UUCSJS Midweek Message

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

• Upcoming Sunday Services
• Faith Development
• Notes From the Board
• Announcements
• Events This Week
• Last Sunday
• Connect to Our Larger Faith
• Caring Team

Ukraine--A Cause Worth Fighting For

Presented by John J. Zarych

John Zarych will discuss his experience supporting Ukraine and provide insight into the world's response to Russia's criminal aggression.

BIO: John J. Zarych is a criminal defense attorney whose main office is located in Northfield, NJ. He is a cum laude graduate of University of Maryland School of Law, where he served as an editor of the Maryland Law Review. He honorably served in the US Army Reserve for six years, where he received the Outstanding Trainee Leader award for service as the Trainee Commander of a basic training company of 160 soldiers during wartime. He is a member of the Mainland Branch of the NAACP and has volunteered to represent and advise members targeted for arrest while peacefully protesting racial discrimination. He has volunteered on the Ukraine/Poland border assisting some of the millions of Ukrainian refugees, primarily women and children, escaping the Russian onslaught in the spring of 2022, and has done humanitarian work throughout eastern Ukraine. He personally provided humanitarian support to the Ukrainian Army at the Bakhmut battleground. He formed Ukraine Humanitarian Inc., a nonprofit 501c3 charitable corporation, which receives donations to support humanitarian work in Ukraine. He volunteered on the personal security detail for John McCain and his family during the 2000 and 2008 presidential campaigns. He maintained personal contact with Senator McCain until his death.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION: We will be having our Evacuation Drill after service this Sunday. Please bring your coats with you into the sanctuary as we will all be exiting the Center for the drill.

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.

This month we are focusing on generosity which we often think of as giving to others. But generosity is also asking for and accepting generosity from others. Watch the Ted Talk below by Amanda Palmer, rock star and crowdfunding pioneer about the art of asking. Performing as a living statue in a wedding dress, she wordlessly asked thousands of passersby for their dollars. When she became a singer, songwriter, and musician, she was not afraid to ask her audience to support her as she surfed the crowd (and slept on their couches while touring). And when she left her record label to strike out on her own, she asked her fans to support her in making an album, leading to the world's most successful music Kickstarter.

She also wrote a book about her experience: The Art of Asking; or, How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Let People Help

Discussion of Mistakes and Miracles: Congregations on the Road to Multiculturalism

"What calls Unitarian Universalists to create multicultural, antiracist Beloved Community? What do congregations need when they embark on this journey? What common threads run through their stories? Nancy Palmer Jones and Karin Lin—a white minister and a lay person of color—share how five diverse congregations encounter frustrations and disappointments, as well as hope and wonder, once they commit to the journey. Mistakes abound. Miracles of transformation and joy emerge too. Extensively researched and thoughtfully written—with reflection questions at the end of each chapter—Mistakes and Miracles: Congregations on the Road to Multiculturalism will guide readers to apply these stories to their own communities, develop next steps, and renew their commitment to this hard but meaningful work." From Goodreads.com

The Mystery of Our Amazing World

Our religion wants us to pay attention to mystery, that it reminds us how lucky we are to live in an amazing world. Mystery is something which we don’t know, like the answer to “Why are we here?” “How did our universe come into being?” ”What is God?” “Why do people die?” or “What is the meaning of life?” These are things that likely will never be answered and figured out. And that’s ok. The important part, says our faith, is to allow mysterious things to make us feel grateful and happy. Just like when you go to a magic show. We have no idea how the magician does their mysterious tricks; all we know is that we feel excited and lucky to be there to experience it!! Another way to put this is to say, mysterious things change how we feel. Mystery transforms us! When we feel life is boring, they make us feel that life is exciting. When we feel like a know-it-all, they make us humble and curious.

Join us during service to hear a story, play a game, and make some paper snowflakes.

The Mystery of the Returning Light

Join us after worship service as we explore the mystery in the Winter Solstice (the longest night of the year) and how this natural event offers hope, inviting us to see our “dark days” differently .

