Join Rev. Dawn this week in a moment of imagination as they share a quote from Real Life Rituals by Karyl Huntley.
A playlist of Rev. Dawn's Midweek Meditations can be found HERE. Videos on YouTube include closed captioning.
Rev. Dawn is available for pastoral care appointments Wednesday through Friday 10am to 3pm. Please email minister@uucsjs.org to schedule an appointment.
This is the first of two short pieces attempting to answer the question:
How is a choir a model for a congregation?
In choral singing, each singer strives to blend their voice with other voices. Unless they are taking a solo, they do not want the spotlight on them. When no one person stands out, the choir sounds as one voice.
As Unitarian Universalists and as 21st century Americans, we value individualism highly. Ideally, our individualism is tempered with the goal of becoming united when we speak to issues of justice, peace, and care of the earth.
When I sing by myself or with others, I inhabit my body and mind completely - I am fully myself. At the exact same time, I am part of the one voice of the choir. This unique experience of singing together allows us to embody this paradox and it can be thrilling when it comes together.
The same is true of congregational singing. Consider what a miracle it is when we are together at our UU Center and sing. We are individuals, each with unique views, backgrounds, and gifts. But when we sing, for that time, we are one in spirit.
The Religion of Sports
-Rev. Dawn Fortune
Is football a religious experience? Baseball? Basketball? What is religion, anyway? Let’s imagine some of the ways we can experience spiritual community beyond Sunday mornings (or Sunday afternoons!).
Join us Sunday at 10 am at www.tinyurl.com/uucsjszoom or call in to (929)436-2866 then enter: 2246776604#, 0#, 306591#. Make sure to update your Zoom software before Sunday morning so you aren't late to church!
Information on upcoming services can be found HERE.
For those hearing-impaired, pdf copies of Rev. Dawn's sermons are available on our website at the link above. Also, entire services are uploaded to our YouTube channel each Sunday afternoon where Closed Captioning is available.
Margaret Circle
Margaret Circle will meet on Zoom on Thursday, February 4, 2021, at 1:00 pm.
Rev. Dawn Fortune will be our guest, and will speak to our questions, such as “what will our return to the building look like?" and “what are the new directions that the UUA is advocating?”
Your questions will be welcome. Join us.
Contact Betsy Searight or email uucsjsadmin@gmail.com for more information.
Now Taking Orders for Tamales!
Again this year we are on board fulfilling a social justice action call to help Eastern Service Workers Association (in Pleasantville) with their annual Tamale fundraiser - making and purchasing tamales!! We did this last year which was a win-win! This year we are invited to make tamales from your own home for COVID no contact reasons. Their aim is to make and sell ($10 donation for half a dozen) 2,000 tamales!
You may help with preparations, as a driver to transport ingredients and/or making deliveries for pre-orders or in preparations to make chicken or vegan tamales in your kitchen during the week of Feb 1 or freeze ahead of time. Let Colby know of your level of interest. The distribution of tamales will be on February 5th and 6th from a Pleasantville location.
Click the box below to get yourself some of these delicious tamales and to make your donation to support this wonderful organization!
Text or call Colby Tippins for more information. Or email uucsjsadmin@gmail.com
Mini Courses Offered at Stockton
- Protect Our Planet: Problems and Solutions
- Introduction to Visual Literacy
- Music of African Americans
- Think Humanities, Act Creatively: An Environmental Humanities Overview
- Optimal Brain Wellness: Current Research and Practical Strategies
- Reading Poems: Celebrating Spring and the Natural World
Check out this link to learn more.
Virtual Seminary for a Day
Saturday, January 30, at First Unitarian Portland.
This year’s spiritual theme is entitled, Success, Failure, and Everything In Between.
Our keynote speaker is the Rev. Meg Riley, co-moderator of the UUA, the highest volunteer office of our movement. Rev. Riley spent 37 years as a UU religious professional, including stints as the UUA’s Director of (then) LBG Concerns, Director of the UUA Washington Office, and Head of the Advocacy and Witness Staff Group.
At Seminary for a Day Rev. Riley is eager to share what she has learned and reflect on how our faith’s past weaknesses, successes and failures can help us now in our pursuits of equality and justice. She will explore the topic through the lens of our work in welcoming LGBTQ+ people and the lessons that have come from that work.
Details: Saturday, January 30, 2021
12:30 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time
Registration is open until 11:00 a.m. on Friday, January 29th. You will receive a Zoom link via email before the event.
https://www.firstunitarianportland.org/events/seminary-for-a-day-all-are-welcome/
ALL ARE WELCOME! So please do share this event with your congregation. If you have any questions or would like any additional descriptions please contact Kerry at kheintze@firstunitarianportland.org.
UU FaithAction NJ Virtual Gala
Friday, March 5, 2021, 7 to 8:30 PM, online
UU FaithAction NJ’s (UUFANJ) UU Justice Gala 2021 will be our fun annual fundraiser. Racial Justice is the theme to highlight the overarching goal of the dismantling racism work across all our Task Forces.
The gala will have:
- Music and a breakout activity to get people moving,
- You can bid via the UUFANJ website before the event for themed gift and food baskets, delivered to the winners’ doorsteps,
- A drawing for a door prize from among event attendees
Register by January 31st at https://www.uufaithaction.org/.
There will be a sliding scale registration fee for the gala - youth and friends of UUFANJ are warmly invited.
In faith,
Elaine Nigam and Lynne Quinto, Co-Chairs
UU Justice Gala 2021 Planning Committee
Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the South Jersey Shore
Email: uucsjsadmin@gmail.com
Website: www.uucsjs.org
Location: 75 S Pomona Rd, Egg Harbor City, NJ, USA
Phone: (609) 965-9400
Facebook: facebook.com/uucsjs
Twitter: @UUCSJS