April 2020 Newsletter

haven’t ended and we can’t live constantly afraid.  Two weeks ago in worship I invited people to sit with the ways that beauty still dwells in their lives.  I’m attaching the poem I read that morning.  I’m hoping that it will become for you, as it has become for me, a reminder of hope when the world feels irredeemably sad.

 

Take care beloveds, we will meet again.

 

In faith,

 

Rev Aija

 "Yes, There Is Fear" by Frans Stiene:

 

Yes there is fear.

Yes there is isolation.

Yes there is panic buying.

Yes there is sickness.

Yes there is even death.

 

But,

They say that in Wuhan after so many years of noise

You can hear the birds again.

They say that after just a few weeks of quiet

The sky is no longer thick with fumes

But blue and grey and clear.

 

They say that in the streets of Assisi

People are singing to each other

across the empty squares,

keeping their windows open

so that those who are alone

may hear the sounds of family around them.

 

They say that a hotel in the west of Ireland

is offering free meals and delivery to the housebound.

 

Today a young woman I know

is busy spreading flyers with her number

through the neighborhood

so that the elders may have someone to call on.

 

Today Churches, Synagogues, Mosques, and Temples

are preparing to welcome 

and shelter the homeless, the sick, the weary.

 

All over the world people are slowing down and reflecting

All over the world people are looking at their neighbors in a new way

All over the world people are waking up to a new reality

To how big we really are.

To how little control we really have.

To what really matters.

To love.

 

So we pray and we remember that

Yes there is fear.

But there does not have to be hate.

Yes there is isolation.

But there does not have to be loneliness.

Yes there is panic buying.

But there does not have to be meanness.

Yes there is sickness.

But there does not have to be disease of the soul.

Yes there is even death

But there can always be a rebirth of love.

 

Wake to the choices you make as to how to live now.

Today, breathe.

Listen, behind the factory noises of your panic

The birds are singing again

The sky is clearing

Spring is coming.

And we are always encompassed by Love.

 

Open the windows of your soul

And though you may not be able 

to touch across the empty square, 

Sing. 

 

 Community CARES -  how you can still help

Although UUCV members are practicing social distancing to help overcome COVID-19, there are still ways we can support CARES.

First, CARES has decided not to move the shelter during this time, but rather keep everyone together to minimize possible exposure for folks experiencing homelessness. This means UUCV will not host in April.

In place of this, CARES is asking for supplies.

 

CARES needs the following:

I.                Food. Jarred pasta sauces, dry pastas, rice, anything that can be cooked in bulk would be gratefully received. Coffee supplies would be very helpful.

II.                Portable food. Peanut butter, granola bars, crackers, beef jerky, anything portable that does not require refrigeration or cooking.

III.                Cleaning supplies. With everyone in one room for meals, sleeping, etc, staff is working round the clock to sanitize every surface every two hours. Any cleaning supplies would be greatly helpful in maintaining safe, hygienic conditions.

IV.                Paper goods and plasticware. Paper plates, paper cups, napkins, and plasticware. It helps maintain hygienic serving conditions.

Safe ways to give:

V.                A 35-gallon trash can has been placed by the main entrance of UUCV. We are using this because people are not likely to try to steal a trash can. [Note: the trash can is clean and new. There has never been trash in it.] Please place supplies inside gently. Chris Kapp will pick up supplies twice a week from UUCV and take them to CARES.

VI.                You can order supplies online (via Amazon) and ship them directly to CARES. The physical address is as follows:

Community CARES 50 W. Penn St., Carlisle, PA 17013

We understand that not everyone is in a position to help currently. These are challenging times. That said, if you are able to help, please do so. Folks experiencing homelessness are a particularly vulnerable population, and this is a tangible way that we can help keep people in our community safe, fed, and in hygienic conditions during this pandemic.
 

CARES is requesting cash donations.

They need to be able to isolate sick folks in hotel rooms, and we have filled all the donated ones already. They still have people coughing and exhibiting symptoms in the general shelter population that we need to isolate. People can go to https://www.morethanshelter.org/give-financially and fill in the donation form, putting COVID-19 RESPONSE in the "My donation is for" field. 

 

If you are able to assist, it will be greatly appreciated.

 


UUCV SJC April Meeting

Time: Apr 18, 2020 06:30 PM Eastern Time(US and Canada)

 

Join Zoom Meeting

https://uuma.zoom.us/j/9428106896

 

Meeting ID: 942 810 6896

 

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Find your local number: https://uuma.zoom.us/u/aEzkk6AMZ

 

Change For The World - Kids Café at Hope Station  Kids Café, a program of Hope Station, located in Memorial Park, Carlisle, offers children a healthy after school snack, Monday through Friday from 2:45 to 4:15.  This time also offers a chance for children to work on homework and relax in a supportive environment.  There are currently 130 children registered for this program.

 

Hope Station is a non-profit designed to enhance the quality of life, health, safety, and economic opportunities of the people who live in the neighborhood it comprises. Hope Station is not just a building.  Hope Station  seeks to lift up the entire neighborhood by tackling our most difficult problems through education, technology, job development and most importantly, teaching our children to become leaders by learning to respect themselves and others.  Hope Station has a commitment to unity and pride, and embraces the success and diversity of its families.  www.hopestationcarlisle.org

You can also donate at https://uucv.org/stewardship/donate-to-uucv/  or mail a check to UUCV, PO Box 207, Boiling Springs, PA  17007.   Please indicate that your donation is for CFTW.

