Sunday, February 11, 2024 - 10 am

In-Person & ZOOM

“When Change Seem's Impossible” 

The world's challenges can seem overwhelming. Lawyer, author, and activist Bryan Stevenson reminds us that you can't understand most of the important things from a distance; you have to get close. At this service with Rev. Sue Browning we'll consider how his advice to "get close" is useful in our own lives and the broader quest for equity.

• Rev. Sue Browning, Minister
• Nancy Holland, Service Leader
• Michael Casey, Musician
• Linda Dutton, Youth & Teen Welcome
• Margo Long, Greeter
• Linda Weimer, Coffee Host

Please CLICK HERE for the link to join us via Zoom.

PLEASE REMEMBER to attend the Ministry Visioning Discussion

after Coffee Hour!

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. 

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
• February's Potluck Cancelled — Feb 16
• Ministry Visioning Discussion — Feb 18
• Deadline to Sign the Membership Book — Feb 18
• Pledge Drive Results & Deadline
• Orientation to Unitarian Universalism & UUCR — Feb 25
• UUCR Auction Donations Deadline — Feb 25
• Pastoral Care and Connection Committee
• Birthdays
• UUCR Contact Information
• End of Reflections Notice at the VERY END

February's Potluck is cancelled because no one signed up to host it.

UUCR is stepping into an exciting new phase as we bid farewell to Reverend Sue upon her retirement in June, and look ahead to a new half-time contract minister. Please join the Ministry Search Committee on February 18 following the worship service for a Ministry Visioning discussion. We will consider what our priorities are as we look ahead to our next minister, and what/how we would like to develop as a congregation in partnership with a new minister.

UUCR's bylaws require signing the Membership Book a minimum of 90 days prior to being eligible to vote at meetings. Sunday, February 18, 2024 is 90 days before UUCR's planned Annual Meeting on May 19. If you haven't already done so, please consider becoming a member of UUCR by signing the Membership Book. For any questions, please see Diane Shields.

The Stewardship Committee would like to thank everyone who has already sent in their Pledge Form for FY25! We are a week and a half into our Pledge Drive and have reached 61% of our goal.



The Drive is ongoing until February 28, and we hope to hear from YOU! Why not put pen to Pledge Form, and drop the form in the mail today? Your Committee is standing by.

Thanks again everyone,

Your Stewardship Committee

The Membership Committee will host an information session about Unitarian Universalism and the Unitarian Universalists of the Chester River (UUCR) on Sunday, February 25, after service. A light lunch will be provided. If you have been visiting for a while, have just dropped in, or want to learn about what being a member of a UU congregation is about, please plan to attend.

Diane Shields

Our Annual Auction Evening!

Saturday, March 2, 6 pm at UUCR

Please help make our fundraising auction on March 2 even better by contributing homemade or purchased finger food to be enjoyed by attendees. Sweet and savory items are both welcome. Sign up on the bulletin board or by contacting Elisabeth Tully (elisabethtully@gmail.com).

And, we need more donations! Please send a description of what you would like to offer to Jane Hardy at janewhardy@gmail.com. N.B.: We cannot accept donations after, Sunday, February 25, to allow time to finalize our catalog and bid sheets. 

To stimulate your thinking and interest, here are some Silent Auction donations along with three more Live Auction items:

Fifteen separate David Winter collectible cottages, evoking England from the Middle Ages to the Victorian era.  We have two large – Ebenezer Scrooges' Counting House and The Tollkeeper’s Cottage – and thirteen small – Cotswold Cottage, The Fisherman’s Wharf, The Vicarage, Miner’s Cottage, Haybarn, Green Dragon Pub, Wine Merchant, Spinner’s Cottage, Burns Reading Room, Hogs Head Beer House, Sussex Cottage, St. George’s Church, and Craftsmen Cottage. Mary and Greg Chute

"Vincent Van Crow" is part of a series of teapots by Fitz & Floyd that are birds modeled after famous humans. The Birdbrains line consists of 6 teapots besides "Vincent Van Crow": Attila the Hen, Calamity Crane, Robin Hood, Queen Elizabird, and Owl Capone. The series has been discontinued. Minimum bid TBD. Rev. Karyn Marsh

A Batch of “Best Black Bean Soup” (recipe from NY Times), serves 10, although one report is that a teenaged son consumed the entire batch in one evening! Delivered, either fresh or frozen – date to be determined. Diane Shields

Take a Spring shopping trip to Christiana Mall for a day of tax-free shopping at this huge regional mall, with four department stores, a Barnes & Noble, and many specialty shops. I will take you to any mall store or even to one of the stores on the outside ring of the mall. This trip includes lunch at Brio Italian Restaurant. I am looking at a weekday during the first half of April. We’ll depart from the UUCR parking. Date and times will need to be mutually agreed upon. I can only take three people. Minimum bid $35. Joy Kim

Italian Dinner for 6 prepared in your home by a frequent visitor and regular attendee to cooking classes in Florence, Italy. Menu might include Tuscan ribollita soup, Caesar salad (sans anchovies), homemade ravioli, curry shrimp risotto, limoncello panna cotta, fresh fruit and cheese. Actual menu and time to be negotiated. Minimum bid $65. Greg Chute

Got some of your own ideas for meals, excursions, services or special occasions you could offer? Have some questions? Or items for our Silent Auction? Please email Jane Hardy at janewhardy@gmail.com. N.B.: We cannot accept donations after, Sunday, February 25, to allow time to finalize our catalog and bid sheets. 

Be sure to click on the “Auction 2024” link at the top of the UUCR website, www.uuchesterriver.org, to see the latest catalog. Updates to the catalog will be made at least weekly as new items come in, so please keep checking back prior to the auction date.

Please mark your calendars for March 2 and be sure to join us for an evening of fun and fellowship.