THIS SUNDAY'S
WORSHIP SERVICE
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"Degradation, Disease, Hope"
Kim Agee, guest speaker
Nancy Holland, service leader
Dick Durham, musician
In-person & Zoom Worship Service
Sunday, April 24, 2022 | 10 am
Did You Know? Disease is a symptom of environmental degradation. After two years of worldwide disease devastation and many more catastrophic events related to environmental degradation, how do we make a difference? How do we continue to have hope?
So we can begin the worship service promptly at 10 am, please sign into Zoom ( click here) by no later than 9:50 am.
Our system now allows for direct communication during the service, and anyone who has a "Joy" or "Concern" may express it verbally in-person or via Zoom. If you prefer these to be read by the service leader, or if not attending the service, please submit them in advance by emailing the UUCR office ( click here) by 9 pm Saturday.
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Sunday, May 1 — In-person & Zoom
"Leaning Into Beauty (including our annual Flower Communion)"
The theme this month is "Beauty" and we're invited to ask, "What is beauty trying to get me to hear?" At our service with Rev. Sue Browning we'll reflect on the ways we can find wisdom and support in beauty and beautiful moments. The service will include our annual Flower Communion ceremony. You are invited to bring a flower from your garden (or from the store) that will be used to create a shared bouquet.
- Rev. Sue Browning
- Jan Sprinkel, service leader
- Nevin Dawson, musician
Sunday, May 8 — In-person & Zoom
"The Holy Dove Was Moving Too"
We are each beautiful, amazing and divine. We need to nurture our own beauty by acknowledging and embodying our beauty. Let your religion ring through your actions, preach the gospel while holding your beloved, venerate the holy in times of exercise, let eating be a ritual or prayer and celebration, use your body to worship and to preach, embody this faith you hold so dear.
- Rev. Andrew L. Weber, guest speaker
- Annie Lavin, service leader
- Philip Dutton, musician
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So You Don't Miss Anything! |
- This Week's Worship Service Information
- Upcoming Worship Services Information
- Newsletter Index
- Helpful Links, Office Hours, Upcoming Events Calendar
- Annual Congregational Meeting Notice
- Minister's Column
- Welcome New Members
- Help Needed — Coffee Hosts, Greeters
- UUCR Auction Help Needed — Bodies, Tables, Tents, Food
- UUCR Auction — Register Online, Auction Schedule
- UUFE Auction
- Invitation — Rev. David Billings & Margery Freeman talk
- Social Concerns/Social Justice Committee — Kent County Food Pantry, ShoreRivers Special Collection
- Leadership Development Committee
- Pastoral Care and Connection Committee
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UUA Online Event — Earth Day Service
- Birthdays
- UUCR Contact Information
- End of Reflections Notice at the VERY END
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If you don't see "VERY END of REFLECTIONS for April 21, 2022"
at the VERY END of this email, you're not seeing the entire email.
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This Week's
Worship Service
Previous Worship Service Recordings
UUCR
UUCR Office Hours:
W - Sa, 8:30-10:30 am
Su, 8:30 am-noon
Closed, M & Tu
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APR 24 | UUCR Worship
Service
In-person & Zoom
Kim Agee, guest speaker
Nancy Holland, service leader
Dick Durham, musician
APR 28 | Preview Online
Items and Cash & Carry Sale
at UUCR (see details below)
APR 30 | Online Auction Ends,
Reception, Live Services
Auction (see details below)
May 1 | New Member
Welcoming Ceremony
MAY 1 | UUCR Worship
Service
In-person & Zoom
Rev. Sue Browning
Jan Sprinkel, service leader
Nevin Dawson, musician
MAY 8 | Flower Communion
MAY 8 | UUCR Worship
Service
In-person & Zoom
Rev. Andrew Weber, guest speaker
Annie Lavin, service leader
Philip Dutton, musician
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If you know of another link or event that should be added, please contact
the UUCR office by email or phone 410-778-3440. Thanks!
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The annual congregational meeting will be held on Sunday, May 15th following the Sunday Service.
The business to be conducted at the meeting will include presentation of the:
- Proposed Budget for Fiscal Year 2023-2024
- Slate of Candidates for elected offices
- Committee Reports
- Other Business, as determined.
The Budget and Slate of Candidates will be voted on by the congregation. This requires a quorum of 20% of the membership, so please plan to attend the meeting. Members who have signed the Membership Book prior to February 14, 2022 will be eligible to vote.
In gratitude,
Nancy Holland, President
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Thank you to all who made a true vacation possible!
Earlier this month Bill and I traveled to Florida. It was a chance to spend time with Bill’s brother, who had moved since we had last visited. We met his friends and got a sense of his routine. He took us on a day trip to Tarpon Springs, where we toured the Historic Sponge Exchange (worth Googling), and had lunch at one of the many Greek restaurants in town.
We then drove the length of the Panhandle, stopping in Apalachicola (an old port), Panama City, and Navarre. We watched the Blue Angels practice outside Pensacola, and made it to the Flora-Bama restaurant/beach complex (also worth Googling!). Family members joined us for parts of our beach time, providing us a chance to do a pick-up or drop-off at about every airport on the Panhandle. While away we walked, read, ate, played cards, and yes, drove.
