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 question God. Perhaps we can start by asking, "Are there understandings or definitions of the word God you would find acceptable or useful?" And we might get to asking, "How do you converse when someone uses the word God to explain the nature and functioning of the universe and humankind?"
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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. Blessings!
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Learn how to meditate here.
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Noon Zoom Cafe Check-In,
April 13 at 12-noon
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
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Adult Religious Studies Zoom Discussion
April 14
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.
(more information below)
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The Board of Trustees meet on the second Thursdays of the month. Stay tuned for the newsletter next week.
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Come volunteer or provide a dish every Friday at
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Pastor Jack's Weekly Message |
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Dear Friends,
I’ve just had my 77th birthday and I’m at a loss for words, there is so much to say.
So, if you don’t mind, the birthday present I’ll give myself is a few days of quiet and reflection. Part of that reflection will, of course, be about you and my gratitude that I’m in the world with you.
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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.
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
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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Children's Religious Education
K-5th grade:
'Religious Education Thru Art'
April 18th from 10-11am
Each biweekly session, students will be given an introduction and discussion on the topic of the week. April 18th will cover Earth Day.
Our theme this month is “What does it mean to be a people of “Becoming?” On this day, our thoughts turn toward Earth Day, April 22. We are becoming people of the earth. Join us with your ukuleles as Ms. Trish leads our lesson with music and song.
Our 7th UU principle inspires us towards “Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part.” Why do we call it an “interdependent” web? What does it mean? (it’s like a spider’s web, all parts are connected.) Our faith, and many other faiths make taking care of the earth and the natural world, a part of being a religious person.
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We will be teaching on our back patio. Spaces are limited so click the link below to register!!
Children will wear masks! Parents are welcome to stay! This is also open to high school students for volunteer hours!
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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.
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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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The Art of Tribal Quest
Wednesdays, April 14, 21 & 28
1:00 pm -3:00 pm
Join with the UUSP Pandemic Traveling Journal Team (UUSP artists Alisun Donovan, Jill Oldenski, & Cynthia Alicea) on a tribal quest through the medium of collage!!! Your destination - identifying the tribe you’d want to be part of – its values, strengths, gifts and challenges - then sharing to reflect on connections where we can build and strengthen relationships and identify disconnections where we can learn from each other and gently grow.
In these challenging times, we have witnessed the negative side of tribalism - discriminatory behavior and violent actions based on loyalty to one ideology or social group. Regaining positive tribal connection may be key to our psychological survival.
To register to receive a Zoom link for the class, please email Jill Oldenski.
Class size limited to 6 participants.
Materials to bring:
- Paper for collage (suggested size 11”X14” - colors, whites, cardboard, posterboard, etc.);
- Words or images clipped from print sources to describe your personal tribe (consider images that include your tribes’ values, gifts, challenges, strengths);
- Scissors and glue sticks;
- Magazines/newspapers/print materials (for additional descriptive words & images);
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A great (not required) book about tribes is: Tribe: On Homecoming & Belonging, by Sebastian Junger
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The next food drop-off is by noon on Tuesday, April 13.
Please drop off your donations at one of these locations:
Karen/Dave Coale: 111 26th Ave NE, St Pete
Gay/ Billy: 6220 14th Ave S, Gulfport
Dani/Deb:: 6051 3rd Ave. S, St Pete
Virginia/Cal: 4562 14th Ave. N, St Pete
Thank you everyone for your continued generosity, it is so appreciated!
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Check out the March 29, 2021 newsletter from our
Buildings & 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:
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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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Forty-three state legislatures have introduced more than 250 bills that 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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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 to our UU St Pete Contributors, 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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