That’s right, we have a brand-new Instagram account
that we are filling up fast with photos from our latest activities. If you have an Instagram account of your own for sharing pictures with your friends and family, you can now follow us at manateeuuf and check out our latest doings — and ‘like’ and comment on our photos. And tell your friends and family, too!
No Instagram account? No problem.
You can see our latest photos right here on our website. Click HERE or go to ‘News’ and scroll down to ‘Live Instagram Feed.’
Who knows? You may see yourself there already!
ANNOUNCEMENTS
AND REPORTS FOR JULY/AUGUST 2024
NEW: CHAIR YOGA
Chair Yoga is now held weekly on Wednesdays from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Manatee Unitarian Universalist Fellowship. Emphasis will be placed on asana (exercise), pranayama (breath), and mindfulness to strengthen balance, flexibility and body. Member Patricia Hurd will be leading the class. She has been teaching yoga for 9 years and is a certified instructor through Yoga Alliance. There is no charge to participate.
SPECIAL COLLECTION FOR JULY:
LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS
Our Special Collection for July will benefit the League of Women Voters.
About the League:
“Our Vision: We envision a democracy where every person has the desire, the right, the knowledge, and the confidence to participate. Our Mission: The League of Women Voters, a nonpartisan political organization, encourages the informed and active participation of citizens in government, works to increase understanding of major public policy issues, and influences public policy through education and advocacy.”
This Special Collection begins July 14 and runs through July 28. Please make checks payable to “League of Women Voters” 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 online to lwvmanatee.org for more information about the League and its many services.
SOCIAL EVENTS FIRST WEDNESDAY, THIRD FRIDAY OF EACH MONTH
Please join us for our next restaurant visit Wednesday, August 7, at 4:30 p.m., when we will meet at Pier 22, located on the Manatee River at 1200 1st Ave W, Bradenton. Plan to join us for a drink, an appetizer or an early dinner on the first Wednesday of each month. You can check out the venue online at pier22.com. Everyone is welcome; it’s a great, casual way to get to know us.
Our next Share a Dish potluck is Friday, Aug. 16, 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!
LATEST FROM OUR SOCIAL JUSTICE COMMITTEE
The Social Justice Committee has released its schedule for our monthly Special Collections for 2024-25, as follows:
July 2024 League of Women Voters
August 2024 Turning Points
September 2024 UNIDOS Now
October 2024 Manasota 88
November 2024 UUSC
December 2024 Suncoast Waterkeeper
January 2025 Kim’s Krew
February 2025 RECESS Education
March 2025 ALSO Youth
April 2025 Coalition of Immokalee Workers
May 2025 Hope Family Services
June 2025 Planned Parenthood
Please follow the links to learn more about these important organizations and join us throughout the year in supporting their work. Details on when and how can be found here each month.
The Social Justice Committee meets on the first Sunday of each month after the worship service. All are welcome.
READ ABOUT — AND WITH — OUR BOOK CLUB
At its July meeting, the Book Club discussed Zora Neale Hurston’s (1891-1960) Their Eyes Were Watching God. Written in 1937, it is considered an American classic along the lines of Faulkner and Hemingway. The theme of the book is that no human pursuits — for love or money or self-worth — can stand against God or the forces of nature.
For our next meeting, on Aug. 5, we will read Oath and Honor: A Memoir and a Warning by Liz Cheney. Cheney, a former congresswoman from Wyoming and daughter of former vice president Dick Cheney, tells the story of the Jan. 6 Capitol Insurrection. As a member of the House committee investigating the insurrection, she has firsthand information. This is the first political book we have read in a while. The upcoming Presidential election demands we have firsthand information available to us.
We will need to choose a few books for the fall. If you are interested in reading, come to our meeting and let us know your choices. Everyone is welcome to join us.
The Book Club meets the first Monday of each month at 2:00 p.m. on Zoom. Contact Bill Hayes for more information and to get the Zoom link.
