THIS SUNDAY'S
VIRTUAL WORSHIP SERVICE
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"The Nature of Commitment"
Rev. Sue Browning &
Nancy Holland, Worship Service Leader
UUCR & UUFE Zoom Worship Service
March 7, 2021
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Commitments require our time and energy. When we make a commitment, we choose a path. How do commitments enrich our lives? What do we lose when we make a commitment? Join Rev. Sue Browning for a Zoom worship service considering the nature of our commitments.
Join us by clicking the Zoom worship service link here on Sunday, March 7 before 10 am, immediately followed by UUCR & UUFE 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 March 7 worship service, please share it during the discussion or if you're not planning to attend, email the UUCR office at UUCR email by Friday, March 5 at noon.
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Come Join Us for Coffee Hour |
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Please come join us for UUCR & UUFE Coffee Hour at 11:00 am, on Sunday, March 7 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!
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This Week's
Worship Service
Last Week's
Worship Service
UUCR
2022 Pledge Drive
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Mar 2 - Apr 20 - NAMI Family-to-Family Course
Mar 7 - Zoom Worship Service UUCR & UUFE
Mar 14 - Daylight Saving Time Begins 🕒
Mar 14 - Zoom Worship Service UUCR
Mar 14 - Coffee Hour UUCR
Mar 15 - Board Meeting
Mar 20 - Spring Equinox 🌷
Sock Burning Party - See below for more about this event.
Mar 21 - T-Shirt Sunday Intergeneration Worship Service UUCR & UUFE
Mar 28 - YouTube Worship Service UUCR & UUFE
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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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Sunday, March 14
Topic to be announced
Marilee Taussig, Worship Service Leader
Zoom Worship Service UUCR
Sunday, March 21
T-shirt Sunday, Intergeneration Worship Service
Rev. Sue Browning & others
format to be determined, UUCR & UUFE
Sunday, March 28
“Dancing with Anxiety"
guest Rev. Abbey Tennis, First Unitarian Church of Philadelphia
Annie Lavin, Worship Service Leader
YouTube Worship Service, UUCR & UUFE
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UUCR
Pledge Drive: Last Call!
Help UUCR remain a strong and vibrant congregation, relevant in our lives, striving for justice in our community, and hopefully gathering again in person. Need more info? Watch the kick-off Sunday Worship Service on YouTube (click here), learn about the proposed budget on YouTube (click here), or get more financial information from our treasurer, Tom Tontarski (ttontarski@gmail.com).
Let’s reach our goal — return your Pledge Form now!
Renewing our Faith, Renewing our Connections,
Renewing our Commitment
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It has been a year. The last service we held in our sanctuary was Sunday, March 8, 2020. We gathered with paper orders of service, we sang, we passed the plate, we shared joys and concerns, and we drank coffee. And then things changed.
We shifted gears. And we’re doing ok. Actually, as a congregation we’re doing pretty darn well with virtual worship services and creative outreach. We are working hard to sustain and deepen connections with one another.
I’ve been wondering lately about those currently in search of a loving community. These are challenging times and some must be in search of a place of belonging. Will they find us? Will they find a way to engage?
Being new is hard under any circumstances. What must it be like in today’s world?
Imagine what it takes to walk in our virtual doors and come to a Zoom service. Imagine what it takes to “come” back a second week. Imagine what it takes to then engage more deeply.
I have no doubt a stranger would be welcomed. And still it would be hard to be new. I remember how tentative I was the first time our family checked out the local UU church. It was awkward. Those who already belonged were nice, but the Sunday rituals were foreign to us. We were strangers. Luckily there were guideposts around — information about the path to connection and folks ready to gently welcome us toward familiarity.
What might we do to make it easier for someone seeking community to get to know us? What are the questions someone in search is likely to have about our faith community?
If you have ideas on welcoming the stranger to UUCR, please be in touch. It feels important to share the love of this community.
In connection,
Rev. Sue
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*** 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.
The "Birthdays" Section is now at the end of the newsletter.
