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River Road Unitarian Universalist Congregation
To grow and deepen in Community, Spirit, and Service
eWeekly
September 29-October 6, 2022
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The Courage to Speak Our Own Truths
Rev. Nancy McDonald Ladd, Senior Minister; Rev. Amanda Weatherspoon, Associate Minister; Laura Piervincenzi, Family Ministry Coordinator
One service, in-person and virtual:
Sun., Oct. 2, 10am: Hybrid Service, also on YouTube
11am: Coffee Hour, both over Zoom and in-person
Watch for two links in the Saturday email: a YouTube link for the service and a Zoom link for the virtual Coffee Hour after the service. Recording will be posted on our YouTube channel. You can find our Order of Service online; if you are not watching in real time the Order of Service may not be available.
Sanctuary Hybrid, Online and In-Person: Service will be available via YouTube.
Join us online or in person for worship at 10am. By attending an in-person service, you are giving RRUUC permission to use your likeness in videos and photographs.
In October, we’ll explore our monthly theme of courage through a variety of lenses. This week, we’ll introduce the reproductive justice work happening here at River Road and reflect on what it means to live without stigma, organize for change, and offer something liberating in place of an ethic of control. Sunday service is broadcast live, and may include wide shots of the crowd in the sanctuary.
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Notices & Online Ministry Offerings | |
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Faith Formation Conversations
This fall, as part of the overall Board visioning work, Rev. Amanda, Beth Irikura, and Laura Piervincenzi are working to assess what is missing from our current offerings and what an array of dynamic programming around Faith Formation for members of all ages, and in all stages of life, can look like at RRUUC.
We are leading conversations on several Sundays this fall in the Sanctuary after worship service where we will discuss what Faith Formation means and ask members to consider what they’d like to see offered to help them explore and deepen their own spirituality. The dates are October 2, 9, 23, and November 6. We will offer Zoom sessions on Mon., Oct. 17 and Tues., Oct. 25 at 7:30pm. Come be a part of the conversation!
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COVID Boosters and Flu Shots Vaccination Clinic
Sun., Oct. 2, 2:00-5:00pm
At RRUUC - 6301 River Road
Appointments Appreciated
River Road Unitarian Universalist Congregation, Beth Chai, and Giant Pharmacy are teaming up to sponsor a vaccination clinic this Sun., Oct. 2. It is open to the community. Both COVID boosters and flu shots will be available, both for children ages 3 and up and adults. Advance sign-up is appreciated although walk-ins are allowed.
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Please follow this link to reserve a time
- The vaccinations are free of charge but insurance information will be collected. Please bring your ID, vaccination card and insurance card.
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This form can be filled out in advance to save time at the appointment.
We are also looking for volunteers, so let us know if you are able to help from 1:30-3:30 or 3:30-5:30.
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30th Annual PartnerFest, Sat., Oct. 15
In-person Wine and Hors d’Oeuvres Reception at 6:00pm
In-person and Live-streamed Concert at 7:00pm
Join River Road’s Partner Church Committee on Sat., Oct. 15 for an unforgettable evening of live, in-person entertainment featuring our own pianist Dr. Shuai Wang in a performance with acclaimed violinist Anto Meliksetian! The evening begins at 6:00pm with a wine and hors d’oeuvres reception (included in the $40 ticket price) at River Road, followed by the concert at 7:00pm. For those who cannot join in-person, the concert will be live-streamed! Proceeds from the event benefit River Road’s long-standing partner congregations in Fiatfalva, Transylvania and Mawblang, N.E. India. Both partners work with RRUUC to promote educational programs in their communities, and our partners in Fiatfalva have worked with us to support local Unitarian initiatives to aid those who have been displaced by the war in Ukraine. Join us to support these important initiatives! You can also support RRUUC’s Partner Churches on Sun., Oct. 23 as we “Extend the Offering” in the service.
To register for both the in-person and online Partnerfest options, visit bit.ly/PartnerFest30. Questions? Email partnerchurch@rruuc.org.
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We are offering the rite of passage of Child Dedication on Nov. 6 during worship. At RRUUC, the ceremony introduces the children to the congregation and the congregation commits to love and support them as they learn and grow in their spiritual lives. Children of all ages can be dedicated. If you'd like to participate, please contact Beth Irikura, Director of Religious Education.
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2022–23 Religious Education
Children (except Spirit Play, OWL, and HS) will begin in the sanctuary at 10am for Prophetic Voices, then head to class. Spirit Play, OWL, and HS start in class.
