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Congregational
Mission
Statement
We are a Congregation creating a better world by nurturing the heart and expanding the mind.
We provide a safe, caring community where all can freely explore diverse religious thought.
We work for justice and equality with the power of compassion and compassionate power.
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UUCGT Quicklinks
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If you would like to receive our monthly newsletter
the Beacon
please contact
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THIS SUNDAY:
For the Service, the Zoom link is here.
The Service begins at 10:30 AM; you can sign in at 10:00 AM to visit!
Sunday's Service
4.25.2021
THE ETERNAL IMMIGRANT:
A Brief History of U. S. Hispanics
Dear Ones, Dr. Edwin Murillo, our guest speaker suggested that you might want to read this article before Sunday's Service, "The Eternal Immigrant; A Brief History of US Hispanics". Warmly, Cathy _________________________________
A history of anti-Hispanic bigotry in the United States
This animus bubbles up frequently, with devastating results
Marie Arana, August 9, 2019
The Washington Post
Never before have things seemed so hard for Hispanics. The signals are stark and dire: A drowned father, cradling a dead daughter. A lone mother, defending herself against an armed Border Patrol agent, with a terrified toddler at her side. A diatribe hectoring whites to purge the country of a rising brown tide. A Walmart in El Paso, strewn with the dead. Caravans of the hopeful willing to suffer indignities, splinter their families, cower in cages, risk life itself for a distant dream. And looming over it all: a president who shrugs when a voice in the crowd shouts , " Shoot them! " and who tells Hispanics with roots in this country to go back to the cesspools where they belong. The ground seems to have shifted in this land of the huddled masses.
It has not. These are long-held resentments. For centuries they have been fed . . . [ continue reading]
OTHER READINGS WORTH EXPLORING
BEFORE SUNDAY'S SERVICE
As our Sunday Services Committee, Sunday Service Coordinators, Directors of Religious Education and Music, and Rev. Cathy were putting together this coming Sunday's Service, they shared two articles that I found absolutely fascinating. They expanded my perspective and my thinking on these issues, and I encourage you to follow the links below as well:
Cathy Park Hong on 'Minor Feelings'
This winter, The Yale Review celebrated the 200th anniversary of its earliest history in a three-day festival at Yale University. The following conversation with contributor Cathy Park Hong about her new book of nonfiction, Minor Feelings: An Asian American Reckoning, took place in front of students and our community of readers. The book blends memoir and cultural criticism to examine racial consciousness in America . . . [ continue reading ]
And here is a link to an extraordinary Atlantic article,
"Return the National Parks to the Tribes"
(Click on image.)
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Again, the Zoom link for SUNDAY SERVICE is
You may read and/or download the from our website later in the week.
uucgt.org
The Service of Sunday April 18 was recorded;
you can access that recording here.
You will need the passcode g32n^Wb7
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MINISTERIAL SEARCH TEAM REPORT
After months of anticipation, we are marking our calendars for Candidate Week!
During the April 4 Sunday Service our candidate, Alex Jensen, introduced himself via this video and shared his website address where you could learn more about him. If you missed that service, you could still take advantage of the opportunity to view the recording. [You'll need this passcode: nw##LF&3 Geoff Norman-Anderson on behalf of the Team introduces Alex about 45 minutes in and is followed by Alex's own video.] It is important for you, as involved and interested members of UUCGT, to learn all you can before the vote to call. During the days ahead we will share a detailed schedule of Candidate Week, May 8 - 16, with lots of interesting occasions for engaging with Alex. You will also learn about procedures for the vote to call, including early voting for those who might need it. For now, we are urging you to save the May 16 date for voting after the Sunday Service, which will be led for the second consecutive week by our candidate. May 16 will be the culmination of the efforts of all of us toward our shared goal of going forward in our mission with a new settled minister. Please be sure your schedule includes this especially important date.
Mary, Geoff, Charles, Dusty, Jim, Chris, Jan
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MUSIC
from Renée Russell
"A Few Notes"
I am eager to listen to the message from our guest speaker, Edwin Murillo, about what it means to be considered an immigrant when your heritage is that of the original people of this land. I lived in Los Angeles for 10 years and was fortunate to have lived in neighborhoods where I was immersed in the cultures of the different peoples of Latin American backgrounds. In general, English was not the spoken language of the local markets or restaurants where I would go and my neighbors came from everywhere.
