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Sunday March 11 2012
10:30 am
Rev. Brock Leach
Recovering Joy |
 | | Rev. Brock Leach |
Worship Associate
 | | Megan Szczepanik |
Music  | | Dr. David Katz & The UUC Hep Katz Chorale |
 | | Linda Jones Pianist |
About Sunday's Service
Some situations just seem hopeless, going from bad to worse in ways that cannot even be imagined. Take the Haiti earthquake for example. And yet the human spirit is capable of miraculous recovery with just a little bit of nurture. Today Rev. Brock Leach of the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee will speak about what survivors of disasters have to teach the rest of us about recovering joy.
Brock Leach is an ordained Unitarian Universalist minister and vice president of mission, strategy and innovation at the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee (UUSC). UUSC's mission is to advance human rights around the world by transcending the boundaries that separate people and becoming allies with those who are the most marginalized. Brock's ministry is centered around strengthening the agency's impact and launching the UUSC's College of Social Justice, a program designed to build the capacity of Unitarian Universalists to catalyze justice. Brock is a member of the UU Church of Sarasota and a trustee of the Florida District of the Unitarian Universalist Association.
A member of the Social Justice Council will deliver this month's Social Justice Report. The purpose of the Social Justice Report is to inform the congregation and the public about social justice concerns.
The UUC Chorale, directed by Dr. David Katz, and accompanied by pianist Linda Jones, will be singing Mark Patterson's Music Like A Radiant Light. Linda will also be playing Mendelssohn's Songs Without Words Op.64, No.4 and Op.102, No.5, and Tchaikovsky's Song of the Lark.
This is Share the Plate Sunday. The recipient will be The Shepherd Center of Tarpon Srpings. For more information click here.
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Theism Study Group
Every Tuesday
7-8:30 pm
Anastasia Maxwell Library
UU 101 (Class 1 of 3)
Thur., March 15, UUC
Westwood Room
UUC Annual Auction
Sat., March 17, UUC
Tickets now on sale!
Thrive Documentary
Sunday, March 18, 1 pm
UUC Octagon
Discussion to follow.
West Central Cluster Renewal Service
Tues., March 20
UUC Octagon
Chorale Sunday
Sun., March 25
UUC Octagon
Florida District Annual Assembly
UU Church of Jacksonville
Register here.
Festival Ruah - Celebrating Celtic Melodies Fri., March 30 UUC Octagon
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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 Daylight saving time finally begins this Sunday, March 11, at 2 a.m. -- remember to set your clocks ahead one hour when you go to bed Saturday night. If not, you'll miss Sunday service and show up just in time for coffee. |
Open Issues
Sunday, March 11 2012
Greg Newburn
The Impact of Mandatory Sentencing in Florida |
 Greg is the Florida project director of "Families Against Mandatory Minimums" (FAMM). He has worked at the National Taxpayers Union, ABC News, and the Cato Institute, and holds a law degree from the University of Florida Levin College of Law. FAMM has targeted Florida for change because, for example, Florida mandates a 25-year sentence for possessing a bare handful of illegally obtained pills. He will explain, and tell us how we might help.
Click the logo for more information.
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Religious Education Happenings |
 Our littlest UUs (ages0-3yrs) in our nursery will continue to experience the joy of free play, music, art and wagon rides to the garden. Our Pre-K and Kindergarten class will have music time with our music director, Dr. David Katz, before hearing the biblical story of Queen Esther. Our 1st-2nd grade class will be examining the role of the earthworm as it relates to the interdependent web of life. Our 3rd-5th grade class will have fun with optical illusions as they discuss different points of view Our middle school class (6th-8th) will meet to discuss and plan for the rest of the year and the summer.
Our high school youth group (9th-12th) meets after the worship service from 12-1pm for open discussion.
We can't wait for Sunday!
Voluntees 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." |
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. |
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 Rev. Abhi and the Welcoming Committee will be offering a three session introduction to Unitarian Universalism called New UU. The program addresses the needs of newcomers to know more about who we are and what we believe and gives them the opportunity to examine their own personal stories in the light of our UU traditions and heritage. These sessions will be offered on Thursday evenings from 7 - 9 pm, March 15th, 22nd, and 29th. Due to the UUC Auction, the first session will be held in the Westwood Room, the last two in the Patio Room. This enlightening and informative program is free and open to all. Click Here to register or e-mail Cindi. |
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 On Friday, March 16th, we begin discussing The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot. Her name was Henrietta Lacks, but scientists know her as HeLa. She was a poor Southern tobacco farmer who worked the same land as her slave ancestors, yet her cells - taken without her knowledge - became one of the most important tools in medicine. The first "immortal" human cells grown in culture, they are still alive today, though she has been dead for more than sixty years.
Before attending the March 16th session, please read the Prologue & Chapters 1-9 of 'The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks' - to page 76 or to the 25% point on Kindle. Reader's Forum |
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 This week's Hats Off goes to Susan Hegner and the UUC Youth Group for their excellent presentation of Freedom Riders on Sunday February 26. Aided by Fred Johnson, Cathy Costa & Barry Skeete, the Youth Group presented an entertaining and enlightening Sunday Service that made the whole community proud of them. |
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. Since his arrival in 2007, he 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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 No, this is not a call for some free psychiatric service (although somedays it might help). We need someone with the skills of transcriptionist to trascribe Abhi's sermon's from audio to the written page. We all enjoy reading some of Abhi's better sermons over and over again. If you possess these skills please contact the Front Office at 727-531-7704 or find Barbara Brandt (she of long-suffering) and volunteer on the spot. |
Next Circle Dinner Rescheduled |
 The March Circle Dinner, usually held the third Sunday of the month, will be held on the 4th Saturday, March 24, because of the auction on the 17th. It will be held at a home in Pinellas Park. Four diners are signed up so far. There is room for two to four more diners. Please sign up Here. For more info, call Alice Anderson at 727-902-5239. |
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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.
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
The Green Faire has been postponed until a later date. Possibly in the fall.
Economic Justice
RCS Food Bank
Remember to replenish the RCS (Religious Community Services) Food Bank box in the UUC lobby with non-perishable/non-breakable foods. The following is a list of particular need: Tuna, Canned Meat, Peanut Butter, Canned Milk, Rice, Pork & Beans, Macaroni & Cheese, Canned or Dry Soup, Oatmeal, Canned Vegetables or Fruit. Thank you.
Be a Witness for Justice - Support the Coalition of Immokalee Workers Hunger Fast
On March 10th, Day Six of the fast, Fair Food allies will converge on Lakeland for a protest at a Publix location followed by a 3.5-mile procession leading to Publix headquarters, where they will join the fasters in a ceremony to break the fast. We will be carpooling from the UUC on Saturday at 10 AM to show our support of the CIW Fair Food campaign. If you are unable to walk, there will be a shuttle to take you to Publix headquarters from the Publix store location.
Join us on Saturday! Be a witness for justice! |
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.
Well, we have a new look for our new look this week. Yes, we have moved the Sunday Service article to the left side-bar instead of the right this week. Some folks with smaller screens were having the right side cut off and not seeing the Sunday Service segment. Hopefully, this will improve your Weekly Octagram experience. Of course we still edit with Constant Contact, they of the infamous bouncing text. So, as I struggle with a headache, Katherine struggles to assemble her new monitor arm for her home office. You know, being an election year it is hard sometimes to pick one person for Idiot of The Week award, but Limbaugh has outdone himself yet again. What a (no) class act. Yes, well, it is time now to put it all to bed, to send the copy via Mojo wire to Karen Roeder (the editior's editor) and wish all of you love and peace throughout the week. Peace out, y'all! 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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