THIS SUNDAY'S
WORSHIP SERVICE
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"Sin And Structural Evil"
Rev. Paul Boothby, Guest Speaker
Amy Warner, Service Leader
Michael Casey, Musician
Meredith Hadaway & Rebekah Hock , Guest Musicians
In Person & Zoom
Sunday, April 2, 2023 - 10 a.m.
When we unintentionally hurt other people, is that of the same spiritual nature as malicious harm? Is there a theological lens and relevant language for UUs to talk about “sin” and “evil”? If these terms are too loaded, can we ever hope to effectively confront the ills of our society?
So we can begin the service promptly at 10 a.m., please arrive at the church, or sign into Zoom ( click here) by no later than 9:50 a.m.
Reminder: Legacy Advisory Task Force Listening Session after the service this Sunday to discuss the Dorris Scott bequest.
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.
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Upcoming Worship Services |
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Sunday, April 9 — In Person & ZOOM
"What's Next?"
What is Easter all about, anyway, and what does it have to teach us about our own Unitarian Universalist faith? What can we learn from the empty tomb of 2000 years ago?
- Rev. Kimberley Debus, Guest Speaker
- Annie Lavin, Service Leader
- Michael Casey, Musician
- Nevin Dawson, Guest Musician
Sunday, April 16 — In Person & ZOOM
- Rev. Sue Browning, Minister
- Kim Agee, Service Leader
- Michael Casey, Musician
- Philip Dutton, Guest Musician
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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
- Upcoming Musical Guests
- Minister's Column
- April's Outreach Collection — ShoreRivers
- Final Legacy Task Force Listening Session
- Accessibility is Here @ UUCR!
- Yard Sale and Auction Fundraisers
- Pastoral Care and Connection Committee
- Birthdays
- UUCR Contact Information
- End of Reflections Notice at the VERY END
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If you don't see "VERY END of REFLECTIONS for March 30, 2023"
at the VERY END of this email, you're not seeing the entire email.
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This Week's
Worship Service
Last Week's Worship Service Recording
UUCR
UUCR Office Hours:
W, Sa, Su — 8:30 am - 12:30 pm
M, Tu, Th, F — CLOSED
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APR 02 | Worship Service
In Person & ZOOM
Rev. Paul Boothby, guest speaker
APR 02 | Final Legacy
Advisory Task Force Listening Session
APR 02 | Start bringing in
Yard Sale & Auction items
APR 09 | Worship Service
In Person & ZOOM
Rev. Kimberley Debus, guest speaker
APR 16 | Worship Service
In Person & ZOOM
Rev. Sue Browning, minister
APR 16 | Deadline for ALL
Donations — Yard Sale and Silent & Live Auctions
APR 21 | Monthly Potluck
(host needed)
APR 29 | Yard Sale
MAY 06 | Silent & Live
Auctions
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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!
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APR 02 | Meredith Hadaway & Rebekah Hock
APR 09 | Nevin Dawson
APR 16 | Philip Dutton
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Nashville - Grief, Anger, and Action
Whenever there is a shooting at a school – at an elementary school this time – I am drawn to the underlying stories. The school staff – How old were they? How long had they worked at the school? The kids – their ages, their pictures. The setting and circumstances. And yes, the reports on the weapons. Which guns were used? How were the guns acquired?
It feels important to acknowledge each tragedy. It feels important to remind one another that these violent acts are not unavoidable. These shootings are not "just a part of life." So long as we have hundreds of millions of assault weapons in our country, with more being made and sold, and with easy access to these guns, we will have stories like the one which unfolded at a private school in Nashville this week.
It is about the guns.
While there is not a quick fix, through groups like Moms Demand Action and a shared commitment to change, progress on gun safety is being made. It matters that we do bear witness to shootings. It helps keep us focused and keeps our energy and action directed toward meaningful change.*
Beyond guns, for this school shooting in Nashville, some loud voices (elected officials, press, and pundits) have seized on the shooter’s gender identity as "trans" as a likely cause. Doing so is blatantly harmful. It is directing anger at those who identify as trans or non-binary, and increasing risks to their lives. It is uninformed and an attempt to distract from the issue of access to guns. To our trans and non-binary members and friends, and to the broader trans and non-binary communities, please know you are seen, you are loved, and you deserve to live your authentic lives in peace.
