| OWL TEACHER TRAINING - JR/SR HIGH SCHOOL |  | September 25-27, 2009 at the UU Church of Arlington Rob Keithan and Judy Rayner will be co-leaders. More info to come! |
| UU Fellowship of Southern Maryland Exceeds Tithing Goal and Receives Award for Charitable Giving
The Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Southern Maryland is one of five congregations worldwide to receive the Helen Fogg Chalice Award, which recognizes exceptional support of the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee (UUSC). The award is named for Helen Fogg, who was the director of UUSC's Overseas Programs in the late 1950s and established a children's home in Czechoslovakia and a teacher education program in Cambodia. "Many of our members have contributed to the UUSC on their own for years," said Vincenza Cumbo, the Fellowship's Social Justice coordinator. "We realized we could do more by working together, and so the Fellowship made a donation from our general operating fund." The gift to the Service Committee is just one part of the Fellowship's commitment to charitable giving. "Many of us also volunteer time with local organizations, and we hold holiday gift drives and collect food," said Cumbo. In February the Fellowship donated more than 100 pounds of food to the Hope Food Pantry, and the Youth Group donated baked goods and fresh fruit to the Three Oaks Center, a local homeless shelter. The Fellowship also sends all non-pledge donations collected during the Sunday offering to charity. "Two years ago, we made a commitment to tithe by donating an amount equal to 10% of our congregational pledged income each year," Cumbo added. "Some of us weren't sure we would reach that goal, but it seems the more we give away, the more people are willing to give." Since 2007, cash donations to the Sunday collection plates have nearly tripled, and in church year 2008-2009, the tithing goal of 10% was reached after only 10 months. The UU Fellowship of Southern Maryland meets at 10:30am on Sunday mornings at 21095 Chancellor's Run Road in Great Mills, MD. Their website is www.uufsm.org. |
Murray Grove's Upcoming Programs FAMILY GET-A-WAYS at Murray Grove - Get Back to Simplicity! Enjoy a mini-vacation at your Mid-Atlantic UU retreat center in the peaceful NJ Pine Barrens, on the site where Universalism began: available mid-weeks; comfortable and affordable; fun: pool (in season), athletic fields, nature walks, barbeques, fire circle; near beaches, boardwalks, Six Flag, canoeing, restaurants and parks. Support your UU retreat centers! 2nd Annual Murray Grove DRUM and Dance Retreat! - August 14-16, 2009 Express yourself creatively and spiritually! Workshops on Afro-Brazilian, Latin and West Africian Drumming and African Dance: Ancient practices with roots in ritual, religion and celebration! Only $250 per person for the weekend, double occupancy, including meals! ($225 if registration is received before July 1, 2009!). Or sign up just for the Saturday afternoon and evening session for $75. Space is limited, so register early! Save The Dates: HOMECOMING WEEKEND - September 25, 26, 27 WORK WEEKEND - October 11-12 UU NEW YEARS at Murray Grove, with Rev. Craig Hirshberg - December 31, 2009 to January 1, 2010 For more information and registration, please contact: Murray Grove Retreat and Conference Center P.O. Box 246, Lanoka Harbor, NJ 08734 609-693-5558 |
The Mountain Retreat and Learning Center The Moutain is celebrating its 30th Anniversary and has many exciting events planned and wish to invite as many Unitarian Universalists as possible to take part in them! As they enter into their fourth decade of sharing the values of Unitarian Universalism wil people of all generations, they ask for your continued support in getting the word out. Below is a listing of events that are scheduled at The Mountain: MountainCamp 2009 - Various weeks all summer long RE Week - July 5-10, 2009 For complete details on any of the events listed above, please click here. |
| Take a Course With Starr King Starr King's on-line courses are open to students at non-Unitarian Universalist schools as well as at Starr King and Meadville Lombard. Lay people, ministers, social justice activists, and people of all faiths are welcome, and find the courses an exciting way to deepen their theological education. Plan to register for an online course. Click here for further details. |
JPDYSC invites YOU: Summer CON 2009 - "Once ACon A Time..." Friday, July 10, 2009 at 8pm to Sunday, July 12, 2009 at 8am Paint Branch UU Church 3215 Powder Mill Road Adelphi, MD 20783 Come to this "FUNd-raising" Con because the JPDYSC can put the money it raises towards other Cons this coming year. We love seeing both new and familiar faces, so whomever you are and from where ever your beliefs may spring... PLEASE join us for a magical, fairy tale themed weekend!! Registration is due by July 3rd. Please Bring: All your sleeping materials (of course...), non-perishable food items for the local food bank, and a mess kit so that we can help save trees! **Those with mess kits get to eat first, so we highly recommend bringing one** |
2009 JPD Bridging Retreat
Often congregations have so few youth to young adult bridgers that coordinating a workshop or retreat for them is impractical.
