WEEKLY UPDATE |Nov. 29-Dec. 5, 2020
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November 29 | 10:00am
"Being A Frederick"
The Rev. Dr. Victoria Weinstein
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This simple, short service is intended as a companion piece to the latest Children's Virtual Chapel and will focus on Leo Lionni's story about a poet mouse named Frederick. This story has poignant resonances for preparing for a winter in quarantine and has a lot to say about how to prepare mentally and spiritually for the coming season.
Our service will be followed by our Sunday Fellowship Hour. Grab a cup of coffee or tea and join us!
Join Zoom Worship:
Meeting ID: 810 6381 6583
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Meeting ID: 810 6381 6583
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Our offertory donation link can be found on the church website here.
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A Faith Development Segment
for Our Church Children
"Frederick" with Rev. Vicki
A new Children's Chapel segment is up on our Children's Channel! The wonderful story of "Frederick" by Leo Lionni invites all ages to reflect on the value of spiritual work, and the "supplies" of creative imagination that can help us all get through the long winter months. https://youtu.be/xldl4vLHd5E
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Did you miss last week's service?
November 22, 2020
North Shore Unitarian Universalists Joint Thanksgiving Service
"Powered By Gratitude"
Did you miss last week's service or want to watch it again? "Powered by Gratitude" can be viewed on YouTube here. UUCGL joined the congregations in Salem, Marblehead, Newburyport, Gloucester, Essex, and Beverly for this joint service via Zoom.
Please see the Offertory information below and consider contributing to those in need.
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North Shore UU Thanksgiving Service
Offering Recipient: Lifebridge
At our North Shore UU Thanksgiving service, we took an offering to support the lifegiving work of Lifebridge, an organization that for more than three decades, has been working to meet the most urgent needs of the homeless and under-housed on the North Shore of Massachusetts. To contribute, please go to https://bit.ly/northshoredonate and click on the “donate” button via the UU Church of Marblehead. To donate by check, please make checks payable to Lifebridge, or UU Church of Marblehead with Lifebridge on the memo line and mail to: UU Church of Marblehead, 28 Mugford Street, Marblehead, MA 01945
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Sharing Our Joys and Sorrows
Would you like to share your joys, sorrows, and prayer requests with the congregation?
Use this form to let us know! ~Rev. Vicki
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UUCGL Community Connections |
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Justice is what love looks like in public.
~Cornel West
Social Justice Ministry Team News:
Can you Help My Brother’s Table
Holiday Gift Card Collection?
“I am a single cell in a body of four billion cells. The body is humankind. I glory in the miracle of self, but my individuality does not separate me from the oneness of humanity.” ~Excerpt from Litany for Moderns by Norman Cousins
The oneness of humanity - and many are suffering right now. The pandemic has caused food and financial insecurity for too many individuals and families.
My Brother’s Table has seen an unprecedented increase in the number of meals it is handing out (from 16,000 per month to 90,000 per month - WOW). And they need as much support as ever. This year, because of the pandemic, we are unable to provide the party we used to, and they are not able to provide gifts of sweaters or jackets, so they are improvising by handing out $20.00 gift cards to their patrons at Thanksgiving and Christmas. These gift cards can be to any local store in the Lynn area – Market Basket, a dollar store, Walmart, CVS, Walgreens, or any store in the area.
Many of our Congregation were active in supporting MBT, especially Emmanuela Minnefield, who was so instrumental in organizing volunteers throughout the year. Instead of the Christmas Party this year, if you are able, consider picking up as many gift cards as your budget will allow. These can be delivered directly to MBT at 98 Willow Street or you can contact me and I will be happy to deliver them for you.
As Norman Cousins continues to say in his Litany: “I am a single cell. My needs are individual but they are not unique. I am interlocked with other human beings in the consequences of our actions, thoughts and feelings.”
We can all help our fellow beings who are struggling. Emmanuela would be happy to know her work continues.
Thank you! ~Mary Ann Hayes (781-504-3422)
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Help Spread Some Cheer with
Holiday Cards for My Brother’s Table
Can you Help?
