“Between the head and the feet of any given person there are a billion miles of unexplored wilderness.”
Gabrielle Roth
Our bodies carry us through this life. No matter the situation, body is here with us. Our bodies also have things to tell us. But that invitation to an inner relationship with body can sometimes feel like unexplored wilderness, and certainly vulnerable. This morning we will inquire what it means to inhabit a body, and safely invite body to be known, cherished and celebrated, whatever our historical relationships have been with it.
: Before service Sunday, July 23rd, 9:45-10:15AM: Please join guest speaker Michele Nierle to connect with and nurture your body. Various and accessible options will be offered as well as movement with music. All bodies welcome!
Michele Nierle Bio: Michele Nierle (she/her) is a human re-learning what it means to live in a body. She practices and teaches trauma-informed yoga, movement, and nervous system strategies, currently at Berks Counseling Center, where she is a Health Coach. Her deep desire is to help herself and others connect with their bodies as a radical act of personal, societal, and environmental healing.
After ten years of calling Virginia ‘home’, Michele is happy to be living back in Berks County again. She is married to Luke, and they love being dog-parents to Peanut and Leroy.
Take action to protect yourself from Covid-19 based on local risk conditions.
Feel free to wear a mask anytime.
FUUBC encourages all those who can be vaccinated to be vaccinated, including boosters, as appropriate.
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 enjoy the gathering music, and,
for those on zoom, to establish a connection before worship is scheduled
begins. Zoom participant mics are muted throughout the service.
This Weekend:
Tonight’s Story of Croissants & Donuts by Dr Tuli Patel, Executive Director at Beacon UU Congregation in Summit, NJ.
Wisdom from the Youth Group in Summit, NJ. As shared by Dr Tuli Patel.
SUNDAY
9:45 AM : Adult RE
In Person: Gerber Room (Social Hall). (Teens welcome with accompanying parent/guardian)
Faith Formation – 4th Sunday in July: Before service please join our guest speaker, Michele Nierle, to connect with and nurture your body. Various and accessible options will be offered as well as movement with music. All bodies welcome!
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 – or for this Sunday – our dance floor
Onsite Only
9:45 AM: Children’s RE: Theatre Camp Summer!
Elementary Ages: Onsite/Online, email Erin Connolly by Saturday noon if you’ll be attending online
On site: Chalice House *airconditioned* 2nd floor * teens may help, let us know you’ll be coming
Children’s RE – Summer Theater Camp series! We play games, create costumes and have fun.
10:30- Worship Service- All Ages
What does it mean to live in the body you live in?
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
Many of our long time members may remember Nelson and his wife Caroline Simonson as pillars of our church community. Now it is time for our church community to rise up for Nelson. We will be hosting a memorial service on August 5th and we are asking for volunteers to help.
We are in need of
1-2 volunteers to help in the parking garage from to instruct guests in how to use the parking app or direct them to the parking kiosk.
a few greeters/ushers for the service. The time would be approx 1:30 2:30 pm
kitchen help
Following service at 3pm the family will hold an ice cream social and we would love to have a few people to help with serving ice cream and coffee. The ice cream social will last approximately and hour and we will also need help to clean up quickly afterwards
In Response to the Stripping of Funds for the Reading LGBT Center
Libraries, hospitals, museums and parks speak to what the community holds dear. In the last few decades, as legislators battle out what is a civil right and what is private interest many community organizations are being targeted. Around the country as women’s rights are challenged, clinics shut down.
Now in Reading, funding for the LGBTQ Resource Center has been stripped that was slated to help with transitional housing for homeless queer young people. We are a church and not a political organization. The intersection is that laws and elections of legislators are both based on values, and so is a faithful, religious life.
As people of faith who care for the sick, the poor, the oppressed and downtrodden, both inside of our membership and beyond those ties, we are called to be that beacon of hope for people who suffer. In this current and historical political climate, people who are not heterosexual are oppressed; LGBTQ centers help to build resistance in people who live in these oppressive times. Therefore, it is always in our capacity to support anti-oppression organizations. This is why we care.
For our own center to be facing this kind of backlash should matter to each of us. If other community agencies that fight oppression were being treated this way the greater population would fight hard; imagine closing down a library because it held too many non-heterosexually themed books. Imagine the outrage that would happen if the downtown bus station got shut down because it helped too many homeless people stay warm. Agencies that provide resources, relief, and resiliency to groups of people who are oppressed by governments seeking to retract and restrict civil rights need community support. The LGBTQ Center needs our support.
