January 2021 News from UUFS

UUFS NEWS

January 2021

Our Mission Statement

As a welcoming congregation, we work and worship together

to become people of open minds, loving hearts, and helping hands. We honor the transformative power of love in our individual lives and broader communities.

Folks, we are going to make it to 2021! We still will have some dark times and will need to stay vigilant in controlling this horrible Coronavirus. But we have a new administration coming in THIS month – and that gives many of us great hope. I try not to be political from the pulpit or in the newsletter but whether we identify as Republican, Democrat, Independent, or something else, I think most of us realize that the end of the reign of #45 is a good, good, thing for us all. So, I have renewed hope for us as we enter this new year.

And this month, even as we remain necessarily apart, we will have good opportunities for connection through our worship services, our outdoor lawn chair gatherings, and our RE classes offered via Zoom (see information about A Course in Miracles below in this newsletter.) You can find out more about these in this newsletter.

In January, after a special New Year's sermon on the first Sunday, I’ll be beginning a series using songs from Singing the Journey (the teal hymnal) as my sacred text. We will also have a guest minister on the fourth Sunday, Rev. M’Ellen Kennedy, who will share what she loves about Islam with us. Many of you asked for sermons about the world religions, and I hope to provide that opportunity by finding guests who are more familiar with these religions than I am.

The Statesboro and Brunswick congregations will meet jointly from January through May on 1st, 2nd, 4th, and the occasional 5th Sunday. I will be the worship leader for most of these. As we did in the fall, the congregations will meet separately on third Sundays. Perhaps by the end of May, we will all be vaccinated and can return to some face-to-face worship. But that’s an unknown at this point. I am so proud that we’ve found ways to connect and be together. If you have not been involved with our Zoom services, maybe you should make that a 2021 resolution – to try and reconnect with us. You will be welcomed with our open arms and air hugs via Zoom.

Wishing you all a brighter New Year!

Peace, Love and Joy!

Jane

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Join our ONLINE SERVICE* on your computer or smart device. (You will be asked to download ZOOM software if you haven't before. It's safe!)

Go to: https://uuma.zoom.us/j/4793253254

Enter this MEETING ID when asked: 479 325 3254

NOTE: Even when Jane is not conducting our online services we use this Zoom link & ID.

* EXCEPT 3rd Sundays. See below for the special link to the 3rd Sundays' Zoom Room.

January 3

Worship Leader, Rev. Jane Page

“What Time Is It? 2021 version”

Rev. Jane begins the new year with an updated version of her classic sermon based on the third chapter of Ecclesiastes. This is the chapter with familiar words heard at funerals and in Pete Seeger’s song, popularized by The Byrds' song, "Turn. Turn, Turn."

January 10

Worship Leader, Rev. Jane Page

"Breaths (1001) – Ancestors"

Rev. Jane begins a series of sermons using songs from Singing the Journey (teal hymnal) as her sacred text. The words from this Ysaye Barnwell song were adapted from a poem by Birago Diop (1906-1989) and focuses on Ancestors.

January 17

For our special MLK service, UUFS member Stephanie Spencer will be our speaker.

3rd Sunday REMINDER

All UUFS 3rd Sunday services are accessed through a SPECIAL ZOOM ROOM.

*Use this Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/6632243238

Meeting ID: 663 224 3238

For DIAL IN FOR LISTENING ONLY via your landline or cell phone:

Call: 312 626 6799 and use this Meeting ID: 663 224 3238

January 24

Worship Leader, Rev. Jane

Rev. Mellon Kennedy, guest minister, shares “What I Love About Islam”

Rev. Jane’s fellow seminarian and friend Rev. M’ellen Kennedy will visit with us from Vermont via Zoom. She shares a sermon designed to give non-Muslims a brief exposure to what is intriguing about this religion that so many of us do not understand well.

January 31

Worship Leader, Rev. Jane Page

"There’s a River (1007) – Self Worth"

This is the second message in Rev. Jane’s series using songs from Singing the Journey as her scared text. This hymn with a “slow gospel feel” focuses on self-worth and inspires a message to uplift us.

In our efforts to provide access to all who want to participate in our joint services, we have recently added the option for closed captioning of what is being said.

We want to be as welcoming as we can be for all folks during these difficult times.

And, we are glad to be able to provide this service.

Students of A Course in Miracles will meet Thursdays in January, on Zoom, to reflect on Course Daily Lessons. ( For more information, visit www.ACIM.org .) If you are already a student of ACIM and want to participate, please email Shari at ShariRB@aol.com for details.

If you want to study ACIM, please acquire the workbook and email Shari if you want to join the group.

Lawn Chair Gathering

Sunday, January 10, 3 p.m.

We will have our monthly Lawn Chair Gathering in our church parking lot on Sunday, January 10th at 3 p.m., if the weather allows. This will be a "wear your mask and socially distance" gathering for those who want to have some conversation and see one another in three dimensions. Parents are welcome to bring their children and let them enjoy the playground. Bring your own water if you need some.

Our tradition of giving away half of the offering that is not designated as a pledge will continue in 2021, with some adjustments. Rather than designating a charity for the first month, the board decided to designate a charity for the first quarter. All offerings received in January, February & March not designated as "Pledges" will be split with the Statesboro Food Bank.

Thank you for your continued support and faithfulness to our congregation, which allows us to remain steadfast in our commitment to serving our community.

January is National Anti-Slavery and Human Trafficking Awareness Month

https://www.usccb.org/about/anti-trafficking-program/upload/Anti-Trafficking-Toolkit-Final-2018-2.pdf

January is Birth Defects Prevention Month

https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/birthdefects/prevention-month.html

January is Poverty in America Awareness Month

https://www.charities.org/news/january-national-poverty-america-awareness-month

January 11th

Human Trafficking Awareness Day

https://nationaltoday.com/national-human-trafficking-awareness-day/

January 15th

Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_Luther_King,_Jr.

January 27th

International Holocaust Remembrance Day

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Holocaust_Remembrance_Day

Karen Lambie, Social Justice Team Leader

Solstice Fire Circle - The 2020 Version, December 20, 2020

Thank you, James Whittle, for creating our beautiful Yule log. Charlie and John Paul Stanfield carried it around the fire three times, and then it burned in a blaze of glory, signaling the return of more light and less darkness in coming days.

For 2021

We all can certainly agree that 2020 has been a challenging year. Rev. Jane has done so much to keep our church family together even through her own personal challenges this year. And, just coordinating all of our Zoom services was a huge job.

We love and appreciate you, Rev. Jane!

Thank you for all your work for good, for us all.