I dated a wonderful artist whose mother was from Costa Rica. She was consistently assumed to be a maid working in the Malibu home she in fact owned.
I was fortunate to get to know the director of the movie, "A Day Without a Mexican," who opened my eyes to not only to the racist assumption made by most white Americans that any brown looking person was Mexican but also what it meant to be treated as an "other" of little worth on the land tied to your ancestry. I cannot imagine how that feels. This week it is important to me to share music that honors the diversity of Latin America and to celebrate the vibrant cultures that began here and that continue to blend into what it means to be an American. This beautiful, global collaboration covers one of my favorite uplifting songs,"Guantanamera."
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SOCIAL JUSTICE ACTION TEAM REPORT
A small but mighty group accomplished lots. Decisions made! At Jan's suggestion, we picked one local issue and thEn also a national one. For the local issue we would like to enhance the Nature walk path not only with nature comments but also with Native American heritage and sayings. Before we decide this definitely, we will talk with and collaborate with the Landscaping Committee and with our Native American contacts. (Outreach to each has already begun) At the end, in the lower parking lot, maybe a circle of logs for a meeting place or just good conversation, again coordinating with Landscaping.
The larger issue we all are concerned about is voting rights. We will join the UUA guidelines and work with them.
Just some of the things we have accomplished:
- Miguel, who we helped to get a legal Visa to return to the US, was stuck in Mexico due to US Consulate errors and the pandemic. With our additional help at Xmas time, he was able to return legally and is now united here in TC with his wife and son. He now has a path to legal citizenship.
- The Cuban refugee who needed money to call home from prison, did finally receive the money. It is rather an arduous task to get cash to a person in federal prison. She was in prison because that is the routine for those seeking asylum. Latest information is that she was released and received asylum and thanks us for the money and help.
- This past year we had 4 volunteers at Grawn Elementary School helping with individual kids. That was a big relief and great asset for the teachers, especially for the kids, and rewarding for the volunteers! It was stopped due to the pandemic. Others interested in this, after we can re-enter schools as volunteers, please let me know.
This summer the Nature Center will be having an outdoor camp. Volunteers might be able to work 1 on 1 with kids who may need assistance in socializing after such long isolation due to the pandemic. Again let me know if interested.
Our next meeting, via Zoom, will be on Tuesday late afternoon, April 27, at 4 PM! Please any one may join us who is interested! See link below and in Flash and Beacon.
Submitted with anticipation!
Emmy Lou Cholak, Connie Mooney, Rick Walter, Jane Watts, Jan Zerbel
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You can access the entire calendar online HERE;
here again are the links for our Services:
Fri 04.23.21 8:00 PM Vespers
Begin signing in at 7:30 for the 8:00 PM Service, a time of music, poetry, prayer, meditation, and contemplation.
Sun 04.25.21 10:30 AM Regular Sunday Service
Begin signing in at 10:00 to visit before the 10:30 AM Service, and plan
to visit again in "Breakout Rooms" after!
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UUCGT's ORIGINAL VOICES, VOL 5:
Click within the image to enjoy the latest chapters in the creative journey of these talented friends...
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UUCGT BULLETIN BOARD
There are multiple opportunities to work for Social Justice this week!
And they don't necessarily take long...
Pass the For the People Act
This year alone, over 360 pieces of legislation have been introduced in state legislatures aimed at restricting access to the ballot nationwide. Our best shot at fighting back is to make sure S. 1 - the For the People Act - passes in the U.S. Senate.
The bill aims to fight big money in politics, expand voting rights, end extreme partisan gerrymandering, and hold our elected officials accountable -- but it's going to take all of us speaking out and showing our support to make it happen. You can support this bill by adding your name to the petition urging passage of S. 1, the For the People Act.
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Please continue to give to For Those in Need
in our virtual "collection baskets".
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"The goal of mindfulness practice is to become aware that craving, anger, sleepiness, restlessness or doubt is present in the mind when they arise. The movement from being in a mind state and being aware that a mind state is present is the holy grail of mindfulness practice."
- Sam Trumbore, Minister of
First Unitarian Universalist Society
 of Albany
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The UUCGT building is closed until further notice;
however the office is again staffed (at least) Tuesday-Friday, 9am-3pm.
Stay up to date on the UUCGT website
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