DR. MICHELE TOWNSEND GROVE
This online worship experience will engage all ages! Through the stories of the goddess Athena and her companion, the Owl, the worshiping community will explore the intersection between knowledge and wisdom while celebrating the wisdom leaders at UUCUC! Watch for special music, great storytelling and gratitude for all who lead UUCUC’s learning opportunities.
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THANK YOU FOR YOUR GENEROSITY!
Your contributions and support allow us to continue to respond with love and resources to the needs in our congregation and the wider community. We couldn’t do it without your support and we are grateful to each of you.
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The
online "Zoom" Fellowship Hour immediately follows the live streamed service each Sunday. Please note the password to enter the meeting is
UUCUC. All are welcome!
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REV.
FLORENCE
CAPLOW
It’s a dangerous business, Frodo, going out your door.
You step onto the road, and if you don’t keep your feet,
there’s no knowing where you might be swept off to.
-Bilbo Baggins, The Fellowship of the Ring
Our Soul Matters theme for May is “Thresholds”. Certainly we are experiencing a threshold unlike any of us have known before. What is this new world we are peering into? What does the future hold? How do we meet the thresholds in our lives with grace and willingness?
REQUEST FOR PHOTOS!
For this service, we're planning on sharing photos of doors to our congregant's homes or apartments, or gateways into their yards. People do not have to be in the photos. If you'd like to submit a photo to be shared during the service, please send to Brian at
admin@uucuc.org
by Thursday, April 30th.
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REV.
FLORENCE
CAPLOW
COVID-19 poses the greatest risk for our elders, and mothers of school aged children everywhere are experiencing whole new stresses with children home. In this service we will honor mothers, young and old, and share stories about mothers and children.
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UPCOMING MEETINGS, CLASSES & EVENTS
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Hosted by Rev. Florence Caplow and Sherry Bohlen via Zoom web conferencing, we’ll meet to learn about UUCUC governance, activities, opportunities and social action mission. We’ll learn about benefits & responsibilities of membership.
Read more
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The writer of the Christian Gospel of Matthew breaks from the patriarchal tradition to list five women in its opening genealogy. This is an astounding act that lifts up the powerful role of...
Read more
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Mark your calendars for May 21, 22, 23 & get your creative juices flowing with ideas for goods & services that you can offer in this COVID-19 world.
Read More
...
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During this time of COVID19, many people are thinking about their own end-of-life plans. Compassion & Choices, a national organization that focuses on end-of-life health planning, is offering several free webinars. In addition to the webinars, Compassion & Choices has put together some end-of-life planning materials ...
Read more
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It is too early to really plan for UUCUC’s summer and fall’s lifespan religious education program. There are so many things we do not know or understand. However, it is not too early to be examining goals. Michele is looking for 4-6 people who will meet with her once a week during the month of May to talk about our future.
Read more..
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It's with great sadness that we share that
Jim McGlathery died on Sunday, April 19th
. His wife Nancy has been a member of UUCUC for many years and Jim frequently attended many of the fun, social events in our church community. You can send cards to Nancy at: 1204 Thomas Dr, Champaign, IL 61821.
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UUCUC'S NEW "WARM LINE"
If you find you could use some support or would like to talk with someone, please call the UUCUC “Warm Line” at 1-800-705-8158. One of the negative implications of “social distancing” is feeling isolated. There are volunteers from our church ready to talk with you, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You do not have to travel this road alone.
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UUCUC'S "BUDDY SYSTEM"
Staying connected while
UUCUC facilities are closed
During this time of social distancing, staying in touch and checking in with each other is going to be very important. We hope you will consider being part of our "Buddy System" so we can care for one another.
You can sign up here:
https://uucuc.breezechms.com/form/2184f1. Buddies will check in with each other regularly by phone to provide connection, companionship, and connections to help if needed. This is a great way to help each other.
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From Anonymous:
I am saddened to hear that donations to UUCUC have decreased. I hope each of us watching can consider how much the church has been supporting so many, especially during this time, and what we may be able to contribute financially. Every penny helps.
From Jessica Augustson:
I am very happy to announce that we brought mom home from the nursing home on Thursday. She had been there for over a month after foot surgery. Her foot is healing well and my dad and I are so glad to have her home.
From Sam Beshers:
Reasons to be grateful: for the many, many people throughout our country, who are loving, caring, intelligent and capable, who believe in the ideals of our country, and who in times of great need are going above and beyond the call of duty to help those in need.
From Christine Cahill:
A deep sorrow for all the students who won't be returning to school this year. I am relieved, of course, but grieving. Especially for all the students for whom school is a safe harbor.
From Marsha Clinard:
Please keep us, Charlie and Marsha, in your thoughts as Charlie decides which treatment option to choose for his recently diagnosed prostate cancer.
From Erin Dittmer:
Sorrow that schools across Illinois are officially closed. I am grieving the loss of the end of the school year, and all its attending special joys and rituals, despite knowing that these measures are for the best. Joy for silver linings: a renewed appreciation for the solidarity of community, more time to spend in the garden, and the distraction of a new puppy.
From David Gross:
I participated in the live video version of the Regional Assembly of the Mid America Region of the UUA. It was a joy to sort of connect with 300 other UUs. Currently, the AV broadcast skills of our home UUCUC crew are far greater than are the new skills of the UUA staff. Thank you UUCUC.
