UUCR Reflections - May 19, 2022

Thursday, May 19, 2022

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THIS SUNDAY'S

WORSHIP SERVICE

"To Pray is Human"

Rev. Bran Lennox, guest speaker

Catherine Brooks, service leader

Matt Mielnick, musician

In-person & Zoom Worship Service

Sunday, May 22, 2022 | 10 am

Rev. Bran Lennox will lead us in an exploration of the human urge towards prayer. Whatever the form of the Mystery that rings true for each of us, there are times in our lives when we find ourselves moved to pray. What does this mean about who we are?

So we can begin the worship service promptly at 10 am, please sign into Zoom (click here) by no later than 9:50 am.

If you have an "Announcement," "Joy," or "Concern" that you'd like read at the service, please submit them in advance by emailing the UUCR office (click here) by 9 pm Saturday.

Updated Covid Guidelines

The Reopening Task Force has been closely monitoring the infection rate of the covid virus in Kent County. That rate has now climbed to at least 15% and is expected to go higher.

In an effort to keep our congregants as safe as possible, the Task Force is implementing the following:

Beginning this Sunday, May 22^nd, masks will be mandatory. (There will be masks at the church should you forget to bring one.)
There will be no coffee or food of any kind served within the building or on the deck.
Signing in (for contact tracing) prior to the service is also mandatory.
The number of chairs will remain at the same level (40) as long as we do not experience any problems.

We will continue to monitor the conditions and make changes as conditions dictate.

Respectfully,

The Reopening Task Force

Rev. Sue Browning, Nancy Holland (President), Pat Bjorke, Jackie Mathwich, Gayle Folger, Jim Lavin (Chair)

Upcoming Services

Sunday, May 29 — In-person & Zoom, Joint with UUFE at UUCR

"Traces We Leave Behind"

When you move on to a new job, or retire, or move from a community, what traces do you leave behind? How do you benefit from the trails left by others? At this Memorial Day weekend service with Rev. Sue Browning we’ll reflect on the power of legacy in our lives and communities. (For this 5th Sunday service. UUCR will be in person and UUFE members are invited to join online or in person.)

Rev. Sue Browning
Nancy Holland, service leader
Philip Dutton & Rebekah Hock, musicians

Newsletter Index

So You Don't Miss Anything!

This Week's Worship Service Information
Updated Covid Guidelines
Upcoming Worship Services Information
Newsletter Index
Helpful Links, Office Hours, Upcoming Events Calendar
Minister's Column
President's Message
Summer Session Discussion Leaders Needed
Grocery Cards
Kent Attainable Housing Update
Social Concerns/Social Justice Committee — Ukraine Special Collection, Kent County Food Pantry
Pastoral Care and Connection Committee
Birthdays
UUCR Contact Information
End of Reflections Notice at the VERY END

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Helpful Links

Upcoming Events

This Week's

Worship Service

MAY 22 | Zoom link to Service

Previous Worship Service Recordings

are available on the UUCR YouTube channel

UUCR

Calendar

Office email

Facebook (public)

Facebook Forum (private)

Website

Website donate button

YouTube channel

UUCR Office Hours:

W, Sa, Su — 8:30 am - 12:30 pm

M, Tu, Th, F — CLOSED

MAY 22 | Worship Service

In-person & Zoom

Rev. Bran Lennox, guest speaker

Catherine Brooks, service leader

Matt Mielnick, musician

May 29 | Last Worship

Service before Summer

Session Discussions

MAY 29 | Worship Service

joint w/UUFE at UUCR

In-person & Zoom

Rev. Sue Browning

Nancy Holland, service leader

Philip Dutton & Rebekah Hock, musicians

JUN 5 | Summer Discussion

In-person ONLY

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!

Minister's Column

Tragedy Again

It's been just four days since the horrific murders in Buffalo. Our hearts go out to the families and friends of the victims dealing directly with loss and grief. The headlines are already fading, yet their lives have been profoundly changed.

Once again, we are witness to cruel violence that is part of systemic racism. In Buffalo yesterday, President Biden noted, "White supremacy is a poison. It's a poison - it really is - running through our body politic." He was direct in naming white supremacy as being at the root of these premeditated killings.

It’s predictable that tragedies like Buffalo happen, and will continue to happen. The ingredients are there. Some leaders and pundits fuel division and hate. Many listen, taking in the messages as truth. Misinformation spreads easily on social platforms. And assault weapons are readily available. These all contribute, but we know the cause is deeper.

