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

• Upcoming Sunday Services
• Stewardship
• Announcements
• Events This Week
• Connect to the Monthly Theme
• Connect to Our Faith
• Last Sunday
• Caring Team

Love and Universalism

Presented by Guest Speaker Dana N. Moore

This homily celebrates the diversity of our spiritual lives as “Organic Multi-Religiosity,” acknowledges our heritage of Universalism and calls us to consider our commitment to inclusivity as an act of welcome and love. Corresponds with Principles 1, 2, 3, 6, and 8.

BIO: When not nurturing her two beautiful children, Dana Moore is committed to being a social justice warrior through her ministry work with youth and young adults. Dana is a member of the UU Congregation at Montclair and Professional Religious Educator at Beacon UU Congregation in Summit. In her daily work, Dana journeys with visionary leaders and business owners helping them to overcome leadership challenges, building strong teams and systems for success. As a second-year seminary student at Starr King School for the Ministry, one of only two UU theological schools across the globe, Dana is the recipient of the John Buehrens and St. Lawrence Scholarships. She delights in studying feminine leadership and world religion. After serving as the 2022 Summer Camp Director and Coordinator for their Annual UU Women’s Retreat, Dana has been invited into the role of Program Lead at Murray Grove. Dana is thrilled to develop and support robust programming that aligns with UU values and Murray Grove’s mission of Radical Hospitality. You can contact Dana at Programs@MurrayGrove.org.

PLEASE NOTE: This service will be in person at UUCSJS and streamed live on our Facebook page. A recording will be available later in the day on our YouTube Channel.

*Masks are currently optional at UUCSJS.

March 5 to April 16, 2023

(April 5th Update)

The programs and services provided by UUCSJS each year are made possible through the generous financial support of our members and friends. Each year we have a season of stewardship to receive advance pledges from members and friends to indicate their anticipated level of financial support. This information assists us in planning our program operating budget in advance. We are currently planning for the budget year beginning July 1, 2023 and ending June 30, 2024. Our stewardship drive has begun and will run from until April 16th . Our Goal for this year is $135,000 in pledges. We currently have $111,660 in financial commitments from 35 families, or 83% of our goal. You can complete your pledge electronically using this link. Pledge cards and additional information is available on Sunday over the next month. If you have any questions about the stewardship process, you may contact me or other members of the Board or Finance committee. Each and every pledge is important because it is the collective generosity of our community that makes UUCSJS possible!

~ Karen York, Stewardship Chair

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

April 30th is rapidly approaching and we are reaching out to see if we like the Sunday service at 11am or if a change needs to be made.

When we sent our survey out at the beginning of the year asking about changing the service time we agreed that we would change the time temporarily to 11:00 am until April 30th.

We said we would re-visit the service time around the end of April and see if we wanted to make it permanent. Although the board can make this decision on it’s own we wanted to reach out and take the temperature of the congregation again. We will do another survey on Breeze to see if we want to keep the service time at 11am, go back to 10 am or compromise and go to a 10:30 start time. The survey will run for the next two weeks.

Click HERE or on the button below to complete the survey.

In fellowship,

Marty Quish

President, UUCSJS Board of Trustees

Each week our congregation hosts a number of donation collections. We collect donations for the Food Bank, CARA (the Coalition Against Rape and Abuse), the local animal shelter, and clothing for the ESWA (Eastern Service Workers Association).

Here are some items the local food bank is in need of:

• apple sauce, unsweetened
• canned beans
• soups, stews, chili
• canned chicken, tuna, salmon, ham
• canned vegetables
• canned or dried fruit
• cooking oil
• crackers
• dried herbs spices
• granola
• instant mashed potatoes
• meals in a box
• nuts, unsalted
• pasta
• peanut butter
• rice, quinoa
• powdered milk
• whole grain cereals

Saturday April 15, 2023 @10:00am

Folks needed to haul and spread mulch. Weather permitting. Bring snacks, beverages, rakes and shovels if you have them.. Dress according to the weather and work level.

See Barbara Morrell, Barbara Miller or Richard Schurig. Leave a contact number in case we have to cancel.

Downstairs Ladies Room

Is currently closed due to toilet issues. This is in the process of being resolved. Please feel free to use the downstairs Men's room. Be mindful to please check for occupied before entering. There is no lock on the outer door.

Blue Jean Sunday

Sunday May 15th right after service.

Folks needed to help with spring cleaning. Dusting, windows, some ladder work, vacuuming, cobweb busting. light yard work. There will be no coffee hour that week. Folks that are traveling and others be sure to eat a hearty breakfast or bring something with you for after service. Folks can gather outside for conversation, etc. Dust will be flying and brooms will be swinging! Lunch will be provided for volunteers. Please let Richard know if anyone attending has special dietary concerns (in private if you wish.)

Assignment sheets for the April 22 Circle Dinner were sent by email. If you signed up and did not receive it please contact Marie at mariet@comcast.net or call/text 609-335-2486.

There are unsold spots from the Service Auction that was held last November for events that occur in May and June.

Wine Tasting at the Utts home - May 6, Saturday, in Northfield. This is actually a multi -course dinner, with several wines to sample with each course. This has become a very popular annual event. There are 6 spots left. Cost, $40 per person.

Welcoming Spring Wildflowers - May 7, Sunday after the service until 2:30. This will be at the home of Jack and Jesse Connor, in Port Republic. The Connors have a garden that has only native plants and attracts many pollinators and birds. It is a delightful place. Scones and home roasted coffee and tea will be served. There are 14 spaces remaining. Cost is $20 per person.

