| "Nurturing & Flourishing" with Rev. Holly Brown: Today is a special service that centers around a child dedication for three children. A child dedication is an opportunity for a congregation and a family commit to support the children being dedicated as a community and in their spiritual growth. In addition to the dedication we will explore some of the larger context of this type of service.
Join us in Clemson at 10:30am.
This service won't be streamed live, but will be posted to our YouTube channel after-the-fact. |
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| FROM OUR MINISTER Hello Beloveds,
As many of you probably know, June is PRIDE month and it is celebrated by LGBTQIA individuals and allies. There is a festival called Colors of Pride scheduled for June 27th from 11am to 5pm in downtown Greenville. The Welcoming Congregation Committee is making crafts for us to share, we have brochures and fans, we have a tent and tables figured out. The glitter for the Glitter Blessings is ready too!
So what do we need? We need you! We need volunteers to help throughout the day to ensure there are always a couple of folks from UUFC at the tent to talk to those that visit our space. We also need people to help with setup and breakdown of our booth. If you are interested in more information and/or willing to volunteer please reach out to me at minister@uufc.org.
May you be well,
Rev. Holly |
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CHILDREN'S FAITH FORMATION CLASSES |
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Where in the world have UUs been? As summer approaches, many of us are making travel plans. It’s not surprising that we are a congregation of travelers, since so many of us have ties to the university and its schedule. Have you taken a trip to some place you found exciting and special? As we get ready to shift from our regular children’s curricula to our summer program, we would like to invite you to come share some of your travel adventures with our children. If you would like to spend 10-15 minutes on a Sunday morning (between June 14th and August 16th) talking about a favorite city or country, please contact Karen Hiebel dlff@uufc.org. |
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| JOYS, CONCERNS, & MILESTONES: Do you have something you are celebrating? Or maybe something you are struggling with? Let us know! Significant personal accomplishments and hardships may be shared below, with permission. Please submit Celebrations and Concerns on one of the cards (green) at Sunday service or use this simple form. On Sunday's paper submissions, you must check the "I give permission to share. . ." box for your submission to be considered for publication. Personal items will not be shared without express permission to do so from the parties involved.
- Martha shares that she recently traveled to Burke County, NC to attend her 69th High School class reunion (Salem High, class of 1957)!
- Kody was spotted in the paper this week!
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Care Request Form: Request extra care (eg: meals, rides, cards, texts, calls, visits, etc.) for yourself or another congregant during a difficult time.
Care Response Form: Let us know if you are willing and able to provide various kinds of care to congregants in need. |
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| UUFC ANNOUNCEMENTS Want to advertise your upcoming UUFC event or share some UUFC news? Let us know! Email newsletter submissions to newsletter@uufc.org no later than Tuesday for inclusion in that week's Weekly Connection. |
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| IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Last Sunday, May 31st, Rev. Holly presented a service titled, "Pluralism & Curiosity". Resources from that service are listed below.
- Love at the Center: Unitarian Universalist Theologies ed. by Sofia Betancourt.
- Chapter 14 - Unitarian Universalism - Holy Love for All by Connie Goodbread. (quoted)
- Spiritual Guidance across Religions: A Sourcebook for Spiritual Directors & Other Professionals Providing Counsel to People of Differing Faith Traditions ed. by Rev. John R. Mabry.
- Spiritual Guidance in Unitarian Universalism by Rev. Cathleen Cox
- Guiding Humanists by Jonathan Figdor
- Spiritual Guidance in New Thought - American Metaphysics by Rev. Dr. Jim Lockard
- Spiritual Guidance for Spiritual Eclectics by Rev. John R. Mabry
- When One Religion Isn't Enough: The Lives of Spiritually Fluid People by Duane R. Bidwell.
- Scripture Unbound: A Unitarian Universalist Approach by Jonalu Johnstone
- Long quote from Rev. Michelle Collins in reflection on theological grounding of curiosity provided in Soul Matters May Worship Packet.
