*~*~* UUC HAPPENINGS *~*~*
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Important Sunday Service Information
As we are adhering to guidelines of avoiding gatherings of 10 or more people (and proving how flexible we are!), we have decided to offer Sunday services via Zoom. We would love it if you would watch it. We appreciate everyone's support, kindness and patience, and invite you to sit back and enjoy the service from the comfort of your home.
The Zoom link is below, but
it won't be active
until just before the service on Sunday (May 31 @ 10:30 AM).
Meeting ID: 727 531 7704
You can also join from your landline or cell phone by calling
301 715 8592
and entering
727 531 7704
when prompted to enter the meeting ID.
Speaker
: "Rev. Faerie" Elaine Silver
Message
:
The Interdependent Web Through Song: The UU 7th Principle
Worship Associate
: Ed Kraemer
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Bill Foley - My Last Message
My thanks to all of you for your support especially during the past six months. Unfortunately, I still have some last minute cleaning up before I leave. I have spoken with our bookkeeper, Katya Fomina and informed her that we no longer require her services. For some time, I have felt that we need a professional review of our accounting practices, especially since we have received Federal money subject to audit. Despite a conscientious effort, I did not feel that Kat had the skills to meet our needs. The Treasurer and I are interviewing CPA/bookkeeping firms to handle our accounting.
Please let me know if you have any questions about this.
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ZOOM
!
Since we stopped hosting in-person Sunday worship services on our campus, we have been working diligently to deliver consistent messages to our beloved community. Although we do miss the comfort and camaraderie of being in person, we are very fortunate that we have a virtual mechanism to gather together.
Zoom
is that mechanism. Everyone involved in its implementation is continually looking for ways to enhance this experience. To that end, we have developed some helpful hints for you! Please click on the link and let us know if you have any questions.
As always, be well!
For those interested in using the UUC Zoom account to host your own (UUC-related) virtual meet-ups, please contact the office for more information (727-531-7701;
admin@uuc.org).
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We are in need of
Worship Associates
. As you can imagine, doing Zoom services has put a particular strain on this group. If you are interested in volunteering as a Worship Associate, please contact Sue Boone
suebooneuu@juno.com
or Margie Manning
margiem821@tampabay.rr.com
to learn more about what it means to help with our worship services.
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If you are interested in joining the Digital Coffee Hour after Sunday's service, just stay logged in to the same Zoom meeting.
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IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT ONLINE GIVING and PLEDGING
In lieu of our traditional collection baskets that you see during the Offertory on Sundays, we are trying out some different ways to make online donating easier. You may also try:
Text Giving
Your text-to-give number is live at:
(727) 500-2410
If you prefer to donate online, feel free to click the button below.
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You are also welcome to download, print and mail in a Pledge form
here.
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UUA General Assembly
We are looking for representatives from our congregation to attend the UUA General Assembly
June 24-28
. This will be a virtual meeting and we would like to be represented.
For details, Google
UUA General Assembly
.
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UPDATE FROM THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES
The Board of Trustees has approved the establishment of a Task Force to set direction on the criteria for reopening the church. This will include such items as cleaning the Octagon, outdoor services and other in-person activities at UUC. It seems likely that normal services in the Octagon are quite a ways off, but its time to explore options if and when the Coronavirus subsides. Please contact Bill Foley
billfoley70@gmail.com
or Susan Gore at
susangphd@gmail.com
if you are interested.
At Wednesday Board Meeting the Board of Trustees approved emergency repairs on the Octagon room for an amount not to exceed $25,000.
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PASTORAL CARE
Please remember that
Pastoral Care
is still available if you need it. To connect with one of our dedicated
Pastoral Associates
, please call the office (727-531-7704, Ext. 5).
Rev. David Franks
is also on hand to provide assistance to those who need him (contact a Pastoral Associate, who will help you get in touch with him).