What: This retreat addresses a need for these folks to set aside time to reflect on their experiences, and ponder their future. It is designed to be an enhancement to congregational efforts, not a substitution for them.
How: Based on the "Bridging Program" from the UUA, the retreat will be a facilitated exploration of one's own journey.
Who: All those UUs transitioning from youth to young adulthood in the JPD. This is a self defined quality. Some range in age from 17-20 years old, but many are transitioning from high school to leaving the home.
When: Thursday, July 9th at 6pm; until Friday at 6pm, when the optional DYSC CON starts.
Where: Paint Branch UU Church at 3215 Powder Mill Rd, Adelphi, MD 20783.
Details:
1. The Bridging Retreat includes several prepared meals, so we are charging a fee of $25 per person. If this presents a financial hardship, please contact us for a possible reduction.
2. If a bridger is under 18 years old they needs to have an adult advisor/sponsor. Please contact the office if you are under age and can not find someone to come.
3. Our retreat will be an opportunity to talk, laugh, and ponder our Unitarian Universalist gifts and identity, the dangers and potentials of adulthood, and courage, commitment, and claiming our adulthood. For this to happen there will be a lose schedule:
Thursday, July 9th:*(before you arrive, please eat dinner)
6pm - Check in, register, eat the food you brought for dinner
7pm - Community building/ games
9pm - Opening worship, build covenant, sharing our journey so far
11ish - socializing, solitude, or serenity
* Sufficient rest is expected of all
Friday, July 10th:
8:30am - cold breakfast items are served, available all day.
9 - morning worship
9:15am to 5pm - continue facilitated work in groups, by ones self, and in other creative ways. Spiritual and regular breaks will be scattered through the day, including lunch.
5pm - Closing worship & program evaluation
6pm - program ends with a dinner which you can take with you, or stay and enjoy.
4. Optional add on DYSC Summer CON. If you are planning on attending the Summer CON starting the evening of Friday, July 10th, you MUST register with them, pay through them, and be accountable to that community. While this retreat has been planned in conjunction with the CON, it is a separate event. For those that are not a part of the district CON community, every effort is being taken to make this event as welcoming as possible.
