E-Octagram
April 3, 2020
*~*~* UUC HAPPENINGS *~*~*
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 (April 5 @ 10:30 AM).

Meeting ID: 727 342 391

Speaker : Bill Norsworthy

Message : We Would Be One

Worship Associate : Ed Kraemer
IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT ONLINE GIVING!!

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.
Pastoral Associates
*To request pastoral care : 727-531-7704, ext. 5

March 30 - April 5 (Kathy Krohn)
April 6 - 12 (Susan Hegner)
April 13 - 19 (Drinda Lombardi)
Open Issues: April 5

This Sunday at open issues Lisa Moran will teach participants how to use EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques) or 'Tapping' for stress relief. EFT is a great self-help tool which can help us all manage our stress during these challenging times.

A few years ago Lisa took several EFT classes and was certified as an EFT practitioner. She is not running an EFT business, but still enjoys teaching friends how to use the technique and continues to use EFT for clearing personal issues.


The zoom account we are using is limited to 40 minutes (we will start promptly at 9:30 and we will be done at 10:10 .).

Join Zoom Meeting

Meeting ID: 966 113 214
We look forward  to  the next time we can all be together!
President’s Report: April 1, 2020

          This afternoon Governor DeSantis announced a stay at home order for the entire state. As far as I can determine, it doesn’t change much for UUC, since most of us have been hunkered down at home, as well as our staff. We will continue to use Zoom for our Sunday services indefinitely until we can find something better. The code for entering the service for this Sunday is included in the E-Octagram and will be posted at www.uuc.org .

We have a zoom account that permits group meetings for up to 100 with an unlimited amount of time. However, we cannot schedule two events simultaneously, so Anne Gilbert and Julie Daysa are working to coordinate schedules. Please contact Julie at dfm@uuc.org or Anne Gilbert at churchadmin@uuc.org to schedule an event. If your group is small (under 10) and you can limit yourself to forty minutes, you can use Zoom for free. ( www.zoom.us)
You can now go to our Facebook page to watch Sunday’s service if you missed it. I failed to hit the record button immediately, so the video did not record Linda Jones’s stirring piano introduction, but everything else is there, including the homily by the Rev Leddy Hammock from Unity Church, and vocals by Emily, Culver and David Katz. Julie Daysa, who is far more capable with technology than I, will smooth out the bumps next Sunday. A special thanks to David Katz who has worked very hard putting the music together.
In addition to the service, we are trying other UUC activities. Open Issues is being revived and the link to Sunday’s program is listed in this E-Octagram. Julie has organized a video streamed RE program at 11:30 am on Sunday and a mid-week RE check-in on Wednesdays at 4:15. Many covenant groups are using zoom to meet. We also have an adult-oriented film discussion group and an all-ages family movie group meeting on zoom. We will try to publish a more up to date schedule next week.
Our Annual Pledge Drive is 70% of goal with 54% pledge units received. In dollars this is $194,000 toward a goal of $275,000 with 92 of 169 pledge units making pledges. If the 77 people who have not pledged, make this same financial commitment to UUC they made this year we could easily meet our goal.

In this virtual fundraising times, you may go to  uuc.org  and click on "Giving" and make your pledge online. You may also download the pledge form, fill in the pledge form, scan it and email it to  bookkeeper@uuc.org . You may also print the form and mail it to UUC. Mail is being picked up once a week during this COVID-19 era. 
Many of our members live alone or have a spouse who is ill. Being socially isolated is especially hard for these congregants. During this pandemic we need to take care of one another. Make a phone call, Face Time or other video teleconferencing software to connect with one another. If the technology intimidates you, maybe you can bring a lawn chair and sit out on a driveway (six feet apart) and talk. Send a note or make a friend on Facebook. If you are alone, or ill please reach out. Susan Hegner and Eloise Hardman coordinate our Circle of Care and will be happy to hear from you. Reverend David Franks is also on call. Home visits may not be possible but phone calls, and video conferencing can be arranged. We want to know what you’re facing and how we can help. The men’s beer group is meeting tomorrow night, as are a variety of other social groups within our congregation. If you have an idea for how we can stay close, pass it on to me. billfoley70@gmail.com  

Stay well,

Bill Foley
UUC Board of Trustees President
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.
Samsung 21" Flat Screen TV Looking for a Good Home

One of our members has a 21" flat screen TV that she is willing to donate to someone who needs one. If you (or someone you know) is interested, please contact the office at 727-531-7704 or admin@uuc.org to make arrangements.
Let’s Stay Connected!
UU Clearwater Family Ministry
ZOOM Weekly Meet-up Times
Just because we’re all safer at home right now, doesn’t mean we can’t still be in touch! Take advantage of some of these times to check in with your friends at UU Clearwater. All are welcome! Questions? Email Julie: dfm@uuc.org . Other ways to stay connected: UU Cares Cards, Kindness Rocks, Gratitude Wall @UUC. Details below!

Sundays @11:30…Online UU Religious Exploration… ID: 767-340-576
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: 776-417-230
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: 777-705-228
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: 477-640-140
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!
4/7: "Just Mercy"

Wednesdays @4:15…Mid-Week RE Check-in…ID: 394-348-757
Let’s check-in and see how we’re doing this week. Are we anxious, bored, scared, energetic… and how can we help each other channel that in a positive, UU way? We’ll paint rocks together, talk about letters we’re sending, journal prompt ideas, plants we’re growing, things we’re grateful for, and more. 

