Thursday, October 26, 2023

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THIS SUNDAY'S

WORSHIP SERVICE

"Leveraging Our Collective Power"

Rev. Peggy Clarke & Rev. Kristin Grassel Schmidt,

Guest Speakers

Nancy Holland, Service Leader (UUCR)

Emily Cranwell, Service Leader (UUFE)

Zoom ONLY

Sunday, October 29, 2023

At this service, we'll consider ways Unitarian Universalists can collectively respond to our endangered democracy and institutions and leverage our power. The message and stories will be offered by Rev. Peggy Clarke and Rev. Kristin Grassel Schmidt, leaders from the UUs for Social Justice, our national political advocacy presence. This shared UUCR/UUFE Zoom service will include our regular welcome, joys and sorrows, and opportunities to reflect together on this national message. Our service leaders will be Nancy Holland (UUCR) and Emily Cranwell (UUFE).

This will be a Virtual-Only service (our 5^th Sunday service) shared with the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship at Easton.

Please CLICK HERE for the link to join us via Zoom.

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.

Upcoming Worship Services

Sunday, November 05 — In-Person & Zoom

"Gratitude, Generosity and Grace"

UU minister Elizabeth Stevens reflects, "A simple change of perspective can revolutionize the way we move through life. Instead of just focusing on what we want, we can choose to focus on what we want to give." At this service with Rev. Sue Browning, we'll consider the ways gratitude, generosity, and the proactive acceptance, love, and caring for our fellow human beings (one understanding of grace) may serve as a helpful focus through this holiday season.

Rev. Sue Browning, Minister
Nancy Holland, Service Leader
Michael Casey, Musician
Youth & Teen Welcome

Sunday, November 12 — In-Person & Zoom

"Is it 'Never Again' or 'Holocaust 2.0'?"

Historian Dr. Gary Schiff reflects on the tragic events triggered by the murder of 1,400 Jews in Israel by Hamas terrorists on 10/7, where they emerged from, and where they might be headed. He will also offer his personal thoughts and heartfelt reactions—as a Jew, as a cantor, and as a long-time scholar of and visitor to Israel.

Dr. Gary Schiff, Guest Speaker
Annie Lavin, Service Leader
Michael Casey, Musician
M.Q. Riding & Fantaye Kehm, Youth & Teen Welcome

Sunday, November 19 — In-Person & Zoom

"Building Connections - Our Annual Intergenerational Thanksgiving Service"

We invite all in the community—especially children and families—to be a part of our annual intergenerational Thanksgiving service. Through songs, stories, and the ritual of setting a shared table, we'll remind one another of the many ways that we experience gratitude in our lives. The service will be led by Rev. Sue Browning and Jan Sprinkel.

This year we're inviting contributions of bread (or muffins, or rolls), apples, or other fruit that we can use in our ritual of setting a table big enough for all! (And in our "bread swap," we'll each get to take home some bread!) We welcome all to this special service! If you have questions, please be in touch with Rev. Sue or the UUCR office.

Rev. Sue Browning, Minister
Jan Sprinkel, Service Leader
Michael Casey, Musician
Kim Agee & Fantaye Kehm, Youth & Teen Welcome

Newsletter Index

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
Rev. Sue on Vacation — October 29 - November 3
Memorial Service in Memorial Garden — Sunday, Oct 29
Legacy Fund Update
Social Justice Committee
Philip Dutton Benefit Concert for MDA — Saturday, Nov 18
Fundraising Cmte. — Second Annual Soup Sampler Supper
Pastoral Care and Connection Committee
Birthdays
UUCR Contact Information
End of Reflections Notice at the VERY END

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Helpful Links

Upcoming Events

This Week's

Worship Service

OCT 29 | Service Zoom link

Last Week's Worship

Service Recording

OCT 22 | Recorded Zoom

UUCR

Calendar

Office email

Facebook (public)

Facebook Forum (private)

Website

Website donate button

YouTube channel

UUCR Office Hours

W, Sa, Su — 8:30 am - 12:30 pm

M, Tu, Th, F — CLOSED

OCT 29 | Worship Service

Zoom ONLY with UUFE

Rev. Peggy Clarke &

Rev. Kristin Grassel Schmidt, leaders from the

UUs for Social Justice

OCT 29 | Memorial Service in

the Memorial Garden

NOV 05 | Daylight Savings

Time Ends (set clocks back)

NOV 05 | Worship Service

Rev. Sue Browning, Minister

NOV 12 | Worship Service

Dr. Gary Schiff, Guest Speaker

NOV 18 | Philip Dutton

Benefit Concert for MDA

NOV 19 | Worship Service

Intergenerational Thanksgiving Service

Rev. Sue Browning, Minister

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!

