Activities

 “We’re on a Mission”
UUSD Mission Retreat
Saturday, April 20, 9:00 a.m. to Noon

All UUSD members are invited to the UUSD Mission Retreat led by Mark Bernstein, Regional Growth Development Consultant, Central East Region of the UUA. This interactive experience promises to be invigorating and transformational as we explore our values, beliefs, and the meaning of Unitarian Universalism in our lives and communities. The Workshop will start the process of revisiting the current Mission* to assure that it reflects the heart of UUSD.

It has been at least five years since our current Mission was established by thoughtful and forward thinking members. The congregation has indicated through the Growth Plan that it is now time to continue this journey by focusing on where we are going as a community through the process of spiritual self-examination

Thom Belote states the following, “Mission is the need for members of a congregation to be aligned in a common purpose, to be articulate about why they exist and what they are in the world to do, and to achieve clarity in this understanding.”

We will begin this journey by responding to the following question:

• What do you believe is the fundamental purpose of religion?
• What is your current calling as a Unitarian Universalist?
• How has your Unitarian Universalist faith transformed you and how can it transform the world?
• How will you know if you are being the “best” Unitarian Universalist you can be?

Please attend this important Retreat. Bagels and coffee cake will be served along with the power of transformation.

UUSD Mission Working Group: Gary Colangelo, Dianne Conine, Betty Kirk, Ron Schaeffer, and Lin Schmidt
_________________________

*UUSD Mission: UUSD is a welcoming congregation proudly providing a liberal spiritual home for people of free faith through worship, education, community, outreach, and social and environmental justice.

World-Wide Film Premiere: Two Who Dared

In commemoration of Yom HaShoah, Holocaust Remembrance Day, UUSD is hosting a free public screening of the documentary Two Who Dared: The Sharps’ War, on Sunday, April 7 at 7:00 p.m. at the church. This screening is part of a worldwide premiere occurring simultaneously at community churches, synagogues, theaters, and schools. Two Who Dared: The Sharps’ War, tells the story of a Unitarian minister, Waitstill Sharp and his wife Martha who, just days prior to the Nazi invasion of Czechoslovakia, left their young children in Massachusetts to help save Jewish children being persecuted in Eastern Europe.

The film was directed by Artemis Joukowsky III, the Sharps’ grandson. Artemis explains, “As a 9th grader, I was given a homework assignment to interview someone of moral courage. When I asked my mother if she had any suggestions for a subject, to my shock she said, ‘Talk to your grandmother’! What I discovered in doing that assignment, and in many years to come, is that my grandmother and grandfather had a dramatic history that I had never heard before. This included underground espionage, working to rescue refugees, and opposing the Nazi regime, in the service work that they had performed during World War II in Europe in 1939 and 1940.”

The documentary is told from the point of view of Martha and Waitstill, drawing on their recorded interviews, letters, and unpublished memoirs. The film also includes interviews with noted scholars and survivors who were rescued as children. To view the trailer, go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oqM41Hirvd0.

Over 50 public screenings will follow April 7-18 at venues around the world. Brown University will stream a 30-minute educational version of the film online for 48 hours from April 19 at 5:00 p.m. through April 22 at 8:00 a.m. at http://www.watsoninstitute.org/twowhodared.

Join us for the Delaware premiere of this incredible film. To reserve a seat, email Peggy Smith, or phone her at 302-362-2771. UUSD is a welcoming congregation that provides an inclusive spiritual home for people of all faiths, valuing diversity and social and environmental justice.

Pastoral Care Committee Adds “Helping Hands” Services

The Pastoral Care Committee has been focusing on ways to provide concrete services to congregants. These services might include a ride to an appointment, an extra meal, items from the store, or help around the house. A “Helping Hands” Network made up of volunteers has been established to provide just those services. Dianne Conine, Co-chair of the Pastoral Care Committee with Rev. Mike, will be the coordinator of “Helping Hands” services. There will be caring service request forms and a secure box in which to place completed forms mounted on the wall outside of Rev. Mike’s office. The forms are designed to be requests for non-urgent, future needs. For urgent matters, congregants are encouraged to call Rev. Mike at 302-362-2769 or Dianne Conine at 845-389-8931.

A copy of the Caring Programs Brochure (pdf) and the Caring Service Request Form (pdf) are available on the UUSD website. More information about the Pastoral Care Committee (pdf) and how it functions is also available.

Current Board of Trustees Meeting

Information from the most recent Board of Trustees is available in the Members section.

Due to technical difficulties, the “slideshow” function for the following articles is not enabled at this time. To view photos, please click on the image or [View with PicLens].

 Glimpses of General Assembly in Phoenix.

Rev. Smith and Peggy arrived safely in Phoenix and are making our UUSD presence known.

[Show as slideshow]

[View with PicLens]

Results of the UUSD 2012 Annual Meeting, Sunday, June 17, 2012

• Unsung Hero Award – Dianne Conine for her Pastoral Care work and Sunday music dedication.
• Board of Trustees Award – Barb Barnette and the Auction Team. To all the past and present auction workers—THANK YOU!
• Social Justice Award – John Sykes for the work he has done for the Interfaith Power and Light connection—especially for helping UUSD be the first DE church to be involved.
• CONGRATULATIONS to the newly elected Board members—Jean Charles, Deanna Duby, Susan Dunlap, and Pat Schaeffer. Other Board members are Allan Cairncross, Margaret Keefe, and Lori Reading. Also, to Chuck Herbert for his election on the Leadership Development Committee. Sturgis Dodge is the other LDC member.
• The Budget for 2013 was approved.

Illuminations

The exciting, new mobile app from the Unitarian Universalist Association became available June 6, 2012.  It includes:

• 350 Inspirational Words, a Seven Principles Guide, the Sources of Faith, and five virtual Chalices that can be “lit” and extinguished.
• English and Spanish versions of he Seven Principles with examples of their application.

lluminations is available for the iPad, iPhone, and iPod Touch. The Android version will be out soon.  The app is free from iTunes; and a demonstration is available on You Tube.

Leadership Development Committee Presents Results of Committee Self-Assessments, May 2012

By Pat Schaeffer, Committee Chair
Committee chairs and members were invited in April to participate in a self-assessment survey piloted by the Board of Trustees earlier this year.  The survey was developed by the Leadership Development Committee (LDC) to help church leaders identify what they feel they need to get more satisfaction, effectiveness, and fun out of their volunteer ministry. More information is available in the Survey Report.

Flower Communion—June 10, 2012

A profusion of beautiful flowers graced UUSD for Sunday’s Flower Communion. Rev. Smith shared the story of how Dr. Norbert Capek (1870-1942), founder of the Unitarian Church in Czecholslovakia, created this ceremony. The significance of this ceremony is that just as no two flowers are alike, so no two people are alike, yet each has a contribution to make.
Gary’s and Jerry’s India Auction Dinner

A great dinner from the UUSD’s Service Auction! Wonderful Indian food with entertainment by Viviana.

UUSD Starts our Community Garden for 2012

[Show as slideshow]

[View with PicLens]

On Tuesday, May 1st the Social Justice Committee rototilled and prepared the garden for planting. The Delaware Coast Press covered the event. Click Lewes Church Goes Green for the full story.

Children Plant a Flower Garden

[Show as slideshow]

[View with PicLens]

UUSD Has a New Look

UUSD has had  a big improvement made to its visibility, curb appeal, and convenience with a new large awning over our entry door. We now have a protected entry with good lighting and a wonderful lit sign on the face of the awning. This is the first step in creating a color combination (black, white and teal) and signage that will be easily recognized as UUSD. Toddy, our landlord, contributed half of the funding for the awning.