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Spring. Spring! SPRING!!!!
Can you tell I’m starting to feel a little cooped up? Don’t get me wrong, I love the winter (and some of you know that I am not a fan of the summer.) But there is something about this pandemic winter that has felt...heavier than usual. If I can’t travel to the places I want to go or be with the people I want to see, I’d at least like to go outside. Even as the recent tragedy and negligence of what has happened in Texas reminds me of how lucky I am to have a warm place to land, I am more than ready to bust out of it.
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And I know that Spring is not really here. Only people who live in the deep south or the west coast believe spring starts in February (oh wait!) but it is signaling its arrival. The bulbs are starting to sneak out of the ground. I can occasionally go wandering outside without my coat, thought this may only be a sign of my own determination. And as I write this the sun is shining and the 6 foot high mountain of snow outside of my house has finally faded away. It feels like hope, the way that spring so often feels like hope.
We often forget, or choose to forget, or flat out ignore, the way our bodies and spirits are connected to the world around us. The changing of the seasons, the goings on of the world, the health of our planet: these have real and tangible impacts on our lives. The worship theme for March is “Connection to Earth Centered Traditions”. These are the traditions that remind us that we are part of, as we say “the interdependent web of existence of which we are a part.” Interdependent. You can’t touch one of us without touching us all. Where are you in the web? What relationships are pulling you right now? How do we honor those relationships? I invite you to join me in asking these questions as we explore some of the sources of our faith.
In faith,
Rev. Aija
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March Worship
March 7 - " Religion and Patriarchy, Women and Water" How did Earth Centered traditions become one of our sources? What does it mean to us now? Rev. Dr. Kathy Ellis is worship leader with worship associate Dot Everhart.
March 14 - " What are we saving exactly?" How do the rhythms of nature impact our disconnected lives? Rev. Aija Simpson preaching with worship associate Riley Johnson.
March 21 - " So it's spring? Really?" Our seasons are changing. How do we grapple with a the ways climate change is already changing our world? Rev. Aija Simpson preaching with worship associate Molly Wilkinson.
March 28 - "Celebrate our connection to our Mother Earth" How can we feel connected to the life Force and Divine in the more than human world of Nature. Michele Burton is service leader with worship associate Cheryl Parsons.
Join us for worship on ZOOM. or “listen in” (without video) by telephone, by calling 646-876-9923 and entering Meeting ID 942 810 6896
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Please join us for a lively discussion, newcomers are always welcome!
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UUCV Grocery Cards for Sale
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We are still available for you to purchase grocery card sales for Weis, Karns and Giant...and remember you can use your Giant card for gas also.
Send an email to Pam with your order and the cards will be mailed to your home. You can pay by sending a check to UUCV, PO Box 207, Boiling Springs, PA 17007 or you can pay by credit card directly to Pam...indicate in your email if you want to pay by credit card and Pam will arrange the payment with you.
Thanks for continuing to support UUCV.
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soUUper Bowl Soup Success
Thanks to all who participated in the 2nd annual SOUUPER BOWL fundraiser by making and purchasing soup and by helping with its distribution.
Together we raised $1210 for UUCV!
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Capital Campaign -
Our Financial Support Matters
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We’ve accomplished many items on our Capital Campaign checklist in just over two years! Let’s take a look. We have:
· Expanded the Director of Lifespan Faith Development to full-time,
· Had a new roof installed over the social hall and porches,
· Had new windows installed throughout most of the church, and
· Had masonry work done, including repointing bricks, rebuilding an exterior wall, and
improving the structural integrity of exterior stairs.
Now we are looking ahead. What steps are currently in progress?
· Bids are arriving for replacing 4 exterior doors.
· Planning continues for accessible bathrooms and kitchen updates.
The steering committee is evaluating what finances will be needed to complete as many of the remaining projects as possible. Pledge donations as of 2-22-2021:
· Amount Pledged: $531,418
· Amount Received: $479,552
· Amount still to be collected: $51,866
How can you support UUCV’s Capital Campaign goals?
· pay your pledge
· make a donation
-- by check- “UUCV”/ memo line “Capital Campaign”
-- website DONATE button- type of donation “Capital Campaign”
using a credit card or PayPal
The amount of money we receive will determine the scope of our project.
For more information on our Capital Campaign, check out:
· The red “CapCam” tab near the top of the uucv.org home page
· Our weekly PrE-Views email
· Our monthly newsletter uucv.org/about/news
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March Social Justice Opportunities
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Change For The World—March
YWCA Sexual Assault/Rape Crisis Services of Cumberland County
This program offers a 24-hour Hotline for victims of rape and sexual assault, accompaniment to legal and medical proceedings, individual counseling for victims and their significant others, support groups, advocacy, and prevention/education programs to civic groups and students in Cumberland County schools. Specifically, services provided include: 24-hour toll-free Hotline, Counseling, Medical and Legal Advocacy, Protection from Abuse Orders, Preventative Education Programs, Girlz Camp (week long camp for teens who have been victims of sexual abuse) and the Hero Project (a community based child sexual abuse prevention program to motivate adults to report child sexual abuse.) All Sexual Assault/Rape Crisis Services are free and confidential. ywcacarlisle.org
The Social Justice Committee has decided that our CFTW will be changed each quarter instead of each month allowing offerings to accumulate for three months in order to give recipients larger sums.
