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Sunday April 8, 2012
Easter Sunday & Association Sunday
10:30 am
Rev. Abhi Janamanchi
Easter Grace
&
A Special Sunrise Service at
7:15 am |
 | | Rev. Abhi Janamanchi |
Worship Associate
 | | Jenn Bouchie |
Music
 | | Linda Jones |
About Sunday's Service
The service will explore the many meanings of Easter, insurrections, and resurrections with music, reflections, and the flower communion ritual.
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.
Pianist Linda Jones will be playing Christian Sinding 's Rustle of Spring, a portion of Robert Schumann 's Flower Piece, Jules Massenet's Papillons Blancs, and Edvard Grieg's Springdans.
This is Share the Plate Sunday. Our recipient is the UUA. This is Association Sunday. Details in Social Justice News Area.
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UU Theism Study Group
Every Tuesday
7-8:30 pm
Anastasia Maxwell Library Contact: Katherine Torres, 727-482-6171 (text)
e-mail
Easter Sunday, April 8 7:15 a.m. Sunrise Service at UUC (outdoors)
10:30 a.m. UUC Annual Flower Communion Service & Easter Egg Hunt
Religious Education INSPIRATION Event
4 pm - 8 pm
UUC Social hall
RSVP here
Bridge Spring Salad Luncheon
Noon, Monday, April 16
Hosted by the Monday morning Bridge group.
All are Welcome
Call Jane Torrell for details
Congregational Retreat
April 20-22
Contact: Sheila Knaust, 727-735-8460 or Sheila.
Cedarkirk Lodge, Lithia, FL
Terry Stapleton's Annual Spring Party
April 28, 2012, 2-8
New Member Recognition Pot Luck Dinner
Saturday, May 5, 2012, 5:30 pm
Phoenix, Arizona
SUUSI 2012!
July 15-21, 2012
Catalog available here.
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 Amazing Grace is one of my favorite hymns. I'm fascinated at how it has leaped out of the original religious context in which it was first written to take on a kind of universal dimension. While it is considered a Christian hymn there is no reference in it to Jesus or Christ.
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Flower Communion on
Easter Sunday |
 Bring a flower, from home or elsewhere, for the annual flower communion this Sunday, April 8th. This special UU ritual involves the following: each person brings a flower to the service; people leave their flowers in vases at the entrance. Early in the service, the bouquets of flowers are carried in by children. At the end of the service, each person comes forward and chooses a flower different from the one they brought. |
Open Issues
Sunday, April 8 2012
Rev. Dee Graham
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UUC's Theism study group includes the UU Christian Fellowship and meets on Tuesdays at 7 p.m. in the library. To read ahead, see the recent Op-Ed in Albany Times-Union by UU Rev. Sam Trombore.
Click here for the article. |
Religious Education Happenings |
 Please join us for a wonderful, fun-filled day!
We begin the day in the sanctuary as we observe Flower Communion. Please bring a flower to share. Following the ceremony, the children will begin their Easter activities. This year we have various activities for all of our children and youth, including multiple egg hunts, scavenger hunts, egg and spoon races, cupcake walk and more!
Volunteers are encouraged! Come be a kid again and have some fun!
We can't wait for Sunday!
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Build Your Own Theology is Back!
