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In this week's Minister's Midweek Meditation, Rev. Dawn shares "A Prayer for Compassion" by Elizabeth Tarbox. As we focus this month on cultivating relationships, we can meditate on how "in taking care of another, we are cared for."

Rev. Dawn is available for pastoral care appointments Wednesday through Friday 10am-3pm. 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

There’s lots of advice out there about how to cultivate relationships, but what about the challenge of deciding which relationship to nourish?

We live in a society that narrows our view, that distracts us from the relationships that matter most, and certainly the relationships that could feed us the most. When societal voices encourage connection with our checkbooks, 401k accounts, social standing, and our Netflix cue, it’s hard to hear our inner voice calling us to reconnect with wonder, stillness, play, protest, memory or prayer.

So this month, lean into the work of noticing, of stepping back to widen your view, of listening to the longings for deeper connection.

Here’s your assignment:

• Set aside 15-30 minutes of reflection/meditation to read this poem/prayer multiple times by Phyllis Cole-Dai
• On the first reading, pay attention to the 4-5 lines that “pop” for you, that seem to pull at your heart, that emotionally light up in neon lights.
• Go slow and notice the way the poem invites you to consider types of relationship we usually overlook. For instance, our relationship with our voice, our sense of safety, our faith, our temper, our expectations or what tempts us.
• Then reflect on those 4-5 lines and identify the one that stands out the most.

The aim is to uncover the relationship that wants and most needs your attention right now, the relationship that wants you to feed it so it can feed you.

Click the link below for a free playlist of music to help you dive deeper in cultivating relationships.

Join us in building community and cultivating relationships as we work together to create the first ever UUCSJS All-Together Quilt! UUCSJS is embarking on a project of relationship building through quilt-making! And we need YOUR help!

Throughout the month of October you will have the opportunity to sew quilt blocks for our quilt. These blocks will be sewn together into a beautiful patchwork quilt that will symbolize the community we are rebuilding here at UUCSJS. We will learn together, sew together, talk together, and grow together. We will get to know one another again and in new ways. (No sewing skills or knowledge required. Come learn something new!)

Will you be represented in our all-together quilt?

Here's how you can participate:

1. Sew along during Sunday service. There is a basket of materials available in the back of the sanctuary.
2. Meet out front at the sewing circle table AFTER Sunday service. Come sit, chat, and sew each Sunday afternoon.
3. Volunteer in Children's RE and help the children and youth add their presence to the quilt during RE Learning Lab.
4. Attend a sewing circle event: Thursday, October 14th or Saturday, October 30th 12-2 pm. RSVP to these events by emailing religiouseducation@uucsjs.org.

Help us make the UUCSJS all-together quilt a reality!

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.

Fall Greetings from the pandemic response team!

Please bear with us as we continue to evaluate and update our worship guidelines.

Our goal is to keep everyone safe in our worship spaces as we continue to navigate the twists and turns of the COVID 19 pandemic. COVID cases are still high in South Jersey, but the rate of infections is going down, and vaccination rates are high so that is encouraging.

Below are some gentle reminders for all UU staff/members/friends/visitors:

• Please continue to sign a health and safety pledge prior to attending each Sunday AM worship or other in person events at the UU Center. You can still use the QR code or online link for this. Updated paper copies with a line for Name/Signature/ Date will be available.
• We are still advising mask wearing and social distancing for all congregants both inside and outside the UU facility.
• Congregational singing (with masks on) inside the worship space is allowed per UUMN and National Choral Directors guidelines.
• We are still working out some of the AV issues that have been brought to our attention. This includes the AV experience for in person worship and for persons attending on Facebook live. Many thanks to music director Gina Roche and her partner John Rosenberg for optimizing the sound system in the sanctuary. Thanks also to Rev Dawn for constructing barriers for the speaker and musician(s) up front. Please note that these are temporary structures to allow for the minister/ lay leader/ speaker to not have to wear masks when they are up front, which will help with audio quality, and also to help people who are lip readers to understand the speaker. This is a work in progress, and we will continue to evaluate the best options for the speakers and musicians.
• Old habits die hard! We are still asking participants in Sunday worship to please use the East facing (back deck) doors to exit the sanctuary. Those with handicapped needs may still use the West (front portico) doors to exit. This is to prevent a bottleneck of people in the foyer.
• You may still socialize with friends and newcomers in the main sanctuary after services. Coffee service is still on hold for now…
• The kids are all right! Kudos to Jess for keeping the kids safe in the RE space. Most of the kids are used to masking and distancing routines from school, so they are sometimes better behaved than the adults :)

