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UUCL| THIS WEEK’S SCHEDULE of PASTORAL EVENTSand ALL-CHURCH EMAIL (ACE)Thursday Noon: All-Church Email Sunday 10:00AM: WorshipSunday 11:00 AM: Children’s Worship Sunday 6PM: Red Rose Sangha |
| Dear UUCL Community, In this Thursday All-Church Email, please find the schedule of staff-led activities, followed by notes and announcements from this community. SUNDAYThis Sunday, we welcome our friends at the First UU Church of Berks County to worship with us, as part of a summer exchange between our congregations. It is good to connect with our UU siblings! Sunday Online Worship: July 19, 10:00 a.m.: “We Can Get There from Here: Answering the Call to Make Reparation,” Jodie Geddes and Lenore Bajare-Dukes What would it feel like to live in a connected and truthful world, a world that has made reparations for and begun to heal from the lasting effects of slavery and other violence against African-Americans which now permeate every aspect of our lives? The scale of the transformation needed can make reparations seem daunting, out of our hands…someone else’s work to do. But groups and communities across the country have already been living into changes that lay a path toward this future. Youth and elders sit in circle, sharing and seeking healing liberation. Faith communities work for the spiritual and moral shifts that will be necessary if monetary reparations are to have a transformative effect. Reparations are the work of all of us to do. Our guest worship leader will share with us insights from being at the center of much of this work. Come, let us learn and vision together. Note that we will have the opportunity to delve deeper into this topic in a facilitated discussion of our guest speaker’s book The Little Book of Racial Healing in a few weeks; Thursdays, August 6th and 20th, at 7PM. (See the Faith Development section below for details.) Our guest speaker, Jodie Geddes, speaks nationally on the subject of truth-telling processes, reparations, and restorative justice, and is co-author of The Little Book of Racial Healing. A restorative justice healer and trainer, she also serves as President of Coming to the Table, a national organization bringing people together to acknowledge and heal wounds from racism rooted in the history of slavery. As a Jamaican native having grown up in Brooklyn, Jodie uses her story to catalyze systems transformation. Worship Associate Lenore Bajare-Dukes is Director of Lifespan Faith Development of the UU Church of Lancaster. Jodie and Lenore both earned an M.A in Conflict Transformation from the Center for Justice and Peacebuilding at EMU, and have twice co-taught a course on “Truth-Telling, Racial Healing, & Restorative Justice” at EMU. This service does include a Time for All Ages and a “Soul Work” activity. Children are invited to join with coloring supplies. Link to join: https://zoom.us/j/96623739683?pwd=UWFMQzF5OFR2V05idUJVSVNwYzBVdz09 Or join by phone: (301) 715-8592 Meeting ID: 966 2373 9683 Password: 71717 Children’s worship at UUCL: 11-11:45AM This week, we explore what it means to be a community and introduce some summer activities at home! Children (especially ages pre-K through 5th grade) with their caregivers and whole families are invited to join Suz Boyle and other families for children’s worship. We invite you to make a little space in your home for sacred time: getting a chalice ready (finding a candle, cup, Lego sculpture…), finding a stone for joys and sorrows, and getting a blanket, mat, or cloth to sit on. If you have come before, or if this is your first time: welcome. (Note that we will have a more infrequent rotation of Children’s Worship this summer, so please watch the All-Church Email.) Join by Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/120250912?pwd=d3RiU0ZuZlRUOGkySHlhbzZFQTFudz09 SUNDAY EVENING RED ROSE SANGHA: 6 P.M. See this weekly sitting link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/419185030 See also this backpack project: https://zenpeacemakers.org/2020/05/35-backpacks/ Every evening: 7 p.m.: We invite everyone to create a home chalice, and to light the chalice every evening, knowing that others from this congregation are doing the same. Every Day: Reach out to at least one other person in this congregation.May we continue to look for moments of gratitude. May we remember to take deep breaths, to laugh, and to send regular virtual hugs to all whom we love. |
