We join together to encourage spiritual growth,
build a beloved community, and act for peace and justice.
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This Sunday, September 19
9:00 a.m. UU Buddhist Fellowship:
Group Meditation & Discussion:
10:30 a.m. Sunday Service:
both "in-person" (masks required inside) & "online" available
"My Journey to and with Unitarian Universalism"
- Interim Minister Kathryn Adams with Rev. Carl as Liturgist
Special Music by Nick Int Veldt with Lisa Bromfield
Please spread the word
to anyone you know who may be interested.
11:45 a.m. Friendly Forum:
"How You Can Help Support Afghan Refugees"
with Marilou Barratt (Room 113 & Zoom):
3:00 p.m. Atheists/Humanists/Agnostics (AHA) Discussion Group:
All Sundays at 3pm on Zoom: https://zoom.us/j/93687418527?pwd=RlBNZ2dZQ3JXcW1Gc3ZFcVNIRzExZz09
Check our homepage for
the next 7 days of online opportunities:
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Letter from the UUCF Board President
Dear Members and Friends,
I hope this finds you able to achieve some pandemic balance in your lives. Your Board and Reverend Carl continue to watch the COVID numbers which, while not diving as low as we would all like, have not continued the steep upward trajectory of several weeks ago. I hope that you are safe but also finding ways to meet your needs for social interaction, relaxation and wonder.
I got to meet some of those needs last Saturday when I helped staff a booth at ‘Frederick In the Streets’ representing UUCF. My fellow volunteers (Mary Fletcher, Carol Gosnell, Barbara Schectman and Alice Wong) and I had the opportunity to talk to folks about what we offer, that we are in person and online, and where we are located. Our long, tall banner, usually located near the welcoming desk, stood outside the booth introducing passers-by to the inclusive beloved community we strive to be and to create. The beautiful rainbow list of statements reads: Black Lives Matter, Immigrants are Beloved Neighbors, Love is Love, All Genders are Equal and Beautiful, Women Have Agency Over their Bodies, Climate Change is Real, Workers Deserve a Living Wage, Disability Rights are Human Rights, Support Indigenous People’s Rights.
It was a day when folks apparently agreed to set aside ideological differences and just be together. There were a variety of causes and ideological interests present but I saw no rancor or arguing. People who didn’t want to talk just kept walking by. But the biggest take away from the event for me was the hope that I saw in the faces of folks who stopped to talk to us. “I didn’t know there was a UU congregation in Frederick!” “This sounds like the place for me!” “I used to attend a UU congregation, so glad to find out about you.” “I love Unitarian Universalists!” One of the people we talked to on Saturday came to service on Sunday! It would seem that UUCF offers hope to folks who didn’t realize there was a spiritual community focused on the statements of our banner. To be sure, we aren’t perfect at living up to these ideals, as building Beloved Community is a very difficult task. But the knowledge that we are trying, that we profess these ideals and back up our intention with work provides hope and a place to work on these ideals in community.
For those of us already here at UUCF… are you feeling the hope inherent in our faith? After all, there is so much battling our hope and peace these days. Some days it is hard to see beyond all the negative news and situations. Someone said to me recently that they were looking for bits of hope. Looking for pieces, slices, bits or nuggets of hope is easier for me when I consider the beauty of the 8 principles, when doing anything to support those principles – no matter how small, and when at UUCF service. I find large hunks of hope when attending something like the “Siding with Love Action Center Launch” from the UUA. This effort will use a “UU the Vote” style of organizing to fight voter suppression, climate change and other issues. This organizational method allows seemingly small individual contributions to be a part of a powerful movement for change. As Reverend Carl says, if you are feeling like you alone cannot change things, then join a group, because you are not alone.
