February 8 - 14, 2018
The CommUUnicator
The Weekly Newsletter of
The Unitarian Society of Germantown
Building Beloved Community
THIS WEEK:
We highlight a variety of February worship services and Black History month events: a movie, video, and TWO concerts! Wait... there's more.
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In Worship, 10:30am
Happy Birthday, Darwin!
Rev. Kent Matthies, with Music Director Mark Daugherty & the USG Choir
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Life has existed on planet Earth for approximately 3.8 billion years. Born 209 years ago on Feb 12, 1809, Charles Darwin changed our understanding of the history – and future – of life. His ideas can still affect the way we live our lives. How can Darwin’s ideas help you cultivate a sense of awe and wonder? Can we consciously participate in evolution?
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New Member Signing Ceremony
We will also celebrate friends joining the church this Sunday in a Book of Records Signing Ceremony.
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In Child Spiritual Development
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This Sunday morning,
children and youth
will be in the sanctuary until 10:45, when they will be "sung out" to their classes.
Our High School program
changes weekly. The High School Group will meet this coming Sunday evening,
February 11
,
from 6:00 - 8:00pm. For a detailed schedule of Youth Group Activities for the program year, click here and locate the Youth Group column.
Please
click here
for details of the Child and Youth Spiritual Development programs.
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
On the First and Second Sundays, the Mindfulness Group will follow this schedule:
-9:15-9:40 - Sitting meditation (in the Grove or in Sullivan 3)
-9:40-10:00 - Walking meditation
-10:00-10:20 - Dharma reading and sharing
All are welcome to join in quietly at any transition point.
Attend UU-101 from 9:00 - 10:15am in the Daskam Room.
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
.Greet members of the
Village 11 group, who are hosting Fellowship Hour.
At 12:00pm, attend the monthly
White Privilege Conversation in Sullivan Chapel.
From 12:00 - 1:30pm, attend the
Open Small Group Ministry 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, February 18, 10:30am
This Is Us
Intern Minister Connie Simon
Beneath all the rhetoric and political division, we’re joined together by our common humanity. Can we acknowledge our past, accept our present and work together for our future? Can we say openly and honestly, “This is Us”?
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Sunday, February 25, 10:30am
A Choir Sunday:
Honoring Beverly Gross Spencer’s
30 years with USG
It hardly seems possible, but our wonderful alto soloist Beverly Gross Spencer has been a part of music at USG for thirty years. This Sunday we honor her musical presence with Robert Ray’s tuneful
“Gospel Magnificat”
as well as Duke Ellington’s soulful
“Come Sunday.”
This is music that speaks directly to the heart, something that Beverly always does with her singing. Come and be inspired.
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Social Justice Second Monday Movie
10,000 Black Men Named George
Monday, February 12, 7:00 - 9:00pm
Edna Jones Assembly Room
This film is based on union activist and civil rights leader Asa Philip Randolph's efforts to organize the black porters of the Pullman Rail Company in 1920s America. Film stars Andre Braugher, Charles S. Dutton, Mario Van Peebles.
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Ending Racism Committee's
Monthly Screen Presentation:
Race and Whiteness in the Era of Trumpism
a video presentation by Tim Wise
February 21, 7:00 - 9:00pm
Edna Jones Assembly Room
Tim Wise (
see image
) is a well-known anti-racist activist and writer, whose focus on race, class, gender, privilege and sexuality has been the foundation of many talks, articles and books, including his memoir
White Like Me: Reflections on Race from a Privileged Son
. In this video presentation given at All Saints Church, Pasadena, CA in April 2017, he talks about race relations in America, specifically around the context of the 2016 presidential election. Wise explains how white privilege shaped the national and cultural narrative, leading to a rise in white nationalism.
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Daring Democracy
Saturday, February 24, 1:00 - 4:00pm, USG
This community event, inspired by the book
Daring Democracy: Igniting Power, Meaning, and Connection for the America We Want
(Beacon Press, 2017), by Frances Moore Lappé and Adam Eichen, features co-author Adam Eichen and speakers from the March on Harrisburg Movement (MOH). The focus of the book and the meeting is the need to undo gerrymandered electoral districts and to get money out of politics – both as vital for significant reforms for social justice in Pennsylvania.
Click here
to learn more. For more information and to offer help, contact Dennis Brunn (
[email protected]
).
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Saturday, March 24, 2:00 pm
Book Launch for Marietta Tanner’s new book:
Driving in Second
Edna Jones Assembly Room at USG
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Black UU History Presentation
Sunday, March 25, 12:00 - 2:00pm
USG's Sanctuary
The history of Black UUs is a rich one,
which you won’t have learned unless you have gone looking for it, and it is very important in understanding where our faith movement is now.
Intern Minister Connie Simon
has studied Black UU history on her own and through her time in seminary, including taking Rev. Mark Morrison-Reed’s class: African Americans, Unitarians, Universalists and Unitarian Universalists. All are welcome.
