“Beginnings” is our September theme
At this curious moment in history, I think that many of us are starting to feel into this tossed-out-of-the-nest energy as we navigate a strange, liminal no-man’s-land, without our usual collection of trusty twigs to shield us from the unknown.
The question is:
Can we see this strangeness, this disorientation, this confusion as an opportunity to feel even more alive, to become even more intimate with ourselves and each other? Can we let go of the expectation of a smooth ride, and let the full-body jangle of these spiritual potholes shake us awake? Can we turn the thing that we are scared of into the thing that is the most sacred?
– Jocelyn Glei
Next Service
September 20 at 11:00 am
“The Good Samaritan”
Led by: Darrin Palmer
We will be exploring the story of The Good Samaritan, and its echoes and parallels across several different cultural and religious traditions.
In person at UUCEL or live on Facebook.
Announcements
Lunch With the Minister: September’s Lunch with the Minister gathering will be this Friday, September 18 at noon at Bone Island Grill in Vandercook. Come and join Rev. Dan and others for casual conversation, great food, and even greater company!
Fall Soup Dinner & Fundraiser: Come one, come all! Join in the fun and buy, buy, buy! On October 30 from 5:00pm to 7:30pm, we will be having a Fun Fall Soup Dinner & Fall Basket Auction Fundraiser featuring a bake sale. There will be a variety of soups and other treats to choose from along with coffee and bottled water. Donation of $10 is requested per person for the dinner. Feel free to come in costume – you just might win a “Best of” prize! Bidding on the baskets begins on October 4th and lasts until the event.
What we need:
– Fall-themed cupcakes and/or cookies donated to be part of the meal
– Fall Baskets donated for the auction (we have some but need more by Oct 4th!)
– Homemade treats for the Bake Sale (have them priced and ready to sell!)
Please contact Ferne Kerr-Arnold with questions and to let her know what you can donate! hootiekerr77@gmail.com or 517-795-6265
Help Wanted! Looking for someone to serve as church greeter for the 3rd Sunday of each month. It’s not a hard job, but it’s an important one! Contact Joan Bernstein.
The League of Women Voters Jackson Area invites us to write postcards to help turn out the vote for the November election. A special “postcard writing party” is being planned and will be held following a Sunday church service. Details coming soon!
Love at the Center Book Group: Starting in September, Rev. Dan and Ann Green will be leading a congregational reading of the book “Love at the Center”, edited by UUA president Sofia Betancourt. This book is a collection of insightful, short essays by various UU ministers about the centrality of love in our UU values, faith, and identity. The way it works is that everyone will be encouraged to purchase the book, read selected essays, then come together, probably via Zoom, to discuss the readings. The UUA has long suggested congregational reads, and up until now, we have not really engaged with any of them. Both Rev. Dan and Ann agree that this book is especially appropriate in this current environment in which we live, and hope that you all will choose to participate. Please contact Rev. Dan or Ann if you are interested or have questions.
Reminders
Jackson County Immigrant Coalition: Many members of the congregation have expressed interest in joining the JCIC. Due to the nature of the coalition’s work with vulnerable people, the first step to getting involved is to fill out a secure vetting form. Please visit the JCIC linktree to access that form: https://linktr.ee/Jackson_County_For_Immigrants (the form is the second link from the top). Feel free to explore the other helpful links on the page.
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 the 1st quarter is the Jackson County Immigrant Coalition (JCIC). JCIC are friends, families, and neighbors united in protecting & supporting our Jackson County immigrant community through allyship, education, and activism. Please give by using the donate button on our website or by contributing with a check with Jackson County Immigrant Coalition in the memo. Minister’s Schedule:
- September 16 – Off
- September 17-18 – Elkhart Virtual
- September 19 – Off
- September 20-22 – Elkhart
- September 23 – 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