January RE Reflection
Christine Pensa
| |
"Life becomes religious whenever we make it so: when some new light is seen, when some deeper appreciation is felt, when some larger outlook is gained, when some nobler purpose is formed, when some task is well done." [Sophia Lyon Fahs] .
|
Open Issues
Sunday, Jan 29 2012 |
 Occupy Tampa & St. Pete
What we do and why.
Ashley Perry and Trystan Lear, and others, of Occupy Tampa and Occupy St.Pete will tell us what they do, why they do it, and what the future holds. |
Religious Education Happenings |
 "I have a dream...." Those words of the famous speech made by Martin Luther King, Jr. even the smallest child may know. This Social Justice Sunday will focus on our dreams and aspirations that help make the world a better place. What are your dreams? What can you do to make a difference in your own life and community? Please join us as we decorate T-shirts and pillowcases to remind us to dream big! You can make a difference! Volunteers needed.
Our High School Youth Group meets after the worship service from 12-1pm.
Please join us! We can't wait for Sunday! |
|
|
Amidst the turmoil and grief of losing Lalitha's father last week, Rev. Abhi became a citizen of the United States. Click here to see a couple of photos of Abhi as he became citizen. Lalitha became a citizen before the new year. |
Consecration Sunday is Coming | |
Sunday, Feb 5th
The Unitarian Universalists of Clearwater (UUC) approaches financial stewardship from a heart- and spirit-centered perspective. This means we do not view the money given to UUC merely as a way to pay our bills. Rather, we see financial contributions as a way to nurture spirits and help heal our world by supporting our congregation's mission and ministry with a percentage of the givers' incomes.
|
|
|
Reverend Lynn Acquafondata will present her paper on emotional systems of religious congregations at the UUC Board Retreat, 10:15 to 11 a.m., Saturday, January 28th, in the Social Hall. Her research included UUC and other area congregations. She met several times with both long term UUC members and newer members for the paper. She heard from young and old alike about UUC and its history and lore. Members and friends are invited to attend this special portion of the Board Retreat. |
Environmental Justice/Green Team Happenings | |
Reminder to those who have borrowed films from the Green Team film library - please return the films to the Social Justice table on Sunday.
We will be starting a new fund raising activity. We are taking orders for "Bunch Bags" after the service. These are eco-friendly net bags for the grocery, or the farmer's market, as an alternative to plastic bags. Samples and brochures will be available, three for $6.50. UUC will receive $3 from each sale. We will be selling them on Jan. 29th and February 5th. They make great gifts for eco-conscious friends, family and fruit and veggie lovers. The vegetable garden did not do well through a couple of cold nights. We will be planting again on February 4th. All are invited to bring seedlings of their favorite fruits, vegetables or flowers to plant on that date. Pinellas County Extension in cooperation with the Pinellas Library System is presenting one hour classes on the use of the Kill-A-Watt. This is a device that one can borrow to measure the energy use of home appliances. Click here for the schedule. They will be at the Gulfport library this Saturday, the 28th, from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. |
|
|
 Friday, January 27th, we begin discussing Reading Obama: Dreams, Hopes, and the American Political Tradition, by James T. Kloppenberg. Reading Obama is the first book to try to tease out a coherent political philosophy from the president. Kloppenberg, a prominent intellectual historian at Harvard, does this not by analyzing Obama's pre-presidential record, nor his campaign rhetoric, nor his policies but-like a senior professor sizing up a tenure aspirant-by reviewing Obama's published dossier. Before attending the January 27th session, please read the Introduction and Chapter 1 of Reading Obama - to page 84. |
UU Theism Study Group
Tuesday, January 31 |
 The first UU Theism Study Group meeting, for 2012, is scheduled for Tuesday, January 31. Join us, from 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm, in the Library. ALL are welcome. We are a small group of free-thinking friends and welcome both UUC members and friends. This week's discussion: "Exploring God's Role in Our Daily Lives." |
An Evening with the Author
Dr. Roy Kaplan
Wed., Feb 1, 7 p.m.
in the Patio Room |
 | | Dr. Roy Kaplan |
H. Roy Kaplan received his Doctor of Philosophy degree in Sociology from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst in 1971. He was on the faculty of the Dept. of Africana Studies at USF and is the author of five books, most recently, The Myth of Post-Racial America: The Search for Equality in the Age of Materialism (Rowman and Littlefield, Education, 2011).
|
Animal Liberation Movement Overview |
 Wednesday February 1 & 8;
7-9 PM at UUC; Free Tom Bird, Ph.D. leads a dialogue on social, ethical and scientific movements promoting the legal rights of animals, and by extension, animal liberation. Dr. Bird has been actively involved in the animal liberation movement for the past two decades. Early in his career he was an Assistant Professor of Humanities at Mercer University-Atlanta; some years later he was a personnel trainer for the Georgia Dept. of Transportation; before retiring three years ago, he was a librarian for twenty years with the Hillsborough County Public Library system. To Register |
UU 101
Sunday, Feb 5, 1 p.m., in the Anastasia Maxwell Library
This is an opportunity for guests to learn more about Unitarian Universalist history and beliefs. It is free and lunch is provided. This session is offered by Rev. Abhi and the Welcoming Committee. Please register online or e-mail Cindi, or you can call 727-943-9661. |
|
|
|
IT DOESN'T TAKE A VILLAGE to serve coffee on Sunday morning.
