UUCSJS Midweek Message

• Minister's Midweek Meditation
• Explore Our Monthly Theme
• Notes From the Board
• Announcements
• This Sunday
• Last Sunday
• Events This Week
• Connect to Our Faith

Rev. Dawn is on furlough this week. If you are in need please reach out to a member of our Caring Team.

Contact a member of the Caring Team

Team members can provide you with support during/after an illness, a death in the family, or other loss or hardship. They can find you resources, run errands, or provide meals in time of need.

Reach out to:

• Tracey Catino at (609) 674-8721 email: Traceysnaps@msn.com
• Denise O'Meara at (610) 316-7495 email: denome53@gmail.com
• Helen Utts at (609) 338-3391 email: HelenUtts@aol.com
• MaryLou DeMaria-Berhang at (201) 247-5635 email: MLberhang@gmail.com
• Tony Zitelli at (201) 463-2800 email: happy85a@aol.com

Are you in need of a ride to Sunday services?

Are you willing to drive other people to services?

The Caring Team would like to know!

We are specifically looking for drivers in the Egg Harbor Township area right now but would like to help others connect as well. If you are interested in volunteering or you need a ride, please contact Helen Utts or any member of the Caring Team or email admin@uucsjs.org.

The sublime writer, Annie Dillard, tells this story about her childhood:

"When I was six or seven years old, growing up in Pittsburgh, I used to take a precious penny of my own and hide it for someone else to find. It was a curious compulsion; sadly, I’ve never been seized by it since. For some reason I always “hid” the penny along the same stretch of sidewalk up the street. I would cradle it at the roots of a sycamore, say, or in a hole left by a chipped-off piece of sidewalk. Then I would take a piece of chalk, and, starting at either end of the block, draw huge arrows leading up to the penny from both directions. After I learned to write I labeled the arrows: SURPRISE AHEAD or MONEY THIS WAY. I was greatly excited, during all this arrow-drawing, at the thought of the first lucky passer-by who would receive in this way, regardless of merit, a free gift from the universe. But I never lurked about. I would go straight home and not give the matter another thought, until, some months later, I would be gripped again by the impulse to hide another penny."

Reflecting back on this as an adult, she says,

"The world is fairly studded and strewn with pennies cast broadside from a generous hand. But — and this is the point — who gets excited by a mere penny?... It is dire poverty indeed when a man is so malnourished and fatigued that he won’t stoop to pick up a penny. But if you cultivate a healthy poverty and simplicity, so that finding a penny will literally make your day, then, since the world is in fact planted in pennies, you have with your poverty bought a lifetime of days. It is that simple."

So how about this?... Let’s plant some pennies! What those “pennies” will be is up to you. Maybe it will be placing flowers for someone to find. Or putting secret notes in places for your partner or kids to find. Or better yet, put some sticky notes in public places, such as a bookstore or library. Speaking of books, what about leaving a few of your favorite books in a public place for a stranger to find, with a message inside it that tells them why you love the book and expresses your hope that they will pass it on. For some “planting a penny” might mean secretly placing a painting of yours on a friend’s wall without telling them, leaving it there to find out how long it takes for them to notice. For others, it might be sketching a chalk arrow on the sidewalk drawing others eyes to a lovely tree that is easy to overlook. Those of you who live in 2nd or 3rd floor apartments might want to blow bubbles out your window to wake up those walking home from work. You could also double your tip at the next few places you eat. And don’t forget, you can also plant pennies with your words by randomly giving out compliments to strangers you encounter during your day.

This exercise is all about us remembering that we can be the givers and enablers of joy.

Happy planting!

This month's book about joy:

• Pleasure Activism: The Politics of Feeling Good, by adrienne maree brown

Movies that will help you be open to joy:

• Chocolat
• Babette’s Feast
• Lover’s Rock
• Shadowlands
• Shall We Dance?
• After Life
• Happy-Go-Lucky
• Inside Out

To have your announcement placed in the Midweek Message, please send an email to admin@uucsjs.org by Noon on Wednesday.

