Sunday, April 13 — 10 am

"Principles Over Politics, and Sabbath as Resistance"

How can UUs who are activists delineate between the issues we’ll put time and energy into vs. those we’ll leave to others? One way is to rank issues by whether they are, for us, matters of principle vs. politics. And once we’ve chosen our issues, it’s important to keep our spiritual balance with a regular, defined spiritual program. A weekly day of rest—a “sabbath”—is itself a mode of resistance in a society that celebrates “doing” at the expense of “being.” A sabbath keeps us connected to “whatever keeps us taking the next step,” and it protects us from ego and self-righteousness that would undermine our own inherent worth and dignity.

• Bob Clegg, M. Div., Guest Speaker
• Annie Lavin, Worship Leader
• Michael Casey, Musician
• Joy Kim, Greeter
• Elisabeth Tully, Coffee Host

Please CLICK HERE to join us via ZOOM.

This week's hymn numbers:

• "Enter, Rejoice, and Come in" #361 (grey hymnal)
• "Come, Come Whoever You Are" #188 (grey hymnal)
• "May the Work I've Done Speak for Me" (OoS insert)

APR 20 | "Joy Comes in the Morning!" — In-person & Zoom

This Sunday is both Easter Sunday and the closest Sunday to Earth Day!! How is the cycle of rebirth calling us to live with Love at the center of our lives?

• Rev. Kathryn Adams, Minister
• Kim Agee, Worship Leader
• Michael Casey, Musician

APR 27 | "Recovering Our Universalist Roots" — In-person & Zoom

"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." Greg will explore our Universalist heritage; its legacy, uniqueness, and relevance today. This is a follow up to his discussion on Unitarianism last month.

• Rev. Greg Chute, Guest Speaker
• Nancy Holland and Joan Caivano, Worship Leaders
• Michael Casey, Musician

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• This Week's Worship Service
• Upcoming Worship Services
• This Issue's Contents
• Helpful Links, Office Hours, Upcoming Events Calendar
• Minister's Column
• First Thursdays Conversations
• UUCR Grounds Cleanup — April 12
• April Potluck at John Ramsey's — April 18
• Annual Congregational Meeting — May 18
• From Your Worship Committee
• From Your PROC Committee
• From Your Social Justice Committee
• Birthdays

This is excerpted from what Connie Goodbread, the HOPE for Us Conflict Engagement Team Director, offered in the Southern Region's newsletter:

"Know who you are.

Know whose you are.

Know what you value.

Know who you are. Know all that you are and all that you have - know your limits and your gifts. Know what you can and can’t do. 

Know whose you are. Know your people. Don’t let those who are trying to divide us succeed. Know your community. Make it beloved. 

Know what you value. What are the values worth living for, worth amplifying? Know the values that call us into deeper understanding and liberation. 

We have been a bold people. Together we are so much stronger. Together we are so much wiser. Together we are so much more. Together we are bolder."

Friends, I spent much of December in a state of discernment that resonates with this excerpt. I love the call to self-awareness, interdependence, and centering our values. We are authentic community, beloved, and growing, proud, and joyful. We know that we are of the earth and ancestors and that both freedom and joy are our birthrights.

May we weave a sacred community that crosses difference and is designed to include all.

Rev. Kathryn will be scheduling appointments for in-person conversations on first Thursdays starting at noon. Reach out, and we can book a time to talk and get to know you in our ministry.

The UUCR April Potluck will be held at John Ramsey's home on April 18 beginning at 6 PM. Please bring a dish to share.

If you need directions, they are posted on the whiteboard at the church, or you can contact John or the UUCR office's email CLICK HERE.

Mark Your Calendars!

UUCR’s 2024 - 2025 Annual Meeting: Sunday May 18

Join us after service and a light luncheon for this important gathering, where we will elect new officers and trustees, deliberate proposed bylaws changes, and approve a budget for the new fiscal year, which begins on July 1.

Greetings from the Worship Committee. We realize that several of the Sunday services have run overtime recently, so this seems to be a good time for some reminders and information for our many

new attendees.

• Announcements of upcoming events, etc. can be submitted for Reflections or the Sunday Order of Service by sending them to Darlene at uuofchesterriver@gmail.com by the Tuesday of any given week.

• Announcements may also be given in writing to the service leader on Sunday mornings before the service, but please keep these announcements brief, two to three sentences. It’s helpful to include: “See (person’s name) for more information.”

• Acknowledgements of the Heart is the time we share joys or concerns of the heart and spirit. Please share Informational or event items with the service leader for announcements rather than during Acknowledgements of the Heart.

Please feel free to speak to any members of the Worship Committee if you have any questions or concerns about sharing information on Sundays. We also appreciate any and all feedback on worship at UUCR. Committee members are: Kim Agee, Annie Lavin, Margo Long, Nancy Holland, Jan Sprinkel, and new service leaders Joan Caivano and Connie Schroth. Rev. Kathryn also welcomes feedback and questions. We are grateful for this sharing and caring community.

WANT TO SUBMIT AN ARTICLE TO REFLECTIONS?

PLEASE READ THIS FIRST

During these times of stress and upheaval many of us are called upon to take action, join up, sign up, make a difference. And, if we know of an event that might be of interest to our congregation it is important to spread the word. But, our weekly newsletter can contain only so much; if we go beyond the “one-page” length, readers have to click to another site to continue reading, and valuable information may be missed. How can we best balance our need to share information with our space limitations?

Hoping to hold Reflections to a reasonable length, we, your Public

Relations, Outreach, and Communications Committee, would like to set out the following priorities for content:

First: UUCR Sunday Services, business, events, etc.

Second: UUA business, events, etc. 

Third: Local events that align with our values        

As for sending mass emails outside of Reflections, UUCR leaders try to preserve these for VERY special circumstances (annual meetings, selected fundraisers) so as not to annoy our members and friends with floods of messages. It may behoove committee chairs to set up specific interest distribution lists for emailing urgent information. 

So, yes, please help UUCR spread the word about worthwhile events and activities, but keep submissions as succinct as possible, with the priorities listed above in mind. And, if they’re available, be sure to include links to sites that can provide relevant information or attachments from which we can create our own links. And, don’t forget that the deadline for submissions to Reflections is noon on Wednesdays. 

With thanks for your patience and understanding,

Your PROC Committee: John Ramsey, David Biehler, Jane Hardy, Dave Hart, Eileen Kessler, Elisabeth Tully and Linda Weimer

APRIL

06 | Stan Salett

07 | Tom Tontarski

09 | 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 the UUCR office by email