WEDNESDAY, September 2, 2020
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Join us tonight, Wednesday, September 2, 7 pm, for Support and Feedback on Our Individual Efforts to Make a Difference
Tonight, September 2 at 7 pm, we will have our monthly check-in Zoom call on our personal commitment to help end racism. These brief calls are a chance to encourage one another in our efforts, knowing that it is easy to be distracted or discouraged.

My hope is that we find points of hope and sustain momentum as we share our progress, set-backs and new questions.

If you have questions, please be in touch with Rev. Sue at email.

Click this Zoom link to join the discussion tonight, September 2, at 7 pm.
THIS SUNDAY'S SERVICE
Sunday, September 6, 10 am, Zoom Summer Discussion, Led by Lynn Dolinger and Marilee Taussig, "Growing Up White - What Now?"
Growing up White in America is a privilege. How do we come to understand this and its impact on racism? What can we do about it? Come lend your voice and your story to the discussion.

Join us by clicking the Zoom link here on Sunday, September 2 at 10 am, followed by coffee hour.

If you have a joy or sorrow for the September 2 service, please share it during the discussion or if you're not planning to attend, email the UUCR office at UUCR email by Friday, September 4 at noon. Thanks for everyone’s flexibility.
SEPTEMBER BIRTHDAYS

Jan Ross, Sept 7
Scott Ross, Sept 7
Linda Weimer, Sept 8
Mary Pritchard, Sept 16
Nathan Ferster, Sept 24
Lisa Kennedy, Sept 26

We want to help celebrate your birthday! If we didn't include your September birthday, please contact Jan Whitney at UUCR email

UPCOMING VIRTUAL SERVICES

Sunday, September 13,
Rev. Sue Browning, Virtual Service, Finding Our Way Back (see more information below)

Sunday, September 20,
Rev. Sue Browning, Virtual Service
MINISTER'S COLUMN
Please Send In Pictures of Water by September 9! 
Our service on Sunday, September 13 will be our "welcome back" service and will include our annual Water Communion ceremony adapted for virtual format. While we won't yet be able to gather in person, we will celebrate the beginning of the new church year with music, story and water!

In its traditional form, Water Communion is a service where congregants each bring to the service a small amount of water from a place that is special to them and toward the end of the service each pours their water into a large bowl. This combined water is symbolic of our shared faith coming from many different sources, and represents our renewal together as a community.

Because we will not be physically together, for this year's service we are inviting you to instead email us a picture of water that is meaningful to you and we will include a medley of "water" pictures in the service.

To have your water picture included, please send the image by email to me at sue.browning2@gmail.com by 8 pm on Wednesday, September 9.

Thanks in advance for your participation!

Rev. Sue
Photo Directory News
Please share your photos!
All members and friends should have received an email with instructions on giving us the latest picture to be included in the UUCR photo directory. You can send them either through the web site, www.uuchesterriver.org or by email at UUCRpictures@gmail.com. We are looking forward to seeing everyone and their family.

David Biehler
About Voting in the
Upcoming Election
Because of the pandemic, Governor Larry Hogan has declared that this fall Marylanders will vote at prescribed Voting Centers – which may or may not be voters’ regular precinct location. The number and location of these centers for Kent County has not yet been confirmed, but a voter may cast his or her ballot at any Voting Center in the county. Another change is that the days for Early Voting have been moved forward; Early Voting will take place from October 26 through November 2, the day before Election Day. And, finally, a recent change in the law requires the State Board of Elections and each local board of elections to refer to absentee ballots as "mail-in ballots" and absentee voting as "mail-in voting." Please note that this change in terminology does NOT change the process of mail-in voting.

3 Ways to Vote in Maryland's 2020 Presidential Election

  • Vote by mail-in ballot -- see below.

  • Vote in person and “early” at Voting Centers during Maryland’s Early Voting period, which is from Monday, Oct. 26 through Tuesday, Nov. 2, from 7 am to 8 pm each day.

  • Vote in person at Voting Centers on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 3, from 7 am to 8 pm.

Voting by Mail 

  • You must submit a mail-in ballot application (either by mail or online) in order to receive a ballot in the mail. Your request for a mail-in ballot must be received by October 20.

