Religious Education: October 1, 2021

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Religious Education & Faith Development Community Unitarian Universalist Congregation at White Plains October 1, 2021 2021-2022 RE Theme: Community, Wholeness, Discovering Our New Normal. This Weekend Beginning This Sunday Afternoon Outdoor Programming Moves to 12:00pm Worship & Childcare Every Sunday 1st-9th Grade RE Classes Every Other Sunday Online Worship Continues at 10:00am Every Sunday Read more below... Adult COA Class Begins This Fri Oct 1, 7:30pm, Zoom 7899 "Coming of (a little more) Age," an 8-session class led by Rev. Meredith on the first Friday of each month, Oct 1 through May 6, 7:30 - 8:45pm. Click here to join Zoom 7899. Phone (audio only): 646-876-9923 · Meeting: 289 850 7899 · Passcode: 468468 For Unitarians, coming of age is not a once-and-done proposition. Arriving at a stage of greater maturity -- including spiritual maturity -- is an ongoing life project. This class parallels, for grown-ups, the Coming of Age class that our youth take. It includes exercises and reflections for articulating your UU faith. We especially encourage parents and mentors of this year’s Coming of Age youth to participate. Class topics in the youth and adult classes will be similar to support conversations at home. The youth COA class begins October 3rd at 12:00pm, outside at CUUC. Youth Activities 8th-12th Grade Youth Group Youth Group will be held at a time that does not conflict with the 8th-9th grade Coming of Age Sunday schedule. We encourage our 10th-12th grade youth to attend Sunday worship with their families.  October meeting dates and activities coming soon! Center Lane Youth Pride Sat Oct 9, 2:00-6:00pm, Saxon Woods Park For LGBTQ+ youth and allies ages 8-21. Celebrate LGBTQ+ History Month! Make new friends, learn about resources in Westchester, eat, make crafts, connect with LGBTQ+ mentors, and more! This is an in person event with COVID safety protocols at Saxon Woods Park (1800 Mamaroneck Ave, White Plains 10605), and it's free! We hope to see you there!! Sign Up Here    Youth Open Mic & Leadership Building Sat Oct 30, South Presbyterian, Dobbs Ferry We will be collaborating with area congregations to offer interfaith youth activities and inviting youth to our own congregations' events. The South Presbyterian congregation in Dobbs Ferry started a learning and leadership lab that is by, for, and about teens and open to all high school youth. They are hosting monthly Open Mic evenings organized by youth with youth performers. The next Open Mic is Saturday, October 30th. All performers wear a mask and the audience is limited to only other youth performers. For more information contact learninglab@southpres.org or Tracy.  Sunday Morning Online Online Worship Sun Oct 3, 10:00am “Wonder” ~ Rev. Meredith Garmon Why do animals — human and otherwise — experience wonder? What is it good for, and how can we have more of it in our lives? Click here to join our virtual worship: https://bit.ly/CUUC-Worship or phone in (audio only): 646-876-9923 · Webinar: 761 321 991 · Passcode: 468468   After worship, join our Virtual Coffee Hour or phone in (audio only): 929-436-2866 · Meeting: 336 956 2210 · Passcode: 468468 Orders of service are e-mailed and uploaded to our website prior to each Sunday.  Revisit past services anytime at our YouTube Channel. Sunday Afternoon  In Person  Outside (weather permitting) Beginning This Sunday Afternoon Programming Moves to 12:00pm Worship & Childcare Every Sunday 1st-9th Grade Classes  Every Other Sunday: Oct 3, 17, 31 & Nov 14 We will communicate plans for after Nov 14th in a few weeks,  when we have a clearer sense of evolving pandemic conditions. If the weather is inclement or threatening and we need to cancel, we will send out an email and post a notice on the CUUC website. To care for the most vulnerable among us, we continue observing COVID safety practices such as wearing masks.  Childcare 11:30am-1:15pm, Outdoor Playground Diane will offer childcare for young children on our outdoor playground. Everyone wears a mask. No snacks are served. Drop off and pick up on the playground (enter through the UPPER parking lot).  1st-9th Grade Classes   This Sunday, October 3rd, 12:00-1:00pm Drop off and pick up are in the UPPER parking lot. Please arrive a few minutes early so children and youth can make their way to classes that meet in separate outdoor spaces around the building.  After class, children up to 5th grade must be met by their adult; they will not be released unattended into the parking lot.  This Sunday, we shift to our focus on community and UU faith. Classes for 1st-9th grade will take place every other Sunday at 12:00pm during in person, outside worship: October 3, 17, and 21; November 14.    October 3rd Classes and Leaders 12:00-1:00pm Please arrive a few minutes early to find your class location outside   1st-5th Grades: Norm H and Laura S will begin with Love is Like a Seed from the Love Will Guide Us curriculum. In this program,  children learn to seek guidance in life through the lens of our Unitarian Universalist Sources, with an emphasis on love. Together we ask: questions such as, "Where did we come from?" "What is our relationship to the Earth and other creatures?" "How can we respond with love, even in bad situations?"  (We will start with a combined class. If it's a large group, we will divide into two classes - 1st-3rd & 4th-5th - on October 17th.) 6th-7th Grades: Alex Z and Laura G  will begin with Exploring Right and Wrong from the Amazing Grace curriculum. This program helps youth understand right and wrong and act on their new understanding. Its purpose is to equip them for moving safely and productively through the middle- and high school years, when they will be continually tugged toward both ends of the ethics continuum. It invites them toward an adolescence enriched by self-knowledge and a deepening ethical sense.  