UUFP Gardens June 2018

We’ve been pretty busy in the garden harvesting lettuce, spinach and arugula. The carrots, beets and peas look healthy and are growing well. The garlic looks like it won’t be too long until we can pull it. Bush beans have been planted and on Saturday, June 16th we companion planted the summer vegetables into the beds. We’re growing various kinds of tomatoes, bush cucumbers and peppers. To protect our Cucumber plants from the Cucumber Beetle we’re using kaolin clay made into a slurry to coat the cucumber plant. Cucumber beetles are voracious eaters and spread disease decimating a beautiful cucumber crop quickly. The kaolin clay gets all over the beetle when it lands on the cucumber plant causing it to constantly clean itself to get the pesky clay off of it. While it’s grooming itself, it’s not eating or making little cucumber beetle monsters and will soon lose interest and go away. One of the beds is not being used this year. We’re solarizing that bed. Solarizing a garden bed is a summer long process. The reason we’re doing this is because we believe that bed has a disease in it. Prolonged, high heat will kill that disease. In case anyone is interested in the process; you first remove all vegetation, then thoroughly saturate the soil with water. Place a fairly heavy sheet of clear plastic over the bed and secure it well so that little to no air gets in or out. That’s it for garden news.

Thank you, Ginny

UUFP volunteers and friends grow organic vegetables from April to December and donate the harvest to the Pottstown Cluster of Religious Organizations.

Our mission is to promote, support and advocate the use of heirloom seeds and non GMO organic food for all.  Volunteers are welcome.    Please consider joining the garden group.  If you are busy during the week and can spend an hour before or after service working in the garden please contact Ginny @ gardens@uupottstown.org  

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President’s Annual Report 2017-18

Annual Congregational Meeting      June 10, 2018

Report to the Congregation

With this annual June look-back over the past year, I’ve realized that it has been one of the busiest and productive years I, personally, have experienced at UUFP. The year was packed with financial accomplishments, social action, and lots of fun and celebration.

In the area of finances, we raised the funds we need for new flooring in the RE wing (to be installed in the summer), took special collections for people in need locally and globally, and in our most recent pledge drive, people have responded largely positively to a request for an increase in pledges to increase and improve programs and services. We also have a rental program run by Linda Kozitzky which brings in some extra funds to help with the bills. Did you know that? Thank you Linda!

We’ve made wonderful technological improvements enhancing our communication capabilities, which Rick Duske will tell you about in his report, no doubt; we’ve wrestled with mailing lists and last summer produced 230 lbs of vegetables to help feed the hungry; at the end of this month we will have offered four Labyrinth events and supported environmental and fair school funding efforts. We’ve offered special programming around last year’s General Assembly, a Daring Democracy forum and an info night about the Mariner East pipeline project (which, by the way, has been at least temporarily halted because of people like some in our group who take the time and make the effort to find out about environmental dangers like this do something about it.

Our newsletter, the Sojourner, gets better and better each month. Our Simply Sitting Group, tiny as it is, begins it’s ninth year this summer of meeting every Monday evening for contemplation and silent meditation. At the same time, an inspired subset of this membership has started meeting to help the Fellowship re-direct in the area of ministry and work to broaden the scope of “spiritual” programming that we offer  — perhaps  on other than Sunday mornings.

But on top of all of this we had us some fun this year. We squeezed into our bell bottoms and granny dresses for the 60s Membership Dinner and we had more fun than I’ve ever thought you could have on St Patty’s day at out Pledge Kick-off event. Hope we can do that again. Our 50 Anniversary gave us a year-long excuse to kick up our heels. And that we did with Secret Friends, a wine and cheese, a Prom, a reprise photo at the 4th of July picnic, a native tree planting, the creation of a beautiful new UUFP banner, a 50th Anniversary Logo Contest (Congratulations go again to RJ Duske who won that contest) a letter head/logo contest (congratulations to Erica Duske who won that contest). And of course we topped it off with a wonderful 50th anniversary dinner.

So when I look back at this past year I am simply amazed by our collective ability to play just as hard as we work. For me it was a wonderful year. I hope it was for you too.

-Miranda

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Sunday Service, July 1, 2018

Sunday, July 1

Patriotism: Vice or Virtue?

Guest Speaker: Mark Bernstein                      Lay Leader: Allan Pallay

George Bernard Shaw wrote, “Patriotism is your conviction that this country is superior to all others because you were born in it.” Is patriotism just a selfish, xenophobic act or does it embody the values of pride, loyalty and sacrifice and so is something to be admired? Why is patriotism defined in so many different ways in our country, particularly in these difficult and troubling times? And what do Unitarian Universalists have to say about patriotism? Mark Bernstein has been a patriotic member of Unitarian Universalist Church of Delaware County for the past 22 years. A former Congregational Life staff member of the Central East Region of the UUA, he                                    regrets that he has only one life to give for his congregation.

