Sunday, January 5, 2025 — 10 am

"Myth and Mystery"

Myths hold the mystery of humanity's experiences when we can't explain them. We shape myths with our social values, worldviews, and assumptions and in turn are shaped by these same myths. The dance of myth and mystery is a beautiful thing. Let's explore them together.

• Rev. Kathryn Adams, Minister
• Nancy Holland, Worship Leader
• Michael Casey, Musician
• Sydney Brookes, Greeter
• Joy Kim, Coffee Host
• Fantaye Kehm, RE

Please CLICK HERE to join us via ZOOM.

This week's hymn numbers:

• "Lift Every Voice and Sing" #149 (grey hymnal)
• "Amazing Grace" #205 (grey hymnal)
• "Let It Be a Dance" #311 (grey hymnal)

January 12 | "A Thread of Shimmering Darkness"

— In-person & Zoom

• Leika Lewis-Cornwell, Guest Speaker
• Kim Agee & Connie Schroth, Worship Leaders
• Michael Casey, Musician

January 19 | "Our Life is but a Story" — In-person & Zoom

On the eve of the inauguration, I invite us to reflect on our life as a story... a story we are writing. As a congregation, community, and even a nation, the same is true. Our life is but a story... a story we are writing. Come, let us share our stories and weave them into the story of our 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
• New Year Thoughts
• COVID Reminder
• Help Fill the Empty Pages of UUCR's New Directory
• UUSJ — "Don't Obey in Advance" Online Event — JAN 06
• Greeters, Coffee Hosts, & Potluck Hosts Needed
• Birthdays

On our first Sunday in 2025, I look forward to exploring myth with you as we start our month-long theme of story. The American Heritage Dictionary^* defines myth as "A traditional, typically ancient story dealing with supernatural beings, ancestors, or heroes that serves as a fundamental type in the worldview of a people, as by explaining aspects of the natural world or delineating the psychology, customs, or ideals of society." 

I like this definition because it invites the image of our ancestors standing in awe of things they couldn't explain and telling a story. It also includes how this describes the worldview of a society. Through the connection of myth to worldview, we can encounter stories and myths at the religious, societal, family, or even personal level. A poet, songwriter, and musician, John McCutcheon sang, "They aren't factual, but they're true," about some possible personal myths. I wonder, which of the stories we use to make meaning of our world today will become the myths of tomorrow?

^*The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition 

UUCR - it is cold, flu and COVID season. This is a friendly reminder to wash our hands, use hand sanitizer before and after touching our face, and to give space between ourselves. As we entered the holiday season, there was an increasing trend in nation-wide infections, hospitalizations, and waste-water levels of COVID. Maryland was at a Moderate level, and all the monitoring sites are on the Western Shore.

For details, please see the CDC websites:

CDC COVID Data Tracker:  

https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#datatracker-home

Maryland Wastewater tracking:

https://www.cdc.gov/nwss/rv/COVID19-statetrend.html?stateval=Maryland

It's time to update the photos and contact information in our UUCR Members and Friends Directory to share with our UUCR community. We especially want to invite our new attendees. We can make arrangements to take your photo at a Sunday service, or you can upload your own picture to our website HERE. If you have any questions, please contact John Ramsey or David Biehler.

Action: Don’t Obey in Advance:

Faith-Based Call to Action to Save Democracy

Co-sponsored by UUSJ

On Monday, January 6th at 8:00 p.m. ET, we are co-sponsoring and collaborating for an online interfaith action hour, in sober commemoration of, and reflection upon, the fourth anniversary of the attack on the U.S. Capitol.

• We will ground ourselves spiritually to prepare for activism in the coming years.
• The organizing call will emphasize how faith communities can take action to ensure that all Cabinet nominees are highly qualified to perform their duties and are committed to upholding our Constitution.
• Out action will include a petition to sign and a link to call senate offices regarding the Cabinet nominees.

REGISTER HERE NOW! 

JANUARY



01 | Vida Morley

04 | Dianne Turpin

14 | Judy Graham

20 | Al Mathwich

22 | Clark Bjorke

We want to help celebrate your birthday!

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