As Unitarian Universalist communities, we do bear witness to deep challenges, we extend love and care to those harmed, and we vow to do the long-term work that leads to meaningful change.
In faith,
Rev. Sue
* See related Minister's Column in the newsletter - December 14, 2022 (click here).
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Social Justice Committee
Outreach Collection for April
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Our special collection for Sunday, April 2 will go to ShoreRivers, the homegrown clean-water
voice for Maryland's Eastern Shore. Darren White Tilghman, director of community engagement, will speak briefly about ShoreRivers at the service.
Founded in 2017 by the merger of three environmental groups, ShoreRivers monitors and protects the Chester, Choptank, Miles-Wye, and Sassafras. Professional Riverkeepers conduct
weekly samplings from April through October at more than 60 sites from Cecilton to Cambridge. Volunteers take part as they offer and are trained.
ShoreRivers’ data reveal the overall health of our waterways, including their safety for summer recreation. Other statewide groups and national agencies use this information to track trends, develop remediation strategies, advocate for stronger enforcement, and inform region-wide efforts toward clean water.
If you donate to ShoreRivers later in the month of April, there are several ways to do so. In church, you can write "Outreach Collection" or "ShoreRivers" on the "for" memo line on your check. Or, until April 30, you may click the donate button ( click here) on the UUCR website. Then use the option C ustom Amount and check the box Write us a comment. Please type that it’s for the monthly outreach or use the organization’s name. |
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Final Legacy Task Force
Listening Session
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The Legacy Advisory Task Force (LATF) wants to hear from you, the members and friends of UUCR, about your thoughts and aspirations for the generous bequest from Dorris Scott. If you have not already attended one of the scheduled discussions, please plan to join us for this final Listening Session and share your ideas this Sunday, April 2, following the service. We will be sending you a standalone email on Friday, March 31 with a Zoom link if you cannot attend in person.
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Accessibility is Here @ UUCR! |
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One of our objectives here at UUCR is to be as inclusive as possible. Over the course of the last few months designs have been put into place and now are close to being finished to enhance our accessibility.
The side door of our building is operational for members and friends to comfortably access activities and services. If you can manage stairs comfortably, using the front door for access to the building is preferable going forward.
Now the walkway to the Memorial Garden is almost complete. Please see the photos of the construction progress taken on Tuesday, March 28th.
These two features, the side door and walkway, enhance our facility by welcoming everyone and improving the ease of access to our church and grounds.
Thanks go to everyone who participated in the designs and decision-making processes. A special thanks goes out to Jim Lavin for his super project management skills!
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Yard Sale - April 29
Silent & Live Auctions - May 6
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Two new Silent Auction items have been submitted this past week along with the following four new Live Auction offerings:
- one hour tennis lesson
- piano bar concert with a wine and cheese tray provided
- one day of errand running and/or transport to an appointment "either local or far afield"
- private dance class.
In order to make this fundraiser a success,
we really need YOUR help!
Please submit your donations as early as possible to allow adequate time for further processing and planning.
The online catalog will be available by Saturday, April 22.
This Sunday (April 2) we'll begin accepting donated Yard Sale and Silent Auction items at the church and also on the following dates and times:
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Sundays after services April - 9 & 16 (deadline for ALL donations including Live Auction)
- Monday, April 10; Wednesday, April 12; and Friday, April 14 — 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Please contact the following to donate to, or volunteer to help with the:
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Pastoral Care and Connection |
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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
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MARCH
14 - Neenah Newell
18 - Jackie Mathwich
30 - Jan Sprinkel
APRIL
-6 - Stan Salett
-7 - Tom Tontarski
-9 - John Ramsey
13 - Amy Warner
16 - Connie Schroth
17 - Jim Lavin
22 - Elisabeth Tully
30 - Kim Agee
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We want to help celebrate your birthday! If we didn't include your birthday, please contact the UUCR office by email (click here).
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Unitarian Universalists of the Chester River 914 Gateway Drive | Chestertown, MD | 21620
Phone: 410-778-3440
Office hours: W, Sa, Su — 8:30 am-12:30 pm
Closed — M, Tu, Th, F
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VERY END of REFLECTIONS for March 30, 2023
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