UUCSC News and Updates
Weekly on Fridays
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Unitarian Universalist Congregation of South County, RI
Rev. DL Helfer, Minister
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Staying Connected While We're Apart
All are welcome!
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This Sunday * November 29, 2020 |
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10:00 AM
Don't Fall Asleep
Reverend DL Helfer talks about our role in a post-election time:
"Sometimes the hardest thing is staying awake."
Reverend. DL Helfer
11:00-11:30 am
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Addition from Nov. 27, 2020
Religious Education
Apology to the DRE for this omission and the following revision.
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November Theme is HEALING.
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"Cranberries"
with Lynsea Montanari
Native Educator
The Children's Hour at Tomaquag Museum
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The Truth About Thanksgiving
When it comes to healing, so many brave and wise voices have lifted up the importance of telling the true history of Thanksgiving. Our faith has called on white UU’s to be especially vigilant about the work of correcting stories that have caused harm. So I hope you will join me this week in engaging in conversations and further learning about the truth of Thanksgiving and the true history of the Wampanoag people.
DRE, Lee Cowan
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Revision from Nov. 27, 2020
Introducing Soul Matters for December
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"Stillness doesn’t simply slow our breath and energy; it fills us with it."
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This quote from our Soul Matters Sharing Circle this month is such a good reminder. We don't need to seek stillness in order to block out the world and all its needs and hurts or simply for the act of slowing down. We can seek stillness to find clarity, purpose and renewed strength. And of course, some of us kick it into high gear in the holiday season and we may be thinking, "stillness? December is anything but stillness for me." But if we take a minute to breathe and ask ourselves what is the most important thing to be conveying to our loved ones, I think we will all answer with something like "love, appreciation, peace."
So let's make time this month to slow down and breathe. Not to escape the world, but to be more fully in it.
-- Rev DL Helfer
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Keeping Quiet
by Pablo Neruda
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Find additional resources HERE.
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Community Gratitude Line at UUCSC |
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Stop by the front porch of UUCSC any day from now through Nov.30th. You will find a plastic bin full of fabric strips and permanent markers. Write a gratitude on a strip of fabric and tie it to the railing of the ramp out front. Then every time we drive by, we will be able to see our gratitudes fluttering in the wind together outside of our beloved church. |
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The Invention of Thanksgiving |
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The Indians who joined the mistrustful Pilgrims, Wampanoag tradition suggests, were honoring a mutual-defense pact.Illustration by Rui Tenreiro
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From THE NEW YORKER
"The first Thanksgiving was not a “thanksgiving,” in Pilgrim terms, but a “rejoicing.” An actual giving of thanks required fasting and quiet contemplation; a rejoicing featured feasting, drinking, militia drills, target practice, and contests of strength and speed. It was a party, not a prayer, and was full of people shooting at things."
Read the real story HERE.
Submitted by Johnnnie Rodriguez
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Everyone Has a Story
Carolyn and Patrick Gilligan are passionate about many things and it rewards them with a full life in retirement. Read their story HERE.
If you would like to be featured in a mini biography, contact Elizabeth Donovan at elizdn@hotmail.com. Please share your story! You matter!
Read all of Our Stories HERE.
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Good morning, Star Shine
There’s Love in Your Eyes
by Dorothy Devine
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Sitting and sleeping are my days’ majority
Reading people-animal faces
In the overlap of leaves out my window.
My CNA’s patois, dreadlocks hit the table
As she hides her laugh,
‘Oh, Dorothy, You are something else!’
I love weekends the most, stay in my robe
Decide not to read The New Yorker
Or anything about Trump..
Homebound now except for medical visits
I draw down inside myself
Thinking of doing things, then not.
Shall I roll my walker to the kitchen
For a bowl to start a manicure?
...No.
Shall I check obituaries to see if one of my ‘Mets sisters/brothers’ have died?
...No.
Instead I ask ALEXA to play
‘Good Morning, Star Shine’
I am not in much pain, what I am is
Clumsy, tired, dizzy, dull, a fall risk.
Sitting in a recliner as night
Now greys and deepens.
And I wait.
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We invite you to share a special Life at Home experience with your UUCSC friends and help us all to grow together. Submit your contributions for this column to Betsy Dalton at elizabethmdalton@gmail.com.
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"Throughout this election cycle, there has been a lot of conversation about what it looks like to build collective strength and shift power. We know that this cannot happen without a legislative process that allows for meaningful input from members of the public. We have to make sure that the people we elected pay attention to the challenges facing our communities, and that they listen to our lived experiences and respect our calls to action."
Womxn Project press release Nov. 17, 2020
Our friends at the Womxn Project have crafted a letter to all the Rhode Island Legislators calling on them to develop procedures and processes so that citizens have greater access and availability for input. "The Commitment to Transparency" outlines the many steps that will open the legislature if they respond to these requests and pressure from the 37 plus organizations that have signed on.
