Manatee UU Fellowship NEWS

ANNOUNCEMENTS

AND REPORTS FOR APRIL 2021

Auction 2021 final results

by Carol Bartz

Last month we reported that “it is conceivable that we could reach our goal of $7,000.” We did! Our total sales were $5,497 with an additional $1,700 in cash donations made, bringing the total to $7,194. We sent $200 as a donation to the UU Guatemalan Scholarship Program in lieu of paying for the use of the online software (as suggested by the developer).

Thank you once again to all who participated by donating or bidding on items. Mary Frances Kordick helped with the dropoff process when people brought their items for storage until the auction; Chris MacCormack, Sharon Chofey, Bernita Franzel, Sally Isham, and Carol Alt each assisted with pick up of items and gift certificates; Karen Salzinger prepared the slides for the Zoom live auction; John Isham handled the tech side of slide sharing; and most of all thanks to Bob Yavis who procured the gift certificates, door prizes, and served as auctioneer!

The following is a letter we received thanking us for the donation we made instead of paying for the use of Community Auction Services software that we use each year for our auction:

Dear Manatee Unitarian Universalist Fellowship Members,

Thank you so much for your contribution of $200 to the Jefferson Unitarian Church Guatemala Scholarship Fund. This fund was established in 2007 to provide educational opportunities for Mayan girls and boys who live in extreme poverty and cannot afford to go beyond sixth grade without financial support for tuition, books, uniforms, and other expenses.

Our scholarship program has enabled 182 students to attend school. To date 67 students have graduated from high school, helping to lift their families out of poverty. Many are planning to study at university.

Again, your generosity is greatly appreciated. Thank you!

June LeCrone,

For the JUC Guatemala Scholarship Program

Special Collection for April 2021

By Mariano Vera

The month of April’s Special Collection has been allocated to the local Planned Parenthood.

Their motto is Care No Matter What, and they do. Planned Parenthood is one of the nation’s leading providers of high-quality, affordable health care, and the nation’s largest provider of sex education, providing services whether the patient has insurance or not.

Planned Parenthood of Southwest and Central Florida health center supports and welcomes all people regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity or biological sex, including but not limited to lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer, questioning, and intersex clients. All services are provided in a respectful and professional manner.

Planned Parenthood has proven through all these years to stand by the fellowship guidelines that indicate “an organization’s core values, services ideas and mission are as good as the organization’s leaders’ fundamental values, and principles.”

The SJC is working as a liaison between our fellowship and Planned Parenthood, and we are looking to have one of their representatives during the April 11 service.

UUA General Assembly 2021 News

General Assembly (GA) is the annual meeting of our Unitarian Universalist Association. Participants worship, witness, learn, connect, and make policy for the Association through democratic process. The UUA Board of Trustees has passed a resolution making the 2021 UUA General Assembly a 100 percent virtual event. Let’s reach record-breaking attendance June 23-27, 2021! We have room for one more delegate. If you are interested in representing Manatee UU Fellowship, contact John Isham.

Recognizing the importance of shared ministry and the many innovative approaches to worship created by congregations during the pandemic, UUA President, Rev. Dr. Susan Frederick Gray, selected the First Universalist Church of Minneapolis to serve as worship leaders for this year’s GA Sunday Morning Service. Music will be offered through collaboration with 2021 GA Choir Director Susan Mashiyama, the GA virtual choir, and musicians from First Universalist.

Last year more than 10,000 screens tuned in to the watch the Sunday Morning Worship at GA! Please join us again this year on Sunday, June 27, at 9 Pacific / 10 Mountain / 11 Central / noon Eastern for the largest annual gathering of Unitarian Universalists in worship. The service will be streamed on uua.org and on the UUA’s YouTube channel; members of the public are welcome.

News from the Social Justice Committee

by Mariano Vera

Special Collections for area not-for-profits:

Our Daily Bread: $675 total collected.

Turning Points: $1,225 total collected.

