Manatee UU Fellowship NEWS

ANNOUNCEMENTS

AND REPORTS FOR JULY & AUGUST 2021

WELCOME HOME!

On July 11, Manatee Unitarian Universalist Fellowship held its first in-person Sunday service since March 8, 2020. The service was live-streamed on Zoom, making it the first ‘hybrid’ service offered by our fellowship. More than 30 people, all wearing masks at our request, were welcomed by Rev. Fred L Hammond at our reopened building at 322 15th St. West in Bradenton — while more than 20 joined us via Zoom. Although we are still not resuming live congregational singing, Barbara Jensen played a prelude and postlude live at our piano, and video hymns projected onto our screen made for satisfying musical offerings. And during the service, Rev. Fred dedicated our beautiful new chalice, commissioned especially for the occasion.

Response both in-house and online was warm and appreciative, and we extend special thanks to Mariano Vera and John Isham for their tireless, weekslong work coordinating the technology to make the service a rich and satisfying experience for all.

We repeated the experience on July 18, when our new and continuing Board of Directors and Leadership Development Committee were officially commissioned by Rev. Fred and the congregation. Outgoing vice president Carol Bartz presented incoming treasurer and president emeritus John Isham with a gift from the board to thank him for his recently completed years of service as president.

Our plan is to offer such hybrid services each Sunday at 10:30 a.m. We will continue to require masks at the fellowship and refrain from congregational singing as we monitor the evolving COVID-19 pandemic situation, choosing a cautious path as we do all we can to promote the health and safety of our members, friends, and visitors.

We look forward to seeing you at the fellowship or online!

MARIANO VERA ELECTED TO UUSJ BOARD

We announce with pride that Mariano Vera has been elected to the Board of Trustees of the Unitarian Universalists for Social Justice (UUSJ): UU Advocacy in the Nation’s Capital. The mission of UUSJ is to advance equitable national policies and actions aligned with UU values through education, engagement, and advocacy. Mariano’s passion for social justice advocacy and his commitment to UU values will serve him well as he begins his work with this essential organization.

Congratulations, Mariano!

LIBRARY NEWS – and CALL for VOLUNTEERS

From Carol Bartz

As we return to our building, you will notice additions to our library.

Following their February presentation on the Civil Rights Movement, Mary Desmone and Steve Henry donated four very relevant books to our library that you will want to borrow.

Also, the Sun City Unitarian Universalist Fellowship disbanded and very generously donated their entire library and three bookshelves to us! There are about 230 books which are currently being cataloged into our system. Acknowledgement of the donation from Sun City UU will be on the inside label of each book with a yellow dot on the outside binding. Many thanks to the folks at Sun City UU and to Mark & Sharon Chofey and John Isham who helped with transportation of the books to our fellowship.

If you would like to help with the labeling of these new books please contact Carol Bartz who will show you how to use the labeler. The more quickly we get this done the quicker we can rearrange our library shelves to include all the books.

SPECIAL COLLECTION FOR MANATEE CHILDREN’S SERVICES

Manatee Children’s Services offers several programs for children and families, designed to help them move past their traumatic experiences. At Manatee Children’s Services, a team of more than 50 professionals is dedicated to helping abused and neglected children in Manatee County and the surrounding areas.

Manatee Children Services offers: Residential Programs, Emergency Shelter, Girl’s Group Home, Boy’s Group Home, Treatment and Counseling, Crisis Intervention Counseling, and Prevention Services, among other essential services.

This special collection will begin July 11 and run through July 26.

BOOK CLUB REPORT

by Bill Hayes

The Book Club’s July meeting is July 5 at 2 p.m., when we will discuss “The Soul of America: The Battle for Our Better Angels” by Pulitzer Prize-winning author Jon Meacham. In explaining today’s contentious period, he tells us that we have been in similar periods before and that we can find a way out now by avoiding tribalism and respecting and listening to history. He feels the soul of America is ultimately one of kindness and caring, not rancor and paranoia.

On Aug. 2 at 2 p.m. we will discuss President George W. Bush’s new book “Out of Many, One: Portraits of America’s Immigrants.” The book is a collection of portraits, both drawn (by him) and in words, of 42 recent immigrants to the USA. Regardless of the country’s problems we see, it still is a magnet for newcomers. Bush’s short stories of these immigrants give us an insight into why.

Meetings continue to be on Zoom at 2 p.m. on the first Monday of each month.

RACIAL CONCERNS ACTIVITIES

from Cindy Evans and Bill Hayes

At the Racial Concerns Group’s June meeting, 10 members and friends gathered to discuss “The Color of Compromise: The Truth about the American Church’s Complicity in Racism” by Jemar Tisby.

Discussion began with a review of the first four chapters covering: Colonial history and the church’s acceptance of slavery; the Declaration of Independence; the rise of revivals during the Great Awakening period; and the founding of the AME church. Institutionalizing race in the antebellum era, a time of compromise and complicity, was also covered.

Discussion expanded to include such issues as “race norming’ by the NFL, Gov. Ron DeSantis’ decision to prevent the teaching of critical race theory, recent examples of anti-Asian and anti-Semitic hate crimes, and more.

More chapters of Tisby’s book will be discussed at the July 12, 2 p.m., meeting, and a proposal to watch relevant movies and documentaries together at the fellowship at future dates was favorably considered.

SOCIAL JUSTICE COMMITTEE UPDATE & ACTIONS

by Mariano Vera

Something to celebrate: The Senate voted unanimously on June 15 to pass legislation that would make June 19, known as Juneteenth, a national holiday celebrating the end of slavery in the U.S. The bipartisan bill was signed by President Biden on June 17. The vote and subsequent implementation marks a significant step forward towards this legislation.

At our June meeting, Gun Legislation was seen as our main issue, even though nothing has been done at the local, state, or national level, despite the rise of the gun violence, leaving the issue in the hands of the Judiciary. This makes 2022 a very consequential year, since all 435 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives and 34 of the 100 seats in the U.S. Senate will be contested.

As you may be aware The Worship Committee is working hard trying to produce a Hybrid Service (in-person and streaming via Zoom).  This has created a series of scheduling issues for Social Justice Committee meetings. We will keep you informed about any further changes. The August SJC meeting will be on Aug 1.

At the National level, the UUSJ still offers Write Here! Write Now! (WHWN), a letter-writing tool that congregation organizers and individuals can use. Just upload the document and the UUSJ’s Capitol Hill Advocacy Corps will print the letter during a visit to offices of members of Congress in D.C. every month and hand deliver the letters. Right now, the hand delivery has been suspended, but they will deliver the letters to the Congress in a different fashion.

The WHWN has a monthly mission and in July is asking Senators to support pathway to citizenship for essential workers and their families. Go to http://uusj.net/wp1/whwn-letter-submission/

Social Justice Calendar:
July 30: World Day against Trafficking of Persons
Aug. 9: International Day of the World’s Indigenous People
Aug. 12: International Youth Day
Aug. 23: International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition