Brave Souls Wanted

Order of Service, November 12, 2017

Introduction

Hymn #188: Come Come Whoever You Are

Prelude: All Things Bright and Beautiful

Welcome and Announcements

Lighting the Chalice Flame (in unison): We light our chalice this morning, grateful for the love we experience in this beloved community. May the flame light the way for all who seek such abundance.

Opening Words

Hymn: #68 Come Ye Thankful People

Reading

Quiet Time/Meditation/Prayer

Hymn #123: Spirit of Life

Offertory:  Your Song by Elton John

Affirmation (in unison): Love is the spirit of this Congregation and service is its law. This is our great covenant: to dwell together in peace, to seek the truth in love, and to help one another.

Hymn #52: Sweet Fields of Autumn

Sermon: Paying Attention to the Ordinary  Rev Carole Yorke

Extinguishing the Chalice Flame (in unison):

We extinguish this flame, but not the light of truth, the warmth of community, or the fire of commitment. These we carry in our hearts until we are together again.

Closing Words

Postlude: In My Life  by The Beatles

Gratitude & Applause

* Please stand in body or spirit

Hearing devices, and envelopes for cash pledges are available on the hymnal cart or ask an usher.

Announcements

• Next Sunday: “Gratitude & Religion” Rev. Dan Lambert, JAM Grant Collection

• Food Items collected during the offertory are donated to the Lake Park Food Pantry,

• Shoes and Toiletry Articles collected are donated to the Haitian Community.

Gratitude

Thank you to all who contribute to our service and fellowship hour each week.

This week:

 • Music coordinator: Peilin Ko

 • Ushers: Carol Baxter and Carole Saunders

 • Cover art: Larry Stauber

 • Fellowship hour hospitality: Mary Mansfield

 And to our permanent staff:

 • Barbara Hatzfeld, office administrator

 • Willie Nelson, sexton.

 Rev. Carole Yorke has been a Unitarian Universalist minister in Florida since 1998, having served Spirit of Life UUs in Odessa, Treasure Coast UUs in Stuart, and 1stUUPB, in between and along with churches she served as a vocational counselor at the Boley Institute in St. Pete and as a Hospice Chaplain in Martin and St. Lucie Counties. Now happily retired, she lives in Port St. Lucie with her five Pomeranians and where she can attend spring training games of the New York Mets, and will preach at any UU church that needs a guest preacher.

The Story of SMART Groups

The Story of SMART (Sensible Messaging Activities To Restore Truth) Groups

A Call to Action

The country is terribly divided today on the direction in which we should be moving to address our many problems.

Surely we all want the same things: a reasonable quality of life for everyone, opportunities for our children to have a good education, and a clean and safe environment, to name just a few.

Unitarian Universalist Association past president Bill Sinkford has often voiced his concern about the growth in power of certain groups in the country that seek to make changes in our society. Changes that are in direct opposition to our Unitarian Universalist values that are consistent with long-standing and basic human and family values of all peoples.

He has noted that these groups represent special interests having goals that are often counter to the needs of the “Common Good” and he urges Unitarian Universalists to find ways to move beyond our congregational discussions and express our views more publicly.

Another past Unitarian Universalist Association president Peter Morales has voiced the same concerns as Bill Sinkford and has urged us to reach out to form coalitions with the many likeminded people who are not of our faith but hold the same values that we do.

Sensible Messaging Activity to Restore Truth groups (SMART)

Citizens groups like the one in the Venice-Sarasota area (given the name “SMART”) are one approach.

How it started

Somewhat over 10 years ago, several people were discussing a particularly offensive article in one of our local (Sarasota – Venice) newspapers. We felt strongly that the blatant misinformation in the article desperately called for a reply. We all had some experience writing letters to the editor, and thought that perhaps if we all wrote, maybe one of our letters would get published. The idea of helping one another to “speak out” in this way has quickly spread by word of mouth. Starting with our group of four, our area’s SMART group has now grown to almost 150.

The SMART group is an informal one, generally non-partisan and representing no particular organization. We write individually but support one another and share information. We don’t control what members write but the issues are most often non-partisan and we strive to write our letters in that vein. We have had many letters published, mainly as letters to editors, but we are also starting to learn to communicate our views through Facebook, blogs, Twitter and other venues.

We have a collection of letters now filed by topic, a fairly comprehensive set of talking points on many of the major issues, and other guidance on effective writing. We believe that these files will aid us in writing future letters since many of the issues seem to come up repeatedly. We would be glad to share these files with others to support the goal of having groups like SMART throughout Florida. We think this is very important as discussed further below.

We believe that it would be effective to form similar communication groups within Unitarian Universalist congregations in other areas of Florida. Surely, membership would soon spread to like-thinking non-UU neighbors as it has in the Venice-Sarasota area.

This activity is a cross-congregational effort in support of the witness of Unitarian Universalist values, but of course does not indicate any official endorsement of particular letters that may be written. The Rev. Kenneth G. Hurto, Lead Executive for the Southern Region, Unitarian Universalist Association, has supported this program with the goal of having it spread throughout the state.

In a perfect world

Ideally, if all of us were given truthful information about the issues important to us, we would be inclined to choose national leaders who would act in our best interests (and that of the Common Good). We would not have the stalemate that we now have.

