THIS SUNDAY'S
WORSHIP SERVICE
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"A Sense of Beauty"
Rev. Kimberley Debus, Guest Speaker
Annie Lavin, Service Leader
Michael Casey, Musician
In Person & Zoom
Sunday, March 12, 2023 - 10 a.m.
What does it mean to have a sense of beauty in a time when all feels ugly? How can we make ourselves vulnerable to beauty's deep message to strengthen our spiritual selves and our sense
of call in the world?
So we can begin the service promptly at 10 a.m., please arrive at the church, or sign into Zoom ( click here) by no later than 9:50 a.m.
Reminder: Special Congregational Meeting after the service this Sunday to discuss Woodland Memorial Garden Pathway proposals.
⏰ Daylight Savings Time starts this Sunday
— set your clocks ahead one hour!
Welcoming Families and Children on Sunday Mornings
Each Sunday, UUCR offers childcare and simple age-appropriate activities for children of all ages. If you have any questions about UUCR's programming for families and children, please be in touch with Rev. Sue.
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Upcoming Worship Services |
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Sunday, March 19 — In Person & ZOOM
"For the World to See — T-shirt Sunday — An 'All Ages' Service"
Do you have a favorite T-shirt? Does it come with a story? Or maybe you have a beloved hat or coffee mug that might open conversations with friends and even strangers? At this service for all ages, all are invited to wear T-shirts and hats or to bring a favorite coffee mug and together we'll co-create a service with Rev. Sue Browning around the stories.
- Rev. Sue Browning, Minister
- Nancy Holland, Service Leader
- Michael Casey, Musician
- Philip Dutton, Guest Musician
Sunday, March 26 — In Person & ZOOM
"The Fear Factor"
Fear permeates our culture. Movies, books, video games, news broadcasts, and many of our leaders seem to peddle fear as a matter of course. Sometimes the alarm must be sounded. However, the cost of fear mongering has been the corrosion of trust. Indeed, fear has been described as the opposite of trust. In this service, Rev. Karyn Marsh will explore how we can dispel fear by building trust.
- Rev. Karyn Marsh, Guest Speaker
- Jan Sprinkel, Service Leader
- Michael Casey, Musician
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So You Don't Miss Anything! |
- This Week's Worship Service Information
- Upcoming Worship Services Information
- Newsletter Index
- Helpful Links, Office Hours, Upcoming Events Calendar
- Upcoming Musical Guests
- Minister's Column
- Special Congregational Meeting
- Legacy Advisory Task Force Listening Campaign
- Thank You John Leeks!
- Pledge Campaign Final Results
- Sumner Hall Collection Results & New Book Club
- Yard Sale & Auction Fundraiser Date Change
- Spring Equinox Sock Burning & Potluck
- UUA General Assembly in Pittsburgh, PA
- Pastoral Care and Connection Committee
- Birthdays
- UUCR Contact Information
- End of Reflections Notice at the VERY END
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If you don't see "VERY END of REFLECTIONS for March 9, 2023"
at the VERY END of this email, you're not seeing the entire email.
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This Week's
Worship Service
Last Week's Worship Service Recording
UUCR
UUCR Office Hours:
W, Sa, Su — 8:30 am - 12:30 pm
M, Tu, Th, F — CLOSED
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MAR 12 | ⏰ Daylight
Savings Time Starts
MAR 12 | Worship Service
In Person & ZOOM
Rev. Kimberley Debus, guest
speaker
MAR 12 | Special
Congregational Meeting
(see details below)
MAR 19 | Worship Service
T-shirt Sunday
In Person & ZOOM
Rev. Sue Browning, minister
MAR 19 | Spring Equinox
Sock Burning & Potluck
(see details below)
MAR 26 | Worship Service
In Person & ZOOM
Rev. Karyn Marsh, guest speaker
APR 29 | Yard Sale
MAY 06 | Silent & Live
Auctions in PM
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If you know of another link or event that should be added, please contact
the UUCR office by email or phone 410-778-3440. Thanks!