Below these layers is the core belief that some are more worthy than others; violence happens when some dominate from a core of hatred. Tragedy happens when the roots of hate are not challenged and when we lose sight of our shared humanity. It happens when we look away after such murders and move on, maybe "ok" with the status quo or at a loss on what to do.

People will go (should go, need to go) to grocery stores, and to movie theaters, and to houses of worship. They should be safe. They should be able to trust that when any one of us is harmed, the rest of us will walk with them in their pain, and will not look away.

There are no miracle "fixes" to patterns of systemic racism. With persistence, we can change the layers that fuel violence. Helping to dismantle systemic racism is lifelong work. It's trial and error. It's about a focus and commitment to change.

As we extend our love to all in Buffalo, may we recommit to changing the patterns of white supremacy. May we not look away and may we believe that meaningful change is possible if we work together.

In love and care,

Rev. Sue

President's Message

Last Sunday, UUCR held its Annual Meeting and members unanimously elected a great slate of candidates and passed a balanced Budget for Fiscal Year 2023!

Thank you to everyone who attended to participate in the congregational leadership of our church, and to all those who worked behind the scenes in preparation for the meeting.

Congratulations to the 2023 Board members:

******Lynn Geisert, President

******M.Q. Riding, Vice President

******Jane Hardy, Secretary

******Terry Goldzier, Treasurer

******Catherine Brooks, Trustee

******Jackie Mathwich, Trustee

******Les Palmer, Trustee

Congratulations also to Leadership Development Committee members Lynn Dolinger, Diane Shields, and Amy Warner; and to Guy Edwards and Margo Long who were elected to the Audit Committee.

I am grateful that these individuals will be actively engaged in UUCR’s leadership beginning July 1. There are still committee member and committee chair openings, and I encourage you to consider how you can contribute to the vibrancy of UUCR as you walk your spiritual path.

In gratitude,

Nancy

Discussion Leaders Needed

Please consider leading a Summer Discussion and sign up on the sheet provided on the whiteboard. There are still many open dates that need to be filled. These are informal get togethers and a great time to share and explore your interest in a topic with others. The Summer Session Discussions will not be available through Zoom.

Contact Nancy Holland (holland.nlh@gmail.com)

for questions or more details.

Grocery Cards

We still have $500.00 worth of grocery cards in the following denominations: 1 - $100, 8 - $50. The cards can be used at any Acme, Albertsons', or Safeway. Once gone, UUCR will discontinue selling grocery cards. Please help put these funds back into our checking account by purchasing the remaining cards before the start of the

new Fiscal Year on July 1.

THANKS!

Kent Attainable Housing Update

In case you have been wondering how Kent Attainable Housing has been making use of the generous donation UUCR contributed last year, here is a link to their accomplishments and plans for the future (click here).

Social Concerns/Social Justice Committee

UUCR Outreach Collection for May

Our May collection is for Ukraine. The Social Concerns committee sought to find, among the many worthy organizations helping Ukraine, a beneficiary in tune with the values of Unitarian Universalism.

We’re pleased to ask for your generosity for Faithify (a philanthropic arm of UU on behalf of many causes) in cooperation with the International Women’s Convocation for a specific drive on behalf of the Providence Charity Organization of the Hungarian Unitarian Church which, so far has been able to take the following humanitarian actions:

Attend to the needs of hundreds of Ukrainian mothers and children transiting through Kolozsvár/Cluj railway station
Provide housing and other support for 38 refugees in the Kolozsvár/Cluj area (more than half are children)
Transport urgent supplies to Transcarpathia (southwest Ukraine), consisting of nonperishable foods and other items needed by shelters housing internally displaced Ukrainians (cots, mattresses, sleeping bags, flashlights, light bulbs, hotplates)
Deliver a second shipment of medical supplies to a health center in Odessa (disinfectants, bandages, pain killers, syringes, flu medications, milk powder, and diapers)
Launch a kindergarten class for Ukrainian refugee children in the day care center of the Hungarian Unitarian Church in Kolozsvár/Cluj

Contribute by sending a check to the church office, made out to UUCR specifying "Faithify/Ukraine" in the memo line; or donate online at the church website using the "Donate" button (click here) and "Custom Amount," specifying "Faithify/Ukraine Outreach Collection" in the comment section. Any questions, please contact Marilee Taussig or Bob Bjorke.

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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Pastoral Care and Connection

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