There was not only hope at the UUCF booth! I also found abundant hope in the number of people and social organizations present at ‘In The Streets’ who are working to make the world a better place for all. I found hope in the commonality of humanity evident at gatherings of this sort when folks are just out meeting others, sampling tasty food, enjoying the delight of children in games, and listening to live music. I guess finding all that hope whetted my appetite for more and I carved out some time for the “Siding with Love Action Center” launch Sunday afternoon. This sounds silly to say, but I always find more hope when I am looking for it. If you are a little short on hope these days, and longing for it, I suggest looking for it. Perhaps you can even start with finding hope that you want hope. And you might even expand that and inspire hope in others by being willing and eager to have it once again. I am grateful and hopeful to be on the journey to a better world with all of you. Thank you for whatever thing you do to find and build hope.
Best,
Lisa
President of the UUCF Board of Trustees
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General Announcements &
Upcoming Events
Sign-up for Chalice Groups (“small group ministry”) on Zoom by Friday, September 24. These groups of 8-10 members or friends of UUCF meet twice a month (October through May) to discuss various topics such as life transitions, spirituality, and relationships. The goal is to create community and nurture personal growth through individual sharing and deep listening. This year we are adding a group specifically for those in the 80+ age group that will focus on the wide range of issues that pertain to Elderhood. Registration is open online through Friday, September 24 for all groups. To sign-up, click on the registration link at frederickuu.org/chalice or in the center of the UUCF homepage, frederickuu.org. If you would like more information about Chalice Groups, please contact Bobbi Mead at bobbimead1@gmail.com or Carolyn Rocha at uptheflue@yahoo.com.
Donation Yoga for Advancing Beginners: Tuesdays, 10-11am (Chapel/Zoom). One of the best ways we can stay resilient and healthy is to exercise and cultivate mindfulness. These donation classes with E-RYT 200 Irene Glasse are open to individuals fully vaccinated against COVID-19 (two weeks past their last vaccination). Masks are not required but you are, of course, welcome to wear one. An Advancing Beginners class is most accessible to people who have some basic familiarity with yoga and are able to comfortably take low lunge (lunge with one foot forward and the back knee touching the mat), tabletop, warrior two and other foundational yoga poses. Previous classes can be viewed here.
Connecting through Poetry Group: Wednesdays, 12:30 p.m. Join us for a weekly time of sharing, exploring a poem together, & open conversation: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/6354394421 password: poetry.
UUCF Book Club schedule has changed! We will now meet via Zoom on the third Friday of the month. Our September book for discussion is Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro, September 17, at 7:30pm. A zoom link will be sent out by Jane Hufstedler a few days in advance. Much as we enjoyed the two meetings held in person, concerns about the rise in Covid cases compel us to return to Zoom for the foreseeable future.
“Mindfulness: A Practical Guide to Awakening by Joseph Goldstein” with Rev. Carl: Tuesdays, 7:00-8:30pm on Zoom (September 21 - December 14, 2021). Join us for a study of a classic book by one of the great living meditation masters. Learn—and cultivate direct experience of—the Four Foundations of Mindfulness, the Five Hindrances, the Five Aggregates of Clinging, the Seven Factors of Awakening, and much more! To sign-up for class and receive the Zoom link, email minister@frederickuu.org.
Rev. Carl's 10 Year Anniversary/UUCF's 60 Year Anniversary Celebration: A committee is being formed, chaired by Mike Morse, to plan for and execute a celebration of Rev. Carl's ten years of ministry with UUCF, to be held in conjunction with UUCF's 60th Anniversary. The time frame is around June 5, 2022. Several persons have already agreed to serve on such a committee. If you would like to be a member working to plan for this occasion, please contact Mike Morse at 301-367-7640 or email mike.morse@comcast.net by the end of next week.
