“Healing” is our November theme
Blessing for a Broken Vessel
Do not despair.
You hold the memory
of what it was
to be whole.
It lives deep
in your bones.
It abides
in your heart
that has been torn
and mended
a hundred times.
It persists
in your lungs
that know the mystery
of what it means
to be full,
to be empty,
to be full again.
I am not asking you
to give up your grip
on the shards you clasp
so close to you
but to wonder
what it would be like
for those jagged edges
to meet each other
in some new pattern
that you have never imagined,
that you have never dared
to dream.
—Jan Richardson
Next Service
November 8 at 11:00 am
“John’s Garden”
Led by: Rev. Dan Miyake
The pumpkins in Farmer John’s garden have a pretty good life. They have sunshine, water, a safe place to grow—and no idea what Halloween has in store for them. When they learn that their lives are about to change, they have some very different reactions. UU singer/songwriter Peter Mayer’s song, “John’s Garden”, gives us a playful way to think about fear, transformation, and what we do with the brief time we have to shine.
In person at UUCEL or live on Facebook.
Announcements
Choir Rehearsal: Choir practice will be held on November 8th and November 22nd, starting at 10:00 am. All Singers Welcome!
Books & Puzzles Sale: A special sale for books and puzzles will be held in the schoolhouse after service on Nov 8 & 15. See Elissa Alden & Debbie Hartsuff with any questions.
New Drum Circle Forming! The new Drum Circle, led by Ben Brue, will have its first gathering on Wednesday, November 11 at 6:30 at the church. No drumming experience required, and extra drums will be available if you need one to use. Come and explore the spiritual and communal benefits of group drumming, whether you think you have rhythm or not!
Love At the Center Book Group: The Love at the Center Book Group’s next meeting will be on Thursday, November 12 at 6:30pm via Zoom. If you didn’t participate in the first meeting, you are still welcome to join the group. See Rev. Dan for details.
Lunch With the Minister: November’s Lunch with the Minister gathering will be on Friday, November 13 at noon at Red Lobster in Jackson. Come and hang out with Rev. Dan and enjoy casual conversation and great food!
Study Leave: Rev. Dan will be away on Study Leave from November 23 to 27. He will not be available to respond to emails, phone calls, or texts except in an emergency during this time.
Connecting With Our Faith: UUA & Mid-America News
The Gathering – Declarations of Democracy – Election Round Up: Monday, November 9, 2026 8:00 PM – 9:30 PM ET We gather less than a week after election day to reflect on what we know, what we’ve learned, and the road ahead. Regardless of what happens on and after November 3rd, we know that it is our sacred call to shape a multiracial, interdependent democracy where everyone can thrive. Join Side with Love’s Nicole Pressley, President Sofía Betancourt, musician Glen Thomas Rideout, and other special guests to strengthen your spirit, make sense of this moment in our democracy, and take meaningful action alongside others! See you at The Gathering to strengthen your spirit, make sense of the threats to democracy, and take meaningful action alongside others! Join us live or watch the recording with others later. Click here to learn more and register to participate!
Greta Gerwig, Director of Upcoming ‘Narnia’ Movie, on How UU Influences Her Work: When UU World interviewed Greta Gerwig in 2013, she was a rising indie-film writer, director, and actor, having just starred in Frances Ha. Gerwig has since earned both critical acclaim and commercial success as director of several films including Barbie and Little Women. UU World revisits its conversation with her about the role Unitarian Universalism has played in her creative process. Click here to read the whole interview!
Braver/Wiser – A Weekly Message of Courage and Compassion:
This week’s offering is By Remembering, We Love by Kim Mason.
“…Grief is love. We think of grief as sadness, emptiness, pain, sorrow but we would not grieve death without the presence of love. Grief is so often treated as a finite exercise, as though it ends.
But for grief to end, love would have to end. Your grief may be transformed. It may change. But love and grief, just like living and dying, exist in relationship. Grief does not end, but neither does love. All Souls invites us, the living, to reconcile with death by making meaning together. All Souls is a day to remember the dead, and by remembering, say: this life mattered. All Souls is a day to remember, and by remembering, we love.” Click here to read the full message.
Spirit of Life and Love, as the veil between the living and the dead grows thin, may we remember our ancestors, forever connected by love in the eternal cycle of life. Amen and Blessed Be.
Reminders
Worship Committee seeks speakers: Do you have an idea for a service, or a willingness to take us on your spiritual journey? Or do you know someone in the community who would? Please contact Darrin Palmer or another member of the Worship Committee. They are happy to help create a Sunday Service!
Social Mission Designee:
The Social Mission Designee for our 2nd Quarter is Grow Jackson. Please give by using the donate button on our website or by contributing with a check with Grow Jackson in the memo line.
Minister’s Schedule:
- November 4 – Off
- November 5-6 – UUCEL
- November 7 – Off
- November 8-10 – UUCEL
- November 11 – Off
Rev. Dan is available for 1:1 emergency pastoral care regardless of his days off. If you are in need of immediate pastoral care, please contact him right away. Please refrain from texting Rev. Dan after normal work hours unless it is a critical issue that needs immediate attention; if not, email him the next workday. If you need an immediate response to an email on a day off, type “URGENT’ in the subject line.
Please submit items for this weekly email by Tuesday afternoon at WednesdayChimes@gmail.com. Please include the date(s) you would like the announcement published in the subject line of your email.
Sunday Announcements
Please submit items to be announced on Sunday to the Worship Committee at uuliberty@gmail.com
Joys and Sorrows
Please submit items for inclusion in our Sunday service to the Worship Committee at uuliberty@gmail.com