‌

E-Octagram November 15, 2019

*~*~*UUC HAPPENINGS*~*~*

This Sunday Upcoming Rev. Patrice Curtis November 17, 2019 10:30-11:45 am (Sanctuary) Message: Grateful             Request pastoral care: 727-531-7704, ext. 5 Rev. Patrice appointment: http://www.calendly.com/revpatrice

We look forward  to  seeing you!

Volunteer Opportunities in the UUC Office We are looking for people to help us out with some office duties, and would love to hear from you if you have the time! Please give us a call at 727-531-7704 or email us at uucofcmgr@gmail.com if you can lend a hand (we are looking for help primarily on Thursdays from 9-12 at this time).

Open Issues for November 17 Sheridan Boyle “Clearwater’s Sustainability Plan" Sheridan  grew up in Pinellas County and quickly developed a love for our unique ecosystems and animals. She has a degree in biology and has held a variety of positions, including research on the nesting habits of Loggerhead Sea Turtles, working as an environmental organizer, studying the effects of plastics on cattle in India, and managing the medical department of an animal rescue. She will discuss Greenprint, the city’s sustainability plan, and steps residents can take to lead a greener life.

WHAT: NOTICE OF UUC CONGREGATIONAL MEETING WHEN : November 17, 2019 @ 12:15 WHERE: The Octagon All pledging members are strongly encouraged to attend the upcoming congregational meeting where we will discuss the addition of a new UUC Vice President, as well as some amendments to some of our by-laws. Your vote counts!!! We need a quorum!

Black Lives Matter: by Donna Polhamus: In Montgomery we went to five amazing museums. The planned museum visits were so enlightening and profound. Each was special in a different way. I will never forget sitting in King’s kitchen listening to his voice telling about his doubts and fears as he sat there one night after a hate call. That he continued and found his spiritual help amazed me after seeing the baby cradle in the next door bedroom. But the serendipitous extras were also part of my learning experience. I found myself so happy to be in the most diverse community I have been in since I left New York city. The hotel guests, the other restaurant patrons, the runners in the park were so well mixed both racially and economically. It made me realize how divided into zones we are here in Dunedin and Clearwater. Taking a walk and finding that,  Pipeline , was playing at the Shakespeare Festival Playhouse was yet another extra that made the trip such a wonderful experience. I urge those who have the opportunity to visit Montgomery to do so . Please join us at Open Issues on Nov. 24 when those who went to Montgomery will talk more about our trip and answer questions. We will also focus on what we are doing and what others can do to in the continuing struggle for racial justice

BELOVED CONVERSATIONS Sign-up for Beloved Conversations by contacting Susan Allen (sallen915@aol.com) This course was designed by the Meadville-Lombard Theological School out of a need for an effective UU curriculum that would help adult UU members individually and congregations as a whole increase awareness of and confront their part in the white supremacy culture and to build more unified and mutually-nurturing multicultural congregations. Participants will attend a weekend workshop on January 10 -11 and eight subsequent sessions on Sundays after church or on Wednesday mornings. Let Susan know if you would prefer Sundays or Wednesdays when you contact her. Spots are filling up fast, so act now!

‌ What : UUC's Thanksgiving Dinner When : Thursday, November 28, 2019 1:30 - 4:30 pm (appetizers will be at 1:30, the meal will be at 2:30, dessert is whenever you like !) Where : The Community Center Who: Everyone! Childcare will be provided, and there will be tables for singles! UUC's Thanksgiving Dinner is a special way to kick off your holiday season. Members and friends are invited to celebrate Thanksgiving Dinner in our beautiful Community Center. Families are welcome, and your guests are welcome, too! We have traditional foods and perhaps a few not-so-traditional favorites. As always, our special meal is potluck, so keep reading to the end of this invitation to find out how to make sure your favorite food is on the menu. As was done last year, you are asked to bring your own tableware (BYOT) and beverage (BYOB) to minimize set-up and clean-up. Bring take-away containers, too! Many of us liked this practice and appreciated the minimal set-up and clean-up. We're trying out approaches that will help determine the best ways to collaborate meals for the congregation. Please **SIGN UP** by November 25 and indicate the food(s) you will bring to share. Families or groups are asked to bring 2-3 items. Also consider giving extra help in the form of assisting with activities, playground supervision, set-up and clean-up. We ask a donation that will be split between UUC and the Food Bank. ** Four ways to sign up ** Go to www.perfectpotluck.com enter Meal Coordinator Mary Currey, Password 8379. Scroll for options and choose your favorites, OR Sign-up in the Community Center after service OR E-mail Mary Currey at mary.currey@gmail.com, OR Text/cell: 727-218-9777. HOW YOU SIGN UP IS NOT IMPORTANT; SHOWING UP IS!