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MAR 19 | Philip Dutton
APR 02 | Meredith Hadaway & Rebekah Hock
APR 09 | Nevin Dawson
APR 16 | Philip Dutton
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Why T-shirt Sunday? (Coming March 19!)
Not this week, but next Sunday (March 19, 10 a.m.) our service will be a chance to get to know one another at a deeper level through our "T-shirt Sunday."
Why does offering a chance to wear a favorite T-shirt, or hat, or to bring a coffee cup that has meaning to you warrant a whole Sunday service? In short, we are still finding our path to connection in the wake of a pandemic and a service around personal stories we imagine will help.
It was three years ago in March 2020 that we abruptly shut down our world. We went from a handful of virus cases in Maryland early that month, to the closures of universities, schools, offices, restaurants, sporting venues, and, yes, congregations by the middle of March 2020. Graduations, weddings, and travel were cancelled. Masks, online meetings, and eventually vaccines followed.
While most of us are mostly back to living mostly in-person lives, we’re still rebuilding our local communities, including our congregation.
T-shirt Sunday is about intentionally strengthening UUCR by sharing names and stories. It will be a chance to hear what others value, enjoy, and worry about.
For those we haven’t seen for a while, it’s a chance to come and reconnect. For newer friends it is a chance to learn. We hope to fill the sanctuary with energy — a sense of renewal and hope. This will be an intergenerational service for all ages with music, readings, stories, and special snacks.
Which T-shirt you might wear on March 19? If you are not a T-shirt wearer, hats, coffee mugs, and pictures or your bumper sticker — all will all fit the bill.
You will see this poster made by our youth in the foyer inviting you to T-shirt Sunday. Please come and help us create a special morning together!
In connection,
Rev. Sue
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Special Congregational Meeting
— Sunday, March 12
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A Congregational Meeting will be held on Sunday, March 12, 2023, following the Sunday service.
The purpose of this meeting is to present two proposals for installing a paved pathway to the Woodland Memorial Garden. The two options were selected based on input from the congregation following the September 11, 2022, special congregational meeting.
A question and answer session will be held after the presentation, followed by a vote of the congregation. This requires a quorum of 20% of the membership, so please plan to attend the meeting. Friends and visitors are invited to attend, although only members who have signed the Membership Book prior to December 12, 2022 will be eligible to vote.
In gratitude,
Lynn Geisert, President
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LATF Launches a Listening Campaign
for the Dorris Scott Bequest
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The Legacy Advisory Task Force (LATF) wants to hear from you, the members and friends of UUCR, about your thoughts and aspirations for the generous bequest from Dorris Scott. Please plan to attend one of the scheduled discussions to share your ideas. Listening Sessions are scheduled in person after services on March 19 and April 2, and a Zoom
remote session will be offered on March 22 at 7 p.m.
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You may have noticed that the large grasses at the entrance of our driveway have been trimmed down in anticipation of the spring growth. This is not an easy job and has been one that we have normally farmed out at a cost to the church. Not this year.
A large note of thanks to John Leeks who volunteered to cut them down and take away the cut grasses.
Many thanks to John for his hard work!
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Gratitude to Everyone!
We achieved 84% of our goal for the next fiscal year's budget, and have raised pledges of $66,755, from 51 pledgers. We thank everyone for their support of UUCR. This result will be reported to the Finance Committee, who will make adjustments to the projected budget, and then send it along to the Board. The final proposed budget will be presented at the Annual Congregational Meeting on May 21 for discussion and approval.
We are grateful for the many ways that you support UUCR all year!
Your Stewardship Committee,
Jackie Mathwich, Catherine Brooks, Joy Kim, and Peggy McKee
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Sumner Hall Special Collection
& New Book Club
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Your Social Justice Committee happily reports that $370 was collected from our February focused giving to Sumner Hall. They are most appreciative of our partnership and hope we will stay in touch with their wide range of programming. Thanks also to the elementary school guest readers who were able to help recently.
