[UUAA news] UUAA Weekly News | March 24- 30, 2022
First Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Ann Arbor
communications at uuaa.org
Thu Mar 24 13:01:13 CDT 2022
All you need to know about UUAA this week. This Week at UUAA March 24 - 30, 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 March 31 - April 6 is Tuesday, March 29 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. Click here to download and read this week's Pastoral Care News. Sunday Worship (TRANS)LATING JOY Sunday, March 27, 9:30am & 11:30am In person and online at uuaa.org/service Honoring our community’s aspiration to “Radical Welcome”--to expand and grow our sense of inclusivity, accessibility, and diversity--how might UUAA honor and celebrate the journey of our trans and nonbinary Unitarian Universalist siblings? Join us this week for a special lay voices service, in which we’ll have the opportunity to hear from some of UUAA’s trans and non-binary community members. After the Sunday Service There will be a limited number of tables set up in the Social Hall for social justice and fundraising activities after both services. Stop by to visit the tables to see what is being offered. Grab-and-go doughnuts will be available at the main entrance for you to take with you as you leave the building. Please Note Our Updated Health and Safety 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. *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. Upcoming Events & Announcements For a full list of events, visit the UUAA Calendar. 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. UUA Supporting Those Impacted by the Crisis in Ukraine In response to the outpouring of concern, the UUA shares the most up-to-date information on how UUs in this country and around the world are responding and amplify the ways that we can all help. Read more here. TrUU Hope Movie Night Youth Group Friday, March 25, 7:30pm - 9:30pm Join the TrUU Hope movie watch party to view “Ellie and Abbie (and Ellie’s Dead Aunt).” Allies are welcome at movie night. 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. SunDay FunDay Spring Celebration Sunday, March 27, 12:30pm - 1:45pm Join us for a SunDay FunDay spring celebration after the second service! We will jump into spring with hopscotch and summer games, decorate plant pots and plant sunflowers seeds, and serve a light meal of hummus rolls, fruit, and lemonade. Food will be served in the courtyard outside the Social Hall, and games and crafts will be outside, weather permitting—otherwise they will be held in the Social Hall. We are looking forward to seeing congregants of all ages! Questions? Email Hannah at hannah at uuaa.org. To help with this event, sign up here. Final Capital Campaign Information Sessions Sunday, March 27, 2:00pm This capital campaign addresses our 2050 Climate Priorityand is based on recommendations of the University of Michigan Graham Institute study: install solar panels, repair the building envelope, and install more environmentally sensitive landscaping. It is also based on an engineering study UUAA commissioned to address the future of the SGD HVAC system, as well as our need to increase our operational funding by retiring our mortgage. Join us for one of these Capital Campaign information Zoom meetings to answer your questions. To view the Capital Campaign letter, click here. To view the FAQ, click here. To register for a Zoom link to the Sunday meeting, click here. To view the last information session, click here. Questions? Email ed at uuaa.org. “Promised Land”: Exhibit on Display at UUAA Sunday, March 27, Brown Room during Social Hour As part of our community’s learning about Israel and Palestine, UUJME is inviting you to view a special exhibit called “Promised Land,” on loan from the Jewish Museum of the Palestinian Experience. This traveling exhibit was on display at the UUA General Assembly in 2016 and is now on loan to UUAA to share with our community. The exhibit provides a perspective on Israel/Palestine rooted in Jewish values: to treat our neighbor as we would want to be treated. We hope the historical documents displayed in the exhibit will provide a perspective that leads to greater understanding and a path to peace. Click here for a video intro to the exhibit. This video has no violent content. Click here for the online exhibit. Warning: This video on the website contains violent content. Questions? Contact Mark Jagner at mjagner at yahoo.com, Restorative Justice Sunday, March 27, during Social Hour Thursday, April 7, 7:00pm - 8:30pm Please come to the Restorative Justice Table on Sunday during Social Hour. Learn more about the April 7 event, plus we will have petitions for the initiative to offer “Good Time Credits” for those incarcerated. Michigan is one of only six states that do not offer Good Time Credits to provide a way for incarcerated citizens to