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November 13th, 2022
Pathfinder or Whack-a-mole?
We will explore the challenges of energy expenditure as we create intentional paths of inclusion while being able to quickly respond to what arises. CB Beal will give the sermon for this service led byworship associate Brenda Linley.
Join in person:
- Please arrive between 9:40 – 9:58 am so you can be seated before the service starts. Please stay home and care for yourself if you’re not feeling well or have been exposed to someone with COVID. Everyone over the age of 2 must wear a face mask that covers your nose and mouth.
- We are using a traffic light gathering system to let people communicate the distance they need to safely join us: Red – need distance; Yellow – use caution, need some space, ask; Green – don’t need distance. The Sanctuary will be divided into three sections matching the traffic light system. The RE Commons and Fellowship Hall will also be red seating areas but with more room for people who want to move around during services. There will be stickers for you to add to your name tag to display your preferred designation when not seated.
- We will have fellowship time after the service, but at this time aren’t ready to provide refreshments.
Join virtually:
- Click to be taken to the stream on our YouTube channel.
- Online participants are invited to join in the live chat during the service. You need to be signed in to a YouTube account, and on the actual YouTube site to chat (watching the service through an embedded video link shared in our weekly service emails or on our website will not not have a chat option- click “Watch on YouTube” in the bottom left corner of the video to be taken to the actual site and get access to the chat). Find an instructional guide on how to sign in and chat over YouTube here (PDF, created by Anne Schons)
- A virtual social hour follows the service over Zoom (Link to Join, Meeting ID: 853 6642 6271, Passcode: 724555).
November's Offerings Benefit The Free Lunch Program
An open door, a full plate, no questions asked. Teams of dedicated volunteers ensure that the Free Lunch Program meets its mission to provide a free, filling and healthy lunch to anyone who comes to 1105 Gilbert Ct., six days a week. Volunteers from UUS have provided the meal on the second Friday of each month since 1986, and have never missed a shift!
Checks for the offering baskets should have “FLP” on the memo line. You can also donate online at http://bit.ly/UUSPartner, text “GivetoUUSIC Partner” to 73256, or mail a check to the UUS office (2355 Oakdale Road, Coralville, IA 52241).
You can also donate to our Operating Budget
Donate online at http://bit.ly/UUSOperating, text “GivetoUUSIC Operating” to 73256, or mail a check to the office with “operating” on the memo line (also write “pledge” if you’d like to apply to an existing stewardship pledge).
The arrangements in the Sanctuary for the month of November are contributed by Dee Stebbins, Theresa Ullerich and Julia Audlehelm. Thank you!
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Gathering and Giving Together
UUS Treats and Talents Auction 2022
In-Person Event Saturday December 3rd, 5:30 pm
End of Online Bidding 9:30 pm Saturday, December 3rd
Our auction website is now live! Watch for a personalized email in the next couple of days that will give you access to the auction, if we have you listed as a member or friend in our database. The email will say that it is from the Unitarian Universalist Society, and the subject line will be: Gathering and Giving Together, 2022 Treats and Talents Auction Access. You can only bid if your email is in our auction system. If you want to view and bid in the auction, but haven't received an email by this weekend, contact Peggy Garrigues dcce@uusic.org, or Judy Tokuhisa judy.tokuhisa@gmail.com
We still expect to receive many more donations of items and events before the auction ends on December 3. Please contact Judy with the descriptions and photos of the items or events you are donating as soon as possible!
You can purchase or reserve your dinner tickets after Sunday services the next three weeks, or you can reserve them online at the auction site. Instructions for purchasing dinner tickets online are attached here. Note: you will not pay for your dinner tickets online.
Detailed online bidding instructions are linked here.
We look forward to fun and supporting UUS together!
Auction Team: Judy Tokuhisa, Julia Audlehelm, Monique DiCarlo, Sue Kann, Pat Pavelich, Deb Schoelerman, and Cheryl Tugwell, with staff support from Peggy Garrigues.
