E-Octagram
February 21, 2020
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This Sunday Upcoming
Rev. David Franks
February 23, 2020
10:30-11:45 am (Sanctuary)
Message
:
"Take My Hand"
Request pastoral care: 727-531-7704, ext. 5
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We look forward
to
seeing you!
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Upcoming Sunday Service Speakers:
March 1 - Sue Hand and the Women's Group
March 8 - All Music Sunday
March 15 - Rabbi Judy Epstein
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Open Issues for February 23:
Amanda Streets. "Composting in the City". Learn how easy it can be to
recycle your food and yard waste. You'll reduce your trash and make
healthy soil amendments for your plants - even your tropical
landscaping and lawns will love it.
Amanda Streets is the Founder of Pinellas Community Compost. She is
passionate about helping families learn to make better choices for
their health and the environment through gardening, composting and
daily habits. Prior to starting Pinellas Community Compost, Amanda was
an elementary educator and school garden leader.
Open Issues for March 1:
Sandy Hoover, Mike Metty and Mary Currey
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The
UUC's Annual Pledge Drive
will be held from March 1 - 22. More information is coming!!!
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The UUC Congregational Survey
is now live! If you are a UUC
Member or Pledging Friend
, you should have received an e-mail with a link to take the online survey. We will be re-sending the link to the survey every Wednesday until
February 25
. Please only take the survey once.
If you have any questions, please follow-up with the
Committee on Ministry
, or with Anne Gilbert (admin@uuc.org; 531-7704).
For those who are unable to submit their responses electronically, a limited number of paper copies will be made available on Sundays. Please see a member of the CoM if you need a hard copy.
You have until
February 25
to take the survey. The CoM will advise the findings when the survey has concluded.
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Octagon Arts Center
Features PAVA artist John Melton
February 21, 2020
7 pm - 9 pm
Members and Friends of the Congregation are invited to the opening reception for PAVA artist John Melton's solo art exhibition, which takes place 7 pm - 9 pm this Friday (2/21) at the Octagon Art Center. Original watercolors typically focus on subjects associated with water, with seascapes reflecting as life as an avid sailor, and a love of the beauties of nature. Enjoy a glass of wine, finger-food, and meeting and making welcome the non UU-ers who attend.
A special note of thanks to Barb Murphey and her dedicated crew of art enthusiasts who work (EVERY SIX WEEKS!!!) tirelessly (and invisibly to most of us) to ensure that our sanctuary is beautifully appointed with amazing works of art. The next time you see Barb, please be sure to let her know how much you love seeing the fruits of her labor.
**The UUC also receives a percentage of every piece of art sold! **
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Are you interested in joining UUC, or do you know someone who is?
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Sandy Hoover and Cindy Nohe will be facilitating two new member classes...
Sunday, February
23
and
Sunday, March 1
(from 12:15 - 1:45 in the Octagon).
If you are interested in learning about Unitarian Universalism (or know someone who is...), please contact Sandy Hoover at shoover122@aol.com.
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The All-Church UUC Pancake Breakfast
Sunday, March 8 Open 9:00 - 10:15 in the Community Center
Our semi-annual tradition is a free-will offering. And, David Katz is providing music for us all! Your sensitive UUC men shall again be serving you as they have for over a quarter century.
This Fundraiser & Funraiser is filled with all-you-can-eat tasty pancakes (
Plain, Chocolate Chip & Gluten-free
),
delicious
golden Waffles
all with toppings of
Whipped Cream & Blueberries,
genuine
maple syrup,
regular & sugar-free syrup, plus tasty
Bacon!
Enjoy
Orange Juice, Coffee
and a
whole lotta' fellowship
with some super fine UU folk.
A fun time for both children and adults. Always one of the best Sunday's of the year. So save the date; it's gonna' be great!