Call your representative, talk about it to raise awareness for everybody that this funding withdrawal has been done. Remember that our faith calls us to be that beacon of hope.
In Peace and Love,
Rev. Amy
Welcome to our new Search Committee Corner where you can find the latest updates on our search for our next settled Minister.
A big thank you to church members Lauren F., Pat U., Carla M., Randy N., Jim B. and Nadine S. for forming our search committee.
Watch your email for a congregational survey from your search committee coming soon. Your answers will help us determine the needs of our community when it comes to finding a minister that will be a perfect long term fit for UU Berks.
Adanjesus Marin, a lifelong activist, was the lead organizer for Make The Road in Reading. He worked closely with our congregation when we were supporting MTR on a variety of issues ranging from a municipal ID and driver’s licenses for people without papers to the initial organizing efforts at closing the detention center. He was a frequent speaker at our anti-racism trainings and workshops. He accompanied Tonya Wenger and me to the General Assembly in 2018 in Kansas City to speak on a panel about the importance of white allies following the leadership of people of color on issues that involved their communities.
He is suffering from terminal cancer with a prognosis of less than a year. The American “safety net” is failing him, as it has so many others. He had to struggle to get food stamps because they said he “couldn’t survive on what money he had.” He finally won that. But Social Security Disability is still delaying opening his case on various pretexts. The latest demands for him to resubmit his paperwork included a deadline on the same date as the postmark of the letter, and then another one that his doctors resubmit their paperwork because “their signatures were illegible.”
In the meantime, he can’t make his rent for July as he has no income and it will be months before SSDI comes through when his case is finally opened. He has asked for two things: one, that if he touched you or improved your life in some way, that you let him know, and two, that if you can, that you help him financially in whatever amount that you can.
The church will also collect donations that will be and mailed to Adenjesus. If you would like to donate by cash or check please make checks out to FUUBC with Adanjesus in the memo line or drop cash in a envelope marked for Adanjesus in the collection plate or the donation box in the Gerber room.
You can find him on facebook, or contact me at paturli50@gmail.com for well wishes. Please consider both of his requests: Adan was an important part of our community while he was working in Reading. While individually perhaps we cannot give much, what we give together can make a substantial difference for him.
This year’s Pride Festival was another success. There was some rain in the early afternoon, but the skies cleared up later in the day. If you were unable to attend, 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.
Mike and I have been members since 2004. As we prepare to go to General Assembly for the first time, we are learning about our extended UUA family. Here are some nuggets of knowledge that Randy and Carol opened our eyes to: First UU is in the Central East Region (CER) and our primary contact is Lenore Bajare-Dukes (she/her).Sign up for their Opportunities for Connection monthly newsletter to learn about events and programs on https://www.uua.org/central-east/blog
UU JusticePA is our legislative lobbying group that fights for policies and structural change. Sign up for one of their Justice Teams and talk to Carol Orts about their monthly calls that empower you to make a lasting impact. https://uujusticepa.org/justice-teams/
The 8th Principle Learning Community is a Facebookgroup of committed folks across the country who continue to learn how to accountably dismantle systems of oppression. Ask Pat and Maggie about how it has fed their spiritual growth.
Finally, we have our own internal community bulletin board. If you’d like to share some news with fellow congregants about something fun, curious, for sale, or for discussion, you can send an email to g.friends.of@uuberks.organd receive a daily digest only when someone posts a message. Join our First UU Berks internal listserve by emailing a request to admin@uuberks.org.
Once you’re connected with one of these groups, please share your insight and involvement with our First UU Social Justice Coordinating Team at g.social.justice@uuberks.org. We’ll connect you with others of similar interests!
Greeter Volunteers Needed
I hope this mid spring beautiful weather is finding you all well!!
As we are all seeing new growth in nature in this season- I find that being of service is also a path to growth for us humans 🙂 We currently have a dedicated list of volunteers which is very much appreciated but as summer gets closer- I realize there are other adventures we will be heading out to do so there are currently a lot of open spots for the upcoming Sundays. This is a wonderful way to connect with the rest of the community, get to know more about our amazing church and as an added bonus- gets you to church when sometimes you may not feel like getting out of your pajamas and hear the priceless messages in each of the services.