THANK YOU to all who supported our RE Yard Sale Fundraiser!! It was a busy week of making community together as we sorted, organized, priced, and prepared for the yard sale on Saturday and Sunday. We were thrilled to raise $939.45 to put toward Summer Chalice Camp, too! Remaining items were donated to a women's shelter, another FAST congregation hosting a yard sale, and the Church of the Good Shepherd Thrift Store. We would like to make the fall yard sale an annual event, so start collecting your unused treasures for next October!

UPCOMING FAMILY MINISTRY EVENTS: This Sunday, Nov. 17th: We will celebrate our second annual bread service in Surti Hall. All ages are welcome (including teens!) to sit at a table together and share bread, family, and gratitude. This will help us PAY ATTENTION (our monthly theme!) to things we sometimes take for granted. Each family is asked to bring in a bread that holds meaning to them (something you enjoy together - it can be purchased or homemade). After worship is our last RE fundraiser lunch until the spring car washes - please bring in a crock pot of soup to donate if you can! Wednesday, Nov. 20th : Wednesday night Waffles + Worship! 5:30pm - you're done eating. We have a short, 15-20 minute interactive worship time, and then a make-your-own-waffles-bar. $4/person or $10/family suggested donation to cover food costs, but please come whether you have cash on you or not - all are welcome! Sunday, Nov. 24th: UUC Moms Group meets after worship in the library. Childcare is provided, but please pack a sack lunch for your child(ren) if they will need something to eat before 1:30. Friday, Dec. 13th: Family Movie Night, 5:30pm in the Community Center. We'll provide the pizza and popcorn, feel free to bring a salad or sweet to share. Suggested donation of $4/person or $10/family to cover food costs, but please come whether you have cash on you or not - all are welcome! Questions or concerns about any Family Ministries events? Contact Julie Daysa at dfm@uuc.org.

What: Deeper Than The Skin When: Monday, November 18, 2019 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm Where: Unity of Clearwater Deeper Than The Skin is an interactive musical presentation that engages communities in positive conversation on race and creative resistance. Unitarian Universalist legends and veteran musicians Greg Greenway and Reggie Harris were born three days apart in different worlds - Greg is white and Reggie is black. The power of music, respect, admiration and shared vision have brought them together as friends and colleagues. They will take us on their journey through music and storytelling. $20 suggested donation at the door. http://deeperthantheskin.com).

UUC Needs You! Have you ever been interested in assisting on Sunday? We are looking for Chalice Lighters, please contact Rev. Patrice.

With Special Thanks! Thank you to all the volunteers and participants, whose contributions made the Chalice Tea a memorable event this year. There was so much loving support and participation from everyone who signed up and the ones who just appeared on the day of the event just to assist me. Each and every one was generous beyond any expectations. Special THANKS to the members of the Women's Covenant Group , Susan Allen, Kyle Pierson, Martha Jacobs and Suzy Brown , in addition to Barbara Shimer who prepared and provided most of the baked goods and finger sandwiches. My deepest gratitude to Ivan Beltran and Douglas Hall who unexpectedly helped me with the set-up and breakdown of the tables and chairs, clean-up and dishwashing. No words can convey my infinite joy and appreciation for the offering of blessings, songs and poetry by our UUC members and friends. This year, we had the honor of Reverend Patrice offering the blessings. Diego Iglesias and Sue Hand , two distinguished members of our UUC Chorale Group , regaled us with their song and poetry along with Douglas Hall reciting his favorite poem by E.E.Cummings and Dylan Thomas. All arrangements for this event were possible thanks to the unfailing dedication of Jennifer McGuire and Anne Gilbert (our former and new administrators, respectively), and Ann and Mark Kanuck , two of the most dedicated members and stewards of our spiritual home. Abrazos, Soledad

