IN THE SANCTUARY 
Sunday, April 30, 2023 - 11:00 a.m.
“Knowing & Being”
Rev. Michael J S Carter
Music:
Sue Stone, piano; Linda Metzner, choir
director & piano; Karen Gaughan, soprano recorder
Greeters: Jonathan Braden & Goetz Wolff
Sermon Topic:
One of the oldest texts in any Indo-European language is the Rig Veda from the Hindu tradition. Let me share a quote with you. “I know not whether I am the same as this cosmos; a mystery am I, yet burdened by mind I wander.”
And now from the book of Psalms. Psalm 8.
“When I consider the heavens, the work of your fingers, The moon and the stars which you have ordained, what are human beings that you are mindful of them?”
As seekers of truth, the only thing we need to do is to take ourselves
seriously. The question of “Why am I here?” naturally will arise eventually. We are naturally interested in both the cosmos and the person, nature and
consciousness, flesh and spirit. Let's explore the essence of being human and what it means "to know" and "to be."
We want to hear from you about your joys and concerns. If you cannot attend in person and would like to be heard, please send your message to Rev. Michael Carter by noon on Friday so he can read it during the Sunday service.
You can livestream the Sunday Service and also see prior Sunday Services on YouTube. Click to go to YouTube here, or go to YouTube.com and search for UUCSV Productions. To view the Sunday Service in progress, click on “Live”. To view prior Sunday Services, go to “Videos” for services prior to March 19, 2023, and go to “Live” for services starting March 19, 2023.
RE (RELIGIOUS EDUCATION)
Sunday, April 30, 2023 - 11:00 a.m.
at UUCSV with Susan E. Hicks
This week's lesson will introduce Beatrix Potter, author of Peter Rabbit and many other children's classics, who was a naturalist and farmer, an author and illustrator and a Unitarian. We’ll talk about our seventh Principle, respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part, imagine ourselves as various parts of an ecosystem, and create a mural depicting the connected nature of an ecosystem (or individual macro-drawings of things from nature.) Our signpost to help guide us in faithful action is "Honor Life.
Looking for ways to reinforce this lesson at home?
A family camping trip or hike can be a great way to connect both with nature and with one another. Even a picnic in the park or backyard can bring your family in closer contact with the natural world. While you are outdoors, talk about the various life forms you find around you.
Or create a new family ritual:
Mitakuye oyasin is a Lakota Sioux phrase that is generally translated as "all my relations." It is a prayer of oneness with all forms of life: other people,
animals, birds, insects, trees and plants, and even rocks, and expresses much the same concept as the interdependent web of all existence. You may wish to use mitakuye oyasin or its English translation, "all my relations," as a prayer of gratitude and appreciation, particularly when you notice beauty in nature or evidence of nature's interconnections. The words can also serve as a closing phrase for other prayers, such as table grace or prayers at bedtime.
For more information about the life and art of Beatrix Potter you can check out this blog.
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Our Mystery Friends project ends this Sunday! Our party will start just a little while after the service (about 12:30/12:45). Tea Party style refreshments will be available, but you're invited to bring a bag lunch to snack on before we start/if you'd like something more substantial. We'll introduce ourselves, chat, & play a few games until about 2:15.
If you'd like to make one more card, or bring in a special little something this is the week!
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Sunday, May 7, 2023 - 11:00 a.m.
“Re-Enchantment”
Marc Mullinax
Through culture, philosophy, religious texts, and social conditioning we, who are naturally webbed into all creation, come to regard ourselves as stand-alones: Stand-alone species (human); stand-alone tribes, and stand-alone individuals. This unnatural process leads to the "thingification" of all that we are not. So once-sacred earth, creation, animals, plants, mountains, and rivers become "its" -- thing-ified.
Marc's talk will focus on this thingification process, and show ways to re-enchant time, space, creation, even our enemies!
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News from UUCSV Groups & Committees
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Call for Submission!
Tidings is being redesigned and will be published as a quarterly journal. We are currently working on the Summer 2023 edition. Please send your poetry, short fiction, photography or artwork to Marti Saltzman, Chair of the Communications Committee.
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Mowing Season Is Here!
This Sunday, April 23, 2023, we will have a sign-up table for anyone wanting to the help Building & Grounds Committee by taking a turn at mowing. Thanks in advance for your assistance!
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Calling all Congregants willing to serve on UUCSV’s Board of Trustees
Do you have an interest in volunteering your time to help chart the course for our Congregation? The UUCSV Board of Trustees is searching for a few new members! Time commitment is one 90 minute meeting per month, and weighing in on issues that come up between meetings via email. Interested? Please reach out to Rochelle Broome (Board President) at 615-969-1905 or email me at Harleymobiledoc@gmail.com.
(run end of May)
Important Reminder from the Safety Committee
The portico doors will be locked promptly at 11:15 a.m. each Sunday.
There will be no one in the portico to allow entry once doors are locked, so please plan to arrive to services on time each Sunday. Thank you.
(run until end of April)
Out of Office Reminder
Michael Donnan - UUCSV Office Manager
I will be out of the office from April 24 - May 6, 2023 and returning to the office on Tuesday, May 9, 2023. I will be checking email and performing my regular duties during my absence.
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Member & Community Activities
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Join us at The Mountain Retreat and Learning Center, a Magical UU Place and Experience:
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Come work for The Mountain! Hiring summer camp counselors and leaders, capital campaign manager, development associate, kitchen staff, and farm staff. https://www.themountainrlc.org/jobs
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Homecoming, May 26-29. Join us at The Mountain for our 43nd Annual Gathering of Members and Friends. We will have three days of renewing connections with old friends and making new connections, being immersed in this extraordinary natural environment, learning about current projects and possibilities for the future, in addition to workshops, entertainment, and our Annual Meeting.
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Summer Camp options for kids and for adults!
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Personal Retreat -- for individuals or groups
We look forward to hosting you at The Mountain soon!
For information about more programs at The Mountain Retreat and Learning Center: themountainrlc.org or 828.526.5838. W2
Explore the Buddhist Four Sublime Attitudes
Buddhism emphasizes the cultivation of four “sublime” or “noble” attitudes
toward all beings: loving-kindness (friendliness), compassion (willing to cease suffering), appreciative joy (feeling happy for others), and equanimity (calm based on wisdom). These are known as the “four immeasurables” (Sujiva, 2007).
Nellie Lauth has spent time at a Buddhist monastery in India and has enjoyed the company of many teachers and students from many paths, including, Hindu (Advaita), Buddhist, Native American (Lakota), Christian and Sufis, and loves to celebrate the unity of all traditions in One Love and Wisdom. She would be honored and happy to facilitate a contemplation of these teachings for UU's in a two hour session. Anyone interested, please contact Larry Pearlman (larryRpearlman42@gmail.com).
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The deadline for submissions to The Current is Tuesday at 12:00 p.m., please send yours to admin@uusv.org. For more information and guidelines on submissions for our newsletters, website, online calendar, social media, Order of Service, and member news, please see our Publishing Guidelines.
UUCSV
500 Montreat Road
Black Mountain, NC 28711
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