June 28 - July 4, 2018
The CommUUnicator
The Weekly Newsletter of
The Unitarian Society of Germantown
Building Beloved Community
THIS WEEK:
Rev. Kent and UUA President Rev. Susan Frederick-Gray encourage people to rally at City Hall this Saturday 11:00am-2:00pm to end Family Detention. On Sunday, Rev. Kent puts before us the possibility of a "World Cup World."
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In Worship, 10:30am
World Cup World,
Rev. Kent Matthies
with Tom Garrabrant on piano
The World Cup of Soccer is being played in Russia. This most important global sporting event contains many elements of the best and the worst of our current global, human society. True stories of rags to riches, players speaking dozens of languages with a common purpose and people all around the globe watching with joy and pain. At the same time bullying, corruption and violence leave a rancid feeling. How can we learn from the world of Messi and Ronaldo, Salah and Modric?
Pictured above from L to R or if viewing on a cellphone, top to bottom:
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In Child Spiritual Development
Our Summer CSD programs have begun! Children will start their Sunday morning with their families in the Sanctuary. At 10:45am, they will be sung out to their programs:
- For 6-yr-olds and younger, Summer Arts and Crafts will be in the Committee Room and Dining Room.
- For 7-y-olds and older, the Feeling the Spirit Through Music program will be in Sullivan 2 and 3, this Sunday featuring Flute with Meg Ryan and Kris Alutius.
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.
Please see below under CALL TO ACTION the 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 10.
Please note:
The monthly Ending Racism Committee has been cancelled for July 1.
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, July 8, 10:30am
Church & Faith: Where and How to Be,
Tom Ott
Church can be both a noun and a verb. When the former, it is usually considered a specific place. I believe that is too limiting; and given that belief, perhaps the meaning of faith can be found, even when, for this UU anyway, there are many times both historically and today that faith in its religious sense seems all but impossible, except maybe when helping a little girl catch her first fish.
Tom Ott is a two time Board member and 4 year president of USG and recently received a Congregation Award for his service to USG. He has offered three previous meditations and considers Unitarian Universalism as the only platform from which he can explore faith in its spiritual sense.
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Rally to End Family Detention
This Saturday, June 30, 11:00am - 2:00pm
At General Assembly, UUA President Rev. Susan Frederick-Gray called upon all UUs to
SHOW UP
for justice as she and other faith leaders did in Charlottesville. Rev. Frederick-Gray specifically mentioned the upcoming rallies across the country this Saturday to demand justice for immigrants. Rev. Kent Matthies, a number of USG folks and UUs from around the region plan to be present. All are encouraged to follow their hearts and consciences. If you attend, please be mindful of the heat and bring water.
Click here
for more information.
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Urgent Need for Food Donations
Each month, nonperishable foods donated by members of USG are delivered to St. Vincent De Paul’s Food Cupboard. During summer months, supplies run low. At our last delivery, the food cupboard's shelves were nearly bare.
There is an urgent need for us to increase our donations.
If you’ve never given before or only infrequently, please consider making a habit of dropping off
beans, tuna, peanut butter, cereal, rice
- or any other non-perishable item - to the carts in USG’s kitchen each Sunday. Or pick up a small bag of items at the supermarket to place on the cart once a month. Let’s help our neighbors in Germantown and Mt. Airy who rely on this community program.
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Supporting a Woman in Sanctuary
From Lisa M. Britland
Congregational Administrator,
Unitarian Society of Northampton and Florence:
Normally when I'm on vacation with my family I am able to leave work behind and clear my mind. This will not be so easy for me to do this time. On April 6 the Unitarian Society of Northampton & Florence welcomed Irida Kakhtiranova, a western Massachusetts wife to a U.S. citizen and mother of three U.S. citizen children, into sanctuary. While the outpouring of love and support from this congregation and the local community has been tremendous (and at times over whelming), the fact remains that while everyone is getting ready for summer vacations with family, Irida will be spending her time here within our walls and away from her family. It is very hard on her and her family. It is also hard on those of us here who have come to know and love her over the past 10 weeks. She'll be in my thoughts as I spend time with my family next week. I hope you will keep her in your thoughts as well. Cards and letters of support can be sent to:
Irida Kakhtiranova
c/o USNF
220 Main St
Northampton, MA 01060
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Educators' Book Group:
Every summer, the Caucus of Working Educators and the Teacher Action Group–Philly organize book groups focused on social justice for educators, students, families, and community members in Philadelphia. The Ending Racism Committee at USG will sponsor three evening meetings (5:30 - 7:30pm) held in the Edna Jones Room at USG dedicated to the book,
So You Want To Talk About Race
by Ijeoma Oluo. Please
click here
to
register.
Please direct any questions to Clarice Brazas -
claricebrazas@gmail.com
Corrected Dates: Thursday, June 28; Monday, July 9; Tuesday, July 24
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USG's Summer Office Hours
Last two weeks of June:
The office will be
open
from 9:30am until 2:30pm on M, Th, and F; it will be
closed
on Tu and W.
In July and 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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Thank You to the UUA Chalice Lighters!
We are happy to report that USG received a check for $40,000 from the UUA Chalice Lighters Program. You can get on the band wagon! if you have not made a pledge to the
Close the Gap
fund for the elevator, now is the time! Please contact
Bill Dowdall
.
