UUCSC News and Updates
Weekly on Fridays
| | Volume VII * Issue 43 * April 3, 2026 | | This Sunday, April 5, 2026 | | Worship at 10:00 AM, In Person and on Zoom | |
"Inciting Joy"
Rev. Denis Paul and Lee Cowan
Whether or not you celebrate the Resurrection, the real power of Easter at this time of year comes from its focus on joy, moving fearlessly and enthusiastically to a new beginning.
Order of Service
| The first two rows of congregational seating are reserved
for a hearing impaired zone. | |  | |
This month's theme is
Embracing Possibility
Bring in your non-perishable food donations on Sunday! The kids will be collecting donations with a big wagon during service, so keep them with you until we come to collect them :)
And join us after service for an egg-hunt and treats out front (making it accessible for all!)
One of the exercises we did in my small group is based on this article for this month's theme: Grieving the Life You Didn’t Live: Lets Go There
I invite you to see what comes up for you!
Here are the playlists for this month on the theme of Possibility on Spotify and YouTube
Lee Cowan, DRE
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Tenebrae Service
Tonight
6:30 pm in the Sanctuary
This annual dusk-time service is a UU interpretation of a traditional Christian service, recognizing the suffering of Jesus in his last days and some of the ways humans inflict pain on one another. The themes of this service are difficult, and not suited for children, but childcare could be available upon request. Email or text Lee if you need childcare.
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Grief and Joy
This week is huge in two major world religions. For Christians, it’s Holy Week, the eight days encompassing Jesus’ triumphal entrance into Jerusalem, his Crucifixion, and his Resurrection. For Jews, it’s Passover, the eight days of commemorating the Exodus of the Jews from Egypt. READ MORE
| | Next Beverages and Banter Thursday, April 9, 1 pm at Panera Bread | | Stay in the Loop at UUCSC | | |
Book Communion Service April 19
In honor of National Library Week April 19 -25
The theme for our Sunday service on April 19th will be LOVE YOUR LIBRARY.
As part of the service, we are planning a book communion. To participate, we ask that you contribute a book to swap with another congregant. The book should be one that has some significant meaning for you. Please tuck a note inside the front cover explaining why you chose this book. The books will be collected in the foyer through April 12. Children’s books will be collected as well. They will be shared with our younger folks and extras will be donated to Books are Wings in Pawtucket. You can read about this nonprofit here: https://www.booksarewings.org
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Men's Breakfast
Saturday, April 4 at 9 am
Karie's Kitchen (formerly Jigger's South)
640 Boston Neck Road, North Kingstown
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Welcome New Members
Sunday, April 26
There will be a ceremony during the service on Sunday, April 26th, to celebrate and welcome new members joining the congregation. If you have participated in new member classes and wish to join us April 26, please contact Mary Finnegan at finmary@gmail.com.
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Looking Ahead Together at UUCSC
From the Committee on Ministry (COM)
As most of you now know, Rev. Denis has shared that he will be leaving us. While this brings an important transition in the life of our congregation along with some sadness, we are heartened that the work already underway through our Roots and Wings conversations is helping to prepare us for the meaningful journey of hiring a new minister. READ MORE
Submitted by the COM (Sarah Dinklage, Barbara Nowicki, Danielle Bilecki, Aline Couture)
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Fresh Air and Friendship in UUCSC Gardens
On non-rainy Mondays, 4:30-5:30 PM
Spring has arrived in the UUCSC Gardens and there are plenty of opportunities to work outside in our gardens while you chat with friends. We have one-time spring landscaping jobs, weekly watering or weeding in the perennial flower beds, and opportunities to help our kids with growing vegetables in the RE backyard.
Master Gardener Barbara Nowicki is always available to talk with anyone about plants. Please email her (Nowicki.barb@gmail.com) if you’d like to volunteer in the gardens. And be forewarned that only truly divine intervention stops deer.
Submitted by Barbara Nowicki, Gardening Chair
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Checking your personal giving record on Breeze
You can see when and how much you have donated to UUCSC on Breeze at anytime.
Sign into your Breeze profile. (If you need assistance signing into Breeze please contact Sara in the office by email or phone 401-783-4170/ press 1.) Once you select your profile, on the left panel, click on Giving. This will take you to your personal giving record. Explore the page to view your giving. Put in the date range you would like to see. You should be able to see all your donations, etc. since we started Breeze in 2023.
The Finance Committee and Etta
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Spring Cleaning
The clearing and disposal of items on shelves, in closets, and hallways has begun! We have collected items of some use and left them on a table in the Oneto room. Feel free to take home or let Russell know why they should be kept at UUCSC. If items have not found another home after two weeks they will be relocated, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Jonnycake Center, etc… Thank you.
Russell Stokes, VP, UUCSC Board
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Upcoming Services
April 12 Ballad of the Satisficer Rev. Denis Paul
April 19 National Library Week Mary Fulton and Lisa Richter
April 26 Bean Soup Theory Rev. Denis Paul
May 3 Extinguishing the Flames Rev. Denis Paul
+ Wünder Revels of Beltane after service with May Pole dance
| | Minutes of the March 2026 Board Meeting are available HERE. | | Click "view entire message" at the bottom of this email to see the whole newsletter! | | Social and Racial Justice | | |
See the South County Social Justice Coalition newsletter HERE for all the social justice events in our community, including the resistance and pics from NO KINGS in Westerly. If you would like to receive the South County Rising newsletter directly, please SIGN UP! Be in the loop about all local resistance actions.