Happy reading!
— Bill Hayes
GIVE THOSE KNITTERS A BREAK
Knit ‘n Chat is taking a break over the summer — only meeting online once a month until October.
But there are some busy people always creating new projects and working all year round. Bernita Franzel discovered dozens of old yet colorful T-shirts and together with Klara Weis thought the logos and graphics might make an interesting quilt/throw or wall hanging. It’s a big experiment so be on the lookout for what these artsy folks might create!! You too might have old T-shirts?? Happy Summer Crafting Everyone!
— Carol Alt
LATEST REPORT ON OUR WORK WITH STREAM
Mental Health needs are the primary focus of STREAM (Stronger Together Reaching Equality Across Manatee) this year. This from the Research Kickoff meeting held January 22 at Peace Presbyterian Church. It was attended by about 65 people.
We are still going to be focusing on Adult Pre-Arrest Diversion Program (APAD) because while it has started in Manatee County, it is not being utilized nearly as much as in Sarasota. Only 12 referrals to this program were made in a six-month period in Manatee County versus 365 referrals in Sarasota County. We heard firsthand testimony of how being in the wrong place at the wrong time resulted in an arrest for a young man. This arrest caused him to miss out on employment opportunities. He now owns his own business and is thriving, but the stigma of this arrest still haunts him. The APAD program could have kept his options wide open.
This program is for first time offenders of nonviolent misdemeanors like expired tags and registrations. STREAM will be following up with State Attorney Brodsky on how we might encourage Sheriff Wells and the police chiefs to better use this program that will not only save money for the county in court costs but also prevent individuals from being labeled for life with a criminal arrest record.
The gathered justice seekers broke into groups of about 6-8 people and shared their own or friends and family’s stories of mental health. In the group I was in, the focus quickly became mental health services in the school district. I heard how the district had received funds for additional mental health support and instead used the funds to hire truant officers. The social workers have caseloads that are too large to be able to provide the support needed by teachers and students in dealing with mental health issues within the student population. Will STREAM narrow the huge umbrella label of mental health to services in the school district? I do not know at this point. This was only one group’s focus of about 10 groups. A consensus will need to be developed. If you have a story regarding mental health experiences in Manatee County, please see Rev. Fred to share your story so it can be given to STREAM as we discern the direction of this new focus.
Our Nehemiah Action Assembly is April 29 at 6:30 p.m. This is the assembly where we meet with the decision-makers in Manatee County and ask them to support our recommendations to address this issue. We need as many folks to attend this event as possible as it is people power that sways the decision makers.
Let Justice Roll– Like a Mighty STREAM!
— Rev. Fred L Hammond
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.]
WARMINGTON FREEDOM TINY LIBRARY IS NOW OFFICIAL!
On Sunday, Nov. 19, members and friends of Manatee Unitarian Universalist Fellowship gathered in the front of our building to dedicate our Warmington Freedom Tiny Library as an act of resistance to the book bannings that are taking place nationally and in the state of Florida.
As Florida leads the nation in banned books, more than 1,400 so far, this is one way to provide encouragement for those who are being targeted. Rev. Fred L Hammond shared the legacy of earlier members Ruth and Carl Warmington, who in leaving an endowment for expansion of our fellowship’s library, made this possible. Our tiny library gives us an opportunity to expand into our community and let others know that justice, equity, and inclusion are values we hold in our hearts.
As we listened to the voices and percussion of the Joyful Jammers, we felt a sense of oneness and pride in the books we are providing to whomever is interested. Each book has a bookmarker and sticker beginning with “Enjoy this book …”
Thank you to Bernie Salzinger who skillfully refurbished a cabinet to serve as our tiny library and to Chris MacCormack who painted the illustrations on the sides. The books that have been selected by Rev. Fred, Becky Smith, Barb Ehren and Carol Bartz include banned books as well as books that embrace social justice themes or align with our UU Principles. More than 50 books have already been shared through the tiny library during the past month and we will continue to add more books to those two shelves.
