February 23, 2012 edition |
February Religious Education Report
Christine Pensa
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"Love is not taught by language, but by working and living and striving together; when purposes join, and people open themselves to each other." {Raymond John Baughan, Universalist minister} On Sunday we love each other and come together to worship, learn, socialize, give and receive support and play.
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Welcome to our newest members!
 This month we welcomed new members to the church. Follow the link below to learn more about them.
Click here | |
Open Issues
Sunday, Feb 26 2012 | |
Linda Paey
Pain Treatment in Florida in 2012.
 A Florida law took effect in 2011 to limit the ability of doctors and clinics to sell painkillers. It also established a database to help pharmacists identify "doctor shoppers" and "pill mills." But it has unintended consequences. Linda knows because she is the caregiver for her husband, Richard Paey, the pain patient sentenced to 25 years in the FL prison system for using "too much" medication. He served 3.5 years before being pardoned. The "open issue" here is balance. How much addiction does the law block vs. How much pain does it cause? Do we really know?
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Religious Education Happenings |
Please join us for an engaging Social Justice Sunday. Our High School Youth Group, Fred Johnson and friends will present an inspiring and moving Sunday service about the Freedom Riders and the struggle to enforce the Supreme Court decision desegregating interstate travel. While our older children and Middle Schoolers will attend the entire worship service, our younger children will have fun learning about differences and equality .
We can't wait for Sunday!
Volunteers are always welcomed and encouraged.
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Tickets for this year's Emerald Auction, to be  held on March 17, are now available at the UUC office during normal office hours Tues-Fri, 9 a.m. - noon, and after Sunday service.
Tickets are $25 each, or two for $35. Hurry, the $35 special offer ends March 11. (Children under 12 are no charge).
"Thank you for helping us meet our event's goal of $25,000."
And just for the fun of it click here if you dare!
 Donations Needed
The auction committee requests your help with donations. What is an activity that you really enjoy and that you pay good money for? Eating out at a nice restaurant, weekend stays at a resort hotel, a great bottle of wine - whatever you like others may like, as well. Please contact your favorite places and simply ask them to support our efforts. Part of this year's auction proceeds will go to the Student Veterans Association at St. Petersburg College. For donation forms and more information, contact John and Sandy Hoover, donation coordinators, via e-mail or 727-398-9639. |
Art Show Reception
February 25
7:00 - 9:00 pm
Octagon Arts Center |
 Nature's Imprints: Fins, Flowers, Feathers. By Ann Warren and Deborah Farley. Oils, Pastels, Watercolors, Solar Etchings, Seaweed Collages, Nature Prints, and Fish Prints.
Show runs through April 4.
Gallery Hours: 9:00am-12:00 noon Tuesday-Friday; 9:30-10:30 am and 12:00 noon-1:00 pm Sunday. |
Spruce up the UUC Grounds
Saturday, Feb. 25
9 am - 12 pm |
 The weather should be perfect this Saturday, February 25th from 9am-noon, so join us for an enjoyable day getting to know other UUs while sprucing up our beautiful campus. Choose your favorite activity - raking, edging, Pea Patch garden planting, painting a portion of island curbs, staining two benches, or painting two benches. Free pizza lunch to follow! |
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Thanks so much for a great First Annual Chili Cook Off! There were 16 spectacular chilies offered! While the voting was close for all, these were the winners: Melanie Martin, Best Meat Chili; Christine Pensa, Best Vegetarian; Overall Best in Show, Eliseo Santana. Congrats! Muchas Gracias to ALL who participated and worked so hard to make it fun for everyone! Special thanks to House of Beer in Dunedin, Chipotle on Gulf to Bay, and Nature's Food Patch for gift donations. |
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 It doesn't take a village to serve coffee on Sunday mornings.
