UUCSC News and Updates
Weekly on Fridays
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Unitarian Universalist Congregation of South County, RI
All are welcome!
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Reverend Denis Letourneau Paul, Minister
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This Sunday, June 19, 2022 |
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Worship
In-Person 10:00 am
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"The Challenge of the Founding Fathers"
Rev. Denis Letourneau Paul
June 19, 2022
The founding fathers of our nation (and by design they were all fathers) “brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.” Except, they knew that the system was not equal for all men. And women weren’t even in the picture of what they were envisioning, at least for the time being. On the seemingly never-ending path toward full freedom and inclusion, it’s taken groups of single identities to do what the founding fathers did: to advocate and fight for themselves.
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Religious Exploration
In-person
10am-noon
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Last Day of RE
And fun summer plans!
Even though there will be services throughout the summer, this Sunday will be the last day of RE until we return in September. I hope you join us for our last sharing circle with reflection time and a little ritual of goodbye.
Summer Fun!
June 23rd: UUCSC will be at SK RiverFire Pride! (see "community connections" section below for details)
June 25th: UUCSC Cookout Celebration (see below)
Stay tuned for All Ages hikes, swim picnics and farm visits this summer!
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Lee Cowan, Director of Religious Exploration |
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The hard pruning of the bushes in front of our main entrance a few weeks ago shocked me. While the whole space looked more open and welcoming, dozens of thick branches cut at angles seemed brutalized. For a moment, I wondered if they’d survive, but then I remembered something. |
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25 year ago, my housemates and I had a typical San Francisco backyard. It was tiny, on a steep slope with very high walls on two sides. At the back three beautiful camellia trees took up 2/3 of the entire space. They cast too much shade and bore few flowers.
We asked a master gardener friend for help. He arrived one sunny Saturday morning with saws and loppers, to prune those camellias so that they were only two feet thick off the wall. He removed about 90% of the branches, leaving only those that grew parallel to the garage wall. my memory is that the whole arrangement left only a few dozen leaves, though the drama of my response to his work probably clouds my memory.
I was aghast, certain they would die.
Within a few weeks, new growth was appearing all over the branches that remained, and over the next few months, the trees began looking more alive than I thought possible. The following spring those three trees were dense and lush, with thousands of healthy blooms. Their deep, healthy roots had saved them. They created the perfect environment for the rest of the garden.
The memory of those camellias calmed me down when I saw our hard-pruned bushes. And now, a few weeks later, I see lots of healthy new growth, covering the previously denuded branches.
I thought about hard pruning this Sunday, when 31 men were apprehended in a U-Haul on their way to terrorize a Pride festival in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. Too often in our world, things happen that leave us feeling like we’ve been chopped down, exposed, and left to die. While the perpetrators have no intention of encouraging healthy growth, that’s often what they end up doing. Because our roots are deep.
Just the day before the arrests, I had the honor of co-officiating the memorial service for Dorothy, a member of the congregation who was an out and proud lesbian more than 50 years ago, when being out was extremely dangerous. At the reception afterward, I met Marcia, another self-described “old dyke” who was one of only 12 people to participate in Providence’s first “gay march,” as it was called back then. She told me that hundreds of people lined their route, jeered at them, and threatened physical violence, but she and the other queer people came away stronger, more resolute.
After 45 springtimes of hard pruning and new growth, those 12 people, and so many others who’ve kept showing up, are the roots of all LGBTQI+ people. We are stronger and healthier now for the abuse they took.
It’s not just LGBTQI+ people who are stronger. It’s not just our allies, either. Everyone is stronger because they dug deeper, found the health among themselves and their community, and continued to provide shelter and a better environment for everyone who came up afterward.
In Peace,
Rev Denis
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UUCSC Board of Directors
Elected at the Annual Meeting June 11, 2022
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Treasurer Mary Alice Kimball, Director Russell Stokes, President Elizabeth Donovan, Director Elaine Stannard, Vice President Trish Hindley, Director Charlie Donnelly, and Clerk Mary Fulton. |
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I am energized as I start the second year of my term as President of the Board. There are a lot of big picture issues that I would like to address—what will the future look like for UUCSC? How do we fully live into our mission and vision? We will discuss these together in the coming months. But for the moment I am still “in the weeds” with the day-to-day details. Who will open our building on Sunday morning? Who will pass out the Order of Service? Take the head count? Pass the fish net? If outside who will help with the sound? We are committed to connecting with those unable to be in the building but how do we provide for that?
After serving many years Elise Bender has stepped down as membership chair. Is this something YOU could do? Could you organize a couple of people to greet and be responsible for a few Sunday morning duties? It is not hard, but it does take some commitment to making a plan for every Sunday. Maybe it is your turn to step up and lend a hand. All conversations regarding this are welcome. Please call me at 783-1362 or 580-9180.
On a personal note: I LOVE June! So much to do outside—work and play both. I’d like to plan a kayak meet-up also. I’ll be putting in at the Long Point Boat Ramp in Wickford on 9:30am on Wednesday, June 29th. Be in touch if you’d like to join me!
Hope you, too, are enjoying the long, lovely days of June,
Elizabeth Donovan
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The Dining for Dollars PLUS online auction was a great success!! UUCSC received nearly $9000 in winning bids for the many terrific meals and events that were offered. This success is truly a testament to the generosity of the many wonderful event hosts AND to the numerous UUCSC community members who took part in the bidding. In order to fully realize the success of this fundraising effort, however, we do depend on all winning bidders sending in your payments ASAP. If all payments are received before the end of June, this will go a long way toward helping UUCSC balance our annual budget.