| Staff “Off” Time: As staff define vacation time in the coming weeks, we will post that information here in this ACE. Lenore will be on vacation on Monday, July 20, as well as July 24-28. See below for Rev. Barbara’s scheduling. Note from Rev. Barbara: Most of you know that there is transitioning going on in ministry here at UUCL….. I am beginning to connect with the UU congregation in Muncie, where I will next serve. Similarly, Rev. Israel is looking forward to moving here to Lancaster. We officially “pass the baton” August 15. Through mid-August, I have remaining vacation time for important rest and renewal before beginning a new ministry. From now through August 15 please note that I have designated several congregants and staff who are contacts for three areas of ministerial responsibility — worship, pastoral care, and staffing. If you have any questions about coverage or need assistance in any of these areas, please contact:- For Worship: Heather Gehron-Rice, gehronrice@gmail.com, 717-380-5945 – For Staffing: Bev Geib, financialmanager@uuclonline.org, 717-393-1733 – For Pastoral Care: Steve Jones, stevenjones@comcast.net, 717-898-7768; Garry LeFevre, lefevregarry@gmail.com, 717-283-8127 (calling preferred); Elizabeth Haralam Shuba, ehshuba@gmail.com. Note: these ministers who are also members of this congregation are available to triage pastoral concerns to appropriate parties: they are not available for hands-on pastoral visits. Know that this congregation is in good hands through the summer and the arrival of your next minister. General Assembly 2020: Thank you to all who represented UUCL at the General Assembly 2020 two weeks ago. Ask around at virtual coffee hour to hear from your delegates about their experiences. If you would like to see some highlights from the public events, please see https://www.uua.org/ga/off-site/2020 for links. Summer Congregational Activities: As we are in a summer schedule at UUCL, let us return to more intentional maintaining of an all-church calendar, accessible on the UUCL website. Please submit all events via the virtual calendar. [CLICK HERE] not for purposes of reserving space in the building, instead for helping one another know of activities and events to join in on. This includes Soul Matters groups, book groups, work-out sessions, and more. Get creative: start a new activity which others can join in on! Join together in reminding members, friends, and visitors that, while the UUCL building is closed, the community remains open and active, the calendar is busy. Updates on calendaring will follow in subsequent ACE. |
| The all church calendar is now live. Please consider following this link [CLICK HERE] to schedule all virtual events. This form is similar to the space reservation form, but has been customized for virtual meetings. If you have any questions please email me at publications@uuclonline.org I am available 9-2 Monday- Friday.-Quin Martin |
RSVP now for the UUCL Summer TalentShow & Art Showcase! When? Friday, July 31, from 6:30-8:30PM. Where? Zoom! Who: Hosted by the choir and children’s faith development programs (Eli & Lenore). Featuring Robert Close as Emcee…and YOU as viewer (or participant)! The talent show is back! Save the date for summer fun with your church community, featuring music, dance, jokes, poems, pet tricks, magic, and visual art from talents of all ages. We are still accepting sign-ups for acts from children and youth. For adults, sign up for the waiting list on the form below, and Eli will be in touch about room in the line-up on a first-come, first served basis. We encourage EVERYONE to submit photos of visual art for an intermission slideshow, too! Send in new sign-ups on this form by Sunday, July 19: https://forms.gle/ftmUUKc6kprrPqZ8A If you have already signed up, please confirm your participation with Eli before Tuesday, July 18. RSVPs to attend are welcome, though not required. Click here: https://pp.events/aaeyZMoa |
| Children’s Faith Development:This week, we invite you to join the service for a Time for All Ages (10AM), and to join children’s worship after (11AM). (See the section at the top of this email for details. Watch this All-Church Email weekly for what to expect each week.) You’re Getting Mail! Children pre-K through 5th grade can expect a second surprise in the mail this week! The packet from UUCL will include a few fun activities, as well as some surprise invitations and exciting opportunities to connect with the UUCL community in a socially distanced way. If you would like to opt out, please email Lenore by 12PM tomorrow, Friday July 17th. If you are registered in the program, no action is needed on your part to receive the packet, and you can expect to receive it this weekend or early next week! If your family is not registered (or not sure), contact Lenore (Lenore [at] uuclonline.org) to receive a packet. |
