In-Person and online 10:00 am

"Things You Just Know"

Rev. Denis Letourneau Paul

and Nick Smith

October 16, 2022

Most of what we know we learned as children: On a sunny day the sky is blue; dogs bark and cats meow; simple arithmetic and the alphabet. We learn more as we get older, and if we’re lucky, we learn how little we actually know. But there are other things that we know even without being taught: what kindness looks like. Or even how the universe works.  

Masks are required in the sanctuary.

Order of Service

Courage to be You

As we explore courage this month, let's honor how hard it is sometimes to just be ourselves: to speak up when something is wrong, to share a different opinion, even to say "this is me and I'm important." 

Our 1st UU Principle reminds us to respect the inherent worth and dignity of every person 

and the 7th reminds us that we are part of an interdependent web of all existence 

So this week we will celebrate our individual uniqueness by adding to our identity quilt and also celebrate our interdependence by playing cooperative games!

Rev's Reflections

Between us, Joe and I have lived in Chicago, Vancouver, San Francisco and Los Angeles, so on Monday when we saw the yellow signs with the big arrows, we knew what they meant: a movie is being filmed in our little town of Easton, MA. The signs are standard for the movie industry, and we’ve seen them hundreds of times. When I got home last night, Main Street was closed off around all the historic buildings on the National Register of Historic Places.

This morning on our walk, everyone we encountered wanted to stop and talk about it. They were all full of the stories of past movies filmed here, like Shelter Island, Mermaids, and The House Sitter. They were so excited to see themselves and their town on the big screen. People love being part of telling a story. Every little story helps us better understand who we are, and how we fit into the bigger picture.

Here in our congregation, we’re the same way. We love getting to share our stories, and to hear the stories of others. All that storytelling helps us know who we are, and how we fit in.

That’s why the worship committee and I are facilitating a series of occasional trainings for folks who want to be a part of our storytelling on Sunday mornings. The first one will be held on Saturday, November 5 at 10 AM. We’ll focus on spiritual reflections and how they relate to the sermon and the process of crafting a cohesive service. 

In a nutshell, the sermon is universal, looking at an idea through the macro lenses of world, community and congregation. The spiritual reflection is specific, looking at the same idea through the micro lens of the personal. Everyone has at least one great personal story to tell, and the spiritual reflection is your way to share your story with the whole congregation. Not only is it a great chance to get to know each other better, it’s an invitation to go deeper, something you’ve all shown to be of great importance to you as a congregation.

To be clear, expressing an interest in being a “worship assistant” isn’t a commitment to being on the worship committee and taking on the tasks of booking guest speakers and leading full services on the Sundays when I am not in the pulpit. Being a worship assistant is an opportunity to share your story or, perhaps more importantly, to help out by doing readings or leading rituals like reciting the covenant or lighting the chalice.

I hope you’ll join us. If you plan to, please let me know. The more people we have involved the deeper we can dive. Together.

In Peace,

Rev Denis

UUCSC Anti-racism Group

This is an open group; drop-ins are always welcome to join us in the work of undoing racism with the mission to LEARN, EDUCATE, ADVOCATE. At the October 10, 2022 Zoom meeting, we continued to explore advocacy and education outreach activities to undo racism. READ FULL REPORT for details. Join us as we continue this journey, energized to make a difference!  

The Zoom link to the meeting is always on the church calendar. We meet the 2nd and 4th Mondays of the month.  Our next meeting is October 24, 2022, 7:00-8:15 PM.  Please join us! 

From the Facilities Committee

An Opportunity to Serve UUCSC!

Your help will be sooo…appreciated!!

Tuesday, October 18, 2022

9:00 AM - Noon

Russell Stokes has graciously offered to be onsite to lead the charge to sort, dispose and organize UUCSC storage areas. Please join in to help organize everything stored in closets, cupboards, under stairwells, etc.  

If you have any items stored at UUCSC, we are asking that you either remove them as soon as possible, or if they need to be kept, please label them clearly with committee and/or contact person and their phone or email, whichever is an ACTIVE point of contact.  Please note that anything left unlabeled will be taken to the dump at the beginning of November. 

Submitted by Jean Burke, Facilities Committee 

We are also recruiting local artisans/vendors to rent tables, so if you know anyone who’d be interested, contact Trish.

PS Future fundraising events include a plant sale in the spring (we can start our cuttings and splitting now!) 

Submitted by Trish Hindley

Sound Meditation at UUCSC

Sunday, October 16

4pm to 5:30pm

The Sounds of Harmony Gong Meditation program facilitates relaxation and rejuvenation through sound vibrations of gongs, bells and crystal bowls washing around and through you to enhance a meditative state.

The suggested cost is $25.

In order for us to have a clear count of participants, please pay online  before 10am, Sunday.

Be Informed Before You Vote

Read the Voter Guides from the League of Women Voters

Featuring Local Candidates 

for

Narragansett, North Kingstown, and South Kingstown

and

Chariho area: Charlestown, Hopkinton, and Richmond

Start at the bottom of the ballot - The School Committee and

Town Council have the most immediate impact

on your daily life and the future of democracy!

View your Sample Ballot

Find Your Polling Place

Senate District 38 - Westerly, Charlestown, South Kingstown

Caswell Cooke, Jr - I

Robert J. deVillers - I 

Victoria Gu -D

Westin J. Place -R!

  Please check out the photo for the month of November in the SC Hospital calendar. It is of the “Ups & Down Farm” at 84 Beaver River Road in Richmond. Former member and constant Friend of UUCSC, Sallie Hoyle, who passed away in May, owned the farm with her husband John. Sallie was thrilled that their farm was appearing in the calendar! And I was delighted to share her joy with her during one of our last visits.

Submitted by Linda Whyte-Burrell

Reminders...

Pier Lecture Series at URI

Panel Discussion

In person and livestreamed

October 20, 2022

6:00 - 7:30 PM

Rhode Island is on the trajectory of electrification through clean energy generation as Rhode Island became the first state in the United States to create a law requiring 100% renewable energy production by 2033. Also, the state enacted the 2021 Act on Climate change which set the state on the path of achieving net-zero carbon emissions economy-wide by 2050. What challenges and opportunities will electrification bring about for our economy and environment? Learn more about the Pier Lecture Series and register here.

UUCSC Committees always need help and new ideas.

Please contact President Elizabeth Donovan at elizdn342@gmail.com.

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