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Sunday, February 25, 4:00pm
Black History Month Concert at USG:
I Too Sing America
In celebration of Black History month,
Cookie Diorio
with pianist
Matt Brower
, and special guest artists
Veronica Chapman-Smith
and Shahara Benson present a benefit concert to raise awareness and support for the
The Philadelphia Children's Foundation
(PCF). PCF supports Philadelphia students by installing internet-ready computers in classrooms and publicly accessible locations, helping to outfit school libraries with books, provide computers to low-income families that do not have them, and teach 3D printing classes. This event is sponsored by the Unitarian Society of Germantown's Ending Racism Committee. Proceeds will be donated to PCF.
Click here
for tickets.
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SAVE THE DATE!
USG Service Auction
Saturday, April 21, 2018
5:00pm
YOU TOO CAN BE A SUPER HERO!
Donate items for the auctions.
Provide refreshments the night of the auction.
Admission is $10 per adult.
First time attendees are FREE.
Childcare is provided.
COME EARLY, BID OFTEN!
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If you participated in this week's
NCTE African-American Read-In,
remember to email
Barbara Dowdall
your information for the "book report" by midnight, Sunday February 11.
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USG Family:
Thanks for your wonderful generosity!
On Sunday, January 28 we took a special collection to support Black Lives of Unitarian Universalists. BLUU’s future efforts will include support for creating community for Black UUs, Empowering Black leadership and building bridges to Black Lives Matter.
We passed our goal by raising over $3,100 for the new organization: Black Lives of Unitarian Universalists!
By raising over $10 per member, we qualified for a matching grant. Hence, our efforts helped to garner over $6,000 for BLUU.
Thank you!
In faith,
Kent
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#ChurchFans!
You know why the Eagles won, right? Someone in this USG football potluck party crowd has influence!
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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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To give via text, please do the following:
1.Send text to this 10-digit Give+ Text number:
215-607-6191
2.In the message field, put the amount and the fund you wish to donate to, either pledge or stp,
example
: 25 pledge (
not pledgeS
) ($25 would be donated to pledge payment) or 30 stp ($30 would be donated to MLK Day of Service).
3.Press send.
4.You will receive a registration link, click the link and enter your contact and payment information.
5.Tap “Process.”
6.After registration is complete, you will receive a verification text as well as a receipt via email.
For future giving, simply send a text with the amount and fund you wish to give, and it will process automatically.
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We Are Still Looking!
Volunteer Needed:
Auction Database Manager
If you're looking for a way to support one of USG's top fundraisers, have mid-level computer skills and don't want to attend lots of meetings, the Auction Committee needs you! We need a Database Manager to enter auction items into our computer database, sync that with the church database and provide night-of-Auction set-up, direction and support for the computer team. Training and assistance provided for this very important volunteer job! Interested? Please contact Auction Co-Chairs Linda Smith or Sam Stormont at
[email protected]
or
[email protected]
.
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Have YOU sent in YOUR photo yet?
Or shall we randomly assign photos to your profile?
#ChurchLadyGoneCrazy
Don't let this happen to you. Send in your family photo (whether a single member family or multiple) NOW to
[email protected].?
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Thank You, Villagers!
Thank you so much to all who participate in the Village Fellowship Hours! If you are willing to coordinate Fellowship Hour for your Village, please let Treva Burger, [email protected] know. Below is the schedule for
Fellowship Hour Hosting in February.
·
February 11 - New Members
·
February 18 - Village 12
·
February 25 - Village 1
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Would you like to join USG?
USG welcomes New Members during a Signing Ceremony held four times a year. The next one will be February 11 during the worship service. If you are interested in information about the Path to Membership, please visit the Membership page in the Home menu on our website,
usguu.org
or contact Treva Burger at
[email protected]
.
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Valentine's Dance
Saturday, February 10, 7:00pm
Come out for a fun evening of dancing to
Who Needs Nigel
, a 60's and 70's rock and roll dance band, at the Unitarian Congregation of West Chester, 501 S. High Street, West Chester, PA.
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Announcing...
...A Greater Philly Cluster (GPC) Choral Workshop
to help plan the mass choir repertoire for a GPC music concert next church year.
Saturday, April 7, 2018
Main Line Unitarian Church in Devon, PA
12:30 – 5:00 PM
(12:30 – 1:30 Brown bag lunch; 1:30 – 5:00 workshop)
All ministers, music ministry teams, directors, choir members, and any member/friend (who’d like to sing in the mass choir) from the 14 GPC congregations are invited to the workshop. The goal of this workshop is to determine the repertoire for the mass choir in addition to forming a steering committee to help launch the first concert.
Click here
to learn more.
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Greater Philly UU CLUSTER News
Jubilee Anti-Racism Training
March 2 -4, Mainline UC, 6:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Jubilee Anti-Racism Training helps participants understand what is involved in nurturing a multicultural community and working against racism in all of its forms. The training includes presentations, discussions, videos, exercises, small group work, worship services, and shared meals. This workshop requires a weekend commitment; and it is worth every minute of that commitment.
