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Sunday September 16, 2012
10:30 am
Rev. Abhi Janamanchi
Shall We Gather at the River?
Music
 | | David Katz & The UUC Chorale |
 | | Linda Jones, Piano |
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About Sunday's Service
Our annual Ingathering service (spirited worship) will explore through story and song what it means to be open to the forces which create and uphold life and be renewed in spirit. The service will also feature a 'water communion' ritual to celebrate the beginning of a new church year so please remember to bring a small container of water from your summer travels or your kitchen sink.
Gaston Bachelard's words on communion:
Ideas are refined and multiplied in the commerce of minds. In their splendor, images effect a very simple communion of souls.
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Get To Know Your Ballot
Thursday, Sept. 13, 7-9:30 pm
Interweave Movie & Pot Luck Night
Big Eden
Friday, Sep. 14 6:30 pm
UUC Fall Spruce Up Day
Sat., Sept 15 (moved from the 8th), 8 a.m. or whenever you can - All are welcome to just show up and lend a hand.
Ingathering & Water Communiun
Sun, Sept 16, 10:30 a.m.
Plan to attend as we begin our new church year.
New UU
Classes are Thursdays
Sept. 27, Oct 4 & 11
Festival Ruah
Friday, Sept 28, 7 p.m.
Hearts & Hands Reception
Sunday, Sept 30
Trivia Night
Sat, Oct 6
Animal Blessing
Peace Cottage on Unity Campus
Saturday, October 13
10 am - Noon 727-531-0992 |
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 Ingathering Service | |
At our Ingathering Service on Sunday, September 16, we will continue the tradition of a water communion. The service through story, energizing music, and song will explore what it means to be "open to the forces which create and uphold life" and be renewed in spirit as we begin a new church year together.
To prepare for this service, I invite each of you to a) bring a bag of beans and rice to support the farm workers (or a monetary contribution) and b) bring water collected from your summer travels that is a source of meaning to you.
This source could be a spring hidden deep in the woods, a mountain lake, a muddy stream, a flowing river, a mighty ocean, or the tap in your own kitchen. More important than the 'where' is the 'why' and the 'what.' Why is the source of this water important to you? What core values in your life does it represent?
Please bring a small container (tightly sealed, please!) of this water with you to our Ingathering Service. During the service, you will be invited to pour your water into a common vessel. This water communion symbolizes how in our congregation many disparate journeys blend together in shared community and purpose.
Since there won't be time during the service for each of us to recount the full story of the meaning of our waters, I invite you to bring with you a short note of about ten to twelve words describing the origin and significance of your water. If you prefer, please feel free to email the note by September 14 to abhij@uuclearwater.org.
During the service, we will read aloud from these notes to convey the spirit and diversity of these water offerings. We will bless these waters and later offer them as nourishment for the plants and bushes in our demonstration garden.
I hope this tradition will be another reminder of the sacredness of our individual stories and the power of our dwelling together in religious community. |
 Open Issues Sunday
September 16, 2012
9:30 am
Patio Room
Amanda Patanow
Eleven Amendments on the Ballot! | |
Ms. Patanow, of the League of Women Voters, will explain the amendments one by one, with discussion and handouts. Proposed amendments (to the Florida Constitution) are put on the ballot by the legislature each ten years. |
Religious Education Happenings |
Please join us this Sunday when our children and youth will join the congregation for our Ingathering and annual Water Communion Spirited Worship Service. The service will be filled with engaging stories, music and songs that you won't want to miss! As we begin our new year together, please bring a bag of beans and rice to support the farm workers (or a monetary contribution) and bring some water collected from your summer travels that is a source of meaning to you.
Our Nursery for our littlest UUs (ages 0-3yrs) will be available during the worship service.
There will be no Religious Enrichment classes this Sunday so that all of our children and youth will be able to attend the full worship service. I hope to see you on Sunday with a smile! Religious Education Information |
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 Welcome and thank you to Barbara Bird for taking over as the new Octagram editor. And thank you to Jeff Anderson for his long service as the editor. He will be missed. We greatly appreciate Barb's enthusiasm as she begins her tenure as editor with this week's Octagram. Please share your appreciation with Barb and Jeff the next time you run into them. The Octagram is a very important volunteer opportunity but is most often accomplished quietly in the background. Thank you Barb and Jeff. |
Know Your Ballot!
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Howard Simon, ACLU of Florida Executive Director |
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Thursday, September 13th, 7 pm, Octagon
The UUC Social Justice Council is pleased to sponsor Know Your Ballot, a community forum on the proposed amendents to the Florida Constitution. In addition to Howard Simon, the executive director of the ACLU of Florida, a representative of WE ARE CHOICE and PICO will be presenting information on several of the proposed amendments to the Florida constitution. This year the amendments cover issues concerning women's reproductive health, the separation of church and state, the reduction of funds available to the state to fund needed government programs and other important topics.
Being an informed voter and helping others become informed is how UUs put our principles into practice. Please join us and bring your friends! |
INTERWEAVE Movie Night & Potluck |
 Friday, Sep. 146:30 pm
Social Hall
This month's movie is Big Eden. A tender comedy that all are sure to enjoy. Arrive at 6:30 pm for the Potluck. Movie starts around 7 pm. If you cannot bring a dish to share please contribute $5 for the food provided. Contact Joe Weinstein or Lynette Wood for further details. |
Hospitality Volunteering: Kitchen Needs Help |
 As we start the new Church year, the kitchen chore has been changed. So many people said that the main obstacle to signing up was the dishwasher. Now we, the volunteers, will not be using it anymore. Instead, staff will be there every Sunday to do the clean-up job. All we have to handle is the preparation, the setup and the serving. I hope that you will feel encouraged to volunteer regularly. It takes two to handle the prep work, so please take a look at the sign up sheet and give us a hand this year. |
Work Party Set for Sept. 15 |
Everyone is invited to our "Back to Church" work party. Each September we have a party to spruce up our grounds and get things ready for the new year. We have lots of projects to do, both inside and outside, so don't stay home because you think it's too hot. We need your help and it's beginning to cool off and dry out!
