[UUAA news] UUAA Weekly News | April 14 - April 20 , 2022

[First Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Ann Arbor]

All you need to know about UUAA this week.  This Week at UUAA April 14 - 20, 2022 If you are unable to view this entire email, scroll down to the bottom and click "view entire message." The email ends with a "contact us" button and our address. The Weekly News is distributed each Thursday. Deadlines for submissions are Tuesdays at 5:00pm. The deadline for the Weekly News April 21 - April 27 is Tuesday, April 19 at 5:00pm Eastern through this form. The deadline for the May Monthly Newsletter is Thursday, April 21 at 5pm Eastern through this form. Questions? Watch this video on how to submit to the Weekly News, or email Hannah at communications at uuaa.org.  Support the ministries of UUAA: Make an online offering. Sunday Worship “Our Great Commission: Unitarian Universalism’s Hope and Possibility for Generations to Come” Sunday, April 10, 9:30am & 11:30am In person and online at uuaa.org/service   The Easter season has traditionally been understood as holding the possibilities of hope that come with spring’s new life. What might that hope and possibility be for us Unitarian Universalists, specifically? Drawing on one of Easter’s themes, what might be our “great commission” as Unitarian Universalists? Join us this Sunday as we explore this topic more deeply in community.  After the Sunday Service    Social Hour is back. After each service (10:30am and 12:30pm), refreshments will be served in the Social Hall. You may now remove your mask while eating or drinking in the Social Hall. Please watch or read our updated Covid protocols below. There will be a limited number of group display tables to browse, also.    Please note the UUAA’s updated Covid Precautions Policy and Protocols: Anyone entering the UUAA building for activities/business is expected to be fully vaccinated and boostered, as eligible, and must remain properly masked at all times. A video of our updated policy is available here.   *Exception to the mask requirement: Members of the worship team who are actively speaking may remove their masks. All unmasked speakers on the chancel have tested negative in the preceding 24 hours. Members may remove their masks in the Social Hall while eating and drinking.  Click here to download and read this week's Pastoral News. Upcoming Events & Announcements For a full list of events, visit the UUAA Calendar. Sunday Services “Snapshot” Survey Results By Rev. Manish Mishra-Marzetti, Senior Minister On February 13, 2022, a “snapshot” survey was conducted, both virtually and in-person, during our Sunday morning services soliciting feedback from that morning’s attendees on UUAA’s Sunday services. Attendees were given the opportunity to offer open-ended written feedback, and were encouraged to name their most significant point(s) of appreciation and/or their most significant point(s) of suggestion regarding our Sunday services. The level of participation in this survey was broad, with 132 adults responding to the snapshot survey. As a reference point, UUAA currently has 598 adult members. As such, the data obtained represents a significant sample of our UUAA community. We’d like to take this opportunity to share with you some of the insights that emerge from this survey. Click here to read more. Building and Grounds Support Needed   If you would like to contribute to the life of our congregation in an active, hands-on way, I invite you to join our Building Care or Grounds Care teams!   Recent staff restructuring has created the need for lay-led teams to help keep UUAA the welcoming, safe, and beautiful place we love.   Sunday Building Care There are two shifts—8am to 11am and 11am to 2pm—so team members can attend one of the services. You can also partner with someone to share the work. Some specific tasks include: unlocking/locking doors, putting out/bringing in UUAA sandwich boards and flags, moving/putting away tables, etc.   Grounds Care UUAA owns a riding lawn mower, but it needs a small team of drivers! We can also use more help with maintaining our beautiful gardens and trails.    Training will be provided. Interested? Fill out this Google Form and let me know how you’d like to help—I’ll be in touch!   