Dedicated Grant Collection for EMA, March 19

On Sunday, March 19, 1stUUPB there will be a dedicated grant collection for EMA (Emergency Medical Assistance). EMA provides financial assistance to women who have made the decision to terminate their pregnancies but can't afford the cost of a safe and legal abortion. Their mission is to help make every child a wanted child. EMA is a private, independent agency founded in 1973 by 1stUUPB member Harriette Glasner. The majority of those helped are single, impoverished, unemployed or underemployed mothers with one or more children. EMA preserves clients' privacy and dignity while ensuring high quality and safe medical care when they face this difficult situation.  In light of our current political situation EMA's services are more important than ever.  Please bring a generous check made out to 1stUUPB with EMA on the memo line.  Thanks for your generosity.

Third Saturday JAM Film, March 18

The movie selection for March is The Stanford Prison Experiment 

In 1971, Stanford University Professor Dr. Philip Zimbardo cast 24 male student volunteers as prisoners and guards in a simulated jail to examine the source of abusive behavior in the prison system. The results astonished the world, as participants went from middle-class undergrads to drunk-with-power sadists and submissive victims in just a few days. Based on a true story. Film starts at 12:30pm.

NewsTalk Topics for March 12

- the revised travel ban executive order

- Trump connections with Russia?

- Pence's private email

- transgender issues

- Trump and the media

- is Trump revising his policies?

Norton Museum Tour, March 29

Natalie Lederer will lead a tour of the Norton Museum especially for UUs on March 29 at 10:30am.
Please RSVP -- call 790-5981.

We will explore abstract art, beginning with this month's Spotlight selection. It features renowned contemporary artist Spencer Finch. His work is about light, color, and the passage of time. He is interested in depicting a world that is experienced differently by each of us -- our reactions to nature and to popular culture.

Finch's abstract, yet personal work is on permanent display at the entrance to the 9/11 Memorial Museum in New York City. Called Trying to Remember the Color of the Sky on That Morning, it depicts 2,983 sheets of paper painted with varying shades of blue, representing each person who perished that day.

We shall view and discuss his take on an Apple Tree and on the Wizard of Oz movie, as well as related works in the permanent collection.

Service: March 5

At the sound of the chime, please join in singing Hymn #188 Come, Come, Whoever You Are

Welcome & Announcements

Prelude:  Wayfarin Stranger Spiritual

Opening Words

Lighting the Chalice Flame (in unison):

We call this light before us in hope that we may always remain a strong community, working together to make the world a better place. This flame guides us out of darkness. The chalice reminds us to share our happiness with others.

*Hymn: #100 I’ve got Peace like a River

Candles of Joy and Sorrow and Meditation  

Reading:  To Recognize Our Humanity

                       by Peg Fagan           

           

Offertory:    Deep River Spiritual

 

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: #318 We Would Be One

                   

Sermon:    The Underbelly of the Palm

                    Beaches

                     Rev. CJ McGregor

*Hymn: #346 Come, Sing a Song with Me

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:   Singing Bowl Meditation

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.

This Week

Today: Nursery is open at 10:15am. Social Hour 11:30am in Ministers Hall. Sanctuary Services Group Meeting 12:05pm in the Sanctuary. Pagans Coffee Meet Up 1pm in Ministers Hall.

Monday: Membership Committee Meeting 7pm at Gary Evans home.

Tuesday:  Men’s Group dinner at La Bamba 6:30pm.

Wednesday: Poetry Workshop 6:30pm in Ministers Hall.

Thursday: JAM Book Discussion 4pm in the Margaret Fuller Room. Teaching Thursday Community Meal 6 pm (MH).  7pm Program:

 Gus Rubeiz “The Trump approach may not help the Israel/Palestine peace process” MH.

Friday: Art Studio 6pm in Ministers Hall.

Saturday: Second Saturday Book Group in the Sanctuary at 10 am.

Sunday:  News Talk 9:15am in Ministers Hall  

Joys and Concerns

·        Reach out to Betty Crowe as she is home after a hospitalization. Cards and calls are appreciated.

·        Keep Sylvia Jones in your thoughts. Cards are appreciated.

Gratitude

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

·        Chalice Lighter: Joe Suhrbur

·        Ushers: Nickie Albert & Vangie Gruen

·        Cover Art: Larry Stauber

           Fellowship Hour Hospitality: Beverly McGrane

Teaching Thursday Schedule for March and April

Dear Members and Friends of 1stUUPB,

The Teaching Thursdays season reaches a climax in March and the first week of April with a mixture of three  penetrating insights into American foreign policy and two inspiring presentations on tips for personal well being. While the season officially ends with Bob Ashmore’s presentation on April 6, we are tentatively adding two bonus sessions on the two Thursdays in April leading up to the 1stUUPB ANNUAL MEETING on Sunday, April 23.

Here is your Teaching Thursdays schedule for the rest of the season.

March 2  Bob Burns – America’s Decision to Fight in Vietnam: The Historical Blindness of  Reflexive Anti-Communism

The title speaks for itself. Bob, a new 1stUUPB member, will speak with unusual authority on the topic. He was a draftee who served as a sergeant in the Signal Corps in Vietnam from 1969 to 1970. He later became a history professor serving as chairman of the History Department at Choate Rosemary Hall, a New England Prep School.   

March 9   Gus Rubeiz – The Trump approach may not help the Israel/Palestine peace process.