  • You will receive an application to request a mail-in ballot via the mall. The Maryland Board of Elections is expected to mail each registered voter an application for a mail-in ballot around August 28. (You may not receive this ballot application if you have already requested one online.)


  • Note: If you request a mail-in ballot and then decide to vote in person, your in-person vote will be considered “provisional” and will be counted later, once verified.

  • Once you receive and fill out your ballot, you can return it by mail or deposit it in one of the official Ballot Drop Boxes located at sites in Kent and Queen Anne’s Counties. The number of, and sites for, these Ballot Drop Boxes has not yet been determined.

Registering to Vote


  • If you are not already registered and would like to vote, you need to register by October 13.

  • More questions? Call your county’s Board of Elections. Kent County – 410-778-0038; Queen Anne’s County – 410-758-0832.

Jane Hardy
UUCR on Facebook
IF YOU DIDN’T KNOW ...

Unitarian Universalists of the Chester River now has two Facebook pages. Our original UUCR Facebook Page now has a new look. This is thanks to Kate Livie, of Alosa Communications. (Click the image below to go to our original UUCR Facebook Page.)

  • Frequent posts are desirable not only because they keep our page updated with fresh content, this new content is carried forward into our followers’ newsfeeds. That’s an example of the interconnectedness of all things. We want our page to reflect a balance of news and information, not skewed too much in one direction. So far the bulk of our content is about upcoming services, ideas for family activities, and our work on racial justice. It would be helpful if we could expand our postings into other areas.

  • Pat Bjorke has been posting from UU World about Unitarian Universalism so that folks not familiar with us will get some idea what we're about. 

  • Pat has also been posting her “BITES” on this Facebook page, as well as putting them in Reflections newsletter.

  • PLEASE visit ... maybe once a week to see what's new even if you're not going to post.

  • As well as our Website, our Facebook page is our public face in the now mostly virtual world. Do not post personal information about yourself or anybody else.

  • If a Facebook page isn’t seen in the virtual universe, does it exist?


Our UUCR Facebook Forum is the new more personal space. Again, created by Kate Livie. (Click the image below to go to our UUCR Facebook Forum.)
  • This is a private Facebook page/group for UUCR congregants and friends only.

  • One has to be admitted by someone already in the group.

  • Only members can post.

  • The intention is to give us a means of sharing experiences and possibly connecting in this time of distancing.

  • Content posted to the private UUCR Facebook Forum group offers greater latitude than on the public Facebook page, and can include thought-provoking discussion topics, fun asides, and current local topics of interest. It is highly advisable to keep a definite boundary between the two Facebook pages.

  • DICK HAWKINS MEMORIAL SERVICE -- A picture of the service has been posted on the Facebook Forum. This is your chance to join the group, if you have not already done so. Add your own pictures and remembrances. Feel free to start your own post.
From UUCR's Social Concerns/Social Justice Committee
Redner's Receipts
For all of you hoarders of grocery receipts from Redner's, help has arrived! While the church is closed as a collection point, Upper Shore Aging is still serving seniors and welcomes your receipts.  You can deliver in person by driving up to the Amy Lynn Ferris Center and calling someone to come out and get your collection (410-778-2571); or you can mail them to Upper Shore Aging, 200 Schauber Rd., Chestertown, MD 21620.

Thanks go out to Margo Long from the Social Concerns Social Justice Committee for making this happen!
Lynn Dolinger
Pastoral Care & Connection
We are here for you!  We will focus on staying directly connected with our members and friends, especially those who may need assistance or support. The caring teams from our congregation is staying in touch, but if you need to reach out, please be in touch with any of the contacts below to stay connected (and see additional contacts below for RE families).
 
Please know your congregation is here. We can help you find connections. Please don't hesitate to reach out and let us know what is helpful for you in this time. 

Rev. Sue Browning, and the Pastoral Care Associates: Kevin Brien, Gayle Folger, Nancy Holland, and Vida Morley
or for more information, contact:
Jan Whitney (Office) p: 410-778-3440 | e: uuofchesterriver@gmail.com
Unitarian Universalists of the Chester River 914 Gateway Drive, Chestertown, MD 21620
Phone: (410) 778-3440