Minister's Post, Fri Dec 18

My dear companions on our faith path,

These are our times.

The graphs of Covid-19 new cases and of deaths are still going up, though not as steeply -- for both the US and the world.

In the US, we're now seeing over 220,000 new Covid cases every day, and almost 2,600 deaths a day.

Worldwide: Over 638,000 new Covid cases every day, and over 11,000 deaths a day. (all daily figures are the most recent 7-day average).

In all, worldwide, this pandemic has taken about 1.7 million lives.

And it's the Christmas season -- the anniversary of the time when, according to legend, love became flesh and dwelt among us. It's a season for remembering that we have the capacity, in each moment of the day, to embody love in everything we do. Every act of kindness is the incarnation. Be aware.
Be careful.
Keep loving.

Yours,
Meredith

Practice of the Week

This week's Practice of the Week is part of our fall series of "Might be your thing" practices.
This week, read about how WALKING AS A SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINE can be, for some folks, the primary spiritual practice.

Remember, almost any activity can become a spiritual practice if:
1. you establish a foundation of spiritual orientation through the three core daily practices – spiritual reading, journaling, and quiet time;
2. you engage the activity with mindfulness;
3. you engage in the activity with intention of thereby cultivating spiritual qualities; and
4. you occasionally engage the activity with a group that gathers expressly to do the activity in a way that cultivates spirituality, with group members sharing spiritual reflections before, during, or after doing the activity together.

Music: Sun Dec 20

  

Christmas-themed music from around the world is featured in this week’s solo piano offerings. Read on for programming details:

Centering Music: Adam Kent, piano

Christmas, Op. 37, No. 12

                        Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

 

Opening Music:
From Weinachtsbaum (The Christmas Tree)

1.     Psallite!

Franz Liszt

 

Musical Meditation:
The Song of the Birds (Catalan Christmas Carol)

                                    Joaquin Nin-Culmell

 

Parting Music:

From Weinachtsbaum

            8. Old Provençal Christmas Song

                                    Liszt

 

