Please join us for this special Valentine’s Day service where we welcome back several young adults with ties to our beloved UUCSW community. Amanda Hall and Anya Olsen will reflect on the foundational roots that provide the grounding, freedom, and tools to live their most ambitious version of their values into the world.

To join online, go to zoom.us/j/89214621289

Team Brownsville was founded to address the humanitarian crisis in Brownsville, Texas and Matamoros, Mexico by helping asylum seekers who find themselves living outdoors at the international bridge. Team Brownsville provides food, water, shelter, and necessities as well as education and a variety of legal and medical services for this vulnerable population. If you would like to learn more about the tireless efforts of the volunteers who affirm human dignity for asylum seekers go to: teambrownsville.org. Your February Share the Plate donation will make a meaningful difference; please consider donating.

Register today and join other UUCSW members virtually as we use an episode from the podcast Seeing White produced by Scene on Radio to consider how race and racism came to be in the United States. The event will be facilitated by an external volunteer. You can eat your lunch while the audio plays or you read the transcript, then in both small and large groups, we’ll engage with what we learn and our reflections. Signing up for the event is required in order to receive the Zoom link; please do so by February 20th. Register at signupgenius.com.

We have already received 12 pledges totaling $40,350 towards the Annual Campaign and 10 pledges totaling $2,775 towards the steeple. As a special thank-you to those who pledge early, pledge by 11:00 pm on February 15th and you will be entered into a raffle to win a 1-hour session of drone footage of your home or event of your choice, courtesy of Bruce Hall!

For February, we are reading My Notorious Life by Kate Manning. Please join us. The group is open to all. You are welcome to attend. Book Group will be online. If you are planning to attend for the first time, please email Judith at Judithteacake@gmail.com.

We will be holding a brief Information Session after service on February 14th for 8th and 9th grade youth and their parents interested in participating in this year's Coming of Age program. Reach out to Rev. Laurel with questions at laurel.gray@uucsw.org.

We are gearing up for our spring fundraiser. We don't know yet what 2021 will look like and what we will do for a fundraiser. If you are interested in brainstorming plans for the spring, please contact Ben Gold (bengold@gmail.com) or Erin Gold (kentuckybluerose@gmail.com) to be added to the contact list for the first meeting. We'll be meeting on February 17th to talk about what will be possible and fun so bring your best ideas!

Please consider participating in a food drive to benefit the South Middlesex Opportunity Council (SMOC). They are in need of: juice boxes; fresh fruit; 16 oz. packages of bologna; and boxes of granola bars. There will be a collection for these items on Thursday, February 25th from 4:30 to 5:45 pm at the Ruggles Street door of UUCSW. Please reach out to Libba Moore at libbamoore13@gmail.com ahead of time if there's a better time for you. Thank you for your help with this.

SMOC is in need of men's and women’s warm winter clothing, especially socks, coats, sweatshirts, sweatpants, long sleeve shirts, hats and gloves. Please bring your donations to UUCSW on Thursday, February 25th between 4:30 and 5:45 pm, the same day/time as the monthly food drive. If this timing does not work for you please reach out to Nancy Siegal at nsiegal185@msn.com or Pauline Sciarappa at psciarappa@gmail.com for other options. Thank you!