UUCSC News and Updates
Weekly on Fridays
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Volume III * Issue 16 * September 23, 2022 | |
Unitarian Universalist Congregation of South County, RI
All are welcome!
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Reverend Denis Letourneau Paul, Minister
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This Sunday, September 25, 2022 | |
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"The Wonder
of Creation"
Adria Evans, Barbara (Bina) Holtzman, and Nancy Richman
Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, begins the new calendar year and celebrates creation itself. It also inaugurates ten days of individual self-examination and repair of our personal relationships that end with Yom Kippur. We--Adria Evans, Barbara (Bina) Holtzman, and Nancy Richman--will share what we love about these holidays in song, story, subject, and sermon. And you'll get to taste the simple foods eaten for a sweet upcoming year.
Masks are required in the sanctuary.
ORDER OF SERVICE
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We will begin our time together in the service to get a taste of the music, prayers and stories of Rosh Hashanah. Then the younger kids will be invited to the far field to play games. We will come back together for a sweet treat of challah, apples and honey.
We will have crafts and coloring pages for all ages during the service!
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Our Whole Lives Update
As we continue to plan for the OWL training we will be hosting here on Oct. 7th-9th, we want to tell you our plans for OWL moving forward. Please click here to read about the training, the classes and how you can help!
Submitted by Lee Cowan, DRE
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Reports from the Congregational Meeting | |
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From the President
Wow! Saturday’s meeting more than met my expectations. It was an engaged and lively discussion among people who really care about this congregation and each other. I heard the message loud and clear that all 39 people present (and 11 additional members responding online prior to the meeting) deeply value this community and all the opportunities that it offers them. Rev Denis’ recap of the meeting and the meeting notes are included in this newsletter as well as a Word Cloud image that Lee Cowan has created using all of your answers to the questions posed in the first half of the meeting.
The other message I heard clearly is that we need to reach out more to the community. There are many ways to do that (many of which we are or will be doing): social media, other publicity, programs open to the public etc. But I want to remind you of my very favorite way to reach out and the one Rev Denis refers to as the Evangelizing of the Living (as opposed to Memorializing the Dead). Tell a friend. Tell your friends why this community matters to you. I must admit I’m a little squeamish about the word evangelize. But I’m not hesitant to talk about the friends that I have made here or the peace that I find in the worship services on Sunday or the opportunities to connect with others regarding social justice issues…or the kayaking events!
The Board has a lot to work with. We have asked the committee chairs to bring the information gathered at the meeting back to their committees to discuss and to come up with some actions that will be shared at a future Coordinating Council Meeting.
Thank you to all who participated in this conversation in-person or via the survey!!
There is no doubt in my mind that “Love is the Spirit of this Congregation!”
Elizabeth
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From Rev Denis
On September 17, we gathered for a congregation-wide town hall-style meeting in the sanctuary, a meeting I co-facilitated with Board Chair Elizabeth Donovan and Director of Religious Education Lee Cowan. Our goal was to listen after we asked big questions, including:
- Name an event, or a program or a service, that has moved you or inspired you?
- What are the characteristics of this congregation that keep you coming back?
- Given the challenges we’ve faced in the last couple of years or more, what are we doing well?
- What more can we do to better take care of ourselves and each other?
- How can we reach out to the wider community? To meet the needs of the community? And to draw in new potential members?
- Which of these things can we do now?
- What’s next? Where should we go from here?
Most of the board chairs and members of the board of directors were present among the 39 people, so thank you all.
My first impression of the feedback was that there was a lot of appreciation and patience present in every aspect of our congregational life. Quite a few expressed preference for working groups and getting things done over meetings, with a couple suggestions that we should think about reducing the number or committees we have.
Together, we decided that next steps should include:
- Committees focusing on mission and our future with a “leadership development” style of facilitation
- The Coordinating Council taking the lead on next steps, by setting goals and asking “where are we going?
