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Sunday Service Joys & Concerns:
If you have a Joy and/or Concern to share:
1) You can type it into the “Comment/Chat” bar during Sunday's Service
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This Week at a Glance and More...
Monday, September 7: Contemplative Meditation UUSP Meditations YouTube Channel - “Trust Grows" from In A Different Voice, by psychological ethics theorist Carol Gilligan.
Thursday September 10: 12:00pm Zoom* Citizen's Cafe' A chance to share about the socio-political issues of the week and times. Look for the Zoom invitation arriving on September 9.
Tuesday, September 15: Noon Zoom Check-In Gathering, look for the Zoom invitation in your email on Monday
September 16: - Wednesday Zoom Discussion (10am & 7pm): a careful review of the UUA Commission on Institutional Change report: “Widening the Circle of Concern”.
For those experiencing a serious sense of isolation, please feel free to email Pastor Jack or call 352-327-6166 for a phone or Zoom visit to meet on the open front porch of the church.
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Pastor Jack's Weekly Message |
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Dear UU St. Pete Friends,
I hope you are finding connection and encouragement in the midst of pandemic, pandemonium, and our world’s constantly shifting understandings of the authority, reality and morality we live by.
The developmental psychologists and the tradition of mystics claim that such chaos, faced with flexibility, openness and compassion, brings the greatest advances of psyche, spirit, and community.
How that works out in practical terms across extreme political divides and distrust remains to be seen. But listening and sharing and reframing on common ground may provide a bridge.
UUSP Meditations YouTube Channel draws from the work of developmental psychologist Carol Gilligan, writing on an approach to ethics that she contrasts with the dominant “justice by rules” model of our patriarchal society. She calls it an ethic of care, where it’s not a matter of everybody getting what they earn, but what they need to at least be kept from harm. I think it is a superior underpinning for the work that most deserves to be honored on Labor Day.
Wishing you the most cared for, safest and happiest uses of your Labor Day week,
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Wednesday Zoom Adult Religious Studies
Starting Wednesday, September. 16 (10am &/or 7pm, your choice): A careful review of the UUA Commission on Institutional Change report, “Widening the Circle of Concern”, a study asking “How the Association could continue moving forward in the midst of another racially charged moment… asking for a process of truth and reconciliation… that redeems the essential promise and ideals of Unitarian Universalism.”
Look for Pastor Jack’s email with the study attached (or order the book at uuabookstore.org).
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Children's Religious Education:
September 6, 2020
This month’s theme for
Religious Education is Renewal.
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Check out our RE Newsletter, which has some great information.
What? - You aren't receiving it?
Please contact
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This month we’re exploring the many ways our UU faith invites us to become “A People of Renewal.” Our sessions are centered around four special angles or lessons about how we are renewed and what we are called to renew ourselves to.
For this week's lesson and all of our previous weeks, go to:
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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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Building a Community in a Pandemic E-vents
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September 5: Be a UUSP ambassador, explore a neighborhood in the St. Petersburg area and give a waving greeting to UUSP members and friends. Then at 8:30pm gather for a zoom meeting to share stories and pictures with your fellow wavers. Contact Sabine (973-768-3256)
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Zoom Meeting Link Meeting ID: 933 5497 9971 Passcode: 376915
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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Everyone Has a Story to Tell
Our stories matter—especially for our family and friends.
Let's get together and share some
of ours on ZOOM
In this session we’ll explore and develop
personal story ideas to tell or write.
Tentatively scheduled for Monday, October 5 at 10-11:30 AM Eastern.
Barbara Archibald know if you’re interested . . . plus if that date and time work for you.
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Adopt A Garden at UUSP
Let’s Keep our new landscaping looking fabulous!
Would you like to volunteer to weed a section of the UUSP gardens?
Choose your section, weed when it is convenient for you, and enjoy the beautiful results.
For information and to sign up for a section, contact Karen.
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Mortgage, rent and utility assistance available - residents struggling to pay living expenses due to COVID-19 may be eligible for assistance from the City of St. Petersburg. Click the city logo for more information.
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Get Ready to Vote - Join the Thursday Evening Candidate Forums |
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Southside Food Bridge
Please continue to drop off your donations by noon on Wednesdays at either:
- Gay Brueler and Billy Crider, 6220 14th Ave S, Gulfport
- Dani Skrzypek and Deb Robinson, 6051 3rd Avenue S, St Pete.
While the Foxes are out of town — David Silvers, Karen & Dave Coale’s grandson, is delivering your donations to Carla. Here is a picture of her at last weekend’s demonstration in Washington, DC. “57th Anniversary of March on Washington - we have 13 in our group from St. Petersburg, FL.”
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Do you have a nice working bike that you are no longer using? |
Surprisingly refugees are still immigrating to the Tampa Bay Area. Fifty-seven are slotted to come to Pinellas County beginning in September. Most will have minimum wage jobs, so getting to appointments and work is burdensome. The trips are long and sometimes the buses are filled to COVID capacity. A bike would make a big difference. Let us know if you have one to donate by contacting Karen Coale at 727 204-9141. |
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Staying Connected With Pastor Jack & Staff |
Our UUSP staff members will continue their duties in a safe, cautious manner to the fullest degree possible.
Thank you, Cathy, Jeanay, Jon and Ciera! And many volunteers!
During this challenging time, may we remember that we need to pay close attention to how everybody is doing and how we can help.
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 phone appointment, a Zoom visit online or in the open air at the church.
Helping One Another: Just reach out to Pastor Jack 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 members with mobility limitations, upon request, he will be glad to visit with you at any open-air location (eg, backyards, porches, local parks).
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Our UUSP Sermons are available on UUSP's website and our YouTube Channel: You can see information for our past worship services, since our new website went live, under Past Worship Services. All Services from mid-March 2020 - current are available 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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Unitarian Universalist Church of St. Petersburg
727.898.3294
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