|
Weekly News for the week of:
April 5, 2020 |
|
|
Ebee Bromley, Rev. Dr. Sandra Fees
This morning we’ll explore Unitarian Universalist minister Rev. Theresa Soto’s words: “All of us need all of us to make it.” Right now, we are witnessing human interconnectedness in new ways that are heightening awareness that none of us can be truly free until all of us are free.
For Sunday’s worship, we are using the Zoom conferencing platform. It is easy to Zoom from a computer, tablet, or phone! Here is how you do it:
- With a computer, smartphone or tablet, click on this link to participate: https://zoom.us/j/562036166. (If it’s the first time you’re using zoom you may be prompted to download a launcher app.)
- With a land-line, cell phone, or smartphone (audio only)
- dial this number to participate: 1-646-558-8656.
- When prompted, enter the Meeting ID: 562 036 166.
Please plan to log on by 10:20 or 10:25 am so that you can establish a connection before worship is scheduled to begin. Please note that your mic will be muted when you join and will remain muted for the service. Our service concludes with “virtual coffee hour” when members and friends are unmuted.
You can also find the link to our zoom service on our website by clicking here
If you missed last weeks service you can view the recording here
|
|
|
|
| Are you having trouble connecting to Zoom services?
We have established a Zoom service tech line if you are having trouble logging into our Sunday service. If you do not get an immediate answer, leave a message and your call will be returned momentarily.Dial 484-925-1684.
|
|
|
| This Week in RE:
All ages worship
For All: Explore where our liberation from with these two coloring sheets. Take a picture of your finished colored sheets and send to director.religious.education@uuberks.org next week we’ll share a compilation of people’s contributions.Together We Heal
Chalice Stones
Seeds, Sprouts and Saplings: From 12-12:30 zoom time with Ms Erin and Ms Jayné. Link to be sent via Remind. Contact director.religious.education@uuberks.org if you need the info resent.
Youth Group: From 11:45 – 12:30(ish) Even if you haven’t been to YG in a while, we’d love to see your face! This is a great way to connect in the midst of everything going on. This is your chance to join YG surrounded by pillows, with your cat hanging out by your side, with a smoothie, in your sweats or jammies, whatever you want. With SPECIAL GUEST – Rev Sandra.
Info for signing on and getting a good connection sent via g.youth.group email. Contact director.religious.education@uuberks.org if you need the info resent.. |
|
|
|
Have you seen our new website?
|
|
|
Liberation: Our Collective Longing
If you have come to help me, you are wasting your time, but if you have come because your liberation is bound up with mine, then let us work together. ~ Lila Watson
Dear Members and Friends,
Liberation seemed at first to be an ironic and unlikely theme to be exploring in the month of April. So many of us have been sheltering in or in lockdown across the nation and world. So many are feeling anything but free. But liberation is our collective longing now–liberation from this pandemic, from the deaths and suffering, from the fear, from unemployment and economic struggles, from isolation. And along with the challenges the coronavirus has brought are the injustices and oppressions that were already imprisoning people. We see now, perhaps clearer than ever, that “your liberation is bound up with mine.”
So this month, I invite you to join in reflection and conversation about what liberation means to us in this time. How have our understandings of freedom been evolving? What would it mean to live every day knowing that “my liberation is bound up with yours”? What if liberation means letting go–letting go of what we think is “normal,” of bad habits, of consumer culture, of our over-insistence on individualism?
As the month of April unfolds and the natural world continues to bless us with its splendor, I wonder, in what ways are we learning to liberate ourselves and each other. I look forward to reflecting on these questions in community.
Yours in faith, love, and hope,
Rev. Dr. Sandra Fees
- Try Mindfulness by listening to the world around you – take 2 min or even 30 seconds to disengage from what you’re doing and notice what’s around you.
- Try Mindfulness by listening to yourself – What is the ear worm in your head connecting you to and telling you about the moment?
- Try Mindfulness by doing – we are embodied beings. This time in our lives, many of us are being called to use our bodies less or use them in different ways than usual by distancing. Music is the way that we can have an embodied connection across distance!
- So use your bodies the way you do best, maybe that’s singing, maybe that’s playing an instrument, maybe that’s turning your stereo up real loud and dancing your hearts out – maybe it’s turning it up loud enough so your neighbor can dance with you too! (make sure to ask first on that one!)