Unfortunately, we are far from that ideal situation. The public often does not get truthful and complete information on the issues. Part of that is due to human nature. Once we form an opinion, we tend to stick with it. If new information is presented to us, we may rationalize our rejection of it, and may never even be aware of the new information if we have prejudged its source. (This is a whole area of discussion unto itself.)

Another problem is that there is a great deal of evidence showing the willingness for certain groups to distort information given to the public. It is in our favor that their deceit is often blatant, and if the truth is presented effectively, it can prevail.

Bottom line in a nutshell

It is being observed more and more that behind all of the hullabaloo and rhetoric, what must occur to get the country to move in any direction is this:

Those of us embracing one side’s viewpoints on the issues must convince enough people who are on the “other” side, and those who are unsure, to join with us. Only then will we elect local and national leaders who have a sufficient consensus to pass legislation to move us ahead (in some direction). Some analysts predict that this could take several election cycles.

It is the goal of groups like SMART to work toward influencing this persuasion process. We must not let the special interests overrule the needs of the rest of us, i.e., the Common Good.

Please consider starting a group like SMART in your area. It only needs one person to start…but two or three is better…(or 150).

Contact Brad Hardin bradhardin1963@gmail.com (941) 223-6849

{Your energy and creative ideas would be very welcome when we could further discuss how we can most effectively communicate our viewpoints in support of the Common Good.} 

Teaching Thursday, Nov 16

First Teaching Thursday

of the season

Nov. 16

Pot luck at 6pm

(There’s a rumor that there will be wine and beer to mark the occasion)

  

Presentation at 7pm

1. Update on Second Chance Amendment which would give felons back their voting rights once they have completed their sentence.

Americans believe in second chances. We need to make sure that Florida Law does too. Nearly 1.5 million people in Florida are permanently excluded from voting because of a prior felony conviction. Florida is one of only four states that still has a system that excludes so many people from voting. These are our family members, friends, and neighbors who have already repaid their debts to society. Now is the time to restore the ability to vote to Floridians who have earned the opportunity to participate in and give back to their communities.

2. Measures underway to challenge the "Stand Your Ground" law, which is increasing racism, sexism and homicide in Florida. In 2005, Florida became the first state in the nation to pass a Stand Your Ground law.  In 2012 in Sanford, Florida, 29-year-old George Zimmerman shot and murdered Trayvon Martin, an unarmed 17-year-old, and was found not guilty. It's more than a gun control issue and more than a black & white issue. Learn more at our event from Rhonda J. Felder, PMP, M.F.A. from Black Lives Matter Alliance of Broward.

Please join us as we explore these important Justice initiatives. Your support is essential to move our country to where there really is:

“Liberty and justice for all”

Stone Soup Nov 19

Annual Stone Soup Luncheon and Fundraiser for Charity

The folk tale “Stone Soup” teaches us the power of community and how if each one of us contributes a little, we can help others.

Join us on Sunday, November 19 after the service in Ministers Hall for our annual Stone Soup Luncheon.  All donations will go to hurricane relief for Puerto Rico.

We still need a few volunteers to make soup and bring bread and butter, so please let me know if you would like to help.  We will also have birthday cake for dessert!

   Amy Stauber:  amyuhlstauber@gmail.com

Order of Service, Nov 5, 2017

Introduction

Call to Service: Building a New Way  (see insert)

Welcome and Announcements

Lighting the Chalice Flame (in unison):

We light this flame to represent our liberal religion: A religion that stands for freedom and tolerance;  A religion that believes in the full use of reason; A religion that offers hope that we can make the world better. (Dan Harper)

*Hymn #121: We'll Build a Land

Opening Words

Quiet Time/Meditation/Prayer

Offertory: We Are ...

Affirmation (in unison) Love is the spirit of this Congregation and service is its law. This is our great covenant: to dwell together in peace, to seek the truth in love and to help one another.

Responsive Reading #466: "Religion"

*Hymn #123: Spirit of Life

Sermon: "What does it mean to be a Liberal Religion?"          Rev. Dr. Dan Lambert

*Hymn #163: For the Earth Forever Turning

Extinguishing the Chalice Flame (in unison)
We extinguish this flame, but not the light of truth, the warmth of community, or the fire of commitment. These we carry in our hearts until we are together again.

Closing Words

Postlude: Standing on the Side of Love 

Gratitude & Applause

* Please stand in body or spirit

Hearing devices, and envelopes for cash pledges are available on the hymnal cart or ask an usher.

Gratitude

Thank you to all who contribute to our service
and fellowship hour each week. This week:

·       Music coordinator: Peilin Ko

·       Ushers: Harry & Karen Wolin

·       Cover art: Larry Stauber

·       Fellowship hour hospitality: Hazel Burke

And to our permanent staff:

·       Barbara Hatzfeld, office administrator

·       Willie Nelson, sexton.

Rev. Dr. Dan Lambert serves 1stUUPB as our part-time Ministerial Leader. He can be
reached by email at RevDan@lstuupb.org or by calling the office.

Announcements:

Next Sunday: “Concerning the Ordinary” the Rev Carole Yorke

Food items collected during the offertory are donated to the Lake Park Food Pantry.

Shoes and toiletry articles collected are donated to the Haitian community