Thursday, January 4, 2024

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UPCOMING

WORSHIP SERVICE

Sunday, January 7 — In-Person and ZOOM

"The Essence of Our Unitarian Universalist Faith"

Nothing is static, including faith traditions. At this beginning-of-the-year service with Rev. Sue Browning, we'll have a chance to connect (reconnect) with the roots of Unitarian Universalism and explore recent trends in the faith. Whether you are a lifelong UU, a curious newcomer, or somewhere in between, this will be a chance to learn and re-center together for the new year.

Rev. Sue Browning, Minister
Michael Casey, Musician
Kevin Brien, Greeter
Diane Shields, 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.

Upcoming Worship Services

Sunday, January 14 — In-Person & Zoom

“Optimism is an Ethical Principle: Why I Must be an Optimist”

From our guest speaker, Bob Clegg: "A few months ago, a member of another congregation asked, 'Well, what the hell is ethics anyway!?' Her question was rhetorical, but it set me to pondering on the ways ethical questions—and systems of thinking about them—have impacted my life. I invite you to join with me to explore the importance of examining our own lives through the lens of ethics."

Bob Clegg, Guest Speaker
Nancy Holland, Service Leader
Michael Casey, Musician

Sunday, January 21 — In-Person & Zoom

"What is Collective Liberation All About?"

Our Universalist forebearers didn't see that it was possible for anyone to end up in hell. They saw that all were worthy, and thus all would be saved. Today, Rev. Dr. Sofia Benacourt finds it is these Universalist roots that guide us to "an idea of collective liberation where we leave no person behind." At this service with Rev. Sue Browning, we'll consider ways modern-day practices of collective liberation move us toward Dr. Martin Luther King's vision of a beloved community.

Rev. Sue Browning, Minister
Jan Sprinkel, Service Leader
Michael Casey, Musician

Newsletter Index

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
Minister's Column
January's SJ Outreach & First Sunday Monthly Discussion
Greeters, Coffee Hosts, and Potluck Hosts Needed
Pledge Drive for Fiscal Year 2025 — Kick Off February 4
Annual UUCR Auction Fundraiser — March 2
Pastoral Care and Connection Committee
Birthdays
UUCR Contact Information
End of Reflections Notice at the VERY END

If you don't see "VERY END of REFLECTIONS for January 4, 2024"

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Helpful Links

Upcoming Events

This Week's

Worship Service

JAN 07 | ZOOM link to

service

Last Week's Worship

Service Recording

DEC 31 | Service canceled

UUCR

Calendar

Office email

Facebook (public)

Facebook Forum (private)

Website

Website donate button

YouTube channel

UUCR Office Hours

W, Sa, Su — 8:30 am - 12:30 pm

M, Tu, Th, F — CLOSED

JAN 07 | Rev. Sue Browning,

Minister

JAN 07 | Social Justice

Outreach First Sunday Monthly Discussion after service

JAN 14 | Bob Clegg, Guest

Speaker

JAN 19 | Potluck—Host

Needed

JAN 21 | Rev. Sue Browning,

Minister

JAN 28 | Rev. Greg Chute,

Guest Speaker

FEB 04 | Rev. Sue Browning,

Minister

FEB 04 | Pledge Drive

Kick-Off

FEB 11 | Rev. Karyn Marsh,

Guest Speaker

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!

Minister's Column

Happy New Year All!

How are you feeling about returning to the rhythms of your life after the holidays? Ready? Relieved? Wanting a few more days (or weeks) of couch time?

How do you typically start a new year? Are you a person of resolutions? Of picking a word for the year? Or do you see no need for either?

I do feel some fresh energy in January, and I invite us all to experience the fresh energy together.

January feels like a good time to revisit some "big" questions together and to continue strengthening our congregation. This week I’ll be preaching on "The Essence of Our Unitarian Universalist Faith."

As I prepare the sermon, I’d welcome any thoughts, reflections, and insights (or other questions) around the question, “How will my Unitarian Universalist values and practices be a part of my life in 2024?” (Email: sue.browning2@gmail.com)

Wishing all a year of good health and peace.

In hope,

Rev. Sue

January's Social Justice Committee Outreach Focuses on Reproductive Justice

The Social Justice Committee's outreach for this month is women's right to make health care decisions for themselves, which has been dramatically curtailed in recent history by the decisions of the Supreme Court and many states. We will be providing two opportunities for members and friends to be involved and to learn.

1. Our outreach will be launched on Sunday, January 7, with a discussion after the service led by Lauren Harton, a certified nurse midwife at the Easton Health Center (Planned Parenthood), who has many years of experience working with women seeking help with reproductive choices. (Note: Lauren is the daughter of members Linda and Philip Dutton.) Lauren will be talking about the issues for women in Maryland and in other states who use the services of the Easton Health Center for their reproductive and other health services. If you have any questions you'd like Lauren to answer, please email them to Amy Warner at amylydia10@yahoo.com before 1/7. Lunch will be provided for those who are staying for the program.

2. Our outreach collection, which will begin on 1/7 and continue throughout the month, will go towards the work of the Baltimore Abortion Fund, the organization that we gave funds to last year. Their need for funds continues, as stated in a recent email from their Director of Development and Communications, "This year has been tough. The demand for abortion funds is at an all-time high, costs are skyrocketing, and the hurdles individuals face to access care across the country are growing. Our community has mobilized to support a record-breaking 2,170 clients with abortion funding and practical support this year — nearly triple our impact from 2021. However, because of limited funding, we still can only support ⅔ of the people who call our helpline."

As is our practice, funds that go in the collection basket that are not designated for pledges on 1/7 will be earmarked for the Baltimore Abortion Fund (BAF). You may also send or drop off a check designated for the BAF during the month, or make a donation online from the UUCR website.

We hope you will attend the discussion after the service on 1/7 and will donate generously to the Baltimore Abortion Fund. We encourage you to learn more about their work on their website.

Amy Warner and Vida Morley

Sunday Service & Potluck Help Needed

Please use the sign-up sheets on the whiteboard if you can help as a:

Sunday Service greeter
Sunday Service coffee host
Third Friday Potluck host

There are many open dates and training is available. For any questions, please contact Diane Shields dashdiane@gmail.com.

Pledge Drive for Fiscal Year 2025

Our FY '25 Pledge Drive kicks off on Sunday, February 4. More details to come in next week's Reflections.

UUCR's Auction Fundraiser — March 2

Save the Date:

Saturday, March 2

UUCR’s Auction Night!

Be thinking of live and silent auction donations you could make. This year, we are looking for even more live auction items of meals, excursions, and services. What would you like to contribute?

And, for our Silent Auction, we are looking for unique, special items.

Questions? Contact any of your Fundraising Task Force: Linda Dutton, Jane Hardy, Joy Kim, and Mary Pritchard.

Pastoral Care & Connection

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