Our Spiritual Theme for April is
Reflect on BECOMING
- When was the day you first welcomed in the person you would become?
- Many of us mark the first day of our becoming as the time when we discovered one of our core passions. When did you discover your first passion? How has it grown and morphed over the years? How are you being called to rekindle it anew?
- What if becoming first requires us to unbecome who we are not? Is it possible that you need to unravel before you can unfold?
- Are you living in spite of your losses or to avenge them?
- What if we only grow when we travel beyond the circle of those who agree with us?
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Our spiritual theme for April is “Becoming”. Join us Sunday mornings or later in the week at our virtual worship services. Rev. Tony, members, and friends as well as guest speakers participate in the services. Our virtual choir along with our pianists Ann and Alan add beautiful music. These new innovations in technology and the generosity of time and talent from volunteers make it possible to share our Unitarian Universalist messages and values with all of you.
April 18 - “Becoming Greener” Celebrate Earth Day with Ministerial Intern Lynne Grobsky & the Green Sanctuary Team.
The service is posted on: https://facebook.com/muusct/live.
Tune in at 10:20 a.m. for announcements, and the service begins at 10:30 a.m. You do not need a Facebook account to view the service.
Hymn of the Month: “Rising Green” – We will use this hymn in each of the month’s services. The UUOne virtual choir has recorded this song to an imaginative accompaniment by Rev. David Jarvis. To add YOUR voice to this joyful song, contact Ann Quackenbos or Jeff May!
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Small Groups have a powerful and transformative experience. Join a Soul Circle - an online small group ministry that meets regularly on Zoom. Groups are now meeting, but you can join anytime. You can sign up to join a group by clicking on this link: https://uucentralct.org/soul-circles/ or contact Rev. Tony.
Rev. Tony has created a Google Drive for Soul Matters materials for Small Group Ministry that can be found on the members page of the website under Soul Matters.
Zoom Book Group
Read with Rev. Tony Minister’s Book Group
Facilitator: Rev. Tony Lorenzen, revtonyuu@gmail.com
Zoom info: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/8988433706
Description: Read novels with spiritual and religious themes and discuss with Rev. Tony. The group meets 3rd Wednesdays at NOON on Zoom during Lunch with the Minister, so bring your lunch and log on. The range of novels spans a wide spiritual and religious spectrum and includes a variety of fiction genres such as science fiction, memoir, fantasy, historical fiction, travelogue, and literary novel.
May 11 - American Gods by Neil Gaiman (Multi-Pantheon Fantasy)
NOTE – No need to contact the facilitator, just read and come to lunch. Lunch will happen regardless, if people read the books, so much the better!
 The Bible for Liberals, Skeptics, and Non-Believers – New Testament/Christian Scriptures
Wednesday, April 21, 2021 at 7-8 p.m.
Facilitator: Rev. Tony Lorenzen revtonyuu@gmail.com
Zoom info: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/8988433706
Description: Learn the basics of the literary-historical-critical approach to the Bible. We will take close looks at the four Gospels, the authentic letters of Paul, and Revelation. IMPORTANT: This is a fast hour of quick presentation and discussion that covers a LOT of ground. SO, Before the class, please visit this web page https://uucentralct.org/the-bible-for-religious-liberals/ and read through the slideshows “Getting Started,” “Literary Elements and Definitions,” “Geographic Location”, and “Political Setting.”
NOTE – Please contact facilitator at least 24 hours ahead of scheduled date and time if you plan to attend. If there is no interest before a scheduled event time, the event will be cancelled.
Unitarian Universalism and Intersectionality: Understanding Self and Others in our Evolving World
Sunday, April 25, 2021 at 4-5 pm
 Facilitator: Dr. Tricia J. Stewart ( triciajstewart18@hotmail.com), Associate Professor in the Doctor of Education in Instructional Leadership in the Education and Educational Counseling Department at Western Connecticut State University.
