Manatee UU Fellowship NEWS

ANNOUNCEMENTS

AND REPORTS FOR JUNE/JULY 2025

COMING UP THIS WEEK:
June 15-21

Sunday, June 15:
•Service at 10:30 a.m. in person and on Zoom. Sign up on this website for Zoom link. This week, Rev. Fred L Hammond delivers a homily titled “Flag Day and Juneteenth: Their Importance Today.”
•Special Collection for Planned Parenthood continues through June 22. Planned Parenthood delivers vital reproductive health care, sex education, and information to millions of people worldwide. Make checks payable to “Planned Parenthood” and bring or mail to the fellowship at 322 15th St. W, Bradenton, FL 34205.

Tuesday, June 17:
•Connections: A Sharing Hour has its weekly meeting at 11:00 a.m. Facilitated by Alia Starkweather. All are welcome.
•Joyful Song meets every Tuesday at 12:30 p.m. Is there a song in your heart? Come and sing with us!Connections – a sharing hour. Tuesdays at 11:00am. Facilitated by Alia Starkweather. All are welcome.

Wednesday, June 18:
•Worship Team meets at noon on Zoom.
•Board Reports due to the office.

Thursday, June 19:
•Joyful Jammers meets from 10 a.m. to noon each week. Anyone who plays an instrument or sings is welcome to join in the fun. Contact: Peggy Dickson.
•Chair Yoga will return in October.

Friday, June 20;
•July Update articles due to the office.

Saturday, June 21:
•Juneteenth Celebration at the Dream Center in East Bradenton between noon and 6 p.m. Please sign up for a shift at the Social Justice table in the social room. Details to follow.

COMING SOON
•June 29: UUA General Assembly Worship Service 90-minute recorded video will be played at the fellowship starting at 10:30 a.m. Please join us for this special service in person or on Zoom.

ONGOING
Menstrual Supplies Drive: We are collecting these for Kim’s Krew clients. See wicker hamper near fireplace in Social Room. A sign lists what is needed. Gift cards and cash welcome; please deposit in little black container there. Thank you!

NOTE: All activities are in person at the Fellowship unless otherwise indicated.

Schedule updated as of June 14, 2025.

READ ABOUT OUR NEWEST GROUPS

Caregiver Peer Support Group

“Being a caregiver requires infinite patience, physical and emotional strength, health care navigation skills, and a sense of humor — which can be hard to come by after sleepless nights and demanding days.” — Rosalynn Carter

The Caregiver Support Group is for members of the Fellowship who are currently caregivers at any stage of the journey and who, in a safe nonjudgmental space, benefit from each other’s acceptance and recognition for their common concerns and are grateful for the wisdom, insight and humor of their fellow caregivers.

The gatherings take place at our building on the fourth Saturday of every month from 10:30 a.m. until noon. The size of the group is limited to 10.

If you are interested in joining, please contact Katherine Knowles.

Connections

Connections, a sharing hour, is a chance for Fellowship members and friends to share with and support each other in a safe and welcoming environment. The group meets at the fellowship every Tuesday from 11 a.m. to noon. Contact facilitator Alia Starkweather for more information.

Joyful Song

Joyful Song is a restored singing group for anyone who loves to sing or just to listen. Facilitator Alia Starkweather says nearly everyone can sing (whatever you were told long ago.) Singing is healing for your body, mind, and spirit. Please join us Tuesdays at 12:30 p.m. at the fellowship.

Chair Yoga

Chair Yoga meets each week at our building Thursdays from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. Emphasis will be placed on asana (exercise), pranayama (breath), and mindfulness to strengthen balance, flexibility and body. Member Patricia Hurd leads the class. She has been teaching yoga for 9 years and is a certified instructor through Yoga Alliance. There is no charge to participate. A chair is waiting for you! [NOTE: Chair Yoga is on hiatus for the summer. See you in October!]

SOCIAL EVENTS FIRST WEDNESDAY, THIRD FRIDAY OF EACH MONTH

Join us for our ‘happy hour’ at Pier 22 (1200 1st Ave. W, Bradenton) on Wednesday, June 4, at 4:30 p.m. Everyone is welcome to join this informal gathering featuring friendship, food, drink , and conversation. Go to pier22.com for directions and menu information. Our Pier 22 outing is held the first Wednesday of each month.