Please direct other questions/comments/suggestions to anyone on the pandemic response team: Melissa Hutchison, Karen York, Jeff Taylor ,or Janet Longo. Many Thanks!

All are welcome to attend the monthly meeting of the Board of Trustees on Thursday, October 14, 2021 at 6:30 pm. You can attend via Zoom at www.tinyurl.com/uucsjszoom or in-person at UUCSJS.

FINAL, FINAL Deadline for offering donations: Sunday, October 17, 2021

FINAL Deadline for bringing your items in to UUCSJS: Sunday, October 24, 2021

Help raise money to support UUCSJS!

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.

UUCSJS is sponsoring a Rainbow Library in South Jersey! GLSEN's Rainbow Library is a program that sends LGBTQ+ affirming K-12 text sets to schools for free!

The Human Rights Campaign Foundation reports that children feel more welcome classrooms and schools that ensure all kinds of families are portrayed in the books that are available in the classroom and in the library.

It is important for children to see their reality reflected to them through the literature that is available and used in classrooms.

You can help make that a reality here in South Jersey!

Our goal is to raise $1,500! Visit our donation page at http://uucsjs.org/online-giving/ and select "Rainbow Library" to get this campaign started! Keep an eye out here for more information and updates!

Contact Betsy Erbaugh or email admin@uucsjs.org for more information.

-Rev. Dawn Fortune

Our relationships with companion animals can bring us deep joy and many lessons about loyalty, trust, and love. Bring your favorite animal(s) with you this Sunday to have them blessed during the service. All animals must be leashed or in a cage that prevents their escape. Photographs of animals will also be blessed if your pet prefers to stay home.

This service will be held inside the sanctuary at UUCSJS (masking and social distancing required). The service will also be livestreamed on our Facebook page.

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.

Meeting Friday, October 15th at 7:00 pm using the UUCSJS ZOOM link. (www.tinyurl.com/uucsjszoom) All are welcome to join the discussion! Marsha Hannah will lead the discussion.

UNDER THE UDALA TREE by Chinelo Okpapanta

Inspired by Nigeria’s folktales and its war, this book is a deeply searching, powerful debut about the dangers of living and loving openly. It uses one women’s lifetime to examine the ways in which Nigerians continue to struggle toward selfhood. This story offers a glimmer of hope – a future where a woman might just be able to shape her life around truth and love.

Questions: morellb@msn.com

November selection: BELOVED by Toni Morrison

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.

The Fall Issues Conference is at the heart of our ministry together as UU social justice advocates in the state of NJ. Register today!

The conference will convene 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM, with an optional coffee hour opening at 9:00 AM.

Registration is free and open to all New Jersey Unitarian Universalists and friends of UU FaithAction NJ. Youth are encouraged to attend, and FAIR Youth Co-Leaders extend a special welcome to high-school-aged youth to meet them in the FAIR breakout group.

Murray Grove Retreat and Renewal Center

Women's Retreat

November 5-7, 2021

Healing from a Traumatic Time: Rest - Recognize - Renew. This annual women’s retreat brings women from far and wide to explore common issues, build community and have fun.

Visit murraygrove.org for more information.

The 2021–2022 UU Common Read is Defund Fear: Safety Without Policing, Prisons, and Punishment by Zach Norris, published by Beacon Press. The Common Read builds community in our congregations and our movement by giving diverse people a shared platform for reflection and a shared focus for action. Further, a Common Read can take us on a powerful faith journey as we explore—individually and together—what it means to be human and accountable in a pain-filled world.

Read more about the UU Common Read HERE.

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