From Jenny Hunt:
Joy and relief that it appears our niece Sierra has fully recovered from probable COVID 19 in Ohio. So glad she is up and about at home with her new Great Dane puppy.
From Kyle Kroha:
Happy that my little dog Paisley seems to be on the mend. Her Left hind leg was nearly non weightbearing Friday night after an enthusiastic walk. Rest & Derramaxx seem to have helped her turn the corner from the prospect of a potential ACL surgery (fingers still crossed).
From Kathleen Robbins:
A Sorrow: Reginald Noel, a great friend and key supporter of the Jatropha Projenou died this past week in Port au Prince. A Joy: The Jatropha Projenou team in northeast Haiti has produced 9,000 bars of soap and 120 gallons of liquid soap for hospitals, clinics and orphanages to help fight the pandemic.
From Cristy Wickman:
I am thinking of a dear friend who recently lost her 90 year old father to COVID19 and is grieving her loss as she didn't get to say goodbye.
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UUCUC Shared Offering.
Each month a selected organization is chosen to receive half of our weekly Sunday plate collections, designated checks written to UUCUC with organization's name written in the memo line, cash envelopes designated for "Shared Offering" within the specified month and on-line donations through our
GIVE WEBPAGE
.
During the month of April, we will support
Rape Advocacy, Counseling, & Education Services (RACES). RACES is the only agency dedicated to serving the needs of survivors of sexual violence in Champaign, Ford, Piatt, and Douglas Counties. RACES provides counseling, court advocacy, medical advocacy, and runs a 24 hour Rape Crisis Hotline. The agency provides counseling and advocacy services to more than 225 survivors of sexual assault each year, including supporting more than 75 people annually during the hospital medical exam and evidence collection process. Please make an online donation here to our shared offering for the month!
Read more....
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SUPPORTING LOCAL CAUSES AND STIMULUS CHECKS
The Social Action Committee has received a large donation from a church member to support local Covid-19 relief efforts. This person does not feel knowledgeable about what organizations might need support the most. We also heard from a few people within the SAC who plan to donate the amount of their stimulus check. Not everyone needs the extra money. We are still in the planning stages how this will work, but let us know if you’re interested in donating, or offering to help select appropriate organizations. Please contact:
social-action-leadership@uucuc.org
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UUCUC SENDING DONATIONS TO PARTNER CHURCHES
In April, UUCUC will be sending our partner churches in
Nongtalang, India and Szekelykal, Transylvania each a $2000 donation. These donations were made possible by the generosity of our members and friends!
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JOIN THE BUCKET BRIGADE!
Channing-Murray has been preparing a #bucketbrigade of essential grocery deliveries for extremely low-income families in Urbana who are recommended by
Cunningham Township Supervisor’s Office. These buckets have beans, rice, cereal, soup, eggs, and more! We've sanitized each and every item, and we’ll be delivering these to drop off on doorsteps.
Also, if you don't have funds to donate, but want to support the cause, there are some low-no-contact ways to volunteer. Please message
Emily McKown for more information.
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Food insecurity has skyrocketed among our C-U immigrant community as business closings have resulted in massive job loss. There are thousands of undocumented immigrants in our community that do not qualify for unemployment benefits, and they need our help.
The Immigration Justice Task Force is diverting $1,100 from our budget to send to CU FAIR’s Pandemic Response Fund. We are asking members and friends of UUCUC to join us in ensuring he most vulnerable in our community can feed their families.
Read More...
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CHURCH CALENDAR
Dates are subject to change. For the most up-to-date information, visit our
UUCUC Calendar page
.
Note: Parenthesised meetings/events are outside rentals. Asterisk meetings/events are closed.
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Effective Monday, March 16, the UUCUC building closed as a preventative measure to minimize the spread of the COVID-19 virus in our community.. All upcoming scheduled meetings and events at UUCUC listed on
the calendar should be considered tentative. If you are planning on participating in a recurring meeting, please verify with the facilitator that the meeting or event is still scheduled to meet and is shifting to an online format. UUCUC leadership and staff are working to move all recurring meetings to an online format, but this may take some additional weeks. Stay tuned for more information!
At this time, we are strongly asking no groups to meet in person.
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UPCOMING PUBLICATIONS - MARK YOUR CALENDARS!
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Next eNews: April 30, 2020
Last day for content: Wednesday April 29 by Noon the latest.
Please do
not
send to admin@uucuc.org.
Don't forget to publicize your meeting/event!
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UUCUC CONTACT INFORMATION
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Regular Church Office Hours
Closed until further notice
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Church Office
(217) 384-8862
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Rev. Florence Caplow
Minister
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Kate Barton
Director of Facilities
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Sherry Bohlen
Director of Congregational Engagement
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Austin Cody
Choir Director
Brian Franklin
Director of Congregational Administration
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Matthew Gladden
Assistant Music Director
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Michele Townsend Grove
Interim Director of Religious Education
Kelsey Libert
Childcare Coordinator
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Emily McKown
Youth Coordinator
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Blake Preston
Religious Education Assistant
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Shornor Vineyard
Custodian and Building Caretaker
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