8th-9th Grades: Denice T, Nicholas A, Mohammed L, and Raquel B will introduce the Coming of Age year. In this first gathering, youth will learn about this foundational class and prepare to embark on a spiritual journey. With mentors and guides, youth explore their identities, beliefs, and the connections they have--and can make--in love and justice to their faith communities, local communities, and beyond. They begin to build a faith-grounded “toolkit” for the joys, sorrows, wonders, and challenges of being human. SAFETY NOTES: All adult leaders are vaccinated. Everyone will observe pandemic safety protocols including wearing masks. Dress for a walk in the woods and wear socks with closed-toe shoes. Bug spray will be available to self-administer. To protect plants and avoid ticks, everyone will stay on groomed paths.  Drop off in the UPPER parking lot before 12:00pm. Pick up in the UPPER parking lot after worship. Worship Sun Oct 3, 12:00pm, Lower Parking Lot “Wonder” ~ Rev. Meredith Garmon To better serve more of our congregation, we are adjusting our in-person start time. Bring your lawn chair and gather with us in the lower parking lot for an in-person version of the morning's online worship. Wear your mask and maintain social distance. Childcare is available beginning at 11:30am on the outdoor playground (enter through the UPPER parking lot). Connecting in Community Available Now: 2021 October edition of "On the Journey: Wonder" RE/PlaceKeeping Photos   The Religious Education (RE) Council and families share our gratitude for the lovely PlaceKeeping program Bice W, Rev. LoraKim J, and Cynthia R led. And out thanks to Karen L, Jennifer S, and Isabel T for their donation of binoculars. Over the past three Sundays, children, youth, and adults learned about our beautiful earth community at CUUC and deepened our sense of wonder, awe, and interdependence. You can view photo highlights here, including a folder with images from the field camera that captured some of the vibrant life around us. Look closely. Read Rev. LoraKim’s blog about a cardinal that prompted us to reflect on life and death, and see this sweet note by Norah, age 11.   RE/PlaceKeeping Journals We invite PlaceKeepers of all ages to record observations of the life around us. Journals are available in the bin outside the CUUC main entrance for AnimalKeepers, WaterKeepers, and EarthKeepers. You may also use the iNaturalist app or website. This month's first Saturday PlaceKeeping gathering (October 2nd) would be a great time to record observations and participate in tending to our earth community. Stay on groomed paths and remember what Cynthia taught us about poison ivy: Leave of three, let it be! And furry vines are no friend of mine! RE classes will revisit measurements of the river birch and tulip poplar each of the four seasons to record changes, and we will continue deepening our connection to place.  Halloween Party   Saturday, October 30th, Early Afternoon Start thinking about your Halloween costumes and invite friends to our parking lot Halloween party at CUUC. Trick-or-Treating. Games. Fun for all ages! We invite all CUUC committees, teams, youth group, and individuals to occupy a spot along the parking lot trick-or-treat circuit and help fill up our trick-or-treaters' bags with goodies. Contact Tracy to sign up.  Donations for Refugees   Hearts & Homes for Refugees Winter Drive Sat Oct 2, 9:00am-5:00pm St. John’s Episcopal Church, 4 West Fountain Square, Larchmont With hundreds of refugees from Afghanistan expected to resettle in our area soon, Hearts & Homes for Refugees is looking to supply more clothing than ever. Clean winter coats and waterproof boots in excellent condition ONLY. Volunteers also needed; Winter Drive volunteer sign up here. H&H also accepts gift cards from Target and Burlington; mail to Hearts & Homes for Refugees, P.O. Box 8558, Pelham NY 10803. And financial contributions can be made at heartsandhomesforrefugees.org/donate. Local temples are also collecting supplies for refugees arriving at NJ army bases, through Oct 10. Items may be ordered from the JCC of Mid-Westchester Amazon wish list here. BLUU Online Worship Thursday, Oct 7, Nov 4, Dec 2 at 9pm  Black Lives of UU (BLUU) online worship resumes in October. Longtime BLUU community member, E.N. Hill, will be offering reflections and co-leading worship! Please register here. We can’t wait to be with you! BLUU's online worship services are Black Sacred Space in their entirety—by and for Black people, with the words and voices of Black folks across the diaspora— and we hope that Black UUs and Black UU-adjacent folks (who share our values) from far and wide will join us! Feel free to come into our BLUU Zoom Room 15 minutes before the start of the service. For our non-Black siblings in faith, please DO share this invitation with Black folks in your life and community. Getting the word out about BLUU’s gatherings and other programming is one powerful way of lending your support, and we deeply appreciate it! Blessing   If you were not able to join us September 12th for the blessing of bags and other items we carry, tokens (pictured) are available on the table outside Pam’s office. These are a reminder that the warmth and support of this community is always with us. Read All CUUC Announcements in the Weekly e-Communitarian Newsletter Community Unitarian Universalist Congregation at White Plains   468 Rosedale Ave · White Plains, NY 10605-5419