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From Your Staff & Leadership
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Pastoral Care Announcement
The UUS Pastoral Care Team is now offering to give rides to members and friends who may need help getting to appointments or to church services. If you have such a need, please contact either Emma Barnum (admin@uusic.org) or Virginia Melroy (virginia-melroy@uiowa.edu). Please also contact either Emma or Virginia if you would be willing to offer a ride to someone in need.
 From Your Director of Lifespan Religious Education, Nic Kaplan
Friday FUUn Night:
Do you like puzzles? Scrabble? Settlers of Catan? Ticket to Ride? Euchre? Other games?
Come out to our Friday FUUn Night this Friday from 6-9 pm. Games and refreshments will be provided, but you're also welcome to bring something to share. There will be games for all abilities, interests, and attention spans. Come for a quick 15 minute game or stay all 3 hours. Play an old favorite or learn something new.
We look forward to seeing you there!
Youth Group:
Jr and Sr High Youth Group will be meeting this Sunday from 11:30-1 in the Oak room. They will be working on planning designs for their cornhole boards. If there's time, youth may even start drawing or painting on the boards. Lunch is provided.
Next Book Discussion:
January 18th at WonderfUUl Wednesday we will have our next book discussion. The book for January is Permission to Feel by Marc Brackett. "Permission to Feel is a wonderful exploration of the importance - breadth and depth - of emotions. From plainly laying out the health, business and family case for understanding emotions to the simple RULER approach to become deliberate and conscious in our own, and others, emotions." If you need help obtaining a copy of the book, please reach out. We will be having a "Creativity Workshop" January 5th as an additional way to interact with this book.
 From Your Director of Congregational and Community Engagement, Peggy Garrigues
Starting Point Class to begin on Tuesday evenings
If you are new to the UU Society, or to Unitarian Universalism, I invite you to our next round of Starting Point and Preparation for Membership classes!
The Starting Point class is a four week session that happens from 7-8:30 on four Tuesday evenings, to learn some basics of Unitarian Universalism and UU history, learn about the history of this UUS congregation, and learn about current groups and opportunities, while getting to know others.
The Starting Point sessions will be both in person and online, beginning Nov. 15, and continuing on Nov. 22, 29, and Dec. 6. The fifth session will be on Tuesday evening, Dec. 13, and will be for those who are interested in becoming members of UUS, or at least learning more about what it means to be a member. The next opportunity to join will probably be Sunday, December 18.
Fill out the form here to let me know of your interest. Or you can contact me at dcce@uusic.org to sign up or ask questions, and let me know if you want to meet in person or on Zoom.
Our Next WonderfUUL Wednesday, November 16th
Wednesday, Nov. 16th, is our next WonderfUUL Wednesday program! Deb Schoelerman and Theresa Ullerich will be providing a delicious baked potato bar, with vegan and gluten free options, that will be served at 6 pm. You are welcome to arrive as early as 5:30 for informal conversation and crafting. Please bring a side dish or dessert to supplement the baked potatoes, and either bring your own table service, or some will be provided. We all help to clean up afterwards.
For the programming, there will be:
- An open Maker Space--bring your own project, or materials will be provided to respond to a poem on the theme of Change from this month's Soul Matters materials. Nic will offer guidance
- A conversation space based on the Soul Matters theme for this month: Change. Quotes and questions for discussion will be provided
- For those who are already registered (the group is now full), there will be the first session of the Sacred Earth spirituality and study group
 From Your Congregational Administrator, Emma Barnum
December Newsletter Deadline is November 20th
The deadline to submit articles, events, or reports for the December 2022 issue of the UUS News will be noon on Sunday, November 20th. Because of the Thanksgiving holiday, I will not be able to accept late submissions, so please plan accordingly! You can send items for the newsletter to admin@uusic.org.
 From Your Administrative Assistant, Niklaus Jakob
I will be away from my desk from Wednesday, November 2nd until Sunday, November 13th and won't be reachable. Please send urgent requests to Administrator Emma Barnum at admin@uusic.org.
