Sunday, March 2, 2025

10 am

“Trust the Edge of Doubt”

• Annie Lavin, Worship Leader
• Joan Caivano, Service Leader
• Michael Casey, Musician

Hymns are: 

#198 (gray hymnal) - “My Life Flows on in Endless Song”

#131 (gray hymnal – “Love Will Guide Us

#1021 (gray hymnal) – “Lean on Me”

Hospitality: Joy Kim

Please CLICK HERE to join us via ZOOM.

March 9

"Recovering Our Unitarian and Universalist Roots."

"I think that in our ongoing struggle to define or describe "Unitarian universalism" we have lost track of the essence of both Unitarianism and Universalism. What are their origins? What made them controversial/heretical? What legacy do they pass on to us today that makes them each unique and still relevant?"

Rev. Greg Chute

Service Leaders: Nancy Holland and Connie Schroth

Music: Michael Casey

March 16

“Restoration and Rebuilding can come in a Question - What Happened to You?”

How do we restore or rebuild trust after there has been harm? Join us for an exploration of how releasing ourselves and others from judgement and shame can help restore trust, learning and open each other to new experiences of joy.

Rev. Kathryn Adams

Service Leader: Jan Sprinkle

Music: Michael Casey

Hymns:

131 Love Will Guide Us

123 Spirit of Life

348 Guide My Feet - Soulful and with Guitar

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• This Week's Worship Service
• Upcoming Worship Services
• Upcoming Events
• Where Do YOU Fit?
• Stewardship Campaign Update
• SJ Outreach Collection Update
• Community Service Opportunity
• ANNUAL AUCTION ITEMS - TOMORROW IS THE AUCTION!!
• UUA & CER Updates
• Birthdays

This year’s stewardship campaign theme “Belonging Brings Hope” speaks to the power of belonging.

Belonging to UUCR’s religious community is an invitation for active participation in our mission, our programs and activities. There are many opportunities to engage and ways to contribute your individual talents, skills, and resources: Faith Development – Social Justice – Buildings and Grounds – Communications – Congregational Life – Board of Trustees – Fundraising – Worship.

In March, we will be reaching out to members and friends to find what you’re passionate about and where you fit in creating our strong and caring community.

Where do you fit? We welcome you!

UUCR Leadership Development Committee, David Biehler, Lynn Geisert, Jackie Mathwich

It’s been a good week! 8 more of you pledged and only 7 haven’t responded yet. For those of you who lost your forms, as the kids say….NO WORRIES, we’ll help you with that!

Thank you to everyone that has submitted their pledges and made this wrap up easier. As of today, we are at 98% of our goal of $74,022 for our 2025-2026 fiscal year. I’m confident we’re going to exceed our goal and be able to cut back our big dip from our savings to keep this great church going.

It’s been a tough year for some of you but you stayed committed to UUCR with your pledges. That’s a strong testament to how important UUCR is in our lives.

Now with this Pledge Campaign done, let’s party at the Auction this Saturday. See you there. 



With great appreciation,

Your Stewardship Committee

Catherine Brooks, Jackie Mathwich, and Joy Kim

The Crestview Open Space Committee is planning to do the 'barley baling' on Saturday March 22.

This activity involves barley straw being loosely placed into burlap bags and distributed around the pond. This will prevent the buildup of algae in our Crestview pond.

The committee plans to meet at the pond, near the East end of the dam at about 8 am on March 22. Come join us if you can!

Plenty of exciting objects on offer: A Dewalt Miter Saw and Stand, barely used; A Dyson vacuum, coffee table books, cookware, jewelry, hand-knitted clothing, furniture, a gift certificate to a local brew pub/distillery 90 Silent Auction items, as well as Live Auction opportunities for dining and adventure. Check out the catalog posted on our Webpage. See something you’d like to bid on but are unable to attend? We can proxy bid for you. Call 410-639-7811 for more information. 

Here are some examples of Live Auction Items!

