UUCSJS Midweek Message

• Minister's Midweek Meditation
• Announcements
• Notes From the Board
• Stewardship Campaign
• Events This Week
• This Sunday
• Last Sunday
• Call to Action
• Explore Our Monthly Theme
• Connect to Our Faith

Gentle People,

As you know, I gave notice of my intent to leave my position of minister here early in the year. As the time comes for the congregation to turn its attention toward planning for next year’s programming and figuring out the budget to make it all happen, the Board and I have come to an agreement that facilitates my departure from this position on a more acute timeline. My last Sunday in the pulpit as your minister will be next Sunday, (Easter) April 17. I will preach my farewell sermon at that time and begin the process of extricating myself from the UUCSJS and greater South Jersey community.

In accordance with the ethical guidelines that all members of the UU Ministers Association covenant to uphold, I will not be in contact with anyone after my departure next Sunday. I will go through my Facebook friends list and remove those people who I know through my affiliation with this ministry. I will turn off my work phone until I begin my new position and have a new number. I will shut off my access to my ministerial email address here at church. It is sad work, but it must be done to create and hold healthy boundaries for me and for you and for the health of the congregation.

For those who are curious, I have accepted a position as contract minister at the UU Congregation of the Susquehanna Valley in Northumberland, Pennsylvania, and will start my ministry there on July 1. I am in the process of selling my home in Egg Harbor City and finding a new home in the area around the church where I will be serving.

I have learned an enormous amount in our five years of shared ministry and will forever be grateful for my time as your first called minister. I will be available in the coming week if people would like to call or schedule a visit before my time comes to an end.

Blessings of Peace,

Rev. DC Fortune

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

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.

From the Pandemic Response Team:

The Pandemic response team has advised that as of Friday, March 31st, 2022, we will be lifting the mask mandate requirement for people attending the UU center. This is in accordance with New Jersey State guidelines, and with current COVID 19 transmission risk currently in the "green" zone (low risk).

We will still be encouraging social distancing and other safety measures, including an updated health and safety pledge.

The team is also exploring ways to safely bring back coffee hour and other social events at UUSCJS, so stay tuned...

Thank you in advance for your cooperation! Please contact any member of the Pandemic Response Team with any questions.

Melissa Hutchison, Karen York, Jeff Taylor, and Janet Longo

On Tuesday April 17th at 6:30 pm, the Men’s Group will meet in person at the UU center.

At 7pm, we will have two guest speakers. First up will be the new pastor of the Asbury Methodist Church in Atlantic City followed by Allen Maddox who is the person who runs their soup kitchen. Anyone in our congregation who has worked the soup kitchen knows Allen very well. Allen will tell us that the soup kitchen is now open and needs our help. Please attend this meeting to find out how we can return to our one Saturday a month preparing and serving a hot lunch.

There are still a few spots left in the Utts Wine Tasting Auction Event scheduled for April 30, 2022 at 5:30pm. The Paul and Helen are still working out the details of the menu and wine choices but if you would like to join them, and didn't win a spot at the Service Auction, contact Paul Utts today! They would be happy to have you.

Farewell to Reverend DC Fortune

Easter Sunday, April 17th, will be the last time that the Reverend DC Fortune leads the UUCSJS in worship as our minister. Melissa Hutchison will conduct a short farewell celebration. We’ll have coffee a cake and anything else that you bring to help us say, “Thank you,” for five years of service.

After that Sunday, the Rev. DC will not be responsible for any of the work of the congregation. He will, however, remain on our payroll through June 30th, with all of the benefits he has enjoyed as our minister.

Pledge Drive

As we reach the end of pledge season, I note that we have received pledges from half of the families and persons in our congregation. Please, let us know your plans for supporting UUCSJS. You can do it electronically here. Even if your pledge will be smaller than it was this year, we want to know that.

Great thanks to pledge drive chair Karen York.

UUA General Assembly

Every year, the congregations of the Unitarian Universalist Association meet in General Assembly. UUCSJS has the authority to send two voting delegates to GA. We still seek volunteers for that role. You can attend physically or electronically. If you have an interest, please write to me. We’ll let you know when that meeting will occur.

Board Meeting Tomorrow

The Board of Trustees will meet at 7:00 PM on Thursday, April 14th. You can join us in person at the UU Center or by Zoom. The Zoom address is the same one we use for Sunday services.