Zoom info: https://zoom.us/j/96028428691?pwd=MEdqa2pBNHVEV3k5QXY0MG9ERWhWUT09
Meeting ID: 960 2842 8691 Password: 672120
Description - This time together will help us foster an understanding of intersectionality. It will also include a discussion of ways that principles of Unitarian Universalism are a natural fit to support intersectionality as a theory and a lived reality. Part of the time in this session will be spent looking at the ways that each of us has many identities, as a way to ground the experience.
NOTE – Please contact facilitator at least 24 hours ahead of scheduled date and time if you plan to attend. If there is no interest before a scheduled event time, the event will be cancelled.
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Green Sanctuary Committee Update
The members of The Green Sanctuary Committee have been working with several other organizations to advocate for “Pop Up Audubon Centers” in Waterbury’s Fulton Park as well as for increasing the planting of trees in the City. They have heard from Leslie Kane, Director of the Audubon Society in Southbury and from Chris Goodwin of Knox, Inc. with regard to a proposed tree planting program in the Crownbrook neighborhood. The Waterbury Neighborhood Housing Association has agreed to lead the tree planting program and several Waterbury organizations will likely be involved with the Popup Audubon Center in Fulton Park. Waterbury Alderman Michael Salvio joined in the discussions and offered a number of suggestions in support of the proposal. MUUS may offer additional grant writing support for these efforts.
There will be several events at the Crownbrook Garden on Burton St in Waterbury this month. The garden is under the auspices of the Crownbrook Neighborhood Association and the Waterbury Neighborhood Housing Services organization. On April 17th at 10 AM there will be a cleanup day and on April 22nd at 10 AM there will be Earth Day festivities. Masks and social distancing are required.
Any members of MUUS who are interested can get in touch with Michael Lang.
A Note From GWIM
 Dear MUUS,
Thank you all so very much for your unwavering love and support!! The peanut butter and jelly sandwiches you so kindly and generously prepare for our hungry citizens are so delicious and so plentiful. We are so grateful for all you do for our GWIM Community!
Thank you for always being so wonderful with your giving hearts! We are so humbled by your belief in GWIM’S Mission!
Love,
Barbara Ann Dublin,
Executive Director, Greater Waterbury Interfaith Ministries
Share the Plate: New Routines
MUUS had a tradition of supporting local and national organizations making the world a better place by putting donations in “the basket” twice a month. The basket is gone (for now) but our giving tradition doesn’t have to be.
Click on the picture to donate
Monica Burnham
For the Social Justice Coordinating Team
Black Lives Matter
Justice Woodbury – meets Sundays at 12:30 p.m. at North Green in Woodbury. Justice Southbury – meets Sundays at 2 p.m. at Playhouse Corner
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MINISTER’S SCHEDULE
Rev. Tony Lorenzen is in his home office Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. He is available for appointments on Zoom, phone or online chat. Monday is Rev. Tony’s day off, Friday is his Sermon prep day. You can reach Rev. Tony at (508)-344-3668 and revtonyuu@gmail.com
Rev. Tony Lorenzen Minister, The Unitarian Universalist Church in Meriden and The Mattatuck Unitarian Universalist Society cell:
508-344-3668 revtonyuu@gmail.com
Website: http://revtonyuu.com
Facebook facebook.com/RevTony Twitter @revtonyuu.
Helping Hands
If you or someone in our congregation needs help, please contact helpinghands@muusct.org for assistance. We are keeping those who are ill or struggling with life circumstances in our thoughts and prayers. Please check our website www.muusct.org for additional resources for dealing with the COVID 19 pandemic. We are working to continue to be of assistance from a distance via ZOOM, etc.
Judith Frances, Liaison for Helping Hands
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 It’s easy to donate on the website: MUUSCT.org use a credit card or PayPal. Or mail in your weekly donations to MUUS, P.O. Box 876, Woodbury, CT 06798. Thank you in advance for your generosity.
Support MUUS when you shop anytime, by shopping at “smile.amazon.com." There’s also a link for Amazon Smile on the homepage of our website MUUSCT.org. Amazon donates .5% of your purchases to us at no extra cost to you. Thank you!