This Sunday
Childcare (under 3): room 13
Spirit Play (3–5): room 20
Elementary (grades K–2): room 25
Elementary (grades 3–5): room 23 (mural painting!)
OWL: room 31 - start at 9:45 in class; then go to worship together
Middle School: Field trip to All Souls Church Unitarian leaves at 9:45 from the plaza; return at 1pm
Youth Group: room 32
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Attend Earth Ministry's live speaker program on Sun., Oct. 2 at 12pm in the Fireside Room: "Decarbonizing MoCo Buildings... All electric & no new natural gas? YES or NO?"
Stay informed with RRUUC's presentation on Bill 13-22, now pending before the Montgomery County Council. This bill provides for an all-electric mandate for new buildings in Montgomery County and requires the County Executive to set standards for this mandate by January 1, 2024. The bill has exemptions, and it is controversial. Three expert speakers will present differing points of view:
- Dr. David Goodrich, Board Chair of the Chesapeake Climate Action Network
- Leslie Zarker, RRUUC Member & Director of Sustainable Policy at the National Housing Trust
- Garrett Fitzgerald, Maryland Climate and Energy Policy Manager, Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection.
Ready for more action? Please note that Earth Ministry's intermediate-level Climate Reset Workshops have been postponed and will run for 4 weeks starting Tues., Oct. 18. Read more and register at bit.ly/RRUUCClimateWorkshop, and you can always email us with questions or comments at RRUUCEarthMinistry@gmail.com.
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Register Now for New Curriculum on Faith Support for Reproductive Freedom
RRUUC has recently connected with a new national organization called SACReD, the Spiritual Alliance of Communities for Reproductive Dignity. The mission of SACReD is to empower congregations to become loving, justice-seeking faith communities that fully support the fulfillment of reproductive moral agency and flourishing for all. SACReD has developed a curriculum to help participants deepen their understanding of the connection between faith, racism, and reproductive ethics, and to identify strategies and actions for liberation within religious communities and the larger world. Given the recent rollback of Roe v. Wade – and the fact that many people have never had meaningful access to reproductive healthcare – it is a critical time to learn and to act.
We are offering the SACReD curriculum in partnership with UU Congregation of Columbia. Sessions will be led by Robin Slaw of UUCC and RRUUC’s Laura Piervincenzi starting Tues. Oct. 18 and continuing on the third Tuesday of each month through May. All sessions will be held on Zoom, 7:00-9:00pm. Participants are required to attend at least 5 of the 8 sessions including the first one. There is no charge, but space is limited. Please register here.
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Join a Storytelling class!
Learn to combine personal narratives with universal spiritual or other themes in a safe, confidential, and challenging atmosphere. Modeled after “The Moth” radio and podcast stories, students respond to an optional storytelling prompt, share stories from their lives aloud with the group, and receive individualized, compassionate feedback from the group and instructor. Stories are of various lengths but under 10 minutes and can be read or simply told. The class meets monthly October to June. Stories are hoped for but not required from each person each month. Even a 100 word story is very interesting.
Storytelling classes meet monthly Saturday mornings at RRUUC, 9:30am-12:00pm. We will switch to Zoom if the COVID situation worsens. Masks are required at RRUUC but a microphone will be available. Two classes are offered at the same level with all experience levels welcome. Storytelling 2 is now full, but you can still sign up for Storytelling 1. Limited to 10 per class. The cost for this year-long class is $350.
Storytelling 1 dates: 10/8, 11/5, 12/3, 1/14, 2/11, 3/11, 4/8, 5/20, 6/10 (make-up class if needed)
Kim Schraf, a professional actor and experienced writing teacher, provides very insightful suggestions on both the content and presentation style so that people’s confidence rapidly grows!
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Friday Morning Book Group
The book group meets on the third Friday of the month beginning at 10am (via Zoom) to discuss a book selected by the group. Participants are invited to sign in as early as 9:45am to chat and socialize before the discussion begins at 10am. In the coming months we will be discussing the following books:
October 21: The Other Einstein by Marie Benedict
November 18: These Precious Days by Ann Patchett
We will not meet in December.
Contact the River Road office to be put on the email list for the Zoom link.
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Wondering how you can engage with RRUUC's social justice activities?
Come to the in-person Social Justice Fair at 11:00am on Sun., Oct. 16 on the front plaza. Meet activists involved in many of RRUUC’s activities, who will tell you more about what you can do to join in the fun!
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Donate Your Used Car
Our Afghan family is again in need of a donated car. The older car they were able to obtain thanks to an RRUUC friend developed serious mechanical problems after a number of months, and they have been advised that the cost of repairs would be more than the value of the car. This family of eight has considerable difficulty without a means of transportation to get to work and medical appointments or do grocery shopping. If you have any leads from neighbors or friends, let us know.
