Luminescence
"As I’ve said in several worship services and newsletter columns: the first chapter of the life of Evergreen ran from the Fellowship’s founding in 1955 through the late 1980s, when a new mission statement was adopted and a new building bought. The second chapter of the life of Evergreen started with those two key events and ran up to the present...," Continue reading on page 4
What is Luminescence? This is a uniquely UU holiday that "is a time for recognition, reflection, refocus and renewal...We reflect and look within ourselves for our own inner spirituality, our own thirst for knowledge and understanding. We refocus our external efforts toward making the world a better place, toward bringing light to the darkest corners."
Evergreen
please e-mail newsletteR@evergreenuu.org for a print copy
Late Autumn 2020 | Covers November 1st through December 20th
Happy Chalica!
chalica
Newsletter
from the minister - on page 4
Table of contents
EUUF Info ......................................2 Connection Page ...........................3 From the Minister .........................4 Evergreen's Offerings .....................5 Full Week Faith ..............................6 Children & Youth ..........................7 UUA, Holidays and Days of Observance .....................................8 Miscellaneous .................................9
Chalica is a week-long UU holiday that celebrates the 7 Principles, one principle per day (or week, for some!) Here are some ideas for noting each day. Check out this song written and performed by Dan Flores!
Indigenous history conference
Meet with Pastor Tom
join slack!
**NEW** We know it's been hard to know what's going on with congregants, and we sometimes hear follow-up comments in Joys & Sorrows, but we don't know what the original statement was. In order to help us share in a more organized and timely way, we've started a channel in Slack called #joys-and-sorrows. In this channel, we can share what's on our hearts, and look back at previous shares to find out what's going on with fellow congregants.
Committee, Team & Task Force Meetings During Coffee Hour Would your group like to meet during Coffee Hour? It used to be so easy to organize a quick meeting, and we'd like to make it easy to do it virtually. You can e-mail communication@evergreenuu.org or send a message to Alli in Slack by Thursday to let us know who should go with you into a breakout room after the Sunday service; the tech hosts will do their best to remember, and if they forget, a friendly reminder goes a long way.
November 1st - December 20th Sunday Worship Service 10:30 am Join Zoom Meeting Evergreen Unitarian Universalist Fellowship 1607 4th St., Marysville, WA 98270 www.evergreenuu.org 360-659-6621 Office Hours Please check with the Office Admin via email for in-person office hours MINISTER Pastor Tom BOARD PRESIDENT Fred Haist boardpresident@evergreenuu.org BOARD OF TRUSTEES board@evergreenuu.org OFFICE ADMIN Alli Curtis administrator@evergreenuu.org RELIGIOUS EDUCATOR Mari Budlong redirector@evergreenuu.org NEWSLETTER newsletter@evergreenuu.org
Late Autumn 2020
Submit Something For the Weekly Update, Newsletter or Sunday Announcements! Check out the new form for submissions for the Weekly Update, Newsletter, Sunday Announcements and more! You can choose what the title will be, in which publications you'd like the announcement to run, how long it will be publicized, and what images will be included (if any.)
To schedule a phone/virtual meeting, go to calendly.com/therevtombozeman. Or, if something urgent comes up, you can always call/text him at 774-353-0523.
pastoral associates are available by phone or e-mail, or zoom. contact them at pastoralassociates@evergreenuu.org resources and needs survey
Join us on Slack! Use this tutorial to orient you to the program we use to connect to each other and plug in to all the discussions, communications, planning, updates and more! Contact Alli, the office admin for a link to join.
October 3 - Nov. 22 Here it Began: 2020 Hindsight or Foresight – Indigenous History Conference, sponsored by Bridgewater State University, Plymouth 400 and the Wampanoag Advisory Council, is free of charge and offers nine weekend sessions during the months of October and November that will feature well-known experts and testimonials. UUMFE is not in any way involved in organizing this event, and is lifting it up as a recommendation to all readers in alignment with the 2016 UUA Business Resolution, “Thanksgiving Day Reconsidered”
We’ve been planting seeds of justice for weeks, months, years, and generations. In this season of pandemic, elections, and uprisings, this is the time to Harvest the Power of our values, our organizing, and our shared imagining of a more just and loving world. Join with UUs across the country in these opportunities to deepen our relationships, draw on the sources of wholeness and strength in which we are rooted, and move together in powerful ways for justice. This moment of collective action and faith formation weaves together all Unitarian Universalist justice ministries. This is a shared endeavor between UUA, Side with Love, UU the Vote, and UUMFE. Learn more about Harvest the Power 2020 here.
