UUCSC News and Updates

Weekly on Fridays

Volume III * Issue 46 * April 28, 2023

Unitarian Universalist Congregation of South County, RI

All are welcome!

uusouthcountyri.org

*Staff

* Board of Directors

* Committees

* Calendar

* Members Directory

Reverend Denis Letourneau Paul, Minister

revdenispaul@gmail.com Minister's Calendar

This Sunday, April 30, 2023

Worship

In Person and on Zoom 10:00 am

"Chant… Vibration… Love…"

Rev. Denis Paul

and Adria Evans

An experience of devotional chanting, with lessons from multiple faith traditions. Additional chanting led by Kelly Doyle and members of Ananda Rhode Island.

Order of Service

Religious Exploration

In Person 10am-noon

Let's immerse ourselves in the experience of sound. Singing, chanting, humming....these vibrations move through our bodies and help lift our energetic frequency. Many traditions say it brings us closer to the divine. Let's see how close we can get.

Click the link above for some beautiful humming harmonies. And here is one of Beautiful Chorus's many chants.

Mark your calendars for flower crowns and May Pole dance on May 7th after service!

Masks Are Now Optional in the Sanctuary

READ UPDATE

DONATE

Sad News

It is with great sorrow we announce the passing of long-time member Essjay Foulkrod.

Rev. Denis will be hosting a special Chalice-side Chat after the service to offer everyone the opportunity to reflect on her life and person. At the end of the service, after a short break, everyone is invited to return — in person or via the same Zoom link — to share reflections on this remarkable and respected woman.

Rev's Reflections

This space each week is usually used for positive reflections, where I can share blessings, poems, or good thoughts about what is going in in the world, in our congregation, or even in my life. So I hate to have to use this space to talk about something negative: Scamming. I hate to have to dedicate more time to people who have taken so much time from all of us as they try to take money away from us.

For years now, ministers all over the world are regularly being impersonated electronically by scammers trying to get congregants to buy gift cards. Scammers set up bogus email addresses (or even phone numbers) that look credible, often very similar to the real thing. Scammers use the kind of language a typical minister would use, and ask for discretion. They can never speak directly to you because they’re “too busy,” which seems viable in this age.

We’ve been reminding you in the newsletter with some frequency to be watchful for scams. The sad truth is that there is nothing I or anyone else can do to stop the scams. We all must be vigilant. And for the most part, you all have been GREAT at recognizing scams immediately.

But the scammers have gotten really good.

Recently, quite a few people at UUCSC responded to an email from a scammer claiming to be me seeking gift cards, claiming the cards would be used to help women in our congregation undergoing cancer treatment. A few folks — following their huge hearts — actually bought the gift cards, and instead of emailing the account numbers and activation codes, they brought the cards in, to give me directly. I don’t know of anyone who actually emailed the numbers. I pray nobody did.

Fortunately, nobody (that I know of) has lost any money, though a few are now stuck spending gift cards, which is kind of a pain. So I just want to remind you of a few important things to remember.

We have a system in place to address immediate needs like this. The money comes from passing the plate a few times a year. We would never send emails or texts to restock the fund.

I would NEVER ask anyone to spend a lot of money and get reimbursed. No need is ever that urgent. And the language that I use is different from the language used by a typical minister. You know the difference. (Scammers are reading this!). If the request or the language feel a little “off,” trust your gut. It’s not me.

Most importantly, know this: nobody you love or trust will ever ask you for gift cards via email or text. I don’t know of a single instance in which anyone has ever legitimately contacted a loved one for a gift card to get out of a jam. Gift cards must be the most complicated, useless way of getting out of any jam. The only thing that makes them appealing to scammers is that they can be very quick and easy (for them) and difficult to trace.

Please. PLEASE. Never respond to anyone asking for a quick confidential response to some vague problem. Delete the email, unread. If you can, block that email address.

And talk about this amongst yourselves. Make sure you and your friends know how to recognize a scam.

In Peace,

Rev. Denis

UUCSC Annual Business Meeting ** June 11, 2023 ** 11:30 AM ** Sanctuary

Stay in the Loop at UUCSC

Board of Directors April Minutes

Treasurer

The Nominating Committee is still looking for someone to fill the position of Treasurer. Could you be that person? Contact a member of the NomCom.

Jeanne Arthur and daughter Flora sport our new look in 2023 UUCSC Tee Shirts, designed by the Membership Committee.

UUCSC Tee Shirts For Sale

Offered for sale by the Membership Committee in the Oneto room following Sunday Services.

100% Cotton * M L XL sizes

$20 each

Sliding scale for families

and those who request it.

Your first chance to wear them is TOMORROW in the Peace Parade, Saugatucket Park, 10AM - 12 Noon. See details below.

Please note correction of the Tee shirt designer and available sizes.

WOW "Women of Wisdom" Zoom Brunch

Note Different Time

Monday, May 1, 10 AM

Join us on Zoom for some conversation and catch up with friends near and far. WOW meets on the first Monday of the month. Just click on the link above or on the church calendar. Questions? Call Elizabeth at 783-1362.

Let’s Celebrate!

