Sponsored by the Adult Religious Education (ARE) Committee
Let’s root ourselves in wisdom and be branches of LIGHT! "Mass in the New Year" Presented by Ken Goodrich December 30, 2018 You might recall from high school science that it was originally defined as the weight of one-liter of water. But, did you know that since 1889, the global definition of the kilogram has been defined as exactly equal to the mass of a single, small polished cylinder, cast of platinum and iridium kept in a basement vault in France and affectionately nicknamed, Le Grand K? More troubling, for reasons unknown, the mass of this artifact has slowly being moving away from what were once exact replicas maintained around the globe. The kilogram was in crisis! To establish a standard that can once again be reproduced anywhere and will be the same in a million years as today, scientists around the globe recently completed a several decades long quest to develop the technologies to define the kilogram based solely on fundamental properties of the universe. What's truly astonishing is that the kilogram's new definition is based on energy and not matter. In this single-Sunday session, Ken Goodrich will describe the development of the new kilogram and how its intertwined with our deepening understanding of the complexity and interconnectedness of our Universe. "The Real History of Being Black in America" Presented by April Kelsey December 23, 2018 (Part I of this series was 12/9/18)
"Growing Forests in Rural Kenya" Presented by Mike Roy December 16, 2018 Sadhana Forest Kenya is located in the remote, arid Samburu region, and focuses on bringing food security to local populations through distribution of food-producing trees and workshops on small-scale permaculture practices. The presentation will explain the goals and practices of the project along with some information about the Samburu way of life. Want to learn more? Visit Mike Roy's inspirational blog post! "The Islamic Presentation of the Divine Names and Attributes of God" Presented by Dr. Islam Bedir December 2, 2018 "The Humanist Manifesto" Presented by Kathryn Ozyurt November 25, 2018 Socrates Café Presented by Kathryn Ozyurt November 11, 2018: "What is the nature of punishment, and is it necessary to teach morality?" November 18: "Does the S(s)upernatural exist?" Using the Socratic method, the facilitator posed questions and challenged statements to stimulate critical thinking about the subjects and elicit logical conclusions. "The Future of Everything" Presented by Kay Braguglia November 4, 2018
"Good Robot. Bad Robot." Presented by Kathryn Ozyurt October 28, 2018 Kathryn Ozyurt delivered a presentation on the positives that can be accomplished with robotics. Attendees discussed moral choices about what we are presently doing with robotics and the expectations and ramifications of what we can and should do with these tools of our future. "The Purpose and Benefits of Drumming and Women's Circles" Presented by Connie Ralston October 21, 2018
All joined in growing in relationship with one another and creating an Ultimate Rhythm! "Gender Communication Differences" Presented by Gary Ott and Meg Glenn-Albiez October 14, 2018
Several differences in gender communication styles are: 1) empathetic vs. problem solving, 2) verbal vs. visual, and 3) variety of body language signs in nonverbal communications. Visit Sunday Morning Forum for the upcoming presentation and Sunday Morning Forum Archive for a library of previous topics. Have questions or would like to facilitate a forum? Contact the Adult Religious Education Committee.
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By the Committee on Ministry Our Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of the Peninsula (UUFP) committees are integral in carrying out the mission of this congregation! So how might you be a part of the meaningful activities and outreach both in and beyond our fellowship? The chairs of the committees must be members of UUFP. However, for the majority of committees, anyone—members, friends, teens; i.e., any interested individual—may serve on a committee. We have a large variety of committees, and many committees have programs that can use some planning and implementing help. Our committees include: Adult Religious Education, Building, Caring, Children’s Religious Education, Communications, Denominational Affairs, EarthRising, Finance, Grounds, Membership, Music, Planning, Social Justice, Sunday Services, and others. (Visit UUFP Committees for more info.) Any of these committees would welcome new members. One of our groups in which each one of us is a member is Hospitality. Every four months, for one month of Sundays, one of the four Hospitality Teams (i.e., Engage, Generosity, Sage and Wonder) is responsible for the set-up of food/drinks and managing/cleanup of the common area. If you have not been appointed to one of the Hospitality Teams, please let Meg Glenn-Albiez know. This will aid in continuing to offer this time of fellowship and food in-between the two Sunday morning worship services. There are other committees that require an individual to be appointed to them, for example: Audit, Committee on Ministry, Leadership Development and others. If you wish to be a part of one of these, consider starting with a regular committee, so the Policy Board members will become familiar with your skills. At UUFP we want everyone to be as involved as one wishes to be. As each of us discerns where to devote our time, talents and resources, the Committee on Ministry invites us to reach out to a committee chair, the board member on-call, or to email them at committeeonministry@uufp.org for information about volunteer opportunities. Remembering Aristotle's words, "The whole is greater than the sum of its parts," we are grateful for our UUFP teamwork. Thank you for serving! Grow in Wonder — Connect in Love -- Engage in Service — Inspire Generosity As we head towards the holiday season, I wanted to report some of the good news in our RE Program. Our two holiday events went really well. We had Trunk or Treat for Halloween. Cars were decorated. Kids came in costumes. Adults handed out treats and led children in a variety of games. We had UUFP kids, homeschool families and kids from Young’s Mill Lane enjoy the day.
