This Week at a Glance:
Tuesday
:
8am
Weekly **Meditation reading,
"
Grace” from Joanna Macy
"
Tuesday: 12pm
Zoom Lunchtime Check-in/Chat
(August 4
Summer Schedule
).
Wednesday: July 29 (10am & 7pm) *
Zoom Discussion Adult Religious Studies:
Camus', the Plague, translated by Stuart Gilbert
Summer Schedule
Thursday:
Zoom* Citizen's Cafe' 12:00pm
(will meet July 30 & Aug 27
Summer Schedule
)
.
August 26 - Wednesday Zoom Discussion
(10am & 7pm): Robin DiAngelo’s White Fragility (for those unable to join Rebecca Wilson’s & Cynthia Patterson’s three sets of discussions on this important book.
Many covenant groups and committees
are meeting virtually; contact your group leader for details.
*Zoom links will be sent to all regularly and on the website.
Email
Pastor Jack
directly to be added or removed from the distribution list.
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Building a Community in a Pandemic E-vents
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July 21: 8pm "
Cooking from Diverse Cultures," hosted by John Motter.
He will invite you, virtually, to his kitchen where he will share some of his experiences in Rwanda. From the majesty of Silverbacks to the horror of genocide, learn from John’s personal experiences and insights. In preparation, find a recipe for Rwandan
mandazi,
which are little African donuts that are' truly addicting.' These are typically made with less sugar than American style donuts, but they a have subtle flavor of coconut, cardamom and cinnamon. We will munch and learn together.
July 27
:
5:30p The Next "What are you Watching" Group -
Reach out to
Amy Putkonen
for the Zoom information.
We are adding virtual E-vents to our UUSP calendar. Please reach out to
Sabine
(973-768-3256) if you need help accessing events OR if you have ideas for an event.
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At our recent
"What are you Watching"
Zoom gathering, Dave Mapp and Amy Putkonen led a lively discussion on tv shows and movies, rendering a thumbs up or thumbs down. For these cinephiles' recommendations, follow this link:
What are you watching?
cc image by Kevin Simpson on Flickr
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Pastor Jack's Weekly Message
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Dear Friends,
We’ve had a lot on our minds recently
- one thing or another, one thing after another. It’s hard to feel a degree of control or a sense of peace. In this context I found myself explaining to a Christian gentleman why I meditate. “In the midst of all the craziness inside and outside my mind, I want to find peace and deep quiet joy. Meditation – focus on the consciousness beneath thought and feeling – takes me there. It’s like the prayer practice I used to dismiss as fruitless, that of handing over all one’s troubles to God. It’s really the same practice – finding peace and joy for at least a few moments by letting go momentarily of the struggles and worries to regain myself and my strength. In Christian language, I said, It’s returning to a full state of grace – and knowing you can go there anytime.
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Wednesday Zoom Adult Religious Studies Book Discussions
July 29, 2020, 10:00am & 7:00pm
Wednesday Adult Religious Studies Discussions For the Summer:
Please note we are holding only one Wednesday Book Discussion Zoom meeting per month in July and August. For July 29, it’s Nobel laureate Albert Camus’
The Plague
, an inspiring reverent novel about humans in pandemic
.
Click here for August reading and More...
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Children's Religious Education:
July 19, 2020
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Check out the newsest RE Newsletter including
Pinellas County School information.
What? - you aren't receiving it?
and click on the picture to the Left
.
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For this weeks' lesson from Ms. Trish and Ms. Jeanay, click on the recording box below.
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This month’s theme for Religious Education is
Family
.
Sabbath Space Week 5
To build a place that helps us remember what is important, nourishing and sacred in our lives
.
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Contemplative Meditation Readings
(Moving to Tuesday)
**How to do Mindful Meditation
- Set your alarm for 5 to 40 minutes;
- Sit erect, breathe deeply once or twice to relax;
- Watch your breathing ease to normal, observing breath come and go;
- Count in cycles of ten breaths if it helps you keep observing – or repeat a “sacred” word for focus (e.g., peace, grace, life, thanks, care, see, being);
- If deep focus is lost to extraneous thought, feeling, or sensation, note it simply as “thought” or “feeling” or “sensation” and return to your breath or word;
- Sometimes, for deeper peace, try shifting attention to consciousness itself or to your sense of being.
- When your timer goes off, remain awake.
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Click here
to read the latest issue of our Renew-Restore-Rejuvenate e-newsletter which includes information about and links to:
- the June 6th virtual information session outlining plans for our Kitchen Remodel Project
- our just-delivered Master Plan Report and schematic illustrations - which bring the plan to life
- details on the August 2nd Zoom presentation by architect Martin Gold “Master Plan Report: Alternative Comprehensive Designs for the Future”
for the Communications Team
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Did you miss the UUA Sunday Service last week???
The UUA General Assembly Sunday Worship Service Remains Online
at
UUA.ORG/GA/2020
. Excellent talks by UU ministers Mykal Slack and Joan Javier-Duval, as well as a superb rendition of “We Are” by Isaye Barnwell and choir. Highly recommended to hear the call of our movement.
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Staying Connected With Pastor Jack & Staff
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Pastor’s Open-Air Office Hours:
:
For those experiencing a serious sense of isolation, you are welcome to contact
Pastor Jack
(352-327-6166) to arrange a visit online or in the open air at the church.
For members with mobility limitations
, upon request, he will be glad to visit with you at any open-air location (eg, backyards, porches, local parks).
Our UUSP staff members
will continue their duties in a safe, cautious manner to the fullest degree possible. Our Church Office Administrator is now working from home and can be reached at
officeuustpete.org@gmail.com
.
During this challenging time, may we remember that we need to pay close attention to how everybody is doing and how we can help.
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Joys/Concerns & Helping One Another:
Share those
joys
you are having during this time of separation, as they will help us all feel the light. You may also have
concerns.
Just reach out to
Pastor Jack
or
Patti Hanks
, Care Committee
so we can help lift you up or lift those that may need it through a message at Sunday Service or just to talk to them.
For some of our services prior to the COVID-19 changes, Click the Spirituality tab, click Worship Services and Sermons. Scroll down the services and you will see "Sermons and Readings" and Audio Icon (small speaker). All Services from mid-March - current will now be on our
UUSP YouTube Channel
.
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Thank you for your interest in UU St. Petersburg!
From me to you and to those around you Stay Safe and Stay Well!
Kelli DeGraw, part of your Communications Team.
Feedback and suggestions are welcome (pubs@uustpete.org).
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Our mission is to be an
inclusive
,
evolving
religious community that inspires
spiritual
and
intellectual
growth to make our world a
better place
.
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Unitarian Universalist Church of St. Petersburg
727.898.3294
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