Our next Share a Dish potluck is Friday, June 20, at 6 p.m. at our building. Bring a dish to share — like the name says! — and join us for food, fellowship and fun. Share a Dish is held on the third Friday of each month. Some months a special speaker or program is presented.

Please check back here each month for the latest details and updates. And please join us for these monthly social events — and more!

SPECIAL COLLECTION FOR JUNE:
PLANNED PARENTHOOD

Our Special Collection for June will benefit Planned Parenthood.

Planned Parenthood delivers vital reproductive health care, sex education, and information to millions of people worldwide. On June 8, Dawnyelle Singleton, manager of volunteers and community programs for Planned Parenthood – Sarasota, will speak about the organization and recent challenges.

This Special Collection begins Sunday, June 8, and runs through Sunday, June 22. Please make checks payable to “Planned Parenthood” and bring to a service or mail to: Manatee UU Fellowship, 322 15th St. West, Bradenton, FL 34205.

Thank you for your help in supporting the work of this important organization. Go to www.plannedparenthood.org for more information.

THIS IS THE WAY WE KNIT ‘N CHAT

Knit ‘n Chat continues to meet at 10 a.m. the first and third Tuesdays of each month. A small group of knitters and crocheters are working on a project to offer for the annual fellowship Auction. It will be wonderful — so keep your eyes open for what is coming!   Our two shipments of 27 colorful scarves were sent to Women Knitting for Peace — these go with volunteer dentists around the world to distribute in clinics, encouraging people to come for dental services.

We enjoy spending our 2nd hour with the Connections gro which meets at 11 a.m. — as part of our mission to ‘knit’/connect with needs of our Fellowship and community.  We are looking forward to cooler temperatures and meeting once again on our back deck with the sheltering umbrellas. All are welcome and encouraged to join us … no craft skills needed. There is always time and pleasure in our Chatting.

— Carol Alt

OUR TINY LIBRARY IS ONE YEAR OLD!

It was a year ago this month we dedicated our Tiny Library. Since then, we have given away over 300 books focused on Diversity, Equality, Inclusion, and UU Values, as well as banned books. We also included books in other languages that are spoken in our neighborhood. In the political atmosphere we are living in, it’s a way we can stand up to the censorship and be a voice for the marginalized. Our Tiny Library has been embraced in other ways by our community. I often find books that have been placed in the cabinet. I remove them and review them for content and condition and usually put our bookplate and bookmark in them, catalog them, and put them back out to be circulated to the public.

The Warmington Freedom Tiny Library should be a source of pride for our community. It’s funded by a special account set up by the late Carl Warmington in honor of his wife Ruth. I belong to a Tiny Library Facebook group and I read complaints that no books are being taken, all the books being taken, and even vandalism. So far none of that has happened to us. Our cabinet has recently weathered 3 hurricanes thanks to the sturdy construction from our former custodian Bernie Salzinger and it has a motion sensor light inside installed by Denise Solomon our office assistant and custodian. It was decorated by Chris MacCormack who painted the books on the side. I’m excited about how successful our Tiny Library is.

Donations of books are welcome from the membership if you’d like to support the cause. Planned enhancements are; a bench next to it and a literature tube that we can put a brochure about our Fellowship in it for the public to take to learn about us. The Tiny Library is an outreach to the neighborhood, a symbol of our principles, and a way we can try to make a difference by spreading a message.

— Becky Smith

ABOUT THE PROGRESS PRIDE FLAG

The original pride flag was created in the 1970s by gay activist Gilbert Baker, friend of Harvey Milk, the first openly gay man to be elected to public office in California. Baker used eight colors and corresponding meanings: hot pink for sexuality, red for life, orange for healing, yellow for the sun, green for nature, turquoise for art, indigo for harmony, and violet for spirit.

The new Progress Pride Flag includes new colors and a new design that are meant to represent people of color, as well as people who are transgender, intersex, or nonbinary.
The colors black and brown were added to the Progress Pride Flag to represent unrepresented black and brown people.