For a full flyer and registration form for the retreat, please click here. |
OMD Summer Institute July 12-18, 2009 Kenyon College Gambier, OH OMD Summer Institute (SI) invites everyone to help us celebrate 30 years of summer family fun. This year's theme speaker is Thandeka, professor at Meadville Lombard Seminary. SI is a week long institute with programming for adults, young adults, youth and children, and is a family friendly camp. For more information, to view or download the brochure and to register, visit www.omdsi.org. |
Unitarian Universalist Mid-Atlantic Community (UUMAC) is seeking workshop leaders July 19-25, 2009 DeSales University Center Valley, PA This is a loving one-week intergen community consisting of approximately 200 people that shares morning worship (Rev. Bob Janis Dillon - 2009 Minister of the Week), a theme speaker (Jim Scott), workshops for teens and adults, children's programming, off campus activities and fun night life. Workshop time is daily 10:30am until Noon. Brochure blurbs and brief bios need to be to our editor by mid-December. Subsidy is 80% of registration fee. Please contact Nina Lomax at ninalomax@comcast.net or 703-361-7205 for more information or ideas. Check out the website on www.uumac.org. |
GROWING COMMUNITY: SEEDING THE ELECTRONIC GARDEN Don't Miss This Tech Summit Saturday, September 26, 2009 8:30am to 1:00pm Cedar Lane UU Church 9601 Cedar Lane Bethesda, MD 20814 Whether you're a TECHIE or someone who needs to improve your tech skills for your church work, come share YOUR best technology practices and learn from others! Continental Breakfast and a Networking Lunch included in registration. Childcare available upon request. Details about registration, workshops, meals, childcare and workshop leaders are in development and will soon be available on the JPD website. This event is being sponsored by the Chesapeake Unitarian Universalist Growth Committee, www.baltwashuus.org. |
SAVE THE DATE! October 3, 2009 Announcing New Social Justice Committee Formation for the JPD Saturday, October 3, 2009 10AM to 4PM First Unitarian Church of Wilmington 730 Halstead Road Wilmington, DE 19803 The JPD is creating a District Social Justice Committee consisting of a steering committee from Social Justice/Advocacy Networks already working in the district and two social justice representatives from each congregation who would like to participate. These representatives would be chosen by the congregation and would be accountable to the congregation and also supported by the congregation in order to further the cause of social justice, in a partnership way, within the congregation and the community at large in the name of the congregation. If you would like to become a part of the District Social Justice Committe contact Om Prakash, Director of Racial and Social Justice and let us know of your interest. For any questions or comments please write to john@jpduua.org or office@jpduua.org. Further information will be sent out as it becomes available. |
Virginia Countryside & UU History Mystery Tour October 9-11, 2009 Enjoy a beautiful fall weekend in the historic Virginia and West Virginia countryside and learn about a piece of little known UU History in the process. Members of the UU Church of Loudoun will guide you through your tour of historic villages and towns in Loudoun County, Virginia. The tour also includes a day trip to beautiful Harper's Ferry, West Virginia to mark the 150th Anniversary of the John Brown raid. Uncover the truth about 3 UU's who abandoned their pacifist roots to support this historic raid. A special children's program is offered by our Religious Education Director (for ages 10-17 - see registration form for cost). You'll also: - stay in a hotel with a rich history
- attend a coffeehouse concert at our historic chapel
- learn about UUCL's chapel which was built by freed slaves
- visit Oatlands plantation and enjoy lunch in the carriage house
- choose from 3 activities on Sunday afternoon
For more information and to register for the tour, visit www.loudoun.org/tour. If you have any questions, contact Brenda Davis at tour@uuloudoun.org. |
4th Annual Men's Retreat: Building Community (hosted by the Unitarian Society of Germantown) October 9-11, 2009 Murray Grove Retreat & Conference Center Lanoka Harbor, NJ Cost: $150 includes dinner on Friday, all meals on Saturday and breakfast on Sunday Come get to know and bond with the other men who are in Philadelphia area congregations. Activities included in past years were workshops around building community, yoga, hiking, drumming around a bonfire, delicious food, poker, topped off by worship in the 19th century chapel. |
5th Annual JPD Anti-Racism Conference MARK YOUR CALENDARS! The 5th Annual JPD Anti-Racism Conference - Multicultural Families is scheduled for Saturday, October 17, 2009 at the UU Church of Annapolis 333 Dubois Road Annapolis, MD 21401 Information about the Keynote Speaker, Workshops, Meals, and local hotel/home hospitality will soon be available on the JPD website. |
If your congregation would like to submit an article or event notice for inclusion in this publication, please contact Jillian Conway at jillian@jpduua.org. All submissions should be Web-ready. |
| |
|
