We are gathering online only during the stay-at-home order.

In-person events scheduled in May and later months may be canceled or postponed.

Please stay tuned.

1U This Sunday, April 26

Worship — 10:30 am, Online via Zoom and Facebook Live

What Now, What Next? Rev. Kenn Hurto, Sarah Gray, Aubrey Connelly-Candelario

As we begin the ministerial search process, what happens?

Two ways to see the service live:

1.    Facebook Live, on Facebook page of First Unitarian Church of Orlando.

2.     Use Zoom link: https://uuma.zoom.us/j/634316443

Video will remain posted on https://www.orlandouu.org

Town Hall Meeting — 11:30 am

“The Unitarian Universalist Ministerial Search Process: Q&A for the Curious” with Rev. Kenneth Gordon Hurto, Ministerial Search Committee Coach, UUA Southern Region. Use Zoom link: https://uuma.zoom.us/j/92261786137  You need the password sent in the email e-blast on Friday.

Agenda:

1. Ministerial Search Pathway – The steps toward calling our next settled minister in spring 2021, followed by Q&A.

2. Ministerial Search Committee – The ballot of nominees for the Ministerial Search Committee will be announced. Each person on the ballot has agreed to serve on the seven-member search committee if called upon.The ballot will be posted on our website and sent to members prior to the May 17 Annual Meeting. Members will vote on their choice and the search committee members will be announced in worship on Sunday, May 24.

Children & Youth Religious Education

Connecting

As we navigate face-to -face isolation, we are trying new ways to stay connected. We have Virtual Religious Education this week plus events for parents, children and youth including a Wednesday evening Zoom and Sunday afternoon Youth Group. Be sure to check your email and Facebook for the most recent news and group video calls. Sunday, May 3, will mark the end of the official RE program year. Stay tuned for fun virtual events throughout May and the launch of summer RE programming in June.

After the  Service today, your family is welcome to do all or part of this week’s at-home, virtual RE lesson. The theme is “Love Helps Us Grow.” The link is: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1VK4BEnLhf9O56lt20YLZ83ChHL8uIDwuUQubgiRzwsk/edit?usp=sharing 

Youth Group Covenant Group & Check-In — 3:00 pm

Teens and parents are welcome to attend. This week our focus topic is “Wisdom of the Hands.”What kind of work have you done with your hands? How is “handmind” work different from other types of  work? To connect, go to https://zoom.us/j/713485920. Can’t make it? You can still do the session as a family later in the week. Get it at https://tinyurl.com/1uyouthgroup04-05-2020

Social Distancing UU Style

Our youth have been accomplishing feats of kindness and generosity while quarantined. They are helping care for newborn puppies, making and donating masks, sewing stuffed bunnies, painting and drawing amazing art and sending note cards. Their actions of regularly sending cards to a dozen members of our congregation have earned them the designation “Official Junior Caring Circle Members.” Every adult who volunteered to help teach and guide these youth over the years should feel proud of these teens. We are the village.

Your Care Team

Your Care Team stands ready to help you and stay connected during these times. We are composed of two teams:

Lay Pastoral Associates provide “buddy” relationships of deep listening and care, to be a companion with you through difficult times. Contact PastoralAssociates@OrlandoUU.org.

The Caring Circle offers practical efforts to church members experiencing significant joys, concerns, sorrows, or changes by providing rides to medical appointments, and/or help with meals, pet care, etc. In April, contact Jenny Lockington at CaringCircle@OrlandoUU.org.

Joys and Concerns

To share your joys or concerns please contact Gaby Cabrera at programassistant1U@gmail.com. 

Dayle Steakley reports that her grandson Zander has been discharged from the hospital, is doing well, and has been accepted into two honor high schools.

Fran Roberson expresses thanks and gratitude for the cards after her recent fall. She’s doing well.

Karla Kizzort is grateful for so much support received as she works with a neurologist to halt ocular myasthenia gravis progress. Likely to take many months to find the right combination of medications, it is still a relief to know what’s wrong and that there are ways to fight the disorder.

We remember all those who are helping others, and who need help in these days.

Caring Corner

Graduations? — We want to help you celebrate high school and college graduations in your family. So, please give us advanced notice when your young adults are graduating!