Rev. Carl Teaching “Wisdom from the World's Religions” at Frederick Community College’s “Institute for Learning in Retirement”: Tuesdays, 10:00 - 11:30am (six weekly sessions, starting October 5). Description: How should we define religion? (Who benefits? Who decides?) From a twenty-first century perspective, how can wisdom from the world's religions inspire us ethically and spiritually? Join us for an exploration of Buddhism, Shintoism, Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Indigenous Spirituality. (This class is offered in a “flex” format of both in-person or online.) For more details or to register go to ilratfcc.com
"UUCF 101: Pathways to Membership”: Saturday, October 2, 10am-1pm (on Zoom). Are you considering becoming a member of UUCF? Join us for an exploration of UU history and principles, sharing of our individual spiritual journeys, and learning more about our congregation. Limited to 15 participants. To register, email minister@frederickuu.org with (1) the first & last name and preferred phone number of each person signing-up, and (2) preferred phone number for receiving a text reminder about the class. With our increasing options for digital accessibility (live-streaming Sunday Services and joining meetings/classes via Zoom), you do not have to live near UUCF geographically to become a UUCF Member. You only need to be committed to participating regularly and supporting the congregation.)
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Library Blessing Ceremony & Open Browsing, Saturday, September 18, 6:30 pm
Labyrinth Walk to follow: It has been a long journey, but the UUCF Library is ready to open! Our library is home to a huge collection of metaphysical and pagan books, tarot and oracle decks, periodicals and more. Over the last two years, our Library Mages have been working diligently to get the library ready for borrowing. Join us for a ceremony to inaugurate, formally name our library, and offer blessings to support its work. Our ritual will be outdoors with books representing different topics in the library to carry the blessing. After the ceremony, there will be open browsing (masks are required indoors) for groups of four per library room. The Labyrinth walk will follow our ceremony, so there should be plenty of time to browse as well as walk the Labyrinth and enjoy the drum circle. Our collection can be viewed at www.librarything.com/catalog/UUCFLibrary
This library has been a labor of love for many people over years, from its start as part of the Open Hearth Foundation in Washington, DC. It was formed initially by books donated to create a resource for local pagans and those who follow or are interested in earth-centered spirituality. After the OHF closed, the library was eventually donated to the Frederick Covenant of Universalist Unitarian Pagans (CUUPS). Over 3,000 books, tarot decks, magazines and other items were transferred to the Universalist Unitarian Congregation of Frederick. Since then, volunteers have worked to organize the library and incorporate additional materials donated to the library that are in keeping with the six sources of Universalist Unitarianism, expanding it beyond its roots as a resource for pagans. Facebook event here.
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Lend a Hand for Afghan Relief
The Social Action Committee asks your help in providing Welcome Home Gift Boxes distributed to Afghan families resettling in the Washington, DC region. Partnering with the Lutheran Social Services of the National Capital Area, SAC is collecting boxes which individuals or groups create following the directions of the needed contents found at http://lssnca.org/take_action/gift-boxes.html. We’re holding a Friendly Forum on Sunday, September 19 at 11:45am to talk about the work of Lutheran Social Services and to help individuals and groups partner on gift-box creation, if they desire. SAC members will collect completed boxes and deliver them to LSSNCA in Hyattsville before the end of September. In the meantime, contact betsybainbridge@yahoo.com with any questions you may have.
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Upcoming Frederick Covenant of UU Pagans (CUUPS) September Events
Full Moon Labyrinth Walk and Drum Circle
Saturday, September 18, 7:30 - 9:30 PM
Come enjoy the beauty and peace of the Labyrinth by the light of the full moon! This will be an outdoor, drumming walk. The event will be canceled in the event of rain.
If you are vaccinated and outdoors you can wear a mask or not as you like. If you are not vaccinated you must wear a mask. Per UUCF policies, you must wear a mask if you go inside the building.
The first half hour will be a quiet walk, the remainder drumming, so feel free to bring hand drums and other percussion instruments.
This Labyrinth Walk follows our Library Opening Ceremony and the library will be available for browsing during the walk (masks required).Recommended donation of $5. Please help support Labyrinth Walks at the UUCF. Facebook event here.
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Announcements for our weekly e-newsletter are due no later than Wednesday noon. Please keep your announcement 50 words or less. If you have a graphic for the group or organization, please include that as well. Email to office@frederickuu.org
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