With this said- we need your help!! If you are available or want to know more about being a greeter -please reach out to me by phone, text or email
The Helping Harvest Food Bank is held at our church on the 3rd Saturday of each month. To prepare, we need to set up a “store” in the Gerber Room with tables and shelves starting around 8:30 AM. We will receive a delivery truck from Helping Harvest around 9:30 AM, which contains hundreds of pounds of food that must be carried in from the street. We will unbox all of the items and place them on the tables and shelves in our store. Once the store is ready, we will guide families through it, one or two at a time, and assist them in selecting items that they can take home for free. Afterwards, we will break down all of the boxes and put away the tables and shelves.
We require many volunteers to ensure that everything runs smoothly. Currently, we are in need of more help. Would you be able to spare a few hours on Saturday morning to assist us? Typically, things are slow until the delivery truck arrives, so we could use more help with unloading, managing the different food areas in the “store” and cleaning up afterwards. Last month we were done before 12 noon. If you have any questions, please contact Frank W.
Mark your calendars now for the End of Summer Picnic on Sunday, August 27th at 12pm at Farming Ridge Park in Exeter. The picnic will begin after the worship service and there will be a basket raffle during the picnic. We will be sharing more information in the Univoice later this summer. We will need help organizing and running the picnic. I am hoping that Rev. Amy will lead us in an old-time worship service before the picnic that lasts 3-4 hours like our church used to have 100 years ago. As one of the co-chairs of the Picnic Committee, I decree that all the picnic volunteers will be officially excused so as to be able to help with the picnic.
Contact Frank W. if you are able to help or have questions/suggestions.
Have you seen our amazing congregation handprint canvas in the Gerber room? Now you can get it on a T-shirt for $20! You can pre-order a shirt for yourself now through May 21st on the order form in the Gerber room- find the shirt and you’ll find the form. Ask an RE volunteer for assistance.
Do you have our latest Church Directory?
If you are in need of a church directory, please email Melissa at office@uuberks.org for a PDF copy or a hard copy to be mailed to you.
The Eighth Principle Committee invites you to read What Does It Mean to Be White? Developing White Racial Literacy by Robin DiAngelo and then share your reactions to this important work in conversations with others, starting in July. This is an opportunity to build community by telling stories and grappling with societal oppression. We have a limited number of copies available for $12. Please contact Be Y. to get your book. We look forward to lively discussions this summer.
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.
In July and August, the Soul Matters group encourages us choose our own theme,
or even forego the thematic schedule. We decided to have a summer theme, for
July and August—Our Stories. Even as we welcome guests to the pulpit, stories
will abound. The act of coming together to hear the goings-on of other people,
other places, is a big part of human civilization. Our religions, too. How else do
we find out about the world unless diverse people share their stories?
In July and August, invite and bring friends. Most people who have had it in their
minds to find a church community for themselves or their kids “church shop” over
the summer. There was a time when “polite conversation” stayed away from
politics and religion, so it would seem awkward to push our religion on somebody
else. But it is no longer the 1950’s with those standards of etiquette. With religion
and politics being forefront in so many decisions effecting American families
today, UU Berks is the sanctuary for many people and their families that they do
not know exists.
This summer let your story include that time you were an evangelist and welcomed
that co-worker to UU Berks, or brought the neighbor, or drove your kid’s bestie to
church after a summer backyard campout. Create the church community you wish
to attend.
And, just because summer makes me think of all the prizes we got for attending
Vacation Bible School when I was a kid, there is now a prize closet for July and
August! But you must listen and be able to answer the questions! Come and
renew your faith by sharing it with others!
In peace and love
Rev. Amy
Exploring and Imagining at General Assembly
Here’s one one snapshot from General Assembly. In the pic, A young child participates in a General Assembly exhibition hall interactive display of the core values proposal. The picture here was shared with permission from our young UU’s mom.
This past week at General Assembly, thousands of UU’s from across the globe and many ages gathered to worship. We gathered to wonder. We gathered to explore what we as Unitarian Universalists believe. One way we did this was to vote on the process of updating what’s in Article two of the UUA’s bylaws to continue. Article two is the section that holds what have been called our principles and sources, although, they’ve had a few different names through the years since the Unitarians and Universalists merged into one faith in 1961.
We as members and friends of all ages at the First Unitarian Universalist Church of Berks County will have opportunities throughout our year together to explore what we as UUs believe here and now and how we articulate that to serve us for the next fifteen years or so. I’m excited to be on this journey of exploration and imagination with all at UUBerks.
Yours in faith and learning,
Ebee Bromley
Director of Religious Education
faithfully becoming
by nadine j. smet-weiss
spiritual director
how
are
we
faithfully
together
becoming
more
welcoming
more
diverse
more
equitable
more
accessible
more
inclusive
faithfully
together
