moves Us creates an adult faith journey for those people who want to be able to better articulate their beliefs and understand how they connect with Unitarian Universalism.

Putting Down Roots at NUUC, September 29, 11:45 AM Are you thinking about membership, or just wondering how to be more involved at NUUC? Join Rev. Susan and some lay leaders after worship to learn more about each other, the congregation, and the possibilities for involvement. Please do sign up in advance by emailing minister@nuuc.org (and please indicate if you will have need for childcare during the meeting).

Join a Covenant Group

Covenant Groups invite people to deepen their connection to self, others, and spirit, through regular monthly meetings, reflection and spiritual practice. Covenant Groups consist of 6-8 people, one of whom acts as facilitator, who meet once a month for one and a half hours. Like covenant group meetings provide opportunity for personal check-ins, with the additional of a mutual exploration of a monthly theme. We're forming new covenant groups this Fall. Please sign up to indicate your interest, and Rev. Susan will be in touch about your preferences for meeting times and places. To sign up please send an email to minister@nuuc.org.

Supressed and Sabatoged (Video & Discussion), September 29, Noon-1:30PM

You are invited to gather and view the video “Suppressed and Sabotaged” (30 min) on Sept. 29, 12:00, at NUUC. Following the video, those who can stay a bit longer will help plan a Vote Forward Letter Writing Brunch at NUUC on Oct 6. Our votes are power, otherwise nefarious characters wouldn’t try to subvert them. The video “Suppressed and Sabotaged: The Fight To Vote” sounds the alarm on voter suppression and election subversion ahead of the Nov. election. The 30 min documentary focuses on the current wave of efforts to disenfranchise voters across the US, with the 2018 Georgia gubernatorial race reviewed as a case study for understanding today’s voter suppression measures. The video includes the personal stories of folks who represent those disproportionately affected by voter suppression (elderly, first time, college students, people of color, people with disabilities) The video is a rallying call against the calculated, unconstitutional, and racist attacks intended to destroy democracy in the U.S.

Questions: Contact Rev Joan VanBecelaere uujoanvanb@gmail.com

"Suppressed reminds us that we can fight together to achieve a future where all Americans can freely exercise their fundamental right to vote.” - Stacey Abrams, Voting Rights Activist

Vote Forward Letter Brunch--October. 6, noon-2:00PM

On Oct 6 (noon to 2:00), we will send personal, heartfelt handwritten letters encouraging fellow Americans to vote. These letters are nonpartisan..

Past elections have proved that these letters are effective in helping mobilize potential voters in communities that have historically been marginalized in the political process.

We will have brunch and write letters. And we will have packets to take home and write if you want to write additional letters or can’t stay that day.

Questions: Contact Rev Joan VanBecelaere uujoanvanb@gmail.com

Many of us are drawn to the poetry of Mary Oliver. We’ll explore some of her lesser known poems and wonder how their meaning informs our own lives. Each session will begin with a Mary Oliver poem and space will be provided to absorb, contemplate and journal. This is not a literature class or discussion, but utilizing a Circle of Trust approach, we will take inspiration from each other to deepen our own understanding of each poem. This series will be offered virtually on Zoom Sunday evenings at 7:00pm, September 22, September 29, October 6, and October 13.

Each session is stand alone so please come to those you can. However, relating to the set of four poems will offer a richer experience. The sessions are free but registration is required to receive the Zoom links: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/MaryOliver Facilitated by Karen McGuire, Interspritual Companion

Join Us for a Picnic on Sunday September 22!

After worship on September 22, please join us for an all ages picnic at Highbanks Metro Parks, in the Green Meadows Picnic Area (this the picnic area the farthest towards the back of the park from the entrance, near the playground, restrooms, and zipline). The picnic will last from 11:45 AM-1:00PM. Plates, cups, napkins, will all be provided, but bring a dish and/or a beverage to share if you can. The picnic committee is planning to grill both a meat and a vegetarian dish.

Religious Exploration at NUUC

Teach a Skill to our Youth!

