2021-22 Pledge Drive update: Our active Pledge Drive ends Sunday, March 28, however, the Pledge Team remains active and is seeking additional pledges from those who typically pledge annual support. As of today, our current Pledge amount for 2021-22 is $548,276.80, leaving a remaining balance of $50,670.20 to fully fund the operating budget for the next fiscal year. If your intention is to pledge support for fy21-22 (July-June), we urge you to do so as soon as possible so we can begin finalizing our budget and planning for the upcoming church year. Your pledge can be submitted by emailing Jodi Baker at [email protected], contacting the office 322-6146 or online at https://uufresno.org/2021-2022-pledge-drive/. If you are unable to pledge and would like to opt-out of doing so, having this information is also very helpful for planning purposes; please contact Rev. Tim ([email protected]) or Jodi ([email protected] or [email protected]) and an exemption will be noted. 

Join us for a Hybrid Easter Sunday Service — Outdoor In-Person and Virtually on Facebook and Youtube. Join us in-person in front of our beautiful Alluvial Gardens for our Annual Easter Service on Sunday, April 4^th at 10:30 am. This will be our very first hybrid worship that will be both live outside on campus and live-streamed on Zoom and social media. Registration for in-person Worship is required so we can set up the correct number of chairs: https://forms.gle/sBQgEkQdnnro5R3MA. We will have a limited number of seats, so reserve asap. Masks and social distancing will be required. Plenty of parking available in the back Buddhist Temple parking lot (but be prepared to walk) and UUCF parking for those who need to park closer. For more information reach out to Dani at [email protected]. 

Earth Day Picnic and Scavenger Hunt, April 18th from 1pm-2pm. Join us on campus for an outdoor picnic, the making of bird feeders, and a family nature scavenger hunt in honor of Earth Day. Extra points if you bring your own pinecone!! Registration for children is requested at: https://forms.gle/cyBVQaiEzUqJyWSd9

Join in the Food Collection Palooza!!! The food bin will be in front of the Church Office daily, between the hours of 9:30am - 3pm. We are partnering with Wesley United Methodist Church and Valley Children's Hospital in their food distribution to people in need and families who stay in the rooms with their children. Items needed are: canned vegetables, cereal, Ramen Noodles, non-refrigerated single-serve meals of any sort including soups, vegetables, fruits, beans, etc., preferably with "flip-top" type cans if the item is a canned item, nothing perishable, and nothing that has expired. Instant meals such as oatmeal or other meals that can be put into a microwave are best. If you have questions regarding acceptable food items contact Steve Sacks at [email protected]

The Central Valley Blood Supply is Critically Low - Consider Donating if you can.  The Central California Blood Center needs donors of all blood types. Donations will immediately help community members in need from all walks of life and ease the stressful burden of our front-line health care workers. Online scheduling is simple through their website where you can select an appointment location, date and time that fits your schedule. Use this link for more information https://www.donateblood.org/ or call 559-389-5433.

Planned Parenthood Mar Monte Invites You to Join Us for Young and Elected: Virtual Event For the Central Valley - March 31^st from 5:30 - 6:30 pm. This was inspired by a lot of young people in the Central Valley running for office (and winning) and/or that are civically engaged. With that, we invited some folks to a panel discussion on the significance of them running at a young age, their journey/experience, and their thoughts on the importance of being civically engaged. We hope this will help inspire young folks that are already engaged and/or are thinking of running for an elected position in their community. Everyone is welcomed; however, anyone that self-identifies as a young person are especially encouraged to check it out. To RSVP, just click on this link and you’ll receive the Zoom webinar access information shortly before the event: Young & Elected. We’d also appreciate any help spreading the word to your universe.  

UUBorders Returns - Online! Register for our April 2021 Virtual Journey Today! In partnership with Via International & UU Refugee Immigrant Services & Education, we are excited to offer a new online immersion for UUs and UU-aligned individuals interested in learning and engaging more with the realities of immigration at the California border. Through online virtual visits, attendees will have an opportunity to witness the effect of US Immigration policies from both sides of the border, deepen our faith connection to issues and efforts around immigration justice, and to connect with communities directly impacted by our broken immigration system. https://uujmca.salsalabs.org/uuborders_april2021/index.html?eType=EmailBlastContent&eId=93005088-a4ca-47e8-8333-5b04ce58e324

Beacon Press, the UU Publisher, Announces New Social Justice-Themed Books (www.beacon.org) - Alex Zamalin presents the first history of racial injustice to examine how civility and white supremacy are linked in Against Civility. Edward McClelland brings the action-packed events of the Flint sit-down strike of 1936-1937 strike back to life in Midnight in Vehicle City. Jeanne Theoharis and Brandy Colbert shatter the myths that Rosa Parks was a meek and accidental activist for a new generation in the young-adult adaptation of The Rebellious Life of Mrs. Rosa Parks. Originally published in hardcover as We Keep Us Safe, Zach Norris’s Defund Fear lays out a radical way to shift the conversation about public safety away from fear and punishment and toward growth and support systems for our families and communities. In One Drop, Yaba Blay challenges narrow perceptions of Blackness as both an identity and lived reality to understand the diversity of what it means to be Black in the US and around the world. And in The Young Crusaders, V. P. Franklin gives the authoritative history of the overlooked youth activists that spearheaded the largest protests of the Civil Rights Movement.

News from Frank Jacobson - Frank, a long-time friend of UUCF, is back in town. He would love to hear from his church friends. He is also looking for modestly-priced housing, either a studio apartment or a house-sharing situation. Frank can be reached at 559-653-6610.

Long-time Church member Pat (Patricia) Moore would appreciate notes and cards of support and encouragement as she continues living in assisted living. Even if you don't know Pat, a kind word from you would help lift her spirits. If you have young children, perhaps they could draw her a picture? Send to: Patricia Moore, Sunrise of Fresno, 7444 N. Cedar Avenue, Fresno, CA 93720.

The Pastoral Care Team is available to serve congregants with short-term needs. For more information regarding the services we offer, visit the UUCF website. To contact the officer on duty call 559-322-6146 ext 16.

UUCF Board of Trustee meeting minutes and monthly financial reports are available for those who would be interested in reviewing them. In an effort to minimize unwanted email communication, if you are a church member and would like to automatically receive board meeting minutes and/or financial reports upon acceptance and approval, please contact Cindie Gonzales, Administrative Assistant [email protected]. Additionally, a digital archive of UUCF board minutes and monthly financial reports are maintained with the church administration and are available to members upon request.

to our GIVING page at www.uufresno.org.

For additional information about our church, services or activities, please contact us at (559) 322-6146 or visit our website at www.uufresno.org. If you are interested in reading or listening to past sermons, look under menu item "Worship" and you will find both audio and written sermons to choose from.