connection page
Harvest the power 2020
from the minister
Book Discussion Group - Last Wednesday of the month 7:15 - 8:45 pm -November 25th - "Our Inner Ape: The Best and Worst of Human Nature" by Frans De Waal -December 30th - "Where the Crawdads Sing" by Delia Owens, a novel set in North Carolina in 1952, part animal behavior and part murder mystery. A 2019 best seller. Contact Michelle Valentine for more information. EUUF Writer's Night - Nov 11th & Dec 9th (2nd Wednesdays), 6:30-8 pm Join in an evening of sharing your written works. Non-writers are welcome; the last part of the meeting will be dedicated to workshop / sharing writing techniques, methods and inspiration. Join Zoom Meeting. Contact Orient Coleman or Jen Broadway for more information. Big Questions - 2nd and 4th Fridays, from 7-9 pm Join here to discuss fundamental questions in philosophy. The questions take the Socratic form, “What is …?” What is justice? What is truth? What is it to be spiritual? All are welcome. Contact Desmond Smith for more information. Men's Circle - 2nd and 4th Tuesdays, from 7-9 pm We are a group of men who gather to share with each other our authentic joys, challenges and insights, with the goals of personal growth and mutual support. We pledge to create affirmative, compassionate gatherings through heart-felt sharing, deep listening, honest communication, and confidentiality. We currently meet via Zoom. Contact Dan Hall for more information. WISE - Women Investigating, Supporting, and Experiencing Wednesday, November 25th, (4th Wednesdays) from Noon - 1:30 pm If you will be 60 or older this church year, please join us for lively conversation and lots of laughter! Throughout the year we will explore topics and activities pertaining to this age and stage of our lives, so join in when you can. Be ready for reflection, learning, growing, and FUN! Contact Sarah Taylor for more information. Common Ground Choir 1st and 3rd Thursdays, from 7-8:30 pm The choir has been rehearsing via Zoom meetings held on Thursdays at 7 p.m. If you would like to join us, please contact Kathleen at kathleengoff@comcast.net. All are welcome. We have also been rehearsing with practice audio files which can then be added to tracks on SoundTrap. This way we can still provide music for the virtual services and maintain our identity as a choir and as worship leaders. This is a valuable tool which we will continue to use even after things get back to the "new normal". Sunday Afternoon Covenant Circle Nov 22nd (4th Sundays), from Noon-1:30 pm Curious about Covenant Circles.... Want to build community and lasting friendships with UU’s, while exploring spirituality and life’s meaning in a small group ministry setting? Every 4th Sunday come join us for The Sunday Afternoon Covenant Circle and see what they are all about! Sally Malan and Kelli Sparks, Co-Leaders Join Zoom Meeting Meeting ID: 275 674 184 Passcode: 067957
All Fellowship GAME DAY!!!
evergreen's offerings
As I’ve said in several worship services and newsletter columns: the first chapter of the life of Evergreen ran from the Fellowship’s founding in 1955 through the late 1980s, when a new mission statement was adopted and a new building bought. The second chapter of the life of Evergreen started with those two key events and ran up to the present, when (after a big shift in membership and the upcoming adoption of a new mission statement), Evergreen is getting oriented to our future in a new way. Earlier this year, we took stock of our Core Values (those values that we exhibit habitually through our actions) as: Then we assessed our Bedrock Beliefs (those beliefs that we return to in times of stress or challenge to help steady us) to be: And, just after this newsletter goes to press, we will similarly discern our Motivating Vision (so keep your eyes peeled for that!). With this clarity about Evergreen’s Core Values, Bedrock Beliefs, and Motivating Vision, we’ll be well-prepared to put together a Key Mission statement that accurately represents the genuine mission of this congregation: So, once we are clear on our Motivating Vision, there are just two things left for folks at Evergreen to do to wrap up this process: 1) Give the Planning Team feedback on the first draft of a new Mission Statement. It’s impossible to overstate how important this is. In November and December, the Planning Team will have opportunities for you to let them know what you love and/or don’t love about their mission statement draft. In order to have a really solid mission statement, we’ll need to hear your voice! 2) Adopt the new mission statement at a Congregational Meeting in January. It would be great if we could do this in person so that we could have a party! But we will do our best to have our party online. That’s it - just those two things and then we can gallop off into the future! In faith, Pr. Tom
Adult Programs Is there a program you'd like to offer? Contact Desmond at adultprograms@evergreenuu.org. Find more details on our website! www.evergreenuu.org/adult-programs
Saturday, Nov. 14th, 3 - 6pm AND Sunday, Dec. 6th from 4 - 7pm Drop in, join in some game-playing, socializing and connecting. The weather is cooling, we're indoors more, and what better way to connect than over games and great conversation with other Evergreeners! If you have UNO cards or dice, you can easily join in. Those who play games will go to breakout rooms for the duration of the game; those who want to chat can stay in the main room. Feel free to have hot cider or cocoa! Join Zoom meeting here.
