Sunday, March 10, 2024 - 10 a.m.

In-Person & ZOOM

“How We Help and Why It Matters” 

We spend a lot of time and effort trying to help our neighbors and those struggling in our communities. Rosie Ramsey-Granillo's role in the county is dedicated to fixing the way the state and the community deliver services to children and families. This conversation will reflect on how we go about this work and what could transform the process for the better.

• Rosie Ramsey-Granillo, Guest Speaker
• Nancy Holland, Service Leader
• Michael Casey, Musician
• Jackie Mathwich, Youth & Teen Welcome
• Mark Handschuh, Greeter
• Amy Warner, Coffee Host

Please CLICK HERE for the link to join us via Zoom.

Welcoming Families and Children on Sunday Mornings

Each Sunday, UUCR offers childcare and simple age-appropriate activities for children of all ages. If you have any questions about UUCR's programming for families and children, please be in touch with Rev. Sue. 

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
• Daylight Saving Time Begins This Sunday — March 10
• Minister's Column
• UUCR Spring Clean-up — March 9, Rain Date March 16
• Pledge Drive Results
• Auction Appreciation
• Sock Burning & Spring Equinox Celebration — March 22
• March's Outreach Collection — Sustain Ukraine
• New FUNdraiser - Pizza & Trivia Night — April 12
• Medical Aid in Dying (MAID) Legislation 2024
• Pastoral Care and Connection Committee
• Birthdays
• UUCR Contact Information
• End of Reflections Notice at the VERY END

Daylight Saving Time begins this Sunday, March 10. Set your clocks ahead one hour on Saturday night.

Offering Invocation Before the Maryland State Senante

Today (Wednesday), I was honored to offer the daily invocation to open the Maryland State Senate. Senator Johnny Mautz had submitted my name a few months ago, and today was the day.

The words I offered are below. After sharing my words, I stayed for an hour to observe the session. Several groups were honored for community work. There were a few proclamations adopted. Bills were read and amended. Senators cordially asked each other questions on provisions. It was the democratic process at its best. Through it all, people were coming and going from the chamber—I'm guessing lobbying and discussing options in hallways.

As I was headed back to my car, I took a picture to recall the day. It was raining, and there was a tree in bright pink bloom. I'd spoken in the orderly historic Senate chamber, and outside the capitol is under construction, surrounded by scaffolding. The contrasts in the picture seem to capture something about the mixed experience of democracy in our country today. 

It was an honor to have a small part.

In hope,

Sue

March 6 Invocation and Prayer,

Rev. Sue Browning



"Good morning and greetings from the Eastern Shore. Thank you for inviting me to be here today. I invite us now into a time of reflection and prayer. Spirit of life, spirit of love, gracious God known in many ways, be with this body as it engages in the work of serving all in the state of Maryland.

We take this moment to remind one another that the work of governing is done in the presence of something beyond those here today, something beyond these walls. Among the many ways we are supported, we stand before an amazing cloud of witnesses. We offer in gratitude for the many who have come before and the painstaking work they have done to bring justice to life year after year, bill by bill, vote by vote. We come together knowing the work done today will provide a foundation for those who will follow.

In this moment we honor that in all we do we are not isolated beings, but are connected in mystery and miracle to the universe, to this community, and to one another. We pray for all here today as you prepare to serve the state in a spirit of respect, compassion and love. In the many ways we pray, Amen."

Spring is on its way, and the weeds at UUCR are beginning to stir. So before they are firmly entrenched, we need to remove them. With that in mind, B&G is scheduling a Spring Clean-up on Saturday, March 9^th, 2024 starting at 9 AM. This is a formidable undertaking, and we will need all the help we can muster.

Bring your gardening tools and smile as we bring the church back to its original beauty. Remember, this is your church, and it depends on all of us to keep it well maintained. We should be finished by noon or earlier.

Rain date is on Saturday, March 16^th.

Thanks. We look forward to seeing you on the 9^th!



Your B&G Committee.

Success! Thank you to members and friends for helping us reach 110% of our Pledge Drive goal! We are overjoyed and thankful for your commitment to UUCR for the coming fiscal year. Many thanks to Darlene and to the Stewardship Committee for making this Pledge Drive a success. May we thrive and do good things into the future!

Sincerely,



Your Stewardship Committee

Jackie Mathwich, Chair, Catherine Brooks,

Joy Kim, and Peggy McKee

Our 2024 Auction this past Saturday night was a decided success, bringing close to $8K to our coffers, and we’re still counting. Lots of folks were involved in making it a fun and prosperous evening, and we need to say “Hats Off!” to these special members and friends. And please forgive us if we omitted anyone! 