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Sunday Service, July 8, 2018

Sunday, July 8

Hope is the Thing with Feathers Guest Speaker: Reverend Connie Simon

Lay Leader: Allan Pallay

In our busy, complicated lives and our troubled world, we are often faced with illness, despair and other difficult situations. Well-meaning friends encourage us with platitudes like “hope for the best.” What is “hope” and where do we find it when all seems lost? Rev. Connie Simon is a 2018 graduate of Meadville Lombard Theological School and was recently ordained by the First Unitarian Church of Philadelphia and the Unitarian Society of Germantown. She is a member of the Black Lives UU Worship Team and a contributor to the UUA’s Promise & the Practice program and its Braver/ Wiser blog. A native of southern Chester County, PA, Rev. Simon will be moving to Ohio to begin service as Senior Minister at the First Unitarian Church of Cincinnati.

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Sunday Service, July 15, 2018

Sunday, July 15

The Two Baskets Guest Speaker: Reverend Kerry Mueller

There are all kinds of forces at work in our country today. Some push us towards chaos and fragmentation, some help us to move towards democracy and civility. With the help of a bit of ceramic interactive art, we will examine some of these forces, and think about what we are called to do. Come and add your thoughts and prayers where they really count.

Please join us for our Third Sunday Potluck which will follow the service.

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Sunday Service, July 22, 2018

Sunday, July 22

Flashed Before My Eyes Guest Speaker: Reverend Kent Matthies

Attending memorial services for loved ones often cultivates deeper reflections. We commonly remark how life is precious, and we never know how many days any of us have left. This type of existential reflection can often come from an intense health scare. How do we cultivate a deeper, more consistent approach to appreciating life and giving with strong generosity? Kent Matthies serves as Senior Minister of the Unitarian Society of Germantown. He represents UU’s on the Greater Philadelphia Religious Leaders Council. In the past Kent served as President of UUPLAN, our UU Pennsylvania state advocacy network. He is married to Kristin Shipler and they have two boys, Micah and Ellis.

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Sunday Service, July 29, 2018

Sunday, July 29

I Like You Just The Way You Are  Lay Speaker: Emily Quarles-Mowrer

In a world that tells us that our lives would be better if we were richer, or more fit, or cooked gourmet meals every night, or if we did simple tricks to remodel and refine ourselves and our homes, it is easy to feel disheartened. Fred Rogers inspired a generation of children to look beyond the external and believe in themselves with his groundbreaking show “Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood,” and his legacy is touching the lives of a new generation. Please join us for the first in a series of intergenerational services about Fred Rogers and the life lessons of the children’s show, “Daniel Tiger,” that was inspired by his work

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President’s Message June 2018

UU polity is based on a foundation of democratic tradition. Early in our nation’s history UU’s began meeting on a yearly basis to elect their leaders. Eventually, their leaders were not so much expected to be paragons of religious virtue but rather and simply delegates who governed based on the will of the members. In Unitarian and Universalist churches then, and now, there was and is no ecclesiastical power greater than the will of the members. In keeping with those Unitarian and Universalist traditions, UUFP’s Board of Directors has called the 2018 Annual Congregational meeting for Sunday, June 10, 2018, at 11:45am. At this meeting we expect to vote on our 2018-19 budget and on a slate of officers. As an added feature, after we’ve covered the official agenda items, we’ll auction off our two reserved parking spaces to the highest bidders — a fundraiser that has previously been part of our annual auction. So come to the meeting ready to vote and bid — if you like. Active Members, Associate Members, and Friends are welcome to attend the meeting, bid on the parking spaces, and participate in discussions. Only Active Members, however, may vote on agenda items. June will be a busy month for us and for other reasons too. We’re looking forward to studying our survey results and moving ahead with program planning. Also, The Board voted to support the Chester County Pride Fest being held in Phoenixville on June 2nd where we’re sponsoring a table. Please speak with Desiree if you’d like to help at the Fest. On June 16th we’re offering a Labyrinth event from 1 – 4pm. Betsy Chapman will provide live harp music for that event. Come and take advantage of this wonderful opportunity to walk, meditate and reflect. There is no charge for this event and all are welcome. Our last RE class for 2017-18 will be offered on June 24th. Thanks goes to Ethan for a wonderful and meaningful year of RE for our children. Nursery services will continue to be offered throughout the summer though there might need to be some adjustments to the schedule as we move forward with the installation of our new RE wing flooring. (!!!!) Those necessary adjustments will be hard to predict so stay tuned. We’ll try to announce any changes in a timely fashion. Special thanks this month go to legendary gardeners Ginny, Kay, Bev, and Allan who planted the garden during May. Judging from appearances, it’s coming along nicely. As well, kudos to those who appeared on our work Saturday to help freshen our sanctuary with paint, repotting of plants, and straightening. There are plans for more painting.

Thanks.

Joy and peace, Miranda

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Sunday Service, June 3, 2018

Sunday, June 3, 2018

Of Ministers and Ministry Rev. Dave Farrington

Rev Dave will present a sermon on the role of professional ministry in UU congregations growing out of the fellowship movement, and insights on screening candidates. Discussion is welcomed. Warning: Some content may be PG rated!

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Sunday Service, June 10, 2018

Sunday, June 10, 2018

It’s Just Grit               Speaker: CJ Rhoads

Resilience is one of the hallmarks of a good leader. How can we develop our resourceful side? How can we improve our lives in the face of adversity? Just how is it possible to think of making lemonade when life hands you a bowl full of lemons and all you want to do is cry, rant, and rave? We can rely upon the power of the universe to help us through conflicts and difficult times – but only if we know how to do it. CJ will provide some tips and techniques that may help

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