Sunday, March 12, 2023 - 11:00 a.m. 
“What It Means to be A Sentient Being”
Rev. Michael J S Carter
On occasion you have heard me refer to the animal kingdom as well as human beings as sentient beings. The Dali Lama and the philosophy of Buddhism talk about showing
kindness to creation, to sentient life. Native Americans refer to nature and its inhabitants at times as different tribes or nations. The Bird tribe or nation, the Winged tribe or nation, etc. They refer to Extraterrestrial life as people belonging to the Star Nations or Star People. For me, the reasoning is obvious. It shows a connection with all that is, in the hopes that perhaps if we saw others as connected to us, as other nations or tribes or even people, we would treat them better. Today we explore what it means to be sentient---a sentient being.
REMINDER: Adjust time to Spring forward on Saturday, March 11, 2023
Greeters: Elizabeth Wallace & Marti Saltzman
Order of Service
Gathering Music: “Grandma’s Hands” (Bill Withers)
Welcome & Announcements: Rochelle Broome
Opening Words: Susan E. Hicks
Opening Hymn: #38 “Morning Has Broken”
Reading: “The Earth Speaks” by Richard Gilbert (In the Holy Quiet)
Second Sundays: “Way Over Yonder” (Carole King)
Joys & Concerns
Meditation: Rev. Michael J S Carter
Offertory: “Shower the People” (James Taylor)
Sermon: What It Means to be A Sentient Being –
Rev. Michael J S Carter
Closing Hymn: #126 “Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing”
Postlude: “Amazing Grace” (John Newton, 1779)
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Music: Second Sundays: Encore (Rochelle Broome, Deb Evenchik & Spence Foscue); Linda Metzner, piano
Religious Education: Nursery/Pre-K caregivers: Childcare at this time is limited, and is performed as needed by either Susan Enwright Hicks, DRE or one of our trusted childcare volunteers
Video: Evan Yanik
Sound Team: Bill Altork, Marti Saltzman, Ray Bockhorst, Larry Pearlman & David Reid
The YouTube video of today's service will be available, as well as all previous Sunday Services at UUCSV Productions. Click to go to YouTube here.
Reminder: Rev. Michael will be out of the office (unless there is an emergency) on March 5 - 12, 2023, for minister's study time.
Joys & Concerns:
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.
For online offertory and/or pledge donations:
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Sunday, March 12, 2023
11:00 a.m. at UUCSV with Susan Enwright Hicks
This week Susan will be leading the Opening Words in the service. For this reason, all ages are invited to the sanctuary for the first few minutes of the service. After that we’ll head to Evelyn’s room (regular RE space) where we’ll learn from Session 12 of Faithful Journeys ‘Make Peace’.
We’ll learn about why and how to be a peacemaker by hearing the story of Adin Ballou, an early Universalist minister and founder of the Hopedale Community. We put in action our sixth Unitarian Universalist Principle, that we affirm and promote the goal of world community with peace, liberty, and
justice for all. We‘ll think about our hopes and prayers for peace and make peace pinwheels which is a craft we can teach the grown ups. Children are encouraged to write letters to their Mystery Friends at home this week.
Taking it home: Pay extra attention to times when your child is a peacemaker. Point out instances of your child acting faithfully in a way that promotes the goal of world community with peace, liberty, and justice for all. In everyday conflict situations that arise, help your child see the cause-and-effect relationship between making things fair and establishing peace.
Adult RE
The Mystery Friend project is underway! Adults can find messages TO them in bags on the black bulletin board. Messages FROM them should be put in the mailboxes/bag on the table across from the kitchen with the same symbol. Unsure about your symbol? Text/call Susan 828-450-5319.
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Sunday, March 19, 2023 - 11:00 a.m.
“The Evolution of God”
Rev. Michael J S Carter
There is, it seems, a deep unconscious instinct in humanity to recognize and be in reverence of the source of all things. However, this instinct can be, and has been perverted. That religions have been the source of so much conflict and misery throughout human history points to how the instinct to religion (which when it is healthy, when what is experienced in its true and inexpressible dimension, can be a source of strength and profound comfort) has been so often distorted into something very unhealthy and destructive. In short, we have created God in our image. With some assistance from the ideas of Albert Einstein, revisiting a bit of human religious history, and good old
fashion common sense, let's explore the possible evolution of God in our
lifetime. Well, I can dream, can't I?
