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Come join us for a time to see and talk to one another. It's the next best thing to being there!

Click on the Coffee Hour Zoom Link at

11:00 am this Sunday.

Some of my favorite "Opening Words" are by Rev. Kathleen McTigue.

"We come together this day to remind one another

To rest for a moment on the forming edge of our lives,

To resist the headlong tumble into the next moment,

Until we claim for ourselves awareness and gratitude,

Taking the time to look into one another’s faces

And see there communion: the reflection of our own eyes.

This place of laughter and silence, memory and hope

Is hallowed by our presence together."

This reading is a reminder not to rush, but to pause and to say thank you.

This past week I had the joy of working with Annie Lavin, John Ramsey, David Biehler, Fredy Granillo and Jim Lavin to create our annual ingathering worship service. We recorded the service in the UUCR sanctuary, a first since we began virtual services. Vida Morley dropped by with an amazing flower arrangement, and many members sent in water pictures for the Water Communion.

In my pause today, I am picturing our small group filming last week. I’m remembering that we laughed, we swore (a bit), and even had a few "blooper" moments. I am grateful for the ways our gifts came together. I hope everyone has a chance to experience this service, "Finding Our Way Back." (See the link below.)

It’s easy to find ourselves in "headlong tumbles" into what is next. We want to do more and to promise more. There is an excitement in juggling as much as we can. It's not a bad inclination, and, too, I encourage us to balance all this "doing" with deep pauses of awareness and gratitude.

For me, I am grateful for all who were a part of our service last week, and for the many ways we are learning ways to join hearts through virtual worship.

In thanks,

All members and friends should have received an email with instructions on giving us the latest picture to be included in the UUCR photo directory. You can send them either through the web site, www.uuchesterriver.org or by email at UUCRpictures@gmail.com. We are looking forward to seeing everyone and their family.

What can white people do to eliminate racism and create a more equitable society for everyone? You can educate yourself by using the available systems and resources about how to stop racism. Here are "25 Challenges for White People" to become more aware of systemic racism in our country. The point is for you as a white person to choose a challenge that makes you step out of your comfort zone. Persons of color (POC) have to live in discomfort and endure the trauma of racism every day. White people must pick up the baton and learn to be uncomfortable as you move to eliminate racism. Saying you are not a racist does not mean you are an anti racist. Step out of your comfort zone: conquer new challenges on this list.

6. Acknowledge there is a reason for Black Anger! Blacks have been forced to an oppressed system for over 400 years through slavery, Jim Crow, and on to discrimination which has evolved into systemic racism...Blacks are usually forced to lower education systems, low menial jobs, low pay, substandard housing, unequal health care, unfair criminal system, and police brutality/profiling.

7. Listen without ego and defensiveness to people of color. Truly listen. Don’t scroll past articles written by people of color.

8. Find out how slavery, the Civil War, and the Jim Crow era are being taught in your local school. Advocate that history is taught correctly and certain parts are not skipped over or barely mentioned. Advocate that many voices be used in the study of history. Is the school teaching about post-Civil War convict leasing, the parent to our current mass incarceration system? Talking about slavery alone, is your school showing images such as Gordon’s scourged back, a slave ship hold, and an enslaved nurse holding her young master? Are explorers, scientists, politicians, etc., who are POC discussed? Are male and female authors who are POC on reading lists? Are Japanese internment camps being discussed? Is history explained correctly in history books?

9. Buy children’s books that show Black people as heroes and the main characters. Donate them to public and private schools.

10. Work on ensuring that Black educators are hired. All children, especially Black children, benefit from an inclusive staff.

UU the Vote is a UUA-sponsored initiative to provide resources to help get out the vote for this November’s election. If you are interested in making phone calls to voters in key states, go to uuthevote.org, and click on “sign up to phone bank.” This takes you to the UU the Vote phone banking hub. From there, scroll down to select a date and time and click on “register.”

The Social Concerns/Social Justice Committee has been exploring various ways that our members and friends can get involved in getting out the vote (GOTV). We hope to continue to offer other ways to get involved up to this critical election.

Over the years our beloved church has been adorned with incredible gifts (for example, the handsome lectern at the front of our sanctuary built for us by Tom Kerr), and we would like to make note of them as a part of our history — better done now than after those of us who remember best have moved on! One item that stood out recently is our quilt of chalice image squares, designed and assembled by Sue Thompson, we believe, but others were involved as well. If you contributed to this quilt would you please notify Jan Whitney at uuofchesterriver@gmail.com.

We need to know more about the artist who created our stained glass window as well. Have some memories and answers? Please let us know. 

Dear UUCR Members and Friends,

During my sermon on Sunday, June 21, I encouraged each congregant to make one specific commitment to support ending racism. As I explained, I will host a Zoom call on the first Wednesday of each month at 7 pm, where we will be able check in with one another on our progress. The call will be brief, and will focus on encouragement and learning. Rev. Sue Browning

 If you have questions, please be in touch with Rev. Sue at email.

Rev. Sue Browning, and the Pastoral Care Associates: Kevin Brien, Gayle Folger, Nancy Holland, and Vida Morley

or for more information, contact:

Jan Whitney (Office) p: 410-778-3440 | e: uuofchesterriver@gmail.com