Kathy Krohn: May 25 - 31
Susan Hegner: June 1 - 7
Drinda Lombardi: June 8 - 14
Sally Otto: June 15 - 21
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Let’s Stay Connected!
UU Clearwater Family Ministry
NEW
ZOOM Weekly Meet-up Times
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Sundays @11:30…Online UU Religious Exploration… ID:
964-5471-6287
We’ll start by lighting a chalice together, so bring your own chalice if you have one! We’ll check-in and each have a chance to talk about joys/sorrows. We’ll listen to a story together that centers around our monthly theme (March: Wisdom, April: Liberation, May: Thresholds). Our goal is to try to bring a UU lens to our lives, and together explore how we can be in community while social distancing.
Sundays @12:30…TORCH Youth Group (9-12 grade only)… ID:
970-0554-3034
Our UUC youth group,
T
een
O
rganization
R
eaching for
C
ommunity
H
armony, is for students in grades 9-12. The youth group is self-led by teens and supervised by Al Swinyard. This will include a check-in time and a chance for deeper conversation about what is going on in both personal lives and in the greater community/world, from a UU perspective. Please bring a candle/chalice to light (even if it’s just on your phone). All are welcome, so if you have high school friends/cousins/neighbors who are lonely, send them the Zoom meeting ID and we look forward to getting to know them.
Mondays @8pm…Parent Covenant Group (adults only)… ID:
925-8589-8201
This group is led by Megan Foley and Kelly Waisnor-Tew. It’s a chance to support and encourage one another, as parents learn how to embrace (survive?) their new roles as quarantine wardens, home-schoolers, tech support, personal chefs for picky eaters, etc. We’re in this together! Feel free to bring a poem or reading to share.
Tuesdays @7pm…UU Film Discussion (more serious movies)… ID:
962-5832-3577
Truth: most of us are watching a lot more TV and movies than we used to. So let’s watch something together & talk about it! Tuesday’s discussion is for more “older” themed movies, and Thursday’s discussion is for animated/younger-themed movies… but all ages are welcome in both discussion groups! Watch the movie anytime during the week, and then join in for a discussion. Popcorn optional!
- 6/2: "As Good As It Gets" (Netflix)
- 6/9: "Pieces of April" (free on Tubi)
- 6/16: "Beautiful Boy" (included with Amazon Prime)
- 6/23: "American Factory" (Netflix)
Thursdays @4:15…Family Movie Discussion…ID:
934-5740-0423
Watch a family-friendly (G or PG rated) movie anytime during the week, and join in on Thursdays after “school” to talk about it together. We’ll check in with each other, but we’ll also have some discussion questions. Bring any questions you have, or things that stuck out to you or reminded you of something going on in your own life. Fun required, popcorn optional!
- Thurs. 6/4: "Nims Island" (PG)
- Thurs 6/11: Online "Watch Party," movie to be determined!
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Religious Enrichment (RE) @Home
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UU Cares Cards
: Stay connected and spread some smiles. You (and your kids/grandkids) can write notes and/or draw pictures and mail them to members of our congregation who are alone at home, sick, or might just need an excuse to smile.
--- Email or message Julie with the number of cards your family can
send
OR
with the name/address of someone who you think could use an extra smile.
Kindness Rocks
: We’re painting rocks and spreading kindness! Paint any sort of design or quote on a rock and leave it either outside of Surti Hall in our UU rock garden, or put it somewhere in the community - maybe in your neighborhood or on a walk. Take a picture and post it on our Facebook page!
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UUC Care Circle Team
The UUC Care Circle Team is ready and available to support our congregants’ short-term needs. Driving to medical appointments, delivering prepared meals, visiting congregants in hospitals, rehab centers and assisted living facilities are some of the ways our team may be able to help if you are impaired.
If you would like more information, or need assistance, please contact the UUC Front Office at (727) 531-7704 and they will contact Susan Hegner and/or Eloise Hardman, the co-chairs of the Care Circle Team; Susan/Eloise will get back with you.
