UUCSC News and Updates
Weekly on Fridays
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Volume IV * Issue 25 * December 8, 2023 | |
This Sunday, December 10, 2023 | |
Worship In Person and Online at 10:00 am | |
"The Little Things"
Rev. Denis and Barbara Nowicki
After a week of lighting chalices at home to celebrate our values, let's share our experiences through our home chalices. Please bring in your chalice, no matter how elaborate or wonky, to share on our special altar.
Order of Service
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Chalice Side Chat about RE
Dec. 10th after service
We invite the whole congregation to join us in a conversation about hosting a UU Summer Camp and getting you involved in RE.
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The theme this month is
Mystery
The story I'm in Charge of Celebrations by Byrd Baylor and Peter Parnall is one of my favorites. The narrator really sees the beauty, mystery and wonder of their world and creates celebrations for each miraculous event.
I hope you take time to stop and marvel and create your own mini celebrations from the little things.
Lee Cowan, DRE
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If you were at Sunday’s service you heard me talk about the challenges of creating something new in Unitarian Universalism, especially a holiday that is specifically ours, to celebrate our history, values and beliefs, in the luminescence of this season.
Even though creating a unique winter festival of light feels so crucial to sharing our faith with our children, it’s still fraught with potential pitfalls, some of which we as an association of individual congregations have fallen right into, despite our best efforts. READ MORE
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Friends,
I am grateful to each of you for your tremendous support of UUCSC over the years. In our congregation we join our talents, our skills, and our treasure, believing that we can renew our spirits, grow as people, and journey with each other through the joys and sorrows in our lives.
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During this holiday season, I ask you to consider an end-of-year gift to help us sustain our magical community. Perhaps part of your holiday giving this year could include honoring or memorializing loved ones with a gift to UUCSC in their names. A card is available for you to send to your loved ones telling them of your gift.
My end-of-year gift is in honor of each of you! A community for which I am so very grateful. GOOD NEWS! The first $3,500 in new gifts (not pledge payments) will be matched dollar for dollar by an anonymous donor. DOUBLE YOUR IMPACT!!
Please join me in putting a check in our “Gratitude House” – a sweet “gingerbread” house in the Oneto Room. OR, mail to UUCSC, OR use PayPal from our website.
Warmly,
Nancy
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Holiday Fair Appreciations | |
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Heartfelt thanks to Trish Hindley and her merry band of elves for a tremendous holiday fair! A HUGE undertaking!
Thanks to Mary and David and Cindy and Sky, to Betsy and Val and Ellen – OH MY!
To Mary Alice, Cindy and Penny, to Elise and Will and Jeanne – SO MANY!
For the bakers, the cooks, the set-up and more, the musicians, the helpers, the jewelry GALORE!
From deep in my heart, I send out this call: thank you, thank you, thank you to ALL!
With love and appreciation,
Nancy Richman
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Thank you for all of the donations made to the White Elephant Sale at the Holiday Fair.
Many folks left delighted with their new treasures. About half of the donations sold for approximately $575.00 that supports UUCSC.
What happened to the remaining half? Choir member Mac Richardson transported all of it to the Blue Mitten Thrift Shop in Westerly. Sales there support the Westerly Chorus programs. You can check out the Blue Mitten at 135 Main St. in Westerly Monday through Saturday between 1:00am and 4:00pm.
Your generous donations are similar to our Share the Plate program where one donation serves two purposes. So thank you a second time!
Mary Fulton
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Stay in the Loop at UUCSC | |
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Men's Breakfast
Saturday, December 9 at 9 AM
Join us at Phil's on Main Street in Wakefield.
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TONIGHT!
Holiday Congregational Dinner
Friday, December 8, 6PM
Come celebrate the Holidays during this week of reflecting on and celebrating our UU values. The menu is inspired by Mediterranean cuisine and includes both chicken and fresh garbanzo bean falafel, with options for every diet, followed by cake and cookies.
Suggested donation is $8 per person or $20 for families of three or more. Nobody turned away for lack of funds.
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Breeze is Here! By Invitation Only!
What Breeze Means for YOU
Soon the Congregational Directory will only be accessible through Breeze.
First of all, my apologies for not realizing that the invitation to join Breeze would appear to you a scam, asking you to update personal information. Actually, I am very pleased that so many of you were skeptical and resisted the invitation, but it is me, not a phisherman, I promise.
Email invitations, from Etta Zasloff, clearly identified as Breeze with a link to detailed directions for your user status, are being or have been sent to each group of users: leaders, committee chairs, committee members, members, and active participants. Please follow up as soon as possible to update your information. Thank you to all of you who have already done this. Here is a Basic Guide to Breeze.
If you have deleted the first invitation or after checking your spam, junk, social, and promotions folders, you do not find an invitation, and/or do not know how to proceed, please contact me at zasloff.etta@gmail.com.
