Clothes to Kids, Inc. has been chosen as the October 14th recipient of our Share the Plate collection.   This valuable organization provides new and quality used clothing and shoes for children from low-income families in Pinellas County free of charge.  Each child selects five outfits and a pair of shoes twice a year.  To be eligible, a child must be enrolled in school in any grade Kindergarten through 12, reside in Pinellas County and be in financial need.  In these difficult economic times this organization fills a genuine need.  Clothes to Kids have stores in Clearwater and St. Petersburg.  For more information go to www.clothestokids.org.  Please give generously.

So what does an Intern Minister do?

I am in my second year of a three-year program at Meadville Lombard Theological School. Meadville Lombard is a Unitarian Universalist Seminary located in Chicago. The program is designed to provide concurrent learning, working with an experienced Minister and the congregation. This is a remarkable chance for me to see the application of my course work, and learn Ministry from you, the Congregation, and Abhi. My expectation is to be here, working with you, for two years.

My role at UUC is to serve the church and the congregation, and in the process, gain experience in the multiple areas of ministry. I will be planning worship, preaching, and teaching RE. I expect to teach Adult RE, to provide pastoral care, and to work on Stewardship. I want to be involved in social justice work, interfaith work and multi-cultural work. I expect to work with the Youth and the Youth Group and to work with development of the Young Adult program. I am working with the Facilities Planning Task force in selection of the Architect and in development of the initial plans for the facilities.

I am supported and advised and challenged by a Congregational Lay Committee, and we are meeting once each month. They will provide feedback and observations, and may sometimes ask the hard questions about what might not be going well in my work here. I hope they will help me learn how to be a better minister.

In turn, I bring to the UUC experience in leadership in my home church and on the District and Regional Level. I have served several years as a Youth Advisor and OWL teacher, and led my home church through construction of a new RE Building. I have completed Clinical Pastoral Education, working in a hospital in Orlando.

In short, it is a two-year course in how best to do Church, learning from this great vibrant congregation, and from Abhi, one of the best. I am excited to be doing this work here, expanding my experience and skills by doing, here in Clearwater. Thanks for being my Teaching Congregation.

Please welcome Alena Scandura to the UUC staff as the Interim Facilities Manager.  You will see Alena helping on Sundays and some times during the week to ensure that facilities management runs smoothly until a more permanent solution is put in place.  Alena has an extensive background in facilities management and has demonstrated a wealth of experience and knowledge since starting at UUC last Thursday.  Please make an effort to say hello, introduce yourself and make her feel welcome.  All facilities related issues should be forwarded to Karen Roeder, Church Administrator, at Karen.  She can be reached by phone at 727-531-7704.

Don't miss the best and most affordable vacation week in youur life!

Listen to the Podcasts, see Pics, and Catalog online.

SUUSI theme for 2013:  Let It Be A Dance!!!

Mark your calendars and plan now for 7/21-7/27 (the 3rd full week of July).

Heaven awaits!

Florida Interfaith Power and Light is sponsoring a workshop on Faith Perspectives of God's Creation on October 14th, Sunday afternoon, from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. at the United Methodist Church on 38th Ave in St Petersburg. Contact Dotti "GreenJeans" Doyle if you are interested in attending.  

Economic Justice Team will meet Tuesday, October 16th at 10:30. The Publix protest will be discussed. All are welcome to attend.

On Thursday, October 18th Publix will open it's new Caladesi Supermarket at Alt 19 (Bayshore Blvd) and Curlew in Dunedin. The Economic Justice Team is joining with Interfaith Action and CIW to have a peaceful protest presence. As many of you know UUC has been a strong supporter of the Fair Food Campaign. Members of UUC have traveled to Imokolee and to Sarasota to support farm workers in their struggle with Publix, but this is in our own backyard. We will be presenting all the letters of concern that folks here at UUC have signed to the manager. We hope you will rise early (we still don't know if the ribbon cutting will be at 7 AM or 8 AM) and join us in our peaceful protest. Signs will be available and if you have a UUC or Standing on the Side of Love T-shirt, please wear them.

For more information about the Campaign for Fair Food (from the Coalition of Imokolee Workers) http://www.ciw-online.org/

Continue reading....   the rest of this article.

Tuesday was the last day to register voters for the November elections and as of that date volunteers from UUC's Economic Justice Team had registered or updated 36 voters at the RCS Food Pantry, completed many mail in requests, and talked voting in the election to hundreds more. In addition, information from the League of Women Voters on the upcoming election and the constitutional amendments was given out. The registration was almost daily from 12:30 to 3  (in the heat of the day), but volunteers persevered despite the heat. Thanks to all who participated!

Rice and Beans for farm workers are still being collected through October 24th.  Especially appreciated are gently used (or new) children's books.

And food for the RCS Food Pantry is an ongoing act of love.  Please bring a food item to service each Sunday and make a world of defference.

Save the dates:

October 25th: The Faces of Domestic Violence luncheon for the benefit The Haven of RCS. Thursday at 11 at Matheos Hall of Holy Trinty Greek Orthodox Church, 409 South Old Coachman Road, Clearwater. Free, but donations will go to those fleeing domestic violence.

The Pinellas Support group for the National Farm Workers Ministry will have a Soup Supper on Nov. 17th at 5:30 at Holy Episcopal Church, 3200 North McMullen Booth Road,  Clearwater FL. The speaker will be Raymond Arsenault, author of Freedom Riders and professor at USF.

Deportation Deferment

The first young people qualified for the Deportation Deferment Program, enacted by President Obama this year, have begun to file applications for the program. If you have interest in this project, contact Donna Polhamus at Donna or 727-286-7260. (Lawyers to do applications would be really welcome!)  

Do you speak fluent Spanish? The Economic Justice team has several projects including Rice and Beans delivery (Nov 4th) that could really use your services. Contact Donna or call 727-286-7260.

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.