We encourage each of you to order one book from the list being offered by Boston-based philanthropists found at BannedBooksUSA.org. This allows Florida residents to order banned and restricted books for just the price of shipping: $3.99. Please have it delivered to your home address and then give the book to Becky, Barb, Rev. Fred or Carol so that we can catalog it first.
May all be valued for who they are and may all accept differences and unique abilities of others.
— Carol Bartz
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
Rev. Fred L Hammond has been on a well-earned vacation following this year’s UUA General Assembly. His monthly column, Fred’s Flavorings, will return in August.
If someone were to ask you what is your role at Manatee Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, what would you say?
When a new member signs the membership book, they are asked to make a commitment to participate in the life of the fellowship, to support according to their ability to the financial well-being of the fellowship, and also to offer their time to the well-being of the fellowship.
We do not define what each of these three commitments looks like behaviorally. We are aware that everyone has different abilities and different ways to fulfill these commitments. Some are privileged to offer more than others. Some are less privileged. Some realize that their bodies are no longer able to give as they once were able to and therefore need to step aside. Some are quick to jump in and organize a task. Others like to be asked to contribute in a specific way. There are many ways in which these three commitments can be fulfilled.
Consider the question again. How would you answer the question of what is your role at Manatee Unitarian Universalist Fellowship that would assist in supporting its well-being?
The Christian Scriptures use the analogy of the parts of the body to describe the various roles of the Christian Church. The analogy points out that each organ and limb of the body is vital to the body’s well-being — all equally important. The same can be said about our roles at Manatee Unitarian Universalist Fellowship.
One of the roles that is vital for well-being of this fellowship is making sure that we create and sustain a welcoming atmosphere for newcomers so these newcomers will want to join as members. Several General Assemblies ago, then-UUA President Bill Sinkford told us of a conversation he had with a group of Latter-Day Saints, aka Mormons. They told him that if Unitarian Universalists could figure out a way to retain their visitors, we would be the most dangerous progressive faith in the country.
We are at a time in our country where our Unitarian Universalist message is sorely needed to provide safety for groups of people being targeted by hate groups and hateful legislation. Our message of accepting people for who they are is a salvific message. Our fellowship has on average two to three visitors a week. Statistics alone tell us that not everyone who visits us is going to join our fellowship. But for our fellowship to thrive, we each must do our part to create that environment of welcoming home these sojourners who cross our doors.
One of the most important roles that each of us can fulfill is that of being a greeter. Greeting people at the door, passing out programs, and directing newcomers to sign our visitors book, and conversing with them before and after the service is important in the welcoming process. Ideally, we would have a group of greeters who would commit to serve this role and then rotate which Sundays they would be at the door. After the service, greeters and the rest of us in the fellowship would introduce ourselves to the newcomers. Ask them how they liked the service. If, during conversation it is discovered the visitor is originally from another state, connect them with members who are also from that state or community. Perhaps invite them to join you in attending an event at the fellowship—Share a Dish, Joyful Jammers, Knit ’n Chat, some other event.
We are blessed to have a few individuals — emphasis on few — who have adopted this as their ministry, their role in serving the well-being of this fellowship. We heard recently how important the greeter was in having a new member join us. We need more of us to integrate this into our roles here. So should you be approached to be a greeter at the door on one Sunday a month, say yes. It is not as time-consuming as other important roles, but it is truly an integral part of the life blood of our community.
Blessings,
Fred
Email Fred:
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
On a recent Sunday morning the new board of directors and leadership development team stood before the congregation and were installed for the coming fiscal year. Remember who we are, we are here to serve the Fellowship. Come to us with your ideas, issues, and feedback. We are all volunteers who, when we were asked to serve, answered, “I Am Willing” like the Holly Near song. We want to foster an environment of trust and excellence. We promise to keep love in the center of all of our decisions for the Fellowship and in our interactions with you and each other. We ask in return for your trust and support. Know that we volunteered because we love the Fellowship and care enough about its future to give our time, talents, and resources to ensure its success. That really is the responsibility of all of us as members.