earn sentence reduction based on their behavior. Then, on April 7 at 7:00pm, UUAA Restorative Justice is co-sponsoring a Zoom event with Friends of Restorative Justice and the Dispute Resolution Center. The guest speaker is Seema Gajwani, Special Counsel for Juvenile Justice Reform and Chief of the Restorative Justice Program Section at the DC Office of the Attorney General. Click here to register. UUAA Fiber Arts Group Saturday, April 2, 11:00am - 1:00pm, UUAA Young Room 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. Registration Is Open for the Radical Welcome Gathering Table! Sunday, April 3, 2:00pm - 3:30pm Register here to join UUAA's Radical Welcome virtual Gathering Table, “Beyond Hospitality and Inclusion: Becoming a Radically Welcoming Congregation.” Zr. Alex Kapitan will guide us through a Radical Welcome workshop, getting at the heart of what it means to be a community that actively invites the voices, presence, and power of people of all identities, beliefs, and backgrounds. Please bring your energy, ideas, and spirit to this interactive workshop! Bonus: We are honored to have Alex with us for worship on April 3 as well. Whether you've heard Alex's story and message before or not, we hope to see you there. Questions? Email RadicalWelcome at UUAA.org. Sharing the Collection in April Sunday, April 3 On April 3, the collection benefits IHN/Alpha House. The Interfaith Hospitality Network (IHN) at Alpha House provides stability for parents and children living in the shelter and guides them through a plan to secure and maintain stable housing. You may mail your check to UUAA (UUAA, Att: Ed Lynn, 4001 Ann Arbor-Saline Rd., Ann Arbor, MI 48103). Please write “Sharing the Collection/Alpha House in the memo line. You can also contribute to Sharing the Collection/ Alpha House online. Please contact sharecollection at uuaa.org with any questions or suggestions. Memory Loss Support Group for Caregivers Zoom Meeting Wednesday, April 6, 3:00pm - 4:30pm If you are caring for a parent, spouse, partner, or friend who is experiencing memory loss, this support group welcomes you to their monthly Zoom meeting. In this safe and confidential space, you can share your concerns and questions and find others who are on similar journeys.The group is co-sponsored by the UUAA Pastoral Care Team and the Michigan Alzheimer’s Association. For information and/or the Zoom link, contact Joan Burleigh at jburleigh at aol.com or Sandy Kunkle at sandykunkle at gmail.com. Humanist Discussions Thursday, April 7, 2:00pm Monday, April 11, 7:00pm Monday, March 28 would normally be our next meeting, but our moderator will not be there. The room will be open if any humanists care to have a conversation. Topics for Monday and Thursday are TBA. Lively groups of Humanists have been meeting for over 20 years at UUAA, gathering on the second and fourth Monday evenings and/or first and third Thursday afternoons to discuss topics relating to Humanist philosophy, theology, morals, ethics, reasoning, science, and more. All are welcome. All meetings are still virtual. To get on our email list, get the login information, or get answers to any other questions, send a query to humanistgroupinfo at uuaa.org. Mindful Aging Saturday, April 9, 1:00pm - 2:30pm Join other UUs for a Zoom discussion of the UM Healthy Aging lectures given March 4, 11, 18, and 25. Topics include financial concerns in retirement and being prepared for health emergencies. To view the live lectures, register here. For the Zoom link to UUAA’s discussion on April 9, email Sandy Breck at sbreck at umich.edu. Alpha House April Host Week Monday, April 11 - Sunday, April 17 Alpha House is an emergency shelter for families temporarily experiencing homelessness in Washtenaw County. Our next host week is April 11 - 17 including Easter Sunday. Sign up online to help financially, donate a dish (curbside or in-person), heat meals (in-person), or oversee activity time (outdoor option if weather allows). Everyone at Alpha House wears a mask and washes hands frequently, regardless of vaccination status. Find links for volunteer guidelines in our signup. Questions? Contact AlphaHouse at uuaa.org. Newcomer Chalice Circle | UU Principles Saturday, April 16, 1:00pm - 3:00pm If you are new to UUAA and would like to get to know others who are new, join us to explore the tenets of Unitarian Universalism and discuss the UU Seven Principles. What do they mean to you? Which ones resonate strongly? How do they inspire you? You will receive the principles and reflection questions in advance, and we will practice a deep listening format during the discussion. This session will be held via Zoom. Register by Sunday, April 10 using this link or email Welcome Ministries Coordinator Hannah Hotchkiss at Hannah at uuaa.org. Landscaping Ideas Wanted We are about to launch the landscaping segment of our site