Sunday, June 5, 2022, “Outgathering and Flower Communion”
Join us for a multi-generational Outgathering and Flower Communion celebration. Originally created in 1923 by Unitarian minister Norbert Čapek of Prague, Czechoslovakia, the Flower Ceremony was introduced to the United States by Rev. Maja Čapek, Norbert’s widow. Please bring one or more flowers with you to worship, and our children will help collect them to create an altar display during the service. Later, during the sacred and joyous ritual, you will be invited forward to take a different flower home.
Don’t have flowers to bring? Don’t worry! By the grace of people and community, you will find that there is ALWAYS more than enough! Please join us!
Zoom friends, we haven’t forgotten you! We will be sure to address your presence among us in a different way. You are a vital part of our congregation, whether we can physically hand you a flower or not.
We will be in-person in the sanctuary, as well as online in our Zoom room or follow on our Facebook page.
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Schedule Sunday, June 5th
Nursery: Open
RE Programming:
We will not have playground and activity time this Sunday. All families are encouraged to participate in our Flower Communion and Outgathering service and enjoy fellowship with each other after the service. Please bring your favorite flowers this Sunday to participate in our flower communion ritual. We welcome you to join us next Sunday after the service at 11:00 a.m. for playground and activity time.
Chalice Lighter Registration
We are seeking Chalice Lighters for this summer. NWUUC welcomes children’s participation in the weekly Sunday service. Options to participate include lighting a chalice in the sanctuary, via Zoom during the service, or by submitting a video to re@nwuuc.org that can be played during the service. An LED candle can be used instead of a flame. Please use this link to sign up: Chalice Lighter Summer Registration Link
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Art As Communication Series
May the Road Rise Up to Meet You:
the story behind the traditional Irish blessing
-Submitted by Philip J. Rogers-
As a dedication to the Congregation of Northwest
May the road rise up to meet you.
May the wind be always at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face;
The rains fall soft upon your fields and until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of His hand.
Originally written in the Irish language, the prayer – the author being
unknown – has three main images, namely Wind, Sun, and Rain. Fittingly
for something written so long ago, the ancient Irish’s deep connection to
nature and Ireland’s ever-changing elements shine through.
In Irish, the first line “Go n-éirí an bóthar leat” more literally is usually
translated as “May you succeed on the road,” the French equivalent of
which is “bon voyage.” It makes for a perfect toast for a wedding or going
away party!
Citation:
https://www.irishcentral.com/culture/may-the-road-rise-meet-you-irish-blessing-meaning
Various choral music arrangers have delightfully set this text which choral conductors have used as evocative concert closers, much to the pleasure of audiences. Below is one such performance:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e-6V346og4Q
May it be so!!!
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Last Sunday Rev Misha gave a powerful sermon on mass shootings in America and showed us graphically, with more than 10 pages, of how many have occurred in just schools—never mind those in houses of worship, grocery stores, movie theaters and other places where people gather. Here was her call to action for all of us to get involved:
Beginning THIS Thursday, June 2, and continuing every Thursday at least until the general elections in the fall, I will be here, in Subramanian Hall, facilitating a concentrated postcard writing, and phone banking initiative to get Georgia voters out voting for love. Voting for peace. Voting for common sense. Voting for children. Voting for LGBTQIA folks. Voting for women. Voting for Black lives. Voting for Brown lives. Voting for immigrants. Voting for true religious liberty. Voting for accountability, commons sense, and REAL CHANGE.
Thursday evenings, from 6 to 8. We can let it evolve into sharing dinners, we can expand it to include social time afterward, we can do whatever we want, if we show up together. Because while we are enough on our own, we are so much better together. “
Can you commit to some Thursday evenings?
 
Circle Supper
 
Make plans now for our June supper, Saturday, June 18. And while you’re at it, consider hosting one of these dinners. No cooking; the party comes to you.
Evites have been sent and we encourage you to sign up now! Call Judy McKinley or Kat Benoy if you need to know more.
Coffee Hour Kitchen Crew Note
Our small but mighty kitchen crew is still looking for some volunteers – especially 3rd & 4th Sundays and substitutes. Special thanks to GLENN KOLLER who filled in for three May Sundays!
Our 2022 crew members who have been part of the Kitchen Crew for years are Maria Drinkard, Valerie Johnson, Pam Zenner, Dave Zenner, Beck Ferguson, Glenn Koller, Kaye McCall, Beryl Grall-Petty, and Anne Bennett. A few folks have been doing double duty by covering for volunteers who are on vacation or ill. We are grateful for their continued dedication!
Happily, thus far, we are grateful for two new faces – Emma Davis and Gwen Kahn. This may seem like a lot of people, but because of shortages, some folks not only bring refreshment and set-up, they do clean-up as well.
If you are interested in being a part of our wonderful crew, please contact Anne Bennett at anne.bennettgmail.com
NWUUC Book Groupies
Have a summer of random and enjoyable reading.
NWUUC Book Groupies will meet again in September.
Northwest will be represented at General Assembly (GA) this year by members Allen Rider, Karen Reagle, Liz Martin and Lil Woolf, and by Rev Misha.
Among the issues they will be voting on are new UUA Board members, the GA Planning Committee members, a Nominating Committee and the Presidential Search Committee. Two of the Board positions are being contested by candidates running by petition. Information on these candidates for all positions can be found at https://www.uua.org/uuagovernance/elections.
Also during the business meetings will be votes on a bylaws amendment and some business resolutions.
The UUA Election Campaign Practices Committee (ECPC) will sponsor a Candidates’ Forum on Wednesday, June 8, 2022, at 8pm ET / 5pm PT, featuring the two candidates in the contested election for Board Position #7, the Rev. Suzanne Fast and Rebecca Mattis, and the two candidates for Board Position #11, the Rev. Beverly Seese and the Rev. Justine Sullivan.
Pre-registration is required. https://uua.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Ax9I-qDcRpyJCWgbTsrbtw
The general public is able to view live streaming of the Service of the Living Tradition, Thursday, June 23 at 4 pm, as well as Sunday Worship 9:30 AM – 11:00 AM. Join us virtually for the largest annual gathering of UUs joining in worship. Go to uua.org/GA
Annual Congregational Fall Retreat
Planning has begun to resume our Annual Congregational Fall Retreat to The Mountain, our UU Retreat and Learning Center on top of a mountain in the Scaly Mountain-Highlands area of North Carolina. We have reserved spaces for Oct. 21-23, the third weekend in October, when the leaves are usually at their peak color. Please put these dates on your calendar and watch for updated info in this newsletter on our plans for that weekend.
If you would like to be involved with our planning, please contact Penny Raney at 770- 551-8817. WE would love your input!
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