April 2025

April 6

"Where Have all the Flowers Gone?" - Flower Communion

Rev. Jane Page

Rev. Jane will lead this service using the classic song "Where Have All the Flowers Gone?" as her inspirational text. We will also have a flower communion. Bring a flower or piece of greenery to share. We will have extras, of course.

April 13

"The Gospel According to Diana Ross: Love, Light, and Liberation"

Clint Tawes

Diana Ross isn’t just a music icon—she’s a testament to resilience, authenticity, and love. This sermon explores the wisdom in her life and lyrics and what they teach us about embracing our true selves and overcoming obstacles. And yes, I know this would’ve been perfect for Women’s History Month—but I didn’t think of it in time. Luckily, Diana deserves to be celebrated year-round! So wear your dancing shoes—there’ll be plenty of great music to keep us moving!"

April 20

Easter Service and POTLUCK

Randy Blasch

Can someone tell me what Easter is all about???

Also, a tradition begun many years ago, all are invited to wear a hat today in celebration of Easter, (This is optional)

April 27

"Crossing Borders: A Poetic View"

Beth Sutton

In celebration of Poetry Month, we will explore the theme of crossing borders through poetry.

Come One, Come All to this Year’s Celebration of Easter!

Randy will be asking the question “Does anyone know what Easter is really all about?” and we will have a performance from our multi-generational

choir!!

POTLUCK

After the service we will have an Egg hunt on the lawn (weather permitting) for the young ones and everyone will gather back in the sanctuary for an Easter meal together. The church will be providing turkey and ham but we need you to bring the rest. Put together your favorite side dish or dessert and bring it with you on Sunday, April 20th!

We would like to donate any leftovers to those in need so bring your dish in something that you don’t need back. We will have a few containers available just in case.

Again, Easter Sunday, April 20 at UUCG. Service begins at 10:30 followed by the Egg Hunt and our POTLUCK meal.

If you have any questions, reach out to Randy at 770-490-1972 or randyblasch@gmail.com

SEE YOU THERE!!!

What’s Blooming? We are!

The bees are having a blast with all the flowers blooming everywhere now. And it feels like UUCG is blooming as well.

We completed a fantastic Dining 4 Dollars fundraiser - bringing in over $10,000! Thanks to all of those who hosted events, attended events, and donated money - especially our matching donors. We also want to provide a huge thank you to our planning team.

Our ministry to children is also blossoming with many folks involved, as well as our Adult Book Club and Forum, our Choir, our Manna House Team and our Sunday morning services. On April 6, we will literally blossom as we bring in flowers and greenery for our Flower Communion. Read this newsletter to see what’s happening and join us as we nurture this garden of ministry.

A letter from President

Sharon Ehle

Highlights from the March 19, 2025 Meeting

The Board unanimously approved Carolyn Wallace as Chairperson of the Children’s RE Committee. Carolyn will appoint Committee members to assist her implement plans for RE to be held every Sunday, and planning/scheduling has been projected through the summer months. We’re excited to see an enthusiastic response from both the children and teachers/helpers.

Beth Sutton had some good news on UUCG’s financial health, thanks in no small part to the successful Dining for Dollars fundraiser. The Board agreed to allocate $3000 to the Children’s RE program, covering expenses for supplies and personnel, $500 to Membership, and $1,000 for speaker honorariums.

Brian Merck submitted a revised Child Protection Policy, and the Board approved the document to be included in our Policies and Procedures section, available for all members (especially those who are participating in the program) to review and follow.

Beth Sutton will continue to collect nonperishable food for the children to eat before Church and to take home. The sign-up program had no response, so Beth will make needs known via Sunday announcement and online communication.

Beth Stevenson has agreed to become Chairperson of the Membership Committee and is looking forward to working with a Co-Chair on some exciting events. We thank Carolyn Wallace for all her great work as former Chairperson, and we appreciate Beth’s willingness to step into this role.

Board members are still exploring the formation of a forum for productively discussing congregation member concerns. A small Listening Circle was held in coordination with UUA Southern District, but it fell short of meeting our needs.

Randy Blasch agreed to organize an Easter Potluck and Egg Hunt. Contact him if you want to help!

The April UUCG Board of Trustees meeting TBD due to the Easter Holiday.

Thank You Denise!

Denise Anderson has been leading the Worship Team but is taking a break from this responsibility for a while. We thank her for all of her hard work in providing interesting speakers and topics.

For now, Rev. Jane is leading this team.

If you wish to become a member of UUCG...Contact Beth or Rev. Jane

Beth Stevenson is now our Membership Team Leader. She is looking forward to working with a Co-Chair on some exciting events. If you are interested in helping in any way with this team, please contact Beth at echstevenson@gmail.com OR 404-824-5562

CHILDREN'S RE NEWS!

