Thursday, October 6, 2022 |
|
THIS SUNDAY'S
WORSHIP SERVICE
|
|
|
"Where Does It Hurt? Ruby Sales, Black Folk Religion, and White Folk in America"
Bob Clegg, Guest Speaker
Jan Sprinkel, Service Leader
Kate Bennett, Music
In Person & Zoom
Sunday, October 9, 2022
This service will explore and celebrate the life’s work of Ruby Sales, a public theologian who has advocated for social justice since 1964. Sales’ observations about what she calls black folk religion, and her quest for a theology to address moral bankruptcy and ennui in poor White America, hold as much meaning for white people in America today as for people who have been historically oppressed.
So we can begin the discussion promptly at 10 am, please sign into Zoom ( click here) or arrive by no later than 9:50 am.
REMEMBER: Special Congregational Meeting after the service to approve replacing the sanctuary heating and cooling system.
Welcoming Families and Children on Sunday Mornings
Each Sunday, UUCR offers childcare and simple age-appropriate activities for children of all ages. If you have any questions about UUCR's programming for families and children, please be in touch with Rev. Sue.
|
|
|
Upcoming Worship Services |
|
Sunday, October 16 — In Person & ZOOM
"Is the Grass Always Greener?"
The Ten Commandments include the warning, “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house…” Many stories often center on a theme of jealousy. We scroll social media postings and find ourselves asking, "Am I doing as well as… ? Am I doing better than… ?" At this service with Rev. Sue Browning we’ll reflect on alternatives to the pull of envy in our lives.
- Rev. Sue Browning, Minister
- Nancy Holland, Service Leader
- Michael Casey, Musician
Sunday, October 23 — In Person & ZOOM
"In a Broken and Fearful World"
This Sunday we welcome Rev. Jill Tolbert, a minister at our neighboring Presbyterian Church on Gateway Drive. She and her husband, Rev. Joel, came to the Eastern Shore and PCC in late 2020 - a few months before Covid! This morning she continues the special tradition we have enjoyed over the years when PCC clergy cross Gateway Drive on a Sunday morning to join in our service and deliver a sermon. In the month of October our UU Services have centered around the theme of Courage. Rev. Jill will continue this in her sermon, “In a Broken and Fearful World…”
"In a broken and fearful world the Spirit gives us courage to pray without ceasing, …to unmask idolatries in Church and culture, to hear the voices of peoples long silenced, and to work with others for justice, freedom, and peace.” This service will explore the brokenness in our world that push us toward fear, and consider various stories of courage that might pull us from fear to faithful action.” Come join us!
- Rev. Jill Tolbert, Guest Speaker
- Annie Lavin, Service Leader
- Michael Casey, Rebekah Hock, and Meredith Hadaway, Musicians
|
|
|
So You Don't Miss Anything! |
- This Week's Worship Service Information
- Upcoming Worship Services Information
- Newsletter Index
- Helpful Links, Office Hours, Upcoming Events Calendar
-
ATTENTION: Special Congregational Meeting October 9
- Minister's Column
- Hurricane Ian Disaster Relief Fund
- The Dory Fish and Stressful Times
- Rebuilding Together Special Collection
- Pastoral Care and Connection Committee
- Birthdays
- UUCR Contact Information
- End of Reflections Notice at the VERY END
|
|
|
If you don't see "VERY END of REFLECTIONS for October 6, 2022"
at the VERY END of this email, you're not seeing the entire email.
|
|
|
 |
This Week's
Worship Service
Last Week's Worship Service Recording
UUCR
UUCR Office Hours:
W, Sa, Su — 8:30 am - 12:30 pm
M, Tu, Th, F — CLOSED
|
|
|
|
OCT 9 | Worship Service
In Person & ZOOM
Bob Clegg, guest speaker
OCT 9 | Special
Congregational Meeting
Replacement of sanctuary
heating & cooling system
OCT 16 | Worship Service
In Person & ZOOM
Rev. Sue Brown, minister
OCT 23 | Worship Service
In Person & ZOOM
Rev. Jill Tolbert, guest
speaker
OCT 30 | Worship Service
ZOOM ONLY
|
|
|
|
If you know of another link or event that should be added, please contact
the UUCR office by email or phone 410-778-3440. Thanks!
|
|
|
Special Congregational Meeting October 9 |
|
Notice of Special Congregational Meeting on October 9, 2022 to Approve Replacing the Sanctuary Heating and Cooling System
During the seasonal maintenance inspection of our heating and cooling systems last Wednesday, September 21, it was discovered that there is a crack in the heat exchanger that provides heat to the sanctuary (we have two systems, one for the sanctuary and one for the other areas of the building). There can be no heat in the sanctuary until the heating unit is replaced.
The Buildings and Grounds committee is getting proposals from local contractors to replace the heating and air conditioning unit for the sanctuary. It is approximately 16 years old, a normal lifespan for this type of equipment.
The expense will be covered under UUCR's Capital Reserve Fund, which covers major improvements and/or major maintenance to the building. The expense must be approved by the congregation at a congregational meeting. Specific information on the proposed equipment and estimated cost will be sent to the congregation prior to the meeting.
