White Bear THE NEWS Unitarian Universalist WEEKLY Church March 15 - 21, 2020 328 Maple Street | Mahtomedi, MN 55115 | Phone: 651.426.2369 | wbuuc.org CORONAVIRUS UPDATE We are carefully watching updates from the MN Dept. of Health, local school districts, and other sources, and we are committed to best practices for individual and community wellness. Let’s stay healthy by refraining for now from handshakes and hugs here at church. A warm and friendly smile will welcome visitors wholeheartedly, and greet old friends just fi ne. Many in our community are holding concerns not only about the virus itself, but about travel, work, sick leave, childcare and more. As ever, our Pastoral Care team, RE staff, and ministers are available for support in these uncertain times. Stay Safe! If you are sick, stay home. Let us know and we will reach out to you. ~ Rev. Victoria Safford, [email protected], 651.426.2369 x101 FACING RACE UPDATE EARTH MINISTRY UPDATE Westminster Forum Ice Out—Coming Soon to a Lake Near You Tuesday, May 12 at 12pm A sure sign of spring is open water on lakes. Data Eddie Glaude, Jr.: James Baldwin’s (1950 to present) tells us to expect ice out of Lessons on Race in America area lakes during the fi rst week of April (yellow Westminster Presbyterian Church points on the map). Minnesota ice out dates in 1200 Marquette Ave, Minneapolis other regions vary between May 5 (dark pink) and Eddie Glaude, Jr. is a Professor at Princeton March 25 (orange points). University and chair of the Department of African Ice melt is effected by the jet stream’s infl uence American Studies. His forthcoming book, Begin on temperature and precipitation, snow Again: James Baldwin’s America and Its Urgent accumulation, and ice depth. But when is ice on Lessons for Our Own, will be published in April a lake “out”? The DNR says the defi nition of lake 2020. He holds a bachelor’s degree in political ice out can vary from lake to lake. For the citizen science from Morehouse College, a master’s in observers reporting data, ice out occurs when African American studies from Temple University, the lake is completely free of ice. Or, it may also and a Ph.D. in religion from Princeton University. be when a lake is 90 percent free of ice. Each His scholarly pursuits and public service were observer uses consistent criteria from year to year, shaped by his years growing up in the coastal town but criteria may be somewhat different between of Moss Point, Mississippi. This is a free event. observers. Volunteer to be a citizen observer at: Poor People’s Campaign Mass Assembly dnr.state.mn.us/climate/index.html & Moral March | June 20, 2020 poorpeoplescampaign.org/committee/minnesota SPRINGTIME ICE OUT Rev. Dr. William Barber urges us to get on buses this third week of June, singing and riding our way to the Mass Assembly and Moral March in Washington, D.C. on Saturday, June 20, 2020. Visit the Minnesota chapter page on the National Poor People’s Campaign website to sign up and receive info. The local Minnesota PPC chapter will be releasing more information soon about buses leaving from the Minnesota area. and spend their shift (breakfast, lunch, or dinner) Social Justice inviting friends and family to their restaurant, Another Chance to Promote Gun Safety Laws greeting and thanking diners, passing out “I ate” Wednesday, Mar. 18 at the State Capitol stickers, and collecting donations. Additional WBUUC’s Gun Sense Action Group invites volunteers are also needed to assemble packets you to the Moms Demand Action Advocacy ahead of the event. To learn more or to volunteer, Day at the State Capitol. Start at 9:30am for go to diningoutforlifemn.org. training and a rally. After that, meet with your representatives to discuss sensible gun laws. Go to Adult Spiritual Development momsdemandaction.org/events and enter your zip code to get details and to register. Your legislators Shamanic Drumming and Journeying need to hear from you. Tuesday, Mar. 17 at 7pm Choose Either or Both Times to Attend! LOVE LIVES HERE: IMMIGRATION & SANCTUARY Explore ancient shamanic practices for spiritual St. Paul Area Interfaith Coalition for Immigrant guidance, healing, meditation, peaceful loving Justice Community Book Discussion personal power, spiritual adventure, and fun! To gain new understandings of and deepen our Bring your drum/rattle, or borrow one of ours. work on immigrant justice, all are invited to read We meet twice monthly: fi rst Mondays at 10am and discuss the book Dear America, Notes of an and third Tuesdays at 7pm. No experience Undocumented Citizen, by Jose Antonio Vargas. necessary. Newcomers welcome. Contact Nancy, Books are available in local bookstores and from 651.426.4917, or wbuuc.org/churchlife. some local member organizations. This is not a book about the politics of immigration, but rather Third Thursdays: Welcoming All Adults 60+ about homelessness, not in the traditional sense Thursday, Mar. 19, 11am-1pm—Sanctuary but the unsettled, unmoored