Thursdays, April 5, 12, 19, & 26, 7-9 pm
Fee: $10.00 |
 Based on the assumption that everyone is their own theologian, this classic UU adult enrichment program invites participants to develop their own personal belief statements (credos). Each session will focus on various theological questions to help participants grow in their ability to understand and articulate their own belief systems. Presented by Rev. Abhi. |
Retreat Scholarships Still Available |
 Retreat registrations are still being accepted and UUC sponsored scholarships are still available for members and friends. This is a wonderful opportunity to enjoy the great outdoors while in fellowship with other UUs. Visit here to read more and to print out a registration/scholarship form. Call Sheila at 727-735-8460 or Pete at 727-234-8015 for more information. |
Cares & Concerns Chair Goes Above & Beyond |
 Jackie Brown, longtime chair of our Care Bears Team, is this month's Above & Beyond honoree. Jackie has served the UUC community in many ways over the years, but none is as important as her work with our members when they are most in need of caring support. Whether recovering from a hospital stay or a prolonged illness, UUC members can count on Jackie and her team to be there to help. In addition, her giving ways include working with Abhi in guiding our Pastoral Associates Program for members who seek support as they deal with the vicissitudes of life. The strength of our congregation is greatly enhanced through Jackie's dedication, talent and hard work. Thank you, Jackie Brown! |
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 On Friday, April 13th, we begin discussing Thunderstruck by Erik Larson. In Thunderstruck, Erik Larson tells the interwoven stories of two men - Hawley Crippen, a very unlikely murderer, and Guglielmo Marconi, the obsessive creator of a seemingly supernatural means of communication - whose lives intersect during one of the greatest criminal chases of all time. Before attending the April 13th session, please read to page 104 or to the 27% point on Kindle. |
UUC VOLUNTEER NAMES NEEDED | |
In order to show a bit of appreciation to our wonderful UUC volunteers, we will be honoring them during the service and the social hour on Sunday, April 29th. Committee chairs, team leaders and others who work with UUC volunteers are asked to get the names of all the people who served with their groups over the past year to Mary Thornton by Sunday, April 15th, or call 727 796-5638. We want to recognize all of our wonderful volunteers, so we appreciate everyone getting their names in on time. |
Religious Education INSPIRATION Event |
 An engaging workshop to explore together our children's and family's spiritual development and the UU approach to UU religious education will be held Satuday, April 14th at 4 p.m. We will REnew-REcharge-Refresh-Restore one another by learning from the Rev. Randy Becker, UUFlorida District acting LIfespan Education Coodinator, what the principals of UU Religious Education are and how they relate to us. Five dollars per person or $10 per family. RSVP Here |
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 Hospitality volunteers (3-4) are needed for coffee (and cookies) hour following the 10:30 a.m. service on Easter Sunday, April 8th. All are welcome. If you can lend a hand, please call the front office at 727-531-7704. Thank you. |
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Our covenant group , which meets on the 3rd Tues of the month, would like to offer the following service available to our members and friends. If you have an item or service that you are willing to share or are in need of, go to the Octagram side bar and you will find a link to Give & Take with a form to help facilitate your request. It could be free, such as furniture or items that you would gladly give away, or it could be an item you are looking for. If it is something like a rental house or car for sale and money might be involved, all negotiations would be completed between the parties and should be clearly stated in the offering. Click Here to add your items and browse other items. |
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Each school year, PAX, Program of Academic Exchange, places High School students from around the world with Host Families throughout the USA. This is an educational chance of a lifetime for the students to go to school in the USA and share their culture while learning about the American lifestyle. Host families bring the world to them, learning about a new culture from their "adopted" son or daughter for a school year, and create a friendship that lasts a lifetime. For more information, please call 727-329-8060. |
The Emerald Auction was a Success
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 Wow! The 2012 Emerald Auction was a very successful and fun event. With an Irish theme (what else on March 17), our biggest fund raiser of the year reached its goal by generating more than $25,000. This year's auction had a special atmosphere because of the wonderful work of our professional auctioneer, Gala Gal Jenelle Taylor. As a result, UUC will donate $1,500 to the Student Veterans Association at St. Petersburg College to provide scholarships for returning war veterans. After expenses, $18,000 was contributed to this year's Ways and Means budget goal. None of this would have been possible without the focus and effort of the auction steering committee: Bob Barnett, Sage Chaney, Leslie Conrad, John Ferguson, Eloise Hardman, Sandy and John Hoover, Sheila Knaust, Ann and Joe Myers, Bill Norsworthy, Joanne and Jerry Osburn, Sylvia Scott and Joe Weinstein. With their work over the last eight months and the effort of more than 70 additional volunteers, The Emerald Auction was a huge success. Many thanks to all. |
Spring Action Training for the 99% |
 Tuesday, April 10, 6:30-9:30 pm, in the Social Hall. This is for anyone interested in Occupy Wall Street (OWS). We will provide training and networking opportunities for a Spring and Summer filled with direct actions that will support the OWS.