Just four willing hands! Please call Jane 733-8977 if you are available,
or sign up on the pad by the kitchen. You'll have a good time!
|
God & Mankind: Comparative Religions
Four Mondays: January 30, February 6, 13 and 20
Time: 7-9 PM in the Maxwell Library |
 Each week we will hear lectures by Dr. Robert Oden, a noted scholar of religion. Oden's talks are thematic, covering such subjects as the issue of suffering, religious heroes and teachers, and the structures of religious expression. Throughout the seminar, we will be considering and discussing various religious responses to basic questions of life, such as: Why do we exist? What is our purpose(s) in life? How do we deal with the issue of death? How do we deal with spiritual challenges in life? Will we ever discover the source of the mystery? The lectures are intended to serve as a basis for discussion about our questions, experiences and thoughts about the meaning of religion in our own lives. Register Here |
|
|
A few years ago, we had a member who was quite elderly and in fragile health. The Chair of the Cares & Concerns Committee learned this man did not answer his door, newspapers remained outside, and calls went unanswered for days. The police were called to do a "well check," and we found he had passed away. Fortunately, the minister did know how to reach the next of kin; but this is not always the case.
Sometimes a member living alone seems to be among the missing for a totally unknown reason, yet it may not be a cause for alarm. If we had the name of a close relative or close friend to ask, it would help us determine if there is cause for concern.
Even if you don't live alone presently, things can change over time. Please take a few moments to provide a contact name of a close relative, and/or anyone else who does not live with you, so that we can put it in our church database. It will help us to help you at times when the unexpected happens. Please respond to:
Jackie Brown, Chair of Cares & Concerns Committee, e-mail or call (727) 772-6764. Provide your name and the name of someone who is most likely to know what is going on in your life on a regular basis (besides your current spouse or mate), and the name of a family member to reach in case of emergency. |
|
|
Big Thanks for Khasi Hills Luncheon
Many, many thanks to all who made the luncheon to benefit the Margaret Barr Memorial School in the Khasi Hills of India such a success. $502.00 will be added to the school account. A special note of appreciation to Lisa Baird, new Leader of the Khasi Hills Project, Kathy Krohn, Chris Pensa and all the R/E children and staff who did such a great job planning and serving, etc. Thanks also to Allison Snell and Marlene Calderone from the Social Justice Council for their assistance. Remember to renew or initiate your sponsorship by signing up at the Social Justice table on Sundays. Just $50 sponsors a child for an entire year providing supplies, lunch, paying teacher's salaries, etc. Donations, in lieu of sponsoring, are much appreciated. The deadline is Feb 28th.
Speak Up for Economic Justice
Join Occupy St. Pete and members from the UUC in a demonstration at Chase Bank at the corner of East Bay and Belcher Road on January 28th between 10 AM and 12PM. For more information contact Carl Hansen.
Rice & Beans
Maralyn Toman Rice and Beans Collection for the farmworkers in Plant City. Drop off bags of rice and dry beans in the Lobby of the Octagon until January 30th.
Cash donations are also gratefully accepted at the Social Justice table.
UUSC Guest at Your Table (GAYT) boxes.
Remember to "feed" your Guest at Your Table boxes. Also, complete the side of the box and enclose your check to join UUSC and support their many projects. The deadline to turn in your box is February 28th.
Please Note
Nomination forms for Share the Plate are in the UUC office, online at the UUC website and at the Social Justice Council table on Sundays. We encourage you to recommend a worthy non-profit organization as a potential Share the Plate beneficiary. |
|
Eugene Schwartz to speak
Eugene Schwartz, a brilliant educator with a profound knowledge of child development, will speak on "Cultivating Emoltional Intelligence Through Education of the Heart,"
Thursday, January 26th at 7 PM at Suncoast Waldorf School in Palm Harbor (1857 Curlew Road) It's a talk aimed at every parent and educator. Mr. Schwartz is author of Millennial Child, a book that has been translated into German, Hungarian, Czech, Russian, Spanish, Portuguese and Italian. Click here for more information. | |
|
|
|
 The brand new Community Learning Center at Spirit of Life UU, at 18412 Burrell Road in Odessa, offers a diverse offering of programs ranging from digital photography to meditation and healing, paper making, gardening, birding, yoga and more.
