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Daylight Savings Time on March 13. Spring Ahead and set your clock forward 1 hour!
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UU Fellowship of Southern Maryland Newsletter
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Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Southern Maryland
PO Box 1703, Leonardtown MD, 20650 | Phone: 240-256-5530 | mail [at] uufsm [dot] org
Sunday Services: 10:30 a.m. at the Chesapeake Charter School, 20945 Great Mills Road, Lexington Park MD 20653
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NEWS
This year, the UU Association General Assembly will be held in Minneapolis on June 23-27. GAs have worship, music, workshops, and programs for all ages. Plus, they're fun! Visit http://www.uua.org/events/generalassembly/ for details.
If you'd like to go and represent UUFSM, the Fellowship can help with the cost. Please contact Janeen.
If you're interested in something closer, the Joseph Priestley District annual Convention will be in King-of-Prussia, Pennsylvania on April 16 and 17 (Friday night through Saturday). Visit http://www.uufsm.org/uu/content/jpd-spring-conference for details.
- A belated congratulations for newlyweds Nancy Gould and Dave Williams! They were married in October and honeymooned in Washington State.
- Ryan Grohsmeyer will be home from Alfred University from March 8 to 13 for spring break. He won't make any Sunday services, but you can give him a call or come to the St. Patrick's Day Party on March 12 at the Grohsmeyers' home to say hi.
- Mary Lou Grote, a long-time friend of UUFSM, passed away in the third week of February. Our heart-felt condolences go to her husband, Dick Grote, and their family.
- Congratulations to Megan Triplett, whose project on "Mining Asteroids" earned first prize in the engineering category at the St. Mary's County Science Fair on February 20th.
- Missy Fallabel will be performing in "The Vagina Monologues" by Eve Ensler on the last weekend in February. The College of Southern Maryland and New Direction Community Theater are presenting the play on Friday, Feb. 26th at 8pm at the Prince Frederick Campus, on Saturday Feb 27th at 2 pm at the Leonardtown Campus, and on Sunday, Feb. 28th at 2 pm at the La Plata Campus. More information can be found at http://www.csmd.edu/FineArts/.
On Saturday, February 13th, members of the New Moon Rising worship group met at Janeen's house in Callaway to try their hand at creating thread. After an opening ritual, we carded some wool then tried using a drop spindle to turn it into yarn. We all decided that more practice is definitely called for! We also looked at a warp-weighted loom and learned a bit about ancient weaving technology. The meeting ended with oat cakes and cups of tea in the kitchen.
In March, the group plans to dye eggs with natural colors and materials. Save those onion skins!
The booklets, "Let the Choice be Mine," have arrived. They will be available at Sunday services. If you've prepaid, just pick up the envelope with your name on it. If you still owe money, please pick up your booklet and give the money (cash or check) to Carl. The cost is $6.00 per copy.
We also have some extra copies available, so you can pick up a copy and pay Carl.
A few of us are planning to start a new UUFSM Chalice Circle that will meet one Thursday evening each month at members' homes. The optimal number is 8 - 10 people, so there's room for more! If you are interested in joining us or would like more information, please call Liz Crosby.
It's a tradition! Wear festive headgear to church on Easter Sunday--bonnets, baseball hats, flowers... it's up to you!
- Our heartfelt condolences to Missy, whose grandfather passed away in March.
- Best wishes to Margo for a speedy recovery from surgery.
From UU World by Donald Skinner
"Unitarian Universalists have contributed almost $1 million to a relief fund created by the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee and the Unitarian Universalist Association to help victims of the January 12 earthquake in Haiti. As of February 15, the UUSC had processed donations of $988,369.... Martha Thompson, the UUSC’s program manager for Rights in Humanitarian Crises, went to Haiti on February 5 on an eight-day assessment mission to determine how the UUSC can best respond to long-term needs. The UUSC is working in partnership with several groups involved in Haiti, including the Papaye Peasant Movement and the Lambi Fund of Haiti.