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Help for a Ukrainian family escaping the war in Virginia
Mount Vernon Unitarian Church in Virginia is supporting a Ukrainian family, who escaped the ravages of war and who were living with a host family in Alexandria, VA. The family (with 2 small children) has moved to a small rental house, which church members helped furnish. If you wish to help, the church has set up a Faithify fund page, which could support the rent, etc. for possibly 2 years, but the fund will end Oct. 10.
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Voices From the Holy Land Film Salon
On Sun., Oct. 9, at 4pm, join Peter Beinart in a discussion about the documentary BOYCOTT. This is a time-limited viewing opportunity. Register at tinyurl.com/VFHL-October2022, view the film for free at your convenience for 4 days, then join the Zoom on Sunday.
Abstract:
When a news publisher in Arkansas, an attorney in Arizona, and a speech therapist in Texas are told they must choose between their jobs and their political beliefs, they launch legal battles that expose an attack on freedom of speech across 33 states in America. BOYCOTT is a bracing look at the far-reaching implications of anti-boycott legislation designed to penalize companies and individuals that choose to boycott Israel due to its human rights record.
Panelists & Moderator:
Peter Beinart: Editor-at-Large, Jewish Currents; MSNBC Contributor; Professor of Journalism; Political Science, Newmark School of Journalism, CUNY; Fellow, Foundation for Middle East Peace; Publisher, The Beinart Newsletter
Jen Marlowe: author, filmmaker, playwright, journalist, and human rights activist
Bahia Amawi: speech pathologist, free-speech plaintiff vs. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and Pflugerville ISD
Mnar Adley (moderator): Editor-in-Chief, MintPress News
Sponsored by Voices from the Holy Land, co-sponsored by United Methodist Kairos Response and Methodist Federation for Social Action.
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Save the dates Oct. 13-16: Immigration Film Fest
This year's Immigration Film Fest explores the nature of home. Is it a place, a safe space, a feeling, a memory, a person, or something more?
The 2022 World Migration Report estimates that in 2020 there were over 281 million people living outside of their country of birth, whether because of forced displacement, climate change, or moving to seek better opportunities. Of that number, the UN estimates that 89.3 million people were forcibly displaced from their homes due to persecution, conflict, and human rights violations. They estimate that nearly half of these forced migrants are children.
Join online and in person to see their stories, their hopes, and their yearning to settle and to be at home in the world. Watch IFF 2022 selections at home with family or join us in Washington, DC, and Arlington for a weekend of festival screenings Oct. 13-16.
More information can be found on IFF's website; tickets now available at bit.ly/IFF2022TIX.
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Extend the Offering: RRUUC Partner Church
Partner Church supports RRUUC’s two partner churches in Fiatfalva, Transylvania, and Mawblang, N.E. India. Resources from abroad, including from RRUUC, have been essential in keeping the Unitarian movement alive in Transylvania, where it originated.
You can support Partner Church throughout the month of October by making online contributions (select "Extend the Offering"), or by making check donations to RRUUC (designate Paartner Church). And of course, you can attend Partnerfest on Oct. 15.
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Lost to Gun Violence
As part of our ongoing commitment to the activists who are interrupting gun violence on the streets of our cities, we are saddened yet honored to memorialize the names of those in our area lost to gun violence over the past two weeks. These lives continue to matter:
Baltimore: Delon “Lonnie DaGoat” Bushrod Jr., Terry Gordon, and one victim not identified. Cambridge: Kevin Dwayne Raeford. District of Columbia: Harold Blair III, David Scott, Bacilio Villatoro, Arthur "Buddy" Harrison, and Antonio Taylor. Hyattsville: Giovanni Hayles and Damani Sanders. Riverdale: one victim not identified. Every life lost to gun violence shatters the world for each of us, and every life saved by those who interrupt the violence helps knit us back together.
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RRUUC Land Acknowledgement
Acknowledging and remembering that we are situated on the traditional land of the Nacotchtank and Piscataway people, and on the land on which enslaved African people and their descendants labored and lived, we gather together in worship. May the words of our mouths, the meditations of our hearts and the actions of our hands point the way toward a more just future. May the memory of those whose love and labor went before inspire us to create a path of greater joy and justice for all who will follow.
If you would like to learn more about our land's history, please watch the service from June 13, 2021.
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River Road Unitarian Universalist Congregation
6301 River Road, Bethesda, MD 20817 | 301-229-0400 news@rruuc.org | www.rruuc.org
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