I’m a strong believer in making explicit time for routine change. In this case, travel worked out. Sometimes routine change is a part of a "staycation." In either case, stepping back helps clear out the brain churn — that anticipation of what is next, and the "doing" of our day-to-day roles.
When we change our routines, others experience a change in their routines as well. Leaders and staff at UUCR and UUFE graciously kept things moving in my absence. Board meetings, services, stewardship, outreach, and planning all happened, each in a bit different way.
Taking time off is a reminder of the way we’re all connected. A change in one person's routine reminds us that when one small event in the universe changes (my time away), other things unfold in a slightly different way than would have otherwise happened. When we take a break, we open space for creativity and renewal all around.
In gratitude,
Rev. Sue
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Coffee Hosts and Greeters are needed for our in-person Sunday services. There is a sign-up sheet on the white board, or contact Diane Shields (dashdiane@gmail.com) for dates that you can be available, or for questions.
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UUCR Auction Help Needed! (plus 6' folding tables & pop-up tents)
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Our auction team needs help with the following:
"Muscle Day" — TUES, 4/26, 10 am - 12 noon (moving chairs, setting up tables, etc.). Feel free to bring along family, friends, and neighbors you can persuade to help.
"Pricing & Placing Day" — WED, 4/27, 10 am - 12 noon (pricing and placing items for Cash & Carry Sale and placing Online Auction items on display in sanctuary).
"Preview and Cash & Carry Day" — THU, 4/28, 12:30 - 4 pm OR 4 - 7:30 pm (greet, direct, assist, & monitor buyers).
"Reset Muscle Day" — FRI, 4/29. 10 am - 12 noon (removing unsold items from Cash and Carry Sale, moving tables and Online Auction items out of the sanctuary, replacing & arranging chairs back into sanctuary for Live Auction).
"Bidder Won Items Pick-up" — SAT, 4/30, after the Live Auction (assure items won go to proper bidder, give & sign paid receipts).
"Restore & Clean-up Muscle" — SAT, 4/30, after the Live Auction (restore order to UUCR by moving tables, chairs, removing unsold items, etc.).
We may also need more 6’ folding tables and pop-up tents if you have them available or can borrow them.
Please contact Jane Hardy, janewhardy@gmail.com, if you can help with any of these tasks or can bring tables and/or tents. |
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Appetizers & Desserts — April 30! |
We are in need of appetizers and desserts for the Auction Reception at 6 pm on April 30 (held prior to the Live Service Auction). Please contact Melinda Lippincott if you can provide either or both mslippincott@gmail.com. |
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Have you registered to bid in our Online Silent Auction yet? The auction is open now, so you can start bidding on your favorite things, but you must register. Signing up to bid is easy! To view the catalog and/or register use the button above. If you have any questions regarding registration or the online bidding process, please contact UUCR at uuofchesterriver@gmail.com. |
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This year UUCR is hosting TWO auctions – one “online” that features 70+ terrific items for bid, and one “live” at UUCR touting services, excursions, dinners, and other events donated by our members. We are also holding an in-person “Cash & Carry” sale of bargain items.
You may view the Online Silent Auction items and register to bid on them by clicking HERE.
Bidding on these items opened on April 15, 7 am
and closes on April 30, 7 pm.
You may take a look at these online gems in person on THU, April 28, 1 – 7 pm, at UUCR, 914 Gateway Dr., Chestertown. And, while you’re there, enjoy our “Cash and Carry” sale of bargain items arrayed on $20, $10, $5, and 2/$5 tables.
To see a partial list of the items for the “Cash and Carry”
sale on April 28, 1 – 7 pm, click HERE.
Then on SAT, April 30, 6:00 pm we will hold our Annual Live Service Auction! Come at 6 to enjoy hors d’oeuvres and libation while you examine and make last minute bids on our Silent Auction items (online bidding closes at 7 pm). Then, at 7:15 pm, we will convene in our sanctuary for bidding on the services, dinners, excursions, etc., donated by our members.
To see a catalog of Service Auction items up for our
Live Auction bidding, click HERE.
Please join us on April 28, 1 – 7 pm, and on April 30, 6 pm. Please note: Online bidding for Silent Auction items will be open from FRI, April 15, 7 am — SAT, April 30, 7 pm. The only way to bid on Service Auction items is in person or by proxy. For more information contact UUCR at uuofchesterriver@gmail.com.
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UUFE hopes that your spring auction is a huge success! We have chosen to do our spring silent auction ONLINE and ask that members at UUCR check out the items up for bid and consider joining some of our fun events! The auction will be live from Thursday April 21st through Sunday April 24th and can be found at www.uufeaston.org. Just click on "2022 Auction" at the top of the page to find our items and links to the bidding.
