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Sunday April 22, 2012
10:30 am
Rev. Abhi Janamanchi
Eco-Justice And Eco-Spirituality

Abhi(alt)
Rev. Abhi Janamanchi

 

 


Worship Associate

 

HeikeSmith
Heike Smith
 

 

 

 

 

 

Music


David Katz leading The UUC Chorale


Linda Jones
Linda Jones

About Sunday's Service

 

Whether we believe in climate change or global warming or not, as human beings, we have a responsibility to take care of the interdependent web of existence of which we are a part. The service will explore the theme of eco-justice on Earth Day. We will welcome new members during the service.

 

 

 

The Adult Chorale, directed by Dr. David Katz, with the accompaniment of pianist       Linda Jones, will be singing     On the Dusty Earth Drum by Jason Shelton. In addition, Dr. David Katz will be singing Loveliest of Trees by John       Duke, and Linda Jones will be playing Grace by Pamela       Bruner and Church of       Trees by Liz Story.

 

 

A comment from the composer, Liz Story, about Church of Trees:
"
This is a hymn dedicated to the beauty and intelligence of trees. The ancient Celts understood that groves of trees were original churches--oracles and healing places. The Mayans spoke of history as being recorded and held as true memory in trees. Both traditions warn that if too many old trees are cut down, the human race will disappear. I sense this to be true. This piece is also a prayer that we remember who the trees are and reconnect with them."

 

 

This is Share the Plate Sunday. Our recipient is the Sunshine State Interfaith Power & Light.

 

 
In This Issue
Quick Links
Mark Your Calendar

UU Theism Study Group 

Every Tuesday

7-8:30 pm

Anastasia Maxwell Library Contact: Katherine Torres, 727-482-6171 (text)

e-mail

 

Congregational Retreat
April 20-22 
Contact: Sheila Knaust, 727-735-8460 or Sheila.
Cedarkirk Lodge, Lithia, FL

Festival Ruah
Friday, April 27
7 pm
Octagon

Terry Stapleton's Annual Spring Party

Terry's House

April 28, 2012, 2-8

 

New Member Recognition Pot Luck Dinner

Saturday, May 5, 2012, 5:30 pm

 

Vesak

The Dhamma Wheel Meditation Society

Unity Church

Saturday, May 5

5pm - 6pm

For more info click here.

 

UU 101

Sunday, May 6

1 pm

Anastasia Maxwell Library

 

Kiya Heartwood in Concert

Friday, May 11

The Octagon

 

UU General Assembly

June 20-24

Phoenix, Arizona 

 

SUUSI 2012!

July 15-21, 2012

Catalog available here.

Register here.

 

 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
April 19, 2012
RE Happenings
ChristinePensa_sermon 

"In grace something is transcended, once and for all overcome. Grace happens in spite of something; it happens in spite of separateness and alienation. Grace means that life is once again united with life, self is reconciled with self. Grace means accepting the abandoned one. Grace transforms fate into a meaningful vocation. It transforms guilt to trust and courage. The word grace has something triumphant in it." (Yrjo Kallinen)

 

To read more click here.

Open Issues
Sunday, April 22 2012
 
Abdelfatah Abusrour
Beautiful Resistance
Dr. Abusrour ('Abed') is committed to nonviolent resistance in the disputed territories. He has a PhD in Medical Engineering and now lives in the Bethlehem Aida refugee camp.  Click here for more info.
Religious Education Happenings

Please join us this Sunday for faith, friendship and fun.    Our little UUs in the nursery (ages 0-3yrs) will have fun with free play and music. All other classes will meet as usual.

Our high school youth group meets after the worship service from 12-1pm for open discussion.

We can't wait for Sunday!  Please join us!

Volunteers are encouraged! Come be a kid again and have some fun!

Consecration Sunday Update
UUA Chalice 
Consecration Sunday on February 5, 2012 and the work of the Stewardship
Committee has resulted in approximately 185 pledges totaling $268,000.
This includes the result for that day alone and follow-up by the Stewardship Committee for those who did not attend the service that day. Despite hard economic times, many of you stepped up your giving for 2012.

For those individuals who made a financial commitment last year and this year, pledges increased about 8%.  Approximately 50 individuals/couples increased their pledge, 55 remained the same as last year. We also had
35 new pledges.

We are waiting to hear from those approximately 50 people who had made a financial commitment last year but not yet this year. We are hopeful that some will make a pledge before the new Church year that begins on June 1, 2012. For those who have not made a pledge commitment and intend to, please contact Mark Kanuck, Mark, or Sue Boone, Sue

Thank you for MAKING CONSECRATION SUNDAY SUCH A SUCCESS AND FOR your continued commitment to UUC's mission to be an inclusive religious community that helps people lead lives of joy, hope, and service.