WHEN: Friday, March 2 (6:00pm to 9:00pm); Saturday, March 3 (9:00am to 9:00pm); Sunday, March 4 (8:30am to 5:00pm)
WHERE: Main Line Unitarian Church, 816 Valley Forge Rd, Devon, PA 19333
FEE: $155 per participant (includes cost for trainers, meals and materials).
More info here.
Enrollment is limited to 40 participants, so sign up today!
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Get Involved! Meet Fellow UUs!
Follow links below to join and find out more information about the events and groups at USG that occur usually once a month. Questions? Click on the contact links.
20's & 30's SGM Group
- Second Thursday, February 8, 6:30pm, Drop-in Young Adults Small Group Ministry group. For more information, please contact Stephanie Bonner at
[email protected]
or Carly Danielsen on Facebook where they maintain an active invite-only activities group.
CAMI (Citizens Against Mass Incarceration)
- Fourth Monday, February 26, 7:00pm. At USG. Contact
Nancy Anderson
.
Caregiver Support Group
- Second Friday, February 9, 11:00am - 1:00pm. At USG. Contact
Maura Gallagher
.
Choir Rehearsal
- (Almost) Every Thursday evening, 7:30 - 9:30pm. At USG. Newcomers welcome. Contact
Linda Smith or
Andrea Parry
.
ERC (Ending Racism Committee)
- First Sunday, March 4, 12:00 - 2:00pm. At USG. Contact
Barbara Dowdall
.
Exploring Elderhood
- Second Friday gatherings, February 9, 2:00pm. At USG. Contact
Gerry Whelan
, ASD Chair.
Finding Our Roots - Earth Honoring Traditions
. First Monday, except for holiday weekends: (September 10). Next meeting March 5, 7:30pm. At USG. Contact
Dennis Strain
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NEW: Flute Circle for All Ages - Every other Wednesday, 7:00 - 8:00pm, from
January 31 - April 11. Next circle February 14. At USG. Please bring your instrument, although some will be available. Contact
Jason Bender.
Humanists - PUSH
-
Philadelphia Unitarian Society of Humanists
, Fourth Sunday, February 25, 12:00pm. At USG. Contact
Paul Teti
.
Men's Group
- Third Tuesday, February 20, 7:30pm. At USG. Contact
Mark Tuveson
.
Mindfulness Meditation with Rev. Kent
- Every Thursday, 5:30 - 6:15pm. At USG. Contact
Rev. Kent Matthies
.
Nature Walking at Valley Green - Every Monday and Thursday at 10:00am, you can meet others - whoever shows up- at Valley Green in Chestnut Hill for a morning walk. Contact
Tim Beckham, who is usually there.
Needle Exchange, a Handwork Group
-
First Wednesday, March 7, 1:30 - 3:00pm, off-site. Contact
Gale Gibbons
.
Open Small Group Ministry
- Second Sunday, February 11, 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,
[email protected]
, or just show up.
UU-101
- Second Sunday, February 11, 9:00 - 10:20am.
UU-101
is an Introduction to Unitarian Universalism, held at USG in the Daskam Room, and childcare is provided. To RSVP or get more information,
click here
or email
[email protected]
.
UUJPIP
-
UUs for Justice & Peace in Israel & Palestine.
Third Sunday, February 18, 12:00 - 1:30pm.
At USG. Contact
Walt Ceglowski
.
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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
PLEASE NOTE CHANGE:
UU Greater Philly Social Justice is changing its name to
"Greater Philly UUs" as this FB will now include other items as well as Social Justice
P.U.S.H. Philadelphia Unitarian Society of Humanists
Exploring Elderhood
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Our thoughts and prayers are with...
...Louisa Lisi
and her husband Burt Froom. Louise is in need of ongoing support while she cares for Burt, who has a progressive neurological disease and can never be left alone. Short visits for companionship, especially on weekends, would be greatly appreciated. Please call ahead. Louise could also use help with local errands.
...Bill Parry and his family
, who have suffered many losses recently. Bill is continuing to recover from heart surgery. While he was hospitalized, Bill’s brother Bob was diagnosed with advanced pancreatic cancer which took his life the week of January 22. Bill’s wife Marilyn lost her brother, the Rev. Charles W. Miller, on Wednesday, January 31. He had been gravely ill.
...Recent visitor
Alex Herrera,
who suffered a heart attack on January 27 and received inpatient treatment at Einstein Hospital. Alex reports that he is now resting comfortably at home and expects to be back at work teaching third grade and back at USG in a few weeks.
...Nancy Dearden
and her family
. Nancy is back home after receiving inpatient treatment a week ago. Cards are welcome. Nancy and Dave appreciate all the support they have received from the USG community during Nancy’s illness.
...Berne Graham,
who is back at home now after an extended hospital and rehabilitation stay in which she received treatment for blood clots.
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Our Caring Team
Linda Bernstein (chair),
Bonnie McDairmant, Sarah West,
Rev. Kent Matthies & Intern Minister Connie Simon
If you are aware of any joys or concerns that should be part of our caring system, please let us know. You can email
[email protected]
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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