Unitarian Universalist Church of the Restoration

Home

Table of Contents

WORDS OF INSPIRATION

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENTS

UPCOMING EVENTS

RECURRING EVENTS

NEWS AND INFORMATION

GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS


Administrative Office Hours

Wednesday: 11:00 am - 7:00 pm
Thursday: 11:00 am - 7:00 pm
Friday: 10:00 am - 6:00 pm

Email the Office
or phone 215-247-2561.

If you need to reach Desi
you can call or text her on her
cell at 267-595-3250 - 24/7.

Minister's Office Hours

Tuesday, Wednesday and
Thursday by Appointment

Email the Minister
or phone 806-786-9733.

This page lists events that occur at our facility. For other activities, please visit the
Events & Activites , Folk Factory, Greater Philly UU Cluster, and Social Justice pages.


Updated: Monday, March 18 —

Sunday services begin at 11 am in the sanctuary immediately followed by refreshments and conversation in our Fellowship Hall.
Both spaces are air conditioned in the summer for your comfort.

We are Accessible for those with Disabilities!

Restoration features a ramp to the main sanctuary level and a recently completed wheelchair lift and accessible restrooms on both the main and lower levels. CHECK HERE for photos.

WORDS OF INSPIRATION

Upcoming Worship Services

March's Theme is "Transformation"

Past services you wish to re-watch, are available HERE.


Sunday, March 17 - "Pockets of Connectivity"
Join Intern Minister Shaie D and Worship Associate Steve W for a reflective service on deepening pockets of connectivity with self, community, and beyond. Through song and word we'll invite vulnerability in and explore possible seeds of inspiration for transformation.

From Our Intern Minister

It's been a part of who I am my whole life—sometimes, I'm so pensive and reflective that I'm unable to express my thoughts in verbal or written form. It usually happens when I've become oversaturated with reading and taking care of multiple tasks. The way that I'm able to navigate my learning disabilities falters, and I get stuck and/or scrambled. When people ask me to describe what it feels like, I often use the analogy of riding a bike when the chain drops - how you keep pedaling until it rights itself (1970s style!!!). Sometimes, it works, and sometimes, you walk your bike home. Either way, it's disheartening because you know how different it feels - how you're feeling free one moment and the next, you're struggling, practically catching your ankle on the chain or the metal pedal, using all your muscles to move the bike and to not fall over. During my formative years- elementary through college - the effects on my spirit varied—I would get moody and shut down or get angry and yell. I often felt overwhelmed, lost, or depressed. My Mom would experience the brunt of my emotions. I can remember arguing with her til I cried, and as my energy was shifting, she would say to me, "Sharon, what are you really upset about?" She knew I had to travel through the eruption until I could figure out what was wrong and what I was grappling with. She knew that I was tired and that I was bringing all of my anxiousness home with me - none of this behavior ever exhibited itself in school settings. But I remember her telling me that I was going to have to learn to control my anger because other people weren't going to understand it or want to deal with it.

In young adulthood, I occasionally stumbled and was less than caring towards others because I was stressed out and judging myself so harshly. to read the entire article...

RE Corner with Elizabeth Ann

THEME OF THE YEAR: THE GIFTS OF OUR UU FAITH
THEME OF THE MONTH: THE GIFT OF TRANSFORMATION

Last week in the sanctuary we explored the story: "The Answer is No", a story about decision making, adaptability and how the answer to a question can be "No", "Yes" or "Under Construction". Many thanks to those who helped to tell the story.

As the Islamic observance of Ramadan started at sundown last Sunday. RE Assistant, Lena, shared reflections on being Muslim and how her family observes Ramadan. Thank you, Lena!

During March, the theme of "The Gifts of Transformation", has us considering various ways in we and the world around us is transformed. The transformation of a caterpillar into a butterfly is most familiar. Students and teachers are enjoying butterfly stickers and magnets. Please stop by the RE classrooms on the second floor for your sticker!

Want to know more about butterflies, check out this video.

