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You're invited to worship with us in-person or online this Sunday, June 4th at 10:30 a.m. Gather in our air conditioned Sanctuary at UU Meriden; or join our Zoom meeting, link below.
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Worship Associate Anita Sanders reflects on "Little Drops of Delight" — tiny delightful sparks she’s found in some of ordinary life's smallest moments. After all, delight, even in small amounts, is still delight.
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The Minister's Monthly Message
“Dr. Shaun and the Delight of Small Things”
Dear Beloveds,
One of my current favorite programs is The Good Doctor on ABC – yes an actual old “major network” drama series. The show is based on a Korean T.V. program of the same name about a medical doctor with autism. The American version stars the British actor Freddie Highmore as Dr. Shaun Murphy, an autistic surgical resident at a fictional hospital in San Jose, CA.
In one episode, a terminal patient working on his “bucket list” of things to do before he dies engages Dr. Shaun in a conversation about what makes him happy. Dr. Shaun finds it difficult to understand this patient who ignores serious symptoms and would rather do things that are somewhat risky or dangerous given his frail health status. When the patient presses Dr. Shaun for what makes him happy, Dr. Shaun replies, “I like a crisp apple. The way the sunlight hits my bed sheets in the morning in a perfect square. I like the movement of the wind in leaves. And the way the circumference of a circle is always equal to Pi times the diameter, no matter what numbers you put in.”
Our theme for the month of June is delight. Delight is a type of joy, a great pleasure. Dr. Shaun reminds us that great pleasure and joy – delight – can be found in simple things. I think our lives are more joyful, the better we are able to delight in small and simple things. We need not seek the grand, the expensive, or the rare to find delight. It is usually at our fingertips if we can but notice it.
Like most people I’ve had some truly extraordinary experiences that left me filled up with joy, happy beyond measure - some were actual dreams come true. And although my life has been enriched by these more special delights, it’s the small joys that when all is said and done seem to be the “bigger” ones.
Some of the simple “ordinary” things in which I find delight include:
- The way my dog Pancake’s ears bounce and flop in rhythm when she walks.
- The bright sound of brand-new strings on my guitar.
- The smell of fresh bread that fills the house when my wife Tuesday is baking home-made sourdough loaves.
- Sunlight filtering through the leaves of trees.
- Being transported into another world by a great novel.
- The cool fresh air early on a summer morning.
- The salty air smell of the sea on the breeze near the ocean.
Without delight life isn’t worth living. Delight lives in a symbiotic and reciprocal relationship with love and justice. We seek justice for the oppressed, the left out, the left behind, and the powerless in good part because injustices rob people of the delight of being alive that should be everyone’s birthright. I hope you’re able to find delight in both big and small things this month. Delight is essential. Joy doesn’t have to cost anything, nor does it really require anything from you other than to invite it into your life.
Blessings,
Rev. Tony
June's worship theme is Delight. Look for Rev Tony's Spiritual Challenge for June on Facebook and in next week's newsletter.
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UU Meriden at PrideFest in Middletown today!
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UU Meriden's Annual Tag Sale • June 10, 9am - 2pm
SIGN UP SHEET AVAILABLE AT CHURCH
What Can I Do To Help?
- Check your home for items that you no longer need or want to donate. Please make sure they are clean and sellable. No clothes or books unless the books are the latest best sellers or a collectible.
- Let your friends and neighbors know you are collecting items for the tag sale. Look for people who are moving. This is a good source of tag sale items.
- Help set up on Friday June 9th between 9:00 and 4:00.
- Work at the Tag Sale on Saturday June 10th. Sign up for a time slot at church tomorrow or talk to Diane.
- Help with clean up at the end of the tag sale. We can always use new and fresh volunteers at the end of the day to help pack up leftover items.
- SPREAD THE WORD - Tell people know about UU Meriden's Tag Sale on Saturday June 10th — post online, tell your friends to tell their friends, message in a bottle, however you communicate, help us get the word out!
You may bring items anytime between now and the 9th of June. They can be stored downstairs. For larger items it would be better to hold them till the 9th if possible.
Contact Diane Szymaszek to find out more, volunteer, or arrange item drop-off.
If you haven't signed up to volunteer and want to help please text Diane at 203-589-1480 or email her at deesmaz@gmail.com to let her know when you can help out. (further info about volunteering below)
Not sure what's sellable? One way to check, ask yourself: would I offer this to my neighbor? Would I re-gift it? Could I sell it online? If you wouldn't be comfortable giving it to an acquaintance or wouldn't sell it online, it may not be a sellable item for us.
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Did you know today is... ?
The 100th Anniversary of the first celebration of our beloved Flower Ceremony by Rev. Norbert Capek in Prague on June 4, 1923. 💐 Rev. Tony will lead us in our annual Flower Ceremony at 10:30 AM on Sunday, June 11th at UU Meriden. Bring a flower from your garden, wildflower from your lawn, or a blossom off a flowering tree — you'll leave with a different flower! 💐
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And it's also...