316     Join me on a trip to D.C. to visit the National Museum of African American History and Culture, one of the premier museums in our nation’s capital.  I will get timed-entry passes ahead of time for our group, chauffeur us there in my Subaru Forester in the morning, and then host lunch at the Sweet Home Café at the museum. We can decide together when we want to leave in the afternoon. Date for this excursion to be determined after the auction. More information about the museum can be found here https://www.si.edu/museums/african-american-museum. For up to three guests.  Minimum bid is $75.  Kathy Lee

317     Playdate Lunch and Scavenger Hunt for Beach Treasures on Still Pond at the Duttons’ home. This casual lunch and beachcombing adventure will be playful. You will hopefully get wet and messy while wading in the bay and perhaps kayaking a bit. Our rewards will be a cool drink, a simple lunch and friendly smiles while sitting on the dock of the bay. Beach shoes and stair climbing strength are recommended. Limit 5 fun females on a warm June midday date, TBD.  Minimum bid is $40 per person. Linda Dutton 

318     I Will Bake a Dozen “Custom-Made” Muffins for You, either from your favorite recipe, or my own. I specialize in extra-healthy fare, in which 1/4 to 1/3 of the flour is whole grain, particularly wheat germ. But these come out fairly light with additional leavening. Cranberry sauce with orange peel is my current favorite! To be delivered at a mutually agreeable time and date. Minimum bid is $30. Linda Weimer

319     Storage Wars! Two hand-crafted tables, one small, one large, like the samples on display.  These will be auctioned separately. Some 50+ finished Shaker-style pieces to choose from are available in either Cherry, Tiger Maple, Walnut or Mahogany. A minimum bid of $75 is required for the small and $250 for the large tables (about 36” – 44” long and 15” deep on average). The actual selection will involve a trip to a nearby storage facility.  Winning bidders are to call Bob Fox at 410-810-0340. Many tables available. Bob Fox and Vida Morley

320     A Trip for Two on the Sultana, Chestertown’s very own Schooner.  Join Bob Fox and Vida Morley for a voyage on the Chester River to learn about the history and ecology of the Chesapeake watershed – feel the breeze in your hair, pull lines, and meet the crew on this lovely two-hour tour. Suggested date: during Tea Party weekend, when we can cruise amongst other tall ships, or another date of your choosing. $100 minimum bid for two tickets.  Vida Morley

 321     Commissioned Painting by Mary Pritchard (pastel or acrylic) approximately 8” x 10”, of your pet or special landscape, framed and ready to hang.  Minimum bid $100. Retail value $600. Mary Pritchard

322     A Visit to Adkins Arboretum on a weekday in late April, for up to three people. We will walk portions of the meadow, woodland, and wetland trails of this 400-acre native garden and preserve in Ridgeley, MD, view the April artist exhibit, and check out the Visitor Center. Followed by lunch at the Creamery Café in Centreville. Minimum bid $15 per person. Lynn Geisert

323     A Casual Meal of Delicious Local Fare — Home Made “Jimmy” (Maryland Crab) Soup, Red Acres Salad, and an Evergrain Baguette — for up to four lucky folks! I will bring the meal to your door on a date to be decided. $50 minimum bid for this catered meal for four. M.Q. Riding

324     I Will Bake You a “Death by Chocolate” Bundt Cake!  Delivery date to be agreed upon. Phyllis Roberts

325     An Eastern Shore Smorgasbord for 12, 6 p.m. on Saturday, July 26, at the home of Lynn Geisert. Enjoy a casual dinner of local and farm fresh seasonal foods, including crab, veggies, greens, and berries – plus libations. Minimum bid $25 per person, 12 person limit.  Lynn Geisert

326     Bring Your Knitting, Handwork, and/or Sewing Projects and Hang Out with Some Experts on Vida’s porch this summer on either of two days, to be determined!  Master Knitter Sue Wright will join us and perhaps masters of other skills will be available to share expertise as well. (Bring your portable sewing machine if you want to work on a sewing project.) Nibbles and drinks available.  Minimum bid is $20, up to 10 “slots” available each day.  Vida Morley