Thank you! Lissa Oliver Building Care Team Volunteer Staffing-Related Update from UUAA's Personnel Working Group The Personnel Working Group wanted to share a brief update related to staffing and personnel matters at UUAA. Our community, alongside many other institutions, has needed to simultaneously navigate: multiple staffing transitions and departures; fiscally driven staff team restructuring; and the need to fill critical, ongoing staff positions that have been vacated or are becoming vacant. As these intersecting dynamics are likely to continue playing out for some time still, we will share with our community periodic updates related to new or upcoming staffing developments. This message contains several such updates. Click here to read more.  Updated Congregational Health and Safety Policy   In order to more fully live into our congregation’s covenant “to dwell together in peace, to search for truth in love,” the leadership of UUAA recently updated our Congregational Health and Safety Policy. These updates further clarify the role of the Healthy Congregation Response Team, the definitions of disruptive or dangerous behaviors, and the potential responses to disruptive behavior. For more information, please read the policy in its entirety here.  Benefit Concert for Refugee Ukrainian Relief Featuring Tret Fure Saturday, May 21, 7:00pm - 9:00pm   Please join us in person for acclaimed award-winning contemporary folk artist Tret Fure in a benefit concert to support the Ukrainian Relief Fund at FemFund.PL. This is an in-person performance at UUAA, 4001 Ann Arbor-Saline Rd, Ann Arbor. Admission is free. 100% of donations go to the Refugee Relief Fund.   Space is limited, so registration is required. This link takes you to the registration form.   Please read UUAA's health and safety policy for in-person events.   Can't come but want to donate to the Ukrainian Relief Fund? Use this link and scroll to "Tret Fure Benefit Concert"  Monthly Women’s Socials Resume In Person at UUAA Friday, April 15, 7:00pm - 9:00pm   UUAA Women, reserve the third Friday of each month, 7:00pm - 9:00pm, to meet in person at UUAA for a casual and informal gathering to foster supportive and social connections among women. The next social is this Friday, April 15. A Zoom link will be offered for those who don’t feel comfortable gathering in person. Attendees may bring their own food/beverages for personal consumption. Masks must be worn at all times inside UUAA unless actively eating/drinking. If weather allows, we may move outside to the patio. Contact Judi Lintott at womuunscouncilinfo at uuaa.org. YOUTH v GOV – Watch It / Talk About It Thursday, April 20, 7:00pm - 9:00 pm  Sunday, April 24, 2:00pm - 4:00pm   Join other climate-concerned UUAA friends to watch the documentary YOUTH v GOV, the story of the Juliana v. The United States of America constitutional lawsuit and the 21 American youth, ages 14 to 25, who are taking on the U.S. government over the climate crisis. This film is the featured film of Interfaith Power and Light’s Faith Climate Action Week, April 22 - May 1. Their theme is Sacred Trust: Our children’s right to a livable future.”    There will be two UUAA Zoom viewing opportunities: Thursday, April 20, 7:00pm – Zoom link  Sunday, April 24, 2:00pm – Link coming soon   Then come together for a Zoom discussion of the documentary: Sunday, May 1, 2:00pm – link coming soon.   Climate Action | Climate Justice Team: Jeannine LaPrad, Ruth Mohr, Sandy Simon, Ed Lynn, Kate Hutchens TrUU Hope Meetups (with snacks!) Friday, April 22, 7:00pm - 9:00pm (Earth Day! Walk the land) Friday, May 13, 7:00pm - 9:00pm (Friday the 13th! Spooky crafts) Sunday, May 22, 1:00pm - 3:00pm    TrUU Hope is a UUAA group for LGBTQIA+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual, and similarly identified) youth. We aim to grow community and to provide social, support, educational, and activist programs and opportunities for our youth to explore their identities and interests.   Questions? Want to be added to our email list? Send an email to TruuHopeInfo at uuaa.org.  UUAA Fiber Arts Group Wednesday, April 20, 7:00pm - 9:00pm, via Zoom   Come knit, crochet, embroider, or engage in some form of fiber arts together. UUAA Fiber Arts Group meets on the first Saturday and third Wednesday of the month for fellowship and sharing of knowledge and ideas. If you are a beginner looking for support or an experienced crafter, all are welcome. We also have quilters that have joined us.   If you would like to make comfort shawls or baby blankets for Pastoral Care, arrangements can be made to supply you with the yarn and pattern.    We meet on the first Saturday of the month in person, 11:00am - 1:00pm, and the third Wednesday of the month on Zoom, 7:00pm - 9:00pm. For a Zoom link or questions, email us at crafters at uuaa.org. Regenerative Agriculture Friday, April 22, 6:30pm - 8:00pm In person at the Ann Arbor District Library Westgate Branch   Regenerative Agriculture: What is it, how can it save the planet, and how are local farmers putting it into practice?   