psychological state A monthly daytime group for those who are experienced by some undocumented immigrants seeking additional connections and stimulating coming to America. Anyone from any congregation conversation around the spiritual and social is welcome to attend any of the book discussions aspects of aging and living purposeful lives. This listed below. Each discussion will be facilitated by a one-hour program is followed by a light lunch in the member of the congregation holding the discussion. Social Hall (suggested donation $5.00). Assistance Wednesday, March 18 with chalice lightings, cooking, or clean up always 5:45 dinner; 7:15 conversation appreciated. Contact Victoria Safford with questions Unity Church-Unitarian (651.426.2369, [email protected]). 733 Portland Ave., St. Paul Sunday, March 22, 1-3pm Lecture, Discussion, Book Signing for Mount Zion Confl agration: How the Transcendentalists 1300 Summit Ave., St. Paul Sparked the American Struggle for Racial, Gender, Monday, March 23, 7-9pm and Social Justice Gloria Dei Lutheran Church Monday, April 20 at 7:00pm—WBUUC Sanctuary 700 Snelling Ave. S., St. Paul Rev. John A. Buehrens, Author and Presenter John Buehrens was the president of the Unitarian The Aliveness Project: Serving People Universalist Association of Congregations from Living with HIV | Volunteers Needed 1993 to 2001, and has served several thriving Since 1985, Aliveness has been helping people congregations, including All Souls in New York City. living with HIV lead healthy, self-directed lives. His previous books include Understanding the On April 30th, the organization will host the 26th Bible: An Introduction for Skeptics, Seekers, and annual Dining Out for Life event, partnering with Religious Liberals; A Chosen Faith: An Introduction area restaurants who agree to donate 20-100% of to Unitarian Universalism; and with Rebecca their profi ts for the day. Volunteer Ambassadors are Ann Parker, A House for Hope: The Promise of needed. They are matched with partner restaurants Progressive Religion for the Twenty-fi rst Century. found at mncontemporaryquilters.net. Contact the Religious Education artist directly if you would like to purchase a quilt. Volunteer with Children and Youth Contact Karen Dahl with questions. Dive into our monthly worship themes through stories, games, crafts and more as a volunteer Call for 7th Principle Art Show Entries in our religious education program! Prep time Stop by the Call for Art table between services every is minimal and volunteers are provided with Sunday through March 29 to fi ll out an entry form everything they need to help guide our children and for the 7th Principle Art Show sponsored by Earth youth as they explore and learn together on Sunday Ministry. Opening on Earth Day, April 19, this show mornings and Wednesday evenings. Volunteering will feature works by WBUUC adults, children, and with our children and youth is a rewarding way youth. Entries should refl ect experience with the to Grow and Serve in community! Interested in natural world and Earth Ministry themes: Notice. learning more? Send an email to Amy Peterson Cherish. Protect. Entries are to be left at church on Derrick at [email protected]. April 5 and April 12. Upcoming Wednesday Forums Community Announcements Wednesdays | Supper at 5:30 | Forums at 6:30 Email Scammers Posing as Congregation Leaders Mar. 18 | Drop-In Theme Circle WBUUC staff, members, and friends have been Join a small group of people to explore the theme experiencing another wave of email scams from of the month in depth, the theme for March is people impersonating ministers and church Attention: The Practice of Centering. staff. These emails often request money, contact information, gift cards, or ask you to click on a Mar. 25 | Unrestrict Minnesota link or attachment. PLEASE NOTE! Our ministers Most Minnesotans have no idea what the abortion and staff will NEVER ask you for money, gift cards, laws are in our state, and Unrestrict Minnesota or assistance in this way. When in doubt, check has undertaken a public awareness campaign to the sender’s email address carefully, and contact educate people about these laws. Learn more from church staff in a separate email (offi [email protected]), our special guest speaker, the Rev. Kelli Clement, or by phone (651.426.2369). who serves First Unitarian Society and the St. Croix UU Fellowship, and who, some years ago, was an Front Desk Volunteers Needed intern at WBUUC. WBUUC is seeking temporary volunteers for Wednesday mornings 10am-1pm and Thursday afternoons 1-4pm. If you think you might be Music and Arts interested, please contact Anna for more Current Art Show: March 15–April 12 information: [email protected]. Minnesota Contemporary Quilters—Songspiration Each year, Minnesota Contemporary Quilters (MCQ) Contact Information—Response Needed challenges its membership to create small quilts Please help us ensure that our records are up-to- based on a selected theme.