The draft agenda at this link shows that we must discuss a few business items. Please, let me know if I should add any.

Kit Marlowe

President, UUCSJS Board of Trustees

Thanks to all who came and shared during the Stewardship Sharing Circles these past few Sundays. If you have not yet pledged, and would like to do so, the stewardship brochure and pledge cards will be available after services from Karen York. If you would like to pledge remotely using an electronic pledge card, here is the link: https://forms.gle/5GJUQ7WfasVBRKDQA

~ Karen York, Stewardship Chair

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.

Book Club is open to anyone who likes to read.

April’s book is PAPER WIFE by Laila Ibrahim, who will be joining us on Zoom! Ms. Ibrahim calls herself “a devout Unitarian Universalist” and has had an interesting life.

Please join us on Zoom on Friday, April 15, at 7:00 pm to discuss the book. It follows a young Chinese woman who migrates to California in 1923 as the wife of a Chinese-American man whose first wife has died. The book is readily available through most libraries or bookstores.

Use our usual Zoom link to participate.

Rev. DC Fortune

The Bible tells us Jesus of Nazareth rose from the dead and continued his ministry in ancient Judea. What might it have been like to awaken in that dark tomb? So much had happened. What more could be asked of him? Looking forward to a new day can be daunting, but full of promise.

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.

Volunteers wanted for some light housekeeping work on Sunday April 24th after Service.

• Some dusting and wiping down of various parts of the building inside. No heavy work!!
• Some light work outside...removing downed branches, etc.
• UUCSJS will provide all cleaning materials.
• Bring masks, Playtex household style gloves, protective eye wear..Dress comfortably.
• Lunch and light beverages will be provided.

Contact Richard Schurig for more information.

Currently, we are aware of a need for tutors of English for Afghan refugees. This can be done in person (at a local library) or on zoom.

Drivers are also still needed to transport people to appointments. If you can help, please reach out!

Please contact Deb Dagavarian if you have any questions or to volunteer.

Volunteer to be a worship associate! Contact Sheila Stoner or Rev. DC today!

Often, we’re encouraged to awaken to our larger dreams and hidden hunger “for more.” But sometimes what we really need is simply to awaken to what already is, to allow in and awaken to “I’m enough.” So this month, take a morning or an evening to explore your relationship to “enough.”

Specifically, you are invited to meditate on the following two reflections:

• A Poem: Who You Are, Right Now, by John Welwood https://lotusheartmindfulness.com/lotus-heart-blog/2019/5/28/forget-about-enlightenment
• A Song: The Slowdown, by Michael Shynes https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BNvE7d-AKRI

Take them in one at a time, reflecting on each by journaling, jotting notes or drawing what comes up for you. You can leave it there if you want. But if you want to go deeper, you could do the same exercise for multiple days in a row and see how your reflection changes. Another way to dig deeper is to do the exercise with a friend or family member, reading the poem and listening to the song together and then discussing what comes up for each of you.

(From Soul Matters)

Books

Coming to Our Senses: Healing Ourselves and the World Through Mindfulness by Jon Kabat-Zinn

On the connection between awakening, embodiment and healing…

Assembly by Natasha Brown

Review: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/09/13/books/review/assembly-natasha-brown.html

Radical Dharma: Talking Race, Love, and Liberation by Rev. Angel Kyodo Williams

Explores racial injustice as a barrier to collective awakening.

Our Political Nature: The Evolutionary Origins of What Divides Us by Avi Tuschman

On awakening to what divides us politically

Related video discussion: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5vkIJkvJUzE

Movies

• The Truman Show
• Departures
• Something, Anything
• Get Out
• Spirited Away
• I Am Watch here

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 here or the image above to learn more about:

• Intergenerational Spring Seminar
  
• Video Engagement Strategy with Peter Bowden, Sponsored by the UUA
  
• General Assembly News including Choir Registration, Workshop Previews
  
• Spring for Change in 2022: A Season of Sacred Activism
  
• UUMAC 2022 - UU Mid-Atlantic Community in person at DeSales University
  
• A full calendar of CER Events
  
• News from the UUA

Sunday Services 10 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
Phone: (609) 965-9400
Facebook: facebook.com/uucsjs
Twitter: @UUCSJS