May 7 will be the first New Member Ceremony in a long, long time. We’ll be welcoming nine new or returning members on that day. The Membership Committee invites you to share in the festivities by bringing in goodies to share after the service, if you like. We’ll supply beverages and maybe even a watermelon, if it’s a watermelon day!

Thanks to all from Sky, Charlie, Gerre, Jeanne and Val, your Membership Committee.

Anti-Racism Group meeting May 8th, 7 pm on Zoom

All are invited to our next meeting! We will discuss the video: Antisemitism – It’s Everyone’s Concern. Please watch this video before the meeting.

And check out this fantastic 14” TED talk by activist Loretta Ross, entitled: Don't Call People Out, Call Them In. Ross gives us a toolkit for starting productive conversations instead of fights, and shares strategies that help challenge wrongdoing while still creating space for growth, forgiveness, and love.

Submitted by Nancy Richman

Sexual Identity Panel

Sunday, May 21, 2023, 12 PM

Learn about the evolving understanding of sexual and gender identity from a diverse panel of community members, local experts and advocates. We’ll explore biological sex, gender identity, gender expression, gender roles, and sexual orientation - from a values and faith perspective. Presented in collaboration with the “Our Whole Lives” (OWL) adult sexuality curriculum and moderated by OWL facilitators. Beverages and snacks provided, bring a bagged lunch! Note: this replaces the workshop on gender identity that was previously announced for May 21.

Access a brief survey about future adult OWL programming here.

United Against Hate Workshop – REGISTRATION NOW OPEN!

Co-sponsored by UUCSC Social Justice Team

Wednesday, May 31,2023, 4:30pm - 7:30pm

Prout School Auditorium in Wakefield

What is a hate crime? How and where do I report it? Co-sponsored by the UUCSC. Register for this informative and important workshop here. Click here for more details and the flyer.

Submitted by Nancy Richman

The Environmental Series Climate....Changed! has concluded. Thanks to everyone who attended any of the sessions. If you missed one, handouts from the 6 session series are available in the Oneto Room. If you have environmental/climate topics they would like to hear more about, to reach out to Cathy Solomon, chair of the Social Justice committee.

UUCSC Earth Day Cleanup Crew cleaned Kersey Road and part of North Road. April 22, 2023

Making signs for UUCSC members to use in marches, parades, and other social justice actions.

April 25, 2023

Upcoming Services

May 7 The Three Questions Rev. Denis, Barbara Holtzman, Jeanne Arthur

New Member recognition ceremony followed by cake and coffee on the patio.

May 14 Being More Human Rev. Denis

May 21 Shockingly Normal Rev. Denis and Adria Evans

May 28 RE Sunday

UUA General Assembly 2023

CLICK HERE

for the latest announcements...

Children's Registration Open

Article II Discussion Workshops

Delegate Credentialing

Tickets for Pirates vs. Cubs Baseball Game

Registration and Housing Info

Accessibility Equipment

Etc.

Current Community Connections

Great news! The Senate will be voting on ratification of the ERA (Equal Rights Amendment). It's taken forever, but with everyone stepping up to pressure Senators, we might get this one over the goal line. Please take 1 (one) minute and send a quick message to your Senator to vote YES on S.J.Res.4, Now is the time to ratify the ERA (Equal Rights Amendment).

You can send a letter to both Senator Reed and Whitehouse easily HERE through Action Network.

PEACE PARADE

Saugatucket Park

Saturday, April 29, 2023

10:00 AM - Noon

Please wear your new

UUCSC Tee Shirt.

You may make a sign or pick one up at our table for the parade. What to expect? DETAILS HERE

Will you volunteer to staff the UUCSC tent/table at the event? Our tent, table, and handouts will all be set up. Contact Cathy Solomon if you are wiling and able.

cathy.s.solomon@gmail.com

Community conversations to counter disinformation, enhance civic participation, and improve media literacy.

Read more about this exciting initiative of the Media Education Lab and URI.

Click here to register. Join the conversation!

Tuesday, May 2, 2023 * Feelings and Facts

In this session, we confront the limitations of reasoning and evidence in daily life and consider the power of stories and emotions to shape our thinking and decision-making.

Submitted by Nancy Richman

Raising Anti-Racist Children

Virtual Author Talk with Britt Hawthorne

Wednesday, May 3, 2023, 1:00 PM EDT

Lobby day for the Equality in Abortion Coverage Act

Thursday May 4, 2023, 3-4:30 PM

RI State House

The Equality in Abortion Coverage Act will add coverage of abortion to our state Medicaid program, which covers over 315,000 Rhode Island residents, and eliminate harmful laws that prevent people enrolled in Medicaid and more than 17,000 state employees (and their dependents) from using their insurance to cover abortion.

Submitted by Cathy Solomon

Interfaith Partners for the Chesapeake

Come join IPC for a very special event on Thursday May 4th at 7pm! We will be hosting a private screening of historian Anthony Cohen's film "Rooted Wisdom: Nature's Role in the Underground Railroad" and hear about the perilous journey slaves took in search of liberation. The film is a guided experience that navigates through Adkins Arboretum on Maryland's Eastern Shore, brining history alive in the landscape you see today. This film viewing in its entirety will only be available to those attending so don't miss this event!