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Congregational
Mission
Statement
We are a Congregation creating a better world by nurturing the heart and expanding the mind.
We provide a safe, caring community where all can freely explore diverse religious thought.
We work for justice and equality with the power of compassion and compassionate power.
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UUCGT Quicklinks
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If you would like to receive our monthly newsletter
the Beacon
please contact
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Well, they say always double- and triple-check before you click on "send." Well, I double- and triple-checked, but I scheduled this THURSDAY Flash for Wednesday by mistake. Here's "Take 'two'" - a (small) prize to the first person who e-mails me with the one small change I've made (other than this announcement).
Thursday morning update: I've also made one BIG change (sorry, no prizes for recognizing it; I'm telling you about it now). I'm including a "Green Sanctuary" note with apologies of Misty Sheehan, to whom I'd promised to include it in the first place. ___________________________
This week's Flash isn't "epic" - in fact, some aspects of it are quite brief; check out the short and sweet note about Sunday's Service from the Coordinators. We also share the opening paragraph of a letter from UUA President Rev. Susan Frederick-Gray - there will be a link if you'd like to read it all - along with contributions from Music, Religious Education, our busy Search Team, and others. And more is going on behind the scenes: Chuck Brackett, Chris Walter, Jolynn Paige and others are doing yeoman's work to update our website and social media, both to inform you better and to present the most inviting and thought-provoking window through which potentially interested ministerial candidates might first begin to get to know us.
If you decide to skim (you know who you are!) please don't skip the Bulletin! Most of it is online; click the link. There are some especially important announcements regarding upcoming events and changes!
And please note: Guy will be out of the office Thursday Sep 3 through Tuesday Sep 8. Back Wednesday Sep 9. I'll be working remotely on the 3rd, and out of town until next Wednesday. I'll check for new messages at [email protected] periodically. ____________________
Sunday, September 6, 2020
"Working for the Common Good"
Mary Van Valin has coordinated this Sunday's Lay Service and co-leads along with Pam Hendrick, Richard Miller, Mary Anne Rivers-Friese, Renée Russell, and Barbara Young.
"Working for the Common Good": The service will explore the nature of our labors and the relationship of our work and the common good. Challenges abound this Labor Day, 2020. Let's dig into the obstacles and possibilities for working for the common good.
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A Letter from the President of the UUA
The Rev. Dr. Susan Frederick-Gray, UUA president, shared this letter with all of us this week. And you can follow the link in her "P.S." to a video of Rev. Susan speaking to us all...
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Dear Fellow Unitarian Universalists -
As religious leaders guiding congregations, I want you to know how much your work matters. There is so much collective grief that needs expression. There is so much organizing and resistance that needs support. There is so much compassion that needs to be nurtured...
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Rev. Cathy also calls our attention to the 2020-2021 Soul Matters themes...
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Passcode: 167208
You'll receive a reminder on Sunday morning!
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Sunday Services are automatically recorded and posted to our Zoom account. We post a link to the most recent service in case you missed it and/or would like to re-view! Click here to view the Service of Sunday August 30! A password is required, that code is 7lHtA1=4
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Green Sanctuary
from Misty Sheehan
The UUCGT has decided that Green Sanctuary goals need to be a part of our congregational plan so we are focusing on a Green Sanctuary vision below.
A world that is viable and just for humanity and for the whole of the web of life, including present and future generations.
Our High-Level Goals and Strategies Forming the Mission include... - Act with love and justice to heal the earth, our home.
- Support frontline communities to protect people and the web of life.
- Take courageous action to fight against environmental and climate injustices.
If you are interested in pursuing these and other environmental goals, please contact Misty Sheehan at [email protected].
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Ministerial Search Team Report
from Jan Zerbel
Your MST capped off the month of August with a meeting that included the welcome presence of our UUA Transitions Coach, Christine Purcell. We are grateful to have the benefit of her knowledge and experience as she brings clarity to our journey toward calling a settled minister in the spring of 2021. She will meet with Chris and Jim this Friday as they continue refining the Congregational Survey.
Purcell suggested that it is not too soon to form our Negotiating Team, composed of one Search member and two Board members. They will move forward by preparing a draft contract now, in preparation for candidate negotiations in the spring.
We will begin to schedule Neutral Pulpits this month. Since they will be virtual, with no transportation costs or issues, we will consider pulpits outside of our area. It will be most helpful for us to choose those with similar liturgical style and comparable tech support.
Work continues on a Congregational Record with content that will be balanced and informative. Improvement of the UUCGT website is also an ongoing project that will result in an exciting story of our congregation, thanks to Charles with the help of Guy, Jolynn and Renee. After Labor Day, MST will move from a bi-weekly to a weekly schedule of meetings. There is much work to be done. We love to hear from you! Mary, Geoff, Charles, Dusty, Jim, Chris, Jan
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(Beethoven's Manuscript for the "Kreutzer" Violin Sonata)
MUSIC: "A Few Notes..."