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EARLY VOTING HAS BEGUN: Time to practice our faith in democracy! If you are a South Carolinian, it's time to vote! Check your county election office for times and locations. The final voting day is Tuesday, June 9 from 7am to 7pm at your regular polling place. Sample ballots are available through the State Election Commission. Everything from Governor and US senator to the state House and local races are up for grabs. We will be working on empowering voters in November. We hope some of you will want to work with the democracy team in the fall. |
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SEEKING DELEGATES FOR GA: We still need delegates to attend and vote as representatives from UUFC at the virtual General Assembly. The business portion, which delegates can attend at reduced cost, is June 14 - 16. You may also register for the workshops, speakers, and worship portion from June 19 - 21. There is financial assistance for delegates as needed. If you are interested in being a delegate or learning more about it please contact Rev. Holly (minister@uufc.org) or talk to one of our board members. |
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SOCIAL ACTION OPPORTUNITY: A group of dedicated volunteers assists in providing a meal to the residents at Our Daily Rest in Seneca every month. This is a social justice project that UUFC has sponsored for years. If you would consider preparing a dish every few months we would be happy to have your help. To get more details, contact Janie Shipley who coordinates the menu (864-885-1967 or janrel@mindspring.com with “ODR" in the subject line) or Holley Ulbrich, Social Action chair. |
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GROUNDS TEAM NEWS: UUFC welcomes Jamie Reese back to work part time on our beautiful grounds again this year. She did a great job last year and we expect the same this year. She and Meg worked together to clear out the weeds in front of the Founders' House and then transplanted a number of daylilies to that bed. Hopefully they'll bloom this summer, but if not, they'll surely put on a show next year! |
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SATURDAY, JUNE 6TH at 7:00 - NOON: UUFC YARD SALE Clean out your home and raise some money for UUFC! Reserve your space ($10 to use one of our tables, $5 if you bring your own table), set your own prices (UUFC will provide stickers!), manage your own table, haggle with your buyers and UUFC will handle checkout. Contact Jo Gaillard (sunflowercrows@outlook.com) if you'd like to participate (as a seller or volunteer). |
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THURSDAY, JUNE 11TH at 5:15 FILM SCREENING: Come watch WALL-E with the Sojourners covenant group in the social room. This movie (rated G, for all audiences) was recommended as a part of the Curiosity packet of study. Bring your snacks and settle in for a fine time together. |
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CIRCLE DINNERS are a wonderful way to get to know members and friends of our Fellowship. We encourage your participation. Dinners begin in September and continue for 5 months, skipping November & December. The host provides the entree; others bring the food designated on the rotation chart: salad/bread, appetizer, or dessert. Deadline for signing up is Sunday, August 10th. Contact Jackie (jcrenzi@aol.com or 864-888-2276) |
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| RECURRING UUFC EVENTS Weekly on Mondays
- UUFC Choir at 7:00pm: Currently on hiatus; if you're interested or if you have any questions, please text Elaine Fredendall (864-650-6824).
Weekly on Tuesdays
- Tuesday Evening Meditation at 7:00pm: Everyone is welcome to join us! For more info, contact Darrell Yardley.
Weekly on Thursdays
Monthly
- Sunday Sangha 2nd Sundays at Noon: This Buddhist study group meets monthly on Sundays. We will begin at 12 noon in the sanctuary. Join us! Contact Renee Mendola for more information.
- Socratic Café 2nd Mondays at 10:30 - 11:45am: Join us in the Social Room on June 8th for a guided discussion, led by Adam Gies, on the topic: “Are there acts that are beyond redemption? What can and cannot be redeemed? How and why?” Please contact Alan Goldsmith for more information.
- Sounds Like Fun! 1st Tuesdays at 10:30am - 12:00pm: When the going gets tough, go for the jocular! July 7th is our next morning of improv comedy, new and old party games, and creative arts exploration in the Social Room. Please RSVPlay to Alan Goldsmith if you plan to attend.
- Plate Pals - UU Women's Lunch Group 2nd Tuesdays of each month. Join us for camaraderie, fun, support, and fellowship. To join us, email UUPlatePals@gmail.com.