Minister's Post, Fri Oct 1

Dear Ones,

It continues to be a highlight of my week to see folks in person for the outdoor services we've held on Sep 12, 19, and 26.

The outdoor service moves to noon starting Sun Oct 3. Hope you can make it!

And please do sign up for a Journey Group. Sign up here:
http://cucwp.org/journey-groups

-Meredith

ICYMI (In Case You Missed It)

The Sep 26 worship service, "Caste," is here:

See our channel for many other past services HERE.

Covid Review

The Worldwide numbers are not reliable, and likely are greatly underestimating the actual prevalence of Covid-19. These numbers may nevertheless give us an indication of trends.

New Cases
Average New Cases per Day, worldwide:
Peak week (Apr 23-29): 828,577
Lowest since peak (Jun 15-21): 360,855
Highest since the June low (Aug 24-30): 659,618
Two weeks ago (Sep 10-16): 540,526
Last week (Sep 17-23): 493,448
This week (Sep 24-30): 450,395*
*Down 32% since Aug 30 (average decline of 1.2% per day for the last 31 days).

Average New Cases per Day, US:
Peak week (Jan 5-11): 255,831
Lowest since peak: (Jun 15-21): 11,956
Highest since the June low (Aug 27 - Sep 2): 167,086
Two weeks ago (Sep 10-16): 152,262
Last week (Sep 17-23): 127,374
This week (Sep 24-30): 109,464*
*Down 34% since Sep 2 (average decline of 1.5% per day for the last 28 days).

