June 27-July 10, 2020 - 10 Lyons Plains Road Westport, CT 06880 - Phone: 203.227.7205 visit us at uuwestport.org. CLICK HERE  for past issues of  SOUNDINGS

SUNDAY WORSHIP, JUNE 28 and July 5, 2020

This summer we will worship each Sunday on ZOOM at 10:00 AM. Excepting this Sunday (June 28) all services will also air on our Facebook page. Online donations always appreciated at vop.tucw.org , or mail-in a check. ZOOM info stays the same each week. For members: enter ZOOM ROOM: HERE.

JUNE 28: WORSHIP WITH UUA GENERAL ASSEMBLY  This Sunday join us as we worship with thousands of UUs from across the country, on line! The worship will be live streamed at 10:00 AM on the UUA website. We will watch together on our regular ZOOM link.

JULY 5: "SO HELP ME, GOD, RELIGION AND POLITICS ARE HERE TO STAY" - Rev. John Morehouse

Upcoming Services: JULY 12 Impermanence and Uncertainty – Linda Lubin July 19 - “Dancing With Calamity” – Dayle Brownstein

VIRTUAL MEDITATIONS - 9:00-9:45 AM - ZOOM Offered each Sunday this summer. Our meditation includes multiple elements - from inspirational reading and gentle movement to silent meditation and compassionate support of each other. For info contact Janet at  jluongo3@optonline.net. To Join our Zoom Meeting - click HERE Meeting ID: xxxxxxx 7688 Password: xxxxxx

Not on social media, and want to stay connected with each other? Join our email group for members and friends where we can share news, ideas, and announcements directly with each other. Managed and organized by lay leaders. To join contact Carol Seiple carol.seiple@gmail.com

SOCIAL JUSTICE AT TUCW: TWO NEW ANTI-RACISM RESOURCES

Brené Brown podcast interview with Dr. Ibram X. Kendi about racial disparities, policy, and equality, with a focus on How to Be an Antiracist, his groundbreaking approach to understanding and uprooting racism and inequality in our society and in ourselves. Click HERE to listen.

The Westport Library is proud to partner with TEAMWestport for the next virtual book club discussion in TEAMWestport's Book Club on Tuesday, July 14. The book club selection is Stamped: Racism, Antiracism and You by Jason Reynolds and Dr. Ibram X. Kendi. **Young people ages 12-and-up welcome and highly encouraged to join the conversation. Registration required. Click HERE for more information and to register.

Our UU the Vote team has reorganized around 5 major workstreams so we can maximize our efforts. We are looking for people to help us: Want to reach out to voters in critical states? Help organize a speaker series? Enhance our media presence? Explore racial issues on the ballots? Plenty to do! Action now: Join UUA phonebanking so we can reach 100K people in Texas by their primary, July 14. Contact Sari or Janet. Easy to do (an hour or two!) and will make a big impact. Join up TUCWUUtheVOTE+subscribe@groups.io and reach out to Beth Cliff or Janet Luongo. Meetings most Wednesdays this summer 7:00-8:00 PM on ZOOM HERE. (Check with Beth or Janet.)

 Congratulations to Julyen Norman - He became a US citizen this week!

We received the sad news of the passing of the Reverend Biro Mihaly, former minister of our Partner church in Transylvania. Our hearts are with Mihaly’s family; his wife Erzsébet, his sons Mihaly and Jozséf, their wives and children. Mihaly and Erzsébet always made our visits special by setting us up with just the right host family. They came to Westport in 2004. Frank Hall was good friends with Mihaly, they exchanged letters in between their visits. In the village of Alsóboldogfalva, we enjoyed wonderful meals on long tables set up outside the parsonage, worshiping with them on Sunday and listening to his organ playing and hymn singing. We were able to make a trip to the first church Mihaly’s served in – now a UNESCO site. Godspeed, Biro Mihaly.

ZOOM with Nate will be offered Sundays this summer at 11:00 AM for 7th graders and below. Zoom Meeting: HERE Meeting ID: xxxxxxxxxx Password: xxxxxxxx

NEIGHBORHOOD FAITHS on ZOOM: Christianity – July 2020

We are re-starting our Adult Faith Formation series, Neighborhood Faiths. Please join us as we learn, experience, and reflect on multiple faith traditions. Session 1 Learn - Friday, July 10 2020 (facilitated by Tom Hearne, Tom Croarkin and Jenna McPartland) Session 2 Experience - Friday, July 17 - 7:00-9:00 PM - This is a paid session to attend online Monastery experience Session 2 Experience - Saturday, July 18 - 9:00 - 12:00 noon (continuing monastery experience) Session 2 Experience - TBD (visit online with a Christian church service & talk to pastor afterwards) Session 3 Reflection - Friday, July 24 - 7:00-9:00 PM Contact Tom Hearne for more information including ZOOM link. thearne3@gmail.com

• ONGOING P ROGRAMMING THIS WEEK •

Mondays 6:30-8:00 PM via ZOOM Buddhist Practice Group ninazcara@gmail.com Let Nina know you are attending.Teachings offered on a donation basis. Wednesdays 7-8:15 PM. The Power of Now jimfrancek25@gmail.com Wednesdays 7-8PM UU the Vote meetings via Zoom . Beth Cliff or Janet Luongo Thursdays , 4-5 PM Talking Circles via ZOOM jimfrancek25@gmail.com Wednesdays or Thursdays : 8:30-11:30AM, weather dependent. Hiking in locations TBD . Gian gmoressi@gmail.com or Jamie jforbes1@gmail.com Fridays in July. Neighboring Faiths: Christianity . (see above) thearne3@gmail.com Sundays , 8:30- before church. Hiking at Sherwood Island Gian gmoressi@gmail.com or Jamie jforbes1@gmail.com Monthly, various dates and times. Small group ministry meetings . Rosen323@aol.com These must be signed-up for ahead of time; they depend on host availability, group size.

