Sunday, March 24, 2024 - 10 a.m.

In-Person & ZOOM

“Creating Hope” 

The climate crisis is here! Everywhere, we see record-breaking weather events and people migrating due to changes in ecosystems. Many of us are asking where we can find hope.

Joshua Long is the Congregational Organizer with Interfaith Power and Light as well as a UU Musician. He is releasing an album called “We Are Earth” that brings together climate, social justice, and faith. Come for a musical and interactive sermon as Josh shares how we can find hope in each other. (See Josh's bio below.)

• Joshua Long, Guest Speaker
• Jan Sprinkel, Service Leader
• Michael Casey, Musician
• Linda Dutton, Youth & Teen Welcome
• Judy Graham, Greeter
• Elisabeth Tully, Coffee Host

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

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
• Guest Speaker Joshua Long's Bio
• Ministerial Search Cmte. — UUCR Posting on UUA Site!
• Sock Burning & Spring Equinox Celebration — March 22
• Hazardous Waste Collection — April 6
• Pizza & Trivia Night — April 12
• March's Outreach Collection — Sustain Ukraine
• Philip Dutton Concert to Benefit UUFE — April 20
• Pastoral Care and Connection Committee
• Birthdays
• UUCR Contact Information
• End of Reflections Notice at the VERY END

Joshua Long is an award-winning songwriter, producer, worship leader, and environmental activist with a passion for creating music that moves the soul and inspires change. With almost 20 years in the industry, he has honed his skills in various genres, ranging from hip-hop, soul, pop, and contemporary Christian and gospel music. Josh earned his Bachelor of Music degree in 2008 from the University of the Arts. Since then, he has worked with various artists and played with different bands. He has released two solo albums and has worked on several singles and EPs for himself and other artists. His third album, "We Are Earth," is an evolution showcasing Josh's growth in his music and his faith.

In 2017, Josh enrolled at Wesley Theological Seminary to seek a Master’s degree in Divinity. In 2019, he moved to a public theology specialization and focused his studies on climate change, social justice, and the role of faith. For his capstone thesis project, he produced an entire album of music dedicated to creation justice through worship and sacred songs. On his graduation in May 2023, Joshua received Wesley’s Public Theology Excellence Award. He is now the Congregational Organizer for Interfaith Power & Light (DC, MD, NoVA). He has also been recognized by Black Millennials 4 Flint as one of their 40 Under 40: Young, Gifted, and Green Award winners. 

Josh currently lives in Severn, MD, with his wife Tabitha, son Elijah, and cat Calypso. Josh's new album will be available on April 12th. 

On March 11^th the UUCR Profile was published on the UUA Ministerial Search site for ministers to review. Here’s what our listing looks like:

The profile is for ministers to review. If you would like to read our profile, please reach out to one of the team members.

Pulling together the description of our church and our activities was a great collaborative effort of the Ministerial Search Team (MST): John Ramsey, Pat Bjorke, Diane Shields, Jan Sprinkel, and M.Q. Riding. Now, we wait.

The process is that ministers "in search" look at profiles on the web site between mid-March and early May. They choose which church they would like to begin discussions with and contact the MST of that church to show interest. The discussions begin there. The UUA has determined that, in the interest of the privacy of the candidates, their identities should be kept confidential until the board has agreed upon a contract with the candidate.

As we progress down the path, the MST will keep you informed, and if you have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out to one of us.

Sock Burning & Spring Equinox Celebration

Ah, spring! The perfect time to burn socks!

There may be many ways to celebrate the arrival of spring, but one group will again follow a maritime tradition native to the Chesapeake region—burning their socks. UUCR has been following this tradition for over 10 years, and it’s time to wiggle our toes once again. Join us on Friday, March 22, at 5:30 in UUCR’s Memorial Woodland Garden, where we will again recognize millennium of honoring the change of the seasons. We ask that socks made of synthetic materials not be burned.

There will be a potluck in the church following the burning of the socks. Please bring something to share. Bring your family, friends, and neighbors. All are welcome!

The event will be held come rain or shine!

PROCC is looking for help with setup and cleanup. Contact John Ramsey at johnramsey1948@gmail.com.

Household Hazardous Waste Collection, Saturday, April 6, from 8 AM to 2 PM; at QA CO Public Works, 312 Safety Dr., Centreville, MD.

Free for Mid-Shore residents of 

Kent, Caroline, QA, and Talbot counties.

On Friday, April 12, from 6–8 p.m., Sue and Bill Browning will host an all-church trivia night at UUCR, 914 Gateway Dr., Chestertown! Come for an evening of pizza and salad, and a few rounds of creative (and not too hard!) trivia questions. We'll play in teams, and there will be a few prizes! Tickets are $20 per person and will be part of the auction proceeds. All ages are welcome. (With advance notice, we can have childcare available.) 

On Sunday, March 3, the Social Justice Committee launched its March Outreach Collection for Sustain Ukraine, an initiative founded by local residents, Neal and Sandra Jackson. The Jacksons led a discussion after the service which detailed how they work with people they know in Ukraine to purchase supplies such as drones and night vision goggles. They spoke about how their contacts manage to get these needed supplies and equipment across borders at great peril to themselves. 

Sustain Ukraine has no bureaucracy, and 100% of every dollar contributed goes to support the volunteer fighters. Your support goes directly to the Ukrainian Territorial Defense and Border Guards volunteers fighting to keep their nation free.

We will be running this collection differently than usual, in that members and friends will give donations directly to Neal. 

Here’s how to contribute throughout the month of March: 

1. By check, payable to Neal Jackson, and mailed to him at 470 Gull Ct., Chestertown, MD 21620
2. By Zelle electronic transfer from your online banking. Create a Zelle account (super easy), then “Add New Recipient” for Neal Jackson, using either this email address (nealjackson@3creekfarm.com) or his mobile phone number (202-365-4070). You can then send money directly to him for free.
3. By PayPal, if you have a PayPal account, you can send money to nealjackson@3creekfarm.com. Make sure it is designated as “sending to a friend.” 

Please do not write, send, or give checks to UUCR for this month's outreach collection, and do not donate via the website. 

Please note that Sustain Ukraine is not an entity — it is simply a conduit of caring people that enables you to support Ukrainians defending their nation, so your contribution is not tax-deductible. 

We hope that you will give generously to this very worthwhile cause. 

Amy Warner 

Philip Dutton will be playing a solo concert in Easton on April 20 at the Academy Art Museum to benefit our sister church, the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Easton. The concert content will be "UU-oriented," with originals and a few covers of some of his favorite artists. Doors open at 6, so you can browse the current exhibit at the museum. The hour-long concert starts at 7, and there will be ample light snacks and drinks. Philip is excited about this concert and hopes to see some UUCR fans in the audience. The museum has a lovely Steinway grand piano that will be fun to play and listen to.

To purchase tickets CLICK HERE.