Community
News
November
2022

President's Column
Hello Beloved Community,

I sincerely hope this letter finds you healthy and enjoying life!

I also hope that you have not been suffering from the effects of Hurricane Ian that have scarred many lives in Florida, including some in our own locality.

Our CUUC Board of Trustees decided,  at our October Meeting, to keep Special Collections for Hurricane Relief ongoing for a time, and we have been discussing how many locally specific Relief Efforts and Organizations we may be able to assist financially through our efforts.

For many of us, a fundamental aspect of our Spiritual Life is connected to our desires to "Give Back" to the communities that have nurtured us and supported our Growth. Charitable Giving - whether to our Church, or to Community Organizations that aid and support others, becomes a part of this. Recently - at our CUUC "Whale of a Sale" in October - I found myself talking with Randy (who so kindly Volunteered with the Sale!) and saying, "Though I am single presently, Randy, I realize that, looking back, I chose partners for my personal relationships who - in addition to the 'Usual Qualities' one seeks - sense of humor, intelligence, etc. - Also were Community Oriented individuals who gave of their time, energy and labor to the groups that inspired them... my 1st ex, Lee, volunteered for many years at LGBTQ Youth Groups - in Chicago and Minneapolis - as a Counselor - a "wise elder" for young people just becoming "comfortable in their own skin..." - and my 2nd ex, Bryan, volunteered almost every weekend in Minneapolis - Both at Habitat For Humanity AND a local 'Soup Kitchen' there. I chose Life-Partners whom I ADMIRED!"
 
This spirit of Community Involvement and Dedication to building a Better Future than we have known before is one of the most important reasons that I am Proud to call myself a Unitarian Universalist Today! 

In Big ways (like the "UU The VOTE!" Campaign created by the Unitarian Universalist Association - in which folks volunteer to call people on phone lists and encourage them to Vote their Conscience as Election Days approach) and in "Small" ways (like the "Whale of a Sale" which raised over $1,000  - actually NOT a 'Small' Amount, to Me!) I have seen UUs Volunteer to make the communities they reside in as well as our nation - and even the world around it - Better and more Humane - and after watching this happen for over 20 years, I am filled with Real, Genuine Pride and Love for my fellow UUs! 

Attending this year's PRIDEFest in Orlando recently, I cheered for Orlando-area UUs as they marched past in the Pride Parade - and my companion - a Trans man, son of a dear friend - who knew and recognized a few of the people marching past, greeted them warmly and returned to where I stood cheering with "church fans" listing the Downtown Orlando UU Church and the University UU Fellowship (near UCF) printed with the words, "UUs SAY GAY!"

I mentioned to my companion that although I had attended numerous PRIDE celebrations in large cities in years past, I had never seen so much Trans Representation occur... and it occurred to me that since political 'conservatives' have targeted Trans and Non-Binary people SO MUCH in recent years - especially Election Years, like THIS ONE - the fact that So Many Did Appear in the PRIDE Parade and at its attendant Festival means that folks are willing to be "Counted" - Representation Matters - and Churches like Ours - that Openly Welcome "Queer" people (the meaning of our official "Welcoming Congregation" designation from the Unitarian Universalist Association - gained when CUUC was still in its "infancy") - Making people feel welcome and respected Exactly As They Are - Matters VERY MUCH!

Volunteer Power RUNS CUUC! When I learned that Barbara had gone to our church building to check it out and ensure that everything was OK in the wake of Hurricane Ian - and the power CAME BACK ON As She Stood In Our Building - I Laughed Out Loud and cried, "HALLELUJAH!" (To Me, this was Unquestionably the work of the 'Angels!') 

When newcomers to our church kindly volunteered to assist in setting up (and later, taking down) the "Whale of a Sale," I Admired their "Grit!" 

When Cherie told me that she wanted to get involved with our Membership Committee  - especially after Hurricane Ian had blasted through our area and left neighborhoods flooded and powerless and roads unnavigable - and I admitted that we could REALLY USE some Volunteer Power ("Well, I know that our church Used to keep a 'Phone Tree' system for things like this - regularly updated..." I said, sheepishly) - and she told me that she wanted to be a part of Restoring that kind of Connectedness - I felt Grateful and excited.

And I felt thankful when members of CUUC's Worship Committee Team agreed to help me entreat folks in our church community to consider sharing their perspectives on the theme, "What I Am Grateful For" in our Thanksgiving Weekend Worship Service [coming up November 27th!] - There's still Plenty of Room for More 'Speakers' - so Kindly let me know if you are willing to join in!