"The Papaye Peasant Movement is helping people leave damaged areas, running a shelter, and providing food to survivors. The Lambi Fund is supporting rural groups that are in turn supporting groups of quake survivors from the city. The UUSC is also working with ActionAid USA to coordinate supplies for two grassroots groups, Platform of Community Organizations of the Port-au-Prince Metropolitan Zone, and Regional Coordination of Southeast Organizations.
"The 7.0-magnitude earthquake, centered near Port-au-Prince on January 12 killed at least 212,000 people, injured more than 300,000, and left a million people homeless."
Read more at http://www.uuworld.org/news/articles/158306.shtml?n
UUFSM will be collecting for this fund during its Sunday Services in February. Let's help bring the total to $1 million!
You can also donate online at UUSC
Guest at Your Table
The "Guest At Your Table" collection totalled $575. Thanks to all of you who contributed to support the work of the UU Service Committee, which promotes social justice and human rights in the U.S. and around the world.
Thank-you Letter from UUA for our donations to "Bless All Who Serve" books
Dear UU Fellowship of Southern Maryland,
We are proud to announce that thanks to the generous support of UUs like you around the country, we will be publishing Bless All Who Serve this spring. Thank you again for your donation to support the publication and distribution of this pocket-size collection of poems, prayers and hymns reflecting the values of Unitarian Universalism for Armed Service men and women. We are delighted that we will be able to send more than 20,000 volumes-free of charge-to service members across the world. Thank you again for your support of this important project.
In faith,
Katrina Bergmann, Campaign Specialist Stewardship and Development
Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations
25 Beacon St, Boston MA 02108, 617-948-4662
www.uua.org/giving
The Fellowship would like to be a helpful guest at the Charter School. Please consider participating in one or more of the following No-Cost Fundraisers.
p Box Tops from your favorite brands
Find the familiar 10¢ Box Tops coupon on hundreds of your family’s favorite products from General Mills. Box Tops are now on Ziploc® and Kleenex® products, too! Send your Box Tops to school with your child. CPCS Alliance will take it from there!
Campbell Soup Labels for Education
Clip your Campbell Soup UPCs, save your Prego and V8 lids, clip Pepperidge farm (Goldfish!) and Market Day UPCs to earn items for CPCS. For full details on what to save and which products are eligible go to http://www.labelsforeducation.com. Send labels to school with your child. CPCS Alliance will do the rest!
Tyson Project A+ Label Collection Program
All we have to do to participate is clip and save the entire Project A+™ label from participating Tyson products. CPCS earns 24¢ for every Tyson Project A+ label you clip! Please look for labels on Tyson’s frozen food, boxes or bags, and Tyson’s Deli Style lunchmeats. If you would like more information or a complete list of products, visit http://ProjectAPlus.tyson.com. Send the labels to school, and the Alliance will redeem them!
Recycle Used Printer Cartridges
We can turn your used printer cartridges into $$$ for CPCS. We earn $3 for each cartridge! Consider asking your co-workers and relatives too! Maybe you know of a small business that would donate their used printer cartridges to us! Visit https://staplesrecyclefored.com/ for more information. Just send the used cartridge to school with your student and CPCS will recycle them!
Stop throwing away your old cell phones!
CPCS Alliance can recycle old cell phones for cash. So, send your old cell phone to school and the Alliance will turn them in! Please remember to clear/delete all personal information before sending it to school. Thank you!
Paganism 101 is an experiential curriculum that will enable participants to conduct Pagan rituals on their own as independent practitioners. It introduces the practices, beliefs, and history of Modern Pagan spirituality, a nature-based worldview that is deeply rooted in Western Esoteric traditions. It is an active and powerful way to engage with Unitariansm's Sixth Source -- Spiritual Teachings of Earth-centered Traditions that Celebrate the Sacred Circle of Life and Instruct us to Live in Harmony with the Rhythms of Nature. Cost will be $10 dollars to cover books and supplies. Contact Corinne Stubbs if you are interested in attending.
