Sep 7, 2023 | Weekly Message
If you haven’t had a chance to notice yet, there’s a sign on my office door at the church that has these words from my friend, the author Rivera Sun:
Be kind.
Be connected.
Be unafraid.
Sometimes you really don’t need a sermon – just a wise friend reminding you of what the high road looks like.
That’s what we’re really about, we Unitarian Universalists. We like to use a lot of words to say it. We like to get really busy, trying to show it. And of course, sometimes our fear sneaks up on us. But we’re “the Love people,” (according to the world all around, who see our yellow shirts at times when it really matters) and we are trying… to be kind. To be connected. To be unafraid.
If you need some practice, all you really need to do is take a glance at this eNewsletter, or visit our website calendar and you will see that our congregational life is absolutely blooming! From our Soul Matters or Soup & Soul Suppers, to our kids and youth outings and activities or the Reproductive Justice series, to our Givens gatherings or the upcoming Yellow Brigade involvement at Blue Ridge Pride on Sept. 30th, there is something for everyone at UU Asheville. And Sundays! Well, the joy and connection then is just palpable.
So come. Join in. We’re here, being kind, connected, and unafraid.
See you in church –
With love,
Rev. Audette
Sep 5, 2023 | Faith Development
Welcome! The Soul Matters September theme is “the gift of welcome.” As we launch the new congregational year and continue to welcome guests each Sunday it is timely to explore what we mean by welcome.
How do we welcome ourselves, our beloveds and strangers in our midst?
How do we “widen the circle of welcome?
A few more questions to consider:
Who welcomed you in when you needed it most? How has that gift changed you? What would you say to the person if you had the chance?
What part of yourself is hardest to welcome in and embrace with compassion: Your vulnerable self? Your flawed self? Your easily frightened self? Your angry self?
What do you know now about welcoming in the present moment that you didn’t know when you were younger?
Theologian Joan D. Chittister said, “Hospitality is simply love on the loose.” Does that ring true for you?
Has welcoming change gotten easier or harder as you’ve grown older?
If you were asked to name 2 ways you could help make your church more welcoming, what would they be?
Opportunities for Connection: Soul matters groups are recruiting participants. We launch this month. Interested? Sign up here.
Faith Development Calendar
Sept 28 Curious Conversations: Reparations; noon-1PM; SH; bring a bagged lunch
SAVE THE DATE
Oct 1 UU Sangha Launches 1st Sunday Meditation Circle; 10-10:30AM; 23 Edwin, Parlor
Oct 4 1st Wednesday Dinner 6:00PM & Vespers 7PM
Oct. 22, 1-3 PM – A two hour introductory class on the serious and persistent mental illnesses, treatments, resources and support for the caregivers. Details here. Register here.
Dec 3 Small Groups Facilitator Meet-Up, 12:30-1:30 PM, SH
May 5 Small Groups Facilitator Meet-Up, 12:30-1:30 PM, SH
Spiritual Deepening Groups
Covenant of UU Pagans – CUUPS. Contact: Sherry Lundquist sherry_lundquist@yahoo.com
Buddhist Sanhga – meets 2nd and 4th Tuesdays at 7:30 pm in Sandburg Hall; Contact: Sequoyah Rich sequoyahrich333@gmail.com, or Stef Garvin stef@giftsintogold.com.
Soul Matters Groups – Conversation Groups, UU Writers Group and Creativity Matters group explore monthly themes Sept.- June. Contact: Rev. Claudia faithdev@uuasheville.org
Sep 3, 2023 | Justice Ministry
UU Avl Events
Sept 28 – Reparations…Continuing the Conversation
Noon-1:00 pm, Sandburg Hall; bring a bagged lunch.Facilitator: Rev. Claudia; Discussion questions and background information here
Sept 29 – UU Justice NC’s Friday Action Hour – State Budget Briefing. This week, we will be joined by Mackenzie Reedybacon, Coordinator of the NC People’s Budget Coalition. We will discuss what made it into the state budget, including the enactment of Medicaid Expansion, more tax cuts, a massive expansion of private school vouchers, inadequate state employee and teacher raises, and the expansion of power for the General Assembly regarding public records and oversight of state and local agencies receiving public funds. We’ll also receive expert analysis from our friends at the NC Budget and Tax Center about the impact of this budget and the appalling lack of transparency of the process. Join via this Zoom Link: https://zoom.us/j/91029655107 and sign up for the weekly Friday Action Hour promo email here.
Sept 30 – This year’s Blue Ridge Pride Festival is scheduled for Saturday, September 30. The theme is ADVOCATE. URU is hoping for great UUCA participation again this year. URU (Universal Rainbow Unity) invites all UUCA members and friends to join the “yellow brigade” by wearing the yellow “Side with Love” t-shirt to the Pride Festival.
Oct. 6 – Justice Ministry Film Night in person and via Zoom. The Monarch: A Butterfly Beyond Borders. The monarch butterfly is at once the most familiar and the most mysterious butterfly in the world. Today, monarchs face environmental threats at both ends of their migratory route. This beautiful documentary looks at what we now know but more importantly it reveals what we still do not know about this amazing creature. Details here for the film and special events.
Oct. 7 – UU Justice NC’s State-Wide Annual Gathering, Sat, Oct. 7 at The UU Fellowship of Raleigh. UU Justice NC is thrilled to announce our first in-person Annual Gathering since 2019. Join UUs from across the state for this celebration of our work in 2023 and a look ahead to 2024. The day will include music, panel discussions with justice partners, opportunities to connect with fellow UUs. We are also honored to welcome our keynote speaker, Serena Sebring, Executive Director of Blueprint North Carolina, who will speak about our movement to build power for an anti-racist, inclusive democracy in North Carolina. There will also be an opportunity to participate virtually. Register Here!
Community Events & Beyond
Oct. 2 – “Celebrating Intellectual Freedom: A Celebration of Banned Books”, 6:30 pm, at UNCA’s Reuter Center. Get detailshere.
Oct 3 – Common Cause North Carolina will host a statewide supporter call, open to the public, on Zoom, on Tues., Oct. 3at 6pm. We’ll be talking about the latest changes in election laws and previewing the upcoming redistricting cycle. We’ll also provide simultaneous interpretation in Spanish. All are welcome. Register Here: ccnc.me/FallCall.
Learn about & get involved with local Reparations efforts!
Reparations Summit – 10 a.m. -3 p.m. on Sat., Oct. 7 at the UNC Asheville Sherrill Center, 227 Campus Drive, Asheville. Parking and admission are free, but attendance is limited and registration is required. Click here to register. Leading up to the Summit, UNC Asheville will host two free movie nights:
“Black in Asheville” on Monday Oct. 2 at 6:30 p.m. followed by a discussion with filmmaker Todd Gragg
“The Big Payback” on Thursday, Oct. 5 at 6:30 p.m.
Details here.
October 11 – 6:30-8PM #UniteNC Tour: Accountability Town Halls hosted by Common Cause NC. Details and RSVP.
Oct. 17 – Pisgah Legal Services’ 13th Annual Justice Forum with Mathew Desmond.