Online Tutorial Available Now: How to Find 1U Worship Online (As a Livestream or in the Video Collections)

Thank you so much for your patience as we adapt to new conditions! Have you been missing the 1U Sunday worship? Leadership Council Members have created an online tutorial you can access at your convenience any hour of the day or night. It provides step-by-step basics of how to find 1U worship online, whether as a live stream or in our online video collections. This tutorial covers:

Zoom (Live Stream)
Facebook (Live Stream)
Facebook (Video Collection)
YouTube (Video Collection)

The TinyURL for this tutorial is https://tinyurl.com/find1uworship

Coming Now Through Next Week

Friday – April 24

Moon Circle – Online Class 4, 7;00 pm, Online via Zoom

Inspired by UU curriculum “Becoming Women of Wisdom,” this class is for all adults wanting to explore the decades of their life. This month, we talk about our teen years during the first hour. Ritual is the second hour (8:00-9:00 pm). Due to COVID 19, the teachers have increased spots and changed to sliding scale tuition. Normally it is $30 for the series or $5 per class. If you need a half or full scholarship, please let us know in your email. We will take new students until all 15 spots are filled. Email mysticgrove@orlandouu.org to sign up.

Other News

Upcoming Sunday Services

May Worship Theme:  What does it mean to be a people of THRESHOLDS?

May 3          10:30 am   Online via Zoom and Facebook Live

“New Doors Opening: Religious Education Sunday,” Rev. Samuel Schaal, Sarah Gray, Aubrey Connelly-Candelario

Growing up means opening new doors and walking across thresholds. Join us as we celebrate the end of the program year with our youngest UUs. We also celebrate a bridging ceremony for our graduating seniors. Service streamed at 10:30 am. Click here for the Facebook page of First Unitarian Church of Orlando or Click here for  Zoom. Video will remain on orlandouu.org.

Spirit Rising-Generosity Team Update

A big Thank You to all who have pledged! If you are ready to pledge now the directions can be found on Facebook or the web page Spirit Rising-Generosity Campaign. We realize in these difficult times that some of us may not be able to give as much and some may be able to give more. We are grateful for all you do and please keep in mind, every pledge makes a difference!

To Make Offerings

Here are convenient ways for you to continue your generosity during this time:

1U Website – Use the Donate button on the upper right-hand section of the home page and follow the directions.

Text – Simply send a text to 407-456-7082 with the amount you’d like to contribute. Make sure to include the dollar sign before the amount (for example: $50). NOTE: Do not place a space between the dollar sign and the dollar amount. Within a few minutes, you’ll be sent a text with a link to register. Click on the link. Enter your cardholder name, and credit or debit card information. Once your registration is complete, you will receive a text verification and a receipt via email. For future giving, simply send a text with the amount you wish to give, and it will process automatically! For donating to Share the Plate, use the texting code: sharedplate

Spring Veggies Available in 1U Garden NOW

What’s ready to eat in the 1U free u-pick garden? A few early vegetables. Think salad. In the raised beds there are leaf lettuce and other greens, bell and banana peppers, radishes and yellow squash. They’re just beginning to bear, so quantities are limited, but that won’t be the case for long. Come with a bag and knife and take what’s there. We’ll grow more. A note: You may need to get low, push aside leaves and look carefully. The leaf lettuce is in two different beds. Look for their bright yellow-green leaves. The peppers are in two beds, both just right of the walkway. The squash? Look for huge leaves and yellow-orange blossoms in a bed in the second row, just left of the walkway. The radishes? They’re in the same bed but inside a concrete block that makes up its wall. In the coming weeks there’ll be more variety: Expect tomatoes, green beans, cucumbers, carrots, beets, kale, zucchini and watermelon. We’ll keep you posted when they’re ready. Questions: Contact Rene Stutzman (contact info in 1U Online Member Directory).

Needs for Joy MCC Food Pantry

Joy MCC has asked for donations to help restock their food pantry. Please consider adding something from the list below to your grocery cart. Items can be dropped off in the church office throughout the month.

Fruit cups (individual child sized)

Baby food (NOT formula, no glass please)

Grape or strawberry jelly (no glass please)

Questions? Contact Kathy Homblette at Welcometeam@orlandouu.org

Special Website Member Section

We’ve moved some information on the website into a password-protected member section. There you’ll find the member directory, detailed information on church governance (board, bylaws and approved annual budgets), building and grounds information including the campus safety plan, and volunteer information for religious education. Watch the section’s evolution as it grows to become a rich resource of information for members and leaders of the church. Your directory password works for the new member section. If you don’t have a password and need one, contact webmaster@orlandouu.org.

Plan Ahead   

May 17 — 1U Annual Congregational Meeting

Our Annual Congregational Meeting will be held virtually today, May 17, 2020, at 11:45 am. Details will follow next week. All members of record are expected to participate.