Share the Plate
November Share the plate
Volunteer Way for holiday/Christmas dinners
The month-long collection for November will be the Volunteer Way providing holiday dinners. You can send in a check in the mail or via Paypal. Be sure to specify what is for Share the Plate and what is your pledge/weekly donation.
Warning to people who send checks via mail to church:.
We think we heard from everyone about the lost/stolen checks. Some of the money has been recovered. Please work through your financial institution about the illegal cashing of the check if you still think your check was compromised. Also send an email to Dan at spiritolifeuu@gmail.com ASAP if you feel your check was stolen, so that we can compile a list and notify the police and post office.
These are trying times and we are all saddened that someone would do this. If you would like to switch to pay by PayPal that is a more secure way to contribute.
Weekly Virtual Sermons
| Date | Sermon Title | Taught By/Description |
| 11/1/2020 | All Saints Day | Nancy Stigaard |
| 11/8/20 | Prerecorded speaker | |
| 11/15/20 | WATER COMMUNION | |
| 11/22/20 | Guest speaker | Patrick Munsell |
| 11/29/20 | Thanksgiving day reconsidered | Rev Bob Murphy |
In celebration of All Saints Day (11/1), we will be spending time during the sermon celebrating the memory of loved ones who have passed away. If you would like to participate during the sermon in sharing memories, you can show a picture or memento and spend a few minutes sharing your memory of them and how they affected you. To make sure that all members are able to participate, we ask that you end your turn after a maximum of five minutes.
Attending Sermons:
In the continuing service of the health and safety of congregation members and guests, Spirit of Life Unitarian Universalists is extending our hiatus from public, in-person services. All worship services will be conducted via Zoom (a video conferencing platform), until further notice. Click here if you would like to download the Zoom application to your computer.
Here are the instructions to watch and participate remotely in the service Spirit of Life UU, every Sunday at 11am EST:
- Email spiritolifeuu@gmail.com to request a zoom link prior to Sunday (if you’re able to).
- On Sunday morning, grab a cup of coffee, juice or tea (optional), then
- Prepare your laptop or desktop and space for the service,
- Make sure your is camera on and has the background you prefer (the moderator will handle muting of microphones), then
- Go to the Zoom link you received in your email – You may have to download the application if you have not used it before. It’s a safe app. You can find Zoom tutorials here, if interested in exploring the platform further.
- Then sit back and enjoy! We are so glad you are joining this Sunday’s service.
BUILDING YOUR OWN THEOLOGY
This was sparked by Tobi’s service on her journey to UU. She said we started as a religion of ‘No’ and she needed to figure out what were the ‘Yeses’. So far 5 people have expressed an interest in doing a workshop. Bob Murphy has agreed to lead it. Several years ago I did this with his wife, Lyn Dassel leading it. I found it really helpful defining for myself what I believe. So far people have expressed that we hold our sessions in the evenings once a week for the 10 sessions. We have not determined a start date yet although January/February are looking hopeful. Preferences for that would be welcome. Please email me at spiritolifeuu@gmail.com if you are interested.
– Nancy Stigaard
SLUU ANNOUNCEMENTS
Our community garden needs some volunteers to adopt a bed. There is still plenty of space available. Please send an email to spiritolife@gmail.com if you’d like to join in.
Orange Coast UU Church would like to invite you to the third annual Wild and Scenic Environmental Family Film Festival. This year, it is virtual, so fellow UU’s from all over can watch high quality films about the environment from the safety and comfort of their homes. Orange Coast UU Church embraces social activism, the 7th Principle, and fun! The films in the festival range from a few minutes to 20 minutes and all are included for a very reasonably priced ticket, starting at under $20 – for the whole household! The proceeds go to the Orange Coast UU Church New Sanctuary fund.
Dear Friends,
I usually read the article I wrote last year for inspiration and “snippets” I can use.
Last year at this time we were so busy! Lots of activities—from the Annual Thanksgiving and concerts, field trips and personal travel. Leaf peeping in New England and a visit from the Dutch cousin kids, who got to experience their first American Halloween! Planning for the holiday season is such fun!
Well here we are a year later. Hard to believe how much has changed.
We are not having the all church Thanksgiving in person. No field trips. Any concerts will be on zoom. No visitors, no travel.
How depressing. How sad.
What are you planning for the holiday season? Are you planning anything at all? Are you going to travel?
We had decided to skip Halloween and be one of those houses with the lights off. Of course in past years we have learned that lights off doesn’t mean the bell doesn’t ring. We changed our minds and decided to have a bowl of candy at the front door for people to help themselves. I can only imagine how many pieces each kid will take. But when it is gone, it is gone! And we have a camera doorbell so I can watch them (and scare them!)
We will probably have a quiet Thanksgiving for 2 at home. Publix does sell Lil Butterball turkeys! We could do a zoom Thanksgiving……??
As far as December holiday plans, Christmas morning around the laptop on zoom?? Best we can do.
What ideas or suggestions do you have to make this holiday season more festive? There is going to be a holiday service the Sunday before Christmas. And we can do the Chanukah service (with zoom dreidel party?) Let’s be creative and aim for as much “normalcy” as possible.
Reach out to me with your ideas for this holiday season. Let’s see what we can do to make it festive, joyous and happy.
Stay well and don’t forget to VOTE!!
In love and faith,
Diana
Spirit of Life Unitarian Universalists 