March 27, 2025

THIS WEEK'S WORSHIP SERVICE

Sunday, March 30 — 10 am

"Faith, Hope, and Persistence in a Bleak Time"

Anyone feeling discouraged and maybe even a little frightened by the current political and social situation? The origin of this sermon goes back to January 2017, when we were inaugurating a new President. How should we react to this horrible situation? And here we are again! The Christian Testament talks about faith, hope, and charity. I’m substituting persistence. We need all three of these things, and especially we need to persist.

Dr. Michael Franch, Guest Speaker
Connie Schroth, Worship Leader
Michael Casey, Musician
___________________, Greeter
___________________, Coffee Host

Please CLICK HERE to join us via ZOOM.

This week's hymn numbers:

"Hail the Glorious Golden City" #140 (grey hymnal)
"Step by Step, the Longest March" #157 (grey hymnal)

UPCOMING WORSHIP SERVICES

APR 06 | "Joy is Our Birthright, Let's Give it Our Attention" — In-person & Zoom

Deep joy is an act of spirituality; the wisdom traditions of the world teach joy, and we live in an attention economy full of distractions. Let's talk about joy, our attention, and the growth it can bring.

Rev. Kathryn Adams, Minister
Nancy Holland and Joan Caivano, Worship Leaders
Michael Casey, Musician

APR 13 | "Principles Over Politics, and Sabbath as Resistance" — In-person & Zoom

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.

Dr. Bob Clegg, Guest Speaker
Annie Lavin, Worship Leader
Michael Casey, Musician

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THIS ISSUE'S CONTENTS

This Week's Worship Service
Upcoming Worship Services
This Issue's Contents
Helpful Links, Office Hours, Upcoming Events Calendar
Minister's Column
Coffee Hosts and Greeters Needed Now!
Where Do You Fit?
From Your Social Justice Committee
Opportunities to Support UUCR
From UUA: Side With Love Newsletter, UU GA in Baltimore
From CVMA: All You Can Eat Fish Fry Benefits Galena Fire Dept.
Birthdays

UPCOMING EVENTS AT UUCR

APR 06 | Worship Service —

Rev. Kathryn Adams, Minister

APR 12 | UUCR Grounds Cleanup

APR 13 | Worship Service —

Dr. Michael Franch, Guest Speaker

APR 20 | Worship Service —

Rev. Kathryn Adams, Minister

APR 27 | Worship Service —

Rev. Greg Chute, Guest Speaker

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

Yesterday, I was walking, and the clouds caught a particular angle of the sun, glowing fiercely with the edges darkening in the gray. It was breathtaking.

I am grateful that I was present at that moment. Each moment, we have that choice. Am I present here and now, or living in a remembered past or for an imagined future? We can plan without living in the future. Living in this moment, with all that it is, connects us to "Joy is Our Birthright."

I think of a young child with that joyful squeal as they experience something for the first time. They greet it with wonder and joy. Buddhist teacher Charlotte Joko Beck said, "Joy is exactly what’s happening, minus our opinion of it." Fr. Richard Rohr offered that we belong to any moment simply by meeting it with joy. This is freedom. Love is the ultimate expression of joy and freedom.

And that brings love back to the center. I meet the opportunity to organize and advocate with joy. I meet the sun on my skin today, the view of the river, my neighbor, and that I am here... today... to experience this joy.

COFFEE HOSTS & GREETERS NEEDED NOW!

Help needed! No one has signed up to be the Coffee Host or Greeter for this coming Sunday, March 30 or April 6. Please let Diane Shields know if you can help. If you can't help on those dates, later dates are available.

WHERE DO YOU FIT?

Belonging to UUCR is a way to share our vision and values, to nurture our spirits and each other. Our programs and operations are sustained by the talents, skills, and resources of our members and friends. At our Annual Congregational Meeting in May, we will be filling our elected positions for next year (July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2026).

Open positions include:

Board of Trustees - Vice President

Trustee (2 positions)

Leadership Development Committee (2 positions)

Audit Committee (1 position)

Many of our Committees have volunteer needs, either for special events/projects or ongoing support – Finance, Fundraising, Worship, Membership, Ministry, Social Justice, Buildings and Grounds, Religious Exploration, Public Relations and Outreach

Communications, Tech Team.

Volunteering is an excellent way to meet people and work together to sustain our programs. We invite you to participate in our strong and caring community.

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

FROM YOUR SOCIAL JUSTICE COMMITTEE

Many thanks to our congregation for financially supporting Rebuilding Together Eastern Shore with our Outreach Collection Plate Sunday, March 16. Special acknowledgement to Genevieve Croker for her in-person shared time and energy with us!

Remember you can continue to support this local organization thru April 20 by using our UUCR website donation button. Please designate RBT as the recipient. Our collective funds will be sent to them after that date and UUCR will shine as a strong community partner. Look for more opportunities to help by visiting their website…https://rebuildingtogethereasternshore.org/news

There are so many opportunities and ways to support others who share our UU values now that “we” are getting organized and reacting to the dramatic changes taking place everywhere!

Look at our UUCR Bulletin board weekly as we will print out and post information of local and regional interest. Take a photo of the info to remind yourself to go online and learn more about what’s going on.

Here are links to our local political parties’ official websites. We hope you will help us build bridges when and wherever possible!

https://kentcountyrcc.com/about/

https://kcdcc.wordpress.com/

Here is a big event coming soon. April 5 @ 9:30 am - 12:00 pm

HANDS OFF CHESTERTOWN — Nationwide Day of Action

OPPORTUNITIES TO SUPPORT UUCR

NEW SIGNS FOR OUR CHURCH

Please consider helping to promote UUCR by making people aware of its location. Calling all creative UUs. You too can participate in redesigning the big sign out front to include our current logo, as well as help with additional signs pointing the way to our church along Gateway Drive. What additional messages can be added?

There is a signup sheet on the bulletin board.

GROUNDS CLEANUP

@ UUCR

The B&G committee is planning a grounds cleanup on Saturday, April 12, beginning at 9 am.

Bring your tools & enjoy some exercise while we spruce up our beautiful grounds for the spring/summer seasons.

FROM UUA SIDE WITH LOVE NEWSLETTER

Dear Friend,

These are trying times, and yet, in the midst of uncertainty, I find deep inspiration in the collective action of people of faith—especially Unitarian Universalists—across the nation. The poet and activist Audre Lorde reminds us:

‘When we speak, we are afraid our words will not be heard nor welcomed. But when we are silent, we are still afraid. So it is better to speak.’

This is a clear call to all of us: to take tangible actions in our communities that protect those being targeted and resist the rising tides of injustice with all that we have. And the thing is—we’re already doing it. Even if the impact may not always be visible at a national level, people are showing up, organizing, and making a difference in every corner of the country. That should give us all hope.

At Side With Love, we are committed to supporting, organizing, and empowering UUs for this work. This month’s email highlights a range of events, resources, and opportunities designed to equip and sustain all of us as we move forward together. I hope you’ll take time to explore these offerings, find what resonates, and continue being part of this movement for justice, love, and collective liberation.

With love and solidarity,

Rev. Brandan Robertson

Senior Communications Manager, Side With Love

Link to the entire newsletter, which contains action and support links within it CLICK HERE.