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

Rev. Dawn is available for pastoral care appointments Wednesday through Friday 10 am to 3 pm. Please email minister@uucsjs.org to schedule an appointment.

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

In his possibility drenched poem, Things to Think, Robert Bly writes,

When someone knocks on the door, think that they’re about

To give you something large: tell you you’re forgiven,

Or that it’s not necessary to work all the time, or that it’s

Been decided that if you lie down no one will die.

It’s a reminder that it’s possible for us to let go of many of the things that drain our spirit. It’s also a reminder that putting things down opens up space for the possible.

So what’s draining your spirit? Working all the time? A friendship that’s gone well beyond its shelf life? Picking up after everyone else in the house? Daily workouts that could be reduced to every other day? The role of organizing all the family events? An expectation of what you are supposed to be or do?

Whatever it is, this month try putting it down or letting it go. And watch what that makes possible!

Let music help you get into the theme this month. Check out the Spotify playlist below.

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.

Saturday, November 13, 2021, 6:30 pm

16th Annual UUCSJS Service Auction

What Can I Donate?

Our 16 th annual Service Auction, an important fundraiser for UUCSJS, will be held on Saturday, November 13 th . It’s a fun evening of fellowship and winning, so mark your calendars now.

You’re probably asking yourself at this very moment what you can donate. The possibilities are almost endless. Here are some examples.

Events

The most popular category of donation is Events. You can host a themed dinner either at your

home or in the UU Center. Luau anyone? Aloha! French dinner? Mais oui! Sushi and chopsticks? Domo arigato! Fondue party? No double dipping!

Or, you can take people on a nature experience. White-water rafting? Whoaaaa, yeah! A birding morning? Tweet-tweet! A Pine Barrens tour? Look out for the Jersey Devil! Or come up with any other adventure you can think up. A field trip to the Wildwood Boardwalk? Watch the tram-car please! A British high tea? Tut-tut – and please pass the lemon curd! A make-your-own-pizza party? Ciao, baby!

Items

If you’re like the little old lady who drove her ’98 Chevy only on Sundays to go to church and it’s still in pristine condition, then donate some of your gently-used stuff. No large furniture,

please. Or if you’re like me and have a kitchen full of never-used appliances and gadgets – what was I thinking when I bought that mandolin! – then let some other lucky person feast on your misfortune.

Remember that lovely kitchen towel set you bought for Aunt Thelma? Well, Aunt Thelma is in

assisted living now and can’t use it. What about the unworn slim jeans you bought for yourself last summer? Hmmm, that was before you started inhaling Dunkin Donuts every morning. Perfect to donate!

Handmade Items

A category near and dear to my heart, handmade items can include earrings (my motto is that you can never have too many pairs of earrings) or necklaces (ditto the earrings motto). If you make your own pottery, take heed – donate your originals; I’m the proud owner of many beautiful Marie Taylor pieces. If you’re a knitter or crocheter, like Peg Gillies, donate your scarves, bags, sweaters, baby clothes, and other cute stuff. If you’re an artist, whatever you do well, donate your lovely creations!

Baked Goods

This is the yummy category. If you’re a fair hand at baking, why not donate a pie or two? Or

cookies . . . or scones . . . or brownies . . . excuse me, I have to get a snack.

Ok, I’m back. What if you’re like Melissa and can create a delicious vegan pesto? Or like Jack and have a winemaking operation that any speakeasy during Prohibition would have coveted? Or like Helen and make the best pumpkin pies on the planet? Donate! Donate! Donate!

Services

Once the mainstay of our auction, services of many types are valued. Housecleaning services? Guitar lessons? Surfing lessons? Full-body massages? Resume writing? Repair work around the house? Babysitting? Limo service to and from the airport? Raking leaves? Our congregation offers a plethora of generous services, yours for a reasonable bid.

Another Way to Donate

If you really don’t have anything to donate – don’t tell me you’re still keeping that old guitar on which you used to play Kumbaya – you can buy a sponsorship. If you have a business and want to advertise, you buy a sponsorship and we’ll put an ad for your business in the Auction catalog. Easy! A sponsorship also can be a burning message you want to announce to the congregation. A sponsorship gets you a quarter, half or whole page to get your message out. Do you want to thank someone for something? Do you want to share your joy with the congregation? Or do you just want to share a lovely poem with others? Sponsorship forms will be in the back of the sanctuary with the donation forms.

Here’s your chance! Donate! Donate! Donate!

Please bring your gently used hand and power tools to UU Center on Sunday the 19th. Richard Schurig has volunteered to collect and sort donated tools. Please contact Richard or email admin@uucsjs.org with specific questions.

Help raise money to support UUCSJS! Here's how:

1. Purchase a shopping pass for $5 each

2. Shop at Boscovs (in-store only) on October 20th and receive 25% off your purchase

3. UUCSJS receives all funds from purchased shopping passes!

Passes are available by emailing Nick Bonar (or admin@uucsjs.org) and will be available at in-person services beginning Septmeber 12, 2021.

Rev Dawn is working on a fundraising idea to raffle off a NEW CAR and make money for the congregation at the same time.

If you're interested in fundraising, have a background in marketing, or are looking to do outreach for the UUCSJS, get in touch with Rev. Dawn at minister@uucsjs.org to join the team putting together this amazing project!

Click on the graphic above OR email admin@uucsjs.org to complete your auction donation form.

-Rev. Dawn Fortune

The fall equinox falls on September 20, and marks the halfway point between the longest days of summer and the longest nights of winter. It is a good time to consider where we are in our spiritual travels, and what we’d like to explore next. Join us as we explore and embrace the possibilities before us!

This service will be held inside the sanctuary at UUCSJS. The service will also be livestreamed on our Facebook page.

We hope you all had an enjoyable and safe summer!

Now that we have had a few successful outdoor services, we are ready to move inside the building for our annual beloved water service in gathering.

In order to continue to stay safe and prevent spread of COVID, we are asking all participants to please adhere to the following guidelines:

1. Upon your arrival, please check in at the Welcome desk at the entrance to the UU Center to complete your Health and Safety pledge using the QR code (paper copies of the pledge will also be available)

2. Regardless of vaccination status, ALL participants must wear masks/ acceptable face coverings at all times while inside the UU Center building

3. Within the sanctuary, we will be asking participants to sit 6 apart. Household contacts may sit close together

4. In order to limit droplet spread, congregants will be asked to hum along with the hymns

5. There will be no formal coffee hour

6. After the service, we will encourage participants to exit out the East doors leading on to the deck (those with mobility needs may exit through the usual “front” / West facing doors.

7. We encourage everyone to continue conversations outside; however, due to New Jersey still being in the “High risk” range for COVID transmission, we are still asking everyone to continue to keep your masks on if you are engaging in outdoor conversations.

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.

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

Click on the images for more information.

Sunday Services 10 am on Zoom at tinyurl.com/uucsjszoom

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