UUCGL friends, we need your help with holiday cards! Volunteers at My Brother’s Table in Lynn will be distributing 1000 gift cards at Christmas and they’re hoping to have handwritten cards to go with them.
Can you help fill out holiday cards with a simple, non-denominational message, a drawing, etc.? We have almost 300 blank holiday cards to distribute or if you prefer you can make your own. Mary Gatlin can do porch drop-offs/pickups of cards for anyone located within half an hour of Lynn. Her cell is 541-870-1610 and her email is [email protected]. The deadline to participate is December 16. Thank you, UUCGL!
Here’s how to help:
1. Need blank cards/envelopes? Let Mary Gatlin know how many and she’ll get them to you. Or you can make your own!
2. Write a simple, heartfelt, non-denominational message in the card. If you can, add a decoration like a drawing (get the kids involved!) – personal touches mean a lot to folks, especially now.
3. Place the finished card in an envelope but DO NOT SEAL THE ENVELOPE (gift cards will be placed inside later by volunteers at My Brother’s Table)
4. Put all the finished cards/envelopes into a plastic bag and return your cards by December 16:
a. Return to Mary Gatlin: 24 Log Cabin Rd, Lynn MA 01904 – bags of cards can be left on the bench on the front porch.
OR
b. Return to Deb Boggs: 42 Walker Rd., Swampscott, MA 01907. You can text her first (781-258-1353) or just drop them off. Deb has a shelf located between her two front doors; she will have a "Thankful for friends" box there where you can leave the cards or if they don’t fit just leave them near the shelf.
OR
c. Call/text or email Mary Gatlin and she'll come pick up your finished cards/envelopes from your front porch. Her cell is 541-870-1610 and her email is [email protected].
Remember, the deadline to have all the cards finished
is Wednesday, December 16! Thank you, friends!
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Social Justice Ministry Team Holiday Food Drive for My Brother's Table
In place of the My Brother's Table Holiday Party this year, SJMT is planning a drive-up food drive on Saturday, December 5th from 9-11am at UUCGL. Volunteers will be in front of the church and will pick up your donations from your trunks with as little as contact as possible. Please wear a mask at the drop off and practice social distancing.
The number of meals being served by MBT has dramatically increased since the pandemic started. They have also switched to offering to-go lunches and dinners due to restrictions on indoor dining. Because of this, MBT is requesting our help providing the following items:
- Small individual containers of shelf stable juice & shelf stable milk
- Cheese sticks (individually wrapped)
- Shelf stable fruit cups (no applesauce, please!)
- Individually portioned snacks (no raisins, please!)
- Cookies, especially individually portioned packages
- Shelf stable pudding cups
- Meal replacement bars
- Single serve shelf stable coffee creamers
- Bars of soap
- Travel size shampoo, conditioner, shaving cream, toothpaste, lotion, sunscreen
- Women’s hygiene products
- Toothbrushes, razors, and deodorant
- Socks (adult sizes- no gift wrapping)
- Gloves (Men's preferred- no gift wrapping)
- $20 Gift Cards to local businesses (Walmart, Stop & Shop, Market Basket, Dollar Tree, CVS)
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Jeff Gunther at [email protected]. We hope to see you there!
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Thanksgiving Dinners
Offered on the North Shore
Our friends at North Shore Community Action Programs (NSCAP) have shared a two-page list of places offering free Thanksgiving Day Dinners. The list here is offered in English and Spanish.
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Reopening Guidelines Update |
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Change in Church Use
Request Procedure
While we are not holding regular services or meetings at the church, we have had some requests for one-time events. At the October board meeting the board of trustees agreed that, since the Reopening Task Force is no longer active, the governance committee will now review any requests and grant approval for use of the church building and grounds.
If you wish to use the church property for an event, please email the details (date, presenters' contact information and a full description of the event) to [email protected].
At a minimum, events need to comply with current state and local guidelines (masks, number of participants, socially distanced) and all organizers need to submit to Elizabeth Muller a list of contact information for all attendees the day after the event.
If you have further questions feel free to contact me, Eileen Cummings: [email protected]
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The Green Sanctuary Ministry Team Says: Go Take a Hike!