April Social Justice National Calendar
- April: Sexual Assault Awareness Month
- 07 Apr: World Health Day
- 12 Apr: International Day for Street Children
- 17 Apr: Youth Homelessness Matters Day
- 22 Apr: International Mother Earth Day
- 29 Apr: Remembrance of Victims of Chemical Warfare

In addition, the UUSJ (https://uusj.net) has the following Action Alerts for the Month of March
- For the People Act 2021
- US Fair Share of the Green Climate Fund
- US Citizenship Act of 2021
The Coalition of Immokalee Workers has announced a week of action on April 5-April 11. What we are asking allies is to be in solidarity with farmworkers during the Week of Action and demonstrating your support for the Wendy’s boycott by holding signs outside your local Wendy’s and delivering a letter to the manager. You can find more information about the week of action at http://www.allianceforfairfood.org/news/2021/3/9/action-alert-demanding-dignity-for-farmworkers-week-of-action-april-5-11

Book Club and Racial Concerns Group Update

by Bill Hayes and Cindy Evans

The Book Club will be reading A Sweet Taste of Liberty by W. Caleb McDaniel for our April 5 meeting. This is the true story of a freed woman who gets criminally sold into slavery, regains her freedom in later life, then sues the government for reparations and, surprise, wins her case. The book for May 3 is Stubborn Grace by Kate Landis. This is a UUA Bookstore suggestion about a woman who fights depression and mental illness and whose activism leads her into the UU ministry.

The Racial Concerns Group next meets April 12 at 2:00pm on Zoom. Randy Coleman will make the first part of his presentation based on his study of slavery. We will also discuss the development of the Black Sarasota community of Newtown.

Finally, we will be discussing where this group is heading with regard to important racial issues such as voter suppression, prison reform, Black Lives Matter, criminal justice, housing and healthcare discrimination, etc. Does the group want to take on one or two issues or would individuals like to study issues of their personal concern and report back to the group? Give it some thought. We’ve had four meetings so far and perhaps we now need more positive direction.

Great Decisions 2021 Report

by Bill Hayes

The Great Decisions foreign policy discussion has completed its 2021 season. This was the 26th year for our fellowship to have acted as a host for this group. We had 10 participants over Zoom this year. We hope to be in a position to be a host for the 2022 season. Look for news this fall and consider joining us. The group is open to fellowship members and friends, as well as the general public. Consider inviting your neighbors and friends. No special knowledge or experience is needed. All that is needed is a curiosity about what is happening around the world.

New Office Floors

Thank you to our custodian/handyman Bernie Salzinger who installed wood-tone Pergo laminate flooring in the office, hallway and bathroom. Neighbors of Bernie’s had all this flooring out for the trash when noticed by another neighbor, who passed the flooring on to Bernie. So the material was at no expense to the fellowship. When the building reopens, stop by the office to see the new floors!

FRED’S FLAVORINGS

April 2021

You are reading this after our official stewardship campaign ended on March 28th. I am thanking you in advance of March 28th for your generosity in supporting the fellowship and enabling the board to begin putting together a budget for this next fiscal year so we can continue our work. If you have not yet made a pledge, I imagine the board will be making calls to make sure that we have the best financial projections for this next year of our journey together.

There is a post that shows up from time to time on my Facebook feed that reads: “If your theology doesn’t lead you to LOVE more people, you should question your theology.” I imagine that many people reading that post might think that they do not have a theology because they are not religious but consider themselves spiritual.

The literal meaning of the word is the study of god. But theology as it has been defined in the 21st century is broader than that — it is one’s relationship with the universe or that which is greater than the individual. And the word universe can be defined as that which swirls around in their immediate orbit or the great expanse of all that is, seen and unseen. Unitarian theologian Bernard Loomer spoke about one’s size of god. The larger the size of one’s god is the greater responsibility a person has to the world. The Unitarian Universalists’ god is rather large. Our principles and our sources reveal an all-encompassing god who beckons our relationship with it to honor the inherent worth and dignity of each component of creation.