National Trails Day ⛺
World Bicycle Day 🚲
National Garden Week 🌻
and of course PRIDE 🌈
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UU Meriden's Annual Tag Sale • June 10, 9am - 2pm
Volunteering!
There is a sign up sheet at church on Sunday to help with our upcoming Tag Sale: If you are able to help out, please put your name down for the time slots when you’d like to help – whether with set up on Friday, June 9 or at the tag sale on Saturday, June 10, or both! Keep in mind your own wellness in deciding how to share your energy – together we can lighten the load, cover all the time slots needed, and have fun doing it!
If you haven't signed up and want to help please text Diane Szymaszek at 203-589-1480 or email her at deesmaz@gmail.com to let her know when you can help out.
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We have done an amazing job in recent years balancing our efforts to run a smooth and enjoyable tag sale for the local community and for ourselves. With everyone’s support we can do the same thing this year. Remember many hands means a lighter load for all. Thank you UUCM!
Sign up at church or contact Diane Szymaszek to volunteer!
See above for details & donations
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June Board Meeting
The UUCM Board of Trustees will meet in person at the church on Monday June 12 at 6:30pm. This will be a combined gathering of the current Board members and the newly elected members.
Any UUCM member may attend the meeting and speak but not vote. There’s no need to sign up ahead of time. This will not be a hybrid meeting.
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Member of the Month, appreciating each other
In keeping with our tradition of recognizing people for their contributions to our congregation by naming a month after them, June is Candace Faith Ayrton month. Candace is relatively new to our congregation but right from the start she added a wonderful spirit to all of us. She participates in ways that are exceptional for someone her age. She is always smiling and full of energy. Candace contributed to the wonderful artwork on the covers of our air conditioner units which adds so much to the beauty of sanctuary. Candace can often be seen helping in the kitchen during coffee hours and other social events. She helped work at the holiday fair. She is an active participant in interactive worship services and religious education. Our church community has gained much from Candace being part of us. Thank you Candace for your smile and for all you do!
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General Assembly: June 21 in Pittsburgh, PA
Learn more about General Assembly HERE. Thank you in advance to our delegates for traveling once again to GA as representatives of our community. Last year, Anita and Donna, along with Rev. Tony, gathered with hundreds of fellow UU's in Portland, OR. This year Anita and Donna will be a bit closer to home at GA in Pittsburgh. Our June 25th worship service will have us together in the Sanctuary as virtual participants of the General Assembly's Sunday Morning Worship, further information in the worship schedule below.
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Small Group Ministry 🌞 Summer Hiatus
We'll be back in September!
The Saturday Small Group Ministry will be taking the summer off. There will be no meetings during the months of June, July or August.
Questions? Please call Ann Rustici at 203-559-5771.
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🌟 Starry Messenger 🌠
Read Aloud Book Group meets Tues, July 11 @ 7pm on Zoom
Please read to yourself Chapter 3: Earth & Moon (If you want to.) Liz will read out loud Chapter 4: Conflict & Resolution and we'll discuss what we read. IF YOU WANT to read aloud let Liz know. The text will be on the screen during our Zoom meeting. All are welcome!
We're reading the book "Starry Messenger" by Neil de Grasse Tyson.
Contact Liz Hall by call or text to get the Zoom Link: 860-978-9534
Join the Read Aloud Book Group on Zoom Tuesday, July 11 @ 7 p.m.
About the book: Starry Messenger by world-renowned astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson. Bringing his cosmic perspective to civilization on Earth, Neil deGrasse Tyson shines new light on the crucial fault lines of our time—war, politics, religion, truth, beauty, gender, and race—in a way that stimulates a deeper sense of unity for us all.
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Worship this Month
Note: Sunday worship services at UU Meriden begin at 10:30 A.M. We are located at 328 Paddock Ave. Unless otherwise indicated, our Sundays worship will also be offered via Zoom aka "Hybrid." Our Summer Schedule begins in July; worship services shift from 10:30 to 10 for the months of July and August.
- June 11 at 10:30 a.m. . . . "Norbert Capek: A Real Life Hope Punk" – Rev. Tony Lorenzen leads the UU Church in Meriden's celebration of the 100th anniversary of the UU Flower Ceremony and reflects on the example of its founder, Norbert Capek, who's story is a real life model of what fantasy author Alexandra Rowland termed "Hope Punk" - the opposite of the dystopian nihilistic tales called "grimdark." The term has given rise to an artistic movement centered on not losing hope even in the most desperate times and the reality that fighting for what is good and right is cause and reason enough to go on. Accompaniment by Kevin Wyman. In-person & via Zoom.
- June 18 at 10:30 a.m. . . . "Path to Delight" – On this Father's Day, when many celebrate the 'fathers' in our lives, join Worship Associate Peg Kirkpatrick as she reflects on her path to finding and holding delight, even when the light is dimmed. We'll ponder together how delight can offer us spiritual nourishment. In-person & via Zoom.