327     Celebrate Our Local Theatres!  Enjoy almost a year’s worth of “free” entertainment. Get repaid for TWO Tickets for performances at each of five brilliant local venues: 1) Flagship Premium Cinema at the Redner’s Shopping Center; 2) Garfield Center for the Arts at the Prince Theatre; 3) Gibson Center for the Arts at Washington College; 4) Church Hill Theatre; and 5) The Mainstay of Rock Hall – Home of Musical Magic.  That’s 10 tickets in all! Please keep your ticket stubs from all your outings and present them to Vida for reimbursement by December 31, 2025.  Minimum bid (reflecting lowest cost for 2 tickets at each of the 5 venues) is $190.  Vida Morley

328     Blueberry Adventures with Vida!  Travel with Vida to a field in Sudlersville, where you will pick berries, and then join her at her home to make jams and jellies.  Date to be determined. No minimum bid, open to as many who would like to participate.  Vida Morley

SIDE WITH LOVE ACTION CENTER UPDATE

Please read this Action Center Weekly Update for this week. Each week, we will provide a brief analysis of critical issues in this political moment, share immediate actions you can take, and provide helpful resources to deepen knowledge and practice of our collective work to side with love. Going forward the latest updates will be posted every Tuesday at sidewithlove.org/actioncenter .

Throughout history, people of faith and conscience have come together to resist injustice and build a better world. From the Montgomery Bus Boycott to the mass movements that brought down apartheid, collective action fueled by courage, love, and resilience has changed the course of history.

The Gathering is a new monthly virtual event from Side With Love, designed to offer:

• Spiritual Grounding – Strengthen your heart and spirit for the work ahead.
• Political Analysis – Understand the threats to democracy and justice.
• Collective Action – Organize with others to block anti-democratic forces and build a just and loving world.

Like those who came before us, we must be ready—ready to resist injustice, protect democracy, and create a future where love and dignity prevail. The Gathering is a space to find inspiration, connect with others, and take action that matters.

First Gathering: March 10 – online Register Now.

UU COMMUNITY DAY FACILITATED BY CER/UUA

2025 is calling; how will Unitarian Universalists respond? Sign up now for our Central East Region’s (CER) UU Community Day: Leading with Love at the Center at the First Unitarian Church of Wilmington, DE! 

In a world marked by political oppression and escalating crises, centering love is a radical and transformative act—one that calls for all of us to move into collective spiritual leadership. What grounding and skills do we need to practice Unitarian Universalism in 2025, offering this faith to ourselves, to one another, and to the world that needs us? Come explore this and gather strength in community with each other on March 8^th. Learn more and register!.

What to expect in Wilmington?

Community Day facilitated by your local CER/UUA staff from 10am – 4pm. Lots of connection with your UU neighbors facing the same world you are.

Agenda:

• Worship with local UUs, led by CER staff
• Learn More about Our Shared Values: What UU touchstones can we bring to these times? What parts of our theology do we need to explore and grow?
• Lunch and Connect: Nourish your body while connecting with folks from neighboring congregations
• Two Workshops to Choose From: What are these times asking of us as UUs, and what skills and practices will we as leaders need to respond? How do we (re)build communities of joy that help ground us?
• Theological reflection time in small groups: Which of our shared values is your congregation wrestling with? What can you share and learn from your neighbors?
• Framing for Next Steps: Staying centered and connected as we move together into the future.

Everyone is welcome! Board and committee leaders, parents, children, youth, young adults, staff members, religious professionals, ministers, and any committed and engaged folks who love Unitarian Universalism and might not have formal roles. Childcare will be available (register by February 22!), with some light, playful programming to help connect UU children and youth with one another and with the wider community.

Registration deadline is March 1. Don’t leave registration for the last minute! Timely registration is important to ensure that our event can take place as planned. 

Can’t make this date? We have other dates and one online option available as well!

FEBRUARY

24 | Philip Dutton

25 | Les Palmer

We want to help celebrate your birthday!

If we didn't include your birthday, please contact the UUCR office by email