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AUCTION EVENTS YOU CAN STILL JOIN
Help raise more money for USG AND have fun! If interested, please contact Kay Weiser at
kweiser7825@verizon.net
or 215-527-3179.
Annual 4th of July Parade and BBQ
at Deb and Howard Silver's home in Glenside. There are 8 openings. Cost for an adult is $20. 3:00pm is the start time.
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FYI:
ERC has POSTPONED the Saturday June 30th ERC tour of Church of the Advocate sanctuary and murals on Diamond St in North Philadelphia. It will be rescheduled for another date in July based on tour guide and ERC membership availability.
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Nicky Brown Scholarship Opportunity
If you are a pledging/paying member of USG or have been a contributing friend for two (2) years or more, your college-bound son/daughter can apply for a small stipend, the Nicky Brown Scholarship. Please contact Shawn Miller at the email or phone number below for an application. All applications are due by July 31, 2018.
milshawn52@yahoo.com
, 215-631-9958.
Photo is of Nicky Brown.
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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 July.
- July 8 - Village 11
- July 15 - Village 12
- July 22 - Welcoming Committee & New Members
- July 29 -Village 1
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Interested in joining USG?
The next New Member Signing is on July 22.
Please take a UU-101 class, offered the second Sunday of each month and a New Member Orientation (offered the third Sundays of October, January, April and July). There are New Member Signings the fourth Sunday of January, April, July and October. Please visit the Membership page in the Home menu on our website,
usguu.org
,
or contact Treva Burger at
trevawb@gmail.com
for more information.
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Greater Philly UU Cluster Summer Events
GPC Meeting -
July 14, 9:30 - 11:30 am (9:00 meet and greet), UUC in Cherry Hill, 401 N. Kings Highway, Cherry Hill, NJ 08034
We'll discuss the Cluster's vision for 2018-2019, an advertising idea, UU Community Weekend in September, and more.
Please register by June 30!
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. MLUC has a minimum that they are trying to reach by June 30, so please register before then if possible. Thanks! For more info, visit:
http://www.mluc.org/community/community-weekend. See attached flyer.
Highlights: a group sing-along, annual talent show, and a book discussion with Rev. Neal of the UUA Common Read,
Centering: Navigating Race, Authenticity, and Power in Ministry
.
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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, July 12, 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.
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, July 23, 7:00pm. At USG. Contact
Nancy Anderson
.
Caregiver Support Group
- Second Friday, July 13, 11:00am - 1:00pm. At USG. Contact
Maura Gallagher
.
EarthSpirit Circle
. First Monday, except for holiday weekends: (September 10). Next meeting is July 2, 7:00pm. At USG. Contact Donya Coldwell at
earth@usguu.org
.
ERC (Ending Racism Committee)
- First Sunday. Next meeting August 5, 12:00 - 2:00pm.
July 1 meeting cancelled
. At USG. Contact
Barbara Dowdall
.
Humanists - PUSH
-
Philadelphia Unitarian Society of Humanists
, Fourth Sunday, July 22, 12:00pm. At USG. Contact
Paul Teti
.
Nature Walking at Valley Green - Every Monday and Thursday at
9:00am
(please note new summer start time), you can meet others - whoever shows up- at Valley Green in Chestnut Hill for a morning walk.
NEW Point Person is
Steve Conrad, who is usually there.
Needle Exchange, a Handwork Group
-
Next meeting will be July 11
,
1:30 - 3:00pm, off-site.
(Usually
First Wednesday). Contact
Margaret Thompson
.
Open Small Group Ministry
- Second Sunday, July 8, 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, July 15, 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 leaders, Eric Foster and Charles Gabriel, know that you plan to attend by emailing them at
uu101@usguu.org. If unable to email, you can call Charles at 215-801-2711.
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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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Our thoughts and prayers are with...
...Beverly Gross Spencer
and Tim Spencer
as Beverly awaits the date for heart bypass surgery. Our apologies for getting the facts wrong last week. We will let you know when help from the congregation is needed. Meanwhile, Beverly appreciates our holding her in our thoughts and prayers, and welcomes emails and cards.
..
.Burton Froom's family and friends - especially his wife, Louise Lisi, and his daughters Rebecca and Elizabeth.
Burt died on Monday, June 18 from
Lewy Body Dementia at age 82. Burt and Louise would have celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary this August.
Cards of condolence would be appreciated.
...
Mark Daugherty
and his partner Michael Wardell. Mark is recovering at home after hernia surgery on June 19. Cards and emails are welcome.
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Our warm congratulations go to...
...Rosita Johnson,
who on April 28 was awarded an honor by President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa, t
he
Order of the Companions of OR Tambo
in bronze, which
recognizes "eminent foreign nationals for friendship shown to SA. It is therefore an order of peace‚ co-operation and active expression of solidarity and support. The order in bronze will be bestowed on Rosita Johnson: For her contribution to the well-being of young South African exiles by enabling them to pursue their education‚ and for raising awareness‚ in the US‚ of the plight of South Africans under apartheid." Please
click here
for details, and
click here
for Business Day's complete list of award recipients, including Rosita.
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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