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Congregation Potluck
Tuesday, March 17 (St. Patrick's Day)
6:00 pm in the Social Hall
Sponsored by the First Tuesday Covenant Group
Come enjoy the fellowship of fellow congregation members for a festive potluck dinner. We'll be done by 7:30 pm, just in time to watch election results or to attend holiday parties.
Please bring your own cups, plates, napkins, utensils and beverages. No kitchen facilities will be available, so plan on bringing your dirty dishes home with you.
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Share Your Religious Odyssey
The Worship Associate Committee would like to give members the opportunity to share their religious journey to Unitarian Universalism. The journeys are all different, but kind of the same - the search for a religion that is comforting and challenging.
Two of our members - Rabbi Judy Epstein and Eliseo Santana - will share their tremendous odysseys during full-length sermons. That would be pretty daunting for most of us, so we would like to plan some Sunday services in May, June and July where two or three members share their experiences in 5 to 10 minute messages.
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SOCIAL JUSTICE NEWS and EVENTS
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UUC T-Shirts on Sale
$10 each
If you have been longing to wear a UUC t-shirt, but didn't know where to buy one, here's your chance! Stop by the
Social Justice table on Sundays (after service). Limited numbers and sizes will be available (Adult S, M, L and Youth M, L). First come - first served. Please have exact change or a check payable to UUC.
If you need one for the FAST Nehemiah Action on March 30, this is your chance!
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UPCOMING FAMILY MINISTRY EVENTS:
This month our worship and education theme is "RESILIENCE." In the words of Nelson Mandela: "Do not judge me by my success, judge me by how many times I fell down and got back up again." Resilience! We'll be exploring what it means to be a community with resilience as we look at this topic in a new way each week:
- Session 1: Feb. 2 - "Finding Resilience Through Our Grit"
- Session 2: Feb. 9 - "Finding Resilience Through Each Other"
- Session 3: Feb. 16 - "Finding Resilience Through Our Silliness/Humor"
- Session 4: Feb. 23 - "Finding Resilience Through The Earth"
In March, we'll turn our attention to the theme of "WISDOM." Stay tuned for more info!
"Many Hands Make Light Work"
: We are looking for extra volunteer support in the RE program on Sunday mornings from March-May. Can you help? Please see Julie after worship, email her at dfm@uuc.org, or
CLICK HERE
to sign up electronically.
Wednesday, Feb. 19th
: Waffles + Worship, 5:30pm. Join us for a short, family friendly worship experience, and then a make-your-own waffles bar! We have gluten free waffles available.
High School Students: Sign up NOW through March 1st for OWL
(Our Whole Lives) 2020! Space is limited to the first 20 students who apply. There is a $50 registration fee to cover the cost of food and materials. The OWL retreat runs from
9:30am on Thursday, March 19th through 4pm on Friday, March 20th
.
Coming this Summer
:
Chalice Camp 2020
! Mark your calendars for the week of
July 27-31
. Camp will run from 9am-5pm again this year. The cost will be $60/student, and a simple lunch will be included each day.
Questions or concerns about any Family Ministries events?
Contact Julie Daysa at dfm@uuc.org.
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Sign Petition for a CRA to improve North Greenwood.
The UUC Social Justice Council encourages residents of Clearwater (incorporated and unincorporated) to come to the Social Justice table to sign a petition from the Clearwater Urban Leadership Coalition (CULC) and get family and friends to do so, also. The petition is in support of the creation of a Community Redevelopment Area (CRA) which encompasses the North Greenwood area of Clearwater. The Coalition plans to present them to the Clearwater Mayor and City Council. Contact Eileen Senn if you would like copies of the petition or to join the Coalition. Their next general meeting is
7 pm Tuesday February 24
at the
Artz 4 Life Academy, 1751 Kings Hwy, Clearwater, FL 33755
. You can Like the CULC on Facebook.