Yours in Faith,
Elizabeth Ann Terry she.her.hers

Back to Top of Page

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENTS

Caring for Our Shared Spaces

Dear UU Mt Airy Community,
We are fortunate to have a lovely sanctuary, a beautifully spruced-up meeting space in Hale Lounge, a spacious event venue in Fellowship Hall, and a small but efficient kitchen to support the activities of our congregation. But recently I have noticed that we are sometimes forgetting to clean up after meetings and events, or we've failed to return items to their rightful places. These little "forgettings" place a burden on the next person or group that wants to use a particular space and finds it dirty, and encourages pests.
So, I am writing to lovingly remind you that we are stewards of our building and share the responsibility of caring for it. If you are in a group that meets in the building or sponsors an event, please make sure that everyone takes a look around before leaving. Return CLEAN cups or dishes to the kitchen, empty and wash the coffee carafes if you've used them, and dispose of trash in the dumpster outside. Leave the room and the building the way you want to find it when you arrive for your next meeting. By doing so you show that you care for our community.

Thank you. Brenda R

Exciting All-Church Activities

We're excited to announce a series of all-church events that everyone is invited to participate in, to volunteer for, or to facilitate! to continue reading...

Coffee Hour this Sunday, March 17

Join us this Sunday for Coffee Hour in Fellowship Hall following worship service. Catch up with old friends or meet new ones.

Hospitality

Curious about how hospitality works at UU Mt Airy? You can still join one of the 3 teams and get the inside scoop on what we do. Just use this Google sheet..

Thank you!
Brenda R

Change for Change: March

The Justice Council has designated Heeding God's Call To End Gun Violence as our March recipient for Change for Change.

"Heeding God’s Call to End Gun Violence" seeks to energize the Philadelphia faith community to actively seek an end to gun violence through public witness and policy advocacy.

"Heeding God’s Call" promotes public witness and calls to action through Gun Violence Awareness Days, Murder Site Witness events, and Memorials to the Lost®. These engagements offer opportunities for education as well as for individual and community healing.

"Heeding God’s Call" works through faithful public policy advocacy -engagement mobilizes people toward policy that includes voter guides,

letter writing campaigns, and direct, in-person lobbying. Once interfaith community members are educated, they are ready to participate in advocacy that involves visiting their legislators in Harrisburg. Public witness, calls to action, and policy advocacy allow “Heeding God’s Call” to build a campaign by involving the public, media, and legislators to enact common sense gun laws like One Handgun a Month.

UUsMtAiry are honored to display A Memorial to the Lost® from March 2-16 in front of our church. This Memorial is a unique, visible education tool to honor victims of gun violence and their surviving families. Tee-shirts with names and dates of those murdered by gun violence will be displayed so that community members may experience, in a tangible way, the loss of life and disruption of lives that gun violence creates.

To nominate an organization for future Change for Change designation: Contact: Rita F, 215-407-0576

Linking to the Worship Service

Reminder that there are two ways to watch worship:
  1. Click the blue "Live Streaming" arrow on the homepage of this website: www.uumtairy.org
  2. The Zoom link that will be opened after the service has been changed because security protocols on their end. If you are a congregant of ours, look at the weekly eNewsletter from our Admin Administrator for the new link and the new password.

Back to Top of Page

UPCOMING EVENTS

Sunday, March 24 —

Town Hall Meeting: Listening Session about Gaza/Israel/Hamas

The war between Hamas and Israel is complicated and difficult to understand. We come from many different backgrounds and levels of knowledge.

At the Listening Session on February 25, there was a desire expressed to have a conversation on this topic with our wider congregation. The Board is inviting everyone to attend a Town Hall Meeting to continue listening to each other on this topic. We will hear what the UUA has said on the topic, and listen to each other's feelings and thoughts about what has happened and how our UU values and Principles relate. Rev. McKinley and others will help facilitate these conversations. Everyone is welcome and encouraged to come! We will meet after the worship service and a little coffee hour, at around 12:45pm, in the Sanctuary.

Thursday, March 28 —

Dreams to Reality: Finding our Garden Path(s)
Thursday, March 28, In-Person

Everyone is welcome. Adam Hill, from the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, will share his knowledge and experience of urban communal gardening as we explore what it takes to start a garden, from vision to soil testing to volunteers to potential community impacts. We will meet in Hale Lounge at 7:30. In-person attendance to welcome Adam would be appreciated. Zoom will be available.