Thursdays @4:15…Family Movie Discussion…ID: 972-602-644
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! ** "ONWARD" streams on Disney+ on 4/6
3/26: “Big Hero 6”       4/2: “Frozen 2”         4/9: “Onward”        4/16: “Wall-E"

Saturdays @4:15…Online Tea Party… ID: 710-259-797
“Tea and a Treasure” – pour yourself a cup of tea, bake some cookies, and bring something you “treasure” to share with the group. Your treasure could be a news story, a piece of artwork, a picture, something that makes you laugh – anything that your heart is treasuring during these uncertain times. If you like baking, this is also a chance to talk about a new cookie recipe you tried, and share ideas/recipes with friends. All ages are welcome!

Religious Enrichment (RE) @Home
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 , and she’ll send you names/addresses. Please include in your note/card/art that you are from UUC.
---> Email or message Julie with the name/address of someone who you think could use an extra smile, and Julie will pass that along to TWO families. That means each person will hopefully receive 2 notes/cards in the mail soon.

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!

**Do you have extra rocks , with nice smooth surfaces to paint? Please consider dropping some off at UUC and leaving them outside of the doors to Surti so that all of our “safer at home” “artists in residence” can paint them!

SOCIAL JUSTICE NEWS and EVENTS
Here are some ideas from the UUC Black Lives Matter Committee to keep you busy while you are stuck at home. If you got the print edition of the Tampa Bay Times Sunday March 15, you may have seen the insert entitled  Pathways to Understanding . It covers info about Islam, Identity, Bias, Myth-busting, Building Understanding, Engagement, Allyship, etc. It is online at:
 You could explore   An Antiracist Reading List   by   Ibram X. Kendi on books to help America transcend its racist history: 

Recommended movies include  Black Panther, Miss Virginia, Best of Enemies, The Help, Black Klansman, Greenbook, Hidden Figures, Kings (2017). Self-Made  is a new series about Madame C.J. Walker available on Netflix March 20.  Just Mercy   can now be rented on Amazon Prime for $5. The DVD can be purchased for $18 on April 14. 
Lockdown

By Richard Hendrick, a Capuchin Franciscan Brother in Ireland
March 13th 2020

Yes there is fear.
Yes there is isolation.
Yes there is panic buying.
Yes there is sickness.
Yes there is even death.

But,
They say that in Wuhan after so many years of noise
You can hear the birds again.
They say that after just a few weeks of quiet
The sky is no longer thick with fumes
But blue and grey and clear.
They say that in the streets of Assisi
People are singing to each other
across the empty squares,
keeping their windows open
so that those who are alone
may hear the sounds of family around them.
They say that a hotel in the West of Ireland
Is offering free meals and delivery to the housebound.
Today a young woman I know
is busy spreading fliers with her number
through the neighborhood
So that the elders may have someone to call on.
Today Churches, Synagogues, Mosques and Temples
are preparing to welcome
and shelter the homeless, the sick, the weary
All over the world people are slowing down and reflecting
All over the world people are looking at their neighbors in a new way
All over the world people are waking up to a new reality
To how big we really are.
To how little control we really have.
To what really matters.
To Love.
So we pray and we remember that
Yes there is fear.
But there does not have to be hate.
Yes there is isolation.
But there does not have to be loneliness.
Yes there is panic buying.
But there does not have to be meanness.
Yes there is sickness.
But there does not have to be disease of the soul
Yes there is even death.
But there can always be a rebirth of love.
Wake to the choices you make as to how to live now.
Today, breathe.
Listen, behind the factory noises of your panic
The birds are singing again
The sky is clearing,
Spring is coming,
And we are always encompassed by Love.
Open the windows of your soul
And though you may not be able
to touch across the empty square,
Sing.

Dear Justice Seekers-
 
Since we are not able to have a Nehemiah Action this year, a number of denominational leaders who planned on being at the Action have graciously provided us with a video update to send to all of our congregation and community members. This video includes inspiration for us to continue fighting for justice, an update on our housing work, an update on our statewide criminal justice work, an update on our work for improved access to mental health services. 


The speakers in the video are:
Rev. Keith Walbolt, co-chair of FAST and pastor of Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd in Seminole

Bishop Gregory Parkes of the Catholic Diocese of St. Petersburg

Dr. Bartholomew Banks, President of Progressive Missionary and Educational Baptist State Convention of Florida, Inc

Rabbi Michael Torop , President of Pinellas Board of Rabbis, and Rabbi at Temple Beth-El in St. Petersburg

Barbara Mazer from Temple Beth-El, singing "Lean on Me" (singing along with some of our affordable housing committee members!)

Please take a look at this video to hear the latest updates and share it with anyone who was planning on coming to the Nehemiah Action. To access the video, please click  HERE

As a reminder, please also make sure your network members know about these upcoming virtual events and let us know who plans on attending:

Justice-themed text study, Monday, April 6th at 6:30pm
Criminal Justice committee meeting, Monday, April 13th at 6pm
Affordable Housing committee meeting, Monday, April 20th at 7pm

With peace, 

Jacqueline Reyes
FAST Lead Organizer