FAQs

First UU Church of Berks County

Regathering for WORSHIP Plan

August 12, 2021

When will we worship in the Sanctuary again? 

The first in-person worship service in the Sanctuary is expected to be held on Sunday, September 12, at 10:30 am. Given the evolving nature of the pandemic, the FUUBC Board will be making evaluations about moving forward on a week-to-week basis, using available metrics and recommended practices. 

Will we have to wear masks? 

Yes. Universal masking is required for any events or activities in the building. 

What about social distancing?

Social distancing will be required. Pews will be marked to indicate spacing requirements. A signup system may be used to ensure we adhere to occupancy limits.

Will vaccination be required?

We strongly encourage all those who can be vaccinated to be vaccinated. The church will be requiring proof of vaccination for volunteers for worship services. The Minister, staff, guest speakers, and all RE volunteers will also be required to be vaccinated. Proof of vaccination for in-person attendance may be required of others as this evolves. 

What about the kids? 

In-person programming for children under 12 will not resume in the church building in September. The RE Committee and Ebee Bromley, Director of Religious Education are developing plans for once-a-month outdoor programming in addition to virtual RE hangouts. 

What about singing? 

We do not know when we will be able to safely resume singing during in-person services. Decisions about choir rehearsals and singing in worship are still in development by Ebee Bromley, Director of Music, based on available metrics and recommended practices. 

Will I still be able to attend worship remotely? 

Worship services will continue to be accessible remotely via zoom. 

What would cause us not to be able to meet in person or to stop meeting in person, and who will decide? 

The risk level will be assessed weekly using available metrics and recommended practices. The FUUBC Board will decide which planned activities may go forward, based on that risk level.

What data source are we using to assess risk levels? 

We are using the “U.S. COVID Risk & Vaccine Tracker,” which provides real-time data: https://www.covidactnow.org/us/pennsylvania-pa/county/berks_county/?s=21621088.

Please review our updated policy at the link below
Updated Onsite and Offsite Church Gatherings Policy

This ballot is your opportunity to select FIVE organizations to support in September, October, November, December 2021 and January 2022.  The top one organization in each category with the most votes will be named recipients. We know that this can be a difficult decision as we agree that all of the programs are worthy causes.
Please vote (only once) by 9:00PM by August 22ndlink for the Fall 2021 Special Plate Ballot https://forms.gle/vgDNdeNQcJ1TW5RDA

In a few short weeks members and friends will gather once again and once anew for our annual UU water ceremony.
For this year’s ceremony, we’d like you to send in a picture or a 5-10 second long video of you (and your family) with water that holds special meaning for you: the kitchen faucet, the garden hose, the waterfall you hike, the beach you commune with. We will be taking submissions for the next 3 weeks, up until September 1st, at office@uuberks.org.

It is that time a year again! Promise Walk time to help fundraise for Family Promise! I think it will be great if we can start a team again. The walk will be on August 28th from 11am-1pm at First Energy Stadium – Join us in person or virtual. Latin Fest will start immediately after the 

Promise Walk – so stay and enjoy food, drinks and music!! Hope to see the UU/Cyndi’s team strong again !!

If you know any businesses that may be interested in sponsoring the event, or donating Gift Cards or raffle baskets, please let Cyndi Dimovitz know at cdimovitz@gmail.com. With your registration you will reiceve a t-shirt and free entrance to the Latin Fest and be entered into winning a Samsung TV.

Website to sign up is

Please drop off donations at 325 N. 5th Street in Reading, between the hours of 8:30am-4:30pm Monday-Thursday. For any questions, please reach out to Deborah at Drhodes@familypromiseofberks.org.

Back to School Wishlist: Notebooks, Folders, Pencils, Pens, Highlighters, Index cards, 3-ring Binders, Calculators, Bookbags, Napkins, Lunch bags, Reusable water bottles, White-out tape, Loose-leaf paper, Organizer/calendar planners,

 Post-it notes, 3-hole punch, Stapler & staples, Paper clips, Glue, Subject dividers, Ruler, Erasers, Permanent markers, Headphone

Hygiene Pantry Wishlist: Shampoo , Conditioner, Male/Female shaving cream., Male/Female razors, Body wash, Body lotion, Towels, Wash cloths, Tampons, Wet wipes, Toothbrushes, Toothpaste, Deodorant , Baby powder, Diapers, Baby wipes, Thermal Socks, Shower caps, Brush/combo Hair ties, Nail kits, Cotton swabs, Laundry soap, Lice treatments, Chapstick/lip balm, Small first aid kit, Bottled water, Sun block, Soap bars, Hand sanitizer, Band-aids, Underwear, Handheld mirror, Mouth wash, Floss, Toilet paper, Vaseline , Disposable face mask, Body spray/cologne , Tylenol/Midol/antacids, Back packs, Heating Pad

Volunteers Needed! We currently are in need of Volunteers with any experience spackling, painting, and cleaning to help us re-do our 3rd floor. Materials and supplies provided. Please reach out to Deborah directly if you’d like to give back with your skill and time!

