Social Justice Invites You

"The next SJC meeting is Saturday 24 October at 6:30 pm via Zoom. We will discuss the documentary “13th.” The film deals with mass incarceration in the United States and is available via Netflix. We are not going to watch the film together, but we are going to discuss the film together. Please feel free to join us on ZOOM

Vespers is Back...

Rev. Aija will lead a meditative worship experience for those seeking a point of calm, stillness, stability, and community connection. Click here to join us Tuesdays at 4:00 PM and Fridays at 3:00 PM evenings on Zoom. 

Fellowship Survey Findings

Thank you to everyone who took the survey! Here are some initial trends we found:

• We had 65 unique individuals report.
• 72% of those responding said that one or more people in their household has a risk factor for COVID.
• 93% said they are either only leaving home for essential activities, or where social distancing and wearing masks is possible.
• Almost everyone agreed that closing the church building was a good idea. The majority of folks agree that the building should remain closed to all meetings. A handful of people expressed interest in small groups meeting in the church. The SCRT continues to explore best practices as we move forward.
• 24 families have said they are interested in participating in a Fellowship Pod.

So, what are our next steps? Staff will use the information you provided to start matching folks who expressed interest into small Fellowship Pods, or small groups of people with similar risk profiles who want to and are able to get together in person.

This might look like 4-6 people getting together once a week to watch Sunday Zoom service and share lunch. Or maybe a Fellowship Pod would decide to meet once a month to play games together. The point is to allow for connection and socializing in small groups of people who you trust to follow safety guidelines you all agree to.

If you have questions about the survey or about Fellowship Pods, please reach out to Emily Crutcher or Rev. Aija.

Join Zoom Meeting: https://zoom.us/j/5728872212

Meeting ID: 572 887 2212

As promised, I am including in this announcement the information you will need to participate in the auction. We are using an auction site that operates much like E-Bay, so registering and bidding is very easy. You go to the website https://www.32auctions.com/UUCV2020 and our auction will come up. If you just wish to browse, you may do so, but to bid, you must register. It's very simple and 32auctions does not share your information.

We look forward to seeing what you have to donate and as this auction is public and open to any bidders registered with 32auctions.com, it is our hope this online auction can be a success. I would also like to say that this auction is for "hard items" only. Sign ups and wish items hopefully will come at a later date. With all that said, here is how to participate:

This is the link to the auction website. You may visit it when you like to view items that are posted there and even register if you like. You will not, however be able to bid until the actual auction begins at midnight on November 27, 2020. After that, you may continue bidding until 11:59 pm on December 14, 2020.https://www.32auctions.com/UUCV2020

For those of you unsure about how to prepare a donation for an online auction, we on the committee have prepared a brief tutorial.

How to describe your item

1. Start with a title or name the item.

2. Be brief but descriptive. In three or four lines at most, give details about the item that may entice the bidder.

3. Include the dimensions.

4. Include an asking price. This is the price that you will not sell for any lower. All items must be worth at least $25.00 to start.

5. If you are willing to arrange a viewing of larger priced items with a potential bidder before the close of the auction, please state “In-person viewing can be arranged.” The bidder’s phone number will be provided to you to schedule a mutually agreed upon meeting.

When ready, email your pictures and description to:UUCVauction2020@gmail.com

RJ Lesch and Cathy Dewalt will see that your item(s) get on the auction block.

Take note that all items submitted for bidding must be worth at least $25.00. When the auction ends, bidders and sellers will be notified and winning bidders can make arrangements with the seller for picking their items up. Sellers will collect a check or cash from the bidder and forward it to the church office. Please indicate with the submission your name and that the cash or check is for the auction.

       Please help make our first online auction a success!

2020-2021 RE REGISTRATION NOW OPEN

Sign up with your mailing address to receive RE materials for children & youth that complement our online resources! Click here to complete this short form by October 7 to be included in our first round of mailing.

virtually throughout the year.  These are webpages made to look like classrooms with images that you can click to take you to various resources. Part of the fun is exploring to see what you can find!

Click on the links below to explore:

 SPIRIT PLAY (best for ages 4-9, but open to all)

• Suggested agenda for running a Spirit Play session at home
• Videos for Spirit Play stories and Story Time with Emily
• Link to sign your child up for UUCV Pen Pal program
• Anti-racism resources appropriate for young children
• Click around to find other fun surprises!

MIDDLES (best for ages 9-16; children under 9 may need parental supervision)

• Question of the Month: middles can anonymously respond to a different question each month, and “love” others’ responses
• Link to sign your child up for UUCV Pen Pal program
• Anti-racism resources appropriate for adolescent children
• Link to Middles & Youth UUA programs happening in our area
• Click around to find other fun surprises!