If you're handy with needle and thread, and you feel comfortable designing and cutting, we could really use your help in creating a cloth cover for the new keyboard. The Fellowship will reimburse you for materials. Please talk to Alan or Marianna about what they're looking for.
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UUFSM EVENTS
12 March 2010 - 7:30pm - 11:00pm
Celebrate St. Patrick's Day at the Grohsmeyer home in Callaway, a mile or so north of the Food Lion on Route 5. (Call or email Janeen for directions) There will be music, food, and drink. If you'd like to contribute to any of those three, that's great! You're welcome to bring munchies, your favorite beverage, or your favorite music. Children welcome. We'll have some games out.
13 March 2010 - 2:00am
Please set your clocks ahead one hour on Saturday evening.
14 March 2010 - 11:45am - 12:15pm
During the service on "The Gift of Giving" on March 14, we'll be asked to fill in our pledge forms for next year. After the service, we'll have a “Committee Speed Dating” event. Each of the seven committee will do a two-minute presentation, and you’ll get to decide if you want to “get involved” with that committee.
If you aren’t at the service on March 14 or can't stay for the Speed Dating, please fill out your Canvass “Time and Talent” form and "Treasure" form and drop it in the collection basket or mail it to UUFSM. We'd like all the forms turned in by March 28.
21 March 2010 - 9:00am - 10:00am
Members of the "small group ministry" meet before the service to support each other and learn about each other's spiritual gifts.
- Meets: Every 1st and 3rd Sunday, from March until May/ June
- Time: 9:00 - 10:00 am
- Requirements: Openness, a certain level of confidentiality, and good commitment to our meeting times.
Contact: Reverend Michael, minister [at] uufsm [dot] org, 301-233-3552
21 March 2010 - 12:15pm - 1:30pm
All members and friends are welcome to attend. Send Agenda items to board1 [at] uufsm [dot] org
Agenda items:
- Canvass: Review early results. Assign people to contact non-responders. Responses due by March 28.
- Committee Orientations: choose dates for meetings.
- Meeting places after June. Options?
- Report from Marianna: Fundraiser for piano plan
- Review Sue Mosher's Report on the Retreat, and discuss JPD's take on the creation of UUCC. Discuss possible responses.
- Committee Reports
Next Meeting: 18 April 2010
28 March 2010 - 11:30am - 12:00pm
UUFSM will share a potluck meal after the service. Everyone is encouraged to bring food to share!
28 March 2010 - 11:30am
All canvass forms should be turned in by today, both the "Treasure" one and the "Time and Talent" ones. Please drop them in the collection basket or mail them to UUFSM, PO Box 1703, Leonardtown MD 20650.
31 March 2010 (All day)
Please have your events, articles, and summaries for Class Sessions and Services for April uploaded to the website by today. You may also send information to bulletin [at] uufsm [dot] org.
2 April 2010 - 8:00am - 5 April 2010 - 10:15pm
Truth Seekers make pilgrimage to Boston, home of UUA
4 April 2010 - 10:30am - 11:30am
Everyone is invited to wear festive headgear today!
An Egg Hunt will take place during the social hour. Please talk to the RE teachers for details.
4 April 2010 - 12:00pm - 1:00pm
Have you ever read the questions in the back of your UU World magazine? Ever wanted to discuss the articles in depth? Ever wished you were in a book club but decided you didn't have time to read a whole book?
Now you can enjoy thoughtful and spirited discussion after reading just one short article! Stay after the service on the first Sunday of the month for the UU World Discussion Group. Please bring your copy of UU World and (if you get hungry and the snacks aren't quite enough) something to eat.
The group will meet from noon to 1 p.m. on the first Sunday of the month.
17 April 2010 - 2:00pm - 4:00pm
Come and Herald in the spring and celebrate new beginnings by empowering Eostara eggs with learning how to decorate and dye them naturally. We will also do a short ritual with Flowers and the Fertility bunny that will bring us health and prosperity throughout the coming year.
