THIS SUNDAY'S
VIRTUAL WORSHIP SERVICE
|
"What If Big Things Changed?"
Rev. Sue Browning
UUCR Zoom Worship Service
April 11, 2021
|
|
|
Do all changes need to happen slowly? What spurs new ways of becoming? Join Rev. Sue Browning for a service exploring the potential of bold ideas taking hold in community. What do we need to accept as fixed, and where might we trust our dreams of what could (and should) be?
Join us by clicking the Zoom worship service link here on Sunday, April 11 before 10 am, immediately followed by UUCR Coffee Hour. Please sign in by 9:50 am so we can begin the worship service promptly at 10 am.
If you have a joy or sorrow for the April 11 worship service, please share it during the UUCR Coffee Hour or if you're not planning to attend, email the UUCR office at UUCR email by Thursday, April 8 at noon.
|
|
|
Come Join Us for Coffee Hour |
|
Please come join us for UUCR Coffee Hour at 11:00 am, on Sunday, April 11 immediately following the worship service (continuation of the worship service's Zoom link.)
It's a time to see and talk to one another, and the next best thing to being there!
|
|
|
 |
This Week's
Worship Service
Last Week's
Worship Service
UUCR
|
|
|
|
Apr 8 - Starr Center Immigration Zoom Event - see below for more info.💻
Apr 9 - Joe Jenks Folk Music Zoom Concert 7:30-9 pm ♫
Apr 10 - 26, "Kiss the Ground" online film - see below for more info. 📽️
Apr 11 - UUCR Zoom Worship Service
Apr 14 - Board Meeting
Apr 15 - Starr Center Segregation Zoom Event - see below for more info. 💻
Apr 16 - UUFE Native Plant Sale - last day to order 🌿
Apr 17 - Household Hazardous Waste Drop-off Day - see below for more info.
Apr 18 - UUCR & UUFE Zoom Worship Service
Apr 21 - “Sacred Ground, a Message of Hope” Zoom webinar - see below for more info. 💻
Apr 22 - Earth Day 🌎
Apr 25 - Earth Day Worship Service - details forthcoming
|
|
|
|
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!
|
|
|
Upcoming
Virtual Worship Services
|
|
Sunday, April 18
"A Lynching on the Eastern Shore"
In 1892, James Taylor was lynched near the Kent County Courthouse. He never received his day in court. At this service, led by Rev. Sue Browning and UUCR member Philip Dutton, we'll explore the story of this lynching, the power of bringing an honest telling of history into current conversations, and the current plans to memorialize James Taylor's story.
- UUCR & UUFE Zoom Worship Service
- Rev. Sue Browning and Philip Dutton
Sunday, April 25
Earth Day Worship Service - details forthcoming
|
|
|
Reflecting on Abundance
At our Easter Service we talked about new beginnings.
We considered how possibilities unfold after loss and uncertainty. It was Easter when the disciples began asking, ‘What’s Next?’
We considered how we might respond to the "What's Next?' questions of our generation. How will we re-open our communities as the pandemic wanes? Will we have the courage to make bold changes? Will we move toward greater equity? Will we adopt more inclusive practices? What might hold us back?
A few days after Easter, I’m still reflecting on these questions, but what is standing out more for me than the limitations is the story of the disciples going fishing that one night. Their nets came up empty. Their focus was on what was not there — the void. In the morning, Jesus, just vaguely visible from the shore, gives instructions to cast the net again. And there was an abundant catch.
It is that image of abundance that is with me midweek. Where do you sense abundance is already a part of your life? Where do you have confidence that there will be enough? Where is there already enough?
Good questions as we pay attention to the glimpses of resurrections peeking through all around us.
Gratitude to all who helped create our Easter Service. A special thanks to editor Dave Biehler (above and beyond for this service), to Vida and Jim for the chalice lighting, to Ellen, Ellie, the choir and special guest musicians for the music, to Liz for our Frog Prince story, and to Amy for arranging the outreach collection. To all that sustain our congregations week to week, thank you!
Warmly,
Rev. Sue
|
|
|
We learned this week of the death of our good friend Dave Sharp. Further details will be available within the coming weeks.
Dianne Turpin (phoned to relay this message to us).
|
|
|
*** PLEASE NOTE ***
Sometimes due to the length of Reflections, some committees' sections are on a second page in some members' emails. If you don't see a "Follow Us," in the middle of the page, at the very end of this email, you need to click at the bottom where it says "[Message clipped] View entire message" (or something similar in whatever email service you use.) Or, you can click below.
|
|
|
Having trouble viewing the entire email? Click here
|
|
|
Positions: UUCR Board President, President-Elect, and Trustee positions
Qualifications: Commitment to UU values, UUCR’s mission and purpose
Salary: No monetary compensation but the rewards are priceless — deepened and enriched connections to UUCR and members, fellowship (and fun) with others on the Board, satisfaction from guiding our congregational programs and activities, and the appreciation and support of others.
|
|
|
Thursdays with the Starr Center
at Washington College
|
|
Shifting Shores: Immigration Stories & Maryland's Eastern Shore
Thursday, April 8 at 5 pm (Zoom)
|
The immigrant population of Maryland’s Eastern Shore has seen a dramatic increase over the past two decades, but the numbers only tell half the story. In this virtual event, hear stories of immigrants who have moved to the region and learn about two organizations working directly with local immigrant communities: the Chesapeake Multicultural Resource Center and Mid-Shore Pro Bono. This dynamic conversation about shifting demographics will highlight both the struggles and triumphs of immigrants who have chosen to make a home here.
|
|
|
The Other Chesapeake: Segregated Beaches, White Sand, and Black Feet
Thursday, April 15 at 5 pm (Zoom)
|
Join us for guest speaker and “Admiral of the Chesapeake” Vince Leggett as he discusses the era of segregated vacation spots on the Chesapeake Bay. Award-winning recording artist Karen Somerville and acclaimed pianist and composer Shajid McMillan will join Leggett in paying tribute to the musicians who performed at those resorts.