The coordinating Council may want to consider
- Regular “chalice-side chats” after worship to continue the conversation and gathering of feedback and input
- Reading together one book on congregational challenges and solutions
- Providing access to professionally facilitated training workshops for anyone interested in leadership
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UUCSC Anti-racism Group Explores Direction
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Our next meeting is September 26, 2022, 7:00-8:00 - we will continue our brainstorming of ideas for the year and start to prioritize them. This is an open group; drop-ins are always welcome to join us in the work of undoing racism in ourselves, our congregation, our community, and our world! The Zoom link to the meeting is always on the church calendar. We meet the 2nd and 4th Mondays of the month. Please join us!
Read brainstorming ideas from 9/12/22 HERE.
Submitted by Nancy Richman
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Some new additions to our Lost and Found box on the shelf in the Sanctuary closet:
- A small colorful Covid mask
- A soft white and blue scarf
- A lovely teal green sweater
I hope they find their homes!
Submitted by Val Follett
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The Peace Flag Project is celebrating UN Peace Day with an Intention Fest this Sunday, September 25th, right here in Wakefield. Meet at noon in Saugatucket Park, read more here. | |
Cranberry Thanksgiving
at the Tomaquag Museum
Saturday, October 1
10 AM to 2 PM
Social dance, storytelling, traditional arts and games, and more. Read more here. Contact Cathy Solomon if you're interested in carpooling.
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COVID MYTHS
Resources to help you make healthy decisions!
We have gotten so much conflicting information over these past 2 ½ years -including from the CDC! No wonder we are confused!
This document will remain available in IMPORTANT LINKS.
Submitted by Barbara Holtzman
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Did you miss the 2022 UUA General Assembly?
The 2022 General Assembly recordings library of over 80 workshops, worship services, and other events is now available to the public here. (Some recordings are no longer available due to copyright or agreements with the presenters)
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“Queen and Slim”
September 26, 2022 - 7:30pm
United Theater
5 Canal Street, Westerly, RI
Presented in partnership with the Westerly Anti-Racism Coalition, the United Theater is presenting the film: “Queen and Slim”. Embracing multiculturalism to address racism through education and empowerment, the United Theater’s Black Voices film series recognizes films from the greatest Black storytellers working in film and television. TRAILER
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How Ancient Mythologies Defy the Gender Binary
This short video from All Arts explores a universal theme that appears across world mythology: gender fluidity. It’s not only commonplace in many mythologies, but an essential aspect of some important ethical figures: from androgynous creators to fertility deities to warriors and prophets that defy the binary.
Submitted by Johnette Rodriguez
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Brief But Spectacular take on upholding Indigenous culture
In another All Arts video, Albert Bender is a writer, activist and attorney of Cherokee descent. Currently based in Tennessee, he has long been an advocate for Native American cultural preservation and justice. He shares his Brief But Spectacular take on Indigenous cultures and struggles.
Submitted by Johnette Rodriguez
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URI 59th Annual Honors Colloquium
Focus...
Just Good Food:
Creating Equitable, Sustainable, and
Resilient Food Systems
Tuesdays in the Fall 7:00 PM
Edwards Auditorium or online.
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This war rages on...
The UUCSC Share the Plate committee recommends one of these four organizations that are providing support to Ukrainians in crisis.
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Bethany Sorrentino, Helping Hands Coordinator
Don't be afraid to ask for help - helping hands are here!
Helping hand volunteers are also needed.
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UUCSC Committees always need help and new ideas.
Membership Committee is vacant. Facility opening and closing is vacant. Please contact President Elizabeth Donovan at elizdn342@gmail.com.
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List of Black owned businesses from RI Monthly magazine. Patronize these businesses all year long. This small effort can help undo racism. Please send pics and reviews to Etta for sharing here and on website.
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Includes lists of Black-Owned Businesses
Your search for truth and meaning begins here.
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How to Submit Info to This Newsletter | |
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Send announcements and news with Newsletter Item in the subject line to Sara Kaplow, Congregational Administrator, at uucscri@gmail.com and Etta Zasloff, Editor, at zasloff.etta@gmail.com by Tuesday Noon
to assure publication by Friday of that week.
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