Spirit of Life. July Unitarian Universalist Meeting of South Berkshire. Sunday Worship 10:30am

Transcription

1 Unitarian Universalist Meeting of South Berkshire Spirit of Life July 2018 Sunday Worship 10:30am Freedom Songs and Reflections with Reggie Harris : Rev. Carol Allman-Morton A songwriter of great depth and passion, Reggie Harris writes from a personal sense of mission that merges a world wise point of view with a singularly hopeful stance that life, though often challenging, is filled with possibility and hope. His songs reveal thoughts about life and love and some of the deep aspects of the human experience and cover topics from his own personal journey to world issues and history. We are so lucky to be in worship with Reggie today mark your calendars! This Thing Called Life : Rev. Rich Hayes Rev. Hayes is a chaplain with Hospice in the Berkshires Bring it on! : Rev. Carol Allman-Morton Join in our semi-annual questions service. Send me questions about life, UU history, polity, theology, or whatever you choose (callmanmorton@gmail.com). I will do my very best to touch on all submitted questions somewhere in the service. Share the Plate with Housatonic Valley Association Countering Islamophobia: Understanding our Muslim Brothers and Sisters : Rev. Dr. M ellen Kennedy As Muslims are being maligned nationally and we are being whipped up into fear of Islam and Muslims, what do we really have to be afraid of? Let's explore where Islamophobia comes from anyway and what it's about. Come hear stories and experiences from the perspective of a Sufi (the mystical tradition of Islam) and active participant in the national grassroots effort to counter Islamophobia for the past 7 years It's a bird! It's a plane! It's..Theology! Rev. Carol Allman-Morton Superheroes are powerful symbols. Today we have some fun and consider the religious and spiritual context of some pop culture stories, and how they relate to Unitarian Universalism and our personal beliefs. You don't have to have an opinion on Marvel vs. DC to get something out of this, I promise! Trustee/ Trustee/ Trustee/ Trustee/ Trustee/ Jus ce, love, and compassion in spiritual community Reggie Harris and Bonnie Benson Chuck Pierce Tommie Hutto Blake Jose Garcia Hilda Banks Shapiro Laurie Shaw Stu Dalheim Zoe Dalheim Ron Hanft UMSB Choir Chuck Pierce Dianna Downing Karen Clark Hilda Banks Shapiro Chuck Pierce Connie Canty Bonnie Benson Chuck Pierce John Farrell Dan Haas Mission: We come together from diverse traditions as a welcoming, religious community with shared values, seeking spiritual growth, lifelong religious education, and fellowship. We strive to promote justice, acceptance, and compassion in the world. Reverend: Carol Allman-Morton Residence: 1089 Main Street, Housatonic, MA map and directions Mailing address: PO Box 783, Housatonic, MA Tel: info@uumsb.org Spirit of Life July of 9

2 Rev. Carol s Column Love Will Guide Us A poem for summer: The Summer Day from Mary Oliver Who made the world? Who made the swan, and the black bear? Who made the grasshopper? This grasshopper, I meanthe one who has flung herself out of the grass, the one who is ea ng sugar out of my hand, who is moving her jaws back and forth instead of up and downwho is gazing around with her enormous and complicated eyes. Now she li s her pale forearms and thoroughly washes her face. Now she snaps her wings open, and floats away. I don't know exactly what a prayer is. I do know how to pay a en on, how to fall down into the grass, how to kneel down in the grass, how to be idle and blessed, how to stroll through the fields, which is what I have been doing all day. Tell me, what else should I have done? Doesn't everything die at last, and too soon? Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life? Blessings on the journey. Carol See Carol s sermons: h p:// worship services/ If you have any pastoral concerns, please call me to set up an appointment. I am available to meet on Sundays and weeknights or callmanmorton@gmail.com. Carol s Summer Plans: Conferences: September 14 16: I will be at Star Island Conference Center in Maine for a small choir training. Vaca on: July 30 August 10: I will be on vaca on in the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont where phone recep on is spo y, but I will be checking my messages every few days. For more urgent pastoral emergencies, I will provide contact informa on in advance. August 20 24: I will be camping, but available by phone for pastoral emergencies. August 31 September 3: I will be back up in Vermont, and again in spo y recep on land. info@uumsb.org Spirit of Life July of 9