Leggett will focus on Annapolis’s Carr’s and Sparrow’s Beaches, which served as respite resorts for Black vacationers from both the Eastern Shore and Western Shore between 1920 and 1970. These exclusive properties came to be known as the Black Coast, and drew such major musicians as Billie Holiday, Duke Ellington, and Ray Charles.
|
|
|
What if there was a simple solution that could help balance our climate, replenish our freshwater supplies, and feed the world? That solution is right under our feet.
Registration is now open to view this year’s featured film, "Kiss the Ground,' as part of the events for Faith Climate Action Week’s theme of “Sacred Ground: Cultivating Connections Between our Faith, our Food, and the Climate” (April 16 – 25).
"Kiss the Ground" is a new film about how regenerating the world’s soils has the potential to rapidly stabilize Earth’s climate, restore lost ecosystems, and create abundant food supplies. This film explains why transitioning to regenerative agriculture could be key in rehabilitating the planet, while simultaneously invigorating a new sense of hope and inspiration in viewers.
Thanks to a special arrangement with "Kiss the Ground" and Ro*co films, Interfaith Power and Light (IPL) will offer a FREE online viewing period from April 10 - 26. All viewers must register with IPL.
Wednesday, April 21 at 2 pm, IPL will also host a webinar “Sacred Ground, a Message of Hope.” We’ll have a conversation with "Kiss the Ground" filmmaker, Josh Tickell, and Faith in Place’s Statewide Outreach Director, Veronica Kyle, on what congregations can do to be part of the solution to food justice and climate justice. When you register to view the film, you will also receive the Zoom link to join the webinar.
|
|
|
Household Hazardous Waste
Drop-off Day
Saturday, April 17
8 am - 2 pm, rain or shine at the
Nicholson Transfer Station
|
Free to Midshore County residents (Caroline, Kent, Queen Anne’s and Talbot Counties). For further information about the event, and acceptable drop-off items, please click here. |
|
|
Social Concerns/Social Justice |
|
Amazing Response
For All Seasons Outreach Collection
|
We continue to be overwhelmed by this congregation's response to the needs of our community throughout the pandemic. This past month, we raised $942 to support behavioral health and rape crisis services in Mid-Shore communities provided by For All Seasons. Compounding this impressive response is a dollar for dollar match by For All Seasons that will double our donation!
Thanks for your continuing and generous support of the Social Concerns Social Justice Committee's Outreach Collections.
Lynn Dolinger and Amy Warner, SCSJ Co-Chairs
|
|
|
Bayside HOYAS Outreach Collection
|
The Social Concerns/Social Justice Committee’s fourth outreach collection for this year was launched on Sunday, April 4, for the Bayside HOYAS. If you watched Sunday’s Easter service — or have yet to watch it —John Queen, the president of the HOYAS, promotes two ways our members and friends can donate to the organization: one for their Frederick Douglass Day celebration in February 2022, and the other for their endowment. In order to simplify our giving, please make your outreach donation just to the Bayside HOYAS.
The Bayside HOYAS, an acronym for "Helping Our Youth Achieve Success," is a youth program which targets young men from the ages of 11-17 to help them better themselves in school, home, and community. Their mission is “to promote academic excellence, positive character development, and civic responsibility among secondary school age youth and young adults in Kent and Queen Anne’s counties, Maryland.” They work to achieve this mission through educational enrichment, mentoring, leadership training, health promotion, and public service projects with youth of limited opportunities. Founded by Paul Tue, Pierre Tue, and John Queen in 2013, the organization provides a wide range of programming, which includes academic counseling, community service projects, youth leadership summits, outreach to families in need, and athletics. Since 2019 they’ve operated a resource center (UUCR’s former office on Cross Street), which provides the young people a place to drop in, socialize, plan events, or seek counseling and resources.
You can contribute by sending a check to the church office, made out to UUCR specifying "Bayside HOYAS Outreach Collection" in the memo line, or you can donate online at the church website using the "Donate" button (click here) and "Custom Amount", specifying "Bayside HOYAS Outreach Collection" in the comment section. Any questions, please contact Amy Warner, co-chair of the SC/SJ committee at [email protected]. Please make your donation by Friday, April 30th.
The committee thanks all members and friends for their very generous support of the outreach collections for this church year.
Amy Warner
Co-chair, SC/SJ Committee
|
|
|
Pastoral Care and Connection |
|
We are here for you! We will focus on staying directly connected with our members and friends, especially those who may need assistance or support. The caring teams from our congregation is staying in touch, but if you need to reach out, please be in touch with any of the contacts below to stay connected (and see additional contacts below for RE families).
Please know your congregation is here. We can help you find connections. Please don't hesitate to reach out and let us know what is helpful for you in this time.
Rev. Sue Browning, and the Pastoral Care Associates: Kevin Brien,
Gayle Folger, Nancy Holland, and Vida Morley
or for more information, contact:
|
|
|
APRIL BIRTHDAYS
6 - Stan Salett
7 - Tom Tontarski
9 - John Ramsey
13 - Amy Warner
16 - Connie Schroth
17 - Jim Lavin
22 - Elisabeth Tully
30 - Kim Agee
|
|
|
We want to help celebrate your birthday! If we didn't include your birthday, please contact Darlene at UUCR office email
|
|
|
Unitarian Universalists of the Chester River 914 Gateway Drive, Chestertown, MD 21620
Phone: (410) 778-3440
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
