August 2020 Newsletter

• Consistency sends a signal to your whole system, to the divine, to the planet that you want to serve that you’re showing up, that your attention is there. Just give it two minutes on the days you’ve just got two minutes. You’re signaling your system that you’re committed; that you’re attending to all of you…You’re giving what you’ve got to give that day, and that’s the important part.

• And when the days come when you’ve got fifteen minutes of open space—and maybe that fifteen minutes, for you, turns into twenty or thirty or it’s an hour to sit; whatever feels like nourishing grace—those are the days when you have it to give.

• Just show up with what you’ve got to give that day. It makes all the difference.
  
  

Danielle is talking about meditation, but I think this is true for so many parts of our lives.  There are so many things that feel important, so important that they can feel daunting.  We face huge challenges:

• COVID 
• systemic and historic racism and white supremacy 
• climate change 
• our increasing inability to not only connect, but even see the humanity in the people with whom we disagree to name just a few

These can feel too big for our small efforts.  But every effort starts small, that is the way the world changes.  Sometimes they get bigger, and more people get involved.  And sometimes they stay small, and they still matter.  Whatever it is ours to do, big or small, what matters is that we keep working, every day.  We make the bold decision to act like our lives and actions matter.  And we keep showing up.

 

In faith,

Rev. Aija

Here is what we need:

Change for the World
Community CARES - AUGUST

Community CARES will be UUCV's Change for the World again in August.

Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, Community Cares is continuing to practice social distancing and has moved its most vulnerable and sick residents into hotel rooms to help curb the spread of the virusThey currently have a Census of approximately 60 people and are operating on a skeleton staff. Their resources are being stretched to the limit right now, as need is up and donations are down. 

Keeping 60 residents safe and healthy during a pandemic, in a communal setting, is a herculean task that they are tackling with grace and proficiency. Please support Community CARES staff by donating to this month’s CFTW. They are the front line of protecting our most vulnerable citizens right now.

Send checks made out to UUCV with "CFTW" or "CARES" in the memo line and send to UUCV, PO Box 207, Boiling Springs, PA  17007

provide a small group of volunteers show up every Thursday morning at 9 AM and work for a couple of hours.  Steve informed us we would need to follow CDC Covid-19 guidelines while working at the Farm Stand.  Without hesitation our small group of volunteers said YES.  So for the past few months, 4 to 6 of us have shown up each week.  We wear our face masks and gloves and practice social distancing as we prepare donated fruits, vegetables, and breads for distribution.  I think anyone who has volunteered on our “team” would tell you the time they spend at the Farm Stand is very rewarding. 

As the unofficial team chief, I want to shout out a BIG THANK YOU to the following people who keep on showing up every week: Carole DeWall, Lenore Garder, Deb Genet, Donna Griest, Jackie Heath, Mike Riesmeyer, Kim Stone.

Giving a couple of hours to help someone in need receive fresh fruits and vegetables is a great way to give back! Please let me know if this sounds like an opportunity you are interested in.  

Cindy Good

Other ways you can help our CARES community.  Here's what is needed most right now...

 

PLEASE NOTE: Drop off all items at Community CARES, 50 West Penn Street, Carlisle between 9am – 4pm, Monday-Friday Questions? Contact Karen Rhody at 717-249-1009 ext 2240 or krhody@morethanshelter.org or drop off at UUCV, 2 Forge Road, Boiling Springs, in the CARES bin by the office door off the parking lot.

MOST URGENT NEEDED ITEMS ARE LISTED BELOW.   Check their website for up to date lists of CARES needs.

Lysol Spray
Allergy Medicine

Disinfectant Cleaner/Wipes

All Purpose Cleaner

Toothpaste

Men’s Boxers XL & 2XL

Men’s T-Shirts XL & 2XL

Hand Sanitizer

Paper Towels

Floor Cleaner

Sugar

Coffee

Coffee Creamer

Bleach

Coffee Filters

 Acetaminophen (Tylenol)

Disposable Gloves Medium, Large & XL

Cold/Cough Medicine

Adult Backpacks

Toothbrushes

Dear Friends,

Anti-racism is at the heart of our Unitarian Universalist principles and the mission of UUCV. While our engagement in this topic is not new, the recent uprisings for justice have prompted us to renew our commitment to educate ourselves, support Black Lives Matter efforts, and create change in ourselves, our households, our community, and in our world. I see this effort as an intrinsic part of faith development and living into our values. I want to highlight some of the ongoing work our Beloved Conversations participants have been engaged in, our new initiative Anti-Racism in August, and plans for a vigil at the end of this month.

