Outdoor Worship Service Viewing every Sunday @4pm. Details Below. |
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Pastor Jack's Sunday Morning
Zoom Discussion Group
April 11 will start a new Series, Words We Question.
In the beginning, we will start with the word God.
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We have completed a full year of weekly contemplative readings – and there we will stop. They are all still up at YouTube.com in case you want to listen. They are great readings, though not very well read on our Youtube presentations. Best to read such spiritually inviting texts on your own, slowly, and then find and sit quietly with a single word or thought to nourish your spirit. Blessings!
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Noon Zoom Cafe Check-In,
April 13
We are going bi!
UUSP’s mid-week opportunity to check-in with one another and, time allowing, the news, will now be meeting bi-weekly – 2nd and 4th Tuesday each month.
See you Tuesday, April 13, 12noon.
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Learn how to meditate here. |
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Adult Religious Studies Zoom Discussion
April 4 - Will not be meeting
Will be back April 14 (more information below)
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The Board of Trustees meet on the second Thursdays of the month. Next meeting is April 8.
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Come volunteer or provide a dish every Friday at
Email Sabine for more details on how you can be of help!
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Message from the Board:
There have been some changes on our UUSP Board of Trustees. Michael Killoren, who was elected president back in June 2020, has resigned from the Board. Michael led us ably and unselfishly through some of our church's hardest times during COVID, and we will miss him on the Board. Also, Cynthia Patterson, who has been serving as vice president, reminded us that she was not available to be president. She resigned as vice president but remains on the Board. Click here to read more...
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Pastor Jack's Weekly Message |
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Hello Friends,
We recently concluded a series of thirteen Sunday 9:15am conversations about the seven spiritual aspirations and six faith sources of the covenant made by UUA congregations. The depth and breadth we shared was inspiring.
The inspiration overlapped with the insights in our Wednesday 10am study of American UUism. One of our last issues was whether UUs tend to be skeptics. Our answer was No, we are questioners, inquirers and seekers. If skeptics are dubious about everything, UUs tend to be curious about everything, seeking deeper.
And in that spiritual heritage, starting Sunday April 11, 9:15am, we begin a series entitled Words We Question. Our first word will be God. Perhaps you can make that the centering point of this week’s contemplative meditation, to nurture understanding, caring and fulfillment.
Shalom and Happy Passover and Easter,
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Celebrating Pastor Jack
As we've all heard, Pastor Jack will leave UUSP and St. Petersburg for what he calls "trial retirement" at the end of June. We want to celebrate his almost-seven-year ministry here in fine fashion! If you would like to join a small "Steering Committee" to work on these plans, or if you just have some ideas you'd like to pass along, please let Susan Burnore know. Email is best.
Thank You!
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Search for an Interim Minister
The Interim Search Committee (Susan Burnore, Sally Carville and Sharon Winters) is preparing an extensive interim search documents packet for submission to UUA no later than April 22nd. The information packet will include a wealth of information about our congregation and its work ranging from demographics - to programs & resources - to congregational life - to finances. The results of the Interim Search Survey will inform this work so thanks to the 67 people who responded. Click the link below to check out the Survey Results compiled by Karen White. Interim Minsters Survey Results
In early May, the Committee will receive up to 8 names of potential interim ministers who are interested in our position. The Committee and Board will have two weeks to review application packets, identify top choices, check references, interview top candidates and submit a ranked order list of our choices to UUA. We expect to extend an offer May 19th (or move to a 2nd round of review in late May). We expect a new interim minister to start in August. Please reach out to a member of the Interim Search Committee with questions or comments.
Committee member email addresses below
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Wednesday Zoom Adult Religious Studies
Religious Studies Discussions
Taking a small break
Starting - April 14 @ 10:00am
We will explore From Beginning to End: Reflections on the Rituals of Our Lives by best-selling author (and UU minister for 34 years) Robert Fulghum. Fulghum explores ten important transitions, periodic new beginnings and accompanying rituals common to our lives. I hope you’ll get the book (warmly written) and join us in exploration via Zoom. Discussion quotes will be provided each week.
The Zoom link will be sent out Tuesday. Contact Pastor Jack if you have questions or don't get the link on Tuesday.
On the 3rd Wednesdays, we’ll forego a meeting so folks may attend the African American Heritage Association monthly presentations.
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Sunday Children's Religious Education:
'Religious Education Thru Art'
April 4th from 10-11am
Each week, students will be given an introduction and discussion on the topic of the week. April 4th will cover Easter. We know that Easter is celebrated in the Christian theology, but how does this branch into religious education with UU? We will take a look at the 2nd Principle to dive in more. After this discussion, children, youth and families will decorate their own Easter baskets with goodies to add.