Religious Education: December 11, 2020

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Religious Education & Faith Development Community Unitarian Universalist Congregation at White Plains December 11, 2020 2020-2021 Religious Education (RE) theme: JUSTICE & EQUITY Supporting our young people in understanding justice issues, articulating their values, and engaging in faith in action with CUUC Social Justice teams. K-12th Grade RE Classes  Meet This Sunday  Sunday, December 13th All K-12th grade Religious Education (RE) classes meet this Sunday. Log in to Zoom 8428 for class breakout rooms. Join with this password embedded link or enter Zoom meeting ID 817 388 428 and password 468468. K-4th Grade, 11:30am The children will review our 7 UU Principles, then have an introduction to the 8th Principle.  They will explore why an 8th Principle focused on racial justice and Beloved Community is necessary in our faith.  Norm H and Nicole T are leading.  5th-7th Grade, 11:45am Youth will revisit the reflection and discussion questions from our guest speaker last week as they continue learning about the proposed 8th Principle.  They will also explore justice making as central in our UU theology.  Alex S and Denice T are leading.  8th-12th Grade, 12:00pm Youth will revisit the reflection and discussion questions from our guest speaker last week as they continue learning about the proposed 8th Principle.  They will also explore justice making as central in our UU theology.  Cyndi & Daniel Tillman are leading.     Next week's newsletter will have information about Spring 2021 RE.   Community CER BIPOC Group Next Gathering: Mon Dec 14, 6:30pm  Those who identify as Black, Indigenous or a person of color (BIPOC) are invited to join the Central East Region's BIPOC gathering. This is an opportunity for lay members and leaders of color, and religious professionals of color to be in community. Our conversations focus on topics like wellness and resilience and our goal is to center BIPOC experiences and create space to explore our UU experiences. Please email Sana Saeed (ssaeed@uua.org) for zoom information.  UU BIPOC Caring Collective The UU BIPOC Caring Collective is a sacred space of compassion and care for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color. This year has rocked our BIPOC communities and lives in unconscionable ways. We invite you to come into a beautifully coordinated online sacred space, held by BIPOC UUs. This is a place for respite, listening, sharing or silence. You may even enter and find a space filled with song, poetry, prayer or reflection. We will do our best to have whatever you need for the time you’re there. Mondays & Wednesdays & Saturdays, 3-5pm & 7-9pm. Thursdays, 7-9pm. Special hours during the week of December 21st: 3-6pm on the 23rd, 24th, 25th and 26th. Please register at bit.ly/UUBIPOCCare. Our LGBTPQIA+ Family The holidays can be especially difficult for those who are not able to share their full selves or celebrate their loves with families of origin, or who have been rejected for doing so. To our LGBTPQIA+ family of all ages and stages: You are whole and holy, and you are loved. PFLAG offers these suggestions for taking care of yourself and navigating gatherings. Know you are not alone. Click here for links to hotlines and other support. If you need a message of unconditional love and affirmation, read this fierce message of support from S. Bear Bergman. You can also text or call Tracy (914-434-7539). ALLIES: PFLAG offers suggestions for friends and family. The Ossining LGBTQ Alliance shares this guide for being a LGBTQ ally during the holiday season.  Holiday Cards for Caring & Sharing CUUC Caring & Sharing is preparing their annual holiday baskets. Goodies will be dropped off so we do not need volunteers to deliver and visit.  We do, however, need holiday cards for each person.  If you would like to write and mail a holiday card, contact Tracy for a recipient (cuucwptracy@gmail.com).  CUUC Dance Video Let's have some fun! Terri and the Past Prime Time Dancers invite you to participate in a dance video.  All are welcome to contribute videos or photos to the project.  Click here for instructions. Videos/photos should be submitted to Terri by January 1. Support Our Local Community Coachman Gift Cards The Coachman Family Center in White Plains provides housing for families experiencing homelessness. For over 25 years CUUC has been providing holiday gifts for the children who live at the Coachman.  We can't collect in person this year, so we are asking everyone to send donations - as you are able - so we can present a $25 gift card to each school-age child at Coachman Family Center, a local shelter for families experiencing homelessness. Mail checks to CUUC with the memo “Coachman Gift Cards.” Or donate online here, selecting “Coachman Gift Cards” from the dropdown. Learn more about our gift card collection here. Contact Jacy Good (goodjacy@gmail.com). Thank you for helping make a child's holiday a little more special. Ecumenical Food Pantry   In November we make our once-a-year appeal for direct donations to the Ecumenical Emergency Food Pantry of White Plains. Since March, the number of people served has soared and it is now estimated that one in five in our county are nutrition insecure. Learn more here. Mail checks to CUUC with the memo “Food Pantry.” Or to pay online at cucwp.org, click the yellow Donate button, then "Use this donation for," select "Other," and type in the Note "Food Pantry." A small percentage of online donations go to PayPal fees; you may choose to increase your donation by a few dollars to compensate. Contact: John Cavallero (jcwpny@gmail.com) Donate New & Used Items   NEW items for Samaritan House  USED items for Grace Church  Drop off at CUUC now through January 10th NEW items to be donated: There is need for mittens, gloves, hats, scarves, socks and underwear.  Large and X-large items for men are especially needed.  Also, new toiletries for shelter residents, including shampoo, lotion, razors and deodorant.    USED items to be donated: There is need for winter clothing such as warm sweaters, coats, hoodies, pants, boots, etc. for men, women, and children.    Donations can be dropped off now in front of CUUC’s doors, in the Rubbermaid containers.  Please use large white plastic bags and clearly mark "Used" or "New."  New and used items must be kept separate.    For further information call Samaritan House (914-948-3075) or  Ray Messing (914-592-4497).  Your support is deeply appreciated!   Stay In the Know Click HERE for the Fall 2020 Religious Exploration (RE) overview and schedule Read the weekly CUUC e-Communitarian online HERE Click HERE for the CUUC calendar with Zoom links Fall 2020 REsources:     Indigenous Solidarity & Justice    Hunger/Food Insecurity & Homelessness (K-4th grade)    5th Principle, Participation and Voice, UU the Vote (5th-7th grade)     Anti-Racism, Racial Justice (8th-12th grade) Read All RE Newsletters Online HERE Sign Up for RE Newsletters HERE Community Unitarian Universalist Congregation at White Plains   468 Rosedale Ave · White Plains, NY 10605-5419