Planning a special event? The Communications Team can help. Visit https://uucsjs.breezechms.com/form/42685e for more information.

The Auction Committee would like to thank all who donated to the 16th Annual UUCSJS Auction and who purchased events and other offerings.

With your generosity almost $8,000 has been raised so far and earnings continue to come in.

Worship associates are needed for the fall calendar. Sheila Stoner is calling people to enlist their help. When she calls, please say yes!

We are happy to have a collection bin in our foyer from Eastern Service Workers Assoc. who is collecting new and unwrapped gift items for the newborns to 17 year olds who are living in low income homes in our community. Their goal is for 1,000 gifts to be donated. [ If you need home pick up for your donation call Colby @ 609-442-0967, Atl Cnty please.]

Do you know ESWA?

Eastern Service Workers Association first opened doors locally in 1977 following the model established in 1972 in Long Island of low-income farm laborers. Two of the women most responsible for launching it in Atlantic City were Lee Glanton of Stockton College and Barbara Cooke, a domestic worker, mother and longtime local activist fighting for civil and welfare rights. "We started out of a campaign to hold the state accountable to its promises made to the region in 1976 and circulated flyers to that effect."

In 1976 voters had approved a proposal to introduce casinos into Atlantic City -- at the time, only to be the 2nd place where gambling was legal in the United States (first being Las Vegas). Voters approved it on the basis that tax revenue would aid the elderly and poor however, the state failed to keep their promise and poverty concerns have continued and have gotten even worse.

Changes to the local economy have resulted in a drastic loss of income for working people in this area as low-paying service sector jobs are increasingly all that is available. Currently, 6% of the private sector workforce is unionized and 48% of wage earners in Atlantic County don't make enough to cover expenses.

ESWA, 53 E. Washington Ave., Pleasantville, 609-646-9814

ESWA is a free and voluntary unincorporated membership association of low-income workers and their families who band together creating a self help organization to address survival needs and long-term solutions to growing poverty conditions. The office is open 12 hours a day, 365 days a year, staffed entirely by volunteers and supporters.

Poverty is very hard to live in.

Please, let's fill that box (twice)!!

HELP "HAPPY" HAPPEN

Rev. Dawn Fortune

The holiday of Hanukkah celebrates the miracle of how a one-night’s supply of oil lasted for eight nights. It is a time of feasting and joy and celebration, with special food, lots of joyful gatherings, and gifts. Join us as we explore and appreciate this tradition that is thousands of years old.

This service will be held inside the sanctuary at UUCSJS (masking and social distancing required). The service will also be livestreamed on our Facebook page.

If you were unable to join us, you can watch the video of last week's service below.

Click on the graphic below or visit the calendar at uucsjs.org for more information on events and meetings.

CLICK HERE to reserve the Zoom Room or to add your event to the calendar.

Thursday, Dec. 2, 2021 at 1:00pm – The Margaret Circle will meet at the UU Center, and celebrate Christmas and Hanukkah with a White Elephant gift exchange.

Here you will find ways to learn about and connect with our faith and opportunities to connect with other UU's from outside our congregation.

Click on the images for more information.

Click on the image above to learn more about:

• Livestreaming & Copyright Resources
• COMPASS: Navigating the Paths to Liberation Together
• A Second Slice of Pi: An Online Conference for Smaller Congregations
• News from Our Whole Lives & Parents & Caregivers Curriculum
• CERSI Job Applications Now Being Accepted!
• New Faithify Projects
• News from the CER Advisory Council
• Better Together Blog: Are You Tired?
• CER Events Calendar
• UUA News

Sunday Services 10 am in person and livestreamed on Facebook.

Email: admin@uucsjs.org
Website: www.uucsjs.org
Location: 75 S Pomona Rd, Egg Harbor City, NJ, USA
Phone: (609) 965-9400
Facebook: facebook.com/uucsjs
Twitter: @UUCSJS