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OWL (Our Whole Lives) 2020 High School Program
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UU Tampa, St. Pete, and Clearwater are joining together to offer an OWL (Our Whole Lives) retreat
for high school students
during spring break. The retreat will be
Thursday, March 19th - Friday, March 20th at UU Tampa
. Any high school student is welcome to attend, so feel free to invite friends/neighbors/etc. The cost is $50/student who registers by March 1st, and $60/student after March 1st. Space is limited, and we have students interested from all over Pinellas, Pasco, and Hillsborough counties - so register soon!
Adult volunteers are needed to help cook a meal
. Our congregation is in charge of lunch and dinner on Thursday. Could your covenant group, or you and a few friends, get together to make pasta or taco salads or soup or some other simple meal to offer to the participants and the adult facilitators? Please let Julie know ASAP if you're able to help with one of these meals.
We're also collecting scholarship money
for students with tight finances. We're asking for $50/student. If you're able to sponsor a student, please let Julie know, or leave a check in her mailbox written out to UUC with "High School OWL" in the memo line. A HUGE THANK YOU to all who have already stepped up to support this initiative. What a gift!
Contact Julie Daysa (dfm@uuc.org) with questions or to get involved in this wonderful program!
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Prison Stories: Perspectives from the Inside Out
Thursday, February 27 from
7 to 9 pm
in Social Hall.
Please join us at this participatory Social Justice Evening Issues workshop.
UUC members Christina and Ned Bellamy will offer a presentation gleaned from extensive experience with incarcerated men and women. They will describe two programs in different prison settings – state and Federal, minimum and maximum security. There will be time for discussion and questions. Please RSVP on Facebook and invite family and friends.
www.facebook.com/events/500067317310447/
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COMPASSION AND CHOICES
A big thank you to everyone who attended the Thursday, February 18 event with Dan Diaz. We were overwhelmed with the turnout for such an important topic.
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EARTH DAY
April 22
The 50th Earth Day is coming this April, 22! As Unitarians, our 7th principal calls us to stewardship of the Earth. In the run up to the 50th Anniversary Celebrations, the
Environmental Justice Committee
will offer weekly
Green Goals
and actionable methods to put our values into practice.
Peace Pole Periscope Project
Xeriscaping is a method of landscaping in which water use, maintenance costs and environmental damage (through fertilizer run off) are reduced by choosing drought tolerant, hardy plants and efficient watering methods. Fortunately, in Florida, we have many beautiful native plants which flourish naturally in our habitat.
The Property and Environmental Justice Committees are working together to beautify the small triangular plot where the Peace Pole stands using xeriscape methods. Native plants will be added to the recently mulched area after it is allowed to settle.
This Project is in support of our Green Sanctuary Commitment and will highlight our beautiful Peace Pole.
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Website for Events Rentals at UUC
After many months, we now have a live website for events rentals at UUC. For the events side of UUC life, we will be called
2470 Events Center
. Our new website is
www.2470eventscenter.com
and it's the perfect way to show your friends all that UUC has to offer as a marvelous venue for weddings, conferences, birthday parties, family reunions, etc...
We also have a dedicated phone number for inquiries: 727-776-2472.
Please share with everyone you know! We want UUC To become everyone's favorite Events Center!
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Please join us for our monthly lunch at
Benedict’s Restaurant
. We had a very nice turnout this month. Because it’s the tourist season, the restaurant can be very busy. Would you please let Marie Chapman (
harborhome38@aol.com)
know if you will be there, so we can be sure to have enough room for everyone who wants to come.
We meet the first Thursday of the month, at noon (March 5 is the next date).
The restaurant is located at:
768 N. Belcher Road, Clearwater, in the Coachman Plaza, at the corner of Belcher and Old Coachman Road.
I hope to see you there!
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FRIDAY BOOK CLUB
The Friday Morning Book Group which meets at 10:30 at UUC in the Chorale Room will be reading
Islam
by Karen Armstrong on February 21st & 28th. New members are welcome to join us.
New members are welcome!
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