With the rise of the Black Lives Matter movement, culture at large began to shift in a much-needed way towards acknowledging the vital roles that people of color have had in our society. The pride movement background is one of many areas where people of color did not receive the recognition they deserved historically. Adding colors to represent them on the flag is one way to change that.

The word “progress” in the new flag isn’t only about adding the new colors to it. It’s also because of the shape, which differs from the original design of horizontal stripes only. The Progress Pride Flag shows the white, pink, baby blue, black, and brown stripes in a triangle shape, with the old six-color rainbow stacked next to them.

The color placement and new shape was done intentionally to convey the separation in meaning and shift focus to how important the issues represented on the left are.
The placement of the new colors in an arrow shape is meant to convey the progress still needed.

— Mariano Vera

[As a Welcoming Congregation accredited by the Unitarian Universalist Association, Manatee UU Fellowship flies the Progress Pride Flag in front of our building each Sunday morning. It also appears on our permanent building sign.]

RENEWING OUR LEGACY CIRCLE

Anyone can join our Legacy Circle and make meaningful gifts to Manatee Unitarian Universalist Fellowship in their will. Regardless of the amount, your bequest is a statement of faith that our UU movement and our voices for compassionate justice, democracy, and religious freedom are heard long after we are gone. When you demonstrate that you care enough about this fellowship to support its future, others will follow your generous example.

No matter what your age, you can designate Manatee UU Fellowship as the beneficiary of all or a percentage of your IRA and it will pass to us tax-free after your lifetime. It’s simple, just requiring that you contact your IRA administrator for a change-of-beneficiary form or download a form from your provider’s website.

Join the Legacy Circle at our fellowship by stating your gift plan on your personal intentions form available in our office. Your name(s) will be placed on the Legacy Circle plaque in the sanctuary. Because most popular retirement plan administrators assume no obligation to notify charities of their client’s designations, the intentions form is an important document to us and will be held in a confidential file.

SOMETHING FOR OUR SANCTUARY

This beautiful banner, made by fellowship member Klara Weis, was carried by her during the banner parade at the UU General Assembly in Pittsburgh, Pa., in June 2023. It currently hangs in front of the media booth in our sanctuary.

Thank you, Klara!

A GIFT FOR US ALL

For our 2021 auction, Peg Green offered to create a flaming chalice fabric wall hanging “to hang in your home or give as a gift.” The winner would get to choose the flaming chalice design and color scheme. and then Peg would create the piece.

During the live auction held in February 2021, Bill Hayes kept raising his bid and finally outbid everyone. Over that summer he generously gifted the lovely quilt to our fellowship. It is bold and beautiful, and can be seen in our Sanctuary on Zoom as well as in-person during our Sunday services.

Peg’s artwork can be viewed on her website www.peacepeg.com and one of her works is on the cover of the UUA Pocket Guide for new members.

Thank you, Peg and Bill, for being so generous!

Reverend Fred L Hammond

FRED’S FLAVORINGS

Jun 2025

Those of us who attended John Isham’s Celebration of Life learned that one of his favorite quotes was from Richard Bach’s book Jonathan Livingston Seagull:” “Keep working on Love.”

Some people are easy to love. These are individuals who make us feel good about ourselves. We feel uplifted when they walk into the room. We are happy just being in their presence. They hold qualities that we admire.

There are people harder to love. Perhaps they do something that really annoys us. Some habitual tick that they do is the equivalent of nails on a blackboard. It could be anything. And it could be something that another person does as well, but for some reason the other person doing it doesn’t grate on you like this person.

There could be lots of reasons why some are easy to love, and others are harder to love. One of them could be that they both reflect something within us. The qualities that we wish to exhibit more in our daily lives or the qualities that we despise in ourselves and do not want to be reminded of them. Sometimes we aren’t even aware of those positive qualities or even the irritating qualities within us. We instinctually are drawn or repelled by these qualities.

Keep working on Love. I think it is true that if we love ourselves, our whole selves, then our ability to love others increases. The parts we like and the parts we do not like, and even the parts that we are unaware of their existence. As we embrace ourselves, we are able to love more of our being — even the parts we recognize as needing growth.