This theology has led Unitarian Universalists to become active in environmental justice — stopping the Keystone XL Pipeline, seeking to stop mountain top removal, ending fracking, protecting our national forests and parks to name but a few issues. This theology has led Unitarian Universalists to become active in social justice — expanding and protecting the civil rights of marginalized communities, seeking racial equality and equity under the law, seeking healthcare access as a human right, and limiting the power of money as speech to name a few of these examples.

But these are all macro issues and while they affect our daily lives, they do so in macro ways — sometimes unnoticeably like air pollution. We know that air pollution exists, but we do not acknowledge its presence affecting us daily — even as it does. What is the size of your god in your day-to-day life? How does your theology translate to expansion of who we love on a day-to-day basis? How might your theology translate to the expansion of love given under the mantle of Manatee Unitarian Universalist Fellowship? This is where we have direct influence in changing our world for the better, individually on a one-to-one basis and collectively as a fellowship.

Our Unitarian Universalist theology does not seek to save people for a life hereafter, it seeks to save people for a life in the here and now. We love on the macro level in ways stated above and we are also called to love on the micro level in our day to day lives. How does your theology help you to do this? If you have not yet made a pledge, when a board member calls to ensure they have the best projections for next fiscal year please consider how your financial pledge might expand the size of Manatee Unitarian Universalist Fellowship’s ability of loving more people.

Blessings, Fred

March 2021

On March 11, 2020, the board held an emergency meeting regarding the pandemic. It seemed the entire country was shutting down. I remember second guessing our decision until I heard that our sibling congregations in Florida were also meeting that day and came to the same conclusion that we did. Little did we know then that we would be still meeting online one year later with over 500,000 lives lost nationwide.

Since March 11, our nation has been rocked by white supremacy with the video feed of the brutal murder of George Floyd, the riots that followed, the collapse of the restaurant and tourist industry, multiple hurricanes and ice storms that have left people homeless and the attack on our democracy by a sitting president resulting in an insurrection at our National Capitol. We had enough major events to fill several years crammed into one.

So how are we doing, friends? I will speak for myself when I say that I am exhausted by it all; the isolation, the social distancing, alarming numbers of infections and wondering if this sniffle is the Corona virus or just allergies.

So many of the usual avenues of connections have been constrained. Yet here we are one year later. I hope that all of us will survive until everyone is vaccinated so we can again be together as a fellowship. When will be able to gather again? What will our gatherings look like? Will we be able to return to full in person gatherings in the fall? Or will we do a hybrid ministry where our worship services continue online, but we gather in person for small covenant groups? Many of our sibling congregations are considering the latter.

This month we will focus on our Stewardship campaign — Up from the Ashes — as we begin to reimagine what our narrative of the future post pandemic will be. You will receive an invite to an online zoom meeting to hear from one another their perspective on this past year and where we want to be a few years from now. If for some reason, you do not receive an invite and would like to attend, please contact the MUUF office. I hope you will join us as we can only imagine the future with you as an integral piece of that future. Join us.

Blessings, Fred

February 2021

While in this continuing pandemic, we are still not working, worshipping, or meeting in our building. I miss our chance encounters while you are at MUUF for one reason or another. I miss hearing about your joys and concerns.

My relationship with you as minister is different than being your friend. When I call you, it is because I am working in my professional role as minister. It is not like a friendship where we talk idly about our days or common interests. It is perhaps the hardest aspect of professional ministry, not just for the congregation but for the minister as well.

That said, I enjoy being your minister in this time and place. I am thrilled when I see the spirit of generosity and love grow in our fellowship. But also as minister, I will not presume access to your life events like a best friend might.

I have sent this list before and thought it might be time for a reminder. The following is a list of just those times applied to every aspect of life’s stages. It is not original with me, though a few of them I have added.

Some version of this list has been circulated since at least 1957.

Call the Minister When….