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Stewardship Update
Thank you to those of you who have pledged to date. The Stewardship Committee is very grateful! We want to take this opportunity to update you all on the success of the 2023 Campaign since we last celebrated. We currently have 135 pledges for a total amount of $330,736.68. Again, our goal is $440,000 and we are so close to this goal. Thank you all and please for those who have not pledged, please reflect on what you can do to advance our Society.
Make your pledge online, send a pledge card to UUS, or contact the office (admin@uusic.org or 319-337-3443) to make your pledge directly. Find more information on the campaign and pledging process on our website.
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Upcoming Events This Week
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Thursday, November 10th
- Green Sanctuary Team: 11 am on Zoom (Join Zoom Meeting, Meeting ID: 881 3226 4216, passcode: 533092)
The Green Sanctuary Team invites you to join us from 11 am to 12:30 pm via Zoom. Together we'll collaborate on ways to live our 7th Principle (respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part) in the life of our church community, in our personal lives, and in our world.
- UUS Singers Rehearsal: 7 pm in the Sanctuary
Weekly rehearsals of the UUS Singers take place from 7 to 8:30 pm on Thursdays in the Sanctuary at UUS. If you are thinking whether joining in to sing is for you, please come and find out! Contact Director of Congregational Music Alex Heetland with questions (music@uusic.org). We are looking forward to making music with you!
Friday, November 11th
- UU Free Lunch Program: 11 am at 1105 S. Gilbert Ct.
The Free Lunch Program provides hot meals to all comers six days a week at 1105 S. Gilbert Court, Iowa City. Since 1985, UUS has provided the Free Lunch meal on the second Friday of every month. UUS Free Lunch volunteers and UUS members or Covenants Groups buy, prepare, and serve the meals. If you would like more information about how you can contribute to Free Lunch, please contact Bob Littlehale (freelunch@uusic.org or 419-297-7812)
Sunday, November 6th
- Friday FUUn NIght: 6 pm in the Fellowship Hall
See column From Your Director of Lifespan Religious Education, Nic Kaplan, for details.
Saturday, November 12th
- Veg CommUUnity Plantluck: 5 pm in the Fellowship Hall
The Veg CommUUnity will enjoy a plantluck on Saturday, November 12th, at 5 pm in Fellowship Hall. All UUS members and friends are invited to come. Please bring a plant-based* dish for approximately eight servings (with the recipe or list of ingredients), along with your table service. Please RSVP to Carol at carolthrockmorton108@msn.com or (319) 337-3030.
*Plant-based” means vegetables, fruits, legumes, grains, and nuts/seeds, plant milks and other non-dairy products, plant oils and butters, and plant-based sweeteners. Excluded are all animal products, including meat/poultry/fish, dairy and eggs, as well as honey.
Sunday, November 13th
See top of the email for details.
- Virtual Social Hour: Immediately following the service via Zoom (Link to Join, Meeting ID: 853 6642 6271, Passcode: 724555).
See top of the email for details.
- UU Mystics: 11:30 am in the Conference Room and on Zoom (Link to Join, Meeting ID: 8268 770 0792, Passcode: 218927)
UUS Mystics group is a group for anyone who has an interest or personal experience with what is commonly referred to as “mystical experiences.” We explore the impact, meaning, and implications that these experiences may have in our lives. This is not simply a book study group, and we are not setting a goal of manufacturing mystical experiences together.
We have set our second gathering date for Sunday, November 13th, at 11:30 am in the conference room at UUS. The initial two gatherings are offering an opportunity to get to know one another and share something about what brings us to the Mystics group. That could range anywhere from “curiosity” to “I’ve had some mystical experiences and want to be part of a community where I can bring my whole self.” As with most groups who enjoy personal sharing, we will practice confidentiality and respect with sharing of time. This is to be a self-generating and self-organizing group. The intention is that we will discuss and decide together how we wish our journey together to proceed. Please contact Miriam Kashia (miriam.kashia@gmail.com) if you have any
questions.
