E-Octagram
November 27, 2020
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*~*~* UUC HAPPENINGS *~*~* |
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Important Sunday Service Information
As we are adhering to guidelines of avoiding gatherings of 10 or more people (and proving how flexible we are!), we have decided to offer Sunday services via Zoom. We would love it if you would watch it. We appreciate everyone's support, kindness and patience, and invite you to sit back and enjoy the service from the comfort of your home.
The Zoom link is below, but it won't be active until just before the service on Sunday (November 29 @ 10:30 AM).
Join Zoom Meeting:
Meeting ID: 967 1190 1492
You can also join from your landline or cell phone by calling 301 715 8592 and entering 967 1190 1492 when prompted to enter the meeting ID.
Speaker: Meredith Olson
Sermon: "Owning Our Pasts"
Worship Associate: Sue Boone
Service Technical Support: Jeremy Dillow
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Open Issues: November 29, 2020
This Sunday Barb Shimer will lead a discussion on Thanksgiving and Indigenous People. We'll be talking about:
- Negative Environmental Effects on Native Americans.
- A brief history/timeline of American Indians.
- Examples of where and how Native Americans are being exploited for the sake of energy.
- A statement by the first Native American to serve in Congress, Rep. Sharice Davids.
- Peabody Energy (coal mining) and its effect on native land and economics.
Join us via Zoom at 9:30 (you can join a few minutes early):
Meeting ID: 859 3688 9025
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Scheduling Appointments with Rev. Dave
We are delighted to announce that the lovely Barbara Brandt has volunteered to help Rev. Dave with his schedule! If you wish to schedule an appointment with him, please email Barbara at revassistant@uuc.org.
Our volunteers mean the world to us, THANK YOU, Barbara!!!
If you wish to highlight the contributions of your favorite volunteer @ UUC, send the Administrator an email @ admin@uuc.org.
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Loss, Transition, and Grief
The theme for our transition work in November/December is healing. Healing from the many losses, both personal and congregational, that you have experienced in your recent history. Rev. Roberta and the Transition Team (Mark Brandt, Linda Stoller, and Mike Kahn) invite you to participate in a carefully structured and facilitated small group exploring loss, transition and grief.
You can sign up for a session using the Doodle Poll:
As always, if you don’t get along with Doodle you can email me ( revroberta@uuc.org) and I will slot you in. |
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December Adult Education: Sources of Hope in Unitarian Universalism
This three-session class will look at each of the Six Sources named in the Statement of Principles and Purposes (https://www.uua.org/beliefs/what-we-believe/sources) and reflect on the ways each of these sources of our shared faith can also be a source of hope in our personal spiritual quests.
You do not need to register, and you do not need to attend all 3 sessions. Just Zoom in whenever it works for you. Classes will be held on Thursday evenings 12/ 3, 12/10 & 12.17 @ 7 pm.
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Serenity Garden Renewal
For the past year, Chris Mueller has been improving the appearance of the Serenity Garden, and it is looking better than ever (THANK YOU, CHRIS!!!).
As you may know, Jeannie Shimer constructed the garden many years ago with the purpose of remembering friends and relatives of congregants who have passed on. Pavers in the garden walkway are inscribed with their names. Some names are already there: Molly and Jim Stevens, Bob & Evelyn Winchester, Mary Flanagan, Mac McGovern, Don Fisher, Charlotte Love, and Abhi Janomachi's grandfather.
With the new improvements, it seems appropriate to once again start making use of this special place for the UUC.
A $50 contribution to UUC is necessary for a paver to be placed in the garden. After friends/relatives make the contribution, Bob Lehner is given notice to construct the paver. (He has done this "gratis" in the past and continues to do so).
A fund has already been started by Carl Hansen for a paver to be placed in memory of his friend, Ed Everett, our devoted past security guard.
Here is hoping Ed's other friends will contribute to the fund. You can either make a check out (and mail it) to "UUC", indicating that it is to be used for "Ed's Memorial Paver" OR, you can click on the link below to donate with your credit card. Click on the Give to Offering/Donation drop down box and select "Ed Everett's Memorial Paver"
If you have any questions about this fundraiser, please contact Carl Hansen. For all other inquiries about memorial pavers, please reach out to the Office Administrator (admin@uuc.org).
Thank you!
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TOYS FOR TOTS DRIVE AT UUC
We are all disappointed that, thanks to COVID, we are not going to have the Mitten Tree this year. However, we can still help our local children celebrate the holiday season. UUC has been accepted as a Toys for Tots Drop-Off site. The Couples Covenant Group is sponsoring Toys for Tots on behalf of UUC.
Since 1947, the mission of the Marine Corps Toys for Tots Program is to collect new unwrapped toys and distribute those toys to less fortunate children at Christmas.
Toys will be collected at UUC from 1:00-3:00 PM on the following dates:
Tues Dec 1; Sat Dec 5; Tues Dec 8; Sat Dec 12.
We accept toys for children, aged 0 to 12. All toys must be new and unwrapped. In particular, there is usually a shortage of toys for children age 0-1 and 9-12. Toys, such as dolls and action figures should reflect the racial diversity in Pinellas County.
