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First Unitarian Universalist RVA
April 13, 2018
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Magic Carpet
Shel Silverstein
You have a magic carpet
That will whiz you through the air,
To Spain or Maine or Africa
If you just tell it where.
So will you let it take you
Where you've never been before,
Or will you buy some drapes to match
And use it
On your
Floor?
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We
Grow
in Search of Wisdom
We
Care
in Support of Community
We
Act
in Service of Justice
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WELCOME!
ALL ARE INVITED
TO JOIN US FOR SERVICES
**April's Theme is Emergence**
Sunday, April 15th
services at
9:00 am and 11:00 am
Sermon: Born Again
Leading Services: Rev. Sherman Logan
Coffee Hour: 10:00-11:00 am
New to UU Conversation: 10:15 am
Conference Rm
A Message From Ben Wharton,
Our Sunday Hospitality Team Captain:
There are plenty of opportunities to practice Radical Hospitality this Sunday.
Thanks for all you do.
Go to the bookstore in the lobby and get a copy of "Centering"
Ministers Present in April
***BOOK DISCUSSION***
April 4, 11, 18 and April 25
Please join
Rev Sherman
as he leads a discussion on the book;
Centering: Navigation Race Authenticity and Power in Ministry, edited by Mitra Rahnema.
[see the Community on Wednesday section below
for more information]
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Religious Education News
Sunday, APRIL 15th
The Nursery
is open from 15 minutes before to 5 minutes after each service for ages 3 and under. Please label your child's belongings, and bring your own snack if desired. Cheerios will be offered.
[Upper Level]
PK-K: Earth Day
- children learn about caring for the earth, and have a nature walk (weather permitting) as well as making an earth craft!
Grades 1-2:
Yom ha-Atzmaut
(Israeli Independence Day) - children learn about the history of the Jewish people, and the celebration of the Jewish homeland. They make crafts that connect with the idea of home and belonging, crafting luminaria prints complete with LEDs!
Grades 3-4: Get Involved
- children learn about the UU church's part in the same-sex marriage equality battle of the past, and create zines that will educate others on their viewpoints and reasons for supporting their individual values and beliefs.
Grades 5-6 OWL: Feelings & Attraction
- children learn that attraction comes in many forms, and expressing those attractions is healthy and natural. They also learn about social viewpoints on attraction and how it relates to gender.
Grades 7-8 OWL: Unintended Pregnancy Options
- As they learn about three options for resolving an unintended pregnancy, participants explore their attitudes toward and feelings about being faced with an unintended pregnancy. They practice making the very difficult decision of how to respond to an unintended pregnancy.
Grades 9-12 Youth
- high school does not meet, but rather, youth are encouraged to join us in the Great Hall for worship!
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BREAD FOR THE JOURNEY
May 4th 7:00 pm
Come and share worship with the Nu Beginning Experience Choir
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PLAN TO ATTEND
RISC Nehemiah Action Assembly
Monday, April 30, 2018
7:00-8:30pm
Doors open 6:15pm - Childcare 6:30pm - Choir 6:30pm
St. Paul's Baptist Church, 4247 Creighton Rd
*Free Action tickets available starting April 9 at member congregations or by calling the RISC Office (804) 476-0889. Tickets also available at the door on April 30.
The culminating event of the entire year for RISC congregations! AND the largest interfaith public gathering in Central VA!
Over 1,200 justice-seekers from dozens of congregations transcend racial, socioeconomic, and religious differences to take action for justice. We hear the stories of those affected by community problems and secure specific commitments from our local decision-makers to address the root causes of injustice.
This year, we’re addressing elementary reading in Richmond and Henrico County, childhood trauma in Chesterfield County, and job training in our region. People power makes change possible!
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Help RE provide transformative, life-affirming religious and spiritual education each Sunday, and throughout the year, by donating to our In-Kind Donation Drive! All donated items are tax-deductible for the value of the item, and go toward programming materials, needs, and aspirations.
Donate at the following links!
Target Charity Registry:
registry ID (for in-store lookup) - 022399126644855
Amazon Gift Registry:
name: First UU RVA RE Wish List
All you have to do is point, click, and choose your item(s) to donate!