- Buddhist Sangha: 7 pm via Zoom (Link to Join, Meeting ID: 488 251 282, Passcode: 461426, or join by phone: (312) 626 6799)
The virtual Buddhist Sangha meeting takes place weekly, on Mondays, from 7 to 8:30 pm, with social time before the meeting at 6:45. The UUS Buddhist Sangha is a community of people who gather weekly for silent meditation and discussion of contemporary Buddhist teachings. Diversity of view is welcome as a foundation for collective wisdom. Our mutual support promotes clarity, compassion and ethical behavior through the practice of mindfulness. To find out more, contact Cindy Spading (buddhistsangha@uusic.org).
Tuesday, November 15th
- UU Secular Humanists: 7 pm in Meeting Room D of the Iowa City Public Library and on Zoom (Link to join, Meeting ID: 872 4240 8646, Passcode: 725581).
The UU Secular Humanists will have their regular 3rd Tuesday meeting on November 15th at 7 pm. Once again, it will be a hybrid meeting, on Zoom online and in-person once again in Meeting Room D of the Iowa City Public Library. All are welcome at our meetings.
Abortion rights will be on everyone's minds after the midterm elections. For that reason, Donna Simonton will facilitate a discussion entitled "Sex, drugs, and the rocky role of government in our not so personal lives" about about sexual freedom pre-1969, after Roe v Wade, where we are now, what's to come. In 1969 Donna Simonton and her sister were both nursing students in Chicago. They didn't know about "THE JANES", a group of women (and men) who provided safe, affordable (illegal) abortion services to women in and around Chicago, but both sisters had some very interesting, related experiences. Sexual freedom is not just a woman's right, it's everyone's right.
Recommended reading/viewing: The Janes (Wikipedia), The Janes (documentary film), Call Jane (film at FilmScene). Ask yourself: How would my life have been different if Roe v Wade had not been passed in 1972?
The December meeting will be an in-person potluck held at UUS on December 20th. More information to follow. For questions, contact group leader Daniel Valentin at secularhumanists@uusic.org.
Wednesday, November 16th
- WonderfUUl Wednesday: 5:30 pm in the Fellowship Hall
See column From Your Director of Congregational and Community Engagement, Peggy Garrigues, for details.
The UUS Board of Trustees holds a meeting, open to all members, each month at 7 pm on the third Wednesday. Look for an agenda in the weekly email or on the website before the meeting.
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Justice & Outreach News and Opportunities
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Racial Justice Team
To subscribe to the UUS Racial Justice email listserv, follow this link or contact the office (admin@uusic.org).
Social Justice Team
CRC Gifts for Parents
Gifts for Parents is an opportunity for kids 4-14 to experience the joy of giving, coordinated by the Consultation of Religious Communities (CRC), of which UUS is a part. This years event is planned for Saturday, December 3rd, at St. Mark's United Methodist Church. Kids will be able to select up to three free gifts to give to important adults in their lives.
Please look around your home for new or gently used and clean items to donate. There will be a container in the foyer at UUS starting November 13th. Suggested donations: caps, scarves, gloves, flashlights (include batteries), jewelry, craft items, unique coffee mugs, gas prepaid cards, wallets & purses, Amaryllis bulbs, scented lotion, jigsaw puzzles, games, tire pressure gauges, kitchen gadgets, potholders, dish towels, Hawkeye items, gift cards to local businesses, etc.
See the attached flyer for more information.
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COVID-19 Information
On April 20th, 2022, the UUS's Board of Trustees adopted a new COVID Safer Gathering Plan. It maintains our commitment to providing multiplatform (both in-person and online) ways to engage at UUS.
Building Availability: UUS’s building and grounds are open. Masks are optional on the grounds. For security reasons, we keep the building doors locked except during large events. Visitors without an appointment should follow the instructions in the entryway. Staff are available by appointment.
Masks: Masks are required in public spaces of the building for those over the age of 2 and for large outdoor events. Masks are optional for outdoor and indoor small group meetings. Groups should use inclusion, covenant, consent, and care principles to decide whether they will meet with or without masks.
Anyone who tests positive for COVID after visiting UUS grounds MUST inform a member of the staff.
Find more information on our website.
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