We have changed our meeting time to 7 PM on Sundays to accommodate parents and those folks who may be attending church in person.  We will continue in a virtual format for the foreseeable future. 

On September 12th, at 7 PM we will be in conversation about systemic racism in the K-12 school systems. We have invited the diverse group of people in our congregation who have and are working in a variety of positions to share their experiences and insights about schools and racial justice and injustice.  We have also invited the librarians to recommend books for parents and children.

On October 17th, at 7 PM we will hear from the people involved with higher education about their experiences with systemic racism.

November 14th, again at 7 PM, we will be examining racism in the workplace.

And on December 12th, as the winter holy days approach we will look at the racial factors involved in creating the dilemma of the unhoused in our community.
Please plan to attend and bring your friends!  

What can you find on the UUBerks Member Info site?

• Email contact information for our staff and all of our committees
• The current version of the Church Directory, the Member Photo Album, as well as our current budget and board meeting minutes
• Links to all of our recurring Zoom meetings
• Help documentation and FAQs

Use the link below to register for either a 1-on-1 help session and/or an introduction to the website via Zoom.  You can also use the form to just post a question about the private Member Info website and request access.

https://uuberks.org/member-info-signup

Here are a few common questions and answers:

1)Why do I have to login to access this site?  This site is private and the information on it is for members only. By having a login, we can restrict access to those individuals that are FUUBC members.

2)I attend services all the time but I am not a member. How do I become a member?  We have a page on our public website with all of the details.  See https://uuberks.org/connect/become-a-member/ 

3)I have a Google account, but I don’t remember my password.  (1) Go to the Google login page at accounts.google.com, (2) enter your email address, (3) click on the “next” button and (4) click on the “Forgot password” link.

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

Last month I heard American playwright, Quiara Alegría Hudes, tell a story live in my living room from an event hosted by a global storytelling non-profit called, “The Moth.”

The story was beautiful, as beautiful as you would expect from the playwright of “Water by the Spoonful” and “In The Heights.”  But before Quiara was a playwright and memoirist, she was a musician and in the story she told, Quiara started with how she learned to play the piano.  The part I’d like to highlight is the start of her journey with the piano.  One time her aunt sat her up at the piano, put on a record of Champion Jack Dupree, and said “follow the good notes.” So she started poking around to the blues changes.  Which note sounded best with what she was hearing.  Ah!  Got it.  But then the music shifted.  Ok what works now? 

“Chasing the notes that go,” is not how I was taught to play back in 3rd grade.  I, like I’m sure many of you, was given a book, given a teacher and taught to read the “right” notes.  If it wasn’t on the page then it wasn’t “right.”  If it wasn’t charted then it wasn’t what I was supposed to be playing.  In some cases this is the right approach.  Sheet music is a long form conversation between composer and musician.  Sheet music, scores, or charts go through revisions.  They’re tested and tried out.  It’s good to know what works and have that conversation.  It’s good to continue the trust that the composer puts in their musicians by letting that sheet music out into the world. 

“Follow the good notes,” that’s a good compass point to keep too though.  “Following the good notes” helps us practice the art of trusting ourselves. “Following the good notes,” helps us follow the spirit of exploration, of experimentation, of excitement.  What happens if?  What now? Could I try it this way? 

In this summer of possibility, in this summer where we’re, maybe surprisingly, still in uncharted territory, I encourage you to “follow the good notes.”  What resonates with you?  What feels right in this moment?  What are you holding onto that’s creating a suspension?  What are you playing ahead and offering an anticipation of chords and moments to come? What sounds right at this time?  Follow the good notes.

nadine j. smet-weiss

spiritual director

yesterday

was chilly spring

it seemed summer

might 

never 

arrive

today

august 

is upon us

all too soon

the shortness

of shortening days

undeniable

but now

now

this moment

is infinite