Five area farmers will come together to discuss how they practice regenerative agriculture, and why doing so is important to them and to the planet.    The panel features:  Alex Ball, Old City Acres, Romulus  Shannon Brines, Brines Farm, Dexter  Hannah Rose Weber, Green Things Cooperative, Ann Arbor  John Cox, Baseline Farm, Dexter  Dan Gannon, Community Farm of Ann Arbor   Co-sponsored by the Food Justice Team and the Ann Arbor District Library Sunday FunDay: Earth Day Celebration Sunday, April 24 after 2nd Service, 12:30pm Join us in the courtyard outside the Social Hall for "earth sundaes," followed by Earth Day activities on the lawn or in the Social Hall. Sign up here to help with this event or email Welcome Ministries Coordinator Hannah Hotchkiss at hannah at uuaa.org. Proposed Bylaws Change Review Sunday, April 24, 2:00 - 4:00pm Monday, May 2, 6:30 - 7:30pm   Proposed Bylaws Changes The Board and the Governance Advisory Team along with members of the Leadership Advisory Team will hold two sessions to introduce and take comments/suggestions on proposed bylaws changes regarding the Leadership Development Team Committee. The changes have to do with the number of committee members and increasing the number of committee members elected by congregants.    There will be two opportunities to attend a Zoom session on bylaws proposed changes. The sessions will be identical in presentation, so attendance is according to availability. The first session will be Sunday, April 24 from 2:00pm to 4:00pm, and the second opportunity will be Monday, May 2 from 6:30pm to 7:30pm. Look for links to the sessions to be shared in the Weekly News and on our website uuaa.org closer to the dates.    In the meantime, congregants are invited to become familiar with the proposed bylaws changes and the rationale for them by clicking the following links.    Proposed Revisions to UUAA Bylaws - June 2022 (https://docs.google.com/document/d/1iJP6-MqSihTveZCVaSpHsLRqM2N1CEJl6zsXlSagdNA/edit)   Rationale for 2022 Bylaw Changes Congregation  Community of Writers Zoom Meeting Sunday, April 24, 1:00pm - 3:00pm    Pauline Loewenhardt will coordinate the readings of the Community of Writers’ responses to her suggested prompt, “Did your writing begin in childhood or appear later in life? What are your aspirations as a writer? When did you dare to call yourself a writer?” Members may choose to read their writing on an alternate topic in any genre. Readings are limited to five minutes and are followed by appreciative comment.    Contact Kathy Friedrichs at kamf at umich.edu or Anne Ramsey at anneramsey2910 at comcast.net for more information and the Zoom link.  Warrior Lawyers: Defenders of Sacred Justice Friday, April 29, 6:30pm - 8:30pm, via Zoom   Join Restorative Justice of UUAA and co-sponsors Michigan UU Social Justice Network, Michigan Collaborative to End Mass Incarceration, Friends of Restorative Justice, and Detroit Justice Center in the viewing and panel discussion of this powerful documentary of Sacred Justice through "the examination of Tribal Sovereignty ... as well as Restorative Justice practices such as Peacemaking and Healing.” The panel includes the film’s director, Audrey Geyer; Chief Judge Joanne Cook, chief appellate judge of the Michigan Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians; and Chief Judge Allie Greenleaf Maldonado, chief judge of the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians in Harbor Springs.   Register here.  Vision 20/50 Reflection Session  Wednesday, May 4, 7:00pm - 8:30pm   What have we learned this year in our Vision 20/50 efforts? What worked? Where can we improve? Please join the Vision Steering Committee for our first annual Vision 20/50 Reflection session on May 4, 7:00pm - 8:30pm on Zoom. We’d like to hear from YOU—no matter where you fit into this diverse congregation. RSVP here to receive the Zoom link. If you cannot attend, we’d welcome your input by email at vision at uuaa.org. Mindful Aging Saturday, May 14, 1:00pm - 2:30pm   Join other UUs for a Zoom discussion of the UM Healthy Aging lectures given during April. The topic, Brain Health, includes presentations on dementia, treatments, exercise, sleep, caregiving, and more. To view the recorded lectures, click here. For the Zoom link for UUAA’s discussion on May 15, email Sandy Breck at sbreck at umich.edu. Monthly Women’s Breakfast Resumes in June Saturday, June 4, 8:30am   Early risers – Join other women from UUAA for breakfast and conversation on the first Saturday of the month starting in June. It’s been a long, lonely, and isolated pandemic. We hope you’ll feel safe gathering in person once again.    