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The Promise and Practice of our Faith
Supporting BLUU
Exciting News from First UU Leadership!
Our congregation has pledged our support for the Promise and Practice of Our Faith fundraising campaign for Black Lives of Unitarian Universalism. The raised funds go towards the $5.3 million committed to BLUU by the UUA.
From the UUA:
"$1 million has been pledged by longtime UUs Julie and Brad Bradburd
to match all congregational giving to The Promise and Practice. The Bradburd’s leadership and generosity embodies their belief that this is an opportunity we UUs have to achieve the repair and rejuvenation of our faith.
The goal for congregational contributions is at least $1 million.
In order to qualify for a match, each participating UU congregation must collect or raise at least
the equivalent of
$10 per member or soul served (as self-reported on the pledge form). [That's 725 for First UU]
***Congregations are being asked to submit their pledge by June 30, 2018, with the pledges being fulfilled by June 30, 2019.***"
FIRST UU Pledge goal - $7250
Received so far: $5040.44
Remaining on our commitment:$2209.56
BLUU will continue as our Share the Plate
recipient for the month of April. As usual for Share the Plate, checks should be made out to First UU and 50% of all funds collected will go towards our pledge goal.
Watch a video
from Rev. Susan Frederick Gray and BLUU Executive Director Lena K. Gardner
Read what the UUA has to say:
"The Promise and the Practice of Our Faith Campaign is our opportunity to take the lead as a faith denomination in addressing our history of upholding white supremacy. Together, we can collectively work to dismantle it and amend a long broken promise to the Black Lives within our Association.
Join our Association of Congregations as we do something different in this extraordinary moment to connect our finances with our theological values as we enter a new chapter within our faith."
A message from the Rev. Susan Frederick-Gray, UUA President
"I invite you to participate in the Promise and Practice of our Faith Campaign. Your contributions will be matched dollar-for-dollar if you make a gift or pledge of at least $10 per member. Please do not miss this wonderful opportunity.
This campaign calls us to align our financial resources with our theological values of justice and equity by honoring our Board of Trustees’ commitment of $5.3 million to Black Lives of Unitarian Universalism. This congregational phase of the campaign is your opportunity to invest in Black lives, Black leadership, and the uplifting of Black voices within our faith.
Now, more than ever, we are being called to a deeper practice of the promise of our faith. In this country, we see systemic racism and discrimination being emboldened in rhetoric and in policy. In this moment, we are called to do more to move forward the vision of a radically inclusive, justice centered faithful practice of the beloved community within and beyond our faith. This means investing more fully financially, spiritually, faithfully, and collectively in support of Black Lives."
Thank you for all you do for our faith,
Susan Frederick-Gray
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A Message from Stewardship
Answer your phone and live your commitment
A final sweep of members and friends is on the stewardship calendar for April 18. If you have not already pledged to carry your part of the financial commitments of this church, you will receive a friendly phone call that Wednesday evening from the stewardship committee.
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Pancake Breakfast Tickets
are also available at the event on the 22nd!!!
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Auction Night is
Saturday, April 28
*Auction Catalogs
Are Ready For You!
*Fabulous & Fun
Offerings Await!
*Pick Up Your Catalog
* Mark Your Calendar to Attend * Volunteer to Help
By now you know what's so special about Saturday evening, April 28th...Spring Fling, of course! Our First UU donors and the Spring Fling committee have been busier than Santa’s elves in getting ready for the big night. Please pick up your catalog copy this Sunday or next (one per individual or family please) from the Spring Fling folks during coffee hour or directly after the 11 am service. The catalog will also available online in a few days, if not already there. All auction details, including volunteer opportunities are available on this website link or you may send your questions to
auction@richmonduu.org
Come join the fun on Saturday, 4/28. Doors open at 5:30 pm.
Welcome all ages, First UU members, friends and guests!
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FIRST UU PRESENTS
5 Lesbians Eating a Quiche
by Evan Linder & Andrew Hobgood
AUDITIONS on April 15
Roles for 5 women
12:30 pm
It's 1956 and the Susan B. Anthony Society for the Sisters of Gertrude Stein are having their annual quiche breakfast. Will they be able to keep their cool when Communists threaten their idyllic town?
