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Sunday Service Joys & Concerns:
If you have a Joy and/or Concern to share:
1) You can type it into the “Comment/Chat” bar during Sunday's Service
2) To have your Joy or Concern Shared Aloud during next week's Sunday Service (September 6), you can email Pastor Jack by Thursday, September 3.
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This Week at a Glance and More...
Monday, August 31: Contemplative Meditation UUSP Meditations YouTube - “Steps to Becoming Immortal” from Greek prophet, Priest and Princess Diotima
(c. 500 BCE).
Thursday September 10: Zoom* Citizen's Cafe' 12:00pm A chance to share about the socio-political issues of the week and times. Look for the Zoom invitation arriving on September 9.
Wednesday, September 16: - Wednesday Zoom Discussion (10am & 7pm): a careful review of the UUA Commission on Institutional Change report: “Widening the Circle of Concern”.
Thursday September 24: Zoom* Citizen's Cafe' 12:00 pm A chance to share about the socio-political issues of the week and times. Look for the Zoom invitation arriving on September 9.
For those experiencing a serious sense of isolation, please feel free to email Pastor Jack or call 352-327-6166 for a phone or Zoom visit to meet on the open front porch of the church.
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Pastor Jack's Weekly Message |
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Dear Friends,
In this week’s UUSP Citizens’ Café the news events of concern that were offered for discussion were the “No Platform” GOP Convention, Climate Change Forest Fires, Race and Institutional Brutality, Private Vigilantism, and Political Lying. The common thread (and threat) we concluded (I’d say) was Political Lying about all of these concerns.
Our question as citizens became how can a person or a people detect and counter lies in order to serve what we might call the good, the right and the true – or, perhaps, a more perfect union. It was an inspiring discussion, full of humility, insight, and hope.
Our Citizens’ Café is modeled on the Committees of Correspondence of the colonial Americans – who were trying to identify what constitutes a more perfect union and the way to build it. Since they didn’t get it perfect, the construction continues. This requires many interrelated groups sharing discussions of the signs of the times and deciding what is right and what to do. I hope you are having such conversations.
Wishing you the safest and happiest uses of your week,
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Wednesday Zoom Adult Religious Studies
Starting Wednesday, September. 16 (10am &/or 7pm, your choice): A careful review of the UUA Commission on Institutional Change report, “Widening the Circle of Concern”, a study asking “How the Association could continue moving forward in the midst of another racially charged moment… asking for a process of truth and reconciliation… that redeems the essential promise and ideals of Unitarian Universalism.”
Look for Pastor Jack’s email with the study attached (or order the book at uuabookstore.org).
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Children's Religious Education:
August 30, 2020
This month’s theme for
Religious Education is Journey.
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What? - You aren't receiving it?
Please contact
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For this weeks' lesson from Ms. Trish, click on her picture below.
Journey of Life
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Ms. Jeanay:
Today is Summit Day: We will virtually “visit” a faith community of the religion we are exploring this Sunday.
Youth - please join us for our Meet up and Chat at 1:30p.
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Contemplative Meditation Readings
(Moving to Tuesday)
**How to do Mindful Meditation**
- Set your alarm for 5 to 40 minutes;
- Sit erect, breathe deeply once or twice to relax;
- Watch your breathing ease to normal, observing breath come and go;
- Count in cycles of ten breaths if it helps you keep observing – or repeat a “sacred” word for focus (e.g., peace, grace, life, thanks, care, see, being);
- If deep focus is lost to extraneous thought, feeling, or sensation, note it simply as “thought” or “feeling” or “sensation” and return to your breath or word;
- Sometimes, for deeper peace, try shifting attention to consciousness itself or to your sense of being.
- When your timer goes off, remain awake.
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Let’s Keep our new landscaping looking fabulous!
Would you like to volunteer to weed a section of the UUSP gardens?
Choose your section, weed when it is convenient for you, and enjoy the beautiful results.
For information and to sign up for a section, contact Karen.
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Mortgage, rent and utility assistance available - residents struggling to pay living expenses due to COVID-19 may be eligible for assistance from the City of St. Petersburg. Click the city logo for more information.
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Building a Community in a Pandemic E-vents |
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September 5: UUSP Walk & Wavers -Connect with your UUSP neighbors on a "Wave Tour." Then at 8:30pm, connect with other wavers, share your experiences and pictures.
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Zoom Meeting Link Meeting ID: 933 5497 9971 Passcode: 376915
We are adding virtual E-vents to our UUSP calendar. Please reach out to Sabine (973-768-3256) if you need help accessing events OR if you have ideas for an event.
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In case you missed it.... |
"What are you Watching?"
For those of you who missed Dave Mapp's "What are you Watching?"
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Everyone Has a Story to Tell
Our stories matter—especially for our family and friends.
Let's get together and share some
of ours on ZOOM
In this session we’ll explore and develop
personal story ideas to tell or write.
Tentatively scheduled for Monday, October 5 at 10-11:30 AM Eastern.
Barbara Archibald know if you’re interested . . . plus if that date and time work for you.
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Thanks to all who completed our Facilities Master Plan Survey earlier this month. It is intended as a straw poll to gauge how our congregation members prioritize our facilities needs.
Click here to view survey results.
We received 37 responses and are eager for more so we’ve re-opened the survey for a few weeks. If you’re a member and would like to complete the survey, click here.
Visit our Facilities Master Planning web-page to read the full Facilities Master Plan Report.
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Youth Suspensions and Arrests (YSA) Update
On August 25, the Pinellas School Board approved a new contract with the International Institute of Restorative Practices (IIRP) - in the amount of approximately $450,000!. FAST (Faith Action Strength Together) has worked tirelessly to encourage the School Board to overcome its original reluctance to use the IRP and FAST has now succeeded. This is a major step forward in the county’s efforts to cut youth suspensions and arrests, especially among black and other minority students.
As a reminder, UUSP is a member of FAST and the UUSP FAST committee will be leading efforts in late September to increase our involvement with FAST and focus on Social Justice initiatives. In addition to YSA major FAST initiatives (and accomplishments) are occurring to promote better mental health services, and more affordable housing in the county.
For more information contact Pat Fling, (727) 600-0509.
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Staying Connected With Pastor Jack & Staff |
Our UUSP staff members will continue their duties in a safe, cautious manner to the fullest degree possible.
Thank you, Cathy, Jeanay, Jon and Ciera! 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.
Pastor’s Open-Air Office Hours: : For those experiencing a serious sense of isolation, you are welcome to contact Pastor Jack (352-327-6166) to arrange a visit online or in the open air at the church.
Helping One Another: Just reach out to Pastor Jack so we can help lift you up or lift those that may need it through a message at Sunday Service or just to talk to them.
For members with mobility limitations, upon request, he will be glad to visit with you at any open-air location (eg, backyards, porches, local parks).
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Our UUSP Sermons are available on UUSP's website and our YouTube Channel: You can see information for our past worship services, since our new website went live, under Past Worship Services. All Services from mid-March 2020 - current are available on our UUSP YouTube Channel.
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Thank you for your interest in UU St. Petersburg!
From me to you and to those around you, Stay Safe and Stay Well!
Kelli DeGraw, part of your Communications Team.
Feedback and suggestions are welcome (pubs@uustpete.org).
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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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