| Thursday, September 14, 2023 To stay on top of what's happening, you can see our Online Calendar. |
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This week we honor the connections that we have with Pagan traditions which celebrate Mabon/Fall Equinox on the 21st later this week. |
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| Religious exploration classes are back in session! If you are new to UUFC, or if you did not register your child(ren) for the 2022-2023 Religious Exploration year (even if they attended classes), please fill out our brief registration form. Previously registered families will receive a link to a pre-filled registration form to update as necessary.
This year we will learn about world religions and how Unitarian Universalism draws wisdom and inspiration from many sources with the curriculum Holidays and Holy Days. We will explore through stories, games, crafts and yummy snacks from around the world. Come join us! |
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| FROM OUR MINISTER, REV. HOLLY BROWN Hello Beloveds,
This Sunday, September 17th, we will be welcoming this changing of the season with our service. There will be a period of meditation and reflection on this theme of welcome and of balance.
The Autumnal Equinox is a little over a week away. This is a time when the amount of daylight and dark of night are equal, or, in other words, in balance. This balance can serve as a reminder to find balance in our own lives, to slow down, and reflect on the world around us. I have the practice during these seasonal changes to reflect on where I am in the world and in my own life. Digging a little deeper, it is a time to reflect on things that I may need to let go of and the goals that I would like to work toward during the coming season. Fall comes with harvest and many faith traditions and cultures have observed some kind of celebration of the harvest season connecting to both abundance and gratitude.
I invite you to reflect on where you find balance. Are there ways in which you would like to increase or become more aware of the balance in your life? Are there things that you would like to let go of, or to celebrate?
This year, I find myself increasingly grateful to be here in South Carolina – serving as your minister, enjoying the slightly cooler weather, being closer to family, and feeling more grounded/settled. My goal is to enjoy each of these things by spending more time outside, continuing to get to know the community -- UUFC and the larger Tri-County area -- and setting aside more social time with my friends and family to create greater balance in my life.
Rev. Holly [email protected] |
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| CELEBRATIONS AND CONCERNS Do you have something you are celebrating? Or maybe something you are struggling with? Send us your celebrations and concerns so we can share them here in the newsletter. You can submit Celebrations and Concerns using this simple form or send an email to [email protected].
- Sara Summers shares, that she is "thankful to have Dae in our Bingo group!"
- Demetra Briscoe asks that we keep her neighbor, Ingrid & her mother (who has cirrhosis of the liver) in our thoughts and prayers
- Marty Baer shares, "my brother made it through radiation and was scanned CANCER-FREE. He is coming to visit us this week.""
- Tom Hiebel shares, "my mother, Martha Hiebel, turned 89 (!) on August 30th.
- Elaine Faithful shares her joy that he little town of Central is growing!
- Nancy and Bing share, "our customer and friend of 20 years, Joe Shymanski, was murdered in his Maryland home this week. His accused murderer, a Pennsylvania man, has been arrested. Joe leaves behind two children, 10 and 9. A devoted father, Joe moved to Maryland, even though his work was in DC, to give his children a better environment and a big back yard. Joe was one of the good ones."
- Carol Ward shares, "Thanks to the congregation and Dave Sanders, I was able to donate our CCC collection on Monday. We donated 133.85 pounds.
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| 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. There is currently a need for the following items: canned meat and fish, soup, green beans, mixed vegetables, potatoes, canned and dry pasta, jelly, peanut butter,2-lb bags of sugar, shelf stable milk, and cooking oil, paper towels, bathroom tissue, soap, shampoo, and diapers (Sizes 4, 5, 6). |
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| SANCTUARY PLANTS HELP NEEDED The plants that beautify our Sanctuary need some TLC. Many thanks to Dillman, who cared for them up until she had a shoulder injury. Now she is not able to continue so we're requesting that someone else step up to this task. It requires watering once a week, fertilizing every 3-4 months and occasionally trimming dead leaves. If you are willing to take this on, please contact Meg Williamson at [email protected]. |
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| COVENANT GROUPS September is open enrollment time for all adults (members, friends, and newcomers) in the UUFC community to join a Covenant Group. Covenant groups are small groups of 8-10 people who agree to meet regularly for spiritual, intellectual, and social dialogue and nurturing. Complete the Interest Form, if you'd like to join a Covenant Group at UUFC. See Karen Hiebel or Sara Summers-Hoskin for more information.