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Having trouble viewing the entire email? Click here
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Come to a Sock Burning Party!
Celebrate the
Spring Equinox:
Saturday, March 20, 5 pm
UUCR Parking Lot, 914 Gateway Dr., Chestertown
Time for our usual Salute to Spring, but this year we will hold our gathering at UUCR.
What’s our schedule?
- 5 - 5:15 pm – Arrive at UUCR, sample some libation and finger food
- 5:30 - 6 pm – Enjoy a short ceremony marking the (most welcome) Change of Season, followed by the burning of those grungy ol’ socks!
- 6 pm onward, Observing social distancing guidelines, gather round the fire and visit with friends, old and new!
What should I bring?
- Your mask for wearing when not eating!
- Finger food to share – we will have lots of utensils for serving and small plates
- Wine, beer or non-alcoholic beverages of choice – we will supply box wine
- Socks that you don’t mind saying goodbye to
- Optimism and good cheer!
- A portable chair if you’d like to sit
Is there a rain date?
- Yes, Sunday, March 21, 5 pm
Do I need to RSVP?
- No, no need to reserve a space; just bring a dish to share.
Save the date! See you March 20.
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Social Concerns/Social Justice Committee |
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For All Seasons Outreach Collection
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We're all experiencing stress and anxiety in the world today, and many need support services to cope. Four in ten adults have reported symptoms of anxiety or depression this past year compared to one in ten in 2019. And, certainly, our children and essential workers are particularly vulnerable during this crisis. Those who participated in the service on Sunday heard from the CEO of For All Seasons, a non-profit counseling service that provides behavioral health and rape crisis services on the Eastern Shore for families, adults and children. With an unprecedented number of folks in need of services, the Social Concerns Social Justice Committee is asking you to consider giving a generous contribution that will help provide these services for those who are unable to pay for them on their own. I invite you to visit the organization's website, forallseasonsinc.org for more information about services and locations. You can contribute by sending a check to the church office, made out to UUCR specifying "For All Seasons 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 "For All Seasons Outreach Collection" in the comment section. Any questions, please contact Lynn Dolinger, SCSJ Co-Chair, lynn.thirdwish@gmail.com.
Thanks so much for your continuing and generous support of our church's outreach mission.
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Health Care for All
in Maryland
Do you care that there are inequities in people’s access to health care in Maryland? Are you willing to take two minutes to send an email to our District 36 legislators about proposed legislation to address this problem?
The Maryland Citizens’ Health Initiative is sponsoring HB 136/SB 172 to create much needed Health Equity Resource Communities in our state. This initiative is based on a 2012-2016 pilot that successfully increased access to health resources, improved residents’ health, reduced hospital admissions, and created cost savings. The permanent and dedicated funding source for these communities would be a one cent/dollar increase in the alcoholic beverage tax.
UUCR is already behind this proposed bill. At the Feb. 17 Board meeting, they voted to sign on to the Resolution in support of this legislation, adding our name to the over 280+ organizations in Maryland who also believe in health care for all.
Our three District 36 delegates, Jay Jacobs, Jefferson Ghrist, and Steve Arentz, and our state senator, Stephen Hershey, need to hear from their constituents on the Eastern Shore about our support for this legislation. Access this link to email them
https://healthcareforall.com/EquityResolution/ and where you can also read more about this legislation and the organization’s efforts to pass it. There’s also a link at this site to a very informative editorial in the Baltimore Sun in support of the bill.
I’m challenging ten people from our congregation to email our state representatives. Once you email them, let me know at amylydia10@yahoo.com. Can we get more than ten?
Amy Warner, on behalf of the Social Concerns/Social Justice Committee
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Pastoral Care and Connection |
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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:
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Mar 14 Neenah Newell
Mar 18 Jackie Mathwich
Mar 30 Jan Sprinkel
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We want to help celebrate your birthday! If we didn't include your birthday, please contact Darlene at UUCR office email
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Unitarian Universalists of the Chester River 914 Gateway Drive, Chestertown, MD 21620
Phone: (410) 778-3440
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