Thursday, April 4 —

Folk Factory People's Choice Open Stage/Open Circle
(in person/hybrid)

Thursday, April 4 at 7:30pm in Fellowship Hall (& Zoom)

The Folk Factory will have its third in-person/hybrid People's Choice Open Stage/Open Circle of the 2023-24 season on Thursday, April 4, from 7:30-10:30pm, in Fellowship Hall. This had been previously advertised to be on March 21 or March 28, but will in fact be on April 4. In the first half, performers sign up for slots to perform (music, spoken word, or whatever) on the stage. For this part, the audience gets to vote on their favorite acts (top vote-getters get invited to perform in the June People's Choice concert!). The second half is a more informal sharing in a circle, usually involving a lot of singalongs and songs people are trying out for the first time. Admission is $2-5 per person, on a sliding scale, half for low-wage or no-wage folks, with a $1 discount if you mention you are a UUs of Mt. Airy member or friend. There will be snacks and beverages, for a free-will donation. If you or someone you know are an aspiring performer, the Open Stage is a great opportunity to perform for an audience who will actually listen to you, and get a chance for a gig in the June People's Choice Concert! If you just like to listen to good music, and maybe sing along occasionally, you are also welcome! Our motto is "Music and progressive social change".

Sunday, April 7 —

Let's Make the First Sunday of Every Month
be a Souper Sunday!

Bring a can of soup (healthy and not expired) to our wonderful community fridge. If we all did this, we would really be helping our neighbors. Thanks!

Tuesday, April 9 —

Communications Meeting, Open to All, Tuesday, April 9

The Communications team is meeting again on Tuesday, April 9, 7:30 pm, on Zoom. We will review comprehensive notes from our initial discussion; hear feedback about suggestions recently implemented re our newsletter; admire our new brochure by Brenda and Linda; and identify priorities and next steps. Cathy McC.

Sunday, April 14 —

2nd Sunday Potluck

Sunday, April 14 —

Mark Your Calendar: Jazz Vespers with Greg Moore Quintet
Sunday, April 14, 3:30pm, in Sanctuary!

Following up on our successful Jazz Vespers in January, we will be holding a second Jazz Vespers on Sunday, April 14, starting at 3:30pm, in the Sanctuary. This will feature the Greg Moore Quintet, who played in a worship service for us a couple of months ago. Keep an eye out for more details in future newsletters!


Back to Top of Page

RECURRING EVENTS

Newsletter Deadlines —

Deadline for the Weekly eNewsletter

Please send your articles to the Admin Assistant by
4:00 on Wednesday for insertion in the weekly eNewsletter.

Deadline for the Summer
Quarterly eNewsletter

Please send your articles to Jane H by
4:00 on Wednesday, May 22, 2024
for insertion in the quarterly eNewsletter.

Every Day —

Mt. Airy Pantry

If you are interested in joining the team, fill out the VOLUNTEER FORM. We will keep you posted on new developments. You can or call Courtney at 610-731-9452. Also, be sure to follow us on Instagram @mtairyfridge. CLICK HERE for more specific information about contributions.

For more information, please visit our WEBSITE

Every Thursday —

Line Dance Classes

Every Thursday, 6 pm —

Join Us at Our Weekly Black Lives Matter Vigil every Thursday

Please join us to show our concerns about racism and white supremacy every Thursday. We line Stenton Avenue with our signs (and get tons of supportive honks) from 6-6:30pm, then join electronically with our vigil keepers at home from 6:30-7pm. During the second portion we light candles, learn about black history and share inspirational readings, music, and concerns. history.

Back to Top of Page

NEWS AND INFORMATION

Community Garden Dreams Take Root

A group met in February to imagine how the land we occupy here at Stenton and Gorgas could be opened up to our community for our mutual nutritional and spiritual sustenance. Visions of a three-sisters garden of corn, squash, and beans, a natural sanctuary of peace and beauty, a vegetable garden for educating children and stocking the pantry, a labyrinth edged in herbs, a play space, and a site for music and storytelling were all conjured up. This group is also interested in learning and applying indigenous practices and working with a reparations heart-and-mindset of restoring and building relationships with the earth and each other.

Next steps include organizing volunteers and identifying leadership, surveying the grounds for growing conditions, and researching soil testing services, raised beds, and community garden support from the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society. Look for dates of upcoming events in future newsletters. Contact: Cathy McC, 267 972-1121

Fundraiser Update

The Carnaval in Rio fundraiser was a success! Many thanks to those who contributed services and events, and to all those who bid on those offerings so generously. Although the event has officially ended there are still a number of items that are still available to bid upon. If you're interested in bidding, please contact the person who has offered the event or service or email Stephen W for additional details. All proceeds will benefit the treasury of UUs of Mt. Airy Here are some items you may want to consider:
  • An Evening of Soup-Salad and Crafting, offered by Linda P-J and Cathy M: Friday, March 15, in Hale Lounge. 6 spots available for a donation of $15 per person

  • Lebanese Dinner, offered by Bethe O: Saturday, March 23, at Bethe's home in Jenkintown. An unlimited number of spaces are available for a donation of $40 per person.
    to see all the events...
  • Full Moon Labyrinth Walk, offered by Bernadette L-S Sunday, March 24, at St. Thomas Church in Flourtown. 10 spots remain available for a donation of $15 per person.

