UUCSC News and Updates
Weekly on Fridays
Volume II * Issue 28 * December 10, 2021
Unitarian Universalist Congregation of South County, RI
All are welcome!
This Sunday, December 12, 2021
10:00 AM In-person
"Born in June, Raised in April:
What Adoption Can Teach the World"

Look for the recording on our YouTube channel Sunday afternoon.
Though we are "singing from the heart" during services, we are still encouraged to read from our hymnals if we wish. Please pick yours up when you come in, and return it to its shelf when you leave. 
Worship
"Born in June, Raised in April: What Adoption Can Teach the World"

April Dinwoodie
Guest Speaker

With the pandemic as a backdrop and through a rich and personal lens of transracial adoption, April Dinwoodie will candidly explore powerful lessons of identity, relationships, and differences of race, culture, and class.

April Dinwoodie is a Black/bi-racial, transracially adopted person from Westerly, RI and a nationally recognized thought leader on adoption, foster care, and multiracial families. She is a founding member of the Westerly Anti-racism Coalition (Westerly ARC).
Religious Exploration
Chalica and Solstice

Rev. Denis will join us outside for our entire RE time this Sunday! He will introduce the uniquely UU holiday of Chalica and tell us about the beautiful traditions he has created around this holiday. He will then guide us in constructing a giant 7-pointed star together!

After that we will continue to plan and create decorations for our solstice play, which will be part of the multi-genenerational service in the sanctuary on Dec. 19th.

All are invited to stay after service to help put together our new play structure!

Lee Cowan, Director of Religious Education
Our recipient for December Share the Plate is Dorcas International RI,
not AMOR, as was mistakenly stated in last week's newsletter.
Submitted by Etta Zasloff, Editor
Rev's Reflections
The banners all over Modesto, California read “Happy Hallothanksmas!”

I liked the intention behind the proclamations, but found it a little clunky, so I just started saying “Happy Pumpkinspice,” beginning in early October when the scent and flavor become ubiquitous, and right into the new year.

It’s all very tongue-in-cheek of course. The truth is I don’t love the fall and winter holidays. 

Halloween used to be a time for child-friendly spookiness, and a chance for LGBTQ+ self expression in relative safety. Especially those on the trans* spectrum. Now, it feels like all sexy nurses, sexy vampires, and an excuse for drunkenness.

Thanksgiving feels like a rewriting of our history of colonialism and genocide.

And while I love all the effort put into illuminating the longest nights of the year, Christmas just doesn’t feel like mine. It feels inauthentic to decorate for and celebrate a faith that I don’t proclaim. Sure, Christmas is in many ways secular now, but even that feels like a celebration of excess and consumption.

Last week, I told my husband Joe that our new home seems made for Christmas decorations. The bay in the living room, with its floor-to-ceiling windows is the perfect spot for a tree. And the eight white Doric columns on the wraparound porch are begging for red ribbon to transform them into candy canes. After a lot of prayerful thought and reflection, we concluded that it just wouldn’t be an authentic or respectful representation of our shared and individual spirituality.

But, we affirmed, celebrating Chalica feels right!

If you saw my sermon from last year (there’s a link to it in the UUCSC’s last newsletter) about the new UU holiday, you know that it’s an early-December seven-night observance of our principles. I don’t want it to just be a pedantic series of lectures on the principles. I want to to be a celebration, with its own ancient rituals and time-honored traditions, so I came up with my own. Everything ancient and time-honored has to start somewhere.

One of our new traditions is making seven-pointed stars to mark a time in the ever-evolving history of our principles. In the tradition of using materials from the earth, steeped with symbolism, to convey the values of a modern faith, we built an 8-foot heptagram from pine boughs, studded with pine cones and LED fairy lights in the commonly accepted theme of Chalica: a rainbow of colors.
It feels good to share this first reflection with you, during my first full week as your new minister, during the week of our new holiday. The timing of this beginning is a reminder of the endless possibilities ahead of us, and the creativity they afford, all in service to our shared values and commitments. 

During these cold and dark months, you may hear me wish you, cheekily, a Happy Pumpkinspice. But this week, with earnestness and joy I wish you a Happy Chalica!

In Peace,
Rev Denis  
Board News
Read Board of Directors November 2021 Minutes HERE.
Wreath Donation

In memory of my husband, Robert F. Dalton, who passed away twenty years ago on December 28, 2001, and also of my two dear friends, Judy Montgomery and Paul D'Alessandro, who were killed in a car crash this past May, I donate 2 wreaths for the UUCSC sanctuary. Each of these wonderful individuals just LOVED this season of the year. In loving memory of them.
Betsy Dalton

Tuesday,
December 21, 2021
4:30 PM
Outside this year on the actual day of solstice!
Please join us at the gate entrance
of our back yard area.

This is a contemplative, meditative experience we have held during the Midwinter season for many years. A spiral of evergreens is laid out on the ground. Each individual takes a turn walking into the center, lighting a candle, and walking out, placing the candle along the spiral, while everyone present attends in silence. In this way we support each others' journey through the darkest days of the year.
-----
Five helpers are needed to set up at 3pm and a few helpers to stay after to clean up. Please contact Sally Barney at sbarney07@aol.com, or call 401-932-1647 if you can help.
 
If you have evergreen branches or clippings to share, please drop them off Sunday - Tuesday (by 3pm) on the tarp which will be laid out near the front door.
Submitted by Sally Barney

Christmas Eve Eve Service
Join us for Christmas Eve Eve!
Thursday, December 23, 2021
6:00pm and 7:30pm services

Pre-registration is required, and with space limited, we urge congregants to sign up immediately to get a spot before the general public. Proof of vaccination is required for the 6:00pm service. You may register after Sunday service at the choir's registration table with the vaccination records of all members of your party, or by emailing your name, phone, and vaccination records of all members of your party (if registering for the 6:00pm) to uucscri@yahoo.com or mgalib@middlebury.edu. You will receive a confirmation within 48 hours when registering by email. If you don't, please check in again or double-check the email address was typed properly.