This event is organized and sponsored by MoveOn.org. Also supporting this event are a long list of progressive political organizations including Greenpeace, Rainforest Action Network (RAN), 350.org, and AFL-CIO and the UUC Social Justice Council. There is no charge for the event. A love offering will be accepted. |
UUA Florida District Packet |
 The new Florida District packet is available here.
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The latest edition of Social Action News can be found here.
Environmental Justice
Green Sanctuary
The Application for Green Sanctuary Accreditation has been completed and sent to the UUA. Many thanks to all who contributed to the projects and to the writing, especially Linda Stoller, Christine Pensa, and Bill Norsworthy. Please read it and give feedback to Dotti GreenJeans. At the Annual Meeting in May, we will be voting an an updated Environmental Policy and on a Green Sanctuary Covenant.
Spring of Sustainability
A wonderful three month series of presentations about sustainability is currently available on the internet. It features such speakers as Van Jones, Jane Goodall, Bill McGibbons and many others. It is FREE. Click here.
Earth Day & Next Green Team Meeting
The next meeting of the Green Team will be on Saturday, April 21st in the Westwood Room from 9:30 - 11:30 a.m.
Earth Day is Sunday, April 22nd.
Revenge Of The Electric Car With the Sierra Club, UUC will be co-hosting a showing of the film: Revenge of the Electric Car on Friday, April 13th in the Octagon at 7:00 p.m. (If we have a big crowd, we could move into the Sanctuary.) Human Rights The Stand Your Ground Law and the Trayvon Martin Killing
You are invited to sign a petition at the Social Justice table after the service to our Florida Legislators asking them to require a speedy and thorough investigation of the killing of Trayvon Martin and to repeal the Stand Your Ground Law. Additional information on the law will be available at the table. Economic Justice Linda Stoller reflects on the Imokalee Farm Workers Fast Click here to read Linda's article with pictures. Last Call for UUSC Guest at Your Table boxes. Please turn in all boxes including memberships and donations to the UUC office by April 11, 2012. Thank you. Fair Trade Coffee In April, Fair Trade Coffee will be on sail April 15th in the Social Hall after service. This is usually done on the second Sunday of the month. This month it will be on the third Sunday. An Invitation from Religious Community Services Join in at The Haven of RCS for Breakfast on Wednesday April 18 from 7:30am, Largo Community Center, 400 Alt. Keene Road Largo. Free Event with Limited Seating. "Voices Against Domestic Violence"
Domestic Violence Affects Your Business - Every year nearly 8 million days of paid work are lost to Domestic Violence. Please RSVP to Loretta @ 727-441-2029 ext. 203 or e-mail Loretta.
Share the Plate April 8th, Easter, is "Association Sunday." We will Share the Plate with the UUA (Unitarian Universalists Association). Association Sundays are a request by the UUA for all congregations to recognize and support, both in spirit and financially, the national work of the Association. This is a day when we celebrate our shared commitment to Unitarian Universalism. Association Sunday is an opportunity for us to come together to grow our faith and our influence in the world.
RCS Food Bank
Remember to give to the RCS (Religious Community Services) Food Bank box at UUC. 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. |
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UUC needs a computer savvy individual to help us maintain information for our presence in MeetUp.com. This is a new area we are testing for marketing our activities. Please call the front office at 727-531-7704 or email front office to get more information or to volunteer now! |
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APRIL: Grace Books: Ann Lamott, Grace (Eventually): Thoughts on Faith Jonathan Kozol, Amazing Grace: The Lives of Children and the Conscience of a Nation Robert Putnam, American Grace: How Religion Divides and Unites Us Marianne Williamson, Everyday Grace Susan Sparks, Laugh Your Way to Grace: Reclaiming the Spiritual Power of Humor Movies: Tree of Life, starring Brad Pitt Amelie, starring Audrey Tatou Spitfire Grill, starring Allison Eliott, Ellen Burstyn Amazing Grace, starring Ioan Gruffudd, Romola Garai Good Will Hunting, starring Robin Williams, Matt Damon |
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.
Life is serious but Art is fun! You've got to get obsessed and stay obsessed. Keep passing the open windows. 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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