  • Cherry Blossom Picnic in Fairmount Park, offered by Linda H: Mother Nature will determine the timing of this event (pending the blossoms' schedule and likely early April). 4 spots remain available for a donation of $15 per person.

Want to be Part of the Pledge Drive Team?

We will be putting together a team to organize and run our Pledge Drive for the 2004-2005 fiscal year. This will make it possible for us to continue all the great things happening at UUMtAiry and maybe even add some new ones. If you are interested in helping out with this effort, please contact Bruce P-J.

Long-Range Planning: Want to Help Organize our Process?

The Board has decided it is a good time to do some long-range planning as a congregation, since it's been a while since we last did it. We are hoping to set up a process that will begin this coming year, probably in September. If you are interested in helping organize that effort, please contact Bruce P-J - we will probably try to have an initial meeting soon.

Pastoral Care Team Update

Each one of us can use some help and support at times in navigating life's ups and downs. Now there is an easy way to contact the Pastoral Care Team if you or someone you know needs a helping hand.

UUMtAiry has a convenient request/referral form that goes directly to Rev. McKinley and Care Team Coordinators. Within 24-48 hours a Care Team volunteer will acknowledge your request and have either the minister or a team member contact you. You can find the link to the request form below. Before contacting the Care Team, please keep the following in mind:

  • Pastoral Care contact is not counseling or therapy, nor should it be used for emergencies.
  • Requests for Care Team support is voluntary. If you are referring another person for follow-up, please speak to them and obtain permission to contact the Care Team.
  • If you prefer to contact Rev. McKinley directly, please call for an appointment at (806) 786-9733, or send email to him. to read more...

Have You Seen our Google Calendar?

We're working on making this ultra-functional. Soon, group leaders can add their classes, meetings, and notes to this calendar for easy access. Office hours, RE times, and maybe even worship topics will be listed as far in advance as we can make them. For now, you can find it on our homepage: (Click on Calendar on the left side of the page!)

Or go to it directly below (bookmark with Ctrl+D or CMD+D):
https://calendar.google.com/calendar/u/0/embed?src=minister@uumtairy.org&ctz=America/New_York

Ministerial Discretionary Fund

Any one who would like to donate to the emergency fund that goes towards our most vulnerable members can do so by sending in a check earmarked for "Min. Disc. Fund" or contacting McKinley directly to donate electronically. We have helped ease the strain of Covid-19 for some of our most directly impacted folks. Your donations go a long way, and offerings are always greatly appreciated.

Looking for the Latest Congregational Directory?

... directions to a friend's home, or your latest identified donation statement?

Find all this by clicking the DIRECTORY & CONTRIBUTIONS button at the right. From the ICON homepage, you can edit your own information (illustrated below on the left) or change your password on the Settings page (circled on the right).


If you attach a photo to an email and send it to either the Office or the Webmaster, we will be happy to add it to your profile.

Forgot your username or password?
Email the Office and request a new one.

Back to Top of Page

 

GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS

Hale Hall Doors

It is imperative that we remember that both front and back doors to Hale Hall remain locked at all times. This means even during meetings and Sunday services. Please do not let anyone into Hale Hall that you do not personally know is safe at any time. During services, all members, friends and congregants should come in the sanctuary door. Thank you for your cooperation.

Another Way to
Stay In Touch

If you use Facebook, please join the congregation's group page. You can learn more about what's going on in our community and you can post your own thoughts, poems, prayers... https://www.facebook.com/groups/39131276017/

Work Request Forms

If you are requesting work to be done, please complete the appropriate colored work request form located on the office door. Once your form is completed, place it in the bin labeled Administrative Assistant also hanging on the office door.

For those who do not frequently visit in person, you can send your request via email to the Administrative Office.

Pink - Request for Administrative Assistant
Yellow - Request for voucher check
Blue - Request for the custodian

Please Hang Up Your Coats

Do not leave your coats on the chairs in the Fellowship Hall or the pews in the Library. They take up valuable space that we need for seating during Coffee Hour. Please hang your coats on the rack in the hallway just outside the Fellowship Hall so that everyone can sit comfortably.
Back to Top of Page