At the present, we have three groups:
- The Sojourners meets in person on the 2nd Thursdays at 5:15
- The Butterfly Group meets in person on the 4th Thursdays at 10:00 am
- The Soul Matters Group meets online on the 4th Wednesdays at 6:30pm
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The Stewardship Campaign will kick off their 2024 Campaign with an Open Mic Night/Gala on Saturday, Oct. 14 from 6-8 p.m. in the Social Hall of the main building. Heavy hor d'oeuvres and drinks will be served. Donations will be accepted. Emcee for the evening will be our own Bill Bruehl, playwright, author and actor, and musicians include pianist Corey Dodgens, and Paula Heuskenveldt and Jorge Medina. Musical direction and support is being provided by choir director Elaine Fredendall. Standup comedian Modi Wetzler, poet and musician Wei Chen are among those who will share their talent for the evening. If you are interested in performing, or can volunteer in the kitchen, or help with the production, please contact Stewardship Chair Sara Summers-Hoskin at [email protected]. |
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Wednesday, September 27 at 8:30am Grounds Team Workday: There is much left to be done on the Sanctuary Garden so a workday has been added. The main focus will be cutting back perennials, but weeds are also rampant! Bring water bottles, pruners, and weeding tools. Also, the workday scheduled for October 14th is being rescheduled for October 21st. At that time we'll begin digging up clumps of perennials to be transplanted to their new homes. |
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Sunday, October 1 at Noon Giving with Intention Lunch & Learn: The UUFC Planned Giving Committee brings this seminar to UUFC. A light lunch will be served ($5 requested donation). RSVP 864-654-5959 or inf[email protected] by September 23. Dan Wiseman with Gift & Estate Planning at Clemson University will present about not just estate planning, but a broad palette of giving options and approaches. We will hear about tools and resources available to help us all give with intention and purpose. Join us! |
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| RECURRING EVENTS
- Socratic Cafe: Adult Faith Exploration offers this guided dialogue experience exploring ethical and philosophical considerations that inform our personal attitudes, behavior, and socio/political/spiritual concerns. The Socratic method of examining and discussing topics selected by participants, using honest, disciplined and inquisitive dialogue will be embraced in each session. This group will meet on the 2nd and 4th Sundays of each month at 9:00am in the Founder's House. All adults are welcome to attend. Coffee will be served.
- Buck-a-Book Sale: New books welcome the first Sunday of every month! There’s a wide selection waiting for you at Buck a Book. The buck goes to UUFC general expenses, so read up and know its for a good cause – you and UUFC!
- UUFC Choir always welcomes new members -- we'd love for you to join us! Singing experience not required, we welcome singers of all abilities! If you're interested or if you have any questions, please contact Elaine Fredendall. Text 864-650-6824. Practice is Mondays at 7:00 pm at UUFC
- Bingo Group meets online every Thursday at 6:30pm. Email UUFC administrator, for a bingo card. Email Karen with any questions. Join the game here: https://meet.google.com/yqu-mgci-bme
- Tuesday Evening Meditation Everyone is welcome to join us for forty minutes of silent meditation, followed by tea and conversation every Tuesday at 7pm in the Sanctuary. Contact Bob Hiott for more information.
- Habitat for Humanity UUFC works with the Pickens County Habitat for Humanity on the 4th Saturday morning monthly. Anyone who would like to join in on this fun is welcome. No tools or experience necessary. Contact Gordon Crain (864 247-6003).
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| From Holley Ulbrich, Social Action Chair: Some of us old-timers have fond memories of attending district and cluster meetings where we met with neighboring congregations and shared ideas, experiences, worship, and challenges. Alas, the districts and clusters are no more, replaced by humongous faraway regions. But the South Carolina Unitarian Universalist Justice Alliance (SCUUJA) and similar networks in other states are trying to restore that sense of being part of something larger than our local congregation, working together to make the world a better place.
SCUUJA has planned a statewide gathering in Columbia on Saturday, October 7th. It will include activities for children and workshops for everyone. Registration is $10 for adults. We can carpool; I can take three passengers. Let me (Holley Ulbrich) know if you plan to attend and are interested in sharing rides. SCUUJA Fall Festival Registration |
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| 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! Contact [email protected] with any questions.
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 receipts at the UUFC office. Columbo's gives us a percentage of the receipt totals.
WEEKLY CONNECTION SUBMISSIONS Want to advertise your upcoming UUFC event or share some UUFC news? Let us know! Email newsletter submissions to [email protected] no later than Tuesday for inclusion in that week's Weekly Connection.
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: [email protected]
UUFC PHOTOS Photos of UUFC folks doing UUFC things are always welcome! Please send photos to [email protected] for our archives. All submitted photos may be chosen for publication and/or display unless specifically requested NOT to publish. |
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