Beginning in September, our youth will be participating in a class called CommUUnity Care: Skills to Take Care of Yourself and Others. Each week in RE, they will learn a different practical (or fun) skill. They will learn things like how to change a bike tire, pitch a tent, write and mail a letter, or make salsa. To make this class as engaging as possible, we need adults to volunteer to teach one class on a skill they are familiar with. Suggest a skill, or ask Morgan for ideas. Morgan can also help you figure out how to teach your skill. To help teach, reach out to Morgan Patten at morgan@nuuc.org.

OWL for 5-7 Year Olds

Our Whole Lives (OWL) is a nationally recognized sexuality education program. For 5-7 year-olds, the curriculum focuses on providing children with age-appropriate, inclusive, and accurate information about bodies, families, and boundaries. OWL will be held during service from September 22 to November 10. If you have a child/grandchild who might be interested, please reach out to Morgan Patten at morgan@nuuc.org.

Other Ways to Connect

Mindful Writing meets monthly, with members sharing a variety of written pieces and thoughts. All are welcome! Please contact Marty Keith if you're interested in joining the group so she can send you time and the Zoom link. martykeith@zoho.com

Brown Bag Books Discussion Group meets monthly at noon on the Third Tuesday of each month, in Room 3 at church. Upcoming book selections are:

September A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles

October James by Percival Everett

November The Women of Troy by Pat Barker

December There's Always This Year: On Basketball and Ascension by Hanif Abdurraquib

Life has a way of rushing by. Sometimes we feel the need to pause or to reflect more deeply. Join me for a virtual half hour of mindful contemplation that is inclusive, non-judgmental and expectation free. I’ll bring a mix of poetry, music, breathwork, silence, or meditation to create a space for you to relax. Participants are muted. Feel free to turn your video off. Please engage in whatever way feels most meaningful to you. A Space for Reflection is freely offered the third Wednesday of the month at 7:00pm on Zoom. Registration is required (link here).

As for me, Karen McGuire, the facilitator, I’m a lifelong Unitarian Universalist, a retired educator, and a trained Interspiritual Companion who finds it necessary to stop every once in a while, and pay attention.

How Right It Is to Care

by The Honorable Thomas A. McKean

As I write this, it is the afternoon of Sunday, July 28th, in the year of our Lord, 2024. I am just home from a service with Susan talking about lizards. After the service, Marty Keith and I talked about compassion and empathy. As I was driving home (with Art Garfunkel assuring me there is indeed light beyond the darkest night), I got to thinking about how difficult compassion and

empathy can be, yet how important it is that we never lose either of them. These two emotions are the best of humanity. And individually, they are also the best of who we are, especially as Unitarian Universalists. Compassion and empathy are the foundation of the UU faith. Everything else is built upon that. You cannot respect the inherent worth and dignity of every person without it. We don't demand others follow our faith. We don't turn people away because they don't believe exactly as we do or because their skin is a different color or because of who they love. We don't tell anyone who is gay or transgender or who has had an abortion that they're going to hell. The reason we don't do these things is because we have compassion and empathy.

But true compassion and empathy means we can't be selective. We may find someone we disagree with, whether it is religion, politics, whatever else, we show compassion and empathy to them anyway. If someone asks you for help, you help them. And politically, it isn't so much that we're Americans first, it's more that we're people first. Even those with different views are our brothers and our sisters, if not literally than at least figuratively. I have an older brother who is a sovereign citizen that doesn't want to have any "contract with the government" and who believes he has the standard sovereign "constitutional right to travel" without a license, registration, or insurance. He doesn't use his name for email, he is "sovereigncitizen@..." It is obvious he and I

have different views, but we would not hesitate to help each other if that help was

needed.

For Unitarian Universalists, this needs to go beyond family and church. We can't turn our backs on others. Cruelty is not an option. We need to always demonstrate compassion and empathy. Granted, it can be difficult. As a personal example, I have had to change diapers on adult men and women with severe autism. That wasn't easy, but it was the right thing to do.Compassion and empathy are two of the things that brought me into the UU. After watching it fade in my previous church, I was glad to see it wasn't gone all together. The North Unitarian Universalist Congregation is a congregation full of compassion, empathy, and kindness. I want it to stay that way, and I am willing to do my part.