The first breakfast is June 4 at the Alpha Diner (new name for the former Classic Cup Café, where we met pre-pandemic; 4389 Jackson Rd., Ann Arbor). Check the menu at www.Alphadiner.com. Contact Judi Marks or Joan Wells at womuunscouncilinfo at uuaa.org.  GA 2022 Wednesday - Sunday, June 22 - June 26, 2022 UUAA Delegate Deadline, April 30 (see below)   General Assembly (GA) is the annual meeting of our Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA). Participants worship, witness, learn, connect, and make policy for the Association through democratic process. This year GA will be in Portland, OR and can be attended in person or online. Housing and registration are now open.   This year’s theme: Meet the Moment: Reimagining Radical Faith Community Dates: June 22 - 26, 2022 Learn more and register: Go to uua.org/ga. We need delegates to represent UUAA at GA. If you’re interested in being a delegate or have questions, email denomination at uuaa.org by April 30. Women’s Retreat Friday - Sunday, October 7 - 9, 2022   Two co-chairs and many committee members are needed to immediately begin planning our Women’s Retreat to be held in October 2022. The retreat will be held in person at YMCA Camp Copneconic in Fenton, 40 minutes north of Ann Arbor. Meetings will be about twice a month for about an hour. Tasks relate to promoting the retreat, recruiting session leaders, planning sessions, and talking with camp staff about meals, lodging, and session locations. Contact Amy Thomas or Judi Lintott at womuunscouncilinfo at uuaa.org. UUAA Social Hour Needs Your Support The return of Social Hour at UUAA is an exciting development. Many have longed for the time to gather with refreshments and socialize with fellow congregants. To make this a success, we need your help on two fronts. First, please contribute to the best of your ability to funding Social Hour. The suggested donation is $1 per item, for example, a cup of coffee and donut = $2. UUAA spends well over $400 a month on donuts alone, and we make every effort to use sustainably sourced Equal Exchange coffee. You can leave cash or checks in the Social Hour donation baskets in the Social Hall or donate online (scroll to Social Hour). Second, be a Social Hour volunteer. Make the coffee once a month before first service, or help clean up after second service Social Hour, or reset between services. In order to avoid using individual serving containers, we especially need hosts to serve the bagels with cream cheese. Bagel servers will reduce UUAA’s landfill/recycling waste substantially.  To learn more about the Social Hour volunteer opportunities, email Welcome Ministries Coordinator Hannah at uuaa.org.   Scrip Mechanics 102   “Did you know you can purchase SCRIP (gift cards) in Realm? No checks, no cash, just a few clicks in your account under the ‘giving’ tab on Realm! I found myself at church on Sunday without my checkbook AND needing gas cards. Carolyn told me I could do it through my Realm account, and within 30 seconds I had my gas cards in hand. The process was super easy and convenient. If you are not on Realm yet or need help, I’d be happy to walk you through it!” —Beth Hospadaruk Green Corner: What Is Green Burial? For millennia, many end-of-life rites have involved chemical preservation of the body or cremation. However, concern about the negative impact of such practices on the environment has recently spurred interest in funeral options that allow a body to naturally decompose and aid the environment.    The Climate Justice Committee is exploring how UUAA might be involved with green burial.    To learn more:  “Natural Funeral Practices”  “Is Green Burial Right For You?”    For more information on this or any other Green Corner topic, email greencorner at uuaa.org. Links Reserve a Zoom room | View past services Log in to Realm | Make your pledge ‌ ‌ ‌ UUA.org | MidAmericaUUA.org Side with Love | UUCSJ | DRUUMM | BLUU Contact Us First Unitarian Universalist Congregation Of Ann Arbor  4001 Ann Arbor-Saline Road Ann Arbor, MI 48103 734-665-6158 communications at uuaa.org First Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Ann Arbor | 4001 Ann Arbor-Saline Rd., Ann Arbor, MI 48103 Unsubscribe news3 at uuaa.org Update Profile | Constant Contact Data Notice Sent by communications at uuaa.org powered by Try email marketing for free today!
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://uuaa.org/pipermail/news3_uuaa.org/attachments/20220414/387cbd91/attachment.htm>