The Hebrew and Christian scriptures both state that to love Life with one’s whole heart, whole mind, whole body and to love our neighbor as we love ourselves is the greatest commandment [Hammond paraphrase]. It could also be stated that it is the greatest challenge — a lifelong challenge.

In our common read, Love at the Center, we learned about the theology of love as being a dialogue. To grow in love is to be in dialogue with that which holds us back. Refusing to be in that dialogue might be what prevents us from loving. That dialogue might include what we do love and discover how to expand that love, to enlarge the circle of love. As we continue the conversation of placing love at the center, we will keep working on love. It may be our highest spiritual practice — to love one another. Keep working on Love.

There is an apocryphal story about the disciple John, the one that Jesus loved, that while on his deathbed he called his followers together. They were excited about hearing some secret deathbed revelation. He told them what he had been teaching them throughout his life: Love one another. May we keep working on love.

May 2025

Whose ministry is this?

A few months back I read a book for Time for All Ages titled, Whose Garden is This? It was a comical story that highlighted all the various aspects of the garden and how it came to be such a beautiful garden. It was a story that talked about the interconnections of all the players — the gardener, the rabbit, the mole, the insects, the snake, the bees, the sun — even the soil added to the beauty of the garden.

Whose ministry is this?

If I had a larger ego than I already do [please stop laughing], I, like the gardener, could claim it is my ministry. But then Karen Salzinger and Terri Adams [office administrator and administrator assistant] would quickly chime in, that if it wasn’t for them, then I would not be able to do what I do. Ted Medrek and Michael Luck could chime in and say, if it wasn’t for them, the services wouldn’t be seen by those who are unable to attend in person or the Time for All Ages pictures could not be shared as well in the service. Barbara Jensen could chime in and say, if it weren’t for her, there might not be any accompaniment to the hymns.

Di Morgan and Peggy Dickson could chime in that, if it wasn’t for their coordination of Joyful Jammers, we wouldn’t have other musicians and singers in the service. Mark Chofey could chime in and say that if it wasn’t for him, we wouldn’t have the sidewalks swept or the flags and billboard placed outside on Sunday morning, letting passersby know we are here. Gary Chanco could say, if they did not lower the lights, then those seeing the videos and slides on the screen could not be seen. Glenn Derryberry could speak up and say, if it wasn’t for him and the building and grounds group, we might not have a safe building and gardens to meet in. Becky Smith could say there would be no tiny library or chalice circles or board leadership if she were not doing these things. Tom Morgan and Tom Ehren could say, if it weren’t for them, we might not have as strong an endowment as we do that supports our work.

There were needs expressed for seniors to improve their balance as they get older, and a member, Pat Hurd, stepped up and said she would host a chair yoga class. There was expressed a need for supporting those caring for loved ones with intense illnesses. Katherine Knowles stepped up to form this group. Another said they needed more social support and interaction with others. Alia Starkweather formed Connections to meet this need.

Together, we make up the ministry of Manatee Unitarian Universalist Fellowship. Together we make the magic happen. You make the magic happen by embodying our principles and values.

Whose ministry is this? It is your ministry.

Blessings,
Rev. Fred

April 2025

I subscribe to Rev. Kimberley Debus’ Substack column: Hold My Chalice. She often will share some poignant tidbit about congregational health and growth. Her recent post was on the E Word [Evangelism]: Why doesn’t anyone know about the Unitarian Universalists?

You may read her post here: https://open.substack.com/pub/holdmychalice/p/the-e-word?utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web

What I hear from new members (not every new member) is that one of the attractive aspects of Unitarian Universalism is the non-proselytizing. They found us because of their search for community. They initialized that search following the desire within them for something that embodies the values they hold dear. It’s akin to the parable of the farmer finding a great treasure in their field. They cover it up and return when they can retrieve it in full.

