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, July 3, 2022
No service in the sanctuary this Sunday.
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A Sunday Option to Commemorate
the 4th of July
Every Sunday since George Floyd's death the Westerly Anti-Racism Coalition has held a peaceful protest against racism on the steps of the downtown Post Office, 5 High Street, Westerly, RI.
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This Sunday, UUCSC speakers Etta Zasloff and Rev. Denis Paul will present the program in story and song
with music from our Barbara Holtzman and
ARC's Frank Pendola and Geoff Kauffman.
"Honoring our History: Contributions and Resilience of African Americans in Building America"
Sunday, July 3, 2022 * 11:00am -1:00pm
All are welcome. Bring a cushion to sit on the steps or a chair
and an umbrella to shade from the sun.
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The news wasn’t surprising. After all, it was pretty obvious back in 2016 that we were going to end up here, and a few weeks ago a leaked document confirmed what was already known. Yet somehow, it was still shocking to learn last Friday that this Supreme Court, dominated by regressive, backward-thinking justices, overturned Roe v. Wade. It was horrifying that evening to learn that states across the nation had already activated their “trigger laws” banning or limiting abortions so dramatically that they are virtually impossible to obtain.
In a matter of hours it seems, people have been stripped of autonomy over their own bodies. Of course, it’s been a long time coming. Forty-plus years coming, if we’re honest.
Meanwhile, the shootings continue as guns seem to have more rights than people. And just Tuesday, we learned that more than 50 people were found dead in the back of a truck in the Texas desert as they tried to make their way into the United States. Their deaths proved once again that desperate people do desperate things.
That’s exactly what worries me most about abortion bans in so many states, post-Roe. Desperate people will do desperate things.
If you care at all about other people and worry even a bit about our legacy and the future of our children, you are probably grieving right now. You might be looking for a place to talk. A place to share your fears without being interrupted, appeased, or advised.
I’ll be hosting a special sharing circle on Wednesday, July 6 at 7:00 PM via Zoom so that everyone can share.
There will be no agenda per se, though the conversation will focus on our concerns about our present and our future.
Whether or not you can make it for this conversation, please know that I am available to talk as we all figure out how to make it through these challenges together.
In Peace,
Rev Denis
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Mary and David Fulton, Sky Kimball |
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Unveiling UUCSC as UUSoCo |
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Many of us (including Rev. Denis) at UUCSC, now also known as UUSoCo :), participated in the Riverfire/South County Pride event on June 23 to celebrate Pride Month. A large crowd of cheerful folks--gay and straight, old and young, including lots of teenagers and lots of young children-- showed up in support of LGBTQIA+ issues. The weather was beautiful, the attire was rainbow inspired, the mood joyous. The drag show was a big draw. All 24 of our new lime green UUSoCo t-shirts were given out to our volunteers who staffed our “booth” and mingled with the crowd. Hopefully we will participate in many such events in coming months in addition to showing up at rallies and protests. Let’s help spread the good news of UUism!
To that end we (I) have created an Instagram account to complement our website and Facebook presence. Hopefully this will connect us to a new group of people. Please help by following us at @uusoco I am new at using Instagram for this purpose so all advice is welcome!
Let me know if you hear of an event where we could have a presence. If you received a green shirt, wear it as often as you can--someone may just ask about it! And if you'd like to get a shirt yourself send me an email. We'll consider a reorder if enough people express interest.
If you have trouble connecting with people at UUCSC over the summer, give me call and I'll see if I can help.
Happy Summer!
~Elizabeth
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Outing to The Gentle Farm For All Ages |
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This Sunday, July 3, from 10-noon, all are invited to visit The Gentle Farm. Pam Santos has created a peaceful environment which allows for the interaction and nurturing of various farm animals. Visitors will have a chance to meet the animals up close and personal. We will hold a chick, visit with rabbits, walk a goat, groom a mini horse, and snuggle with a donkey! The farm is located at 733 Post Road in Wakefield. You can check out the farm’s Facebook page at The Gentle Farm.
This and all summer events are open to all!
Submitted by Lee Cowan
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UUCSC Summer Worship and Activity Schedule |
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SUMMER WORSHIP
July 4
Holiday weekend, no service. Members of the UUCSC Social Justice Team and Rev. Denis are presenting at a gathering of the Westerly Anti-racism Coalition at 11am -1pm on Sunday morning. See Sunday notice above for details.