Location: TBD
Rescheduled from March
18 April 2010 - 12:15pm - 1:30pm
All members and friends are welcome to attend. Send Agenda items to board1 [at] uufsm [dot] org
Agenda items:
- Review of Budget before Town Hall Meeting
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JPD Workshop: Effective Supervision and Management in the Church
20 March 2010 - 10:00am - 4:00pm
UU Church of Columbia, 7246 Cradlerock Way in Columbia, MD www.uucolumbia.net
The modern church depends upon a much more sophisticated leadership style to be healthy and effective. Professional and elected leaders must be able to deal with a wide range of issues within the context of staff, both paid and volunteer. This workshop will cover how to be an effective supervisor and manager in our churches. Topics include: job descriptions, hiring, discipline, firing, evaluation, delegation, counseling, budgeting, employee manuals, policy and procedure manuals, and goal setting. Examples of each will be given in the form of handouts so that the participant leaves with ready resources in which to increase the supervision of employees and create a more stable and healthy management for everyone.
Copies of the Alban Personnel Handbook for Congregations will be available for purchase as a resource for congregations to use. Rev. Dr. Richard Speck has over twenty years experience in supervising and managing employees. He will share his knowledge along with best practices from others in this workshop.
Cost: $16.00 per person with Fair Share Discount, Registration Deadline is March 15, 2010
Click here for a complete flier with registration form!
UU singer Peter Mayer at the Birchmere in VA
25 March 2010 - 7:30pm - 9:30pm
UU singer and songwriter Peter Mayer will be performing at the Birchmere (www.birchmere.com) at 3701 Mt. Vernon Avenue in Alexandria VA, along with Carrie Newcomer. Peter sings songs such as "My Blue Boat Home" and "Everything is Holy Now." He will also be performing at UU Annapolis Coffee house on June 18 and at the UUA General Assembly in Minneapolis in June.
Tickets for the Birchmere performance are $25.
Call 703-549-7500.
JPD Spring Conference
16 April 2010 - 5:00pm - 17 April 2010 - 6:00pm
2010 JPD Spring Conference
Redefining 'The Good Life': Faith & Values for a Sustainable Future
April 16-17, 2010 -Clarion Hotel Park Ridge, King of Prussia, PA
Online Registration: http://jpduua.org/register2010.html
Conference Highlights
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Outstanding worship by leading JPD ministers
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Friday night coffee house with Grammy-nominated JPD minister, Rev. Dan Schatz
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Nationally known Keynote Speaker: Rev. Dr. Michael Schuler, Author of Making the Good life Last: Four Keys to Sustainable Living
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29 workshops to choose from
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Bookstore with up-to-date offerings for your congregation
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Exhibits from diverse UU organizations
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Food-filled Friday-night reception with a cash bar. Come meet the JPD Board, Staff and your fellow UUs!
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Family-friendly track programming
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Celebration service involving youth to close the conference
If you're interested in going to this conference and representing UUFSM, please talk to a Board Member. The Fellowship can help with the cost of registration, hotel, and travel.
JPD Conference with Spring Youth Con
16 April 2010 - 10:30pm - 18 April 2010 - 10:30pm
The District Youth Spring Conference (con) Meets in Philadelphia, PA, in conjunction with the (adult) Joseph Priestly District Spring Conference on April 16-17, 2010 at the Clarion Hotel Park Ridge in King of Prussia, PA
The Spring Youth Con is focused around the JPD-YRUU annual business meeting, Cluster Assembly (CA). Though official, voting representation at CA is limited to two youth and one adult from each congregation, five at-large youth and two at-large adult positions are available, and they are chosen by YSC at Spring Con. The remainder of Spring Con should have a theme of fun activities in support of the YRUU components of learning and community building. It is usually held in March or April, and also serves as a major fund-raiser. Youth groups from all JPD congregations shall be encouraged to send representatives and attendees. Spring Con participation is open to all UUFSM Senior High participants.