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Join the growing movement of community members & people of faith - working together to support our immigrant communities. This training is for anyone who is concerned about the inhuman & illegal treatment of our immigrant communities - and are asking: "what can I do?" The training is a concrete way to answer that question by receiving education & legal training - and taking specific action through legislative lobbying.
REGISTRATION
Submitted by Cathy Solomon
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Raise the Floor
Rising health care and dental costs of SKSD employees and other costs like utilities create a major budget shortfall for next year. Level funding means cuts must come in areas of direct student services, like sports, music, world languages, late bus - all vital opportunities for developing well rounded students. READ ON
Submitted by SK United
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Together Women Rise Potluck
Tuesday, April 7, 2026 6:30 PM
Peacedale Congregational Church
261 Columbia Street, Wakefield
All folks are welcome. Our grantee for April, receiving $50,000, is Imagine Her in Uganda.. Please go to their website and watch the videos. https://togetherwomenrise.org/programs/imagine-her/
Submitted by Gail Burchard
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NEXT COMMUNITY SEWING!
Tuesday, April 7, 3 pm to 7 pm
UUCSC Oneto Room
Bring your own project! Sewing machines, a serger, cutting tables and all sewing supplies are available, along with experienced sewers to guide you in finishing your clothing repairs projects. Bring a clothing project that is in need of repair, a hem, button, upcycle.....
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We Are ALL Readers
April 11, 2026
10:00am-2:00pm
North Kingstown High School
150 Fairway Dr
North Kingstown, RI
Free admission
The Carolyn Steere Hurdis Fund for Social Justice awarded a grant to the organizers of this free event featuring activities for kids and families.
Registration and more information here.
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New Moon Sound Meditation
Join us at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation in South County as we gather on Sun. April 19th from 3:30-5 PM to honor the new moon. Experience this opportunity to align with the beginning of the moon cycle while attuning to the mellow and subtle sounds of the resonant instruments. In order for us to have a clear count of participants, please register by paying online at https://paypal.me/SoundsofHarmony or email a message to soundsofharmonygongmeditation@gmail.com to sign up and pay at the door.
Suggested cost is $25.
With gratitude,
Sarah and Kevin
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Free Screening at Westerly Public Library
Monday, April 20, 5 PM
In celebration of ALA National Library Week's Right to Read Day on April 20, 5:00 PM, we will be screening the indie lens' "The Librarians". The documentary will be followed by a short discussion about censorship efforts in Westerly with Bill Lancellotta, Assistant Director at Westerly Library, and Marianne Mirando, retired Westerly High School Librarian. READ MORE
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From the UUCSC Personnel Committee
Hi! Our committee serves UUCSC by working as advocates for each of our wonderful staff members and taking care of the tasks that are part of this mission - like their letters of agreement, benefits information and guidance handbooks that relate to staff support and information.
We are seeking a few folks to come on board our committee come June. We do important work, but we have a lot of fun, too!
If you' re interested, please get in touch with Betsy Dalton, Chair of the PC at elizabethmdalton@gmail.com or by phone. We'd love to invite you to our next meeting to check us out!
Thanks so much.
Betsy, Lisa, Nick, Susan, and Sarah (your current PC committee)
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Sanctuary Art
Jeanne Arthur, Nancy Dean, Barbara Pagh and Cathy Solomon collaborated on the concept for the art on the sanctuary wall for March and April. This giant weaving is inspired by dream catchers made by Indigenous peoples of North America. It’s also similar to a traditional Mexican God’s Eye which is woven around two crossed sticks. Both are
symbols of protection and positive energy. When we hung it on Friday, we realized it is a symbol that can be interpreted in many ways. Let us
know what you think.
The themes for March and April are paying attention and embracing possibility.
- Pay attention: The weaving will evolve each week and we hope you will have fun discovering the surprise elements that will be added.
- Embracing possibility: With a foundation of love a giant web of possibilities exist all around for each of us.
Submitted by UUCSC Art Team
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Monthly Grief Support Group
Clare Sartori, Facilitator
Last Friday of every month, 3 PM
Next Session April 24, 2026
Saint Augustine's Church Community Room
15 Lower College Road, Kingston, RI
This group is free and open to all. For anyone grieving the loss of a loved one or struggling with an imminent loss, this is an excellent opportunity to share with others the lives of those we’ve lost and the journey of loss and remembrance.
Submitted by Clare Sartori | 401-741-6846.
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Legacy Giving: In addition to your pledge, if you are 70 ½ years of age or older, you may donate up to $100,000.00 each year to UUCSC or other charities directly from your IRA account as non taxable income. Read more HERE.
Submitted by the Finance Committee
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At Helping Hands, our group is dedicated to supporting our Beloved Community during times of need. Read more about available assistance and volunteer opportunities here.
uuhelpinghands@gmail.com
401-742-1392
Kelsey Briggs and Bethany Sorrentino, UUCSC Helping Hands Coordinators
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Care Continues for...
Louise McLeod in Roberts Health Centre, 25 Roberts Way, North Kingstown, RI 02852. Cards and calls are welcome, visits too, just call first. All contact information can be found in Breeze.
Submitted by Val Follett
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"Prepare for Surgery, Heal Faster: A Guide of Mind-Body Techniques"
Contact Val Follett at 789-7282 or email at valeriefollett@gmail.com for more info.
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Review Understanding Phishing!
If you receive a suspicious email, drag it into your Spam folder, which will automatically block the scammer from using your email again as bait. Stay vigilant!
Submitted by Etta Zasloff, Communications
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