CHURCH GROUNDS AVAILABLE FOR <25 PEOPLE Thru July 31

The TUCW ReOpen Committee has made recommendations for holding MEETINGS OUTSIDE THE CHURCH BUILDING (on the lawn or in the parking lot). Effective immediately through July 31. Questions? Contact Rev. Ed. 1.    Notify Diane in the office so that we do not have too many people here at the same time. (The Nursery School will be in session from 9:00 to 12:00, Mon-Fri, June 22 - July 31. During that time it would not be a good idea to meet. ) 2.    Wear a mask during the time that you are meeting 3.    Practice social distancing 4.    Please bring your own lawn chair 5.    The upper limit of people attending your meeting is 25 6.    Taking attendance is encouraged, in the event that contact tracing is necessary. 7.    If possible not to exceed an hour 8.    The building is not open. Use of the inside bathrooms is NOT an option at this time. 9.    Those planning to attend should refer to the “Recommendations for Attending a Meeting at TUCW” on the website. 10. As always, if you are at risk of contracting the virus, or if you’re a risk to others, it’s best to stay home.

All women welcome at all events; visit our website for complete info.

ZOOM Information for All TUCWomen Gatherings: Meeting room: HERE Meeting ID: xxxxxxxxx Password: xxxxxxxxx Landline: xxxxxxxxxxx

Tapping Circles Carol is a certified EFT provider who was trained to use EFT to resolve trauma. She was a volunteer for the Newtown Trauma Relief Resiliency project in Newtown CT after the Sandy Hook tragedy. Dates: Mondays, June 29, July 6, 13, 20. 27 - Time: 7:00 – 8:30 PM

Sacred Circles with Grandmother Nancy continues online. Talking circles include drumming, rituals, story-telling and thought-provoking conversations. Dates : Tuesdays, June 30, July 7, 14, 21, 28 - Time: 7:30 – 9:00

Food for the Soul Eileen Belmont leads the conversation, kick-started by quotes from noteworthy women whose contributions have shaped our identity and our destiny. The influence you exert is through your own life and what you become yourself. - Eleanor Roosevelt Date: Thursdays, July 2, 16 - Time: 12:30-2:00

FIND PAST SERMONS/SERVICES HERE

Summer Solstice Concert Service June 21, 2020

• Prior SOUNDINGS (Weekend and Weekdays editions ) HERE . • Prior Minister's Messages HERE . • Prior Sermons and Services : Video, Audio, PDF, HERE  • CORONA VIRUS Videos and Updates HERE .

Ministerial Pastoral Care . Our ministers will be taking much-deserved breaks, but we are always covered to meet the pastoral needs of our congregation. Please note: June 22-June 30: Revs. John, Ed, Jim July 1-July 21: Rev. Ed, Rev Jim back-up July 22- July 31: Rev. Jim August 1-September 1: Rev. John, Rev. Ed back-up September 1-13+: Revs. John, Ed, Jim

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1.800.273.8255 https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/ Domestic Violence Crisis Center (DVCC)- 24Hr 888–774–2900 Alcoholics Anonymous: 866-783-7712 https://ct-aa.org/meetings Al-Anon (family members of alcoholics) https://www.ctalanon.org/meetings

PASTORAL CARE If you are going through a challenging time or know somebody in the congregation who needs support from our Pastoral Care Chaplains , call to leave a confidential message in the PCA voice mailbox - (203-227-7205 ext. 19) or email -  pca@uuwestport.org .

TUCW CAREGIVING SUPPORT NETWORK Our support network is available to provide tangible help for friends in need: meal delivery, pharmacy runs, grocery shopping, a regular phone call of connection. Contact a minister or coordinators Kristen Leddy , Mary Jane Cross or Beth Cliff .

YOU ARE NOT ALONE! - ADDICTION RECOVERY

For individuals or families of our congregation seeking confidential support or information about addiction issues...  please contact our Addiction Recovery Ministry by calling 203-227-7205 ext. 19 or emailing  pca@uuwestport.org .

STAY CONNECTED! Find us on digital and social media : website: uuwestport.org , Facebook public page ( Unitarian Church in Westpor t ) and private, members-only group ( uuwestport ), and Instagram ( uuwestportct ).

The Unitarian Church in Westport is a diverse and welcoming religious community, free of creed and dogma, and open to people of all backgrounds and beliefs.    WE INSPIRE  and support individual spiritual growth.   WE CONNECT  through worship, music, learning, and caring ministries.    WE ACT  in the service of peace and justice.