First Unitarian Universalist RVA- February 14, 2020
We GROW in search of wisdom,
we CARE in support of community, we ACT in service of justice.
WELCOME
All are invited to join us for services!
In this newsletter:
  • This Sunday at First UU: February 16th
  • Sermon & Special Music
  • Religious Education News
  • This week's schedule link
  • Adult Formation Announcements
  • UU Ministry for Earth event
  • UU Christian Fellowship Meeting
  • Dogwood Spirit Circle Event
  • Book Store Event
  • Volunteer/Social Justice Opportunities\
  • News from Abbie
  • Greene School Readers needed
  • RISC Article

Please note-- this index is NOT linked! That kind of ability is not possible for our email host.
Your "MONTHLY INFO DROP" contains: the theme, blog updates, monthly care team information, and bookkeeper news like share the plate.
New to UU? Check out some of our small groups at the button here!
happy_birthday_candles.jpg
Norma would like to invite ALL church members to her Birthday Celebration on Saturday – March 21 st  from 4pm – 6pm.
 
Please RSVP, this will allow for an accurate food count. The deadline date to respond is Monday – March 2nd, to nstreever1@gmail.com
This Sunday at First UU: February 16th
Sunday Services at
9:00 am and 11:00 am

coffee hour
10:00 am-11:00 am
Missa Brevis Pro Serveto A Mass for Unitarian Universalists.

Rev. Jeanne and Diane Woodruff, Music Director.

Our Singers discovered this work by Rev. Fran Dearman and Tobin Stokes at a choir festival and bring it to us after rehearsals since October. It celebrates Miguel Serveto a UU "saint." If UUs had a Mass, what would it contain? We explore this in music and word. You will be delighted with this unusual service.
Religious Education Classes

Please contact Rhonda Wingfield
The Nursery  is open during services to welcome those up to three and one half years old. They are engaged in gentle play, and a snack of Cheerios is offered. Please provide your child's snack, if you have allergy concerns. A listening room is adjacent to the Nursery for those who want to hear the worship service while tending to their child.

Religious Education Classes Meet at 11:00 Only

PreK-K: We Celebrate Babies!  In this affirmation of the first UU principle, children will experience that every person is important, including the youngest in the congregation. There will be a visit from a real baby! 

Gr. 1-2: Those We Love.  Students express their love for others and share stories of how they experience the love of others in everyday actions. 

Gr. 3-4: Big, Broad Love.   The law of heaven is love.  - Hosea Ballou, Universalist minister. Children will explore ways we can strive to live by a rule of love.

Gr. 5-6: Exploring Right and Wrong.  What helps you choose to do the "right thing?" Do you always have a choice? We will revisit the story of Adam and Eve.

Gr. 7-8: Our Whole Lives.  Human Sexuality Class; for previously registered students only. Topic: Lovemaking. Class meets 11-12:30.

Grades 9-12  are encouraged to worship with family and friends. Class will meet again Feb. 23.
This Coming Week
In an effort to save room for announcements, special event details, and social justice/volunteer opportunities, we encourage you to view the online calendar at our website for this week's meetings schedule.

Adult Formation News
The UU Ministry for Earth will be focusing on environmental justice and advocacy, and sustainable care and practices for Earth. Our next meeting is Saturday, February 15 at noon in the library or by zoom: https://zoom.us/s/7065429963.

Please contact Susanna@familyandcommunityhealing.org if you wish to be added to the group's mailing list for announcements and meeting update. 
The UU Christian Fellowship has been enjoying a discussion of Jim Wallis’ book Christ in Crisis,  which is terribly relevant to what is going on in our country today, with the hijacking of Jesus for political misdeeds. Join us on Tuesday, February 18, when we address questions involving ultimate loyalty, peacemaking, and faithfulness. We will conclude this conversation, on March 3, with our discussion of what it means to offer hope for a better world to those who have lost hope.

No, we don’t have all the answers, but we believe in being the human expression of God by loving our neighbors and by working for peace and justice among all people.  Join us on the first and third Tuesdays of each month at 5:30 . We look forward to welcoming you!
  Have you Ever Wondered What Pagans Do in Ritual?
Why and How We Do a Ritual and What
 It Means to Pagans?

¨  How are Pagan rituals structured? What do they include?
¨  What is the role of the Priest and Priestess within a ritual? 
¨  How do Pagans utilize a circle within ritual?

Sunday—February 23, 2020
12:30—2:00 PM
 Presidents Hall
 
RSVP or questions to dogwoodspiritcirclerva@ gmail.com  Attention: Micheline Vogt
MARK YOUR CALENDAR FOR MARCH 01, 2020
and plan to attend this special Book Store Event 
Between morning services;
Ginger Clarke will be signing copies of her latest publication
"The Fascinating Animal Book for Kids"
Copies will be available for purchase ($16.00) via cash or check
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES &
SOCIAL JUSTICE WORK
Notes from Abbie ... 

Simple Supper – 
Abbie will be making Simple Super on Wednesday, February 19th, and again on March 4th and March 18th. She is also available to cater your group meeting. If you are interested in having her cook for you, please email her at HandsOffAbbie@gmail.com 

Spanish Tutoring Sessions – 
Starting in February, Abbie will be giving both group and private lessons in Spanish. Lessons will be held on Mondays from 10:00AM – 11:30AM, and from 1:00PM – 2:30PM. They are $20 per person in a group setting, or $40 per person for individual lessons. If you are interested, email Abbie at spanishwithAbbie@richmonduu.org and let her know which session you would like to sign up for and a little bit about how much Spanish you already know.
Greene School: Classroom readers needed.
A kindergarten class has been added and some of our volunteers are on sick leave. Commitment is to read one time a week, or once every other week if you are sharing a slot with another reader. Interested? Contact Debbie Bartle for all the details  dkpbartle@gmail.com
Compassionate Candor (this month’s theme) and RISC

Gun Violence – RISC’s latest effort at addressing systemic problems caused in large part by poverty and racism. When hearing the stories that RISC members tell of those in their community impacted by gun violence, and the deaths that result, it is clear that the RISC community feels a shared and individual compassion for those individuals, families and communities. 

There is a balancing act between the candor that can divide and cause conflict, and the need for RISC to find solutions to gun violence that brings all the faith communities together. In Reverend Jeanne’s note to the church leadership she comments “what if … we noticed the positive power of candor between people as being kind and accountable, or empowering and enlightening”.  

When RISC’s Gun Violence Research Committee was formed there was a very candid discussion about what we can do that unites us and the things we cannot do that would divide us.

So our research was to find solutions to gun violence that avoided second amendment arguments. And the results have been surprising. One piece of data that shocked me was: one-half of one percent of our population is engaged in fifty percent of gun violent crimes. 

Yes.
.5% is involved in 50% of gun violence.
.005 is involved in .5 of gun violence.

That data point alone opens the opportunities for solutions that can have an impact in just a few years. As the Gun Violence research progresses we will share the specifics of those solutions. If you are eager and don’t want to wait, come to the RISC Network Meeting, right after second service on Sunday March 1. 

Let me know if you plan to come. stevesaltzberg@gmail.com
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First Unitarian Universalist Church of Richmond | 804-355-0777
communications@richmonduu.org | www.richmonduu.org