- Novel Circle Book Club 1st Wednesdays at 7:30pm. All are welcome at this UUFC Book Club which meets in person (social hall) and online (Zoom) every 1st Wednesday at 7:30 PM. Please contact Gail Brownlee or Cindy Lee for more information.
- July 1st: Celebrate the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence by reading and reflecting on books about the America story. There are great recommendations from PBS and from NPR.
- August 5th: The Book Club for Troublesome Women by Marie Bostwick
- Habitat for Humanity UUFC works with the Pickens County Habitat for Humanity, usually on the 4th Saturday morning of each month to work on a home-build. Anyone who would like to join in on this fun is welcome--reach out to Michael Elder.
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Annual trail service at Chau Ram County Park on Saturday, June 6 with the Foothills Group of the Sierra Club in honor of National Trails Day. Please join us for a morning of trail maintenance. We'll have lunch afterwards and then tube/play in the river in the afternoon. Please see the website for more information and to register (Sierra Club membership is not required). |
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SUUSI (Southeast UU Summer Institute) July 19th-25th at Radford University. Each year hundreds of UUs gather to connect in a vibrant celebration of community, creativity and Unitarian Universalist values. It's a summer camp for all UUs. Please ask Jon Hoskin, a participant for 15 years, if you have any questions. |
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| COLUMBO'S RECEIPTS BRING MONEY TO UUFC Having a pizza night? When you check out at Columbo's Pizza, ask to have your receipt stamped and then drop that receipt at the UUFC office. Columbo's gives us a percentage of the receipt totals.
LITTLE RED WAGON Every Sunday during service, the children collect donations for Clemson Community Care and place them into our little red wagon. They need donations of food to help meet the needs of the community. Current needs are as follows: Canned meat and fish, canned potatoes, canned pork & beans, canned tomatoes, canned beans, canned fruit, diapers (size 3, 4 & 5), toilet tissue, shampoo, and soap.
LISTENING DEVICES AVAILABLE We have small radio receivers that pick up the sound from our AV system and transmit it to your ears, via headphones or telecoil. These are on display in the back left corner of the sanctuary, beside the AV systems. If you have hearing aids with telecoil, all you have to do is turn it on and use one of our T-coil necklaces. Otherwise, you can use one of our new headphones. Stop by before the next service and try it out!
UUFC DIRECTORY Our congregational directory is not available online. If you'd like the most recent version (updated monthly) emailed to you, please contact Becky, our office administrator.
UUFC PHOTOS Photos of UUFC folks doing UUFC things are always welcome! Please send photos to newsletter@uufc.org for our archives. All submitted photos may be chosen for publication and/or display unless specifically requested NOT to publish. |
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SHARED VALUES At the Unitarian Universalist Association's General Assembly in the summer of 2024, UUs voted to amend our by-laws to describe our Shared Values instead of Principles. Don't worry--the Principles did not vanish entirely; much of the sentiment can be found in the Values and now they're easier to share in graphic form. This helps frame our UU message in 21st century language. Our shared values are: Interdependence, Equity, Transformation, Pluralism, Generosity, and Justice. These are centered around Love at the core. |
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CALL YOUR REPRESENTATIVES: The number of calls on each topic are recorded and if enough people express their dismay, they might just respond favorably. Emails carry less weight, since they can be copied, pasted and mass-mailed; constituents who take the time to pick up the phone sends a message. So pick up the phone and make the calls! Let your representatives know that you're watching, that you're engaged, and what you want them to do. If you don't know who to call, you can call the Capitol Switchboard: 202-224-3121 and they'll help you connect, or you can visit usa.gov/elected-officials. For additional information, ideas and call scripts, you can visit 5calls.org. Call your reps daily, if you can. This is faith in action. |
| FLOWERS FOR SUNDAY: Each week, volunteers provide flowers for Sunday service. If you'd like to volunteer to bring flowers 6/7: Nancy Brown 6/14: Charlotte Sherman 6/21: The Benson Family 6/28: Martha Alexander 7/5: Martha Alexander |
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