UUCSJS Midweek Message

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Email admin@uucsjs.org or call Jess at 609-965-9400 if you need assistance

• Upcoming Sunday Services
• Faith Development
• Notes From the Board
• Announcements
• Events This Week
• Last Sunday
• Connect to Our Larger Faith
• Caring Team

What If

Presented by Guest Speaker Suzzette Ortiz

What if we change hate for love

What if we change indifference for compassion

What if we stop and listen

What if we stop and reflect

What if we can agree to disagree

What if we can learn to accept each other for who we are

What if we learn to realize that there is a space in this world for

For you and me!

Let’s do it together BECAUSE There is power in togetherness.

This month our worship theme is Justice and Equity.

Last Wednesday one of our members, Kaulette Johnson, represented our faith and its commitment to justice and equity at a Vineland, NJ School Board meeting. The Board was hearing a request to repeal New Jersey's controversial education Policy 5756, which, among other things, allows schools to work with transgender students to formulate a plan to "come out" to their families. The Board heard more than four hours of intense debate over parental rights and transgender student safety. Unfortunately, the Vineland School Board voted 7-2 to repeal this policy.

Thank you Kaulette and the other community members, parents, educators, mental health providers, and students who fought hard to keep this policy and its protections in place. We keep all those impacted by this decision in our hearts and we will continue to fight for justice, equity, and safety for all our children and youth.

We would like to thank everyone who was involved in making our 25th anniversary service a great success. It was a very emotional and spiritual service. It was wonderful seeing people that we haven’t seen in a while attend the service.

Most of our current members were not around for Rev. Doddie’s original tenure and it was a joy to see so many people speaking with her after service. I do not have an attendance number for the service yet but I can tell you that we didn’t have many empty seats and that always warms my heart.

The Board has begun the very early preliminaries in trying to find a contract minister for our congregation. I have met with UUA officials and we are putting together a group of people that will continue the process. Please stay tuned for more exciting information in the coming weeks.

We will be voting on the Article II revisions to the UUA bylaws at our annual meeting in June. We will be having more information coming to you along with a service in March. For more information on Article II please see our midweeks each week and also visit www.uua.com. (Jessica Dunn Safonof recommends this great article in UU World as well.)

Marty Quish

President, UUCSJS Board of Trustees

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

We are having a gathering for newcomers this Sunday after the service. The purpose is for us to get to know each other better. Newcomers will have a chance to ask their questions and to learn ways of moving more deeply into congregational life. Invitations have been sent out to many of our visitors, and we ask you respond as to whether you are coming. If you have not gotten an invitation, you are still welcomed. It will begin right after the service and downstairs. Bring your coffee. Snacks will be served.

Our new common read is On Repentance and Repair by Rabbi Danya Rittenberg. We have ordered several copies which will be available in the lobby this Sunday. Discussion will take place April 14th after the service.

Danya Rittenberg’s book is rooted in traditional Jewish concepts and the work of medieval philosopher Maimonides, Born in Spain around 1135 AD.

When it comes to harmful situations, society has placed a great deal of emphasis upon forgiveness which places the brunt of repair on the wounded. Repentance and Repair turns to those who are struggling to take responsibility for their mistakes. Chapter one describes five steps of repentance based on Maimonides teachings. These teachings can be applied to personal transgressions and to our culture’s most painful and unresolved issues.

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.

Book club will be meeting Friday, February 16th at 7:00 pm on zoom (www.tinyurl.com/uucsjszoom).

All are welcome to join the meeting.

THE VANISHING HALF by Brit Bennett

A multi-generational family saga that tackles prickly issues of racial identity and bigotry and conveys the corrosive effects of secrets and dissembling. It's also a great read that will transport you out of your current circumstances, whatever they are.

This Sunday, February 18th is SOUPER SUNDAY! Soup will be for sale in the foyer before and after service! Support UUCSJS and come ready to buy some delicious soup!

Vegan, vegetarian, grain free, grain full, meaty...there will be a soup for all tastes!

Have questions text:

Barb Morell 215 805 7599

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.

On February 10 Barbara Morell, Kaulette Johnson, and and I had the opportunity to attend this year‘s Faith Action Gala held in Princeton. The theme was immigration. It is of note, New Jersey has the second highest immigrant population in the US. We were able to network with six organizations which support immigrants in New Jersey. They include New Jersey Alliance for Immigrant Justice, American Friends Service Committee, First Friends of New Jersey and New York, the Jewish Center/Interfaith Refugee Resettlement Committee (Princeton), Interfaith-Rise (Highland Park), and New Labor. The names of the organizations sound appropriate for the work they’re doing. One organization director volunteered to speak to us and another organization member informed us they have an office in Vineland. I was only aware of Catholic Charities working with immigrants in South Jersey. So, we are learning.

Janet Longo

“What is love calling you to do?”

Side with Love is a public advocacy campaign that seeks to harness love’s power to stop oppression. It is sponsored by the Unitarian Universalist Association and all are welcome to join. Click on the graphic above for more information or visit https://sidewithlove.org/.

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

Helen Utts at (609) 338-3391 email: HelenUtts@aol.com

Tony Zitelli at (201) 463-2800 email: happy85a@aol.com

Barbara Morell at (215) 805-7599 email: morellb@msn.com

Janet Longo at (609) 748-8608 email: jilportnj@comcast.net

Denise O'Meara at (610) 316-7495 denome53@gmail.com

Caring Team is looking for members who are willing to attend monthly Zoom meetings and help out when congregants are sick or suffering from hardships. Please contact Tracey Catino if you can join our confidential group.