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Social Justice Committee Invites You...
The next UUCV SJC Meeting will be held March 17 at 6:30 pm. on ZOOM https://zoom.us/my/emilyuucv
We are going to watch another TED Talk at the next meeting, This one is about the Suffragettes. It is about five minutes long, but very informative.
We want to invite the larger congregation to join us starting at 6:45 pm March 17. We will have the business portion of our meeting done by then. From 6:45 pm to 7:30pm, we will discuss the film and the suffragettes. We will have some links to additional resources that I will place in the chat, if people would like to learn more on their own. That's just a bonus, though.
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CARES dinner for 40 - 50
We will deliver a winter warming dinner to CARES on Sunday, March 21.
CARES is serving a larger number of folks since the weather turned cold.
Contact Pam to sign up for an item.
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For this meal we need the following items.
Shepherds Pie and Chicken Pot Pie - 4 Needed
Biscuits - Homemade Bread- 3 loaves
Fruit Cups- 50-60 individual cups needed
Cupcakes, Brownies - 6 or 7 dozen needed
Drinks- Tea Bags,
Please plan to drop off your items between 3:00 and 3:30 on Sunday,
March 21 at the UUCV Parking Lot. If you need someone to pick up your item, or if you have any questions, please email Carol Riesmeyer or call 724/822-6423. Items should be delivered in non-returnable containers.
A huge thank you to all who make the effort to contribute food!
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Antiracism Initiative
Anyone interested in joining the Antiracism Initiative is encouraged to participate in our next meeting on Saturday, March 20th at 10:00am on ZOOM. We will be using materials from the UUA to discuss this year's Common Read book:
Breathe A Letter to My Sons by Imani Perry. Look for a Zoom link in the March 15th previews in order to join in the discussion. |
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What is a Vespers Service?
The Google dictionary defines it thus: "Vespers is a sunset evening prayer service in the Orthodox, Roman Catholic and Eastern Catholic, Lutheran, and Anglican liturgies of the canonical hours.” |
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How do we use the term here at UUCV for the Vespers services on Tuesdays at 4p.m. and Fridays at 3p.m.? We celebrate our Vespers via Zoom Join us for worship on ZOOM. or “listen in” (without video) by telephone, by calling 646-876-9923 and entering Meeting ID 942 810 6896 with a check-in, with piped in songs, with readings of poetry or prayers, and with a meditation. These Vespers services are a great way to calm down in the middle of the week, to “see” some of our fellow congregants and our minister, to touch base. How about trying it sometime? |
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Announcements Return on Sunday mornings
Do you have an important announcement you want to share with UUCV members and attendees?
Are you missing activities, events and important news that's happening...even ZOOM events?
Join our worship ZOOM channel each Sunday from 10:15 - 10:25. This will resemble the paper announcements you received each Sunday along with your Order of Service when we were able to meet together in person.
You will be able to read the announcements as they appear on your ZOOM channel or check out the Announcements Page to read them at your leisure. We are hoping this will help keep everyone more informed of important UUCV happenings.
If you have something you would like to submit for inclusion in the announcements, send an email to Pam pam@uucv.net before the end of day on the Thursday prior to the Sunday you want the announcement included. You must write the announcement as you would like it to be viewed with no more than 1 photo and 50 words.
And, as always, you can always view our website uucv.org or visit us on Facebook to keep up with current events and news. |
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Seeking Nominations
The Nominating Committee is beginning its .yearly deliberations. If you have suggestions as to who you might like to be considered for a position on the board (including yourself) please speak to Gail Black, Amy Jo Humpton, Drew Lynch, Bev Motich or Jon Tarrant.
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Want to sing with the choir for Easter?
The sun is shining! The snow is melting! Easter can’t be far away!
Sure enough, the UUCV Choir will be putting together another recorded choir piece for Easter Sunday worship.
Singers of all ages and levels of
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experience (and, frankly, in any location!) are welcome to join the UUCV Choir during this “virtual” period. In order to participate in the choir, you’ll just need a reliable internet connection and the ability to record your vocals in a quiet location while listening to accompaniment tracks through headphones. Tracks for the Easter recording are due to David by 11:59 PM on Sunday, March 21.
To get started, just drop a note to David—he’ll send you a link and password to access all the materials you’ll need to take the plunge!
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ZOOM Worship
Most of our activities will be held in our main Zoom channel, which is accessible in any of the following ways:
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- 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.
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UUCV Fundraising Opportunities
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https://smile.amazon.com/
Do you shop on Amazon? Go instead to https://smile.amazon.com/
AmazonSmile is a simple way for you to support UUCV every time you shop, at no cost to you. Select Unitarian Universalist of Cumberland Valley as your charitable organization and everytime you make a purchase Amazon donates 0.5% of the price of eligible purchases to UUCV. Same great producs, same prices as Amazon, but https://smile.amazon.com/ makes money for UUCV. |
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