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All Church Email June, 5 2020

  • by UUCL
June 5, 2020
Dear UUCL Community,
“As we witness the pain and grief of centuries of violence without justice find their expression, we bear witness. And as our faith demands, we act.” – The UUA’s Side With Love.
In this Friday’s All-Church Email, you will find opportunities for us to bear witness, to worship, and to act for racial justice this week. We are here to help you connect with the many resources coming from our national UUA and fellow congregations (please see below).
Be sure to notice that this Sunday we will once again engage in Shared Worship with a neighboring UU congregation: this Sunday we visit UU Berks, in Reading, PA. This service begins at 10:30 a.m.
Please note that the UUCL Talent Show & Art Showcase, which was planned for this Friday, is postponed. It feels like a time to pause ordinary activity so that we may witness, make sense of what’s happening, and show up in support of racial justice however we can—to center Black lives. Eli and Lenore thank everyone who has signed up to participate, and we will be in touch soon with a new date.
Friends, we know these are tough days. Please don’t hesitate to reach out for pastoral care: Rev. Barbara is available at revcoeyman@uuclonline.org; Lenore Bajare-Dukes at Lenore@uuclonline.org.
FRIDAY (TODAY)
Justice for George Floyd Silent Vigil: Friday, June 5, 4-5PM:
Rain or shine! Join the POWER Interfaith Coalition and the Lancaster Interfaith Coalition for a silent vigil for Justice for George Floyd (and all the others) on Friday, June 5th at 4 PM at Penn Square.
We are planning to mask and stand at least 6 ft. apart. Carry homemade sign(s) with your name, your faith community, and the name of someone who died for being who they were, of which you know their story. This will be a silent vigil unless someone specifically asks you about what is on your sign.
Details and RSVP here (please note that this event page contains an image of George Floyd’s final moments).
SUNDAY
Sunday Online Worship: June 7, 10:30: “Creating Sacred Space”: Rev. Sandra Fees, Minister UU Berks
This Sunday we again offer “Shared Worship,” zooming in to UU Berks, in Reading PA. Together we will explore how we can carve out spiritual time at home and create sacred spaces for ourselves and our families. Please note that this service begins at 10:30 a.m. This is a multigenerational service, so there will be no specific children’s worship this week.
Link to join: https://zoom.us/j/562036166
  • dial this number to participate: 1-646-558-8656.
  • When prompted, enter the Meeting ID: 562 036 166
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.
In faith
Rev Barbara, Lenore, Eli
Note from Rev. Barbara: Friends the worship service this past Sunday, May 31, represented my last as service leader at UUCL. While I will contribute to other online worship over the next weeks, this was my last “message” to this community. These are challenging times we are in, and the challenge has only escalated since I searched my heart and soul for the nature of this final message. Therefore, I decided to include my portions of the service here — three readings and a sermon — for anyone who could not attend last Sunday, for anyone for whom these words may offer some new perspective since Sunday. I realize how my message of “hope” which I was called to preach last Sunday has already evolved into a message of “action,” evolution here in this congregation, evolution throughout our communities, our denomination, our country. “Hope” and “action”: we can and must have and do both. Please note that the contents of this attached file is not to be reproduced without permission of any of the four authors (me being one of them). …. Blessings as we go forward.
PUBLIC WITNESS FROM THE UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST ASSOCIATION
On Sunday, I joined the First Universalist Church of Minneapolis for their service. I was grateful to represent UUs across the country in solidarity with Minneapolis, remembering that we are in this together. Together, we prayed for cities and communities all over this country – a prayer for the safety, well-being, and courage of the people. And on Tuesday night, over 10,000 UUs gathered for the #WeCantBreathe vigil led by the Unitarian Universalist Association’s (UUA) Organizing and Strategy team.
…
It matters that we support the uprisings whose goal is the liberation of Black people and communities who for too long have been crushed by white supremacy, militarism, and capitalism. We must find the sources within ourselves to give us courage in this moment. To resist. To risk. To sacrifice for this movement that needs all of us to succeed. To be midwives for a new era in which all of us will be free.
Susan Frederick-Gray | June 4, 2020
How is it with your spirit today? Today, my spirit is struck by grief.
Lauren Smith | 6/4/2020
As people of faith and conscience, we are called to practice active remembrance, a remembrance that requires the pursuit of liberation in response to systemic violence. It would be hypocritical to say Black Lives Matter but then refuse to acknowledge anti-Blackness in one’s self, family, communities, or even congregations.
Truth-telling.
Repair.
Resistance.
Take action.
The UUA | June 2, 2020
Children’s Faith Development:
We are pausing our at-home nature noticings series.