We will be teaching on our back patio. To enter this area, follow the signage from the front entrance. There is a parking lot to the right of the front door, in the alley way.
Children will wear masks and have their name tags at the entrance with the sign-in/sign-out sheet for parents. Parents are welcome to stay! This is also open to high school students for volunteer hours!
Last week for March 21st, we discussed "Conscience".
Our next session: April 4th - What is Easter?
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What? - You aren't receiving it the
RE Weekly Newsletter?
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The Communications Team appreciated your input regarding
our InfoNet renaming survey! Thank you for your votes!
Stay tuned for the new update!
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Outdoor Worship Service Viewing |
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We will be hosting our outdoor Worship Service viewing in the back patio of the church.
We will be following all church social distancing protocols. The viewing will begin at 4:00pm.
Hope to see you there!
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Covenant Groups
Don’t forget our covenant groups continue to meet monthly, these days mainly on Zoom. We currently have eleven covenant groups in the congregation with over 100 people participating.
A Covenant Group is a group of 10 or so people who gather regularly (at least monthly) to share and converse about how life is going for the individuals in the group and often for our wider circles of life. Contact Pastor Jack for help to join a group.
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Beautiful Quilt Which Depicts Immigrants' Suffering and Injustice
Presented locally by the Pinellas Coalition for Immigration Justice (PCIJ), which UU St Pete is an active member of.
The PCIJ advocates that all immigrants receive compassionate, just and dignified treatment , at our borders and within our country, whether they are asylum seekers, refugees or those in search of a better life.
The quilt will be on display to the public at Allendale Methodist Church, Tuesday, April 6 through Thursday, April 8, on the Northwest corner of the Church, at 38th Ave North and Haines Road.
Parking is available for those who would like to walk the exhibit. PCIJ activists will be present for discussion and to answer questions. Please stop by or at least honk your horn as you pass. For more questions or to help out, contact Karen Coale.
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Forty-three state legislatures have introduced more than 250 bills the would make it harder to vote. These attacks must be stopped, and we have the power and leverage of our institutions to support democracy. See this Brennan Center for Justice chart by states of what legislation has been introduced and how the For the People Act will block these measures.
Here is what you can do now:
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Check out the March 29, 2021 newsletter from our
Buildings and Grounds Committee
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Leaders Needed
Would you like to be more fully involved in the life of UU St. Pete and play an integral part in the development and mission of our church? Positions will be open on the Board of Trustees and the Board of Endowment in July 2021. The officer position of Assistant Treasurer is also open.
If you are interested in volunteering your talent during this exciting time for our church please contact a member of the nominating committee: Sarah Craig: (949) 981-0210 , John Motter: (503) 381-0501, or Karen White (518) 524-1100
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Part Time Office Administrator Needed
The Unitarian Universalist Church of St. Petersburg is looking for a part-time Office Administrator to perform communications, office and facilities-related functions for a vibrant congregation of 170+ members in downtown St. Petersburg. The position is primarily self-directed under the general supervision of the Minister. It requires initiative and a welcoming, flexible manner in accordance with the church’s mission to be "an inclusive, evolving religious community that inspires spiritual and intellectual growth to make our world a better place."
The hourly wage is $20 an hour. During the pandemic church closure the position works 10-15 hours a week; upon re-opening the position works 25 hours a week.
For details, a full position description and to submit an application, contact Rev. Jack Donovan
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Members and friends set up a plan to make a gift from their estate to the Endowment Fund of UU St. Pete. Leaving a portion of the assets one has accumulated over the course of a lifetime ensures the continuation of the spiritual home that they have come to cherish and perpetuates our UU values. |
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UU St. Pete Annual Campaign
What is Pledging?
Every spring, UU St. Pete asks each member to make a new pledge for the subsequent fiscal year. You can always change the amount of your pledge by notifying the financial secretary. There is no minimum pledge. Learn more here
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Contribute online to any of the UU St. Pete funds by clicking here. Create a profile and log in or contribute without logging in. Creating a profile gives you immediate access to your online transaction history.
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Thank you for your interest in
Unitarian Universalist Church of St. Petersburg!
Stay Safe and Stay Well!
Kelli DeGraw,
part of your Communications Team.
Feedback and suggestions are welcome
(reply to this email). For technical support, click the button below.
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Our UUSP staff members will continue their duties safely, cautiously to the fullest degree possible.
Thank you Cathy for your service to our UU St Pete, Jeanay, Jon, and James, And many volunteers!
During this challenging time, may we remember that we need to pay close attention to how everybody is doing and how we can help.
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Our mission is to be an inclusive, evolving religious community
that inspires spiritual and intellectual growth to make our world a better place.
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Unitarian Universalist Church of St. Petersburg
727.898.3294
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