Books / Poetry The Invisible String by Patrice Karst The Goodbye Book by Todd Parr The Fall of Freddie the Leaf by Leo Buscaglia Tear Soup: A Recipe for Healing after Loss by Chuck DeKlyen and Pat Schwiebert The Heart and the Bottle by Oliver Jeffers The Tenth Good Thing About Barney by Judith Viorst Movies / Videos Okko's Inn (PG) Hugo (PG) The Yearling (PG) Bridge to Terabithia (PG) Craft / Activity Stick Book - You can make a gratitude (or anything!) book by taking some paper and folding it in half, maybe using some card-stock for the cover, punching some holes along the side, and using a stick for the binding - get creative! You can tie the stick on with yarn or twist ties, looping around the front and then tying in the back. It's a great place to keep track of what you're grateful for, or a sweet gift to someone to start a gratitude journal! Spiritual Practice Gratitude comes up this time of year, but it's worth practicing year-round. Cultivating gratitude can help shift energy that is stuck in a rut to a place of possibility. How do you acknowledge your appreciation? Movement From a kneeling position, bring your hands to your heart center, tighten your core (torso), lift from your head, drop your shoulders, and arch backward, releasing the head into the stretch. Seated variation: scoot toward the front of your chair, making sure you won't hit your head when you arch back.
Children & Youth
Thank you to our families and our congregants who sent in photos and gave generously to our program - each year Children & Youth decide on an organization to donate to - stay tuned to find out where they will donate the money this year!
These resources and ideas are tied to the theme and offer ways for you to engage with the worship series throughout the week.
Evergreen Storytime Over the summer we started Evergreen Storytime with the RE Children & Youth. We invited adult congregants to share in telling their own stories, in reading books or poetry, and/or in joining in listening to books we (JW and Mari) read aloud. This activity was a big hit for children and adults alike, and we decided to keep it going through the school year during Coffee Hour on 1st and 3rd Sundays-- we continue to invite any congregants who wish to join in the breakout room. We have so enjoyed having this space for adults and children to share time through stories and look forward to continuing this virtual offering in the months to come. If you have stories you'd like to share, let us know at REDirector@evergreenuu.og. Service Project Results Thank you, Alonna and Rines family for making our care bags service project a success! We have 30 bags with various food, hygiene and first aid items and socks to donate to people in our community in need. The kids energetically stuffed the bags and we look forward to doing more service projects like this in the future.
playing with the season
a time to laugh
Q: Why do leaves change color in autumn? A: Because instead of chlorophyll, they chloro-empty. I usually say 'autumn' instead of 'fall'. It's often my downautumn.
view from Little Mountain Park, Mt. Vernon, WA
thank you for supporting Trick-or-Treat for Change!!
Update from the treasurer
virtual town hall
From the UUA- "But if the court rules in favor of a right to discriminate, it could allow any private agency that receives taxpayer-funding to provide government services...to deny services to anyone they don’t approve of, including LGBTQ+, Jewish, Muslim, Mormon, single women, those previously divorced and more."
Thursday, Nov. 5th, 5pm - 6:15pm Save the date. No matter the results of the election this year, we know we will want to gather in community. Please save the date and join the UUA, UU the Vote, Side with Love, UUA President Rev. Susan Frederick-Gray and Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout, Director of Worship Arts at First UU Congregation of Ann Arbor, MI. Participate on Zoom or livestream on Facebook or YouTube
Emergency Contact Form If you are part of our congregation at all, we would like you to fill out this form, in which you share emergency contact information with us. We will only use the provided information in the event of an emergency, illness or death. The information will not be shared outside of those at Evergreen in leadership positions, and will only be used to address the issue. This information will help inform our decisions about next steps.
Please check the calendar on the Evergreen website for the most current offerings, activities, events and worship services. New to Evergreen? Please fill out the Guest Card at evergreenuu.org/sunday.
UUA news, holidays & days of observance
Guest At Your Table The UUA has made available materials for participating in the Guest at Your Table program, the UUSC's longest running fundraiser.
Nov. 13 - 19: Transgender Awareness Week Find out more about this week and why it's important at the GLAAD webpage. Nov. 11: Veterans Day "Veterans Day is a time for us to intentionally recognize and honor those who have served our country in times of peace and of war. It is a time for us to peer through the haze of complex historical, political, and social issues into the heart of the veteran’s human spirit." - read more by Seanan R. Holland and his UU perspective here.
EUUF Calendar
Finishing out the first 4 months of the fiscal year, we are running behind on pledge receipts. Pledge statements were sent out last week. If you did not receive an email and would like an update please email me. You can contact the office administrator or myself to assist with setting up recurring payments or to make a one-time pledge payment. -Ryan Weber
Post-Election vigil & community gathering Hosted By the UUA & Side With Love
Liberating All Bodies: Disability Justice and Intersex Justice in Conversation This webinar happened already, but is available for viewing by clicking the link of the title. "Radical changes require radical connections."
submission deadline for early winter newsletter: december 14th date range: december 20th through january 31st Send your submissions to newsletter@evergreenuu.org Or submit using this form Send your submissions to newsletter@evergreenuu.org
The Condor & The Eagle Online Screening and Discussion Friday, November 6th, 3-5:30 pm PT Register online here. Come together virtually as people of faith and conscience to watch award-winning documentary, hear from the filmmakers & protagonists, and unite the faith community in the movement for Indigenous rights and climate justice.