Just four willing hands! Please call Jane at 733-8977 if you are available or sign up on the pad located on the kitchen counter. You'll have a good time! |
Humanist Meeting 
Saturday, February 25
11:00 am
The Octagon |
Roy Speckhardt, Executive Director of the American Humanist Association will be our speaker. |
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 Continuing our trend of tipping the hat to folks helping to provide us with food at UUC we give a big Hats Off to Kathy, Dennis and Hannha Krohn for organizing the Chili Cook-Off last Sunday. Yum-yum and thanks a lot folks. |
God & Mankind: Comparative Religions
Monday, March 57-9 PM in the Maxwell Library |
 Each week we will hear lectures by Dr. Robert Oden, a noted scholar of religion. We will be considering and discussing various religious responses to basic questions of life. 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 |
Women, War & Peace
Thursday, March 8
UUC Octagon
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 The Pinellas County Chapter of NOW (National Organization of Women) and the UUC Social Justice Council are co-sponsoring a showing and discussion of the first two episodes of this PBS series. This hard hitting documentary explores how war has been redefined, the horrible price women around the world have paid and the changes women are making to bring peace to their nations.
Light refrehments will be served during the intermission. |
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 The Nominating Committee has begun the process of identifying potential candidates for the UUC Board of Trustees, the Nominating Commmittee, and the Ministerial Committee. These positions would begin in June 2012. If you are interested in one of these positions or would like to nominate someone else, please email us. Thank you from the Nominating Committee (Sylvia Scott, Bill Norsworthy, and Charlotte Olson). |
Some Notes on reserving Space at UUC for Activities | |
3 ) Give the office staff a day to update the Monthly Calendar. Check the Monthly Calendar again and if your reservation is not shown or is incorrect, call the front office at 727-531-7704 or email front office.
4 ) Once you are sure a room has been reserved for you, remember to publicize your event using the Publicity Request Form available by using the Office Forms Quick Link. |
Tech Team Volunteers Needed | |
Several tasks are available:
set up mics as floor manager,
work sound board or video camera,
make copies of CDs and DVDs,
help on sales table in the social hall.
Email Ches about opportunities on the tech team or call 727-821-3521. |
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Environmental Justice
Green Faire
Save the date: There will be a Green Faire at UUC on Saturday, April 14th from 9:00 a.m to 3:00 p.m.
Vegetable Garden
The vegetable garden did not do well through a couple of cold nights. We will be planting on February 25th. All are invited to bring seedlings of their favorite fruits, vegetables or flowers to plant on that date.
Economic Justice
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.
Khasi Hills School
Support the students and teachers of the Margaret Barr Memorial School in the Khasi Hills of India. 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 teachers' salaries, etc. Donations, in lieu of sponsoring, are much appreciated. Everyone at the school is counting on our support. The deadline is Feb 29th.
Share the Plate
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.
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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.
Governor Christie is definitely off my Christmas Card list. We had some issues in the Sound Booth Sunday that led to the service not being recorded, alas. What a service though. I want to welcome Juan Garcia, one of newest members and new Tech Team volunteer, to the fold of techies. Yesterday, I received a shipment of Jumbo Virginia Handcooked Peanuts, and they have helped get this issue to you. Great warning on the side of the container "Contains Peanuts." Yeah, gotcha. I see where Rick Santorum is standing behind his earlier comments that Satan is influencing America in a big way. That might be true, but I think we Americans can resist Satan and keep Santorum out of office. 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. |
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Sunday, Feb 26 2012
10:30 a.m.
Susan Hegner
The Freedom Riders |
Music  | | Fred Johnson |
 | | Cathy Costa |
 | | Barry Skeete |
About Sunday's Service
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In 1961 a small group of courageous people tested the Jim Crow laws of the Deep South and started a movement which took down the signs which segregated people traveling between the states and using the facilities in Greyhound and Trailways bus stations. The Freedom Riders endured threats, beatings and the indifference of the U.S. President, the FBI, and the federal and state governments. Join us Sunday as the UUC Youth Group and friends present an inspiring and moving service about Freedom Riders and the struggle to enforce the Supreme Court decision desegregating interstate travel. |
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This is share the plate Sunday and our recipient is the Clearwater Free Clinic | |
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Theism Study Group
Every Tuesday
7-8:30 pm
Anastasia Maxwell Library
UUC Outdoor Spruce Up
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.
God & Mankind
Monday, March 5 , 7 p.m.
Contact: Sharon Laplume, 727-674-5126
Women, War and Peace
PBS Documentary
March 8
Octagon at UUC
Florida District Annual Assembly
March 23-25, 2012 UU Church of Jacksonville Register here.
UUC Green Faire April 14 9 am - 3 pm Congregational Retreat April 20-22 Contact: Sheila Knaust, 727-735-8460 or Sheila.
UU General Assembly June 20-24 Phoenix Arizona |
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