UUCSC News and Updates
Weekly on Fridays
Volume II * Issue 15* September 17, 2021
Unitarian Universalist Congregation of South County, RI
All are welcome!
UUCSC does not presently have a minister. If you are in need of pastoral services please contact any member of the Pastoral Care Committee. Rev. Betty Kornitzer, UUCSC Minister Emerita, is working with the committee and if professional ministerial support is needed, she will be called in.  Please do not contact the Minister directly.
This Sunday, September 17, 2021
What You Seek is Seeking You
Rev. Betty Kornitzer

10:00 AM In-person
or
In this service, our Minister Emerita Betty Kornitzer revisits UUCSC. Together, we will all shine the light of recognition and affirmation on who we are and why we are here. There is good news, for in this time of transition, UUCSC's strengths, history and spirit are the platform on which we can imagine a new and bright future.
Order of Service
From the President...
Hallelujah and Just Plain Wow! 

The turnout on our first Sunday in-person service exceeded all of our expectations. It was such a wonderful joy to see all of you who attended! Thank you to everyone who made it happen. The service was perfect for our first gathering; we managed to pull off live streaming at the last minute; and “singing in our hearts” and a closing song in place was quite satisfying. We look forward to continuing to see you at upcoming services. 
 
We want you all to know that we will continue to look at our safety guidelines for seating and congregating. For the immediate future please refer to the information that was printed in the mailer sent out with the survey. We are appointing a “Covid Safety Task Force” that will guide us as we make future decisions.
 
For this Sunday: 
  • We ask that if you are not vaccinated that you consider our Beloved Community and view the service on Facebook live or the recording later. 
  • We ask that you arrive a few minutes early so that you can be comfortably seated when the service is scheduled to start. 
  • Overflow seating will be set up in the Oneto Room. We are working on connecting speakers for that room to the sound system. 
  • Joys and Concerns will continue to be collected during the service and read by the worship associate. 
 
We also ask for your patience. We continue to follow CDC and RIDOH guidelines and to consider UUA recommendations and information on the Covid Act Now website. Washington County continues to be at high or very high risk (according to CovidActNow) and we are trying to balance our real need to be together with our deep concern for the safety of us all. As always, risk management remains your own personal responsibility. 

Updates on a few other important matters… 
  • We have applied for a temporary, part-time minister through the Targeted Ministry program of the UUA and are waiting to hear back. The ministers in this program are retired and offer a wealth of experience but are only placed for a six-month period. 
  • Survey Results in a nutshell: 
52 people responded to our reopening survey. Of those who answered it was evenly divided between those who felt it is safe to return to in-person services with our precautions in place and those who did not feel it is safe. 
Only one person responded that our precautions were too restrictive. 
Livestreaming and recording of our services was the most asked for accommodation. 
If you have other opinions to share please do so! 
  • The Coordinating Council will reconvene on September 29th by Zoom. If you are a chair of a committee and have not yet been contacted, please email me at elizdn@hotmail.com
  • UUCSC is in need of a person to oversee Fundraising. The Board has decided that we can’t hold our Holiday Fair this year as we continue to navigate Covid Safety in our sanctuary. Do you have some innovative ideas to share? Are you the person that can take on this task? 
  • The service on September 26th is planned to be held outside. Look for more details in next week's newsletter.
 
Elizabeth Donovan, President 
On behalf of the Board of Directors 
Anti-racism Group Activates

The Anti-racism Group will meet on the second and fourth Mondays, by Zoom at 7:00 pm to continue our work. Penny Hall will facilitate the group as we focus on working for racial justice through learning and advocacy. The group is open. If you would like to join us, please contact Jean at jeannbowen@gmail.com. The topic for our September 27th meeting will be Teach Truth RI.
Submitted by Jean Bowen, Social Justice Chair
Living the 8th Principle
Joining the UUCSC Anti-racism Group is a good place to start your journey toward living the 8th Principle. There is much work to be done, and it starts with the first step.
Submitted by Etta Zasloff
Our Stories
This column was by far the most popular of this weekly newsletter, and we are missing it! Elizabeth Donovan, who revised the original effort of Helene Gurseny, did an outstanding job, but is now our president, and her shoes need to be filled here. Please consider stepping up to take over this column or submit your own story directly to Etta Zasloff at zasloff.etta@gmail.com anytime. We have many more members whose stories we would like to hear.
Submitted by Etta Zasloff
Community Connections
Performing-songwriter Thea Hopkins brings her program, “In the Roundhouse,” a celebration of traditional and contemporary Indigenous music, to the FirstWorks stage this weekend. A member of the Aquinnah Wampanoag tribe of Martha’s Vineyard, MA, Hopkins describes her music as “Red Roots Americana." Listen to a preview.
Submitted by Johnnie Rodriguez
Important Links
How to Submit Info to This Newsletter
Send announcements and news with Newsletter Item in the subject line to Etta Zasloff, Editor, at zasloff.etta@gmail.com by Tuesday Noon
to assure publication by Friday of that week.