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Decades ago Dr. Abraham Maslow defined a hierarchy of human needs with "living into one's full potential" being the pinnacle of human development. Did you know that later in life he amended this model, adding a need we have to go beyond "the self"? At this service with Rev. Sue Browning we'll explore the power of looking out as well as in.

So we can begin the service promptly at 10 a.m., please arrive at the church, or sign into Zoom (click here) by no later than 9:50 a.m.

Sunday, February 26 — In Person & ZOOM

"You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless." — Matthew 5:13

Sunday, March 5 — In Person & ZOOM

If you don't see "VERY END of REFLECTIONS for February 16, 2023"

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 FEB 19 | Nevin Dawson

MAR 05 | Matt Mielnick

The Pale Blue Dot is a photograph of Earth taken Feb. 14, 1990,

Recording of excerpt from Carl Sagan's book, Pale Blue Dot: A Vision of the Human Future in Space, Random House, 1994 (click here).

Welcome to our newest official "book signed member," Peggy Christie. Peggy signed our membership book on Sunday February 12, 2023.

If you are interested in what it means to be a member of UUCR, please contact anyone on the Membership Committee, or Rev. Sue Browning.

Catherine needs help setting-up and cleaning-up so please contact her if you are available (ccbrooks17@icloud.com).

Rev. Sue Browning has scheduled another conversation to review the proposed changes to the UU Principles with anyone interested on Tuesday, February 21 at 7 p.m. on Zoom (click here for Zoom link).

The "Article II Commission" (the group charged to propose these changes) summarized the history, the proposed changes, and the next steps in a report provided to the UUA Board on January 17, 2023. It’s a worthwhile read (click here for link).

We need an auction coordinator! Our would-be chair, Jane Hardy, will be “missing in action” for several weeks (unexpected surgery) and needs someone to step in. Your major task would be to solicit, receive, and catalog live and silent auction donations; we have created a step-by-step process description and timeline to guide you, with tasks outlined in detail. 

Work needs to start now. Please consider taking on this short-term role — and prepare to devote time, but to have fun along the way as well. We have a great team already in place (mostly). 

We also need a food and drink coordinator for the auction evening; this will entail getting others to bring hors d’oeuvres and beverages, then setting up tables on the evening of the event.

Please contact Jane Hardy, janewhardy@gmail.com, or our office, uuofchesterriver@gmail.com if you can help. We can send you our timeline if you are interested. 

The LATF has met several times since receiving the charge from the Board to review UUCR’s existing “Gift Acceptance Policy,” research an Endowment and Planned Giving process (currently we have none), and work with the congregation to explore uses for the generous bequest from Dorris Scott. Members of the LATF, comprised of Co-Chairs, David Biehler and Nancy Holland, M.Q. Riding (Board liaison), Tom Tontarski (Finance Committee), and Lynn Dolinger (Past President), have been interviewing other UU churches similar to our own in size and the amount of monetary gift received. We have also been consulting resources at the Unitarian Universalist Association and the Central East Region regarding best practices regarding the use and preservation of monetary gifts. We will be updating the congregation periodically, but feel free to contact any member of the committee with questions or comments. Thank you.

In preparation for our Stewardship Invitation in the February 5^th kick off service, Catherine took an informal survey of those attending asking what was important to them about UUCR. The responses included how it felt like home, a sanctuary, and a community.

Your Stewardship Team — Jackie Mathwich, Chair, Catherine Brooks, Joy Kim, and Peggy McKee

Our 3rd Annual Great Valentine’s Day Cookie Giveaway was a sweet success, as always.

Special thanks are due to our bakers, who produced a beautiful variety this year:

P.S. Those luscious little Dove Promises candies in the mix were supplied by our administrator, Darlene Wiggers

And to our cookie carton packers, who made sure that each recipient got a full selection of goodies:

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Black History is celebrated all year long but highlighted in February. In honor of our ongoing work and local relationships, your Social Justice Committee has chosen Sumner Hall to be the recipient of our February Outreach Collection. We hope you generously support them throughout the month. Please send, or give, a check to the church office made out to "UUCR" and specifying "Sumner Hall" in the memo line, or donate online at the UUCR website using the "Donate" button (click here) and "Custom Amount," specifying "Sumner Hall" in the comment section. Please make your donation before February 28. Any questions, please contact Gayle Folger, co-chair of the SJ committee or the church office.

Your “more humble” objects will be perfect for our Yard Sale, which will be held the morning of April 29. Please contact Lynn Dolinger lynn.thirdwise@gmail.com, or Linda Dutton dutton.linda@gmail.com, with questions. (We won’t start collecting these until closer to April 29.)

Your finer objects will be most welcome at our Silent Auction. And, of course, we seek as many “services” (lessons, meals, excursions, services, happenings, hikes, etc,) for our Live Auction as we can get. Questions? Ideas? Donations? Please contact Jane Hardy, janewhardy@gmail.com, through February 26 and Darlene Wiggers, our administrator, at uuofchesterriver@gmail.com, after Feb 26. 

Bid on this Silent Auction item and prepare to enjoy proven, mostly super-easy recipes that have been enjoyed by scads of folks for many years. These time-tested gems were culled from family, friends, magazines, newspapers, cookbooks, and the internet; one was even found in a graveyard! Featuring favorites in every basic category — meat, fish, poultry, veggies, soups, salads, sauces, desserts, and, yes, cookies — this book could become someone’s (new bride? grandchild?) kitchen bible. Recipes are typed and assembled in a notebook with dividers and an index. Minimum bid $25. Donated by Jane Hardy.

Gayle Folger, Nancy Holland, and Vida Morley

24 - Philip Dutton

25 - Les Palmer

27 - Laura Mitchell

We want to help celebrate your birthday! If we didn't include your birthday, please contact the UUCR office by email (click here).