You just want to talk.
When you don’t know me but would like to.
When your child doesn’t know me but would like to or you would like them to.
When your family doesn’t know me but would like to.
When you are looking for a way to deepen your spiritual life.
When your children have questions of faith and you would like me to visit with them.
When you have religious or spiritual questions.
When you are celebrating one of life’s joys and want to share the good news.
When you are feeling sad or lonely, or lost.
When you have lost your job, found a new job, been promoted or demoted.
When you or a family member is ill.
When you or you know of someone in the congregation who is going to the hospital.
When someone close to you has died or is critically ill or you’re dealing with a significant loss of some kind.
When you would like to make plans for a memorial service. When you would like to make plans for your memorial service.
When you are planning to be married. When you are challenged by the demands of marriage. When you are separated or planning to get a divorce.
When you would like your child dedicated.
When you are challenged by life’s daily happenings.
When you want to come out to your family, your church, or to me as gay or transgender.
When you feel ready to join the congregation.
When you want to share your experience of or appreciation for our beloved community. When you have concerns about the church or our faith community.
When you have a good story to share.

Email Fred

Reverend Fred L Hammond

John Isham

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

April 2021

There is hope. Each day there seems to be a little more. We learn that a few more members have received their vaccinations or have their first shot scheduled. It means soon we will be able to have in person gatherings. It has been a year since we shut our doors, it has been a long year.

I have been “sitting-in” on Rev. Fred’s cottage meetings and it is wonderful to hear people talk about the future and the things they would like to see Manatee UU Fellowship do. Such optimism and excitement! I am looking forward to Rev. Fred’s report as it will set the stage for the next two years for us.

These past two months have seen progress and a maturation of things which are new or relatively new to us. The memorial garden and the entire side yard is looking marvelous, thanks to the skill of our weeders, but especially due to our chief volunteer weeders, Mariano Vera and Tom Brannin, and their “boss lady,” Mary McClendon. Our Sunday services on Zoom are at a point where it seems we could take on some more sophisticated tasks. We have presented programs which have received much praise from our membership. I like to give credit where credit is due and I wonder if we would have achieved such success without being given such a great start by Barbara McCrea. Perhaps the biggest surprise was the Auction, where being run on Zoom originally raised many eyebrows. There Carol Bartz must be given all the credit for skillfully doing such a wonderful job and having a great success, almost singlehandedly. And of course much of the credit for the new fellowship website must be given to Ted Medrek, great job.

Our fellowship will live or die on volunteerism. Most people automatically reject taking something “more” on: “George” is doing such a great job and I don’t have the skills.” However, when someone does take a job on, very quickly just the effort put forth to do it develops into an affection for the purpose and the task turns into a passion, a desire to do right for so many wonderful people. We do need people to step forward soon in many places. There are a number of board positions to be filled for this July; we need an active membership committee now; we need a personnel person; we need persons versed in the idiosyncrasies and interconnectedness of the many social media programs and to link them into our new website; we need the internet linked to our website for people searching for an alternative to oppressive religions, and we need a person to get us “on the air” with our services for shut in members and community exposure. And perhaps, most of all, we need a choir.

So I appeal to members and friends to “step up” if you have a skill or desire to learn a skill. “John, I would like to volunteer to help.” Wonderful and welcome! We need you.

March 2021

It’s all over but the shouting and it still does persist. Let’s hope most of it dies down shortly so our new government can deal with what is more important: the pandemic, climate change, racism and poverty.

Gradually our members are getting vaccinated. But we still have a ways to go. I think the end of April would be a good time to evaluate our membership and start projecting a time when we all can start meeting again in the sanctuary. Let’s hope the rate of COVID-19 mutations has slowed due to the reduced numbers of transmitters in public. Unfortunately, there are still large numbers in the world who refuse to believe in either the virus or the vaccination.

A recent high point for us was the Black History month service on Feb 14. The 75 minute service, highlighted by wonderful music, was a sobering reminder of blatant racism and the courage of those who struggle against it. In the chat session following the service we were treated to some honest answers regarding establishing a relationship with a local black church. Fred continued the following Sunday with another inspiring service honoring Black Women in History.

Our Feb 21 service was followed by the live Auction. Despite the concern over conducting our live auction virtually with Zoom, it all went very smoothly and was not unlike the real thing. It was a fun affair with much competitive bidding and many surprises. This year’s auction was extremely well run and very successful.

