2024 Daylight Saving Time Reminder!
Sunday, March 10
Don't forget to set your clocks forward 1 hour.
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(If your links do not work, click on "view this email in your browser"
above the Continuum logo)
Please open the PDFs to see all the news
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PBUUC Sunday Worship Service
March 10, 2024 at 3:00 pm
Held at:
University Christian Church
6800 Adelphi Road
Hyattsville, MD
(In-Person & on Zoom)
Intersectionality
New Ways Ministry Speaks
Francis DeBernardo, Sister Jeannine Gramick
with Worship Associates Carol Boston
and Carol Carter Walker
In 1976, a Catholic Bishop wrote a pastoral letter, Sexuality: God’s Gift, one of the first statements to contain a compassionate and encouraging message to gay and lesbian people. He addressed the GLBTQ+ community directly, saying, “We pledge our willingness…to try to find new ways to communicate the truth of Christ because we believe it will make you free.” That passage and the term, new ways, caught the attention of a priest and nun team who were already ministering to the gay and lesbian community. A series of workshops then gave rise to New Ways Ministry, a non-profit advocating for Catholic gay and lesbian concerns. Today, we will hear from its Executive Director, Francis DeBernardo and Co-Founder Jeannine Gramick about this work and see its intersectionality with ours.
Click here for the ORDER OF SERVICE
Join Zoom Meeting: Click Here
Meeting ID: 915 1159 4522
Passcode: 298249
Or by phone: 1 301 715 8592 US
We also stream live on Facebook
Click Here for information on Upcoming Worship Services
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The Stewardship Committee hosts
PBUUC Games Gathering Saturday, March 9th
Come play games
Saturday, March 9th between 2-5pm
Held at:
University Christian Church
6800 Adelphi Road
Hyattsville, MD
We will have:
Scrabble
Backgammon
Code Names
Apples to Apples
Yahtzee
Mahjongg
Uno
And Any Other Games You Want to Bring!
And Snacks!
We will have brownies and other munchies.
Bring your favorite snack to share.
If you haven’t completed your pledge card yet,
you can do it there.
(Come have some fun even if you already
completed your pledge card.)
Please contact Kathi Yu (kathiyu@gmail.com) or Liz Citrin (liz.citrin@gmail.com) if you have any questions.
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The Board of Trustees invites you to attend our Board meeting on Wednesday, March 13 at 7 pm. Here is the link to the agenda and read-ahead reports.
2024 03 Board Meeting - Google Drive
Here is the zoom link to join the meeting
https://zoom.us/j/96017305873?pwd=bzZRY2FYZEdxb2E4UVBsaVZMcVY0dz09
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On Sunday March 3, the Ministerial Search Committee (MSC) held a Listening Session via Zoom to give members and friends an opportunity to explore and express their wants and priorities for a new developmental minister. Twenty-four people attended. The discussion was rich and enlightening. You can view the session HERE.
In summary, those in attendance broke into small groups to come to consensus about priorities. These included: organizational/administrative/leadership skills; strong worship/sermons; personal qualities (compassion; wisdom, kindness; caring, warm, inviting); innovative; comprehensive pastoral care where people feel welcomed and valued; ability to help us manage interpersonal relations and develop healthy communication; effective staff management; support for Pastoral Care Associates; effective communication/deep listening; ability to continue our mission discernment process; and shared ministry. These priorities will become part of the MSC's planning and decision making process.
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Mission Discernment News - Get Your Summary!
We are happy to announce the new 8-page summary version of the original 26-page notes from the mission discernment process.
Many of us gathered in small groups for five weeks to reflect on the following:
- our experience of being in this church over the last 6-12 months;
- deeper reflections of those experiences;
- our visions about how we want to be treating each other as we move forward; and
- a roadmap of how we will develop, encourage, and maintain this way of being together and how we will hold ourselves and each other accountable to the vision of our transformed congregational culture.
Last week, we shared with you the full 26-page document that the mission discernment team compiled. Those notes were randomized and edited only to maintain the anonymity of the group members. These comments represent individual perspectives and may include factual errors, but we felt it was important to share the responses as we received them.
This week, we are sharing a more manageable summary of the responses. To access either document, please send an email to missionteam@pbuuc.org. We will send a link to the google drive containing both the original long document and the short summary. We are using this process to limit access by those who are not members and friends of Paint Branch.
We hope this information will spur other deep conversations. The mission team is considering next steps, which could include other small group opportunities, further mission discernment work, formal covenanting work, or specific actions or programming based on the recurring themes in these responses. We will share more, and seek congregational input, after all these responses have been processed.
Thank you to all who participated!!
All the best,
Your Mission Discernment Team
Leo, Tricia, Mary and Rev. Ann
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PBUUC Music Exploration
Greetings PBUUC!
The Music Task Force continues to meet weekly to plan music experiments to help Paint Branch to get creative, enjoy some new musicians and musical styles, and ways to engage. We are very excited to be able to share with you that for the rest of March and April we will have a Guest Music Leader, Angela Powell Walker. Angela is an Assistant Professor of Music at Howard University and also the Acting Associate Director of Music and Arts at All Souls Unitarian Church. Please join us in welcoming Angela this Sunday when she attends service with us!
Also, please continue to engage with us! Fill out the cards in the order of service, email us at musictaskforce@pbuuc.org, and respond to requests you’ll see in the ContinUUm, from the pulpit, and through direct outreach. We want to hear from everyone so that we can lean into the opportunity to envision music at PBUUC.
Harmoniously,
The Music Task Force
Kathy Bartolomeo, Jim Flaherty, Jeanne Judd, & Mary Rooker
Back to "At-a-Glance"
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March 3
Kathy Bartolomeo
March 5
Marge Owens
March 28
Keith Miller
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Diversity/Anti-Racism Transformation Team (DARTT)
Click Here for updates.