LIFE LINE SCREENINGS AT UUC Unitarian Universalists of Clearwater is pleased to host a preventive health event.  Life Line Screening, a leading provider of community-based preventive health screenings, will offer its affordable, non-invasive and painless health screenings in the UUC Community Center  on November 21, 2019 .  Five screenings will be offered that scan for potential health problems related to: blocked arteries; abdominal aortic aneurysms; hardening of the arteries; atrial fibrillation or irregular heart beat; and a bone density screening, for men and women, used to assess the risk of osteoporosis. Register for a Wellness Package which includes 4 vascular tests and osteoporosis screening from $149 ($139 with our member discount).  All five screenings take 60-90 minutes to complete.   There are three ways to register for this event and to receive a $10 discount off any package priced above $129, please call  1-888-653-6441  or visit www.lifelinescreening.com/communitycircle  or text the word circle to 797979

Bread Service on Sunday, November 17. Please bring in the “ bread ” that symbolizes love and joy for you. You will find a post-it note inside your Order of Service this Sunday. Please use this to not only identify the bread you contribute, but to include us in what makes this special to you.

Exhale!! Weekly on Wednesday 6:00-6:45pm In the Maxwell Library.   Come sit or walk with us in a simple format that focuses on breath. Our large sanctuary has room for both sitting and walking meditation. We meditate for 20 minutes or so, stretch, then meditate again. Late-comers welcome enter softly. Stay for hearty appetizers (we love your offerings too!) and conversation afterward. Contact Kathy Krohn at:  uuc.kathykrohn@gmail.com .

FAST Members Chose to Continue Fighting for Affordable Housing  The FAST research kick-off is now less than a week away! On Monday, November 18 @ 6:45 pm, we will gather at First Baptist Church of St. Petersburg (1900 Gandy Blvd.) to kick off our research committees. This is a perfect event for everyone who would like to learn more or get more involved on one of our three research committees. As a reminder, those committees are: Affordable Housing, Criminal Justice (focusing on mental health, racial profiling and reducing arrests statewide), and Youth Suspensions and Arrests. For more information, contact Linda Stoller ( lstol10403@aol.com ) or Doug Norcross ( norcrossdm@gmail.com ).

Dire Predictions Understanding Climate Change and Its Impact on Florida Presented by Michael Mann, PhD (Distinguished Professor of Atmospheric Science and Meteorology, Penn State University), this free lecture will be on Friday, November 15 at 8:15 pm (following Shabbat Service at 7:30 pm). The location is Temple Beth El - 400 Pasadena Avenue South, St. Petersburg. Reservations are welcome, but not required (727-347-6136). Some attendees will be meeting before the presentation at Leverock's (840 Pasadena Avenue South, St. Petersburg) at 6:00 pm. A car pool will be leaving the UUC Parking lot at 5:15 sharp. If you are interested in either or both of these events, please sign up at the Social Justice table (in Surti Hall) or contact Linda Stoller (lstol10403@aol.com; (727) 481-0521

FRIDAY BOOK CLUB Friday morning Book Club meets at UUC from 10:30 - 11:30 in the Chorale Room. New members are welcome!

WE CARE From time to time, we all need some help - maybe a ride to the doctor's office, a warm meal or an extra helping hand with household tasks. This is a call for about 10+ UU volunteers to be available to extend these kindnesses. We need a large group of people so that we can spread the joy of giving, and not lean too hard on any one person. If you are able to be one of the WE CARE volunteers, please call Fran Owens (727-253-2455) or Susan Hegner (Pastoral Care at 727-447-7721). Thank you!! IRA REQUIRED MINIMUM DISTRIBUTION It's that time of year!! To all of our IRA owners who are 70 1/2 and older, would you consider a contribution to UUC if you are in the position of needing to make a required distribution? This is an opportunity to continue your generosity in support of your spiritual community. As you know, it will be tax deductible. There is no better time than now.

Visit our Website