ADULT (best for ages 16+; some materials may not be suitable for children)

• Question of the Month: Miss our bathroom chalkboard? Anonymously respond to a different question each month, and “love” others’ responses
• Sign up to be a Pen Pal with one of UUCV’s children
• Anti-racism resources appropriate for adults
• Link to recorded sermons and reflections
• Click around to find other fun surprises!

Ideas for Using Online Classrooms:

• Use the Spirit Play agenda to run an at-home Spirit Play session with your family at home or with your RE Pod
• Set aside a time each week for your child age 9-16 to interact with the Middles Classroom, and then talk with you about what they learned
• After the Moment for All Ages in service, let children & youth interact with these classrooms on their own on a tablet or laptop
• Answer the Question of the Month during your Small Group Meeting (someone with a laptop or tablet can post answers from the group)
• Set up a phone or Zoom date with a friend to interact with the Adult classroom together

Supporting UUCV Families

The RE Committee identified one common priority for the year: helping UUCV families feel supported. Many of our families with young kids are having a pretty rough time right now. How can we help?

Monthly Parent Support Space (Next one: October 16^th at 7pm)

Emily will be hosting a drop-in parent support space on Zoom on the third Friday of each month from 7:00-8:30pm. These are open to all parents and anyone with children in their lives who could use a space to commiserate, share resources and strategies, and be reminded that you are not alone in trying to parent during a pandemic.

Quarantine Emergency Helpers

We are also aware that families with children attending school in person are concerned that a COVID outbreak may mean that the entire family will need to quarantine for two weeks or more. Lynn Michels is helping us proactively coordinate folks who would be willing to deliver meals, groceries, or help with other essential errands if needed. Please contact Lynn if you would be willing to help with this: lynnmichel@yahoo.com

Share your Talents with UUCV Kids

Some families are looking for folks who are willing to help teach their kids, especially in art and music or science. Do you have talents you could share with UUCV kids online? Reach out to Emily Crutcher and she will try to match you with a family (emilyuucv@gmail.com).

Want a Pen Pal?

Some parents have said they are concerned with school happening online that kids won’t have as much practice with their handwriting. And who doesn’t love getting personal mail? If you’re an adult who would like a pen pal or a parent who wants to sign up your child(ren), click here to fill out this form and Emily will match you up!

A Personal Update from Emily Crutcher, Director of Lifespan Faith Development

Many of you know that I moved to Pennsylvania three years ago so that my partner Brian could attend Dickinson Law School. Those three years passed remarkably quickly, and Brian graduated law school in May. The plan was for him to take the bar exam in July, and start a job in September.

And then COVID happened, and all our carefully laid plans went out the window. Brian will take the bar exam online in October, and will continue his job search. While he is searching locally, given the job market he must also look at opportunities out of state that would take us away from UUCV.

I love working with you all and I hope to be here for a long time, but I also want to be transparent about the possibility that I might be moving this year. Regardless, I want to ensure that the RE program continues to keep going strong and growing.

To help make that happen, Rev. Aija spoke with the Board about a plan for me to continue working remotely for the 2020-2021 church year, regardless of my physical location. If we are able to gather in person sooner than planned, I’m committed to commuting to UUCV three weekends a month. I am very grateful that the Board approved that plan, so even if I do have to move out of the area this year, I would be able to continue working remotely. I also want to send a big thank you to each of you who give me a vote of confidence by supporting UUCV financially, especially since for now I am the only one supporting my family.

I know hearing about more uncertainty can be hard, and I will keep everyone updated. I’m committed to making sure the RE program survives and thrives. I very much appreciate your understanding, support, and friendship.

With Love,

Emily Crutcher

GOOD NEWS from UUCV’S CAPITAL CAMPAIGN!

But first… Do you remember UUCV in Sept. 2018?

The Capital Campaign Steering Committee sure does!

We were kicking-off UUCV’s Capital Campaign and pledge drive. The big tents in the church yard were filled with the congregation’s excited energy and the smells of a barbeque picnic!

To date our Capital Campaign funds have:

* funded a full-time Director of Lifespan Faith Development.

* put a new roof over the social hall.

* and new energy efficient windows throughout most of the building.

While COVID caused a long pause in our progress last spring, things are rolling again. Here is some very good news!

A contract for exterior masonry work was signed in late September. This project is critical to maintaining building safety and preventing interior water damage. It will include repointing old brick work, repairing failing stone walls, and restoring all three exterior stairways.

**With luck, this project will be completed before the snow flies.

An update on Capital Campaign finances …and this is more GOOD NEWS!

2 years into the 3 year pledge payment timeline:

Pledges received are: $451,307 of the $531,418 pledged total.

The steering committee thanks every household who is graciously fulfilling their pledge. We do want to acknowledge that 38 households have already paid their pledge in full.

As our campaign slogan states - WE ARE BUILDING OUR FUTURE TOGETHER

• 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.