A farcical 1950’s romp behind whose humor lies social and political observations in the new age of gay marriage, as well as
an affirming story of love, friendship and female desire.
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Neighbor 2 Neighbor is underway! Each group has a leader who will be contacting you soon if they haven't already to invite you to the first neighborhood meeting. We are updating our database thanks to all of you who have given us your contact forms. We hope you will participate in the meetings and start connecting as neighbors in other ways as you are inspired. A special thank you to all those who have taken on leadership roles! If you would like to participate and have not been contacted yet, please let us know by sending your address to us.
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LOOKING AHEAD...
FLOWER COMMUNION
IS SUNDAY MAY 6TH
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Faith-Rooted Organizing Training
by Initiatives of Change & Freedom Road
Tue, Jun 19, 9:00 AM–4:00 pm
Wed Jun 20,
9:00 AM–4:00 pm
Thu, Jun 21,
9:00 AM–
4:00 pm
(three day training, attendance required all three days)
West End Assembly of God
401 N Parham Rd., Richmond, VA 23229
NO COST TO PARTICIPANTS
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Projection Help Needed on Sundays especially the First Sunday
of the month
run the slides and help our worship services go smoothly
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Religious Hospitality:
A Spiritual Practice for Congregations
"Hospitality, true hospitality, is not an obligation. It is not a duty. True hospitality is a spiritual practice, a religious practice. Like meditation or prayer, hospitality connects us with a deep truth and compassion that transcend our selves....
Someone, a long-lost relative of the human family, is coming into our lives. It happens every single day. At church it happens every single Sunday. May you and I be there, with anticipation in our hearts, warm smiles on our faces, our eyes ready to truly meet the eyes of another, and our arms extended, saying, "Welcome, welcome." "
-Rev. Peter Morales
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Sunday Ushers and
Visitors Table Welcomers are Needed! Are You Willing to Serve?
Choose a Sunday and a service, (9 am or 11 am) and come receive training with an experienced hospitality person. Plan to arrive 20 mins before service starts. Shadow and assist to learn the ropes and then commit to serve one service on one Sunday per month. That's all there is to it. Help us maintain our Radical Hospitality and Welcome!
Serve the church and make some friends!
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Community on Wednesday
April's Theme is Emergence
Vespers
6:00 pm-6:30 pm
A quiet center to our week!
We invite you to join us in exploring what in means to be human, to be in community, and to be connected to the Divine. Vespers is an intimate, contemplative, and conversational half-hour service provided by our ministerial interns. We welcome you and appreciate you just as you are and whenever you can join us. MEETS IN THE GREAT HALL
Simple Supper
6:30 pm-7:00 pm
Breaking Bread with Friends!
A simple supper is provided by members of the church. Oftentimes the meal is soup or pasta, with vegetarian options available, salad, and bread. This is a great time to get to know our community better. It's a casual buffet and you can join us anytime right up to clean up time!
***We need folks who are willing to cook or provide supper and folks to help with set up and clean up.
Ministers Present...
7:15 pm-8:30 pm
Expand your Heart & Mind
and Gain Understanding!
Adult formation classes on various topics are taught by our ministerial team. The classes are timely, informational, and interactive in nature. Bring your whole self and share in the spiritual growth of our community. Upcoming classes:
Ministers Present in April
***BOOK DISCUSSION***
April 4, 11, 18 and April 25
Please join
Rev Sherman as he leads a discussion on the book;
Centering: Navigation Race Authenticity and Power in Ministry, edited by Mitra Rahnema.
This book, which a UU common read for 2017-18, centers on the stories, analyses and insights of a number if Unitarian Universalist religious professionals of color as they explore how racial identity is made both visible and invisible
in Unitarian Universalist communities.
The book can be purchased at the
First UU Book Nook,or online at the UUA bookstore and gift shop, inSpirit.
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Adult Faith
Formation
GROW YOUR
INNER SELF
***
SAVE THE DATES
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Women's Retreat
June 29th-July 1st
at Richmond Hill
MEN MEETING a.k.a. M[squared]
2nd and 4th Tues. of the month 6:30- 8:00 pm.