Live Auction Auctioneers were John Ramsey and Mark Handschuch

Live Auction Recorder and Spreadsheet Master: David Biehler

Our Silent Auction “Curator”: Mary Pritchard aided by Elisabeth Tully and Nancy Holland

Silent Auction Tabulator: Terry Goldzier

Silent Auction Donations Photographer: Elisabeth Tully

Greeter/Registrar: Linda Dutton

Food and Drink Coordinator: Elisabeth Tully

Proxy Bidders: Lynn Geisert, Mindy Miller, Bob Miller, Nancy Holland, Margo Long, and Jackie Mathwich

Pizza and Trivia Night Ticket Sellers: Jackie Mathwich, and Linda Dutton

Food and Drink Providers: Joy Kim, Lynn Dolinger, Lynn Geisert — who made those fabulous mocktails!, Nancy Holland, Amy Warner, Gerry Edwards, Vida Morley, Catherine Brooks, Peggy Christie, Connie Schroth, Annie Lavin, Gerry Edwards, and David and Joan Biehler

Clean Up: Catherine Brooks, Ted Ramsey, John Ramsey, Dave Hart, Marcy Ramsey, Vida Morley, and David and Joan Biehler

PLUS: You who donated live and silent auction items, and you who bought them!

And, as always, thank you to our Administrator Darlene Wiggers, who keeps us all in the right place!

from Jane Hardy, on behalf of the Fundraising Task Force

Sock Burning & Spring Equinox Celebration

Ah, spring! The perfect time to burn socks!

There may be many ways to celebrate the arrival of spring, but one group will again follow a maritime tradition native to the Chesapeake region—burning their socks. UUCR has been following this tradition for over 10 years, and it’s time to wiggle our toes once again. Join us on Friday, March 22, at 5:30 in UUCR’s Memorial Woodland Garden, where we will again recognize millennium of honoring the change of the seasons. We ask that socks made of synthetic materials not be burned.

There will be a potluck in the church following the burning of the socks. Please bring something to share. Bring your family, friends, and neighbors. All are welcome!

On Sunday, March 3, the Social Justice Committee launched its March Outreach Collection for Sustain Ukraine, an initiative founded by local residents, Neal and Sandra Jackson. The Jacksons led a discussion after the service which detailed how they work with people they know in Ukraine to purchase supplies such as drones and night vision goggles. They spoke about how their contacts manage to get these needed supplies and equipment across borders at great peril to themselves. 

Sustain Ukraine has no bureaucracy, and 100% of every dollar contributed goes to support the volunteer fighters. Your support goes directly to the Ukrainian Territorial Defense and Border Guards volunteers fighting to keep their nation free.

We will be running this collection differently than usual, in that members and friends will give donations directly to Neal. 

Here’s how to contribute throughout the month of March: 

1. By check, payable to Neal Jackson, and mailed to him at 470 Gull Ct., Chestertown, MD 21620
2. By Zelle electronic transfer from your online banking. Create a Zelle account (super easy), then “Add New Recipient” for Neal Jackson, using either this email address (nealjackson@3creekfarm.com) or his mobile phone number (202-365-4070). You can then send money directly to him for free.
3. By PayPal, if you have a PayPal account, you can send money to nealjackson@3creekfarm.com. Make sure it is designated as “sending to a friend.” 

Please do not write, send, or give checks to UUCR for this month's outreach collection, and do not donate via the website. 

Please note that Sustain Ukraine is not an entity — it is simply a conduit of caring people that enables you to support Ukrainians defending their nation, so your contribution is not tax-deductible. 

We hope that you will give generously to this very worthwhile cause. 

Amy Warner 

On Friday, April 12, from 6–8 p.m., Sue and Bill Browning will host an all-church trivia night! Come for an evening of pizza and salad, and a few rounds of creative (and not too hard!) trivia questions. We'll play in teams, and there will be a few prizes! Tickets are $20 per person and will be part of the auction proceeds. All ages are welcome. (With advance notice, we can have childcare available.) 

Unfortunately, despite the tireless work of UULM-MD (UU Legislative Ministry-MD), other advocates, supporters, and allies, the End-of-Life Option Act will not move forward this session. While seventy percent of Marylanders support the proposed legislation, which calls for adults—who are in sound mind and have been given less than 6 months to live—to be allowed to request a prescription from their doctors for a medication that would end their life, Senate President Bill Ferguson (D-Baltimore) ultimately did not believe he had the votes to pass the bill on the Senate floor. UULM-MD is considering next steps to renew its campaign in a future session.