Rev. Sue on Vacation — 10/29 - 11/03

Rev. Sue will be on vacation from Sunday, October 29 through Friday, November 3. In her absence, if there are issues that need attention, please check with the appropriate team or Board leader, or leave a message in the office. In case of a pastoral emergency, Rev. Sue will be reachable by text or phone.

Memorial Gathering

Please join us for an informal memorial service for loved ones we've lost on Sunday, October 29, at 5 p.m. in the Memorial Garden. It's been our tradition for the last several years to gather around the date of All Soul's Day to acknowledge in community the losses our members and friends have experienced in the last year. We'll be serving mulled cider and wine. Please bring your own chairs. Contact John Ramsey or Amy Warner if you have any questions.

The Legacy Fund Update

Thanks to all who "voted" on the options regarding how to move forward on investing in our community with the Dorris Scott gift to UUCR. If you haven’t voted yet, the next time you are in the building, please do so.

The "hybrid" preference is clearly the choice of many members and friends. But what does that really mean? It means that through the generosity of a former member, we will be able to create a legacy for our community and our area.

Consider the possibilities:

Funding primary/secondary school-level environmental or educational programs in Kent and Queen Anne's County Schools.
Create a Washington College scholarship in partnership with a local community group.
Sponsor local workshops on social justice.
Support funding for a full-time minister, staff member, etc.
Expanding our building footprint or paving our driveway.

These are just a few options that could be put into place and allow us to improve our community here at UUCR and in our region.

If you have any questions or ideas, feel encouraged to let me or any board member know.

Faithfully, MQ

Social Justice Committee

Throughout November, Social Justice activities will focus on gratitude and generosity among one another. We will NOT be asking for contributions to a particular organization but will be offering ideas to express care for ourselves and for others.

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"Coats for Kids"

Kim Kehm, our member, a mom, and a QACPS teacher, brought to our attention the need for outerwear for kids at school bus stops. Many new students arriving from warmer climates simply don't have warm coats! To help, we are asking our congregation to donate slightly used or new winter items. Please place CLEAN WARM COATS (kid sizes up to an adult small), GLOVES, and HATS in the brown, covered container located outside our building near the back door ramp and bicycle rack. Anyone IS ALSO WELCOME TO TAKE these items. We will monitor this self-serve system carefully and see how it works out in the weeks ahead. Questions? Please email them to the church office.

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Here is another inspirational activity! There is no charge yet; you need to reserve your ticket!

Bryan Stevenson

WFS Nathan M. Clark Speaker Series

Thursday, November 30, 2023

7:00 to 8:00 p.m.

Chase Fieldhouse

401 Garasches Lane

Wilmington, DE 19801

https://www.wilmingtonfriends.org/community/nathan-m-clark-speaker-series

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AND please stay and enjoy our 1^st Sunday Social Justice lunch and discussions after the service on November 5^th! We have decided to gather informally to continue our conversations on monthly topics. This month, we will share a brief TED talk to kick off our thoughts on generosity.

Our Social Justice Committee is meeting next Friday, November 3 at 10:45 a.m. at the church. Everyone is welcome to join us as we continue to plan ahead.

On November 18, Philip Dutton will be giving a personal solo concert at UUCR to benefit Minary's Dream Alliance. This concert will be different from what you have heard him play in church or in his band, The Alligators. The concert will consist of mostly original songs in a loose autobiographical order, many of which he has never before played in public. 100% of the proceeds of this concert will go to Minary's Dream Alliance's (MDA) general operating budget. MDA is an organization that Philip has supported since its inception and is well known to UUCR. For more information on MDA's work, go to https://minarysdreamalliance.org/

This is the Eventbrite link for tickets

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/an-evening-of-songs-and-stories-with-philip-dutton-tickets-741493255287?aff=oddtdtcreator

Fundraising Committee

Save the Date!

Friday, December 8, 5:30 p.m.

UUCR’s Second Annual

Soup Sampler Supper and Sale

Join us for an evening of fellowship and good eating (also perfect timing/setting for enjoying a quick meal before the Chester River Chorale’s holiday concert).

Soup and bread makers are needed! Please email the church office at uuofchesterriver@gmail.com, and be sure to mention the kind of soup or bread you’d like to make for us.

Pastoral Care & Connection

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