Average New Cases per Day, Westchester County, NY:
Highest week of 2020 (Mar 23-29): 949
Lowest week, post-peak, of 2020 (Aug 19-25): 29
Highest week of 2021 (Jan 6-12): 861
Lowest week of 2021 (Jun 17-23): 11
Highest since Jun low (Aug 15-21): 212
Two weeks ago (Sep 10-16): 182
Last week (Sep 17-23): 154
This week (Sep 24-30): 114*
*Down 46% since Aug 21 (average decline of 1.5% per day for the last 40 days).

Deaths
Average Deaths per Day, worldwide:
Peak week (Jan 20-26): 14,807
Lowest since peak (Jun 29 - Jul 5): 7,694
Highest since the July low (Aug 19-25): 10,261
Two weeks ago (Sep 10-16): 8,948
Last week (Sep 17-23): 8,078
This week (Sep 24-30): 7,451*
*Down 27% since Aug 25 (average decline of 0.9% per day for the last 36 days).

Average Deaths per Day, US:
Peak week (Jan 7-13): 3,514
Lowest since peak (Jul 1-7): 248
Highest since the July low (Sep 9-15): 1,903
Two weeks ago (Sep 10-16): 1,882
Last week (Sep 17-23): 1,847
This week (Sep 24-30): 1,626*
*Down 15% since Sep 15 (average decline of 1.0% per day for the last 15 days).

Average Deaths per Day, Westchester County, NY:
Highest week of 2020 (Apr 9-15): 52
Lowest week, post-peak, of 2020 (Sep 27 - Oct 3): 0.0
Highest week of 2021 (Jan 28 - Feb 3): 11
Lowest week of 2021 (Jul 21-27): 0.0
Highest since the July low (Sep 10-16): 1.3
Last week (Sep 17-23): 0.3
This week (Sep 24-30): 0.6

The US vaccination continues to slowly climb at about 1 percentage point every 10 days. The percent fully vaccinated is up to 56.2 (Sep 29) -- from 52.9% a month ago (Aug 29), and 49.9% two months ago (Jul 29). Meanwhile, the Westchester County fully-vaccinated rate is 68.0% (Sep 30) -- up from 64.7% on Aug 30, and 61.7% on Jul 28.

The news this week continues to be relatively good. Let's hope it continues -- and be careful out there!

Practice of the Week

This week, we have an Ecospiritual Practice: Consider The Problems of Progress

Practices to go with this contemplations:

1. Give and Take. Cultivating the mindset that taking requires giving. Choose one aspect of your life where you take from the Earth’s bounty. Your food, perhaps. Or your electricity, which might come from coal. Or maybe you simply collect pretty rocks from the beach. Big or small, make a pact with yourself. Write it down and post it somewhere prominent to serve as a reminder. For your chosen area, each take with require a give. If you are a beach pebble collector, you could also spend some time picking up liter on that same beach. If you choose food, you could volunteer at a soup kitchen or organize some friends to purchase fair trade coffee as a group.

2. Technology Fast. Choose one device your grandma didn’t grow up with and turn it off for a week. This could be your TV, radio, computer, GPS system, or any other piece of technology that occupies a significant place in your life. On Sunday, ceremonially turn it off. Throughout the week, journal about the experience.

3. Journaling: Exploring Feelings about Modern Life. Choose one of the starter phrases below and begin writing. Write continuously for at least ten minutes, allowing your thoughts to flow where they will. Start in on another starter phrase whenever you need to in order to keep the pen moving for ten minutes.

• If I had been alive three hundred years ago, my life . . .
• I like modern life, but . . .
• The Earth provides . . .
• If I had a time machine, and could go anywhere with it, I would . . .

Group Activities

Elder Wisdom. Invite several people who are more than eighty years old to share their life experiences with the group. Ask them: What has changed since you were children? What things are better now? What was better then? What do you see as the most significant area of human progress? What problems do you see for the future? What sort of world would you wish for future generations?

Questions for Group Conversation:

• What are some of the negative aspects of technology? Can their effects be mitigated?
• Identify one or two examples superfluous or wasteful technology. What can be done about this waste?
• What criteria should we use to decide how much technology to allow into our lives? How can we approach technological progress in a mindful way?
• What must you personally unlearn to approach technology sustainably?

See also our SPIRITUAL PRACTICE DIRECTORY