3 Message from our President, Martha Page Radical enough? To be sane in a mad me is bad for the brain, worse for the heart. ~Wendell Barry What is the limit on what the human spirit can endure? As we see the images and hear the cries of the children at the southern border of our country, I am in anguish about how deeply what they are experiencing at the hands of our fellow ci zens today will reverberate throughout their young lives. As we learn about the latest incident of children losing their lives in a school shoo ng or the latest unarmed young black man being gunned down by those who purport to protect us, how do we keep despair at bay? And, what do we do with the knowledge that our despair exists, in large part, within a framework of privilege, safety, and rela ve distance from these horrors. Wendell Barry also tells us We Americans are not usually thought to be a submissive people, but of course we are. Why else would we allow our country to be destroyed? Why else would we be rewarding its destroyers?...how do we submit? By not being radical enough... So, what do we do to become radical enough and strong enough to be a part of the fight for the lives of all the children who need our voices? While each of us has to answer that call for ourselves, I do believe that the beloved community of UUMSB is one way to center and recharge, to step back from despair, to refuse to submit, to gird for the ba le. As our UU principles guide us to honor the inherent worth and dignity of every person, how we hold each other in community can become the founda on for our personal and collec ve ac on to help heal this broken world and allow her children to survive and thrive. Martha 3rd annual UU s at Tanglewood Please join us on Sunday July 29th for conversation and music on the lawn at Tanglewood. Feel free to bring food and libations to share. Gather at 1pm performance begins We will reserve a location, to be advised, and look forward to seeing you there. info@uumsb.org Spirit of Life July of 9

4 Welcoming New Members! In the month of July we are welcoming two friends into membership. On July 8, Tristan Osgood will become a member, and on July 15, Linda Skipper will join us. Please come and help welcome them as members in the community! What happened at General Assembly? July 1, join Rev. Carol after the service to hear the highlights! Second Sunday School On a break for July! Our UUMSB 2018 Memorial Weekend Tag Sale Many thanks to all who contributed to make this Sale a success: $1300 Sheena, for the reminders of the Sale in the newsle er, in our Wednesday s, and generally organizing us The congrega on members and friends who contributed so many useful and a rac ve items for the Sale The many strong hands and backs on the preceding Sunday who set up tables and brought down the goods from upstairs Pa ent and crea ve taggers who made order out of chaos on the Wednesday and Friday before the Sale Dianna and Linda, for the beau ful Vintage Corner display in the sanctuary and for making magnificent order of the challenge of the fabric table Helping hands on Saturday of the Sale who straightened things up, welcomed those who came in the door, assisted Sheena at the sales desk and did all that was needed Sheena, for a solid day of smiling, adding, cashing out buyers, and keeping calm The members and friends who con nued to buy, the two Sundays a er the Sale The many who helped box up the retained goods on the following Sunday The volunteers who brought remains to Goodwill and the local libraries Bill, who kept track of the results and reported to us faithfully THANKS TO ALL! Tag Sale Committee: Valerie Bluhm, Dianna Downing, Sheena Evans-Morris, Jan Hutchinson,, Laurie Shaw REMINDER: Our next Tag Sale will be September. 2, Labor Day Weekend Bring in items to the side entrance hall info@uumsb.org Spirit of Life July of 9