- Here’s a playlist on liberation to get you started
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=14&v=doIhlQSFm00&feature=emb_title
Many of us might feel stuck right now. We might feel stuck at home. It could be that you feel stuck with different schedules than you’re used to. It could be that you’re stuck with different ways to hang out with friends.
One way to free ourselves from feeling stuck is to make a game of it! This is a challenge we get to win! Check out these UU kids from Fort Myers, Florida and take their challenge up – the Chalice Challenge!!
I’m looking forward to seeing how you take up the chalice challenge! The Image for today’s post is a drawing of our UU chalice from David Snedden of Morristown, NJ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4v9JPR8AOD8&feature=emb_logo
to be free
by Nadine J. Smet-Weiss
Spiritual Director
the greatest liberation
i have found
lies in presence
fully here now
open and opening
grounded
free
to soar
|
|
|
Giving Options in a time of coronavirus
We know that these are uncertain times and that some of our members and friends are being impacted financially as well as in so many other ways. For those who are able to make a gift or continue to contribute to their pledge, we have added some options. In addition to accepting checks and signing up for electronic giving, you can also now make your gifts from the website and via text. Here are the details:
- You can now give online on our website UUberks.org by clicking on the online giving tab or clicking
here
- You can also give by downloading the GivePlus app on google play and the App store below. You can easily locate our church by zip code 19602
 |
|
|
| Midweek Mindfulness with Rev. Sandra
Weekly on Wednesdays, 7:30-8 pm Join me for 30 minutes of midweek centering, guided reflection, visual and musical meditation, and quiet. Each week we’ll have a different focus, such as presence, love, nature, kindness, self-care, or grief. Going forward, the zoom link to join in will be the same every week to avoid any confusion:
By computer: https://uuma.zoom.us/j/887301181
By phone: 646-876-9923
Meeting ID: 887 301 181
If you tried to join on April 1 (April Fool’s Day), it was no joke. The wrong link was sent out, and I apologize for the confusion.
If you are interested and plan to participate weekly or even occasionally, please send me an email and I will add you to a weekly email reminder.
Mindfully yours,
Rev. Sandra Fees
|
|
|
| Submit Your Flower Selfie for Easter
Celebrate Easter Sunday at UU Berks with the UU Flower Communion by sharing flower selfies/photos. You may send a selfie or photo of you and/or your family with a flower. If you don’t have live flowers, make a paper flower or a drawing to share. Email your photos to the church office no later than Thursday, April 9 at Noon.
|
|
|
| Transgender Inclusion in Congregations: Session 2 – Gender and Our Faith Community
On Sunday, April 19, from Noon-1:30 pm, the UU Berks Welcoming Congregation Committee will be hosting the second session of the Trans Inclusion in Congregations series. In this workshop, we will explore the impact of gender and gender roles on our lives, what we’ve been taught about gender by religion, and how gender roles on our lives, what we’ve been taught about gender by religion, and how gender roles show up in congregations. We will watch a lecture together and have opportunities for sharing experiences and reflections. For more information and to register for the workshop, contact the Welcoming Congregation Committee here.
|
|
|
| Are You in Need of Resources?
Are you experiencing financial or grocery needs? The church community can provide a box of dry-goods groceries on a Thursday for pick up at the church or grocery cards to shop at Giant or Weis. For assistance with these or other needs, please contact by email Rev.Dr. Sandra Fees or the church office. You may call the church office at 610-372-0928 or email office@uuberks.org
|
|
|
| UU the Vote: Apply for a PA Mail In or Absentee Ballot
Let’s ensure that we can all vote during the Pennsylvania primary on April 28 by applying now for a mail in or absentee ballot. You can check your voter registration status and apply for a mail in or absentee ballot here
|
|
|
| Upcoming events
Youth Group – Virtual
Sun, April 05, 11:45 AM
Seeds, Sprouts & Saplings Group Class (sug. elementary school)
Sun, April 05, 12:00 PM
Shut Down Berks training-cancelled
Sun, April 05, 12:00 PM
Shut Down Berks Vigil-cancelled
Sun, April 05, 3:30 PM
Choir Rehearsal -Via zoom
Wed, April 08, 7:00 PM
Midweek Mindfulness
Wed, April 08, 7:30 PM
|
|
|
|
|
|
