“Join us to learn more about Community Ministry within Unitarian Universalism from Community Minister, Rev Sage Olnick.  She will share stories, inspiration, and insight about our shared ministry in her roles as Healthcare Chaplain and Nursing Educator.”

To attend by Zoom, click on this link: uuberks.org/zoom-worship. (If this is 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: 921 4271 5512#
3) When prompted for the “Participant ID”, enter: #

Please plan to arrive or log on by 10:20-10:25 am to establish a connection before worship is
scheduled begins. Zoom participant mics are muted throughout the service.

This Weekend:

• This month’s bedtime story, Firebird by Misty Copeland was chosen for our Summer or Renewal.  This is a story about the dreams of a little girl to dance. It is read by the author, Misty Copeland, and based on her experiences as the first African American woman to ever be principal dancer with the American Ballet Theatre. Dance is a way to move our bodies.  We’ll have a morning explicitly dedicated to moving our bodies on July 21st from 9:30-10:15 which that morning’s worship leader will offer.  Thank you Michele Nierle! 

• Find it at your local library! 

• Hear it read online! 

SUNDAY

9:30 AM : Adult RE 

• In Person: back of the chalice house meeting room.

• Faith Formation in July: We explore the gift of Climate Driven Human Migration!  Topic info please email Ginny Chudgar (membership directory).

• One of the goals of the Adult RE program is to get to know each other better.  What fascinating people sit around our table and how much we have to learn from each other.  There’s a place for you at our table.

• email Ginny Chudgar for more info (see directory for address)

• Onsite Only 

9:30 AM:Children’s RE: The Gifts of Our Faith – 2 classes

Elementary Ages: 

• sUUmmer Kids Theater Religious Exploration

  • The Gift of generosity – A Calabash of Poi 

  • Creating set – houses

10:30- Worship Service- All Ages

We meet together to sing, to reflect, and to explore our world. 

How to make visual art directed by breath 

• Coloring Sheet: How Could Anyone – coloring pages set

• Use a printed or hand labyrinth to find renewal as you attend worship this morning. Here’s a labyrinth you can print out and trace.  Labyrinth Printable

• Practice your Searching and Creative skills with A Challenge to get from one heart to the other Maze

10:30 – 12 Youth Group:  

Grades 7th – 12: meets next this fall – have a great summer!

Monday – Thursday 

Weekly posts on our covenanted RE Facebook page
https://www.facebook.com/groups/UUBerks.RE.page/?ref=share
check out our Remind classroom.
If you need to signup link here: remind.com/join/refuucbc

*** make sure you fill out your family’s 2024-2025 RE Registration (family can be a family of 1)  visit www.uuberks.org/registration

• Please note that all final pledge payments on your 2023-24 pledge are due by 7/15/24. Any payments made past 7/15 will be applied to the new pledge year unless otherwise indicated

• Please be aware that the deadline for weekly univoice submissions in Weds at noon. Anything submitted after this time will be added to the following weeks newsletter.

Save the date for the following events:

• Sunday, July 21st, Reading Pridefest
• Sunday, August 25th: Church Picnic in the Park
• Sunday October 6th –  Solar Panel Dedication Ceremony (details to follow)

July 21st, 2024
Jim Dietrich Park
11:00-6:00 pm

We need volunteers to help staff the UU Berks table. Please sign up here

John Lewis National Day of Commemoration and Action

Weds July 17th , 7-8pm
South 5th Street & Penn Street

July 17, 2024 marks the 4th anniversary of the death of the Late Congressman John Lewis! On that day, we will come together in events across the country to commemorate his death and more importantly his life work to secure voting rights for all people.

Find more info here https://www.mobilize.us/john-lewis-actions/event/636559/

Splinters From the Board Meeting:

Rev John joined the meeting, we talked about ministry start up and installation

Discussion of upcoming board retreat agenda

Refocusing on shared governance, acting with intention in partnership with M&O

Join us for our annual summer celebration of fun connection and great food! We’ll celebrate new beginnings by welcoming our new settled minister and his spouse, Rev. John and Jess Cullinan! We’ll have a guest speaker on Unions (with Labor Day approaching) and enjoy the Summer RE Kids’ Readers production. Then… we’ll feast at our fantastic, delicious potluck!

We will hold service at the Farming Ridge Park in Exeter at 10:30 am with the picnic to follow.

Mike Mannix, Board President On May 19th there was a congregational meeting.  Amber Brown and Michael Mannix were voted into second terms on the Board of Directors.  Steph Elliot was voted to serve on the Ministry and Operations Team.  A budget for the 2024-25 church year was approved by the congregation.  It is a noteworthy budget because the expected church income is more than $40,000 dollars short of the expected church expenses.  Money from the employee retention tax credit and some other reserves will allow the church to operate very close to normal in the upcoming church year despite the shortfall.  Some program cuts were made to reduce the deficit as much as possible.  No cuts were made to staff hours or church operations.