Please participate in this joyful opportunity.
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We are in need of Worship Associates. As you can imagine, doing Zoom services has put a particular strain on this group. If you are interested in volunteering as a Worship Associate, please contact Sue Boone suebooneuu@juno.com or Margie Manning margiem821@tampabay.rr.com to learn more about what it means to help with our worship services.
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Join us for Digital Coffee Hour this Sunday (November 29, 2020) right after Sunday's Service. It's located in the same Zoom meeting as the service.
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IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT ONLINE GIVING and PLEDGING
In lieu of our traditional collection baskets that you see during the Offertory on Sundays, we are trying out some different ways to make online donating easier. You may also try:
Text Giving
(727) 500-2410
If you prefer to donate online, feel free to click the button below.
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You are also welcome to download, print and mail in a Pledge form here. |
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PASTORAL CARE
Please remember that Pastoral Care is still available if you need it. To connect with one of our dedicated Pastoral Associates, please call the office (727-531-7704, Ext. 5). Rev. David Franks is also on hand to provide assistance to those who need him (contact a Pastoral Associate, who will help you get in touch with him).
Sally Otto: November 23 - November 29
Kathy Krohn: November 30 - December 6
Suan Hegner: December 7 - December 13
Sally Otto: December 14 - December 20
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COVENANT GROUPS – A SPIRITUAL JOURNEY
Also, check out our section on the website, as it was recently updated:
Namaste
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A Message from the Care Circle
"The planet does not need more successful people. The planet desperately needs more peacemakers, healers, restorers, storytellers, and lovers of all kinds."
Please remember if you’ve had an illness or injury and need help with any short-term assistance from our Care Circle, or even just someone to call and check in on you, please contact one of the co-chairs (Susan Hegner or Eloise Hardman) or call the UUC office at (727) 531-7704.
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Religious Enrichment Resources & Opportunities
Holiday Stuffy Sleepover
Since we're avoiding the risks associated with a human sleepover at church, stuffed animals and dolls ("stuffies") are invited to represent their human friends at a sleepover at UUC on December 12-13. Friends will drop off their stuffies at church on Saturday, December 12 between 12:00pm and 1:00pm. Activities for the sleepover will include worship, games, story time, and more. Photos of the sleepover activities will be sent out as emails over the weekend, so you can feel like you're there. Humans will pick up stuffies on Sunday, December 13 between 12:00pm and 1:00pm. All ages (that means you!) are welcome to participate! Register your stuffy here.
TORCH
Time for All Ages Videos
Here are the recent Time for All Ages videos that were shown at worship:
RE Registration
The RE registration form for the 2020-2021 year is now available as an online form. Complete the online form or download, print, and return the PDF form to UUC. Once we receive your registration, you will be on our list to receive future event notifications and other resources.
Parents/guardians, please check your email to make sure you received your registration form. If you did not, please e-mail re@uuc.org.
If you have a question or are interested in Religious Enrichment at UUC,
e-mail Meredith at re@uuc.org.
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Spiritual Potpourri is a new group of people gathering together at 1pm on Fridays to share different practices that are feeding our souls right now. Chair yoga ... new "tiny" habits... meditation ... we look forward to learning from each other and trying new things.
We are taking a break this Friday (11/27), and will return on 12/4. We hope everyone had a wonderful holiday, and we look forward to seeing you next week!
If you have trouble logging in please let Kathy Krohn know.
Everyone is welcome, always.
--> Contact Kathy Krohn if you have questions or trouble logging in! Hope you can join us!
Join Zoom Meeting (every Friday, at 1:00 PM)
https://zoom.us/j/98442090304
Meeting ID: 984 4209 0304
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On November 30th at 6:45 we are having our Research to Action kickoff. If you are interested in working on a committee to improve access to mental health services in Pinellas County or increase the amount of affordable housing in Pinellas County or improve our criminal justice system to make it more just, this is your chance! No experience needed.
FAST is looking for people for their new Social Justice and the Arts Committee. This group are looking at creative ways to integrate the arts into our social justice events. Please contact Linda Stoller if you have any questions at Lstol10403@aol.com
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Racial Justice Articles
Next week's racial justice article is written by Marcia Bailey. It is titled "History from a Black Perspective" and summarizes the book STAMPED, 2020, J. Reynolds and I.X. Kendi. We challenge you! Read this book and compare your take on the main points with Marcia's.
Also, please check out the Social Justice section of UUC's website ( https://www.uuc.org/social-justice). All of our recent articles have been posted there, so that you can continue to reference them.
If you have any interest in authoring any other articles under the Social Justice umbrella, please reach out to Chris Mueller ( cem.hmm14@gmail.com) or Susan Allen (sallen915@aol.com). |
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A Tale of Bob and Jim
By Joe Myers
November 20, 2020
This is a story of two men, Bob White and Jim Black. They were both born in 1924 and were 18 at the outset of WWII in 1942 when they joined the US Army. They were in separate infantry units. The US military was segregated until President Harry Truman desegrated it in 1948 by executive order. They both fought the war in Europe, and returned unwounded at its end. They returned to their respective homes in 1945. Bob lived in New York, and Jim in New Jersey.
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