- June 25 at 10:30 a.m. . . . Live from UUA General Assembly – Gather with us in the Sanctuary as we join thousands of UU's worldwide in viewing the Sunday morning worship service livestreamed from the Unitarian Universalist Association's annual General Assembly, this year held in Pittsburgh, PA and led by Rev. Manish Mishra-Marzetti. Born and raised in Pittsburgh, Rev. Manish Mishra-Marzetti serves as Senior Minister of the First Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Ann Arbor, Michigan. He is a co-editor of "Conversations with the Sacred: A Collection of Prayers." (Our final 10:30 AM service. In July we move to our summer hours with 10AM worship)
- Attending via Zoom: Our hybrid services are simultaneously live online via Zoom and in-person at UUCM. The UU Meriden Zoom meeting access link is always http://go.uumeriden.org/zoom. Unless otherwise indicated, worship services will continue to be hybrid.
Our June Worship Theme is Delight — For recommendations, inspirations, and free resources relating to our Monthly Worship Themes visit our website. You can find the Minister's Monthly Message at the top of the newsletter. And check back next week for Rev. Tony's Spiritual Challenge.
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Support UU Meriden with a Secure Online Donation
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It only takes a few clicks to support UU Meriden and the causes that matter most to you — online! The drop down menu on our PayPal allows you to select whether you are contributing to your pledge, adding to our weekly offering, donating to Social Justice Council, fulfilling your commitment to the Challenge Fund, or supporting our Pastoral Care Ministries. Thank you to everyone who contributed to our fundraisers last year and to everyone who participated in our Challenge Fund this winter! To check it out, click the PayPal icon below or follow this link: https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=MWVNLAV4AHY6A
Thank you for your Generosity!
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THANK YOU for all your generous donations & contributions through these years of change and challenges. Please continue to support the congregation financially. Click the PayPal icon to donate online now!
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Rev. Tony's May Spiritual Challenge
• Creativity • Explore a New Medium •
My spiritual challenge for you this month is to explore new media. I’m not talking about trying a new streaming channel or listening to a new podcast. I’m referring to the 19 materials and tools used to create art of all types. These are:
1. Architecture 2. Carpentry 3. Ceramics 4. Drawing 5. Electronics/Digital 6. Film/Video 7. Food 8. Glass 9. Installation 10. Literature 11. Nature 12. Painting 13. Performing Arts 14. Photography 15. Printmaking 16. Sculpture 17. Sound 18. Technical/Engineering 19. Textiles
(For a great survey/introduction to these 19 different media see Don Corgi’s essay “What is Media in Art?” here: https://doncorgi.com/blog/media-in-art/)
Many people have at least one preferred creative medium. Even if you don’t consider yourself an “artist” you probably have some familiarity with at least one of these nineteen modes of creative expression. If you think that you are not “good” at any of these, that’s all right, you probably create nonetheless.
(See my spiritual challenge from last May’s (2022) on the theme of Beauty, which is all about “making good art” and reinforces the idea all art YOU make is “good.” You can watch that video here: https://youtu.be/5o5gdaDcwo0)
My personal creative media includes: Electronics, Film/Video, Food, Literature, Nature, Painting, Performing Arts, Photography, and Sound. I’m going to really be stretching myself to try something totally new. I’m leaning toward sculpture as I think it would be fun to try and make a sculpture out of various items lying around the house and garage. I might even try a chalice!
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As always, I’d love to hear about your experiences with this challenge. Call or text me at 508-344-3668 or send me an email at revtony@pm.me.
Click on the image above to see Rev. Tony's Spiritual Challenge on YouTube.
Next week June's Spiritual Challenge will be available.
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Minister's Schedule
Rev. Tony is generally available 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday, & Wednesday and at any time in an emergency. The quickest way to reach Rev. Tony is to call or text him at (508) 344-3668. You can also reach him via email at revtony@pm.me. If you contact Rev. Tony via email, and do not receive a response for more than 1 business day, please call or text him at the number above for a faster response.
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Credits, Thanks, & Attributions
- UUA: Orange Chalice Logo; GA logo; Flower 100 image
- @Mrs&Mrs on Instagram for the social image
- Middletown Pride pics: Nancy Burton
- Future Newsletter Volunteers - and those who've already stepped up - If you wish this newsletter came out earlier, you can make that happen! Volunteer! Email announcements@uumeriden.org
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PUBLICATION POLICY
Announcements for the Weekly Update, Social Media
Announcements are due no later than 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday for that week's publication. Send your news to the below email address, say what it's for in the subject line, and if there is an attachment please write 'see attachment' in the email. Tips: be brief; pictures and links encouraged where appropriate; include a contact person and specific dates; no formatting is necessary. Announcements are subject to editing and approval; submissions will run in the Weekly Update each Friday, or Saturday – other email blasts should be explicitly requested. Items are prioritized for timeliness. Send your news to: announcements@uumeriden.org.
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How to Contact UU Meriden
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