And then there is this story a congregant told me — I don’t remember the circumstances initiating their experience, but they were doing something that resulted in a stranger commenting how they could see the love of Jesus just pouring out of them. The person thanked them and replied that they were not Christian but Unitarian Universalist. The stranger could not believe their ears — only Jesus-following Christians could emanate the love they displayed. They said a few more things about their UU faith, and the stranger shook their head at what they were hearing. They parted ways, and I have no knowledge if the stranger did anything more with this encounter. The congregant was pleased that their faith was in full view, enough so that a stranger commented on it. They pondered: What if all UUs lived their faith in such a way so that others would notice and ask?

First, love is universal. It does not belong to a specific Christology or religion. It is universally available for all who seek to express love for one another. Second, the expression of love is also universal. It is readily recognized as such. Where love is generously expressed, it will attract notice by others.

Our values — Justice, Equity, Transformation, Pluralism, Interdependence, and Generosity — are powerful values because we center them in love. Justice isn’t the justice we seek if it is devoid of love. Transformation isn’t a life-giving transformation if it isn’t grounded in love. Pluralism is nothing more than data points if there is no relational love expressed between our differences. Interdependence without mutual love exchanged is parasitic. Generosity without love is self-serving instead of life affirming.

May our faith continue to be grounded in love and expand into all visible areas of our life.

Email Fred

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

Jun 2025

My two-year term as president is coming to an end. It’s been a rewarding experience because I sincerely feel we did our best to keep LOVE at the center.

The members who I served on the board with for these two years brought all of their experience and skills, and together we did our best. We felt the support of Rev. Fred and the UUA when we needed it, especially after the three hurricanes last season. The outreach and impact our little Fellowship has made is extraordinary. I also felt the support of my fellow members as well.

It’s important to keep in mind that the board and the members are not two separate entities because the board is drawn from the members. I encourage you to say yes when you’re asked to serve on a committee or the board. It enriches the Fellowship experience.

I also want everyone to give Ted Medrek, our next president, the same love and support you gave me. I’m excited about his presidency. In working with Ted, I appreciate his analytical nature and his dedication. He’s been attending the UUA Southern Region Presidents Gathering on Zoom every month with me, and I like to joke that we’re the only couple there.

I especially appreciate the grace I was given in being allowed to be who I am. I think that’s one of the things we are best at. I’ll still be at the board meetings for two more years as past president, but you’ll be reading Ted’s column. I actually never assume anyone reads my column, but occasionally someone comments to me about something I wrote and it warms my heart. So read Ted’s column and let him know. Support the board and the minister. You will feel supported right back!

I like the phrase that we are a covenant-making, covenant-breaking, and covenant-renewing group. Thank you for the confidence you showed in me. I love this Fellowship, and I feel like it loved me back.

With Love Beyond Belief,
Becky Smith, Board President

May 2025

I woke up to the news this morning that the Pope had died. In my office we were talking about him and someone asked me if I’m Catholic. I said, “No, but he was a good guy.” I was raised in a Christian home and studied the Bible. It has a lot of really great stories, teachings, and lessons. “Love one another” comes to mind.

We have many sources that we use to write our own individual credos. In our hymnal there are some historic and traditional hymns. I don’t want to give up ownership of the hymns and the Bible stories. Why should the church on the corner own the organ music? I read a quote by Christopher Hitchens:

“Since it is obviously inconceivable that all religions can be right, the most reasonable conclusion is that they are all wrong.”

I believe they are not all completely wrong, and we can learn from the parts that are right. It’s great to belong to a religion that doesn’t tell you how to think, or in my experience, allows you to think. In my previous church the minister stood up in the pulpit and what he said was gospel. That’s certainly not the case here. We can go up to Reverend Fred after the service and argue with him and not fear that we’re going to hell. It would be easier if we were told what to think and we didn’t have to figure it out for ourselves.

I remember in a debate I heard with Madalyn Murray O’Hair. She challenged the minister she was debating with facts and logic and his answer was,

“Thank God I don’t have to figure it out, I can faith it out.”

Maybe the Pope wasn’t completely a good guy. I’m unaware of the bad, but I feel the same way about him as I do Christianity. As we’d say in Indiana:

“Don’t throw the baby out with the bath water.”

Don’t throw the good out with the bad. Keep the good: the Bible verses, the organ music, hymns that evoke a feeling or memory, the ceremonies, and the celebrations from the religion of your past. The theme of a past stewardship campaign was “Love Beyond Belief.” We have different beliefs, but we are all Unitarian Universalists.

