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We will not be joining in our yard this week. We will return April 25th at 4pm.
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Pastor Jack's Weekly Message |
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Dear Friends,
This past Sunday, UUSP’s 9:15am Religious Discussions group shared views on the meaning and use of the word “God.” Old doctrinal understandings did not get much credence. Renaming the concept and redefining it in practical experiential terms as energy, being and source seemed more credible. And garnering greatest approval, I think, was concerning ourselves more with the Nature of Nature and Humankind in service of well-being.
Perhaps later in the Religious Words We Question series we’ll circle back to look at what our understanding of the Source of existence has to do with our spiritual maturation – and maybe at how Source and Soul are related.
In the meantime, may our daily choices enhance the spirit of life in us, our congregation and our world.
Continued Blessings,
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April 21 @ 10:00am
Life’s Transition Points and Their Accompanying Rituals: As a prompt and guide, we’ll use Robert Fulghum’s From Beginning to End: Reflections on the Rituals of Our Lives. Please sign up with Pastor Jack (jfdonovan@bellsouth.net) to receive the quotes for each Wednesday discussion. You’ll enjoy the book as warm and insightful if you have time to read – but the quotes will suffice for discussion.
The Zoom link will be sent out Tuesday. Contact Pastor Jack if you have questions or don't get the link on Tuesday.
On the 3rd Wednesdays, we’ll forego a meeting so folks may attend the African American Heritage Association monthly presentations.
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Children's RE
K-5th grade:
'RE Thru Art'
April 18th from
10-11am
Each biweekly session, students will be given an introduction and discussion on the topic of the week. This Sunday covers Earth Day. We will have music to play! Ms. Trish is sharing some chords on the ukuleles!
Our theme this month is “What does it mean to be a people of “Becoming?” On this day, our thoughts turn toward Earth Day, April 22. We are becoming people of the earth.
Each Earth Day, we work to become even more aware of what is happening around us on our planet, in order to work toward helping our planet and ourselves. So, what’s one of the ways our faith guides us into being a people of Becoming? It says, “Become people of the Earth.” April 18th will cover Earth Day.
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Pastor Jack's Sunday Morning
Zoom Discussion Group
April 18 9:15am
Religious Conversations Series on Religious Words We Question. Our word of the week is, “FAITH.” Some of our possible questions: (1) How do you define the word “faith”? (2) By your definition, is “faith” a useful word and concept for you? (3) Are there non-helpful ways in which the word “faith” is used?
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We have completed a full year of weekly contemplative readings – and there we will stop. They are all still up in case you want to listen. Blessings!
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Noon Zoom Cafe Check-In,
April 27 at Noon
UUSP’s mid-week opportunity to check-in with one another and, time allowing, the news, will now be meeting bi-weekly – 2nd and 4th Tuesday each month.
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April 21 10:00am Religious Studies Series on Life’s Transition Points and Their Accompanying Rituals
(More below)
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The Board of Trustees meet on the second Thursdays of the month. Stay tuned for the newsletter next week.
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Come volunteer or provide a dish every Friday at
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Covenant Groups
Don’t forget our covenant groups continue to meet monthly, these days mainly on Zoom. We currently have eleven covenant groups in the congregation with over 100 people participating!!
A Covenant Group is a group of 10 or so people who gather regularly (at least monthly) to share and converse about how life is going for the individuals in the group and often for our wider circles of life.
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Olive and Amelia Scogna, frequent volunteers for the Friday Night Picnic, recently raised $133 at their lemon stand, and are donating their proceeds to our meal share ministry for people in need.
Thank you Olive, Amelia and Mom Lindsay! Much love,
UU's Helping People and the Friday Night super CrUU.
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Planting trees, flowers, and future hydroponic micro greens, teen volunteers learn about nutrition and leadership along with career farming skills. International teens who spent a month volunteering with southside teens, have “adopted” new trees.
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Celebrating Pastor Jack
As we've all heard, Pastor Jack will leave UUSP and St. Petersburg for what he calls "trial retirement" at the end of June. We want to celebrate his almost-seven-year ministry here in fine fashion! If you would like to join a small "Steering Committee" to work on these plans, or if you just have some ideas you'd like to pass along, please let Susan Burnore know.
Email is best. Thank You!
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Search for an Interim Minister
The Interim Search Committee (Susan Burnore, Sally Carville and Sharon Winters) is preparing an extensive interim search documents packet for submission to UUA no later than April 22nd. The information packet will include a wealth of information about our congregation and its work ranging from demographics - to programs & resources - to congregational life - to finances. The results of the Interim Search Survey will inform this work so thanks to the 67 people who responded. Click here to learn more about the survey.
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Leaders Needed
Would you like to be more fully involved in the life of UU St. Pete and play an integral part in the development and mission of our church? Positions will be open on the Board of Trustees and the Board of Endowment in July 2021.
If you are interested in volunteering your talent during this exciting time for our church please contact a member of the nominating committee:
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UU St. Pete Annual Campaign
What is Pledging?
Every spring, UU St. Pete asks each member to make a new pledge for the subsequent fiscal year. You can always change the amount of your pledge by notifying the financial secretary. There is no minimum pledge. Learn more here
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Members and friends set up a plan to make a gift from their estate to the Endowment Fund of UU St. Pete. Leaving a portion of the assets one has accumulated over the course of a lifetime ensures the continuation of the spiritual home that they have come to cherish and perpetuates our UU values. |
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Forty-three state legislatures have introduced more than 250 bills that would make it harder to vote. These attacks must be stopped, and we have the power and leverage of our institutions to support democracy. See this Brennan Center for Justice chart by states of what legislation has been introduced and how the For the People Act will block these measures.
Here is what you can do now:
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Thank you for your interest in
Unitarian Universalist Church of St. Petersburg!
Stay Safe and Stay Well!
Kelli DeGraw,
part of your Communications Team.
Feedback and suggestions are welcome
(reply to this email). For technical support, click the button below.
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Our UUSP staff members will continue their duties safely, cautiously to the fullest degree possible.
Thank you to our UU St Pete Contributors, Jeanay, Jon, and James, and many volunteers!
During this challenging time, may we remember that we need to pay close attention to how everybody is doing and how we can help.
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Our mission is to be an inclusive, evolving religious community
that inspires spiritual and intellectual growth to make our world a better place.
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Unitarian Universalist Church of St. Petersburg
727.898.3294
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