Laura Hershey wrote, “…Those without power risk everything to tell their story and must.” This Sunday we will consider the stories we tell and retell to encourage us onward.

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: uuberks.org/zoom-worship   (If it’s the first time you’re using zoom you may be prompted to download a launcher app).

To connect by phone (audio only):
1) Dial the phone number: 1-646-558-8656
2) When prompted for the “Meeting ID”, enter: 999-805-145-23#
3) When prompted for the “Participant ID”, enter: #

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 and will remain muted for the service. Our service concludes with “virtual coffee hour” when members and friends are unmuted.

Join ADORE on May 23rd for a discussion on the the intersection of Capitalism and Racism in the K-12 system.  Bring your insights, experiences and curiosity for an hour after church on Sunday, May 23rd starting at noon.
Zoom link: uuberks.org/adore

A very big thank you goes out to all of the volunteers who assisted on Saturday at our “Nature is Nurture” event! Our families in the program really appreciated meeting you all, and seeing your support in sprucing up the backyard! We loved having the event and plan to do an event soon with the U-turn program teens this summer. We are always open to suggestions and appreciate everyone’s effort in helping our clients feel empowered and love by the work that you all do!

Farewell Elise!

As previously posted on our social media platforms, our Executive Director Elise Chesson is leaving Family Promise to a position at a nonprofit in Montgomery County as a Chief Advancement Officer. We cannot understate Elise’s contributions to Family Promise in the last four years and all that she has done for the families and community in Berks County. Staff members are excited for her future endeavors but saddened to see her go as she will be greatly missed. Family Promise now seeks out a new Executive Director. Please see our press release here: Press Release: Family Promise Seeks Next Executive Director (mailchi.mp)

Do you wish to deepen your understanding of how race and ethnicity play out in our institutions and our daily lives? Are you ready to take a leading role to nurture a multicultural future in the face of opposing cultural currents? Come Join Us for this Life-Changing Weekend!

Weekend activities: The training includes presentations, discussions, videos, exercises, and small group work. This 2 ½ day workshop is open to anyone who wants to journey toward making a stand against racism. Church members and church leaders of any faith, as well as non-church members are all welcome!

Our goals are:

• To develop a shared analysis of racism and its individual, institutional, and cultural manifestations, and
• To begin to apply this common understanding to the history, culture, and institutional structure of our society, and to envision the next steps in taking action.

Agenda topics include:

• The history of racism and resistance to racism in the Americas
• Defining racism
• The effects of racism on people of color and on white people
• Dismantling racism
• Claiming and shaping an anti-racist identity

Trainers are Paula Cole Jones, Dr Leon Spencer and Lutricia Callair.

Questions:Contact Jean Cocuzza : jeancocuzza@yahoo.com ;
for more info and to register visit link below:
https://www.uua.org/central-east/calendar/jubilee-3-0621

Partial scholarships available contact treasurer@uuberks.org to apply.

First, are you currently eligible to receive the vaccine? If you don’t know, check this page. If you are eligible, supplies are limited so it can be difficult to schedule an appointment.

We want to make it easier for those having problems. If you’re interested you can go here to register or you can call 484-925-1684. You will be contacted by a team member. (To register for the vaccine note that some sites require the patient’s name, D.O.B, address, and phone number.)

Do you want to be part of a team from church to help members find vaccine appointments? We are looking for volunteers to help make appointments and those that need help. If you have access to a computer, you can go here to register or you can call 484-925-1684 (leave a message with your name and phone number). We will hold brief training/best practices sessions beforehand.

If you are in need of a church directory, would like to update your pledge, sign up for Egiving or just have general questions? Please contact our office administrator at office@uuberks.org

Did you know that we record every church service that we host on Zoom? We use our UUBerks YouTube account to host those recordings.
To find the recordings…

1) Open up a web browser (Chrome, Firefox, Safari,…) and navigate to our home page at  uuberks.org

2) Once the page opens, click on the (2) Service Archive button. It is in the green box on the right side of the screen
3) The Past Worship Services page will open in the browser window.  The services are sorted from “newest” to “oldest”.  Click on the title of a service to find the video.

4) A dedicated web page for the service will open.  At the bottom of the page, there is a video widget that you can use to view the recording. Click on the play button in the middle of the video widget to watch the video.

5) Once the video starts to play, you will see some buttons in the bottom of the video if you move your mouse cursor over the video widget. Click on the (1) CC button to turn on closed captioning, and click on the (2) Expand button to make the video full screen .  There is also a pause button (not shown in the image below) , in the lower left-hand corner that you can use to pause the video so that you can refill your coffee cup.

If you have any questions about this hint or other technology issues, contact UUBerks IT Services at g.it.services@uuberks.org

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.

• 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

Our chalice lighting for the month is from Robin Shaw. She asks us to remember our stories. As you read or proclaim her words.

What story comes up for you?

What story do you need to remember?

What story do you need to create?

nadine j. smet-weiss

history

lives

through us

even stories

once silenced

eventually emerge

into the present

like forgotten seeds

germinating

may we find

the courage

to be good tenders

of this new arising

to embrace it fully

flaws and all

may we let love

lead the way