Now, as the BrushPile in front of my home Continues to grow (the house in which I grew up - now my brother Ned's - is surrounded by wonderful old-growth trees of numerous kinds - which led to vast quantities of branches, twigs and leaves deposited by the hurricane into the green spaces that surround it) I pray that we don't receive any more hurricane 'Visitors' this season, but simultaneously I Thank the Goddess of Providence for bringing Me, my family, my home, my bosses and coworkers, and - of course - our church and our 'Beloved Community' - SAFELY through the Storms of Life!

Blessed Be!

Namaste!

Joe WolfArth

COME TO THE BEACH WITH CUUC

CUUC will hold a Full Moon Drum Circle on November 7th at Esther Street BeachFront Park in New Smyrna Beach 
- PLEASE NOTE: Because the changing Season will result in an earlier Sunset, 
We will be Gathering at 5 PM!
[Sunset will occur at about 5:35 PM...] 
- Parking is FREE at Esther Street BeachFront Park after 5 PM!

As Always, CUUC's Collection of Drums and Percussion Instruments will be Available for use by "The DrumLess" at our gathering...
Restrooms, FootWash & Shower Stations are available for Park Visitors... BYOB/Snacks, and a Chair if Desired [Built-in Benches at the Dune WalkOver Deck are Also Available for use...]

Due to anticipated changes in temperature, this will be our Last Full Moon Drum Circle at the Beach until Spring...

- Please Join Us!
ALL ARE WELCOME!

Upcoming Events
November 15st
Dream Circle
via Zoom
7:00 p.m.
Please email David Herr your email address
and he will send  notices and reminders
of the
upcoming meetings.

November  7th
Full Moon Drum Circle
NOTE NEW TIME
5 pm
Esther Street Beach Front Park
551 Esther St.
NSB
Contact Joe WolfArth


November 14th
Board of Trustees Meeting 
1:30 p.m.
CUUC
403 West St. NSB
All are Welcome

November 15th
Dream Circle
via Zoom
7:00 p.m.
Please email David Herr your email address
and he will send  notices and reminders
of the upcoming meetings.

November 17
Book Club
3:30 p.m.
Discussion of the book "Squeeze Me" By Carl Hiassen
Lost Lagoon Wings and Grill
Invitation to members to follow via email
or contact Michele Moen for details.

November 29th
Dream Circle
via Zoom
7:00 p.m.
Please email David Herr your email address
and he will send  notices and reminders
of the upcoming meetings.


Fridays for the Future
Climate Change Rallies
each Friday
4:00 - 5:00 pm
Corner of Rt. 44 & Mission Road, NSB  
Information will be sent by email
Contact Steve Baker

Book Club Picks for Remainder of 2022

November   17th

Squeeze Me
by Carl Hiaasen  2020. 
Hiaasen dedicated the novel to his younger brother, Rob, who was killed during the Capital Gazette shooting on June 28, 2018. The book debuted at #2 on the New York Times Best Seller list

Carl Hiaasen's Squeeze Me is set among the landed gentry of Palm Beach. A prominent high-society matron--who happens to be a fierce supporter of the President and founding member of the POTUSSIES--has gone missing at a swank gala. When the wealthy dowager, Kiki Pew Fitzsimmons, is later found dead in a concrete grave, panic and chaos erupt. The President immediately declares that Kiki Pew was the victim of rampaging immigrant hordes. This, as it turns out, is far from the truth. Meanwhile a bizarre discovery in the middle of the road brings the First Lady's motorcade to a grinding halt (followed by some grinding between the First Lady and a lovestruck Secret Service agent). Enter Angie Armstrong, wildlife wrangler extraordinaire, who arrives at her own conclusions after she is summoned to the posh island to deal with a mysterious and impolite influx of huge, hungry pythons . . .

December 15th

21 Lessons for the 21^st Century 
by Yuval  Noah Harari 2018

How do computers and robots change the meaning of being human? How do we deal with the epidemic of fake news? Are nations and religions still relevant? What should we teach our children?

Yuval Noah Harari's 21 Lessons for the 21st Century is a probing and visionary investigation into today's most urgent issues as we move into the uncharted territory of the future. As technology advances faster than our understanding of it, hacking becomes a tactic of war, and the world feels more polarized than ever, Harari addresses the challenge of navigating life in the face of constant and disorienting change and raises the important questions we need to ask ourselves in order to survive.

The descriptions and pictures were taken from GoodReads website.