Avoiding a deficit in the 2025-26 church year (next year) is a main focus of the board this year.  Our next church budget must be balanced.  In pursuit of that goal, we plan to create a target budget for 2025-26 very early in this church year.  The target budget will allow the pledge drive to set goals. You can expect the pledge drive to start earlier in the church year than it usually does.  A stewardship committee will be formed soon that will function through the entire year to support the pledge drive, the service auction, and other sorts of donations.

Of course the successful vote for our new settled Minister, Rev. John Cullinan, is the latest big news.  Rev. John officially becomes our minister on August 1st, but don’t expect too much visibility from Rev. John until September as he and his wife Jess will need to settle into Reading following their move from Los Alamos, New Mexico.  Behind the scenes, Rev. John is already engaging with the board and staff on some issues that pertain to this Fall.

Come September when we begin the church year in earnest, I expect excitement and good energy – solar energy to be specific!  The Solar Panel Project is just about 100% complete and we are using solar energy for electricity in our building. Excess energy is going back into the grid and will benefit the church financially.  The dedication of the solar panels that was mentioned at the May Congregational Meeting has been set for Sunday, October 6th!

We’re looking at planning our next camping overnight! Did you attend part of all of April’s event? Are you interested in attending a future camping time? We want to hear from you – please fill out: uuberks.org/camp_ask

Sunday Mornings for Kids 18 and under, June 30 – Sept 1 from 9:30 – 10:15 in UU Berks Rehearsal Space(s)

The stage will be yours! Dazzle us with your unique light!

Share your interest and intended days we’ll see you at www.uuberks.org/theater

We need you and your gifts to make next year’s RE program all it can be! How will you help our RE Children and Teens Grow this coming year? Share your level of interest with us so we know what we can plant in our learning garden and who will be tending it
 www.uuberks.org/interest

The UU recorder ensemble ( 3-10 players) is enjoying playing many different types of music, focusing primarily on renaissance and baroque music, but including early classical, folk, and even some modern tunes!  We play soprano, alto, tenor, and bass recorders, but recorders come in many more sizes!

Summer Schedule: from 11:45 – 12:45 ON:

July 14 and 28

August 11 and 25

  Please contact Tracy Blunt with any questions at: tracylblunt@comcast.net. 

All ages between 10 and 110 are welcome.

FUUBC is part of the Giant charitable grocery scrip program that gives 10% of all gift cards sold back to our church. You can purchase cards as needed or sign up for a monthly gift card order that will be sent directly to your home the first week of each month.

When you receive your order you will also receive a return envelope to mail your check to the church. Checks can also be dropped in the Gerber room drop box or in the plate collection. Checks should be made out to FUUBC with giant card in the memo line.

If you would like to purchase Giant cards please return the form below to Melissa at office@uuberks.org. One time cards can also be purchased from Melissa at coffee hour twice a month.

Giant cards are available in $50 and $100 increments.

Giant Card Form

From the desk of your director of religious education, Ebee Bromley

What we offer at UUBerks doesn’t get created without each and every one of you.  So this summer we’re highlighting reflections from our community members about what it means to them to co-create our community.

When it comes to learning and exploring our spiritual world together, Where might your heart reside?  Let’s have a conversation  https://uuberks.org/interest

First up, long time member, Liz Eshelman reflects on what it has meant to her to spend time with our lower elementary schoolers this past year:

Liz shares: I’ve recently had the privilege of participating in RE with the lower elementary class. Our UU Berks children are a delight and very smart. Their infectious energy and their exceptionally open minded, warm-hearted worldview and their sparkling sense of humor are much needed by all of us now.

Decades ago I taught the preschool class every week. There were nice little lessons from the UUA that lasted 15 minutes (if that!) and I needed to supplement with picture books and extra projects and my own craft supplies.

The contrast with 2024 RE is incredible! The new Unitarian Universalist curricula options are excellent! The themed lessons are very clear and detailed and meaningful and offer a wide variety of possibilities for discussion, stories, songs, crafts and activities that could fit any teacher’s comfort level or number of children or age range.

Ebee and Erin and the devoted RE Executive Team have gathered the supplies and provide helpful guidance. Each class has a leader and an assistant. I treasure the new young friends I’ve made. We all volunteer once or twice a month.

I’m very thankful that Ebee invited me to participate and I invite everyone in the congregation—from 18 to 98—to consider becoming a leader or a helper. Spending time with our children at UUBerks is a happy experience for adults of all ages. Thank you.

by nadine j. smet-weiss
spiritual director

this season
allow some space
in your days
moments of
presence
to witness
the beauty
of this world
take it in
then let it shine
through you