Also, at the end of this month, we will begin our annual Stewardship drive with a sermon devoted to its start. It is time for people to step up once each Sunday, beginning Feb 28, to give their stories about their reasons to be UUs. Start thinking. We may call you.

Bank of America has just provided the latest instructions on the procedure to apply for forgiveness of the PPP loan we received last May. My first attempt has run into the same glitchy results which plagued BofA’s applications the first time through. It will be good to finally have that entry off our books and added to our finances.

In this pandemic, how have we done on our connectedness? We receive very little feedback from our members. The number of positive and negative suggestions are few and about equal. Some want to experience more spirituality, others more UU history, and some say the services are too short. Perhaps the board members can poll our contact lists for their opinions and suggestions. Zoom contacts bring different experiences, some likes, some dislikes and some new opportunities. Reverend Fred is going to schedule a number of cottage meetings and will ask people to sign up and discuss Manatee UUF’s future. This will be looking toward when we can return (if and how) to live services. We have a lot of time left to plan and organize a gala reopening.

February 2021

When will we hold in person meetings again? What are the CDC recommendations going to be then? Will masks be required? Everything I read seems to indicate the answer is yes. Will social distancing be required? Well, I guess if masks are required then that, too. Does it mean the end Zoom service also each Sunday? How will things evolve as time goes on? Will the virus ever be totally eliminated? Will we ever be back to normal? Or will we evolve into a new normal? Many questions, many unknowns, lots to discuss and figure out. The future of our fellowship depends on it.

Now that the dark clouds really have lifted and there is hope, we all get the urge to get busy and do something. I am deluged with environmental and social justice groups holding “how to” seminars and looking for money. All of this in the midst of being unable to move for fear of the virus. So what can we do? How can we do action? How can we choose what is best? Individually, it should really be, what is best for each one of us. There are more than enough worthy causes to spend 24 hours each and every day trying to support. There are many extremely interesting parts of these causes to learn about and take action. So choose one or a few and do them right. Tell the others you are sorry but you just can’t.

As President I am overwhelmed with emails asking for Manatee UU Fellowship’s support or with causes it “should” support. I could swamp the congregation each day with all these suggestions. I don’t because I don’t want to impose my filter on others. I do send out a few which belong in our Social Justice committee. What I would like to see are a number of small groups, each with their own favorite cause, organized as part of Social Justice and reported on at each meeting. Bill Hayes has started one with his racial concerns group. I would like to see an active climate justice group formed — perhaps one that meets independently of the SJ meetings and the MCEA meetings. Others might have ideas of their own.

We also need to be enhancing and promoting the reputation of the fellowship in the community. Perhaps we fall down in being known as a place where one can find peace and belonging. I would like to see us begin small group discussions of spirituality, a place where one can safely bare their soul, where one can express where they are on their search for truth, a place where one can hear how others are doing on their individual searches. Is there any reason why adult RE cannot be explored using Zoom? We lose a certain amount of intimacy, and the loss of body language, but with familiarity with Zoom a certain amount of intimacy returns. There are also many areas where we need to “find” ourselves as a fellowship in the midst of this pandemic. All this is food for thought and discussion as time goes forward.

Email John

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Manatee UU Fellowship NEWS

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Auction 2021 final results

Special Collection for April 2021

UUA General Assembly 2021 News

News from the Social Justice Committee

Book Club and Racial Concerns Group Update

Great Decisions 2021 Report

New Office Floors

FRED’S FLAVORINGS

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

NEWSLETTER SIGN UP

Sunday Services: 10:30

LOCATION:

941-746-0067

Unitarian Universalist Association

Manatee UU Fellowship NEWS

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Auction 2021 final results

Special Collection for April 2021

UUA General Assembly 2021 News

News from the Social Justice Committee

Book Club and Racial Concerns Group Update

Great Decisions 2021 Report

New Office Floors

FRED’S FLAVORINGS

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

NEWSLETTER SIGN UP

MANATEE UUF NEWSLETTER

Sunday Services: 10:30

LOCATION:

941-746-0067

Unitarian Universalist Association