 

Annual Budget Drive (“Stone Upon Stone”) through the remainder of the Church year ending on June 30 instead of concluding it as planned in mid-March. During this extended period, there will be additional information and opportunities to participate and support UUCV.

If you have an already completed 2020-2021 pledge form waiting to be submitted, you can, of course, mail it or email it to the church.  In the meanwhile, we do ask that those who are able continue to pay your pledges and to make offerings to the congregation as we navigate this tricky new landscape.  You can do this online at uucv.org/donate (via PayPal or your credit card) or by mailing your checks to the church at:

UUCV, PO Box 207, Boiling Springs, PA  17007

As always, please indicate in the memo line of your check or in the space provided by the online payment providers where you wish your contribution to be directed: monthly pledge, Change For The World, Offering, Mozambique, etc.

We depend on and deeply appreciate your generosity.

Gardening gets us outside, provides exercise, reduces stress and can be done practicing “social distancing”.

UUCV has identified 12 different areas needing care.  Some beds just need weeding and pruning and others involve planting flowers.  Our  Adopt a Flower Bed program will help match each volunteer with maintaining one specific area.   You can work when it suits your schedule and do so as an individual or bring the whole family! 

 

Generally, you can expect to spend around 30-40 minutes every 2 weeks.  When things are cleaned-up in the fall you are done.  That’s it, no meetings and no long-term commitment.

 

Are you ready to say “Yes, sign me up!” or have questions -

Contact: Paula Terry – paterry31@gmail.com   (No sign-up sheet this spring)

Don’t delay… the growing season has begun and UUCV needs your help.

Weekly Virtual Opportunities to Connect with UUCV Community

 

Monday:

10:00 - 10:30am: #UUCV Challenge:

Join us on Facebook Live to hear about the next in our series of UUCV Challenge by Choice!

 

10:30am - 2:30pm: Open Zoom Space: 

Every day a UUCV staff member will be available on Zoom to connect, chat, and hold space.

 

5:30 - 6:30: Family Happy Hour, Online Edition:

Grab your favorite beverage and come hang out with us on Zoom.

 

Tuesday:

10:30 - 2:30pm: Open Zoom Space:

Every day a UUCV staff member will be available on Zoom to connect, chat, and hold space.

 

7:00 - 7:30pm: Bedtime Story with Emily.

Join DLFD Emily Crutcher on Zoom as she reads a bedtime story for little ones.

 

Wednesday:

10:00 - 10:30am: #UUCV Challenge:

Join us on Facebook Live to hear about the next in our series of UUCV Challenge by Choice!

 

10:30am - 2:30pm: Open Zoom Space:

Every day a UUCV staff member will be available on Zoom to connect, chat, and hold space.

 

7:00 - 8:00pm: Vespers with Rev. Aija:

Rev. Aija will lead a meditative worship experience for those seeking a point of calm, stillness, stability, and community connection.

 

Thursday:

10:30am - 2:30pm: Open Zoom Space:

Every day a UUCV staff member will be available on Zoom to connect, chat, and hold space.

 

8:30 - 9:30pm: Meditative Music with David

Join David for an hour of calming, meditative music.

 

Friday:

10:00 - 10:30am: #UUCV Challenge:

Join us on Facebook Live to hear about the next in our series of UUCV Challenge by Choice!

 

10:30am - 2:30pm: Open Zoom Space:

Every day a UUCV staff member will be available on Zoom to connect, chat, and hold space.

 

3:00 - 4:00pm: Animal Videos with Emily:

Tune in for your weekly dose of fluff and cuteness. Emily will watch and comment on animal videos on Facebook Live.

 

Saturday: 

10:30am - 2:30pm: Open Zoom Space:

Every day a UUCV staff member will be available on Zoom to connect, chat, and hold space.

 

Sunday:

9:00 - 9:45am: RE Lesson (starting 3/29/20)

Kids can join us for a special online RE lesson each Sunday before service.

 

10:30am - 12:00pm: Sunday worship service via Zoom

 

12:00 - 1:00pm: Online Coffee Hour: 

Stick around after service to chat. We will create breakout rooms and provide prompts for small group conversation and connection.

 

1:00 - 2:30: Open Zoom Space:

Every day a UUCV staff member will be available on Zoom to connect, chat, and hold space.

How to Join In

To participate remotely in any of the above, we recommend accessing the link below (on a desktop or laptop computer or smartphone, with or without a webcam), and saving the URL as a bookmark in your preferred browser.  (If you don’t already have Zoom installed on your computer, this link will prompt you to begin the installation.  There is no charge to you for the software or its use.)

uucv.org/virtual

You may also choose to “listen in” via telephone, by calling 646-876-9923 and entering Meeting ID 942 810 6896

(Regardless of how you join the service, your microphone will be automatically muted, so you needn’t worry about interrupting anything by joining late.)