July 25 - August 7, 2020 - 10 Lyons Plains Road Westport, CT 06880 - Phone: 203.227.7205
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OUR BLACK LIVES BANNER VANDALIZED
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Someone vandalized our
Black Lives Matter
banner last week. Under the phrase “Black Lives Matter” was scrawled: “a racist, terrorist organization,” which someone else then covered with black tape in an attempt to blot out the graffiti. This is the third time the banner has been harmed since 2016 when we first put it up. Each time, we replace it; contribute $100 to
Black Lives Matter
; and receive supportive blessings from the greater community.
As Rev. John shared in a press release: “
Black Lives Matter
is a movement dedicated to the proposition that black lives should matter as much as white lives do today. But the fact is that currently, white lives matter more by almost every measure. Our Unitarian Universalist faith community has been, and continues to be, dedicated to defeating racism. The fact of the matter is that
Black Lives Matter
is avowedly anti-racist in its call for black and brown lives to matter as much as white lives.”
This story has been picked up in the greater Fairfield county press, and we have received notable support and encouragement. We have sparked rich discussions on sites such as Dan Woog's
06880: click
HERE.
One anonymous Westporter has offered to pay for a camera to monitor the area after-hours. We will keep you posted on further developments.
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WORSHIP SERVICES: NEXT TWO WEEKS AND BEYOND
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This summer we will worship each Sunday on ZOOM at 10:00 AM All services will also air on our
Facebook page.
Online donations always appreciated at
vop.tucw.org
, or mail-in a check.
ZOOM info stays the same each week.
For members: enter ZOOM ROOM:
HERE.
Meeting ID xxxxxxxxxxx
PASSWORD
: xxxxxxxxxxx
Landline
:
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
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JULY 26, 10 AM:
“A Theology of Tending” – Rev. John Morehouse
Worship Associate:
Cheryl Dixon Paul
Chat Hosts:
Gian Andrea Morresi & Joanne Glasser Orenstein
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August 2, 10 AM: “'My First Love:' My Unrequited Love for America" – Shanonda Nelson
Worship Associate
: Joanne Glasser Orenstein
Chat Host:
Linda Lubin
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Upcoming Services in August
AUGUST 9 -
"A View of Privilege...From Two Different Perspectives"
Rev Jim Francek & Ijoma Okuowsa
AUGUST 16 - “Keep Yourself Alive” – Mary-Megan Marshall
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How the American Church Helped Create and
Maintain Racist Ideas and Practices
Council of Churches of Greater Bridgeport Anti-Racism Summer Series
Thursday, July 30 from 7:30–9:00 PM
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We will view two short videos: “Defending Slavery at the Onset of the Civil War” and “Reconstructing White Supremacy in the Jim Crow Era” followed by small group break-out discussions in zoom rooms.
The videos are based on Jemar Tisby’s book,
The Color of Compromise.
*Please know that reading the book is not required for participation.
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Our Beardsley committee has been in touch with Principal Pivirotto as she navigates a start to the school year.
We will keep all volunteers apprised of plans for tutors, readers and mentors. SVA (School Volunteer Association) is working with the Bridgeport schools to determine when/if volunteers can enter the buildings, or if they can work virtually. Pivirotto suspects the need for tutors will be VERY high this coming year. We look forward to helping her with our robust team of UU volunteers. Stay tuned and come join us!
Need inspiration? Check out our past volunteers and programs,
HERE
.
Further, we will be providing teachers with some of the supplies they will need in their classrooms: wipes, hand sanitizers, masks, etc. We will be setting up a virtual Beardsley Board soon to organize needs and drop-offs at the church.
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CAREGIVING NETWORK SUPPORTS OUR TUCW COMMUNITY
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Through the dedication of 45 volunteers from our congregation, our culture of love and support has been flourishing. Since mid-March, our Caregiving Support Network has provided 26 home-cooked meals and grocery runs; delivered 25 small “thinking-of-you” gifts and cards; and gone on 15 in-person visits. These reach-outs are given in the name of the whole church community, not any one individual. The thanks we have received is touching and heart-warming.
This ministry is ongoing and is a wonderful way to stay connected with everyone in our community. If you would like to join us, please contact one of our coordinators:
Mary Jane Cross
,
Kristen Leddy
or
Beth Cliff, o
r click
HERE
.
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Our Friday lunch group now has a name:
Awakenings
!
Awakenings is a UU lunch hour group that meets via ZOOM on Fridays from noon to 1:00 PM. We begin with a Chalice or candle lighting, check-in, and each week a volunteer selects a reading. Our topics are based on current events and our discussions revolve around our responses to those events. Covid-19 and the issues of racial inequity have led us into thought-provoking conversations. This group was initially begun by Rev. Margalie Belizaire, our former intern minister. All our welcome; no RSVP required.