We will listen to stories, play games, and make beeswax candles to light our way through the solstice.

Our initial totals are in from the auction, and it looks like the congregation made just over $6,000.00. This is more than we had anticipated as initial offerings were down this year. We will continue to bring in revenue from the events that will happen in the future, so it looks like this year’s auction will be even more successful. I would like to thank Deb Dagavarian Bonar and her team who did an extraordinary job this year putting everything together. Few people know the work that is involved in putting on this event which is our largest annual fundraiser, and the Board is just so grateful to everybody that gave their support and time to make this a success.

We will be having our Evacuation Drill after service this Sunday. Please bring your coats with you into the sanctuary as we will all be exiting the Center for the drill. More information will be provided at the start of the service. The UUA recommends that each congregation have two drills a year. We have not had one since before Covid and hope to get back on track beginning this Sunday.

Our second Green Light Coffee House was a success drawing double the performers and double the people in attendance. Our thanks to Katy Cardwell and her team who has resurrected this event from the past. For those of you who have yet to come out and witness the talent, the next coffee house is scheduled for Friday December 8th.

As we begin this holiday season, the Board would like to wish all our members a very Happy Thanksgiving!

Marty Quish

President, UUCSJS Board of Trustees

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

It is that time of year!! ESWA is collecting toys to distribute to families this December. In need of new toys for all ages with special thought to older children and teens - that is where the shortage usually is.

There will be a bin in the UUC entrance for toys, collection will go until Sunday, December 10th.

Thank you for any help you can give to provide toys this year and THANK YOU for all the help you have provided through the past year and in so many ways. ESWA families thank you!

We have a few unsold auction spots for the following events: El Taco Grande Dinner, Football Pub Night, Wine Tasting Fete, Mexican Train Dominoes, Learn to Knit, and Beginner Tap Dancing. Information and instructions on how to purchase these unsold spots will be in the Sanctuary this Sunday.

We have one event, the African Safari Dinner, where we have a big crew of people lined up to make it happen, and would really like to have more guests present to enjoy it. Marsha Hannah and her husband Jerry, and Paul and Helen Utts have traveled to South Africa this past year on safaris, and Jeff and Marie Taylor just returned from Australia and New Zealand. They have offered to share their stories and best photos, and at this event each couple will each give a 20-minute presentation projected onto the big screens in the Sanctuary by David Weesner. Sponsors Betsy Searight and Judy Pereira are organizing around an Africa-inspired theme with amusing icebreaker games, fitting background music, and a bountiful buffet dinner with plenty of vegetarian- and vegan-friendly options. No jungle meat. The date is Saturday, January 27, 2024 at the UU Center at 5:30 PM. $35 per person; no charge for children attending with parents. Please consider signing up!

Does anyone have an electric stick vacuum they are no longer using? B&G is looking for one. Maybe tucked away in a closet somewhere or in grandma's attic?? Gently used is fine.

Thanks,

Richard S

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 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.

Join us on First Fridays at 12 noon on Zoom https://zoom.us/j/94313960594?pwd=OTFDdUdocmY1ckZNZFRyemp6V2NiZz09

Whether you joined us at an Action Hour, or took the actions on your own, help us track our collective impact by filling out this quick Report Back Form.

For more information about UU FaithAction NJ, visit our website uufaithaction.org

Our New Initiative We invite UU FaithAction NJ supporters and friends to gather on the first Friday of each month to take action and experience the joy and power of community. Meetings will be at 12 noon via Zoom, for one hour during which we take action on a specific issue impacting our state and beyond.

ALL are welcome! We welcome not only our FaithAction NJ supporters but also any of our coalition partners. This opportunity is a “come as you are able” experience.

Can’t join us on a Friday at noon? No problem! You can view the week’s actions on this google doc and complete the actions at a time that is convenient for you. You can also share these actions with others in your congregation or community. To help us track our collective impact, we invite you to fill out this quick Report Back Form. Additionally, you can scroll down to view prior months’ actions. We hope this will serve as a useful resource document.

Welcome!

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
• 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.

Sunday Services 10:30 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