UUCSC News and Updates
Weekly on Fridays
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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, April 17, 2022 |
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Worship
In Person Only
10:00 am in the sanctuary, 11 am outdoors
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"The Eggs of Easter"
Rev. Denis Letourneau Paul
April 17, 2022
On the surface, Easter is all about chocolate bunnies, brightly decorated eggs, the early flowers of spring time, and real-live bunnies, chicks, lambs hopping around in the new grass. Maybe, you even eat lamb for dinner as omnivores of European descent have done for centuries. While all of those symbols of springtime have been around forever, they haven’t always been associated with the most jubilant day in the Christian calendar. We’re going to celebrate them all. With a small nod to the resurrection.
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Religious Exploration
In-person
10am-noon
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Join us to celebrate spring with a feast of Ostara! Ostara is a Germanic goddess of the spring, dawn and rebirth. So we will be telling her story and re-creating a joyous celebration, complete with some of her traditional foods.
The service will be in the sanctuary and then move outside afterwards to share treats.
Here is our April newsletter with the theme "Awakening"
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Lee Cowan, Director of Religious Exploration |
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If you donate to the Unitarian Universalist Association before May 31st, your gift will be doubled! More information here.
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Tenebrae Service Tonight! |
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Tonight, April 15, 2022 * 7:15 PM
UUCSC sanctuary. At the end, we will exit in silence.
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Tenebrae services are traditionally held on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, or Saturday before Easter, focusing on the violence of the final day of Jesus, the Rabbi from Nazareth, whose murder was ordered by occupying forces from Rome. Traditionally services end with a loud noise, symbolizing the fracture of humanity the event caused.
It’s a service that isn’t just for those who identify as Christian. It’s for anyone who would like to acknowledge the violence of our world and our times, placing it all within the context of the dominant religious tradition of the West.
Rev. Denis
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As I write this, it’s 70 degrees outside, the sun is shining, and looking out at Saugatucket Pond, I find myself dreaming of pulling the kayak out of the basement, throwing it the back of the truck, and heading out to Ames Long Pond just five minutes from my house.
I live in a former factory town, Easton, Massachusetts. It’s where in 1804 Oliver Ames moved the shovel making shop his father had set up 25 years earlier. The big stone buildings are impressive, most of them now converted to luxury apartments, swimming in natural light.
200+ years ago, the factory was powered entirely by a surprisingly small stream that meandered through the woods from the pond where I like to paddle my little boat. The water, all of it, is surprisingly clear, at least to my eyes and nose. That’s kind of surprising, when you think about it. Not all bodies of water these days are in the same good condition.
I just read a piece in the New Yorker by Elizabeth Kolbert about one of those bodies of water, Lake Mary Jane in Orange County, Florida.
In an effort to protect herself, Mary Jane is suing. The lake has filed a case in Florida state court, together with Lake Hart, the Crosby Island Marsh, and two boggy streams. According to legal papers submitted in February, the development would “adversely impact the lakes and marsh who are parties to this action,” causing injuries that are “concrete, distinct, and palpable.”
Still, Mary Jane’s case is a first. Never before has an inanimate slice of nature tried to defend its rights in an American courtroom.
Environmental activist Chuck O’Neal is the person behind the lawsuit, claiming that the bodies of water have “an inalienable right to exist,” and that he is representing them, with the help of a few other environmental protection groups.
I gotta say, I love this! Having spent so much time outdoors, nurturing gardens, hiking and camping in the woods, and hundreds of hours in that little boat (especially since April of 2020) I’m a firm believer that places each have their own unique character. It’s not just about physical characteristics, it’s about the lives they’ve lived in connection to everything and everyone around and in them. Places have spirit. Places have souls. Personalities. Ames Long Pond does and I’m glad it’s been protected all these decades.
So, as Earth Day approaches on the 22nd, I hope you’ll honor the souls of all the bodies of water you love by toasting Lake Mary Jane and its protectors. Or you may want to do it on a more appropriate day: 4/20.
In Peace,
Rev Denis
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Longtime member of our community Dorothy Devine passed away on April 7th. A celebration of her life will be held at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of South County; a date and time have not yet been decided.
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Memorial Service at UUCSC Sanctuary
for
Victoria Shinagel
Daughter of Ann Seemann
Saturday, May 7, 2022
1:00 pm
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Adult Education and Experience |
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Sunday, April 24th, 2022, 1-3pm
LANGSTON HUGHES COMMUNITY POETRY READING
Looking Back to Move Forward
The many faces of Langston Hughes!
Langston Hughes’s poems, dating from the Harlem Renaissance through the 1960’s, continue to resonate today. These powerful, poignant, and often amusing works are read out loud by members of the community and accompanied by the Becky Bass Trio. Coordinated by the Langston Hughes Community Poetry Reading Committee. Due to COVID 19 restrictions, refreshments will NOT be served.
Providence Public Library
Library Doors open at 12:45 PM
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Learn How To Help Our New Neighbors!
April 28, 2022 at noon
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The Immigrant Coalition of Rhode Island, in partnership with Dorcas International, will present a Zoom info session to learn how to help those migrating to RI. Request the Zoom link at Riscc@councilofchurchesri.org
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· Open Forum to Culminate Earth Day 2022
Friday, April 29, 2022, 7PM, via ZOOM
The Green Team and Social Justice group at Peacedale Congregational Church will hold an open forum to discuss points emphasized in the full length documentary, Kiss the Ground, narrated by Woody Harrelson. The movie sheds light on an “new, old approach” to farming called “regenerative agriculture” that has the potential to balance our climate, replenish our vast water supplies, and feed the world. Please watch the video on NETFLIX or here at Kiss the Ground at any time prior to the forum.
Submitted by Johnnie Rodriguez
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Watch anytime!
Stephen Colbert speaks with Elizabeth Alexander, who spoke at Obama's first inaugural, about her new book of essays The Trayvon Generation, among other things.
Submitted by Johnnie Rodriguez
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Deadline to Submit Your Event is TODAY!
The deadline to submit your ideas for activities and/or meals that you’d like to host for our Big UUCSC Fundraiser, Dining for Dollars PLUS (D4$+) is TODAY, Friday, April 15! Please use this LINK to submit or email
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UUCSC Board of Directors Meeting
From Wednesday to
Tuesday, April 19th from 6-8pm via Zoom
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Upcoming Intergenerational Activity |
Save the Date for a UU Beach Clean-up with other RI congregations on April 30th at 2pm! We will meet at the Scarborough beach pavilion.
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Please join the Antiracism Group on Monday, May 9, 2022, at 7pm on Zoom. We will be discussing Firekeeper's Daughter, the 2022 Reading Across RI book, by Angeline Boulley. We highly recommend reading it, but if you do not read the book feel free to join us and listen in on the conversation.
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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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Find where you might contribute and join a committee today!
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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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June 22 - 26, 2022
View the most recent
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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 Etta Zasloff, Editor, at zasloff.etta@gmail.com and Sara Kaplow, Congregational Administrator, at uucscri@yahoo.com by Tuesday Noon
to assure publication by Friday of that week.
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