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| Registration is live for our regional CommUUnity Creek Online Middle School Adventure! A week of challenges, games, virtual campfire, “cabin” meetings with a your small-group, and a mix of Zoom and on-your own activities, led by fantastic UU adults from our region of the UUA. This virtual camp experience is open to all youth who were in grades 6-8 in the 2019/2020 school year: bring a friend! Registration is on a sliding scale of $25-175, and some funds are available from UUCL to participate. When you register, please notify Lenore.Register now: https://www.uua.org/central-east/events/youth/middle-school-virtual-summer-camp-experience-820 Adult Faith Development: Book Discussion:This Sunday’s guest speaker, Jodie Geddes, is co-author of a short, story-filled book that offers readers powerful tools for listening; building authentic, accountable relationships; and taking action. Over the next few weeks, we invite you to read The Little Book of Racial Healing: Coming to the Table for Truth-Telling, Liberation, and Transformation and then to join in a two-part facilitated online discussion:• Thursday, August 6th, 7PM (Part 1) &• Thursday, August 20th, 7PM (Part 2). Let us know you’re participating by July 31: Email Lenore@uuclonline.org to register and receive the Zoom link. Co-sponsored by Racial Justice & Healing. You canwatch the book launch video by clicking here. The book costs just $5 and is available on many platforms. You can order it through this link. A limited number of copies are also available through the church. Please contact Lenore (Lenore [at] uuclonline.org) ASAP if you would like access to one. Your weekly spiritual noticings reading:From Braver/Wiser, a UUA blog that offers a weekly short reflection and a prayer: • “Testimony and Truth:” May we as a nation stop turning from the truth of who we’ve been and who we are. May we find the courage to step into the horror and grief that will arise from that knowledge. And may we allow it to turn us toward repentance, reparations, and a collective demand for justice. |
| From Your Board of Trustees At the June Board meeting, the following resolution was passed: “The church building will be closed to all programs and services at least through the end of February 2021, unless a program/service receives a Board-approved exception which is contingent upon having a suitable safety plan.” In addition, officers for 2020 were elected. They are:President Carole CampbellVice President: Darcy PollockSecretary: Fred Foster-ClarkTreasurer: Jonas Kauffman |
| Church Life & Announcements |
| A Call to Public Witness for Racial Justice and Healing! When we stood in public witness last month, so many people asked, “Could we do this again?” The answer is, “Yes, again and again!” Though our church building may be closed, the people of this congregation are filled with energy. If there ever was a time to offer testimony of our UU Principals to our Lancaster community, this is it. And so, another public witness of action has been planned– one which will enable us to express our truths and stay physically safe. Where: in front of UUCL When: Friday, July 24 from 4:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. How to sign up: Click on this link: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0F44ACAE23A5FD0-uucl2 UUCL Public Witness Action for Racial Justice and Healing This link will take you to Sign Up Genius. Please enter your name(s) in one of the 1-hour time periods (Friday 4:30-5:30 pm or 5:30-6:30 pm or 6:30-7:30 pm). There are 25 openings for names in each period. The goal of 25 people per time period is based upon having a noticeable presence in the space along Chestnut Street while maintaining social distancing measures and wearing masks. Who is invited: Friends and allies of UUCL are most welcome to take part! (We may have people joining us from Community Mennonite, Friends Meeting, and Red Rose Sangha.) This witness action will also be announced to the Chestnut Street neighborhood through Facebook and leaflets one week before the event. Our neighbors will know the time and intention of this action and will be cordially invited to join us. What to bring: in addition to a mask, water bottle, and sun screen, please bring a sign expressing your UU-inspired truth for these times to share with our Lancaster community. (We also have signs left over from the last public witness which will be brought to this event.) Poster boards and markers are easily and cheaply available in any dollar store. Create a sign with a simple, clear message in large letters. This may take some time, for sign-making is both is both an expressive and spiritual act. If you have any question or problems with Sign-Up Genius, please email Brad Weaver at bradden_r_weaver@yahoo.com |
