This Sunday
Loss, Grief, and Healing
Presented by Cynthia Grzywinski
Many if not most of us have experienced deep feelings of grief and pain when a loved one has died. Oftentimes these include not only sadness, but darker emotions such as anger, regret, loneliness, disconnection, and fear that we may never feel joy, or be wholly alive again. In our Western culture, the topic of death is often taboo. Many hold an almost macho attitude toward those who are perceived as grieving too much, for too long, or not long enough. But is there ever a right way to grieve? By exploring the wisdom of religious traditions, psychological and philosophical insights, folklore and personal experience, and finding our shared interconnectedness, we may discover our own path through grief, leading us into the light of healing, and the joy of living.
BIO: Cynthia, a UUCSJS member, has been affiliated with this community since 2005 and has and still serves on a number of committees. She is a retired FAA Engineering Research Psychologist, with a Master’s degree in Aviation Science – Human Factors. A lover of music, Cynthia is a member of the UUCSJS choir who from time to time you’ll see at the piano or playing flute. As a lay speaker, she has contributed several sermons. A devotee and practitioner of Buddhism and the teachings of Thich Nhat Hahn, she also belongs to the UUCSJS Buddhist Sangha. Cynthia currently resides in Galloway Township with her rescue dog, Jazzy.
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.
October 1st: From Munkacs to Millville: The Story of Holocaust Survivor Elizabeth Roth
Presented by Irvin Moreno Rodriguez
This presentation will be on the new memoir published by the Sara and Sam Schoffer Holocaust Resource Center, From Munkács to Millville: The Story of Holocaust Survivor Elizabeth Roth. The book focuses on Holocaust survivor Elizabeth Roth's story of survival and resilience during and after World War II.
October 8th: Look Out! It's a Moral Panic!
Presented by Michael Cluff
From Mods versus Rockers to Political Correctness to Critical Race Theory, our society leapfrogs from one moral panic to another. How can we identify the difference between a manufactured moral panic and a legitimate concern?
October 15th: Gray Panthers and Raging Grannies
Presented by Rev Bob Murphy
"Organizing for Health Equity" is an Action of Immediate Witness that was endorsed by the 2023 General Assembly. The statement developed because of the Gray Panthers, the Raging Grannies, and other folks who are past the age of sixty-five. Rev. Robert (Bob) Murphy is a minister emeritus in Florida who will explain the new world of senior citizen radicalism and what it means for the Unitarian Universalists.
Van GOgh and get yourself to the UUCSJS Auction!
Services
raking leaves, piano lessons, surfing lessons . . .
Dinners and Events
fondue party, barbecue, wine tasting . . .
Items
board game, kitchen tool, radio, crystal vase. . .
Handmade and Baked Goods
jewelry, pesto, pies, cookies . . .
Donation Forms are on table in the rear of the sanctuary or you can download and print the form below.
November 18, 2023
Doors open at 6:30, Auction begins at 7:00
UU Center
Greenlight Coffeehouse
There will be a meeting regarding the start-up of the Greenlight Coffeehouse THIS Sunday, September 24th after services.
The first coffeehouse is scheduled for Friday, September 29th, and I hope to recruit several of the people who said they were willing to help set-up and attend. We definitely need to meet prior to this to work out some details.
Contact Katy Cardwell to volunteer.
Circle Dinner Signup
The last Circle Dinner of 2023 will be held on October 7th. Sign-ups will END this Sunday, Sept 24th.
Sign-up sheets are available at the back table in the Sanctuary. In brief, dinners are generally 8 people (May be slightly more or less to include everyone). Each couple, or singles grouped as a twosome, are assigned a course. Hosts hold the dinner in their home and provide an appetizer. Other assignments are Main Course, Salad and Bread, Dessert. The schedule with course assignments will go out shortly after the Sept 24th deadline. You may also sign up my emailing mariet@comcast.net , be sure to include your name, preferred email, address, and phone number.
Circle dinners are a great way for newer members and friends to get to know us in a fun, relaxed atmosphere. The feedback from the dinners has been very positive. Please consider joining us.
2022 Auction Event: Day of the Dead Bonfire Party
You are invited to join Steve McGahee and Ivette Guillermo McGahee for a Day of the Dead Bonfire Party on Saturday, October 28, 2023!
On the Day of the Dead, it’s believed that the border between the spirit world and the real-world dissolves. During this brief period, the souls of the dead awaken and return to the living world to feast, drink, dance and play music with their loved ones.
At this bonfire, you will celebrate, and learn more about the Day of the Dead, which is a Mexican tradition and holiday where families welcome back the souls of their deceased relatives. You will have an opportunity to learn about the origins of this special day, celebrate with traditional delicious food & drinks, create a literary calavera, and enjoy traditional music. You are invited to bring a picture of your loved one who passed away and something s/he loved to add to the ofrenda (altar).
This event will be held at the home of Steve and Ivette in Pleasant Mills section of Hamonton. They have frontage on Lake Nescochague, which is where the bonfire will be. If the weather does not permit, it will be held inside their home.
To reserve your place for the event, visit the signup table in the sanctuary or email admin@uucsjs.org.
The cost is $30 per person.
Call to Action!
Tell Congress: Protect healthcare for trans people!
The attacks on the freedom and dignity of trans people and their families continue to escalate, with one-third of the country that has passed laws that criminalize and ban access to gender-affirming care. The next stage of the fight for basic LGBTQ freedoms is here, and it affects everyone — even in states that haven’t seen any anti-trans attacks.
Legislation has already been introduced by the most extreme anti-LGBTQ Members of Congress that would criminalize the health care trans people need. Now, they’re sneaking bans on essential health care into the federal budget too. Any national bans on gender-affirming care would be devastating. You and your elected Members of Congress are our last line of defense against this national threat.
As Unitarian Universalists who believe in the dignity and worth of every human being, we must stop any effort to criminalize trans people and the families and communities who love us. Send your message loud and clear: Tell your Members of Congress to protect trans people from discrimination.
Support the Dreamers and DACA
Dreamers have lived with uncertainty for 11 years! Tell Congress it is time to step up and pass legislation to provide lasting protection for the Dreamers! We call on all to support the Dreamers in their communities and contact their members of Congress to advocate for their protection. And to collaborate with local partners to combat anti-immigrant narratives and work with grassroots organizations/ campaigns centering on those most directly affected by anti-immigration policies and other failures of the U.S. immigration system.
This action asks members of Congress to pass the Dream Act of 2023.
End Operation Lone Star
The initiative by Texas Governor Greg Abbott, known as Operation Lone Star (OLS), has been impacting asylum seekers at the Texas-Mexico Border. OLS has imposed cruel, inhumane, and deadly treatment in the execution of its official mandate “to combat the smuggling of people and drugs into Texas.”
Pass the Reintroduced Afghan Adjustment Act
Nearly 76,000 Afghans arrived in the United States during and immediately following the evacuation. They were granted humanitarian parole, a temporary, two-year immigration status that allows them to enter and work in the United States but is not permanent.
For over twenty years, Afghan human rights, civil society, and government leaders staked their lives, futures, and families on the international community’s efforts to build a rights-based democracy in their country. When that effort collapsed, they faced deadly retribution from one of the world’s most repressive and brutal regimes.
Need Help?
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.
Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the South Jersey Shore
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