For more information, contact David Vita -
david@uuwestport.org.
ZOOM room HERE.
Meeting ID: xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Password: xxxxxxxxxx
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ZOOM with Nate -Children 7th grade and younger can join Nate on Zoom Sunday mornings at 11:00 AM through the summer. Nate will have a
Story for All video on a theme with discussion to follow. The goal is to keep in touch, learn something important, and have fun! Here are the themes for the next two Sundays:
July 26: Compassion; August 2: The Amygdala
Zoom Meeting:
HERE
Meeting ID:
xxxxxxx
Password:
xxxxxxx
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•
ONGOING P
ROGRAMMING THIS WEEK
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Mondays
6:30-8:00 PM via ZOOM
Buddhist Practice Group
Nina Nagy
Let Nina know you are attending.Teachings offered on a donation basis.
Fridays
12-1:00 PM
Awakenings
David Vita (see above)
Monthly,
various dates and times.
Small group ministry meetings
Steven Rosenberg
These must be signed-up for ahead of time; they depend on host availability, group size.
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CHURCH GROUNDS UPDATE: CLOSED AUG 1-21
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The TUCW ReOpen Committee has been meeting regularly to determine how/if/when we will meet in person, and what to do in the interim. For now, they share two pieces of critical info:
now- July 31*
MEETINGS OUTSIDE THE CHURCH BUILDING (on the lawn or in the parking lot) are permissible, per guidelines as shared previously and available
HERE
.
August 1-21 NO MEETINGS TO BE HELD The parking lot is being repaved; no cars or people will be allowed on the church grounds and the building is closed as it has been.
*Please n
otify
Diane
in the office if you plan to meet so that we do not have too many people here at the same time. The Nursery School will be in session from 9:00 to 12:00, Mon-Fri, June 22 - July 31. During that time it would not be a good idea to meet.
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Ministerial Pastoral Care
.
Our ministers will be taking much-deserved breaks, but we are always covered to meet the pastoral needs of our congregation. Please note:
- July 22- July 31: Rev. Jim
- August 1- August 15: Rev. Ed
- August 16- August 31: Revs. John and Ed
- September 1-13+: Revs. John, Ed, Jim
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VIRTUAL MEDITATIONS - SUNDAYS 9:00-9:45 AM
Offered each Sunday this summer. For info contact
Janet
.
To Join our Zoom Meeting
- click
HERE
Meeting ID:
xxxxxxxxx
Password:
xxxxxxxx
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ZOOM Information for All TUCWomen Gatherings:
Meeting room:
HERE
Meeting ID: xxxxxxx Password: xxxxxxx. Landline: xxxxxxxxx
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Tapping Circles
Carol is a certified EFT provider who was trained to use EFT to resolve trauma.
Mondays,
July
27, August 3, 10, 17, 24, 31
7– 8:30 PM
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Sacred Circles with Grandmother Nancy
continues online.
Talking circles include drumming, rituals, story-telling and thought-provoking conversations. Tuesdays, July 28,
August 4, 11, 18, 25
7:30 – 9:00 PM
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Food for the Soul
- Eileen Belmont, Facilitator
We kick-start conversations with quotes like this:
"It is never too late to be what you might have been." (George Eliot) and this:
"What you risk reveals what you value." (Jeanette Winterson). Every other
Thursday, July 30, August 13 and 27 12:30-2:00 PM.
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FIND PAST SERMONS/SERVICES HERE
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- Prior SOUNDINGS (Weekend and Weekdays editions) can be found HERE.
- Prior Minister's Messages can be found HERE.
- Prior Sermons and Services: Video, Audio, PDF, can be found HERE
- Prior Evensong Services can be found HERE.
- CORONA VIRUS Messages and Updates can be found HERE.
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"Rise Like a Phoenix" - Linda Lubin
SUMMER SERVICE - July 12, 2020
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"Dancing with Calamity" - Dayle Brownstein
SUMMER SERVICE - July 19, 2020
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PASTORAL CARE
If you are going through a challenging time or know somebody in the congregation who needs support from our
Pastoral Care Chaplains
, call to leave a confidential message in the PCA voice mailbox - (203-227-7205 ext. 19) or email -
pca@uuwestport.org
.
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TUCW CAREGIVING SUPPORT NETWORK
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YOU ARE NOT ALONE! - ADDICTION RECOVERY
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For individuals or families of our congregation seeking confidential support or information about addiction issues...
please contact our Addiction Recovery Ministry by calling 203-227-7205 ext. 19 or emailing
pca@uuwestport.org
.
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The Unitarian Church in Westport is a diverse and welcoming religious community, free of creed and dogma, and open to people of all backgrounds and beliefs.
WE INSPIRE
and support individual spiritual growth.
WE CONNECT
through worship, music, learning, and caring ministries.
WE ACT
in the service of peace and justice.
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