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MUUS 2021 Common Read
The UUA has chosen Breathe: A Letter to My Sons by Imani Perry as the 2020-21 Common Read. Breathe offers a broad meditation on race, gender, and the meaning of a life well lived as well as an unforgettable lesson in Black resistance and resilience.
MUUS will hold our discussion on Monday, April 26 at 7pm via Zoom. We have 5 books available for purchase for $12 each. If you are interested in purchasing one of these books, please email Margrit Morley at m7grit@gmail.com.
If you know of someone outside MUUS that might be interested, please email Margrit Morley at m7grit@gmail.com. Hope to see you there!
 UUA GA Update: Circle Round
Circle 'Round for Justice ● Healing ● Courage is the theme for General Assembly 2021. You may now view the full GA schedule! While we still have some big upcoming announcements (like this year's Ware Lecturer - details coming soon!), you can now preview the abundance of Virtual GA programming including 75 On-Demand Programs and 39 Live Webinars. And remember, there is no "tyranny of choice" at a Virtual GA because anything attendees miss live can eventually be watched On-Demand!
DELEGATE WANTED!
Based on our size, our congregation is entitled to two delegates. We have one volunteer and are looking for a second. If you are interested in representing us at this year’s General Assembly, please contact one of members of the Board. The Credential Manager is now open, and we can begin distributing member delegate credentials. Credentials allow member delegates registered for GA, to vote on business matters.
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Soul Circle Small Group Ministry with Rev. Tony
First Fridays of the Month at 10 -11:30 a.m.
Facilitator: Rev. Tony Lorenzen, revtonyuu@gmail.com
Here is the link to join Zoom
Description: Using the Circle of Trust format popularized by Parker Palmer, Rev. Tony facilitates reflection on the month’s spiritual theme. IMPORTANT-each month we reflect on resources that are emailed well ahead of the meeting, so the earlier you let Rev. Tony know you are interested, the more time you have the material.
NOTE – Please contact facilitator at least 24 hours ahead of scheduled date and time if you plan to attend. If there is no interest before a scheduled event time, the event will be cancelled.
Zooming with Circle of Gaia
April 21, 7:15 p.m.
Join us at our April Book Group Zoom meeting at 7:15 p.m. to discuss Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead by Olga Tokarczuk. The Woodbury Library is now open for patrons or call to pick up your copy outside on the shelf. Just ask them for a copy that is reserved for MUUS.
Here is the link to join the ZOOM:
Meeting ID: 836 3212 9257
Passcode: Gaia
 Poetry Reading Group
April 22nd, zooming 2:30 pm.
Everyone is welcome! Featured poet is award winning Lawrence Ferlinghetti (1912-2021). He was also a painter, novelist, activist, playwright, co-founder of City Lights Booksellers and Publishing. In 1998 he was selected to be the 1st Poet Laureate of San Francisco and helped create the “Beat movement”. In 1948 he published “Coney Island of the Mind”, one of his more famous books within his 30 published poetry books! His social justice themes are just as relevant now as ever!! His writing is for people on the street, not just for those in colleges. Online there is a section of his quotes, such as: “I am waiting for the lost music to sound again in a new rebirth of wonder”. “Poetry is the shadow cast by our streetlight imaginations”. Please contact Barb Eler (806-485-8118) if you have any questions or would like more information.
Wednesday, April 21, Noon on Zoom
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/8988433706
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Saturday, April 17
6:00 p.m. MUUS Auction
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 918 2583 3688 Passcode: 239696
Monday, April 19
7:00 p.m. MUUS Internship Team Meeting
Wednesday, April 21
12:00 p.m. Lunch with the Minister
By phone at +1929 205 6099 or log in https://us02web.zoom.us/j/8988433706
Meeting ID: 898 843 3706
Password: R3vT0nysRM (lowercase v, 3 not e, and Zero not letter O)
7:00 p.m. Circle of Gaia
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 836 3212 9257
Passcode: Gaia
7:00 p. m. The Bible for Liberals
Join Zoom Meeting
Thursday, April 22
2:30 p.m. Poetry Reading Group
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