Sunday, September 13 — 10 am

In-person & ZOOM



Ingathering & Water Communion Service:

"Welcome to a Beginning"

As we begin our congregational year, we are in the midst of many beginings. We come together with the seeds of all our experiences from the summer to grow into the garden of our community. This is the start of our year. Today, we are also in the midst of a traditional celebration. Our Jewish siblings in faith are celebrating the Jewish New Year according to the Hebrew calendar from September 11^th to 13^th at sundown. Come let us celebrate together.

Please bring a small sample of water from your favorite place or summer jaunts.

• Rev. Kathryn Adams, Minister
• Annie Lavin, Worship Leader
• Michael Casey, Musician
• Sydney Brookes, Greeter
• COFFEE HOST NEEDED

This week's music:

• "For All That Is Our Life," #128 (grey hymnal)
• "For the Beauty of the Earth," #21 (grey hymnal)

Please CLICK HERE to join us via Zoom.

SEP 20 | "The Campaign Against Memory," Rev. Dr. Fred Muir, Guest Speaker — In-person & Zoom

The process of disremembering so-called “difficult knowledge”—history that makes some uncomfortable—started years ago and is now moving forward at breathtaking speed. As we observe the 200^th anniversary of the Unitarian Association and continue our nation’s 250^th anniversary celebration, what do we need to remember as citizens and as Unitarian Universalists?

SEP 27 | "What We Owe to Each Other," Rev. Kathryn Adams, Minister — In-person & Zoom

This Sunday is in the season of Mabon, the season of the Autumn Equinox, a season of balance. As we design our lives, communities, and society, we have the opportunity to design them with love at the center. When we design our lives in community, we build toward the society we long for, toward a world informed by our values. This year, the sacred work is to discern and live into what we owe to each other.

To read this email in your browser

or if you don't see the words "VERY END OF REFLECTIONS" at the end:

View as Webpage

• This Week's Worship Service
• Upcoming Worship Services
• This Issue's Contents
• Helpful Links, Office Hours, Upcoming Events Calendar
• Greeters & Coffee Hosts Needed - Coffee Host Needed This Week
• Keycard Reader Down at Ramp Door, Lock on Office Door
• From the Worship Committee
• From the Sanctuary Task Force and RE Committee
• New Webpage on UUCR's Website — "Upcoming UUCR Events"
• UUCR Events — Fall Equinox Celebration & Potluck
• Children's Books Wanted for UUCR's Book and Treat
• Democracy Corner
• Birthdays

Welcome, all, to the beginning of our new church year! I am very excited about the services we have lined up for this fall. We begin with the long-standing, beloved UUCR tradition of Ingathering and the Water Ceremony, so please remember to bring your sample of water this Sunday.

Rev. Kathryn will be speaking on the second and fourth Sundays in September and the first and third Sundays in October. We have some exciting guest speakers lined up for this fall, several of whom will be speaking at UUCR for the first time.

On September 20, we will host Rev. Dr. Fred Muir, Minister Emeritus of the UU Church of Annapolis, where he served as Senior Minister for 34 years. He is highly regarded in UU circles, and the WC is excited to have him speak at UUCR.

I’m fascinated by the titles of these next upcoming guest speakers. Rev. Paul Boothby will return to UUCR on October 11^th to speak on “Inflicting Good on an Unsuspecting World,” and our longtime friend Rev. Greg Chute will discuss “Creating a Reverse Bucket List” on October 25^th .

Joining us on November 8^th will be Rev. Dr. Rebekah Savage, who was recently named as UUA’s Director of Ministries and Faith Development. Prior to that, she served as the Senior Minister of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation in Rockville, Maryland. I’m really interested to see what her topic will be. Another new speaker to UUCR, Rabbi Peter Hyman, will be prepared to answer all our questions on Judaism on November 15^th. We look forward to seeing you this fall.

Nancy Holland

For the Worship Committee:

Rev. Kathryn Adams, Kim Agee, Joan Caivano, Annie Lavin, Margo Long, Connie Schroth, Jan Sprinkel

The STF met last Sunday after the final discussion of the summer and made several changes to the Sanctuary. We feel these tweaks give the Sanctuary a more welcoming feel that will foster our sense of community. We hope you will like this fresh look. Thanks to Catherine Brooks, who had rearranged the seating for her WC-ALL class. The STF members liked it, and the comments we heard from discussion attendees were very positive. The new seating arrangement consists of two semicircles facing each other. No more looking only at people’s backs. The podium has been moved to the center of the room, and the UUCR quilt has been rehung and is now fully visible. Some of Michael Morris’ origami cranes brighten up a corner, and we’ve swapped out some of the hanging photographs for two collages made several years ago by our UUCR youth.

In our ongoing efforts to be radically welcoming, we have a new kid’s corner just to the left of the front doors. Graced by a beautiful quilt made and donated by Elisabeth Tully, this small nook offers several baskets filled with activities that children may borrow to keep them occupied during our services. There is also a small area on the floor (butterfly rug courtesy of M.Q.) at the rear of the Sanctuary designated for infants/toddlers next to seating for their parent(s). Although we are not offering planned RE activities at this time, we are ready to greet any families with children who walk through our doors.

The STF would appreciate hearing your comments, so feel free to reach out to any STF member: Rev. Kathryn, Nancy Holland, Eileen Kessler, Dawn Miller, John Ramsey, and Dave Hart.

A new webpage (under the "News" tab) has been added to the UUCR website— “Upcoming UUCR Events.” This page lists all the events for Fiscal Year ‘26-27. The page will be updated and added to as more details become available.

Please continue to use the “Calendar” if you're planning a meeting or event at UUCR to make sure the building is available and contact the UUCR office for your meeting to be added to the calendar. 

Help us scare up a love of reading this Halloween! UUCR will host a book giveaway at the Garnet Elementary School (HHGES) Trunk or Treat event in Chestertown on October 23^rd. Help us by donating children's books in new or nearly new condition, or selecting from our Amazon Wish List  https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/2Y6G6FMI2SYNL?ref_=wl_share 

Books for ages 3 years old-5th grade (plus middle school reading levels), including Picture books, Early readers, Chapter books, Graphic novels, books in Spanish, Multicultural and Diversity are welcome! Drop books off in the collection bin in UUCR's lobby by October 11, 2026, or make selections from our Amazon Wish List for direct delivery.  Questions? Contact Pat Bjorke.

SEPTEMBER

08 | Linda Weimer

14 | Larry Schroth

16 | Mary Pritchard

We want to help celebrate your birthday!

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