Submitted by Etta Zasloff
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New Book Group is Forming
The newly forming Book Group will be reading our own Penny Hall’s novel “Legacy” for our next meeting 2pm Monday December 11 at UUCSC. Penny has copies of the book, and will be selling them at the Holiday Fair on Saturday, December 2nd. Anyone and everyone is invited to join this Book Group! Submitted by Linda Whyte Burrell
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Beverages and Banter with Rev. Denis
Thursday, Dec. 21, 2023, 10:30 AM, at Sweet Althea's
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Solstice Spiral Labyrinth Walk
Thursday, Dec. 21st at 3:30
Join us for our annual labyrinth walk outside in our backyard spiral. On the longest night of the year, let us reflect on our journey around the sun as we welcome the darkness and shine our light.
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CORRECTED DATE
ALL Congregation Meeting
Saturday, February 3, 2024
10:00am -12:00pm
The meeting will be followed by a light lunch.
Details to follow.
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Upcoming Services
December 17 Spiral of Light: Winter Solstice Lee Rohmann Cowan
December 23 Christmas Eve-Eve Candlelight Service Rev. Denis
December 24 No Sunday Service
December 31 The Layers of the Onion Amber Kelly Collins
January 7 Plurality Rev. Denis and Brian Maynard
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Two Perspectives - Both from LIBERAL Viewpoints | |
Submitted by Cathy Solomon, Social Justice Chair | |
Hurdis Fund Update
Carolyn Hurdis’s generous bequest to UUCSC is helping to fund a number of
programs promoting social justice in South County. From OWL training for RE, to an art exhibit at HERA, to a playground at Fournier Estates, the fund has been able to help. The fund has also been able to support several programs in local schools with the Tomaquag Museum, which was especially dear to Carolyn.
There are more fine programs in the schools and community which we are
helping, thanks to the Hurdis Fund. Including those for the coming months, we
have been able to support twelve grants!
Submitted by Penny Hall, Hurdis Fund Grant Committee
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The food pantry is in need of low sodium soups and broths, as well as whole grain items such as brown rice, whole wheat flour, whole grain cereals, pastas, and crackers.
Challenge: Can we fill the box in the foyer every Sunday?
If everyone brings just one of the above items, we can do it!
The volunteer application is also reopened. READ MORE.
And the Jonnycake Center's Hope for the Holidays is accepting donations through Dec. 15. Read more here.
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Thanks to all who have donated in recent weeks.
Please donate FOOD ITEMS ONLY.
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Alaskan Salmon CSA Shares
Learn about a wonderful opportunity to buy a share of sushi/sashimi grade salmon from a Community Supported Agriculture program offered by the Iliamna Fish Company. Iliamna is a family-owned cooperative that has been fishing together on the Bering Sea in Alaska for 4 generations. The Founders are tribal members of Native Alaskan tribes. LEARN MORE
Submitted by Michael Bilecki
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Kundalini Yoga: Autumn Series with Jessie Gloor
Thursdays, Dec. 14, 28, 5:00 - 6:30 pm, in the Oneto Room. Drop-in: $15
Contact Adria or Nancy Dean with questions.
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Community Sewing Space
2nd and 4th Tuesdays NEW
4-8 PM Oneto Room
More details.
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Care Continues for...
Judi and Suzanne Marcy, and Kathy Swink. Their contact information can be found in the Directory.
Louise McLeod is now in Roberts Health Centre, 25 Roberts Way, North Kingstown, RI 02852. Cards and calls are welcome (578-7150). She will be there for quite awhile.
Submitted by Val Follett
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Don't become victim to a SCAM!
Review Understanding Phishing!
If you receive a suspicious email, drag it into your Spam folder, which will automatically block the scammer from using your email again as bait. Stay vigilant!
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In addition to your pledge, if you are 70 ½ years of age or older, you may donate up to $100,000.00 each year to UUCSC or other charities from your IRA account. Such a donation does not count as taxable income to you if made directly from your IRA account to the charity. Read more here.
Submitted by the Finance Committee
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Michael Bilecki will recycle your batteries.
Deposit them in the container in the Oneto Room!
Read more here.
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This war rages on...
The UUCSC Share the Plate committee recommends one of these four organizations that are providing support to Ukrainians in crisis.
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Bethany Sorrentino, Helping Hands Coordinator
uuhelpinghands@gmail.com or 401-451-4104.
Don't be afraid to ask for help - helping hands are here!
Helping hand volunteers are also needed.
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How to Submit Info to This Newsletter | |
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Send announcements and news with Newsletter Item in the subject line to Sara Kaplow, Congregational Administrator, at uucscri@gmail.com and Etta Zasloff, Editor, at zasloff.etta@gmail.com by Tuesday Noon
to assure publication by Friday of that week.
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