Classes will run January through June 2012. The current Winter 2012 CLC Catalog is available online here, at the Austin Davis Public Library, or by calling 813-792-1622. Link for more information |
|
|
Travel with Unitarians to experience our historic roots and explore this fascinating part of Europe - Transylvania and Hungary, June 4-18, 2012
Click here for more informatinon.
|
PUBLICATION DEADLINES OCTAGRAM - WEEKLY EVERY THURSDAY The Octagram is intended to focus on activities taking place at UUC or those of interest to UUC members and friends. Send items in brief with a link to more information to Octagram. PLEASE DO NOT SEND INFORMATION FORMATTED OR IN A FLIER. Provide text in an email or as an attached Word file with any pictures/graphics attached to the email. Deadline is 10 a.m. every Wednesday. Prepared by Jeff Anderson, assisted by Leslie Conrad.
This weeks edition made more fun to produce by the wholly remarkable Google Sphere image search tool, it is way cool. Also by a four Disc set of Elvis Presley Live in Las Vegas. Some really great tracks there including two full shows one from August of 1969 and one from August of 1970. My good friend, and member of UUC, Delaney Rose is undergoing knee surgery next week, so please send some positive energy her way. Girlfriend has been home sick most of the week, but is now on the mend. And the Republican Circus has come to town. I don't care what the polls say I will always find it hard to take Newt Gingrich seriously. I look at him and I wonder "Could his parents really be proud of him?" Until next time be cool and keep the Janamanchi's in mind during their trip home to India.
ORDER OF SERVICE/ANNOUNCEMENTS - WEEKLY EVERY SUNDAY SERVICE:
Deadline is 6 p.m. every Wednesday. Send appropriate items to Order of Service/Announcements. Prepared by Pat St. Clair.
ITEMS RECEIVED AFTER THE DEADLINES WILL BE INCLUDED IN THE FOLLOWING PUBLICATION, IF APPLICABLE.
Octagram headline artwork of the UUC courtyard pond by Lynette Wood. |
|
|
|
Sunday, Jan 29 2012
10:30 a.m.
Rev. Meg Riley
The Prophetic Church in the 21st Century |
 | | Rev. Meg Riley |
Worship Associate
 | | Megan Szczepanik |
Music  | | Linda Jones Piano |
 | | Dr. David Katz and the UUC Chorale |
About Sunday's Service
|
We live in extraordinary times. In the US and around the world, political and economic systems are rising and falling. Hurricanes and earthquakes, tsunamis and droughts abound. In the midst of all this, we gather in congregations to make meaning and find hope. What does it mean to be prophetic in these times? In times of upheaval, how do we align ourselves with life and love, justice and freedom? Who are we called to be? Meg offers no definitive, strategic plan of action we must take, but an opportunity to reflect and deepen together. |
Rev. Meg Riley is the senior minister of the Church of the Larger Fellowship (CLF). CLF is the largest congregation in the Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations whose members live all over the world. Its mission is to provide a ministry to isolated religious liberals, and to offer a spiritual home within the Unitarian Universalist movement. The CLF provides an outreach ministry, which includes the Church of the Younger Fellowship (a ministry for young adults), the CLF's Military Ministry, and a Prison Ministry. The CLF also provides email list communities, discussions, and web-based education materials. | |
|
|
|
| |
God & Mankind: Comparitive Religions
Monday, Jan 30, 7 p.m.
Contact: Sharon Laplume, 727-674-5126 or Sharon.
Clearwater Zen Center Open House
Saturday, February 4
10:00 am - 12:00 pm
Consecration Sunday
Sunday, Feb 5
Contact: Mark Kanuck, 727-796-4585 or Mark or Sue Boone, 727-531-5236 or Sue.
Parents Night Out
Friday, Feb 10, 6 p.m.
Contact: Christine Pensa, 442-3028 or 644-1313 or Christine.
Pancake Breakfast - Bring A Friend Sunday & New Member Recognition Sunday, Feb 12, 9 a.m.
Festival Ruah - February 17 Standing On the Side of Love Friday, Feb 17, 7 p.m. RE Chili Cook Off Sunday, Feb 18, 12:30 p.m. Contact: Christine Pensa, 442-3028 or 644-1313 or Christine.
UUC Outdoor Spruce Up Party Saturday, February 25 9 am - 12 pm
Arizona is Our Town (A Skit) UU West Central Cluster Meeting(Octagon) Saturday, March 3 10:00 am.
Florida District Annual Assembly March 23-25, 2012 UU Church of Jacksonville Congregational Retreat April 20-22 Contact: Sheila Knaust, 727-735-8460 or Sheila. |
|
