March Random Reflections
Rev. Abhi Janamanchi
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Unitarian Universalist minister Carl Scovel, spoke of joy this way in his Berry Street Lecture to the 1994 General Assembly in Ft. Worth: "At the heart of all creation lies a good intent, a purposeful goodness, from which we come, by which we live our fullest, and to which we shall at last return. This is the supreme mystery of our lives.
Click to read more |
Open Issues
Sunday, March 4 2012 | |
Roland Moy
The 30 Year Class War: How the Rich Have Won
Roland will present the paper he delivered at the Torch Club in Boone, NC. He is a member of that club, former professor of political science at Appalachian State University, and a member of the UU Fellowship in Boone.
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Religious Education Happenings |
On the First Sunday of the month, the children will join together in the Maxwell Library/Social Hall from 10:30-11:00 to participate in a worship service designed just for them, an opportunity for children to "do church" in a way they can understand. Please join us for a "Joyful" Children's Worship Service planned and led by our Middle School Class. Special music provided by Elijah Preuss. Then follow us to the playground to experience "joy" through the eyes of a child. Our High School youth group meet from 12-1 after the worship service for open discussion.
We can't wait for Sunday!
Volunteers are always welcomed and encouraged.
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West Central Cluster Meeting &
Arizona is Our Town Skit
 Saturday March 310:00 am
UUC Octagon | |
This Saturday, the West Central Cluster will have its annual meeting at UUC. Included will be the educational skit "Arizona is Our Town." Join us and learn up to date information about how immigration laws are being handled in many states including Flrorida. A Q & A will follow with Immigration lawyers and personnel from Gulf Coast Legal Services.
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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. |
General Assembly 2012
 Hi Folks! It's time to start thinking about General Assembly, happening this year in Phoenix, Arizona June 20-24(Will not interfere with St. Pete Gay Pride this year on June 30-Ed.). This year it's Justice GA so you will not want to miss this. So start planning now for Justice General Assembly 2012! Brochures available in the UUC lobby and can be viewed at Brochure.
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Click here for more details. |
Starbucks to open in Social Hall!
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 Sunday, April 1, Starbucks will begin operations in the Social Hall of UUC for Social Hour after services.
This will benefit us greatly in offering more coffee flavors and more pastry items. You will be required, of course, to pay for the coffee and baked goods ala carte.
Just kidding! But we do need volunteers to help us serve the coffee after service. Two people a week is all that is needed. Please call Jane at 733-8977 if you are available, or sign up on the sign up sheet located on the kitchen counter. You'll have a good time! |
God & Mankind: Comparative Religions
Monday, March 57-9 PM in the Maxwell Library |
 We will hear a lecture 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 will co-sponsor 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 refreshments will be served during the intermission. |
March UUA Florida District Packet
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 The District Packet for March from the UUA Florida District is available here. |
West Central Cluster Renewal Service
 Tuesday, March 20, 7:00 pm
The UUC Octagon |
The Rev. Nate Walker will lead this years Renewal Service for the West Central Cluster. Rev. Nate is honored to serve as the minister of the First Unitarian Church of Philadelphia, where since his arrival in 2007 has welcomed over 168 new members. Rev. Nate delivered the John Murray Distinguished Lecture and joined with former UUA President John Buehrens to participate in the Minns Lectures. The UU World magazine featured his proposal to create a code of ethics for Monsanto, the world's largest producer of genetically modified seeds.
This is an annual opportunity for the members of the ten churches in our cluster to gather together to consider a Unitarian-Universalist message of renewal for our faith. (We also drink coffee and chat and engage in discussions about the latest stories on NPR). |
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 Hats Off to Jay Hardman and the volunteers who came out to spruce up the grounds of UUC on Saturday Feb. 25. Way to go Carl Hansen, Judy Wright, Anne Burnham, Pat Rogers, Jim Shiffer, Joann Shrewsbury (bless 'er and her still new titanium knee), Art Chase, and 'Scotty' Scott. |
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Environmental Justice
Green Sanctuary
The application to the UUA for Green Sanctuary accreditation is being prepared for submission this month. More information on what this means to UUC going forward will be presented in various formats this month and next. Stay tuned.
Green Team Meeting
The next Green Team meeting is Saturday morning, March 17th. We have a lot of work to do preparing for the Green Faire on April 14th. We need volunteers.
Green Frog Moon Festival
There is a Green Frog Moon Festival at Sacred Lands in St Petersburg on March 17th & 18th. Some of us will be carpooling after the service on the 18th to attend. Please let Dotti Doyle or Jay Hardman know if you'd like to join us.
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.
Economic Justice
Be a Witness For Justice
On March 5th, outside Publix corporate headquarters in Lakeland, fifty farmworkers and faith leaders, students, and community leaders from across Florida and across the country will come together in a six-day hunger fast...
Click here to read more.
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.
I love deadlines, I especially like the whooshing noise they make as they fly by. This issue is getting finished just under the wire, mostly due to technical difficulties at work this week that required a lot more of my attention than I expected. But here we are, none the worse for wear. I had a blast doing announcements in last Sunday's service, but had to go straight from there to a memorial service for one of Katherine's colleagues. It was a sad day. I'm really heartened to see that GA will NOT interfere with St. Pete Pride this year and hope to see a lot more UU folks at the parade. Just a quick hello to all sentient life forms out there in the Milky Way and a note to all the others: the secret is to bang the rocks together folks. 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, Mar 4 2012
10:30 a.m.
Rev. Abhi Janamanchi
An Ode To Joy |
Worship Associate  | | Cathy Costa |
Music
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About Sunday's Service
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The French poet Paul Claudel, after listening to Beethoven's Fifth Symphony is said to have remarked, "Now I know that at the heart of the universe there is joy." What would it be like to live with the belief that there is joy at the heart of the universe? The service will investigate.
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Theism Study Group
Every Tuesday
7-8:30 pm
Anastasia Maxwell Library
Arizona is Our Town (A Skit)
UU West Central Cluster Meeting & Skit
Saturday, March 3, 10 am
UUC Octagon
God & Mankind
Monday, March 5 , 7 p.m.
Contact: Sharon Laplume, 727-674-5126
UUC
Women, War and Peace
PBS Documentary
March 8
Octagon at UUC
UUC Annual Auction
Sat., March 17, UUC
Tickets now on sale!
Donations Needed!
Westr Central Cluster Renewal Service Tues., March 20 UUC Octagon
Chorale Sunday Sun., March 25 UUC Octagon
Festival Ruah - Celebrating Celtic Melodies Fri., March 30 UUC Octagon
Florida District Annual Assembly
March 23-25, 2012
UU Church of Jacksonville
Register here.
UUC Green Faire
April 14
9 am - 3 pm
UUC Social Hall
Congregational Retreat
April 20-22
Contact: Sheila Knaust, 727-735-8460 or Sheila. Cedarkirk Lodge, Lithia, FL
UU General Assembly June 20-24 Phoenix, Arizona |
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