5 UUMSB Social Justice Committee update for July 2018 July 2018 News for our UUMSB Congrega on from your Social Jus ce Team On July 15 Social Jus ce Team Member Al Blake will be introducing Housatonic Valley Associates Representa ve Dennis Regan for our monthly Share the Plate Sunday. This is a long me local environmental organiza on with the purpose of protec ng the Housatonic Valley both for the purpose of restora on, as well as with a vision of making certain this beau ful landscape and its waterways will remain in pris ne shape for the animals, birds, fish and people of the area. HVA s goal is to have this land thrive and be enjoyed by visitors whether local or from afar. Please con nue to give to our Share the Plate local non profits as generously as you can. As was discussed in last month s SJ newsle er piece we are approaching the 2018 mid term elec on. The right to vote in our community and na on has been a valued right of its ci zens from the beginning of our democracy. Yes, in the beginning the only voters were white, male, land owners. We urge you to take a few minutes to reflect on the historical struggles for people of less means, men of color, women, and young people to also gain this right. In each case it took decades of poli cal struggles, including mistreatment and bloodshed to have this as a guaranteed right via new laws and amendments to our U.S. Cons tu on. Today there are ac ve debates and current concerns that the right to vote is once again being threatened in parts of our country through the return to restric ons and requirements for some to gain access at the ballot box. Right here in MA we could certainly have improvements regarding easier access to registering to vote, including the right for young people to register early while s ll in school, and be able to vote on their college campuses, having open and early vo ng (elimina ng the need for absentee vo ng), even same day registra on. The League of Women Voters have geared back up to inform voters about their state and federal rights and to help with candidate forums, which assist voters in our state to be an engaged and informed electorate. The first step in the 2018 General Elec on is each state s primary elec on, choosing party candidates in contested races. In Massachuse s our State Primary is September 4 th. Yes, this falls on the Tuesday following Labor Day weekend. Please know that if your personal plans take you away from your vo ng district for the holiday, you have the right to file an absentee ballot if the absentee ballot is postmarked no later than August 15th and received by the last day to vote absentee for the primary elec ons. info@uumsb.org Spirit of Life July of 9

6 Massachuse s Primary Elec on September 4, 2018 Early Vo ng: Not available Voter Registra on Deadline Wednesday August 15, 2018 Postmarked by Wednesday August 15, 2018 Request For Absentee Ballot: Received by Friday August 31, :00PM EDT Absentee Ballot Deadline: Received by Tuesday September 4, 2018 The Midterm General Elec on for 2018 for county wide, state and federal elected posi ons will be Tuesday, November 5, Both state primary elec ons and mid term elec ons normally have a low voter turnout. Many of us believe there is a poli cal crisis in our democracy today we urge you to par cipate in both of these elec ons. If you feel strongly about a par cular candidate give his or her campaign some volunteer me in the weeks ahead. Have a house party in your neighborhood to discuss this current U.S. crisis and have concrete sugges ons of how poten ally ac ve community members can make a difference. There is one thing most of us can agree on we are currently a divided na on. Let s go to the polls and have our voices heard. We are at a me in our history that VOTES DO COUNT! A house party of friends and neighbors ge ng to know a local candidate. Tommie Hutto-Blake for the UUMSB Justice Team ~ Ricky Bernstein, Al Blake, Valerie Bluhm, Karen Clark, Stu Dalheim, Sheryl Davies, Ray Garnett, Gwendolyn Hampton VanSant, Erin McNamara, Sandy Noyes, Martha Page, Sue Protheroe, Gary Shaw. info@uumsb.org Spirit of Life July of 9