Please note that Sumner Hall's new book club has chosen Michelle Obama's new book The Light We Carry for an in person discussion on March 16th from 3-6 p.m. The event's flyer, with more details about your participation, will be posted on our Social Justice bulletin board near the outside deck door or can be found on the Sumner Hall website https://sumnerhall.org/garevents/. We hope you will find a way to participate with this local gem of an organization!
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Yard Sale & Auction Fundraiser
Date Change
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Due to unforeseen circumstances, we've found it necessary to reschedule the Silent & Service Auction date to Saturday, May 6 beginning at 6 p.m. Proxy bidders can be provided for those unable to attend and still wish to bid on our offerings. The Yard Sale will continue to be held on Saturday, April 29th from 8 a.m. - noon in the UUCR parking lot (indoors if it rains). The deadline for all donations to both events is April 16.
More details will be sent to you in an email later this week including inspiration for your service auction donations and dates for dropping off yard sale and silent auction items.
Please contact the following (* for general questions) to donate to, or volunteer to help with the:
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You have not reached The End.
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2023 Spring Equinox Sock Burning
and Potluck —
Sunday, March 19 at 5 p.m.
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It’s hard to believe, but spring is right around the corner. This year the Equinox is on March 20th. We have, in our ultimate wisdom, decided to combine our annual Sock Burning with our March potluck to be held on Sunday, March 19th at 5 p.m. The Burning of the Socks will be in the Woodland Memorial Garden followed by the potluck in the church. |
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The Sock Burning is a uniquely Chesapeake Bay tradition. On the Spring Equinox the watermen would burn their socks, which they had been wearing all winter. This is not a requirement at
our sock burning. The ceremony will be led by our own salty sailor, Kim Agee.
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UUCR Encourages Members to Attend the 2023 UUA General Assembly! |
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UUCR Encourages Members to Attend
the 2023 UUA General Assembly!
General Assembly (GA) is the annual gathering of Unitarian Universalists, where we conduct business of the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA), explore the theological underpinnings of our faith, and lean fully into our mission and principles. Participants worship, witness, learn, connect, and make policy for the Association though a democratic process. Anyone may attend.
GA will be held June 21 - 25, 2023 online or in-person in Pittsburgh, PA. Most GA events will take place at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center, 1000 Fort Duquesne Blvd, Pittsburgh, PA.
General Assembly 2023 will be a multiplatform event, with registration options for in-person and/or virtual participation. Registered delegates can vote on business and agenda items.
This year GA will be considering changes to our UUA Principles, as presented to us recently by Rev. Sue. This year’s Ware Lecture will be given by Imani Perry, the Hughes-Rogers Professor of African American Studies at Princeton University and a faculty associate with Gender and Sexuality Studies and Jazz Studies, contributing writer for The Atlantic, and author of seven books.
UUCR will subsidize the cost of registration for members who attend in-person or virtually. If you are interested and have questions about the UUA General Assembly or UUCR's process to identify delegates, please contact Rev. Sue or Lynn Geisert.
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Pastoral Care and Connection |
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You are encouraged to share your joys and sorrows with the UUCR Pastoral Associates (see below). This team is a mixed group — but all have had previous life experiences and a variety of professional training in counseling and philosophy. Please contact one, or several of us, if you “want to talk.”
Pastoral Care Associates: Kevin Brien,
Gayle Folger, Nancy Holland, and Vida Morley
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MARCH
14 - Neenah Newell
18 - Jackie Mathwich
30 - Jan Sprinkel
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We want to help celebrate your birthday! If we didn't include your birthday, please contact the UUCR office by email (click here).
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Unitarian Universalists of the Chester River 914 Gateway Drive | Chestertown, MD | 21620
Phone: 410-778-3440
Office hours: W, Sa, Su — 8:30 am-12:30 pm
Closed — M, Tu, Th, F
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VERY END of REFLECTIONS for March 9, 2023
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