Please mail in your check to UUCSC (put D4$+ in the memo line) or pay online via the DONATE button on the UUCSC website. Any questions about payments – contact Mary Alice Kimball. Other D4$+ questions – contact
Betsy Dalton or Trish Hindley.
From Trish and Betsy… an ENORMOUS THANK YOU!!
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Social Justice Survey Results |
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Changes Coming to the SJ Team
Justice is at the core of our UU faith. Based on the survey that was just completed, UUCSC SJ will focus on:
1. Climate
2. Racial Justice and
3. Human Rights (including gender, LGBTQI, immigration, gun issues.)
We are creating an advisory team to replace the current model of separate sub-committees. The team will include 3-5 people who will be the gatherers of pertinent information, help set agendas, recommend actions and perform outreach to the community as needed.
I believe focusing on a few key topics in our back yard will lead to a
greater impact in our community and help us to achieve our mission to
Inform, Educate, Advocate.
We will INFORM the congregation through the weekly newsletter.
EDUCATION will be accomplished by monthly meetings/email (which you
asked for in the survey.) Meetings open to all. Opportunities to ADVOCATE will be delivered to those who want to be notified of actions and protests in the area or requests to support bills at the State House. Due to short timelines we will set up a separate email just for those actions, which you’ll be invited to opt into.
Please consider joining this simplified and focused team! Help us help
UUCSC to live into our vision as “…a principled religious congregation
that initiates action and stimulates change to strengthen the broader
community.”
Submitted by Cathy Solomon, Social Justice Chair
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UUCSC Cookout and Games Celebration! |
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Save the Date! June 25th 4-8pm (rain date 6/26) |
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Fun Activities for All Ages Cooperative games, relay races, Legos, bubbles and a community art project to work on together. |
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All are invited to celebrate the beginning of summer in our UUCSC backyard!
The RE Committee will be providing hot dogs, hamburgers, veggie burgers and all the fixin's, plus drinks!
Please bring a potluck item to share.
This is part of the Dining for Dollars+ fundraiser: pay what you can at the door (suggested donation is $30/family or $15/individual)
Submitted by Lee and the RE Committee
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We have 10 of these A Matter of Truth books available to be checked out in the UUCSC lending library, located on the 900 shelf.
or
you may choose to
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By the RI Black Heritage Society and the 1696 Heritage Group and RW University
Research, recovery, and interpretation help us understand how the City of Providence’s treatment of nonwhite people evolved, which people and institutions benefited, who got left behind, and how these past legacies still influence us today. The findings, which document and validate the struggle by African heritage and Indigenous people to thrive in the City of Providence, will help to create an environment and future policy platforms for positive change that fosters fairness, equity, and justice.
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Juneteenth and RISHM Dedication at Casey Farm |
Join us on the Juneteenth Holiday to celebrate the emancipation of African captives in America, and as we honor all those enslaved in this region and on Casey Farm.
Sunday, June 19, noon – 4pm, 2325 Boston Neck Road, Saunderstown, R.I. Free admission with food for sale.
Historic records indicate that Southern RI is the site of the largest African slave holdings in New England. For many years, the ‘Narragansett Plantations’ were home to African and Indigenous captives on appropriated land. Learn more about the history of slavery in the area at the event and at RISHM.org.
Please dress for the weather and leave pets at home. More information here.
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UUCSC at SK RiverFire Pride!
Thursday, June 23, 2022
6:00 PM - 10:00 PM
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Do you remember Rev. Denis' Fool In A Box where he popped out of a giant cardboard box to begin his sermon on April Fool's Day? Well, we're rolling that box on down to the Wakefield Pride Fest and RiverFire next Thursday. Come join us to show your UUCSC Pride! We have UUCSC T-shirts, treats, bubbles and of course, blessings from our fabulous gay minister.
Click here for info about South County Pride and here or on the image below for details of the event. |
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Saturday, June 25, 2022
7:00 PM
Beneficent Church
300 Weybosset Street
Providence, RI
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RPM Voices of Rhode Island's mission is to create a musical space for all voices to participate in the African American choral tradition through an ongoing experiential education cycle of instruction and performance. |
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World Refugee Day Celebration
June 18th, 2022, 10 A.M - 4 P.M
The Refugee Dream Center, 747 Broad St. Providence, RI
There will be cultural performances, music, food, crafts, and much more to celebrate our new neighbors!
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Paddling on the Saugatucket with Rev. Denis
Saturday, July 9. 2022 * 9AM * 99 North Rd
Drop off your kayak a little early and park at Lily Pads.
Maybe lunch afterward.
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Tomaquag Museum's Annual Honoring and Cultural Celebration!
August 16, 2022
5:30 - 8:00 PM
URI Memorial Union Ballroom
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The UUCSC Share the Plate committee recommends one of these four organizations that are providing support to Ukrainians in crisis. |
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Bethany Sorrentino, Helping Hands Coordinator
Don't be afraid to ask for help - helping hands are here!
Helping hand volunteers are also needed.
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Membership Committee is vacant. Facility opening and closing is vacant. Please contact President Elizabeth Donovan at elizdn342@gmail.com. |
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List of Black owned businesses from RI Monthly magazine. Patronize these businesses all year long. This small effort can help undo racism. Please send pics and reviews to Etta for sharing here and on website.
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June 22 - 26, 2022
View the most recent
Ibram X. Kendi is the 2022 Ware Lecturer
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Includes lists of Black-Owned Businesses
Your search for truth and meaning begins here.
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How to Submit Info to This Newsletter |
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Send announcements and news with Newsletter Item in the subject line to Etta Zasloff, Editor, at zasloff.etta@gmail.com and Sara Kaplow, Congregational Administrator, at uucscri@gmail.com by Tuesday Noon
to assure publication by Friday of that week.
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