               

This title also speaks for itself. Gus also brings unusual authority to his topic with his background as a professor of sociology, a career spent negotiating closer relations among the religions of the Middle East, and a native of the region.

                

March 16  Russell Bourne –Let’s trade ideas. An interactive session with an eminent clinical psychologist about anything and everything.

He’s back. One, of many, highlights of last year’s season was Dr. Bourne’s highly interactive presentation on this topic. He comes to us with his freewheeling conversational take on words, thoughts and ideas.

March 23 Andrew Kahn – Japan and China: Conflict in the East China Sea

Last year’s presentation on China by past 1stUUPB Andrew was another highlight of last year’s Teaching Thursdays season. He’s back with a presentation which covers the relationship between these two countries in terms of (1) the continuing issue of Japanese imperialism in China during the 19^th and 20^th centuries, (2) conflicts over sovereignty in the East China Sea, (3) their  economic relationships  and (4) their respective military strengths.

              

March 30  Rich Palermo – A Brief History of the American Labor Movement

Rich will present a fascinating story of  the origins, conflicts, ascendancy and demise of organized labor in the United States.

April 6 Bob Ashmore –  Our Well-Being as We Age: Preserving and Improving our Physical, Mental and Emotional Health.

Bob will share research-based findings with us. Handouts will amplify the presentation on this grand finale of the 2017 Teaching Thursday season.

April 13 and April 20    Annual Meeting Previews

We have set aside these two Thursdays for interactive learning sessions which will enable members to learn more about our Congregation’s future. Our plan is to have the first session deal with present and future financial matters and the second to cover the major non-financial aspects of our Congregational life. However, we have asked our president and the board to make the final decisions regarding the content of these two sessions.

In closing, we want to thank all of this year’s presenters for the insights, entertainment and stimulating thoughts which they shared with us. And thanks to all the rest of you whose participation let the presenters know that their efforts were worthwhile. Thanks, also, to Barbara Hatzfeld for organizing the community meals which preceded the programs and for taking care of scheduling matters.

Rich Palermo and Dick Hattwick

2017 ACLU Annual Meeting & Harriete S. Glasner Award Ceremony

Please join us for the 2017 ACLU Annual Meeting and an afternoon of light refreshments as we celebrate the 2017 Harriette S. Glasner Freedom Award Recipient, the Honorable Moses Baker, Circuit Court of the Fifteenth Judicial Circuit in Palm Beach County.

The meeting and ceremony will take place on Sunday, March 12, 2017 from 2 to 4pm at the Community Foundation of Palm Beach and Martin Counties, 700 S. Dixie Ave., West Palm Beach, FL 33401 

For questions and to RSVP, contact pbc.aclu@gmail.com

For decades, Judge Moses Baker  has devoted special attention to improving the juvenile justice system and ending the school-to-prison pipeline. He has been a consistent voice in the fight to advocate for resources for at-risk youth in Palm Beach County by providing alternative and pre-arrest diversion programs for common youth misbehavior.

The afternoon will also feature a keynote address from Kirk Bailey, political director of the ACLU of Florida, on the theme “Challenges to the ACLU in 2017.”

The annual meeting and award ceremony is free and open to the public, but you must RSVP to pbc.aclu@gmail.com.

ABOUT THE HARRIETTE S. GLASNER FREEDOM AWARD

The Harriette S. Glasner Freedom Award is presented for “Lifelong Devotion to Civil Liberties” by the Palm Beach Chapter of the ACLU of Florida.
It was first given in 1994, and its recipients include former Congressmen Harry Johnston, anti-death penalty advocate Richard Greene, attorney Frank Kreidler, attorney William Holland (who led the fight to de-segregate Palm Beach County schools), and Senior Circuit Judge Edward Rogers.

ABOUT THE HONORABLE MOSES BAKER

Judge Baker is a 1973 Magna Cum Laude graduate of Florida A&M University and of the University of Florida College of Law. During his law school career, Judge Baker received the prestigious American Jurisprudence Award (Book Award) for Evidence II.

Judge Baker has presented numerous speeches and lectures through the United States and currently serves on the faculty for the Prosecutor/Public Defender Training Program and Trial Advocacy Seminar held at the University of Florida College of Law.  Judge Baker has also served on the faculty of the National College of Advocacy of the Association of Trial Lawyers of America. In 1993, Judge Baker was recognized as an Advocate by the National College of Advocacy.  In 1994, he became a member of the Board of Directors at the Florida Chapter of the Associates of Family Conciliation Court.

Judge Baker, throughout his life, has been extremely active in the affairs of his community and has held leadership positions in the following organizations: Urban League of Palm Beach County, Vision Teen Parenting Foundation, Boys & Girls Club of West Palm Beach, Goodwill Industries, Community Foundation for Palm Beach and Martin Counties and served on the Advisory Board of Directors of the Boys Scouts of America.

Judge Baker has received numerous awards and recognition for his work in his community, including but not limited to the following: Outstanding Achievement Award presented by Mt. Olive Baptist Church, Community Service Award presented by Tabernacle Baptist Church, Recognition Award presented by Minority Law Enforcement Council, Recognition Award of Appreciation presented by Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Award for Outstanding Services from the Guardian ad Litem statewide program (Florida), and Community Relations Award for providing alternative students with various choices to learning styles from the Black Educators Caucus of Palm Beach County.  He is a recipient of the Trail Blazer Award for his service to the children of Palm Beach County and the 2014 Jurist of the Year presented by the South Palm Beach County Bar Association.