Sunday, February 2, 2025 — 10 am

"The Value of Generosity"

Our UU values offer us the opportunity to engage Generosity theologically. As we start our Stewardship campaign with the theme "Belonging Brings Hope." Our newly adopted UU Value of Generosity is "We cultivate a spirit of generosity and hope".

• Rev. Kathryn Adams, Minister
• Annie Lavin, Worship Leader
• Michael Casey, Musician
• Margo Long, Greeter
• Diane Shields, Coffee Host
• Linda Dutton, RE

Please CLICK HERE to join us via ZOOM.

Pledge Drive Kick-off Luncheon & Presentation to follow the service.

This week's hymn numbers:

• "From You I Receive" #402 (grey hymnal)
• "What Gift Can we Bring" #404 (grey hymnal)

FEB 09 | Weaving with the Fates Series—Part Three:

"Knowing the Time and Day" — In-person & Zoom

The myths say that Atropos, the third Moirai, was the sister who cut the threads of destiny at the end of a human’s appointed life. If we knew how long our thread would be, what—if anything—would we change? What about the threads of the things or systems we are woven within? Finally (pun intended!), what threads do we need to wield Fate’s shining scissors for?

• Leika Lewis, Guest Speaker
• Nancy Holland & Connie Schroth, Worship Leaders
• Michael Casey, Musician

FEB 16| "Belong, Belief, Behave" — In-person & Zoom

"Belonging Brings Hope" - Our Stewardship theme speaks to the power of belonging. Belonging invites an active hope, an active love, and creates a powerful community.

• Rev. Kathryn Adams, Minister
• Jan Sprinkel, Worship Leader
• 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
• Pledge Drive Kick-off — Feb 2
• Membership Orientation Session — Feb 15
• UUCR Annual Fundraiser Auction
• Social Justice Committee Outreach Collection Continues
• Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Breakfast Celebration — Feb 1
• Seminary for a Day at UU Church of Arlington — Feb 1
• Birthdays

Today, I am celebrating the first of spring birdsong, warming days, and the beauty of this earth. About 12 of us gathered for Vespers today. Music was good, framing was good, but the true magic was in the conversations and connections we created through sharing our stories, hopes, fears, and meaning making.

Some resources related to areas of interest include:

Talking to people who disagree with us: Changing the Conversation, Deep Canvasing the process is shown in this Ted Talk: https://youtu.be/xN6O5LTaGyg

The Revolutionary Love movement: https://revolutionarylove.org/learn/

Our 2025-2026 Pledge Campaign begins this Sunday, February 2 and runs 4 weeks until February 28. Our theme is Belonging Brings Us Hope. This coming year is another year of transitions - some exciting and some foreboding. We have Reverend Kathryn Adams bringing us new energy and new ideas to challenge our spirits and thoughts. We have fears and possible regressions growing and dividing our nation. More than ever, we need UUCR to hold us together and keep us moving forward. And for that, we need to support our church and what it does. This is the time of year we ask for pledges and commitments to UUCR’s future.

Each week we will share the words of members - about why they come to our weekly services and why they participate in our activities. May these words open your heart and your generosity.

Amy Warner shared what belonging to this church means to her:

I am part of a community that accepts and supports me as I am.

I can affirm, explore, and deepen my spiritual journey.

I can use my skills and energy to help support the church’s mission.

I can join with others to make a difference in our county, state, and country.

The Membership Committee will host an information session about Unitarian Universalism and the Unitarian Universalists of the Chester River (UUCR) on Saturday, February 15, at 10 am. A light lunch will be provided. If you have been visiting for a while, have just dropped in, or want to learn about what being a member of a UU congregation is about, please plan to attend.

Diane Shields

Our Live and Silent Auctions will be held

on Saturday, March 1, 2025, 6 p.m.

Don’t forget to email descriptions of your donations for both auctions to Jane Hardy or the UUCR office uuofchesterriver@gmail.com

Here are some live auction donations so far!

300 — An Evening of Poker, for Beginners and Beyond. Friday,

May 16, 7:00 pm. At the Vogel household, 218 Roundtop Rd.,

Chestertown. Pam will deal classic poker games such as 5 and 7 Card

Stud, 5 Card Draw, and Texas Hold 'Em. Variations such as High and Low Chicago and Follow the Queen will be played as well. You will be given the same amount of poker chips to start and whoever has the most at the end will win the grand prize! Adult beverages and snacks will be provided. For up to 7 players. $15 per person minimum. Pam Vogel

301 — One Hour Tennis Lesson. $50 value. Marti Stuedle

302 — National Music Festival Pass for 2025 (June 1-14). One available, $265 value. Enjoy every performance of the National Music Festival with this pass, which provides guaranteed admission and preferred seating at all ticketed events during the 2025 Festival, invitation to exclusive Pass-holders events, and a souvenir Festival Guide. $150 minimum bid. Anonymous donor

303 — A Truckload of Mulch Spread in Your Garden! Two avid gardeners will buy a pickup truck full of mulch at The Mill Nursery and will then spread it on your garden spaces. Enjoy your weed-free 2025 garden without all that hauling and shoveling! $60 minimum bid. Joan Caivano and Eileen Kessler.

304 — Three Reiki Sessions. Reiki is an Energy Therapy that provides electromagnetic energy where your body needs it for self-repair. Reiki can greatly improve your rate of healing as well as address the mental, emotional and spiritual aspects that contribute to disease and symptoms. Reiki can improve pain, grief, anxiety, insomnia and more! Three sessions, each a $110 value, at my office in Chestertown. $50 minimum bid for each. Deb Reid

We’re receiving some nice things for our Silent Auction as well: paintings by local artists, cameras, unique cookware, a Dyson vacuum cleaner, and other treasures! Stay tuned.

Social Justice Committee's Outreach Collection to

the Baltimore Abortion Fund Continues

The committee launched its first outreach for 2025 on Sunday, Jan. 19 with a focus on reproductive justice. As customary, the collection from the offertory is going to an organization associated with this issue, which is the Baltimore Abortion Fund. If you were unable to contribute on the 19^th, you can still make a donation by going to our website and clicking on the donate button. Please indicate that it is for the "BAF Outreach" when doing so, and please contribute before 2/14.

Introducing Seminary for a Day

February 1, 2025; 9am-4pm

A day-long program at the Unitarian Universalists Church of Arlington offering seminary-level education for ANYONE interested in progressive theological and spiritual development. This is a day of learning for anyone curious and open to learning more about progressive values and theology. Through a series of workshops, fellowship, and spiritual practices, we are offering the opportunity to explore and connect with like-minded individuals in community. Come learn about and contemplate the issues that matter most to our faith today.

Our faith was built for times like these.

For more information, and to register go here:  

https://www.uucava.org/seminary-for-a-day/

JANUARY



01 | Vida Morley

04 | Dianne Turpin

14 | Judy Graham

20 | Al Mathwich

22 | Clark Bjorke

FEBRUARY

24 | Philip Dutton

25 | Less Palmer

We want to help celebrate your birthday!

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