- from Music Director Renée Herman Russell -
This week's service we explore "the nature of our labors and the relationships of our work and the common good." Most musicians are drawn to making and teaching music for the common good yet few are paid a livable wage and most do not have health insurance. As is the truth with all but a few of the top professionals, most artists (musicians, dancers, painters, etc) are expected to let the creativity of their passion be their payment. How we allot funding in our school systems teaches a person at a young age that creative/artistic ability is not valued the same as that of science and mathematics. Yet, as we continue to live in this unpredictable time of a pandemic, what do we reach for to bring us comfort and meaning? Music? Dance? Important books or beautiful paintings? I am deeply grateful for being so well appreciated by this congregation. This is a very hard time for all artists and I would encourage you, if you are able, to see how you can continue to financially support artists that you lean on for meaning in your life.
In honor of Labor Day, here's a great song by a local legend (and awesome guy) Josh Davis: The Workingman's Hymn.
MUSIC VIDEO from last week's service "Widening Our Circle of Concern": ALL GOOD PEOPLE performed by Adrienne Hope and Renée Russell- click here
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(One of our own beautiful RE classrooms - we'll be back someday!)
RELIGIOUS EDUCATION
- from RE Teacher Claire Crandell -
"A circle of friends is a blessed thing."
from
Sunday and Every Day, My Little Blue Book of Unitarian Universalism
Our "Summer Youth Kits" are coming to an end, alas. The creativity and thoughtfulness put into the projects and the many online conversations we have all shared have been fun! Next Sunday, September 6th, is our final "Week 9 challenge." This includes building a roller coaster! We are SO excited to see what youth create. Be sure and send your pictures or videos of any Week 9 creations to Betsy.
Soon we begin our new Fall Fun Activities and Challenges which are very exciting! Just a tiny hint the first activities have to do with water. Look for our Monthly Soul Matters Mail coming soon to your snail mailbox. This mail package will contain activities, challenges, conversation topics, blessings to share, coloring sheets, and so much more!
Our monthly themes will tie closely in with the adult UU themes of renewal, listening, healing, stillness, imagination, loved community, commitment, becoming, story and play. I'm sure many of you have already imagined the kinds of fun, creative and thoughtful activities we may do relating to these topics. We all look forward to building and sharing...together.
- from Adult RE Director Alison Ernst -
LAST CALL FOR FALL: There are a few spots still available in this fall's CREATIVE WRITING WORKSHOPS:
Monday nights, 7 - 8 PM, starting September 14.
Thursday afternoons, 1:30 - 2:30 PM, starting September 10.
There are two sessions of the READING AND WRITING WHITENESS groups:
Tuesday nights, 7-8:30 PM, starting September 8.
Friday mornings, 10-11:30 AM, starting September 11.
- The second sessions begin the week of October 26, days and times TBD.
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UUCGT Calendar - Stay Up to Date
Sunday Services, meetings and classes are hosted on Zoom until further notice. Need help with Zoom? Click on Zoom links below.
To request a Zoom meeting setup and link for your group or committee meeting, please call or e-mail Guy at the office.
Requests must be made by Wednesday at noon for the next day's FLASH, please, if you want your meeting or event included - especially if you are requesting a Zoom set-up!
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Today, Thursday, September 3
2:00 PM
Congregational Care Team
7:00 PM
VE Zoom Rehearsal with Renée
Friday, September 4 - Guy will be out of the office!
10:00 AM
Facilities Management Committee Meeting
Sunday, September 6
10:30 AM
Sunday Service
You can sign in beginning at 10:00 AM to visit!
Monday, September 7 - LABOR DAY
10:00 AM
3:00 PM
Ministerial Search Team
Tuesday, September 8
OFFICE CLOSED (celebrating Labor Day a day late!)
10:30 AM Volunteer Comm. Lunch, Friends Church
Sunday Services Committee (second Tuesday)
2:30 PM
Sunday Service Coordinators
Wednesday, September 9
3:30 PM
Finance Committee (2nd Wednesday)
5:30 PM
Thursday, September 10
7:00 PM
VE Rehearsal with Renée
Meeting ID: 824 6134 0486 Passcode: 728769
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New to Zoom?
Check out these Zoom introductory videos & FAQ's
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UUCGT Bulletin Board
Please take note of this request from Mary Kiner!
As Tuesday Lunch approaches colder weather and we need to let people eat indoors, we need some men to volunteer for crowd supervision. (No cooking involved!) Call Mary Kiner 935-3050, or e-mail her at [email protected]. Thank you!
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SURVEY NEARING COMPLETION!
Be on the lookout for the completed and official MINISTERIAL SEARCH SURVEY sometime in the middle of next week, probably not on September 8th as we'd hoped but very soon after! This is another chance for ALL to PARTICIPATE in the search for our new Settled Minister...
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End Note: An oldie but a goodie, as they say, since our theme is The Common Good...
"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has."
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Most of the UUCGT building is closed until further notice;
however the office will be manned Tuesday-Friday
for most of the next few weeks.
with any questions or concerns.
Stay up to date on Facebook & UUCGT website
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