In-Person Only 10:00 am

"Back to Work Blessings"

Rev. Denis Letourneau Paul

and Lee Cowan

Though the thermostat might not show it, the end of summer is upon us. Kids are going back to school, and we’re about to celebrate the beginning of the new church year with our annual water communion. We’ll take time this Labor Day weekend to acknowledge all the important work we do for ourselves, our families, and our communities as we bless backpacks and hands. So please bring a backpack, satchel, handbag, briefcase, tool kit: whatever carries the essential items of your work/play in the world.

And bring your hard-working hands. We hope you'll join us in a blessing of all that we are creating together in this beautiful world.

ORDER OF SERVICE

Bless these Hands

I hope you'll join us this Sunday for our multi-gen service in the sanctuary. All ages are invited to bring a bag and bring your hands for a sweet blessing service.

And speaking of hands, we will be installing our community art piece on the big wall in the sanctuary next week and we need your handprints! So if you haven't made one yet, we will have supplies out this Sunday. If you can't come Sunday, make one at home!

The idea is simple: trace your hand and then decorate it with whatever medium suits your fancy: markers, paint, collage, crayons. 

Then bring it by anytime the office is open (see below for new office hour schedule)

The collage of all of our prints will be up for Water Communion on Sept. 11th

Save the Date--Congregational Meeting

Saturday, September 17, 2022

10 AM to Noon, with lunch to follow

Join in this very important meeting to envision the future of UUCSC.

Rev's Reflections

One of my favorite parts of this job is having one-to-one conversations with you all. When I started, I said I’d like to meet everyone in that way as early and as frequently as possible. When I meet with folks I tell them up front: this is time for us to get to know each other better. I want to get to know you personally, and have no agenda. There’s no information I want to extract from you. I won’t ask you to give more money or time to the congregation. I will listen, and ask questions.

Some of the questions I ask are the kinds you’d expect, like where did you grow up, do you have children, and what was your path to UUCSC. Other questions can be a little tougher, like can you tell me about your theology, or what you believe happens after we die.  

I’ve had these one-to-one conversations in every congregation I’ve served, so that’s a lot of one-to-ones! There’s one thing that never ceases to amaze me. Everyone is so willing to share. I never have to drag conversation out of anyone, so it’s easy to respect the boundaries of what they want to talk about.  

As much as I love these hour-long conversations, there’s one obstacle slowing me down in making to everyone. So many people don’t have complete contact information in the member directory! Often, there is no email address and the only phone number is a landline that nobody ever answers because it only receives robocalls. 

So please. If you’d like to chat one-to-one, please help me out by letting me know. You can reach me by email at revdenispaul@gmail.com or you can reach me by phone or text message at 440.941.9102.

I can meet in person on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays. Or by Zoom on Wednesdays, Fridays or Saturdays.

In Peace,

Rev Denis

Last week I asked you all to think about why you first came to UUCSC, why you continue to come and what the most important aspect of our congregation is to you. This week I ask you to think about these questions: 

• What can you offer to keep this wonderful community going forward into the future? 
• Can you commit to being one of several people who greet people on Sunday morning?
• Do you have skills that you can offer to the Facilities Committee? 
• Do you have fundraising skills? 
• Have you ever considered being on the board? 

UUCSC employs several people on a part time basis (even Rev Denis is contracted to work ¾ of a full-time schedule.) But a tremendous amount of the work of this organization is done by volunteers. Tending to the upkeep of an aging building, cleaning the building, heading the committees, keeping track of membership, making sure the staff gets paid, keeping the congregation informed, raising the money to fund the operation of our organization through stewardship and fundraising--all these tasks and many, many more are done by volunteers. 

What can you do that demonstrates how much this congregation means to you?

Make sure September 17th is marked on your calendar!

Elizabeth

Anti-racism Group Meeting

September 12, 2022

7:00 PM

Zoom

(This link is also provided on the church calendar)

All members and friends of the congregation are invited to attend this first fall meeting. All are welcome, and no long-term commitment is required. We will be discussing plans for the coming year and everyone's input is important. Last year we studied and learned together, supported anti-racist change in the South Kingstown School Department and in other nearby communities, and advocated for and celebrated the congregation's adoption of the 8th Principle.

What can we do in the coming year? Come and listen and be heard. This is a safe space for all, as we all try to overcome prejudice, our own limited understandings and experiences, and deal with structural racism in our communities and nationwide.

Submitted by Penny Hall

SIZZLING SUMMER CONCERT SERIES PRESENTS THE EXULT CHOIR

Greatness of Gospel XV: Elevation

Sat, Sep 3, 2022, 3:00 PM

Mixed Magic Theatre

560 Mineral Spring Avenue

Pawtucket, RI 02860

Mixed Magic Theatre’s cofounder Ricardo Pitts-Wiley formed the acclaimed Exult Choir in 2006. Each year since then the choir has presented concert events that feature a collection of songs that include Negro spirituals, traditional hymns, and the gospel music that would later influence blues, jazz, rhythm and blues, and rock music. This year talented music director Kim Pitts-Wiley has chosen an intoxicating and eclectic array of songs that cover the full spectrum of gospel music, world music, and contemporary songs with a spiritual flare. The Exult Choir is celebrating an exemplary 15 years!

Bring a chair, some sunscreen and lots of applause energy!

submitted by Johnette Rodriguez

Tuesday, September 6, 2022

6 PM Potluck

Betsy Dalton’s Home

6 Soap House Lane

Hope Valley, RI  

Together Women Rise is a powerful community of women and allies dedicated to achieving global gender equality. We have hundreds of local chapters across the U.S. where members learn about and advocate for gender equality issues, give grants to organizations that empower women and girls in low-income countries, and build community to forge meaningful connections that increase our strength and collective impact. All are welcome.  Details of this month’s grantee and TWR events HERE.

September 13, 2022 RI Primary Election Day

Make a Plan to Vote! Early voting at your town hall is open now.

Voter pitfall to avoid: Voting for someone you know almost nothing about. Voters sometimes rely only on name recognition or political advertising to pick a candidate. That can land a voter choosing someone they don’t really agree with or that they feel very invested in and are less likely to hold accountable after the election. A little bit of research will help you feel more confident when you cast your ballot.     

1. Start by accessing your ballot now to see who is running for what at the RI Voter Information Center.
2. Read multiple sources, not just political signs and media ads.
3. Providence Journal is publishing in-depth stories on candidates running for state offices.
4. Visit candidate websites.
5. Search social media/YouTube.
6. Google them.
7. Check out Ballotpedia - what candidates say about themselves, or not.
8. Take notes - you may take notes into the voting booth.
9. Draw your own conclusions, based on available info about the candidates. 
10. In a hurry? Start at the bottom of the ballot - local offices and issues can have the most immediate impact on your daily life.
11. ACLU Candidate Survey.  NEW

Submitted by Etta Zasloff

There will be a memorial service for Laura French at Westminster Unitarian Universalist Church in East Greenwich on September 10 at 11:00 a.m, with a lunch afterward in Smith Hall on the church campus. The service and luncheon are being planned by Laura’s long-time friend, Elaine MacLean. Elaine is requesting that attendees that intend to stay for lunch send her an RSVP by September 1, if at all possible, to facilitate her lunch planning with the caterer. Elaine’s email address is maccom1@cox.net.