This is a special opportunity to participate in forming a small group ministry. Connection, fellowship, and life-long friendships await!
Todd Van Gordon
, convener
RVA Western Mystery
School Study Group
Mon Apr 2, Mon Apr 30
then the 1st Mon of each month
Our meetings will begin with an introduction to the The Qabalistic Tree of Life and will be part lecture and part experiential, using guided meditation and chanting. No prior experience is necessary, we welcome new comers!
The Tree of Life is a classic descriptive term for the central mystical symbol used in the Qabalah of esoteric Judaism and of Hermeticism. This image shows 10 spheres or "Sephiroth" joined by 22 connecting channels. The Sephiroth indicate the 10 fundamental aspects of the Life-Power, and their arrangement on the Tree give us clues to their nature and relationships to one another.
This comprehensive map of God is not a religion, but a philosophical system which can help us understand the ways in which Divinity manifests throughout the known Universe (Macrocosm) and in our personal lives (Microcosm). The Tree of Life throws an illuminating light on all of the world religions, Astrology, Tarot, Alchemy, and Mythology, and it shows us the interconnectedness of all of these systems. No matter what our religious inclination, study of the Qabalah can help us to clarify and deepen our understanding of God so that we may come to progressively rely less on faith and instead on an ever growing personal experience of the Divine.
Wells and Michelle share a combined four decades of study in this tradition whose sacred Arcana is passed primarily "from mouth to ear”.
*
Art Goddesses
Group
created by Mary Martin.
Thursday, April 26th 6:30 pm
*The
Thursday Zen Group
is offering a
study group
one Thursday a month at 7:00 pm.
Apr. 26th: Buddhist Living: the 8-Fold Path
May 24th: Buddhist Sacred Texts
If you have completed
Living the Pledge READ THIS!
*
The Safety Pin Box Antiracism Practice Group
Safety Pin Box is a subscription service that offers varying levels of membership that include themed monthly tasks, an incredibly robust online community, and access to many well-researched resources. Read more about subscriber options here:
https://www.safetypinbox.com/subscribe/
Please reply to
ginjerc@yahoo.com
if you want to join the practice group. Ginjer Clarke with Leigh Ann Luscan, Jena Hintze, and Sharon Amoss First Unitarian Universalist members and SPB group coordinators
Life Stage Groups
Young Marrieds
– meet monthly to explore topics of interest to them. Contact
Paul Daniels
Parent Group
– potlucks and family fun!
DayTimers- Next Meeting:
May 9th 11:00-1:00
A group of seniors meeting 2nd Wed of the month 11:00-1:00 for POTLUCK lunch and a program. Newcomers welcome! Contact
Pat Vaughn
Groups for Exploration
Feminist Group
6:30-8:00 pm
The 2nd Thursday each month
Amanda Dulin and Rev. Sue, conveners
Next Meeting April 12th
Civil Conversations
about Controversial Issues
6:30-8:15 pm
meets on the
1st Thursdays
*[corrected dates]
Next Meeting April 5th
Spiritual Practice Groups
Tai Chi
Mondays 6:30-7:30 pm
UU Christian Fellowship
1st & 3rd Tuesdays 5:30-7:00 pm
Lower Level Rm 3
Tuesday, March 27, 6:30 p.m. in the Great Hall.
We will celebrate our annual Holy Week Service of Reflections, Chants,& Communion
***NewGroup***
Humanism in Practice
Those interested in learning together what it means to be a Humanist as well as a Unitarian, contact
Mariah Travis
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***NewGroup***
EARTH CENTERED
SPIRITUALITY SMALL GROUP
First and Third Sundays 10-10:45 in the library
Vespers Contemplative Service
Wednesdays 6:00-6:30 pm
April's theme is Emergence
UU Zen Group
Sitting and Walking Meditation
Thursdays 7:00 pm
Yoga with Jodi
Dances of Universal Peace
2nd Saturdays 7:30 pm
Hayat Bain 804-467-9674
mandalasoflife@gmail.com
The DUP circle is held in the Presidents Hall every second Saturday of the month (except July and August).
Richmond Humanist Group
Meets 2nd and 4th Tuesdays each month
6:30-8:00 pm
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