July 10
Rev Denis will be leading an outside worship service at 10 am in our backyard. Inside if rain.
July 17, 24, 31, August 7, 14
Our Worship Committee will present services on Zoom at 10 am. See the newsletter and website each week for the topic and the link to join the service.
August 21 and 28
Rev Denis will lead worship at our usual time and place, 10 am in the sanctuary.
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MEETUPS FOR ALL AGES
Paddling on the Saugatucket
with Rev. Denis
Saturday, July 9. 2022 * 9AM
99 North Rd, Peace Dale
Drop off your kayak a little early
and park at Lily Pads. Maybe lunch afterward.
BYOEverything Picnic
Monday, July 18, 2022 * 5:00 PM
UUCSC Backyard at Lily Pads
Bring your dinner, a beverage, a chair, bug spray and whatever else you might need for a couple of hours of conversation. Contact Elizabeth Donovan for more info: elizdn342@gmail.com
Hiking!
Sat. July 16th 10 AM at Trustom Pond
Sat. August 13th location TBD
Contact Russell Kellog for
Swim Picnics!
Last Sundays of July and August, 3PM at URI's Bay Campus.
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One more message
from Dining for Dollars PLUS 2022
THANK YOU, everyone who has already sent in your payments for your D4$+ events – we are doing great! If you still need to do this, please remember to either mail in your check (noting D4$+ in the memo line) or pay via the UUCSC online DONATION link on our website.
We want to remind everyone to be sure to mark your event(s) in your calendars, noting the time, location, and host contact information. The details for all of your events would have come to you via email on June 6, titled “Item Won Notification”. Be sure to open all messages in the email stream, if you
bid on multiple events. We wouldn’t want anyone to miss any of your special events!
If you ever need any information about your D4$+ events, just call Betsy Dalton or Trish Hindley. We are happy to help! Thanks again to EVERYONE for your help, enthusiasm, and participation – you made this year’s D4$+ fundraiser a great success. Enjoy your events and have a happy summer!
Betsy and Trish
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Tuesday, July 5, 2022
6:00-8:00 PM
Together Women Rise is a powerful community of women and allies dedicated to achieving global gender equality. We have hundreds of local chapters across the U.S. where members learn about and advocate for gender equality issues, give grants to organizations that empower women and girls in low-income countries, and build communities to forge meaningful connections that increase our strength and collective impact. All are welcome. More from Gail.
Submitted by Gail Burchard
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There were significant gains this session on gun safety, climate, voting rights, driver's licenses for undocumented immigrants and good progress on housing. No action on equal access to abortion, police reform, private prisons, or payday loans. Much remains to be done, but real progress was made.
- Let RI Vote
- 100% renewable energy by 2033
- Three gun safety measures
- Drivers' licenses regardless of documentation status
- Access to health care for undocumented children
- Improved funding and access to mental health care
- A ban on plastic bags and regulation of forever chemicals
- ARPA funds for housing and provision for ADUs
Submitted by Cathy Solomon, Social Justice Chair
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Teatro en El Verano Returns in July!
Rhode Island Latino Arts, in association with Trinity Rep, presents La Mancha, an English/Spanish bilingual adaptation of Don Quixote that's free to attend! As the latest Teatro en el Verano production, La Mancha features a cast of local Latinx actors, direction by Catia (Sueño), and a script by Marcel Mascaró (Tiny Beautiful Things).
La Mancha runs at La Galeria de Pueblo in Central Falls July 15 - 24, with a special performance at the State House Lawn on July 28. No registration is required to attend.
Submitted by Johnnie Rodriguez
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Tomaquag Museum's Annual Honoring and Cultural Celebration!
August 16, 2022
5:30 - 8:00 PM
URI Memorial Union Ballroom
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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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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 Etta Zasloff, Editor, at zasloff.etta@gmail.com and Sara Kaplow*, Congregational Administrator, at uucscri@gmail.com by Tuesday Noon
to assure publication by Friday of that week.
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*Congregational Administrator Sara will be out of the office the week of July 4th. Please be sure to send submissions to Etta during that time. |
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