Many thanks – Lauren Harton
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Newsletter continues. To view it to the end please Click here
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An Afternoon With
Reverend David Billings and Margery Freeman
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What: A free talk and facilitated discussion with Reverend David Billings and Margery Freeman. Rev. Billings is the author of Deep Denial: The Persistence of White Supremacy in United States History and Life. Margery and David are founding members and core trainers for the People’s Institute for Survival and Beyond (PISAB). Come learn and share your experiences.
Who: Sponsored by the Social Action Committee for Racial Justice
Where: Minary’s Dream Alliance
9155 American Legion Road
Chestertown, MD 21620
When: Saturday, APRIL 23, 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm
(Please plan to attend the whole event)
Refreshments and child care provided.
Why: Margery and David have family in Quaker Neck. Starting in 2016, when Deep Denial was published, our community was among the first to benefit from the many book talks, reading groups, and workshops they would help organize. In recent years many of us also attended one of the dozen Undoing Racism Workshops offered by PISAB throughout the MidShore. Our antiracism organizing work on the Shore has matured,
blossomed, and been challenged. This is an opportunity to reflect, share hope, and continue to heal.
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Social Concerns/Social Justice Committee |
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Food Pantry Supplies Needed |
The SCSJ Committee is launching a collection of personal supplies and limited food items for the Kent County Food Pantry. Most in need are personal care and cleaning items, as well as a few special requests for food items. Items can be deposited in the bin in the lobby. Some of the items requested include soaps, toothbrushes, shampoos, toilet paper, disinfectants, and deodorant. Food items include coffee, olive oil, and vinegar. Please check the lobby bulletin board for a complete list of needed items. Thanks so much for your consideration! |
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Outreach Collection for April |
Our April collection is for ShoreRivers, a local non-profit 501(c)3 organization whose mission is to protect and restore Eastern Shore waterways through science-based advocacy, restoration, and education.
Their "statement of inclusion" recognizes that access to healthy waterways fuels environmental stewardship, and that inclusion of diverse communities is essential to long term success.
If we can collect $640 we will be able to “sponsor” a testing site on the Chester River, in the Crumpton area.
Contribute by sending a check to the church office, made out to UUCR specifying "Shore Rivers" in the memo line; or donate online at the church website using the "Donate" button (click here) and "Custom Amount," specifying "”Shore Rivers” Outreach Collection" in the comment section. Any questions, please contact Diane Shields at dashdiane@gmail.com or 410-490-0492
Please make your donation by April 30, 2022.
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Leadership Development Committee |
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You Can Do Anything
There are times when individuals can kind of get in a rut. Doing something new or different seems a little risky. People like to "stay in their lane,"
thinking that doing something they know they are proficient at is best. But what about those tangential activities that could use your skills, but are a little left of center? For example, someone who is a good cook is also a good organizer or planner. Accountants typically can see through a lot of information to get to the bottom line. Gardeners usually can fix things. All
three examples are fundamentally leadership models.
What is your favorite thing to do or your vocation? What are the building blocks to accomplishing those activities? Do any come to mind that our church might need? Our community is the safest place to try contributing on a committee you may not know a lot about but would like to learn more about.
The LDC is looking for individuals with a love of this community and who are inspired by our faith. Over the next few weeks, the LDC, namely Amy, Diane, & MQ, will be contacting people to see if they are willing to commit to serving in one capacity or another.
We’re looking for individuals who would like to contribute to the community in the roles of Vice President, Board members, and chair of the Building & Grounds Committee.
Unitarian Universalism is a faith of doers, people who find their own path, in concert with each other. Would you like to join the movement?
Contact us, we’re here to help you find your path.
In faith, Amy, Diane, & M.Q.
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Pastoral Care and Connection |
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You are encouraged to share your joys and sorrows with the UUCR Pastoral Associates (see below). This team is a mixed group — but all have had previous life experiences and a variety of professional training in counseling and philosophy. Please contact one, or several of us, if you “want to talk.”
Pastoral Care Associates: Kevin Brien,
Gayle Folger, Nancy Holland, and Vida Morley
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“It will take all of us, working with all of us… doing what none of us can do alone.” —All of Us, the new climate justice hymn by Dana Clark
As Unitarian Universalists, our faith calls us into relationship with the sacred elements of Earth and to put power in the hands of the many and not the few. Join UU Ministry for Earth on Friday, April 22 at 12 noon for Earth Day worship!
This Earth Day, invite your congregation and social justice teams to join UU Ministry for Earth for a gorgeous, grounding worship with meditation, song, and stories to honor the elements and respond to the call for Earth justice, a call to action in the face of the climate crisis. Register below to join us live on Friday.
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APRIL
-6 - Stan Salett
-7 - Tom Tontarski
-9 - John Ramsey
13 - Amy Warner
16 - Connie Schroth
17 - Jim Lavin
22 - Elisabeth Tully
30 - Kim Agee
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We want to help celebrate your birthday! If we didn't include your birthday, please contact the UUCR office by email (click here). |
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Unitarian Universalists of the Chester River 914 Gateway Drive | Chestertown, MD | 21620
Phone: 410-778-3440
Office hours: W - Sa, 8:30-10:30 am |
Su, 8:30 am-noon | Closed, M & Tu
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VERY END of REFLECTIONS for April 21, 2022
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