Join Daniel Matz this morning for a service filled with music meditation and stories. Daniel will share more of his experiences in the hospital and his thoughts on the metaphysical. He will lead us in meditation with improvised music with the goal to reduce our collective anxiety. Come on out to a stress free church service filled with music and stories.

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 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

• Find it at your local library! 

• Hear it read online! 

This Weekend:
SUNDAY

9:30 AM : Adult RE 

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

• Faith Formation in July: We explore the topic chosen by the group “Declining Biodiversity”!  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 story: Calabash of Poi, costume creation! 

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

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

Register for 2024-2025 learning year: each year we need a new registration – fill yours out today www.uuberks.org/registration

Caregivers/Parents Night out: Friday August 9th, from 5:30-8.  Sign up here www.uuberks.org/Night_Out  

Camp Weekend: Friday August 30th & 31st, at Daniel Boone Homestead – Sign up here www.uuberks.org/camp 

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

Save the date for the following events:

• Aug 18      Considering Membership class (email g.membership@uuberks.org if you’d like to explore becoming a voting member of the church)
• Sept 8        Religious Education launch
• Sept 15      New Member Ceremony
• Sept 28-29 UU Climate Justice Revival
• Oct 6          Solar Panel Dedication

Another successful Pride Festival. The weather was great for July and everyone had a good time. I hope you’ll join us next year! 

You can find photos from the event here. You’re welcome to download, print, and share them.

Are you new to the church or have you been attending and thinking about joining our community? Then come to our considering membership class on August 18 at 11: am in the meeting room in the back of the chalice house. Come hear stories from other members about how UU Berks membership enhances their lives. Contact  g.membership@uuberks.org for more info.

Kick off Labor Day weekend with UUBerks Camping trip to Daniel Boone Homestead
August 30th and 31st.
visit www.uuberks.org/camp to sign up and for more details
Let us know that you’re looking forward to it

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.

Enjoy some summertime without the kids!  Friday August 9th.  Drop your kid(s) off with us at 5:30 pm and pickup at 8:30.

Go enjoy a dinner, or see a movie, we’ve got you.

Kids and teens will share dinner together from 5:30-6:15 then have options:

– option 1: craft and play together, getting ready for their Reader’s theater production with Jayné & Ebee

– option 2: quiet board game(s)

– option 3: seasonal movie

suggested donation to the church $20 per child/$30 two children/$40 three children register here:

uuberks.org/Night_Out

After a democratic process involving thousands of Unitarian Universalists discussing the faith’s values and core theology for more than three years, delegates at General Assembly 2024 voted decisively to approve changes to Article II of their bylaws.

“This is a historic moment for Unitarian Universalism, as we move our living tradition forward to focus on shared values that will help promote liberation, radical inclusion, and communal care both within our church and across society,” said UUA President Rev. Dr. Sofía Betancourt.

“Section C-2.2. Values and Covenant.
As Unitarian Universalists, we covenant, congregation-to-congregation and through our Association, to support and assist one another in our ministries. We draw from our heritages of freedom, reason, hope, and courage, building on the foundation of love.

Love is the power that holds us together and is at the center of our shared values. We are accountable to one another for doing the work of living our shared values through the spiritual discipline of Love. Inseparable from one another, these shared values are:”

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

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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