7 Membership Directory! If you are part of our community, but have not yet officially joined the congrega on, we would love to add you to our member directory as a friend, so that folks can be in touch with you and we can call you in case of cancella ons. Just send an to our administrator Sheena with your contact info at info@uumsb.org! July 09 Zoe Dalheim 12 Al Blake 16 Emmanual Dongala 17 Martha Page 21 Dianna Downing 22 Hannah Chamberlain 25 Sue Corcoran 28 Abbey Morton Any one else have a July birthday? Sheena and let her know! UUMSB Community News: If you have any personal joys or concerns that you would like to share, send them to Sheena at info@uumsb.org. Thanks! Would you like to join? Come and sing with us! We rehearse at 9:15 a.m. before worship on the Sundays we will be singing. Contact Marian Rose for informa on. We come together July 15 A FRESH NEW LOOK - IN AND ON OUR BUILDING! Have you no ced the freshly painted Social Hall and the driveway side of our church building? The work Sco Morris did on the side of the building is truly excep onal in its thoroughness. There isn't a spot le rela ng to the previous wear and exposure. We are looking good! Thanks from grateful parishioners. The Caring Committee, a part of the Membership and Growth Committee, coordinates and delivers caring services to members experiencing difficulties. We are available for anyone needing assistance in life or family situations that seem to come to everyone from time to time. Our committee finds volunteers from the congregation to help provide visits, food, transportation, and other services, depending on the situation. Whether you or someone you know may need information, encouragement, a hand or a ride, please call: Valerie Bluhm (413) ; Zoe Dalheim (413) ; Phlox Laucher (413) Sharon Meyer (413) ; Sue Montague (518) info@uumsb.org Spirit of Life July of 9

8 UUMSB Social Media Go To Page Online UUMSB Google Calendar! You do not have to be signed in to anything to see it. The calendar will reflect our programs, mee ngs, and worship informa on for each Sunday. Click on this link: UUMSB calendar Let Sheena know! her at Not In Our Town: Four Freedoms: on.org Are you a Facebook user? Check out UUMSB on Facebook, including a calendar of all our events! CLICK ON THE LINK: Clara Barton District Construct Inc Unitarian Universalist Associa on UU Mass Ac on UUMSB UUSC HospiceCare RSYP Railroad Street Youth Project Hands in Outreach Mul cultural BRIDGE 350.org Twi er/uumsb Facebook/uumsb Tumblr/uumsb Like US and help spread our messages to your friends. Jan Hutchinson s Raggedy Prayers and Crooked Ladders. Side with Love Commit2Respond PFLAG WHERE DO I FIND INFORMATION ON EVENTS HAPPENING IN OUR COMMUNITY? The most comprehensive lis ngs are: In the newsle er (print, and web); On our website (uumsb.org) On our Google calendar: (h ps:/ Updates and changes are sent out over and posted on Facebook In the weekly insert at worship; On the bulle n board in the social hall If you have any announcements to go out by or to be printed in the Sunday insert, send them to info@uumsb.org by Tuesday each week. If you have something to be posted to Facebook, you can send that to callmanmorton@gmail.com any me, or post from your account on the UUMSB page. info@uumsb.org Spirit of Life July of 9

9 All gatherings held at UUMSB in Housatonic unless specified otherwise Click on this link to go to UUMSB calendar Membership and Growth Committee meeting 9:30am: Sunday July 1 What happened at General Assembly 12Noon: Sunday July 1 South County Race Task Force 7:00pm: Thursday July 5 Facility Use Committee meeting 9:00am: Sunday July 8 New Member Sunday 10:30am: Sunday July 8 Ministry Committee meeting 12Noon: Sunday July 8 Choir Rehearsal 9:15am: Sunday July 15 New Member Sunday 10:30am: Sunday July 15 Board meeting 12Noon: Sunday July 15 UU s at Tanglewood 1:00pm: Sunday July 29 UUMSB Board President: Martha Page (860) Vice President: Mike Thiemann (413) Secretary/Clerk: Graham Christensen (407) Treasurer: Chuck Pierce (413) Trustees at Large: Lana Bennett (316) Lissa McGovern (413) Laurie Shaw (413) Our congregation s first meeting was in 1995 with 6 people in attendance. We are a chartered congregation of the Unitarian Universalist Association. We currently have 67 members and maintain strong ties to our community. We are a growing congregation in the liberal tradition that respects ideas, values diversity, and encourages the exploration of spirituality and life s meaning. UUMSB Church, Housatonic map and directions- info@uumsb.org Spirit of Life July of 9