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Coming up - theme of "compassion":
- 6/2: "As Good As It Gets" (Netflix)
- 6/9: "Pieces of April" (free on Tubi)
- 6/16: "Beautiful Boy" (included with Amazon Prime)
- 6/23: "American Factory" (Netflix)
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Dear Family and Friends,
Attached is information for the general public on how to safely remove, store and reuse a face mask. Here is the link to the online May 7 article.
If you need more masks, these seem to fit better than many, have removable filters, can tighten around the nose, and come in both adult and kids sizes.
If you are unclear about the different kinds of masks, this 2-minute video will help:
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JOIN the UUC Social Justice
Immediate Response
Facebook Page
The UUC Social Justice Council invites you to become a member of the
UUC Social Justice Immediate Response Facebook Page
. Although we are stuck at home, there are still
Social Justice
issues we can work on. The page is the place we post such opportunities.
An administrator will accept your request to join. Once you are a member you can post on the page but an administrator must approve the post before it appears. Criteria for posts are at the top of the page.
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Compassion & Choices COVID-19
During a recent Compassion and Choices meeting held on Zoom, we discussed how a member of our UUC family tested positive for COVID-19. Fortunately, that member had almost no symptoms (except for a cough), and is making a full recovery. However, it sparked a conversation concerning those whose care may have to involve Hospice.
If a patient contracts COVID-19 and medical intervention is indicated, there are the three choice points in treatment: 1) do you want to go to the hospital or stay home; 2) do you want to be put on a ventilator if you have trouble breathing; and 3) do you want CPR if your heart stops while you are on the ventilator.
Empath Hospice will take COVID-19 patients. If you don’t want to go to the hospital, Hospice could be an option for help particularly if you need oxygen to help your breathing or morphine to relieve air hunger. Also there can be support for breathing with C-Pap and Bi-Pap machines. Obviously, this choice means you are also choosing not to be put on a ventilator and not to have CPR. Hospice does have some inpatient rooms where you can get extra attention if that is required. Those rooms have special ventilation systems to protect other people from getting the disease. Also, if necessary, hospice nurses will come to your home. They will wear full protective equipment and come at the end of the day so they can go right home and shower. It is important to remember that COVID-19 is not necessarily terminal even if you are in the “high risk” group.
With so much information swirling around us right now, it is critically important that we empower ourselves with knowledge so that we can make informed thoughtful decisions.
If you would like more information about Compassion and Choices, please contact the Office Administrator at UUC (admin@uuc.org), who will connect with the organizer.
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ETHICAL EATING: FOOD AND ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE
As Unitarian Universalists, we are thoroughly invested in environmental justice. As such, we are aware of such things as global warming, rising tides, and the bleaching of the world’s coral reefs to name a few. But also important is the issue of food.
The UUA’s
Statement of Conscience
points to food growing, processing, packaging, transporting, and distribution and the problems associated with each. The mass production of food often maximizes production while minimalizing price. This mass production has resulted in the overuse of fertilizers and pesticides with crops and the mistreatment of animals and workers in food production. This is more relevant even now with COVID-19 spreading alarm at meat processing plants across the country.
Furthermore, the use of fertilizers, herbicides, pesticides and hormones and high volume of animal wastes produced by CAFO’s (concentrated animal feeding operations), all of which contaminate soil, air, and water.
So, what can we do? Congregational Calls to Action include:
- Increase our consumption of plant-based foods.
- For those who choose to eat meat or seafood, minimize the pain and suffering of animals by purchasing meat or seafood produced under humane conditions.
- Purchase organically processed food, and seafood certified as responsibly farmed or harvested whenever possible.
- Buy from local farmers markets or community gardens, or community supported agriculture.
- Provide farm workers with a living wage.
Our Seventh Principal is respect for the interdependent web of all existence. For more suggestions and information visit the UUA web page below.
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