I also want to ask for everyone’s support of our minister. His role is not easy. After working closely with him for the last year I am so grateful for his skills, knowledge, and genuine caring for us. We have enjoyed the programs he developed such as the beloved circles, the new member orientation, the common read of “Mistakes and Miracles,” as well as his Sunday morning services. His compassion at all the many memorial services we’ve had is touching. If one of us brings a problem to him he helps us work out a solution. He has a wealth of knowledge about the resources we have from the UUA and its Southern Regional District.
Let’s remember our congregational covenant and if one of us strays from it, let’s gently bring each other back into covenant. Let’s make a conscious effort to keep LOVE at the center in this coming year.
With Love Beyond Belief
Becky Smith, Board President
Beloved Community
We espouse the desire to form a beloved community.
Harvard Professor Josiah Royce wrote, ”My life means nothing, either theoretically or practically, unless I am a member of a community.”
Martin Luther King Jr. envisioned a Beloved Community of love and justice, where the races would be reconciled, and the deep and terrible wounds of racism finally healed. “Our ultimate goal,” King said, “is genuine intergroup and interpersonal living — integration.” Physical desegregation is not enough, King insisted, for it leaves us “spiritually segregated, where elbows are together and hearts apart.”
Buddhist monk Thich Nhat Hanh taught the idea of non-duality, the connection of all life and of all things. He believed that as peace flowers in your heart, it also flowers in the universe. He began to see the Beloved Community from this perspective. As the Beloved Community is built, repaired, and manifested in our hearts and our consciousness, so it is healed for all beings.
We are on our journey to build Beloved Community. The Manatee UU Fellowship board in the November 2023 board meeting made this resolution: “We, the Board of the Manatee Unitarian Universalist Fellowship support the adoption of the proposed 8th Principle”
The Eighth Principle
“We, the member congregations of the Unitarian Universalist Association, covenant to affirm and promote: journeying toward spiritual wholeness by working to build a diverse multicultural Beloved Community by our actions that accountably dismantle racism and other oppressions in ourselves and our institutions.”
I believe that is one powerful step along the journey. The next one will be at our annual meeting when we ask the entire congregation to add the 8th principle to our 7 Principles that were adopted by the UUA in 1985. As of April 2023, around 200 congregations have voted to add the 8th Principle.
If we are going to be a Beloved Community, these are the first few steps. We did a group read of “Mistakes and Miracles.” Perhaps our next group read is in order. We UUs are always willing to do the courageous work needed to effect the change we want to see. I hope we choose this work and continue our journey toward becoming a Beloved Community.
I received the UU World magazine this week and the cover article was about “Shared Ministry.” That’s something we have always done exceptionally well at Manatee UU Fellowship. I think it’s the nearly 50 years as a lay-led congregation that taught us that it’s our Fellowship. That sense of ownership is wonderful, it’s like a sense of home. I see that every day here. In the church I grew up in, the minister did the ministry, he decided the programs, took care of the caring, he made every decision and the congregation supported him and did what he asked of them. That was the hierarchy. Here it’s like the flowchart is upside down. The congregation is the leadership and our minister Fred supports us with his knowledge of programs and UUA assets available to us.
When the Social Justice Committee wants to support a group or event, members vigorously offer their support. When a member wants a program, the board gets behind it and together, member, board, and minister, we make it happen. The article calls this a way of being in relationship with each other. I think the greatest examples of shared ministry at our fellowship are our new Right Relations committee and the long-established Caring committee.
It would be easy to just let the minister take care of everything, but that’s not the UU way. We don’t want that and I think I’m safe in saying that neither does Reverend Fred! Together we share the responsibility of ministry to each other, to the community, and to the world.
Becky Smith, Board President
Email Becky:
Becky-Smith