Please mark your calendar and plan to attend this important congregational meeting. If you have questions please contact: Lynn Geisert, lngeisert@aol.com or Jim Lavin, jmlavin@gmail.com.
|
|
|
The Blessing of Shelter
Often when I offer a prayer during a service, I give thanks for food, shelter, and our resources. It's a chance to pause and remind one another not to take the basics for granted.
This week I find myself particularly aware of our thanks for
"shelter" - the roof over our heads, our appreciation for heat and cooling that comes for most of us with shelter, and the appliances, furniture, and storage that are a part of the physical comfort of shelter.
It is hard to see the devastation left behind by Hurricane Ian. The images of homes demolished and missing roofs, and belongings strewn along streets, offer a glimpse of the many losses. I think about the care people had put into their homes. The rent or mortgage regularly paid, the homes and yards cared for, the decorations carefully placed. So many have lost the basic protection of shelter, and much more.
I've thought too about our church buildings. As gathering places for the congregation, these buildings too offer shelter of sorts. As UUCR considers its broken heating system and UUFE reworks its maintenance and repair plans, we're reminded of the care it takes to sustain our church homes. This past Sunday UUCR celebrated its 30th anniversary and there was a nurturing place to gather. In a few weeks UUFE will hold its fall potluck in its safe building.
As we care for our spaces, we also know several UU congregations in Florida have damaged buildings and we are invited to make donations to assist these congregations through the UUA Disaster Relief Fund. It's one way to help.
In so many ways we give thanks for shelter this week.
In gratitude,
Rev. Sue
|
|
|
Hurricane Ian
UUA Disaster Relief Fund
|
|
The Unitarian Universalists Association has set up a fund to aid with disaster relief in Florida and other areas impacted by the storm. In particular, they are seeking to support UU congregations and the communities they serve. You can go online to donate at giving.uua.org/disaster-relief , or text DISASTER to 51555, or by phone at (888) 792-5885 | Select option 6. You can also contribute by mail to Unitarian Universalist Association, Attn: Gift Processing, 24 Farnsworth St., Boston, MA 02210-1409. Your contribution to the UUA Disaster Relief Fund now will allow them to grant recovery funds right away to Florida congregations who need it — and any other congregations in Ian's path — in the days or weeks before FEMA aid or flood insurance (which few can afford) reaches those in need.
|
|
|
The Dory Fish and Stressful Times |
|
"Have you noticed that you forget things more now than you remember doing before? Or perhaps you have communicated events and decisions in your congregations or communities and folks insist they have never heard it before? I am sure you can think of other examples in your life, family, or the communities you serve where folks just don’t seem to remember very well. I call this The Dory Fish and it is a normal response to stressful times."
Steps in planning for The Dory Fish experience:
- The first, and perhaps the hardest is to be patient
- Let go of judgement
- Engage in repetition
- Make what we want to remember memorable.
Excerpts from an article written by Rev. Sunshine Wolfe in the UUA-CER October, 2022 newsletter. For the full article CLICK HERE.
|
|
|
UUCR Social Justice Work for October 2022
Will Focus on Local Low Income Housing.
|
|
We have identified Rebuilding Together Kent County as the local non profit we will collect funds for throughout October. Rebuilding Together Kent County (RTKC) is part of a national organization. They work in local partnership with community volunteers and local contractors to provide free home repairs, safety modifications, and links to community resources to keep homeowners with limited resources living independently in homes that are safe, warm, and dry.
Please visit our Social Justice Bulletin Board in the foyer to learn more. UUCR congregants who have worked with RTKC or other local housing organizations are asked to gather there to share their experiences and encourage others to volunteer time and skills.
Pam Vogel, a UUCR Friend, currently serves as Board Secretary to Rebuilding Together and is most knowledgeable, as is the website www.rebuildingtogetherkcmd.org. We hope to post more information about scheduled work opportunities soon. Thanks to all who have given to those who need help with housing. Their needs continue! UUCR members also support and volunteer with Kent Attainable Housing, The Good Neighbor Fund, and The Samaritan Shelter. Each organization offers unique services that address the complex needs of our neighbors with housing insecurity.
You can contribute by writing a check made out to UUCR specifying “Rebuilding Together” in the memo line and either placing it in the offering basket on Sundays or sending it to the church office. You can also donate online at the UUCR website using the “Donate” button (click here) and “Custom Amount,” specifying “Rebuilding Together” in the comment section.
Please make your donation before October 31.
|
|
|
Pastoral Care and Connection |
|
You are encouraged to share your joys and sorrows with the UUCR Pastoral Associates (see below). This team is a mixed group — but all have had previous life experiences and a variety of professional training in counseling and philosophy. Please contact one, or several of us, if you “want to talk.”
Pastoral Care Associates: Kevin Brien,
Gayle Folger, Nancy Holland, and Vida Morley
|
|
|
OCTOBER
11 - Cynthia Ramsey
17 - Catherine Brooks
|
|
|
We want to help celebrate your birthday! If we didn't include your birthday, please contact the UUCR office by email (click here).
|
|
|
Unitarian Universalists of the Chester River 914 Gateway Drive | Chestertown, MD | 21620
Phone: 410-778-3440
Office hours: W, Sa, Su — 8:30 am-12:30 pm
Closed — M, Tu, Th, F
|
|
|
VERY END of REFLECTIONS for October 6, 2022
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