What to know before registration:
  • Doors open 15 minutes prior to each service.
  • Each service is about 40 minutes long.
  • Masks are required, including the choir.
  • The congregation will not be singing this year.
  • Proof of vaccination is required at time of registration for the 6:00pm service.
  • Proof of vaccination is not required for the 7:30pm service.
  • The sanctuary will be at half capacity (about 60 attendees) for each service.
  • The sanctuary will be ventilated between events.

Rev. Denis Paul, Minister
Michael Galib, Music Director
Lee Cowan, Director of Religious Education
Christmas Eve Eve
Candlelight Processional
 
Would you like to dance? The Christmas Eve Eve Candlelight Processional is an opportunity to bring dance into the worship service as an offering of prayer. It’s a beautiful, serene element of our evening service. 

We will have a smaller group this year - just 3 dancers - as there is a shorter amount of time for this portion of both services. Since we will be participating in both services, dancers will also need to have proof of vaccination to participate. Open to anyone, aged 10 and up.

Rehearsals will be held during the weeks leading up to the Dec. 23rd service. If you’re interested in participating in the processional, please contact Sally Barney ASAP at sbarney07@aol.com, or 401-932-1647.
Small Group Ministry
UUCSC Anti-racism Group
Monday, December 13, 2021, 7:00 PM
The UUCSC Anti-Racism Group, facilitated by Penny Hall, meets via Zoom every 2nd and 4th Monday. Find out about the status of the Antiracism policy being considered by the South Kingstown School Committee, and how you can support it; join in a discussion of the NYT article, The 1619 Project and the Battle Over US History, Any member or friend of the congregation is welcome and invited to attend as we work to undo racism in ourselves, our families, schools, communities, and government. 
Zoom link for 2nd Mondays, hosted by Martina Muller.
Zoom links are also available on the UUCSC Calendar, which is
accessible anytime from the front page of the UUCSC Website.
Submitted by Penny Hall, Racial Justice Chair
Living Our Principles
Take action on homelessness in RI by sending letters to Speaker of the House Joseph Shekarchi  rep-shekarchi@rilegislature.gov and Governor Daniel McKee governor@governor.ri.gov, asking them to spend some of the American Rescue Plan Act funds, over $1B to address this crisis now. 

Looking at the housing crisis in our state through Unitarian Universalist Principles.....especially these...
1.    The inherent worth and dignity of every person;
2.    Justice, equity and compassion in human relations;
3.    “We, the member congregations of the Unitarian Universalist Association, covenant to affirm and promote: journeying toward spiritual wholeness by working to build a diverse multicultural Beloved Community by our actions that accountably dismantle racism and other oppressions in ourselves and our institutions.” (Adopted by the UUCSC on April 18, 2021. Under consideration for adoption by the UUA.)

Homelessness in the state has worsened during the pandemic and people are demanding action. See links below for information on recent protests.
Submitted by Cathy Solomon, Social Justice Chair 
Adult Education and Experience

Submissions for this column may be made directly to the newsletter editor or to me barbaralholtzman@gmail.com. Please include Newsletter Adult Ed in the subject line.
Barbara Holtzman, Chair
Exploring interdependence as a path to wholeness
in UU theology and practice. Details and registration HERE.
From the UUA Newsletter
AWAY FROM HOME:
AMERICAN INDIAN BOARDING SCHOOL STORIES
Traveling Museum Exhibition now through Jan 7th, 2022
Tuesday - Saturday | 10AM - 4 PM
(Admission is free, donations are appreciated.)
URI University Club | 95 Upper College Rd | Kingstown, RI
Click HERE for info about parking.
From Tomaquag Museum News
Interfaith Philadelphia Movie Night

Stranger / Sister
Thursday, December 14
7:00 - 8:15 PM

Stranger/Sister is the story of two ordinary women, one Muslim and one Jewish who dare to believe they can join hands to stop the wave of white supremacist hate surging across the US.
Submitted by Barbara Holtzman
Limited Seating. Covid protocols. Reservations Required.
Submitted by Nick Smith
Community Connections
Immigration Committee of South County
The Huddle
  •  Donations for the above collection drive should be placed in a sturdy box with the category of item labeled and the contents listed inside.
  • Furniture is also needed. If donors are unable to arrange transportation on their own, then a photo of the specific piece and dimensions should be taken and sent to emergencyservices@cappri.org, as arrangements for a truck pick up are being worked on. 
  • Monetary donations still are very much needed. Dorcas International RI
  • Through Hope and Change for Haiti, a non-profit organization, there are about 30 Haitian families living in Cranston who are in need of warm clothes. The lives of these people were devastated by the 7.2 earthquake that hit their island in August 2021. Donations for this group should be clearly marked Hope and Change for Haiti, as it is not managed by Dorcas.
Submitted by Barbara Holtzman
Hello community!
Join us on December 12th for an interactive virtual benefit for AMOR!
We’ll be coming together as a community virtually to enjoy live music from local artists, time to dance and chances to win awesome raffle prizes!
When: December 12th from 7pm to 9pm
Where: Zoom
The acts performing include:
Orlando Hernandez, Sharad Wertheimer and more!
or
Submitted by Taylor Ellis
Important Links
How to Submit Info to This Newsletter
Send announcements and news with Newsletter Item in the subject line to Etta Zasloff, Editor, at zasloff.etta@gmail.com by Tuesday Noon
to assure publication by Friday of that week.