 

BELOVED CONVERSATIONS RESOURCE PAGE

During the fall of 2019 and winter of 2020, a group of UUCV’ers participated in  Beloved Conversations: Meditations on Race and Ethnicity. The program is a faith formation curriculum that provides a safe space for exploration of the impact that race, ethnicity, privilege, injustice, and all the various “isms” have on our lives. The curriculum also includes methods for beginning the process of re-forming the brokenness of racism into new patterns of thought and behavior.

 

The final sessions of the curriculum include brainstorming for ways participants might carry forward their new understandings to the UUCV and greater community. Our group has created a list of books and other materials we have found helpful, challenging, and enriching. Click here to view this new Anti-Racism Initiative page on UUCV’s website.

 

 

ANTI-RACISM IN AUGUST

"Justice in June" is a resource that was compiled by Autumn Gupta and Bryanna Wallace, two women who wanted to create a place for people to start learning how to become better allies to Black communities. Read more about their work at Justice in June.com.

We have converted "Justice in June" into the "Anti-Racism in August" project at UUCV. Many of us care deeply about racial justice, but may be at a loss for where to start and what to do. This project gives you an opportunity to focus on learning to do the important work of being anti-racist while in UUCV community. You can choose 10 minutes a day, 25 minutes a day, or 45 minutes a day during the month of August to enrich your understanding of anti-racism and to complete at least one action a week in support of anti-racism activism.

While there is no cost to participate, in the spirit of paying people for their labor (especially BIPOC), please contribute generously to the creators’ Go Fund Me page. Even a $10 donation will show them that people are engaging with their work and help them create future projects.

Join UUCV’s Anti-Racism in August Facebook group to help with daily accountability and create a space for reflection. Facebook not your thing? Attend one or more weekly Zoom sessions for a more interactive and personal space to reflect and deepen our understanding; these sessions will be hosted by Rev. Aija, Rev. David, Rev. Kathy, and myself. Click here to view the Anti-Racism in August page for more information.

 

VIGIL FOR VICTIMS OF RACIALIZED VIOLENCE

Riley Johnson and Ben Ramirez are planning a vigil in Boiling Springs for the end of August, date to be determined.The goals of this event are to honor the Black lives taken by police brutality and racialized violence, and to bring awareness to the continued injustices disproportionately affecting communities of color in America. Please stay tuned for more information about this event. If you are interested in helping with the vigil, contact Riley at riles1806@gmail.com.

 

The work of unlearning white supremacy and becoming anti-racism in our actions cannot be confined to a single month. Our learning and action must continue past the month of August, but each of us must start somewhere. I hope you will join us.

With love and solidarity,

Emily Crutcher, Director of Lifespan Faith Development

For the month of August, all evening ZOOM programming will take a hiatus.  This includes Vespers, Story Time, Piano Meditation and Happy Hour.  Our evening programming will return in September after our church year begins with re-thought programming.   Watch for more details.

Beginning August 3, Open ZOOM days and hours will now be held on Mondays (Emily), Wednesdays Rev. Kathy and Fridays (Rev. Aija) from 10:30 - 1:00.  

Mark your Calendars Our church year will begin on Sunday, September 13 with an in-gathering water ceremony to be held outdoors at the Cumberland Drive-In in Newville, PA.  Your staff is working to finalize all the many details and will have information finalized for the September newsletter. 

Hello to everyone!

I will be holding a Zoom meeting of the auction committee and those who are interested in assisting with one of our most important fund raising events at 12:15 on Sunday, August 16.  Zoom at 12:15 on Sunday July 19 ID# 572 887 2212  Any questions, please contact Cathy Dewalt 

 

The Choir Is Back! (In a manner of speaking…)

It warms our hearts to see all your faces (or names) at worship on Sundays.  And, many of you are also using our UUCV channels for your small group meetings, committee meetings, and monthly executive meetings.

We ask that the meeting leader reserve your ZOOM time by emailing Pam.  A staff member will open up your meeting at your requested time and then turn over the HOST duties to the leader and staff will pull out of the meeting.  We have multiple channels and happily, they are being used to keep everyone connected.  

The ZOOM passwords have been changed so make sure you get your time reserved so the staff can connect you with your group.

• point your browser to uuma.zoom.us/j/9428106896 , OR
• “listen in” (without video) by telephone, by calling 646-876-9923 and entering Meeting ID 942 810 6896

If you don’t already have Zoom installed on your computer, clicking any Zoom link will prompt you to begin the installation.  There is no charge to you for the software or its use.