With LOVE At The Center,
Becky Smith – Board President

April 2025

This month I want to talk about bringing my granddaughter, Victoria, to the Fellowship with me.

She wants to come, asks me if we can go to church, and is comfortable with us. The first time I brought her I told her what was going to happen: They will ring a bell, there will be some announcements, a lady will play the piano, we will light a chalice and say something together, we’ll sing a song, we’ll each put a dollar in the offering plate, Rev. Fred will read a story to you, he will give a talk, we’ll sing another song, we’ll put out the candle in the chalice, the lady will play the piano again, then we’ll go in the other room and have a cookie.

I told her what to expect, and she watched for each part, and didn’t disrupt or disturb anyone. I think that’s pretty good behavior for a 4-year-old for an hour. I brought a coloring book, crayons and a yogurt to occupy her, and that helped. This Sunday we brought snacks to put in the social room after the service, and she chose them at Aldi; a charcuterie tray and a package of cookies. It may sound mundane, but to me it is very special that our Fellowship is a place she wants to go.

Children are very intuitive. She feels more than comfortable with us. She feels happy and safe. It would be nice if we had an RE program for her to attend. I think that’s possible. Victoria has shown me that we have a place where children feel welcome and safe, and I think it’s a place where everyone can feel welcome and safe. We just have to bring them, invite them, let them know we exist.

I bring my whole family here on Thanksgiving. I have my two grandsons help put up the Christmas tree and decorations and take them down with me and they really enjoy doing it and I always tell them how much everyone appreciates it. My husband and son have both helped with small projects when I’ve asked them. I believe we are building a place where families, as well as people of all ages, colors, and beliefs can find a beloved community. I believe it because I see it when I bring my family.

I was reading the wonderful ideas that everyone who attended our cottage meetings submitted for activities for diverse and multi-generational, multi-cultural participation, so I know you see it, too. Together we are building the Beloved Community.

With LOVE at the Center,
Becky Smith, Board President

Email Becky

Becky-Smith

Manatee UU Fellowship NEWS

ANNOUNCEMENTS

AND REPORTS FOR JUNE/JULY 2025

COMING UP THIS WEEK:
June 15-21

READ ABOUT OUR NEWEST GROUPS

Caregiver Peer Support Group

Connections

Joyful Song

Chair Yoga

SOCIAL EVENTS FIRST WEDNESDAY, THIRD FRIDAY OF EACH MONTH

SPECIAL COLLECTION FOR JUNE:
PLANNED PARENTHOOD

THIS IS THE WAY WE KNIT ‘N CHAT

OUR TINY LIBRARY IS ONE YEAR OLD!

ABOUT THE PROGRESS PRIDE FLAG

RENEWING OUR LEGACY CIRCLE

SOMETHING FOR OUR SANCTUARY

A GIFT FOR US ALL

FRED’S FLAVORINGS

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

Sunday Services: 10:30

LOCATION:

941-746-0067

Unitarian Universalist Association

Manatee UU Fellowship NEWS

ANNOUNCEMENTS

AND REPORTS FOR JUNE/JULY 2025

COMING UP THIS WEEK: June 15-21

READ ABOUT OUR NEWEST GROUPS

Caregiver Peer Support Group

Connections

Joyful Song

Chair Yoga

SOCIAL EVENTS FIRST WEDNESDAY, THIRD FRIDAY OF EACH MONTH

SPECIAL COLLECTION FOR JUNE: PLANNED PARENTHOOD

THIS IS THE WAY WE KNIT ‘N CHAT

OUR TINY LIBRARY IS ONE YEAR OLD!

ABOUT THE PROGRESS PRIDE FLAG

RENEWING OUR LEGACY CIRCLE

SOMETHING FOR OUR SANCTUARY

A GIFT FOR US ALL

FRED’S FLAVORINGS

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

Sunday Services: 10:30

LOCATION:

941-746-0067

Unitarian Universalist Association

COMING UP THIS WEEK:
June 15-21

SPECIAL COLLECTION FOR JUNE:
PLANNED PARENTHOOD