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Next Sunday, March 10, 2024 Quest Discussion Group will be meeting via Zoom from 11:45-1:00pm to read Chapter 8, The Right to Physical Safety to Page 341, up to Harassment: Unsafe at Work from our book, Fearless Women: Feminist Patriots from Abigail Adams to Beyonce by Elizabeth Cobbs. For any questions, please contact Tess Morrison at tmorriso@illinois.edu.
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SPIRITUALITY CIRCLE
Spirituality Circle meets on the 2nd and 4th Sunday of the month at 11.
Spirituality Circle is one of the many ways we come together at Paint Branch to find, develop and enhance our sense of belonging in community. It’s about encouragement and curious exploration of a variety of spiritual practices that connect us with the sacred. We support each other in our individual challenges and pursuits.
We are using a curriculum called “Faith Forward” again. In this series we are introduced to and asked to “try on” many different spiritual practices. We are asked to ‘keep an open mind and see what comes up for you’. Our bodies and minds mature. The same is true of our spirits. Practices that may not have served us well at one point in our lives, may serve you now. We are encouraged to approach these practices with “new eyes” and a sense of curiosity.
Our next meeting will be March 10thth when we will move on to Session 6 “Mindful Eating”. Attending previous sessions is not necessary for attending any session but if you want information about them you are encouraged to look at the Handouts available below.
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The Wider UUniverse
Denominational Affairs
General Assembly 2024 (All Virtual)
Thursday, June 20 to Sunday, June 23
General Assembly is the Annual Meeting of the Unitarian Universalist Association. There are business meetings and workshops and an opportunity to connect with people and ideas outside of our congregation. Click on the links below for further information
- This year it will be all virtual! Our theme is Love Unites, Stories Ignite. Watch this video to learn more.
- Registration is open! And there is still time to sign up at discount rates. Prices increase on March 15.
- Interested in being a volunteer? There are lots of opportunities. Learn about available jobs and how to apply at the GA volunteer page. Volunteers receive a reduction in or free registration.
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UUA Statement Condemns Violence Against Gaza and Urges Ceasefire
This is a terrifying moment for our fragile world. As Unitarian Universalists, we share a belief that every human life is sacred, with no person more deserving of freedom and flourishing than any other. This is why it was critical that your Unitarian Universalist Association has reaffirmed our condemnation of the Israeli military’s ongoing violence against Gaza and join again with the growing chorus of voices across the globe urging immediate and total ceasefire.
Click here to read more.
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Save the Date - UU the Vote 2024 Launch
Thursday, March 14
UUs are entering the work of UU the Vote 2024 grounded in the current political and spiritual conditions of our faith and national community. The work that is needed in 2024 will require us to anchor in our power and connect authentically to mobilize UUs, voters, and our local communities.
UU the Vote 2024 is an ambitious and strategy to grow a powerful pro-democracy majority. This year we will build our commitment to democratic practices and recommit to showing up for social movements building infrastructure and relationships to sustain us the beyond the electoral year.
Join us for our launch, Thursday, March 14th, as we highlight our upcoming work. The one-hour event starts at 7pm ET / 4pm PT. You’ll learn about our work with State Advocacy Networks and their partners in key states, key ballot initiatives, political education and spiritual grounding opportunities and our mass voter contact program. Join us!
Link: https://uuthevote.org/invitation-uutv-2024launch/?emci=8a38b5d8-fec1-ee11-b660-002248223197&emdi=5fbbd2d4-b2ca-ee11-85f9-002248223794&ceid=24793100
Click here for the pdf printable copy.
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Social Justice Task Force Recruiting
Paint Branch has a rich history of making a difference in our communities through spirited engagement and direct action. On our new church journey, it is a good time to review and develop a plan for how we will live our principles through social and political action and community engagement. Consider becoming part of the Social Justice Task Force that will make recommendations for how we will support social justice as a congregation. Please contact Lula Beatty (lulabeatty@verizon.net) if you are interested in joining this group. Thanks!
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Paint Branch offers several forms of caring support for congregants:
Rev. Ann is available for pastoral visits and phone calls: 301-937-3667 or minister@pbuuc.org.
Pastoral Care Associates offer spiritual listening and compassionate presence: pca@pbuuc.org.
The “We Care” Team offers assistance:
If you or someone you know would appreciate one of these supports, please be in touch with us at any of the emails above.
And if you would like to offer to help in one of these areas, please let any of us know!
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How To Make A Donation To Paint Branch
Here are the ways you can give to Paint Branch:
- Sundays: Place cash or a check in the offering basket.
- Sundays and at any time: Use our Breeze donation system to:
--- Send online to: https://pbuuc.breezechms.com/give/online
--- Text the whole dollar amount to 301-321-7215
--- Mail a check to the church office at:
P.O. Box 676, Laurel, MD 20725-0676
Use the notes/memo section of Breeze or your check to indicate your donation category; e.g., pledge, plate, other.
Members and visitors can use these secure systems in lieu of cash donations.
Questions? Contact Treasurer@pbuuc.org
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The goal is to have the Continuum in your email boxes on Fridays by noon. Patience and grace are appreciated.
Please make sure to send your submissions to churchadmin@pbuuc.org by Thursday at 4pm so they can be included in the Continuum.
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PBUUC is recruiting volunteers for the greeter/usher role as we restart in person worship services. Commit to one or more Sundays per month and enjoy the benefit of getting to know your fellow congregants better. Training will be provided. For more information or to volunteer please contact Chris Evans at engagement@pbuuc.org.
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Available Hours:
Mondays - Friday
8:00am to 12:00pm
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