For many of the Social Justice Team members who have attempted to testify or wait to hear bills that we care about it has been frustrating, long lines to get into the statehouse, huge crowds, no access to the hearing rooms and bills that never get out of committee despite constituent pressure.
The Social Justice Team urged our Board of Trustees to sign onto the document and at their November 18th meeting they agreed to join with others and signed "The Commitment to Transparency". Take a look and let your legislators know that you too support a more open and transparent government. Rhode Islanders deserve it!
submitted by Jean N Bowen, Social Justice Committee Chair
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A Social Justice Ask . . .
The South County Mutual Aid effort at The Collective is dedicated to centralizing aid and assistance in South Kingstown, Narragansett and other parts of South County, RI at this time of public health crisis. Our goal is to bring together information, organizations, and resources for people in need over the course of the pandemic, as needed. Together we have collectively helped hundreds of individuals and families with financial assistance, housing, grocery assistance, and etc.
Many of our neighbors are still struggling, and so there are opportunities for people who are willing to lend assistance. Donate to the mutual aid fund HERE
If you need assistance or can provide other support, please fill out this form HERE. Donations of women's and children's warm clothing is especially needed.
Submitted by Rev. DL Helfer
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The UUCSC Anti-racism Group Update and Invite |
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We are placing a group order for the book at The Collective in Wakefield (buying local and at a 25% discount). Details, including cost and safe delivery options can be found HERE. Deadline to order from The Collective is Sunday, Nov. 29.
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Reminder
You are most welcome to join us in the Monday 7:00 PM Zoom Anti-racism group. Email Rev. DL to be put on the Zoom link email list and be reminded every week.
After being off this week for Thanksgiving, we will begin alternating weeks between activism and reflective work, acknowledging that the two are interconnected. You may choose to attend only one group, meeting every other Monday, or both focus groups, meeting every Monday.
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In a joint meeting with the 7 principles class, the Anit-racism group will begin with activism on Nov. 30th.
- Social Justice Chair Jean Bowen will run that meeting.
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Part of what will be discussed is a path to adoption of the proposed 8th principle.
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Rev. DL will provide a schedule for reading and working through My Grandmother’s Hands to begin the following Monday, Dec. 7.
Submitted by Etta Zasloff
Anti-racism Group Member
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Support Indigenous Peoples' Cultural Survival |
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Monday, November 30, 2:30pm EST: Weekday Screening to promote personal shopping. Register today.
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Friday, December 4, 2:30pm EST: Meet and Greet Zoom Session with artists for final shopping day. Register today.
** If you register, and can't join us live we will send you a link to watch the recorded Bazaar so you can shop at your leisure.
Submitted by Essjay Foulkrod
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for all the resources that have been listed here in the past few months.
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UUCSC Becomes More Energy Efficient
By Jean Burke, Facilities Committee
WORK CONTINUES
Please do not enter the building.
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This Holiday Season, try using AmazonSmile!
If you ever shop at Amazon, you can contribute to UUCSC at no extra cost to you! If you purchase gifts or items online, during this holiday season, or at other times, please consider using AmazonSmile, where UUCSC is a registered non-profit organization and will receive a small percentage of each purchase. Read more about how to use AmazonSmile HERE.
Submitted by Betsy Dalton
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Remaining
Equal Exchange Products
Delivered Right to Your Door
Tea Blends
Decaf Organic Coffee
Chocolate Bars
Virgin Olive Oil
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Thank you to all who have purchased Equal Exchange items from UUCSC over the past few months via the newsletter.
As you can see from this updated list, the inventory is getting low. We are wondering if there is an interest in continuing to offer Equal Exchange Products as a fundraiser for the UUCSC and support of the UU Service Committee's outreach to encourage economic security through more ethical and sustainable trade? If you are interested in purchasing items on a regular basis, please email Rosemary Galiani at rgalsworkroom@verizon.net by December 1 and let her know which items you are interested in purchasing.
Submitted by Rosemary Galiani
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National Youth Poet Laureate,
Amanda Gorman
Performing Her Poem
"Earthrise."
Submitted by Johnnie Rodriguez
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November 30, 2020
11:30 am-12:30 pm
PROTEST
CANCELED DUE TO COVID
Submitted by Taylor Ellis
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Dining For Women Moves to Zoom |
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December 1, 2020
6:00 PM
All are welcome.
Find all the details HERE.
Offer to research and present grantees; contact Chapter Leader,
Gail Burchard at 401-294-6789.
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How to Submit Info to This Newsletter |
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by Tuesday Noon each week to assure publication by Friday of that week.
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