Leaders’ Circle Meeting Minutes have now been posted for the meeting held in June 2020. Please read these to stay informed with the activities of your church.Click here to read on website Let’s Read White Fragility TogetherInspired by UUA GA and recent events, some of the attendees of the General Assembly, plan to read or have already read, White Fragility as a way of doing something concrete to combat systemic racism.We ask that you watch this YouTube clip by the author before making a decision about reading White Fragility. CLICK HERE!If you are interested in participating, email Evanna Morris at lele88@comcast.net and put White Fragility in the subject line. In the meantime, purchase the book or Kindle version and we will be in touch.THE DEADLINE TO SIGN UP FOR BOOK DISCUSSION IS WED. JULY 22, 2020. How to Contribute to the Minister’s Discretionary FundThis is a difficult time for all of us. So that we can help members who are affected financially, we are inviting those who are able to contribute to the Minister’s Discretionary Fund. A donation can be made on line by going to the church web site, www.uuclonline.org and clicking the Contact Us drop down menu, then Donate. Again click the Donate button and you will be taken to our on line donation page. Complete the requested information, making sure you indicate your donation is for the Minister’s Discretionary Fund. If you prefer, you can send a check, indicating “MDF” on the memo line. Thank you in advance for your support. How to Be An Antiracist2019 Guggenheim Fellow and New York Times bestselling author Ibram X. Kendi will discuss his renowned book “How to Be an Antiracist” on Monday, July 20 at 7:00 p.m. with Dr. Charlene M. Dukes, president of Prince George’s Community College… The conversation will be streamed live online…” https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ibram-x-kendi-on-how-to-be-an-antiracist-tickets-110866502694 Stay Connected with Realm!We are in the process of building our on-line directory, and your input is vital! All members for whom we have an email address in the church data base have received an invitation to create a log in. Simply stated, it is a way to stay connected to other members of UUCL, keep your own information up to date, and keep track of your own pledge and contributions. Several volunteers are in the process of calling members to verify the information we currently have, as well as give a short introduction to Realm. It can be accessed on a computer or through the mobile app, RealmConnect. Please don’t hesitate to contactBev Geib if you have any questions about the program Groceries for ReemGroceries for Reem Update We have a team of volunteers from UUCL taking turns food shopping for Reem in July. We need more people to buy Halal (Kosher) meats at Tabarek in Lancaster once in July. To volunteer contact: Naomi naomi.levine@verizon.net for further instructions including how to be reimbursed for the food. A big THANK YOU to our UUCL Grocery Team: Marianne Smith, Gina Hart, Brad Weaver, Holly Williams and Diane Toigo UU NEWCOMER ORIENTATIONThe UU Newcomer Orientation workshop is scheduled for Saturday, July 25, 9 AM-11:30. This will be a ZOOM workshop and once we receive your request to attend, the ZOOM invite will be sent to you. Those of you who expressed interest in the March 2020 class will receive the Zoom invite automatically. Looking forward to being “with” you! Membership@uuclonline.org. Nature is CompassionMother Nature has the whole world in Her hands and Her compassion is for our benefit. Compassion looks to healing as the true mode for survival. The natural processes of chemistry, biology and physics combined with earth’s raw materials become the engine and energy that becomes natural selection. All life strives to survive and thrive by caption to their environment so their DNA is insured. Mother Nature rewards those who respect this power that the only way to win is to adapt. We are victims of our actions, so if we aim to reopen communities, it demands coordination based in the science and logic of Mother that has worked for 4.5 billion years! Her power of compassion is deep and wide as we open to the way forward with the laws of Nature. Compassion through Nature is empowering. –submitted by David Dobbins |
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Share The Plate: The Lancaster County Food HubMission:Rooted in Faith & Compassion, The Lancaster County Food Hub (“the Hub”) provides services that honor the dignity of all by striving to meet basic human needs. Vision:1. Serving Anyone in NeedThe Hub believes that everyone has the right to have their basic needs met.2. Dignity of the IndividualThe Hub believes in the dignity of all individuals.3. Inclusive FaithMotivated by faith, the Hub welcomes all in our community to join us as we provide for those in need. |
| Please submit all ACE announcements to publications@uuclonline.org by 9am Monday. Support for Using ZoomWatch this video from our UUA Central East Region for a tutorial on logging in and joining a meeting online (Zoom). If you need a tutorial or some practice, we’re here to help! Please email Lenore Bajare-Dukes (Lenore@uuclonline.org) and Amanda Maher (ajmaher96@gmail.com) to set up a time with a UUCL volunteer or staff member. |