Carolyn Wallace is the new Chairperson of the Children’s RE Committee.

Summer is a perfect time to connect with our UUCG children. Sundays during services we will need 1 or 2 volunteers to be with the children where we spend time talking informally, playing on the playground or inside for art activities. We will be more informal… but it a great chance to connect. We also have lots of ideas if you want to do something more structured!

Let Beth Stevenson know if you are interested since we need to do simple background checks for safety. echstevenson@gmail.com or 404-824-5562

UUCG's Manna House team served lunch to about 275 people on March 26th! We had 10 volunteers and stayed busy making chicken sandwiches and PBJs, assembling sack lunches, and serving MH guests.

Our next service day will again be the 4th Wednesday of the month on April 23, 9am - 1pm. I'll email more information to everyone in mid-April.

Let's Side With Love together at Manna House!

Please text or email Kim Merck if you'd like to be on the Manna House email list: (912) 580-7029 or kimym31525@gmail.com

Sunday, April 6, 2025 9:00 – 10:15 AM in the Bill Phillips Forum Room

Discussion leader: Brian Merck

Topic: The New AI Overlords, Part 2

With Brian Merck to guide our discussion, we will continue to explore the status and future of artificial intelligence. This will be a continuation of his Forum on March 2. We'll review technology and the people behind the technology - their motivations, goals, and grandiose visions for the future. AI advances will force us to confront what it means to be human. If you’re a human, you might want to learn more.

UUCG's Adult Forum is designed to encourage discussion by sharing our stories and wisdom so we may “learn more about being human.”

We meet to reinforce the “warmth or community” that calls us to attend church.

Meetings are on the FIRST SUNDAY of the month from 9:00 – 10:00 a.m.

Ruth Trudeau

(214) 675-7331

SISTERHOOD GROUP 3

The Sisterhood 3 group meets on the first Sunday of each month after church. We still have room for more women to join us. We will meet in the Bill Phillips room at the end of coffee time after church (about 11:50). Come connect with other UU Women. We need one another!

If you have questions about the group, please email Rev. Jane at revjanepage@gmail.com.

Games and Giving Night - Saturday, May 10 from 4-9

Join us and bring friends to the UUCG Games Night on May 10. Bring food or drink to share and come any time after 4:00. (We did it early, so children supervised by their parents can come.) This is a free event, but we are asking everyone to bring light foods and drinks that could make a meal (bread, cheese, fruit, finger foods, drinks).We should have plenty of games, but you can also bring something you want to play.

And! We are planning to have a basket out for donations to a local non-profit.

On May 10, we will have a basket out for The Well.

This is open to the community so feel free to invite others who might enjoy playing games or supporting The Well.

For questions talk to Beth Stevenson or Kirsten Montague. RSVP to Beth (404-824-5562 or echstevenson@gmail.com).

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The Robert S. Abbott Race Unity Institute

Unity in Diversity Luncheon

Saturday, April 12^th at noon until 2:00 p.m.

Luncheons are held at the Historic Jackson Building on the Rise Risley campus, 1800 Albany Street, Brunswick, GA 31520.

Lunch will be catered by Wrap Happy and your RSVP is required via https://theabbottinstitute.org/luncheon/

Sunday, April 20, 2025 from 9:00-10:00 a.m.

(The special Adult RE Zoom Room information is below.)

Join an intellectually challenging and fun conversation with a

group of ardent readers.

The Long Walk: The True Story Of A Trek To Freedom

by Slavomir Rawicz

"I hope The Long Walk will remain as a memorial to all those who live and die for freedom, and for all those who for many reasons could not speak for themselves."--Slavomir Rawicz

In 1941, the author and six other fellow prisoners escaped a Soviet labor camp in Yakutsk--a camp where enduring hunger, cold, untended wounds, untreated illnesses, and avoiding daily executions were everyday feats. Their march--over thousands of miles by foot--out of Siberia, through China, the Gobi Desert, Tibet, and over the Himalayas to British India is a remarkable statement about man's desire to be free. (Amazon)

DISCUSSION GROUP LEADER: Dorin Schumacher

912.266.6558 or drdorin@earthlink.net

This is the ZOOM ROOM set-up specifically for the ADULT RE BOOK DISCUSSION GROUP.

Join at:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83199891898?pwd=RXRUNk92L1Z2ZHBCek9XTkt0RTFEdz09

Meeting ID: 831 9989 1898

Passcode: 950120 (Passcode must be used.)

CrossWord Puzzles

Looking for a crossword puzzle that is more interesting than the Brunswick News’? John Cowlishaw is creating many puzzles and posting them online at: https://tinyurl.com/47bxef38