The party begins at 8:00 a.m. and finishes with our traditional pizza lunch at about noon. Bring gloves and your favorite tools (if you have any). Contact Bill Norsworthy if you have any questions or suggestions about what needs to be done. We hope to see you on Saturday the 15th. |
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Thur, September 20
Have fun while you dine with like-minded women at Applebees in the Tri- City Plaza.
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The Auction is coming Nov. 3rd! And we want this to be the biggest and best one ever. That means lots of volunteers , but don't worry - we have plenty of opportunities. Do you like to cook? We have a job for you. Do you prefer clean-up? We have a job for you, too. How about dealing with people - or numbers - or money! Yes, we have jobs for all of you. And to volunteer at this exciting event (or ask questions or get more information) all you have to do is contact Cindi Nohe at 727-943-9661. |
Vegan Sandwich Demonstration |
Tuesday, Sept.18, 11:30 in the Social Hall A demonstration, by Tom Bird, of our UUC congregation, on how to prepare quick, tasty and healthy vegan sandwiches for your family. A selection of samples and sides will provide a light meal for attendees. A brief discourse and discussion of the benefits of vegetarian cuisine will precede and follow the cooking demonstration.
Learn how compassionate cooking reflects the principles of Unitarianism.
A donation of $5 is requested to cover the cost of the food. |
UU Designs for Social Justice |
 Sunday, September 23 at 11:30 in theSocial Hall there will be a one time only sale of items with UUC logos and designs by Lynette Wood. Items include cups, tote bags, greeting cards, memo pads, and other useful items.
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Have you been visiting Unitarian Universalist services for weeks, months, years, but STILL you are not quite sure that it's the right spiritual home for you? Choosing a church home that may feel radically different from past experience can be daunting. This is especially true if you are still in the casual visitor or "still learning" mode. If you identify with those descriptors, now might be the ideal time to learn more about Unitarian Universalism and the UUC congregation. Our popular "New UU" mini-course convenes Thursday, September 27, and is now open for enrollment. The course is six hours spread over three Thursday evenings from 7 to 9 p.m. on the UUC Campus. Reverend Abhi Janamanchi is the course facilitator and provides some history of the Unitarian Universalism religion, some information about what's happening in the here and now of UU life in the world, and what's happening at UU Clearwater. Most importantly, the course is about YOU if you are wanting to learn more about embracing your own unique feelings and beliefs about spirituality and how you fit your uniqueness under an equally unique faith label. UU MAY BE YOU! If you want to explore the UU waters more, save these dates and/or contact Ann Kanuck of our Welcoming Team to sign up for the class or learn more. Sign-up sheets are also available at the Welcome Desk in the Octagon lobby. Ann can be reached by email or by telephone at 727.796.4585. Please let Ann know if you need childcare, special seating, etc. NEW UU CLASS SCHEDULE September 27, Thursday, 7 to 9 p.m. Getting to Know YOU! October 4, Thursday 7 to 9 p.m. Unitarian Universalism-Then and Now. October 11, Thursday 7 to 9 p.m The Octagon of Unitarian Universalists of Clearwater (UUC)-Navigating the water, campus and congregation. |
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Our Web Site's Social Justice page can be found here.
Click here to read about the Social Justice Council's Voter Initiative.
Ride Sharing
We need more drivers from the north area, passing by the Hampton apartments, willing to pick up UUC Hampton residents once per month. This is the way our beloved members are assured a ride and some communing while commuting to services on Sunday.
Environmental Justice
Green Team Meeting
The next meeting of the Environmental Justice/Green Team is scheduled for Sat, 09/22/12 (originally scheduled for the 15th) from 9:30 - 11:00 a.m.
Green Team Notes
A hard copy of UUC's completed application for Green Sanctuary accreditation is now available in the Maxwell Library. September is National Hunger Action Month. Click here to find out how you can help. Please contact Dotti Doyle if you are interested in participating in new or existing green projects.
Trash to Treasure
"Trash to Treasure," a light-hearted workshop where you can learn how to make gifts and wrappings from up-cycled or recycled materials. This will be held on Saturday, October 20 1-4 pm.
Economic Justice
Change of Date for Economic Team Meeting
The Economic Justice team will be meeting on September 18th instead of September 11th . We still will be meeting at 10:30 at UUC. Please join us as we continue our work to promote Economic Justice in our world. Also if you didn't have an opportunity to sign letters for workers rights in the fields and in the restaurants last Sunday please stop at the Social Justice table after the service this Sunday.
Rice & Beans Collection
This year the UUC Economic Justice Team is kicking off our annual Maralyn Toman Beans and Rice Collection for the farmworkers as part of the Ingathering service on September 16th. The farmworkers are in special need of food during the fall before the growing season begins. The food will be delivered in October to the farmworkers that live in the camps in Plant City. We are also collecting lightly used books for the children in the camps. Please remember to bring rice and beans with your water on the 16th.
Our new RCS Foodbank Box
Now that the RCS Foodbank Box has been dedicated we need to fill it up. Please read this and give generously as you are able.
If you are interested in helping register voters for the next election, please click
here to read an article on how to get started. If you are NOT a registered voter you might be interested in this.
Voter Initiative Volunteers Needed |
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 Barbara Bird 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. |
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