The Green Sanctuary Ministry Team invites you and your family to go take a hike and share photos of your adventure with the congregation. Send photos to [email protected] and they'll be posted in the Weekly Update.
“Forest Bathing” – or Shinrin-yoku in Japanese - is the new trend in reducing stress ... READ MORE
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Mindfulness-Based Meditation Practice Group
with Anne Principe via Zoom
Mornings 7:30-7:50am
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While we are apart, we can breathe together . . .
All are welcome to be a part of a small group ministry to practice mindfulness meditation. Now more than ever, our connections with each other are vital to our sense of calm and hope.
Each morning’s meditation will offer
- introduction of core concept
- silent meditation of 10-15 minutes seated comfortably in your own space
Click here for sign up, more information, and to find out what you’ll need in preparation for the practice.
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Enjoy each other's company in one or all of our Zoom gatherings! We hope that this will be easy for you to do and offer some simple instructions here:
For helpful hints, click here.
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Next issue:
Week of December 6
The deadline for the Week of December 6, is Wednesday, December 2, 9am. Please send your notices to Angie Kern ([email protected]).
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How to Support Your Church |
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Pledge Payments
There are three easy options of paying:
1. Send your check to the church (101 Forest Avenue, Swampscott, MA 01907).
2. Set up a bill-pay system with your bank and have the check sent to the above address.
3. Donate online. To donate online, please go to our website (uucgl.org) and click “Donate” in the upper right-hand corner. After you fill in the information page, click “Submit.” You will then be offered options to pay through your PayPal account, if you have one, or through your credit card.
Thank you for your support!
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Stay Connected with UUCGL
Staff continue to work from home and can be reached at the email addresses listed below. The church has a number of ways to help you. The Board, its committees, and church staff are still working on behalf of the congregation - that means YOU! Please feel free to reach out to us with any questions or if we can help. Thank you and be well!
The Rev. Dr. Victoria Weinstein
Eileen Cummings, UUCGL President
Elizabeth Muller, Business Administrator
Angie Kern, Administrative Assistant
Kenneth Griffith, Director of Music
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Grants Committee and the Grants Coordinator |
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We would like to remind all our parishioners that we are here for you should you need help with rent or utility bills during this difficult time. We can provide aid through our Spinney Mudge Emergency Funds. We also provide scholarships to college students. Please call Chris Hansen, our Grants Coordinator at 781-595-8836, ext. 23 and leave a message with your name and telephone number and she will get back to you or email her at [email protected].
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Pastoral Care Ministry Team |
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During this pandemic each of us is challenged not only by a barrage of information but also by creatively adapting to new ways of "life, as
usual." Feeling lonely? Need groceries? Got coping ideas to share? Is there a change in your contact info? Call our Pastoral Care Ministry Team, we would love to help you, 781-595-8836 ext 16.
Claire Wilson, Pastoral Care Coordinator
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Contact Information Reminder |
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Does the Office Know Your Current
Contact Information?
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Please keep your name, address, phone number, and e-mail current in the church office. E-mail Elizabeth Muller with your correct information.
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Not sure what information we have on file for you?
Call Elizabeth at:
781-595-8836, ext. 10
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Dialogue Group
2nd & 4th Sunday
of each month via Zoom
5pm
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"Dialogue" is a way of practicing deep listening that enables us to share personal experiences and thoughts in a way that collectively builds a more expansive understanding of ourselves and the world around us.
During the church closure, this group is currently meeting via Zoom on the 2nd and 4th Sunday of each month at 5pm. You can connect to the Zoom meeting here. Dialogue and the discursive meditation are part of the method of Cafh, a path of spiritual unfolding. Click for more information about the discursive meditation, and Cafh here.
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Community Drum Circle
Stay tuned
date tbd
2nd & 4th Sundays
1:30pm
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During the church closure, this group is not meeting at this time. Stay tuned for updates. This informal group builds community through drumming. From time to time master drummers, experienced in a variety of drumming styles, visit to offer their leadership. This group meets in the Sanctuary. Registration is not required.
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Sunday Zoom Schedule
Worship & Children's Ministry: 10am
Fellowship Hour: 11am
(781) 595-8836
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Like us on Facebook, or view sermons on YouTube!
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