carbon neutrality plan recommended by the Graham Institute Study. If you are interested in participating in a session to discuss possibilities and ideas, which could then be gathered into a session for congregational input, please contact Ruth Vail at ruthvail43 at gmail.com to indicate your interest. We are targeting a session in late April for this initial discussion. Thank you. Khasi Hills Sponsorship Reminder Thank you to those who attended the February Zoom kickoff for student sponsorships in the Khasi Hills. Videos of the students and school showed how sponsorships make a real difference in students’ lives. Special thanks to Colleen Crawley, long-time sponsor, who told of her rewarding relationship with the student she sponsored who is now a teacher at the school. We’re gathering sponsorship checks now. Choose one of three ways to get involved: Email khasihills at uuaa.org to get the donation form; then mail the completed form and your check to UUAA, 4001 Ann Arbor-Saline Rd., Ann Arbor, MI 48103, Donate through Realm, or Go to uuaa.org donate online Questions? Email khasihills at uuaa.org. The Scrip Table Is Back in Business Sundays, after each service, in the Social Hall The intentional use of scrip (gift cards) purchased from UUAA is an easy way to support the congregation. You purchase a gift card (which the Scrip Program has bought at a discount) and get full value for the purchase. The program offers cards from 16 retailers in our inventory, as well as cards from over 700 merchants that can be ordered. To start, choose three places where you shop or eat. If you chose Whole Foods, Speedway, and CVS, the rebates given to the church would be 3%, 4%, and 6%, respectively, for each card purchased. Questions? Stop by the table on Sunday or contact Carolyn at cmbarber at umich.edu. Support Fair Trade Farmers, UUAA, and UUSC Stop by the Fair Trade Coffee Table during Social Hour and support small farm cooperatives globally while also helping to fundraise for UUSC social justice programs and our UUAA congregation. Choose from fair trade organic chocolates, coffee, teas, nuts, dried fruits, and Palestinian olive oils. Questions? Contact Ilene Beninson at ilene.beninson at gmail.com. Green Corner: A Cleaner, Greener Power Company Ann Arbor for Public Power (A2P2) is a local non-profit working to create a city-owned power company in Ann Arbor. Unlike DTE, which is reportedly the third “dirtiest” utility company in the nation, our local company would prioritize solar and other carbon-neutral electricity, at affordable rates. There are over 2,000 municipally-owned power companies in the US and more than 40 in Michigan; they are generally greener, cheaper, and more reliably maintained than privately owned utilities. Learn more: See Ann Arbor Public Power’s website. Attend Roundtable Webinars on Zoom on March 24 and April 21, 7:00pm - 9:00pm. Click on the calendar event to get the Zoom link. UUCivs Community Liaisons Needed UUCivs is part of the Voting Access for All Coalition, a group that needs additional people power to reach out to community organizations in Ypsilanti/Washtenaw County and provide them with voting information and resources. The time commitment is only two to four hours, and instructions and materials will be supplied. Please consider volunteering for this effort—we did this work in 2020 and it was impactful! Interested? Email uucivs at uuaa.org, and we'll connect you! Other VAAC volunteer opportunities are listed here. Family Resettlement Support UUAA is officially approved to be a co-sponsor with Jewish Family Services (JFS) to help resettle a refugee family. Initially it was likely that we would be matched with an Afghan family; however they have all already been resettled! JFS remains over capacity and will match us with a family from elsewhere potentially by early March. Thank you to all who have supported this effort. Check out our new Sign Up Genius to contribute to household items. Questions? Contact resettlement at uuaa.org. Rev. Manish's Latest “Modern Widow” Podcast Spot Rev. Manish's latest podcast appearance, with the “Modern Widows,” entitled "New Year, New Spiritual You," is now available. Click here to check it out! Access to the Recording of the Mark Nepo Workshop For our UUAA members who may have missed Mark Nepo’s workshop with the UUAA and broader Ann Arbor community on February 19, the on-demand ability to watch the Saturday workshop is now available. Please email hannah at uuaa.org to receive a link to the recording. This link is available to members and friends of the congregation. GA 2022 June 22 - June 26, 2022 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. If you have questions or are interested in being a delegate to represent UUAA, email denomination 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!
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