UUCSJS Midweek Message

• Minister's Midweek Meditation
• Announcements
• This Sunday
• Last Sunday
• Stewardship Campaign
• Events This Week
• Connect to Our Faith

Christianity and nature have so much to teach us about becoming (our worship theme for the month of April). Like the caterpillar, we know something is calling us to a bigger change. Join Rev. Dawn as they share a reading from Elizabeth Lesser and help us explore deep personal change alone and in community.

You can catch up on past Minister's Midweek Meditations on the YouTube Playlist and don't forget to join us this week Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at 7pm for Evening Lenten Vespers for UUs.

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

On April 11th, after the service, we will be discussing the following four questions concerning our signage on route 575. A discussion leader and a notetaker will be in four breakout rooms and the main room. Please give the questions some thought beforehand. We are very interested in your feedback.

-Janet Longo, UUCSJS Board Member

1. What words or feelings would you like our display (signs/flag) on route 575 to convey to the public?

2. We have a basic name sign, Black Lives Matter sign, and a rainbow flag on route 575. Can we improve the present configuration in order to promote our causes and advertise our events?

3. The UU Board is considering purchasing an electronic sign that would be used to promote our causes and events. The cost may range from $11,000-$25,000. In your mind, what are the pros and cons?

4. At issue is where and how the rainbow flag should be displayed. Do you support the present display (attached to the sign) or are you in favor of a separate flag pole in proximity to the present sign?

Please see some example images below. You can click on the images to enlarge.

April's book is GHOSTS OF HARVARD by Francesca Serritella!

Ghosts of Harvard is written with a masterly, focused hand, belying the fact that this is Serritella’s debut novel. The pages burn with frenetic energy and are peopled by memorable, compelling characters. The tension is palpable, the twists and surprises perfectly times…. Mary Lou Berhang will monitor.

Book Club will be meeting Friday, April 16 at 7:00 pm on UUCSJS ZOOM link.

Questions: morellb@msn.com

-Rev. Dawn Fortune

Easter is the day Christians celebrate the resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth after his murder. With hopes high of an eventual end to the COVID-19 pandemic, how do we experience death and resurrection in the year 2021?

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 the sermon 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.

See what you missed if you weren't able to join us!

Our annual stewardship drive is almost complete!

The theme of “Keep the Faith” calls attention to the last year when we were faced with unexpected uncertainty and challenge, we responded collectively with creativity, resilience, caring, and commitment. We can’t imagine all that is ahead for this community, but if we continue to “Keep the Faith”, I am certain we will continue to find a bold new way forward.

A stewardship pledge is making a commitment to the future of the congregation. Each family has to determine their own capacity to give. We ask you to make a financial commitment in advance to help us with the planning for the year ahead. Each and every gift is important to us.

Below are links to two different stewardship documents:

1) Our case statement about the pledge drive with a letter from Rev. Dawn, the goals, and suggested giving tables.

2) A pledge card - if you are ready to record your pledge in support of the 2021 to 2022 programming year.

Our goal for the stewardship drive this year is $170,000. We currently have pledges for $114,183 from 35 contributing families or 67 % of our goal. Thank you to those who pledge and give so faithfully to sustain the congregation! Thank you for your voluntary generosity and your faithful and ongoing support of our congregation.

In fellowship,

Karen York, stewardship chair

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

Email admin@uucsjs.org to schedule an event or to have your event included in our calendar.

Holy Week: Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights at 7 p.m. vespers services will be presented live on the UUCSJS YouTube Channel. Each service has scripture readings, music, and a brief reflection.

Tune in for a contemplative half-hour service! Visit uucsjs.org for more information and a link to the videos.

Margaret Circle will be meeting on Zoom on Thursday, 1:00 pm, April 1. (April Fools Day)

Our program will include lots of fun and laughter as we are going to play some games that should work on Zoom. Contact Betsy Searight or email admin@uucjs.org if you would like to join, but are not on the Margaret Circle list.

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: 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