Our Youth groups have grown this fall. We’ve been having teens meet on 2nd and 4th Tuesdays and middle school and upper elementary kids meet on 3rd Wednesdays. There’s generally a light meal and then time to check in with each other and do an activity together. Many of our youth invite their friends from outside of church. This is a great way to help other families find the UUFP. Our next big event will be the 5:00 p.m. Christmas Eve service. This is geared for families with an interactive play and many songs to sing. We are looking for a few more actors for the play. If anyone is interested, please let me know. It will be done with scripts in hand. Our music program is also looking for children to sing before service starts. Let Greg know if your child would like to be part of the pre-service music. A special thank you to all the volunteer RE teachers. We couldn’t run the program without you!
See you in the RE! By Bobbie Schilling
We provide volunteers to check in clients, hand out bedding, cook and serve dinner/breakfast, and clean up the kitchen. Donna Sprock organizes and oversees the preparation of nutritious and delicious meals. Volunteers are welcome to share a meal with us, too. A few hearty volunteers spend the night. We offer a hot breakfast early in the morning (4:30 a.m.) as many clients board a van at 5:15 a.m. to go to work. Brown bag breakfasts are also prepared for clients to take with them in the morning. If you are interested in learning more about PORT, there will be a brief informational meeting immediately after the second service on Sunday, December 16, in the sanctuary. Contact either Bobbie Schilling or Henry Chambers (in person or via socialjustice@uufp.org) with any questions or if you are willing to volunteer for a three or four-hour shift. Donations of money to buy the food or of new underwear and socks for the clients are greatly appreciated. This is an excellent way to assist if you are unable to volunteer your time. There will be a labeled donation basket for the underwear located near the Social Justice table outside the sanctuary doors. Monetary donations designated for PORT may be placed in the collection baskets Sunday morning. We welcome all who wish to help! Our second night of service to PORT will be in March (around the 10th, but exact date to be determined later) at Warwick Memorial United Methodist Church.
Donna and I were having breakfast there with another couple from UUFP. We've found that to be a good way to get to know other church people. When we were new in town, two years ago, another couple invited us to breakfast there, and we came out feeling a bit closer to and more welcome in the Community. As a result, we've made it a practice, over time, to invite other couples, new in church, to join us there for a similar experience. This time, as we usually do, we got to talking about UUism and what it has meant to us. That's particularly meaningful to Donna and me, since we actually met at a UU church, thirty-two years ago. And this time, perhaps more than on other occasions, the chemistry was particularly strong as we exchanged feelings and fears and hopes, and what effect our UU membership has had on these issues. I could not help admiring the grace which this couple exhibited in dealing with life's issues. And also, I couldn't help admiring the caring and honesty that my lovely Donna was demonstrating in this sensitive area, as well as the openness with which all of us were discussing some very personal matters. And suddenly, as we turned to the role that a belief in God plays in all of this, I realized that the four of us expressing and receiving feelings and beliefs, admitting to fears and mistakes around that table were God. The thing that we call God, I realized, wasn't a being or a quantity, at all, but an experience. That which we call God was the experience of people being open and honest and caring, as we were, with one another at that particular moment. Interested in sharing how the mission of UUFP is alive and moving throughout the Fellowship and beyond? Contact eflame@uufp.org with content or questions. (Helpful tips available at: Mission in Motion - Promote Your Event.) ![]() theme: Inspiring Unless otherwise noted, services include sermons preached by Rev. Andrew Clive Millard and take place at 9:30am and 11:15am on Sundays. December 2nd: “Sharing Hope” December 9th: “Keeping Faith” December 16th: “Finding Joy” December 23rd: “Knowing Love” For decades, “Guest at Your Table” has been introducing Unitarian Universalists to real people impacted by human rights issues and to grassroots leaders making a difference around the world. This year, the UU Service Committee’s theme is “Justice Across Borders”, with four stories that provide a personal glimpse into the lives of Central Americans making the perilous journey north in hope of finding refuge in the United States. Each Sunday in Advent, we’ll meet one of the “guests” whose lives have been changed because of the generosity of UUs like us, and, in turn, their stories will be an inspiration to us. On December 2nd and 9th, special music will be provided by “Doc” Robin van Tine; on December 16th, special music for flute and guitar will be provided by Marcy Stutzman and Jeffrey Hinkley; and on December 23rd, special music for flute and harp will be provided by Darla Wilmot and Mel Lauf! Christmas Eve Services! 5pm on Monday December 24th: “The Other Wise Man” 7pm on Monday December 24th: “Bah! Humbug!” We hold two services on Christmas Eve! The earlier is a family service about the sharing of gifts and a journey to find the newborn king; the later explores the truth and meaning of a favorite tale of the season. Each service features traditional Christmas carols and concludes with the beloved ceremony of passing the flame. At both services, special music for Christmas will be provided by the UUFP’s ChorUUs and Winds! ![]() December 30th: “Looking Back, Looking Forward” Let’s take a look back into the past and forward into the future in preparation for the New Year! EarthRising is the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of the Peninsula’s pagan group. At thirty-one years of age, it is the oldest continuously active pagan group in Virginia. EarthRising offers seasonal Earth-centered celebrations — at the solstices, equinoxes and cross-quarter days — in support of a modern, Nature-centered spirituality. Happy Birthday to all our members born in December! Jacy Brooks Sarah Edwards Julia Riach David Walsh Donna Sprock Pat Sloan Nancy Sessoms Randy Phillips Michael Henry-Richardson Alice Smith Jackie Wilson Erick Hagstrom Mason Moseley If you are a member and have a birthday in December that we overlooked, please contact Bobbie Schilling at membership@uufp.org.
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