Jewelry Workshop - May 13, 1:00 Saturday, at the home of Debbi Dagavarian in Little Egg Harbor.

She will provide the materials and teach you how to make simple jewelry using wire findings and glass or gemstone beads. Two spots remaining – cost $40 per person.

Breakfast in the Garden - May 20, 10:30 am at the home of Janet Longo in Port Republic. This will be a bountiful breakfast buffet in the pleasant company of friends and in her lovely garden. There are 3 spots remaining. Cost is $25 per person.

Landscaping for Pollinators Workshop - June 24 Saturday 10:00 – 12:00 at the home of Jack and Jesse Connor in Port Republic - You will get a tour of the garden, a chance to identify butterflies, moths and other pollinators, and get practical information about how to attract pollinators in your back yard. 14 spots are remaining. Cost is $15 per adult and $5.00 per child.

How to purchase auction spots:

• In person at the service - Sign your name on the original auction sign-up sheets that will be on a table in the back of the sanctuary.
• To pay for it, take an envelope from the table, affix a label on it that identifies the event, put your name on the envelop, and place a check or cash inside. Give this to Marsha Hannah before she leaves after the service or put it in the collection basket.
• Or to pay, you can go to our website, click the yellow donation button, and pay from there. Select "2022 Auction” in the first dropdown menu. But first, reserve your place by putting your name on the signup sheet.

APRIL BOOK CLUB PICK:

THE MIDNIGHT LIBRARY by Matt Haig

Between life and death there is a library. When Nora Seed finds herself there, she has a chance to make things right. Up until now, her life has been full of misery and regret. She feels that she has let everyone down, including herself. But things are about to change.

We will be meeting Friday, April 21 at 7:00 pm on ZOOM (www.tinyurl.com/uucsjszoom) .

All are welcome and encouraged to attend

May selection is: FRESH WATER FOR FLOWERS by Valerie Perrin

Join the UUCSJS Faith Action Environmental Justice task force after service on April 23rd for a viewing of "Nature's Best Hope," a film featuring Doug Tallamy.

Learn how our own backyards can be nature's best hope for helping to preserve our precious wildlife - and the planet for future generations. A Q&A led by Jesse Connor, Native Plant and Sustainability Activist and UUCSJS member, will follow this inspiring film.

Did you know nearly 7,000,000 adult Americans are in jail or prison, or are on parole or probation, while more than 40,000 young people are wasting away in juvenile detention?

Now is the time to obtain your copy of Defunding Fear by Zach Norris, and possibly start reading. However, the discussion concerning this book will not take place until the third Sunday in June after the service. This is a UU common read. Jess has ordered three copies which can be borrowed.

Do you love the arrangements you see on the chalice table each Sunday? Are you feeling creative? Sign up to bring floral or other arrangement for our chalice table!

Let Colby know ahead of time or text 609-442-0967 to schedule your arrangements.

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.

When one thinks of resistance, the first thing to come to mind is not usually self-love, rest or joy. But a number of thought leaders - especially leaders of color - are trying to change that. By widening our perspective, they are not only helping us get in touch with deep personal needs, but also prophetically diagnosing how society needs to change.

So spend this month getting to know three of the most incisive and inspiring of these thinkers. They are listed below, along with suggested avenues into their ideas.

To make this into a personal spiritual exercise, don’t just explore their thinking in the abstract. Instead, make it personal by identifying 2-3 quotes or short passages from their work that speak to you about something you are facing in your own life. In other words, the goal is not to find the 2-3 pieces that interest you most; it is to find the 2-3 that most powerfully offer you a personal word of comfort or challenge.

Sonya Renee Taylor on Self-Love as an Act of Resistance

• Interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ovLYCQp9l0
• Excerpt: https://www.wellandgood.com/sonya-renee-taylor-radical-self-love/
• Podcast Interview: https://brenebrown.com/podcast/brene-with-sonya-renee-taylor-on-the-body-is-not-an-apology/

Tricia Hersey on Rest as an Act of Resistance

• Blog post: https://thenapministry.wordpress.com/2022/02/21/rest-is-anything-that-connects-your-mind-and-body/
• Book Excerpt: https://www.thecut.com/2022/10/rest-is-resistance-manifesto-nap-ministry-book-excerpt.html
• Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/episode/0eoNdCY1XHvc1bVQquB2Gk?si=4YSBXtCQTVSxUV-O5EOI_Q&nd=1

adrienne maree brown on Joy & Pleasure as Acts of Resistance

• Article: https://www.yesmagazine.org/issue/pleasure/2022/05/18/power-in-pleasure-adrienne-maree-brown
• Excerpt: https://www.yesmagazine.org/social-justice/2019/05/14/adrienne-maree-brown-social-change-body-pleasure-activism
• Podcast: https://www.wbur.org/onpoint/2020/04/06/finding-joy-during-coronavirus

(ps I'm reading Pleasure Activism by adrienne maree brown this month and it...is...fantastic! Highly recommend.)

-Jessica Dunn Safonof

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 images below to read about these opportunities and many more from the UUA Central East Region.

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

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.

Sunday Services 11 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

Mailing Address: PO Box 853, Pomona NJ 08240
Phone: (609) 965-9400
Facebook: facebook.com/uucsjs
Twitter: @UUCSJS