Friends, these are hard times, confronting hard and necessary questions. On Sunday or Monday evening, I will open a Zoom call for you to check in with one another and me about how you are experiencing them as a family. We will listen and support one another as best we can–knowing that our experiences differ, depending on the ages of our kids, the conversations we’ve had before, on our identities: white parents and caregivers of white children, parents of color of children of color, white parents and caregivers of children of color, many other identities, all having conversations that fit your families. Look for an email tomorrow from me with a Zoom link–and contact me ASAP if you have a preference for time.
For now, I share with you the Time for All Ages honoring George Floyd’s life and that Lauren Wyeth gave during this past Sunday’s worship service from First Universalist Minneapolis. (For your own faith development, I highly recommend watching the rest of it.)
Something you can listen to together: the Kojo Nnamdi Show (out of DC), with “Kojo for Kids: Author Jason Reynolds Talks About Racism and the Protests.”
Lastly, my own message to you:
A wise friend told me: you are not here to have all the answers. You are here to show your children how to engage with the questions.
So today I am thinking: let your children see you wrestling with your own questions and feelings.
Let them hear you talk about what is important.
Let them accompany you in showing up, as best you can right now; perhaps you will learn better tomorrow together.
Remind yourself of what you already know: that raising children is a life-long process, not the outcome of any one moment.
Remember we are here together.
Adult Faith Development:
Your weekly spiritual noticings readings are above, in the UUA section.
Your weekly invitation to spiritual practice:
For those of you who could not join Wednesday night’s sacred space, I have written for you this guide to spiritual practice at home. May it find spaces for resonance in your spirit.
Set aside about two hours for sacred time. It is worth it to stay through the end. Find a calm space. Grab some art supplies, or a pen and paper. Prepare to worship.
Click here and watch the worship service led by First Universalist Church of Minneapolis last Sunday, in response to the death of George Floyd and the protests happening in their city (and ours).
As you witness this worship: Notice what’s happening in your body. Stretch if you need to. You may wish to write down words as they enter your heart. Resist the urge to take detailed notes; stay in the emotion-spirit worship space. Breathe.
After the video finishes:
This was a lot. It is tempting to move straight to analysis or action; but right now is for your spiritual practice. Sit with it.
Cast your memory back over the service. Take your time. What is one phrase, word, image that is sticking with you?
Sit with it some more. Let it reverberate within you. Let it trouble your soul.
Draw it. Write it. Journal about it. Pick up the phone and call somebody about it.
Sitting in the intensity, letting this worship reverberate through your spirit, is sacred work. Thank yourself for setting aside the time to engage in it. Breathe. Enter the rest of your day.
Church Life & Community Announcements
A Message from your Racial Justice and Healing team:
When we think and talk about racism, anti-racism, and racial justice, many white people often wonder: “What can we actually DO?” Here is a link to a list of 75 suggestions of things white people can do to work toward racial justice in the U.S. This list was posted by Ms. Corrine Shutack on the medium.com.
How to Contribute to the Minister’s Discretionary Fund
This 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.
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 contact Bev Geib if you have any questions about the program
Justice with Mercy
The work of the UUCL’s Justice with Mercy Committee is grounded in the First Principle – the inherent worth and dignity of all people including those who have been incarcerated. We work to promote an understanding of the needs of returning citizens both in our congregation and in the wider community. We support the work of the various Lancaster County restorative justice programs. But there’s so much more to be done. We’ll be meeting virtually at 6:30 PM on Tuesday, June 9. If you’re interested in helping with our efforts, contact us at justicewithmercy@uuclonline.org.
Groceries for Reem
Please consider adding to the Go Fund Me site for Reem Desouky see link below. Local Congregations are taking turns food shopping for her. UUCL members will do the food shopping and delivery during the month of July. To volunteer contact: Naomi Levine ator naomi.levine@verizon.net for further instructions including how to be reimbursed for the food. A Link to Lancaster Newspaper article written about her experience follows. https://lancasteronline.com/news/local/how-a-trip-to-egypt-for-a-divorce-led-to-10-months-in-prison-for/article_27ea2aba-9a00-11ea-b5df-1fde908734f3.html
https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-welcome-reem-home

Little Sparrows: The Little Sparrows contacted all but 40 members/households on our membership list. They also reached out to friends of the Church and potential new members. Thanks to Sue Harkleroad, Marianne Smith, Larry Carroll, Sue Zeigler, Gina Hart, Evanna Morris, Candy De Green, Linda Jones, Carole Campbell, Brad Weaver, Naomi Levine and Lou Ann Miller.

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