We invite White Unitarian Universalists to join the upcoming virtual regional caucus sessions on September 18th from 4:00pm to 6:30pm. This year’s caucuses will focus on discussions of the 8th Principle. The caucuses are intended to nourish an anti-racist community, to inspire attendees with a sense of parallel connectedness to DRUUMM (Diverse Revolutionary Unitarian Universalist Multicultural Ministries), and to engage deeply in reflection and analysis for sustainable anti-racist work. Here is a shareable link to the event: https://uuare.org/event-4475013.
To learn more about  Allies for Racial Equity, click here.

DRUUMM is a Unitarian Universalist BIPOC ministry and anti-racist collective bringing lay and religious professionals together to overcome racism through resistance and transform Unitarian Universalism through our multicultural experiences. ARE’s Community Caucuses are being held concurrent with the Fall 2021 DRUUMM Regional BIPOC Caucuses. (https://www.druumm.org/event/regional-caucuses/ )

Our September Plate Sharing Partner is the Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida.  Second Harvest is a private, nonprofit organization that collects, stores, and distributes donated food to more than 550 feeding partners in six Central Florida counties. Last year the food bank distributed enough food for 73 million meals to partner programs such as food pantries, soup kitchens, women’s shelters, senior centers, day care centers, and Kids’ Cafés.

Once again First Unitarian Church of Orlando is planning on participating in the Come Out with Pride 2021 Parade and Festival on Saturday October 9, 2021. Our Board of Trustees has allocated funds for the event and has secured our space as a bronze sponsor, which will include space for a float and walkers as well as a 10’x10’ booth at the event. We need a chairperson, co-chair, and volunteers to help organize the parade, staff the booth, decorate the trailer, organize handouts, and more. We are hopeful that COVID restrictions will allow the event to continue, but we will also be working on a backup plan in coordination with our COVID Reopening Task Force.
Please email prideparade2021@orlandouu.org if you would like to chair, co-chair, or volunteer to represent 1U at this wonderful event and show our 1U commitment to our LGBTQ community. https://www.orlandouu.org/the-cause/lbtqq/

We regrettably again find ourselves in a situation demanding additional COVID restrictions.  With rising cases of infection and hospitalizations, the Board of Trustees has created a framework for implementing a variety of appropriate precautions.  Our revised guidelines use a color-coded system describing what actions need to be taken.  Our color-coded status will be published each week as conditions warrant.

We are now in the RED phase, as described in the 1U Reopening Policy Framework. This means church buildings remain closed except for staff, tenants and certain team members until we change to ORANGE status. The outside campus will remain open for small group meetings and events. Masks are optional based on the decision of each group.

Each week, the COVID Reopening Task Force will post the conditions that determine 1U’s protocols for safe gathering under COVID. This letter explains this in more detail. The link included in each week’s COVID Reopening Update also provides detailed information on
the COVID Reopening Policy Framework.

Whoever you are, whatever you are, wherever you are on your journey, we bid you welcome.  Our buildings are closed, but the church is OPEN with lots of virtual offerings:

• Transformational worship
• Religious enrichment for children, youth and adults
• Contact us for more info  

To welcome Reverend Margalie Belizaire to First Unitarian Church of Orlando and to honor her birthplace, Haiti, a matching fundraiser is being established with the support of a 1U member. This is a dollar- for-dollar match, up to $7,500, for a total goal of $15,000 to the Unitarian Universal Service Committee’s (UUSC) Haiti Emergency Response.  The Challenge Match ends September 30, 2021.

Funds can be donated to 1U by check, text, or the website with the notation that this is a donation for the UUSC Haiti Relief or directly to the following site: UUSC – 2021 Haiti Earthquake Response .  If giving directly, please notify Amy at churchadministrator@orlandouu.org. All members and friends of 1U are invited to join this Haiti Fundraiser as a ‘gift’ and welcome to Rev. Margalie.