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Unitarian Universalist

Fellowship of Athens

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Religious Exploration for Children & Youth

 
All are welcome to join our fellowship on Sunday, March 8th for a service with Rev. Pippin entitled “Framing and Reframing Narratives”. RE and YUU will meet this Sunday. RE will not meet on March 15th, but will meet again on March 22nd. 
 
Sabbatical Updates
“Resting is about getting people back to their truest selves…Rest is anything that slows you down enough to allow your body and mind to connect in the deepest way.”
― Tricia Hersey, Rest Is Resistance: A Manifesto
 
Somehow spring is knocking on our doorstep and April is coming so quickly! l will be taking a sabbatical from April 1-July 31st, which is a gift for our whole community. I am taking this time to rest and recharge, while also creating space for analysis, study, and deep introspection about religious education and our covenantal community. During this time, our regularly scheduled programs will still continue — including Sunday morning RE and YUU, simple suppers, and summer camp. I’m leaving these programs in the trusted hands of our staff and volunteers and will send out more information about who to contact for all individual programmatic needs. 
 
This time may feel different, but this is a time for growth for both myself and our community. I look forward to the insights you have during this time and will create spaces to connect when I return in August. 
 
Simple Supper will be on Wednesday, March 11th at 5:45 PM. All are welcome! If you would like a meal provided potluck style, please let me know by Tuesday, March 10th. You are also welcome to bring a dish to share (fruit, desserts, and snacks are always welcome).
 
 
Spring is sneaking up around the corner! All are invited to our Spring Egg Hunt on Sunday, April 5th after service. Enjoy community and fellowship as we celebrate spring together.

Our camp is run by our amazing childcare provider and art educator, Courtney Smith along with several of our wonderful childcare staff and RE volunteers.

Join us for a weeklong wonderland of creativity, curiosity, and play! Campers will create art in several mediums, explore ways to co-create through collaborative processes and use artistic expression as a way to reimagine the future. Creative Exploration Under the Pyramid is a place where children are valued as whole beings and seen as a vital part of our world.

For our creative campers in middle and high school who are looking for a leadership role, we will also be offering Creative Leaders in Training. CLTs will assist with our camp while serving as role models and gaining valuable leadership skills.

June 8-12, 9 am – 3 pm

If you have any questions or run into difficulties, please email dre.kahla@uuathensga.org or adminassistant@uuathensga.org 
 

Happenings in a List!

Special events are indicated in bold italic below, for details of these and the many recurring committee/team meeting details.

Check the “This Month & Beyond” page (to the left or at uuathensga.org/UUFA and make sure to join your groups on Realm/Connect. so you can communicate with other group members, as well as have easy access to Zoom links for virtual happenings. 

Information on justice-focused meetings, events, and teams is available This Month & Beyond, but to see only justice meetings, you can find visuals announcements here & the UUFA Justice Calendar here

Need help with Realm/Connect!? Contact Meredyth@uuathensga.org

March

All Month:

  • Annual Pledge Drive
  • Diaper Drive
  • CANtributions Drive
  • Cause of the Month / Share the Plate

On these dates in March:

  • 1 First Sunday 
    • Forum: UU GA Legislative Action Network (first and third Sundays)
    • Abundance Table (first Sundays)
    • Conversation Cafe (first and third Sundays)
    • Social Action Justice Team (first Sundays)
    • Journeys Class
    • Historical Jesus Book Discussion (first and third Sundays)
  •   2 Every Monday Peaceful Protest (every Monday)
  •   4 Wednesdays at UUFA (Drum Circle, Potluck, Chalice Choir)
  •   7 On Tyranny Interfaith Book Discussion (also on the 21st and April 4 and 18)
  • 8 Second Sunday
    • Daylight Savings Time reminder
    • Fire Drill at UUFA “Be Prepared, Not Scared!”
    • Singing Meditation
    • Book Talks (second Sundays)
    • Hiking Our Values 
  •   9  Every Monday Peaceful Protest (every Monday)
  •   9  The Gathering from Side with Love (second Mondays)
  • 10  Second Lookers (second Tuesdays)
  • 11  Second Wednesday
    • Potluck & Simple Suppers (second Wednesdays)
    • Realm/Connect Cafe (second Wednesdays)
    • Palms of Fire and Chalice Choir Practice
  • 12  Racial Justice Team (second Tuesdays)
  • 15   Third Sunday
    • Third Sunday Forum: Proposed ICE Detention Center (first and third Sundays)
    • Conversation Cafe (first and third Sundays)
    • Historical Jesus Book Discussion (first and third Sundays)
  • 16   Every Monday Peaceful Protest (every Monday)
  • 19   Board of Trustees Meeting (third Thursdays)
  • 20   Spring Equinox Celebration in Song and Dance
  • 20    Justice Partner event: Athens Immigrant Rights Coalition (AIRC) Meeting
  • 21   On Tyranny Interfaith Book Discussion (also on April 4 and 18)
  • 22   Fourth Sunday
    • Worship Transformation- An Invitation for Spiritual Stewards of the Congregation
    • Alphabet Family (fourth Sundays)
  • 23   Every Monday Peaceful Protest (every Monday)
  • 23   Earth Ministry Team (fourth Mondays)
  • 29   Justice Action Collaborative (fifth Sundays)
  • 30   Every Monday Peaceful Protest (every Monday)
  • 31   UUA Welcoming Day of Observance: International Transgender Day of Visibility

March Share the Plate/Cause-of-the-Month: U-Lead Athens

During March, U-Lead (uleadathens.org) will receive one half of all undesignated offerings. U-Lead Athens is committed to providing equal access to higher education for students regardless of their immigration status. This group supports, guides, and empowers students to achieve their educational goals. For details, contact justice@uuathensga.org.

Help with Food Insecurity through March CANtributions

Please continue to bring non-perishable food items to Fellowship Hall’s wicker baskets. While all CANtributions are appreciated, the Athens Area Emergency Food Bank is especially in need of canned tomatoes and pork and beans during March. To give by credit card, visit uuathensga.org/give and look for “Charitable Giving.” To give by check, make the check out to UUFA and put “CANtributions 1-8016” in the memo line. You may also contribute directly to the AAEFB at their website: athensfoodbank.org   To learn more, contact justice@uuathensga.org. If you are experiencing food insecurity or know someone in our UUFA community who is, please contact Rev. Pippin (revpippin@uuathensga.org).

The Social Action Justice Team (SJAT) Holds March Diaper Drive

One in two U.S. families struggles to provide enough diapers to keep a baby or toddler clean, dry, and healthy. During the March drive, please place diaper donations in the wicker baskets at the Donations Table in the Fellowship Hall. All diaper donations will be shared with the local immigrant community through SIFIC (Support for Immigrant Families in Crisis), a part of AIRC (Athens Immigrant Rights Coalition), which is a UUFA Justice Partner. To contribute monetarily, visit the UUFA Giving page and look for “Charitable Giving” and choose “Diaper Drive” from the menu. For more information, email justice@uuathensga.org.

UUFA Justice Partner Highlights

Athens Immigrant Rights Coalition (AIRC) Meeting

All are welcome to attend the next meeting of the Athens Immigrant Rights Coalition – a UUFA Justice Partner – on March 20 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the Oconee Street United Methodist Church. For more information contact justice@uuathensga.org.

You are encouraged to visit the websites of this year’s Justice Partners to learn more about how you can support them in their important work in the Athens community. While you’re there, sign up for their individual newsletters so you can stay informed.