With gratitude,
Mark Kanuck & Sue Boone, Consecration Sunday Co-chairs
Festival Ruah
Bhangra Dancers 
7 p.m. Friday
April 27
The Octagon

A Multicultural, Interfaith Progam Celebrating the Colors of Spring

 

 Featuring

 

 Fred JohnsonBhangra Dances of the Punjabi Association of

Tampa Bay  Fred Johnson ; jazz musician; , internationally renowned Rev. Abhi Janamanchi, senior minister, UUs of Clearwater, And Others.

 

 

The program will feature music, dance and readings

highlighting the variety and beauty of the Spring

season.

 

 


 
Childcare Provided. Refreshments will be served.

Free Admission.

 

A love offering will be gratefully accepted.

South of the Border Garden Party!

Saturday April 28, 2-8PM

Terry Stapleton's Home

 

Garden PartyChildren's Games,

Mexican Dance Instructions,

Great Mexican and American Food,

Soft Drinks, Beer & Wine,

South of the Border Music,

Dancing,

Swimming, Golf, Horse Shoes, and more.

 

Please RSVP: Here

580 S. Florida Ave. Tarpon Springs 34689

 

Car Pool if Possible

 

Rain Delay, Sunday April 29.

Volunteer Appreciation
Sunday April 29
Volunteers 
To all the wonderful volunteers who make our congregation so special - we want to say thanks.  On Sunday April 29th, we will have a special recognition ceremony during the service and during our Social Hour.  Please allow us to recognize all of you who have served UUC in some way over the past year.  No need to rsvp - just show up and enjoy!


New Member Potluck
 
potluckmealSaturday, May 5
5:30 pm - 8 pm
Social Hall
 
All members and friends are invited to celebrate the more than 25 new members that have joined the UUC community in this church year.  Members and Friends who plan to attend are asked to bring a dish according to the following order, if possible:   A-E Salads, F-M Entrees, N-R Side Dishes, S - Z Desserts. Since May 5 is also Cinco De Mayo, we will have a cash bar with Wine, Beer, and Margaritas!  To ensure that we have enough food and drinks, please confirm your reservation by signing up after church service or signing up online by clicking HERE
Altar Flowers
flower arrangement 
We have open dates for flowers for April 20, 29 and May 20, 27.  Please contact Carol Heichel to make arrangements.


PAX
PAX 

Each school year Program of Academic Exchange (PAX) places High School students from around the world with Host Families throughout the USA.  For more information, please call 727-329-8060.

Social Justice Notes

  

The latest edition of Social Action News can be found here.


Environmental Justice
 

Gulf Groups and Senator Bill Nelson Mark Two Year Memorial of BP Oil Disaster

Friday, April 20th at 3pm, Demens Landing Park, St. Petersburg, join Gulf Restoration Network and Sierra Club for a press conference to commemorate the two-year memorial of the BP oil disaster in the Gulf. For more information, please contact Dan Favre at Gulf Restoration Network, dan@healthygulf.org or 504-525-1528 x 209.

 

Green Sanctuary
The Application for Green Sanctuary Accreditation has been completed and sent to the UUA. 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 
Happy Earth Day this weekend! For those going to the congregational retreat, enjoy communing with nature and the beloved community. For those staying closer to home, there are many green events around Pinellas County. For example, Earth Fest in Gulfport on Sat, April 21st, at Clymer Park, off Gulfport Blvd.
 
Green Blog
Check out a blog from Robin Nelson, UUA Environmental Stewardship Manager.

 

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.
 
Opportunity Knocks
The UU Ministry for the Earth is seeking an environmentally-minded young adult for a paid internship from May 1st through September.  Click here for details.

 

Recycling Works
Did you know that over 75% of the trash in Pinellas County could be recycled?  Get recycling answers here.  Do your part to save the planet.

 

Human Rights

The Stand Your Ground Law

You are invited to sign a petition at the Social Justice table after the service to our Florida Legislators asking them 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.

Monthly Resources

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.  
 

I just saw the news where Dick Clark died.  It is a sad day.  I remember seeing Dick Clark on American Bandstand and the Ever Increasing Dollar Amount Pyramid over the years.  He and Ed McMahon once sponsored a show about celebrities playing pranks on one another.  That poor Kutcher kid, he was never the first at anything.  I also cranked up the oldies this past week and listened to some Huey Lewis and the News songs from my younger years.  So I guess I'm awash in nostalgia.  That would also explain this weeks Super Link.  Katherine and I also indulged ourselves in some Titanic doings over the past week including seeing the re-release of James Cameron's epic in 3D.  I also couldn't help but think of the old Osmonds song One Bad Apple this week when I read that the list of females considered as running mates by Mitt Romney were overshadowed by the ghost of Sarah Palin.  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.


Unitarian Universalists of Clearwater | 2470 Nursery Road, Clearwater, FL 33764
727-531-7704 | Fax 727-531-4188
 
 
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