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News from UUCSV Groups & Committees
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Ianna's Daughters
Film Screening
Ianna's Daughters is sponsoring a showing of the film "Meinrad Craighead: Praying with Images" at UUCSV on March 17, 2023, at 6:00 p.m. There will be light refreshments and a discussion afterwards.
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Tidings Correction
I am sorry to have given an authorship incorrectly in our last Tidings. The lovely poem about Change is by Larry Pearlman, not Jim Carillon. I have made the correction for the archived copy.
Sincerely, Barb Rogers
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We're Back!
Auction 2023
Auction 2023!! No - it's not time yet but it is time to begin planning. If you would like to join the FUN dynamic group that plans the auction, contact Larry at larryRpearlman42@gmail.com or just show up at our first planning meeting on Sunday, March 12, 2023, after the service. We would love to have you on the team.
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Message from the Safety Committee
The UUCSV is always concerned with the safety of our congregation. In the past two years, we have instituted the following measures to help keep us safe: building improvements such as window coverings in Rev. Carter's
office and RE rooms, and door locking and monitoring during services. We also believe that preparing yourself by watching this video can keep you safe if you ever find yourself in an active shooter situation, whether at church, the grocery store, or any other gathering. Here's a link to this FBI-approved short video. W2
UUCSV Women's Group Update
The UUCSV Women's Group will meet on Thursday, March 9, 2023, at 5:30 p.m. Deb Evenchik will host the gathering. The theme this month will be “Music”.
Please plan to share a song that moves or inspires or otherwise means something to you and explain why you chose that song. You can sing it, share the words, play it, describe it, etc.
We will gather, socialize, and have snacks from 5:30-5:50 p.m., and then leave the food and drinks behind and go into the Sanctuary if anyone wants to have the piano available. Deb will provide drinks. You are welcome to bring snacks. Deb’s contact info is 615.351.4364 or dleconsulting@gmail.com.
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Alzheimer's Caregiving
I am presenting a workshop on Alzheimer's caregiving a week from today on March 14, 2023, at 5:30 p.m., at the Black Mountain Library. There may be people you know could use the information and others who are struggling silently.
Thank you,
Karen Stobbe
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Let's Prepare To Go Beyond Land Acknowledgement!
What are our congregation's next steps beyond the Land Acknowledgement we've been reading every Sunday? Join these online Zoom workshops developed by the national project, Toward Right Relationship with Native Peoples to learn the real history of our country through the voices of Native peoples, European colonists, and historians, and to interact and experience this history as you never have before.
Highly recommended by members of the UUCSV Social Action Committee who participated in the February workshop: "Very professional and so well put together." "Very moving, brought me to tears."
"Roots of Injustice, Seeds of Change"
Sunday March 12, 4:00 to 6:00 pm ET
Saturday April 15, 4:00 to 6:00 pm ET
"Indigenous Boarding Schools and Multigenerational Trauma"
Tuesday, March 14, 8:00 pm to 9:15 pm ET
Register for these programs at https://friendspeaceteams.org/trr
Please also let Maggie O'Neill know that you have registered for one of these sessions by emailing her at oneill.maggie9@gmail.com, to be contacted for continued discussion.
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An Introduction to History & Culture of the Cherokee PeopleA Journey to Allyship & Un-colonization March 14-19, 2023Cherokee, NC
For five days, retreat participants will attend presentations by Cherokee tribal members on a variety of topics centered around Cherokee spirituality. The legends, language, sense of place, history, culture, connection and food will slowly reveal the depth of Cherokee spirituality and offer participants a background to reflect on their own expression of spiritual growth. The times of prayer and reflection will integrate the learning with the participant’s own life experience.
More information or to register can be found here (or contact Lianna at liannacostantino@yahoo.com).
Highly recommended by Maggie Moon O'Neill, who has attended this retreat twice. Contact her at oneill.maggie9@gmail.com if you wish to discuss.
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Sahara Peace Choir benefit on March 18, 2023
Join Us For Justice
On Saturday, March 18, 2023 at 3 p.m., come "Join Us for Justice", a benefit concert for the Aston Park Defendants, at the Land of Sky United Church of Christ, 15 Overlook Place, Asheville, NC. The program that will be MC'd by Asheville City Council candidate Nina Tovish and will include the following performances:
- Sahara Peace Choir (Linda Metzner's women's choir)
- Playback Theatre (an improvisatory theatre troupe acting out the audience's stories)
- Two songs by Kim Hughes and the Song Medics.
The Aston Park Defendants, are a group of 16 local young people who were charged with "felony littering" while bringing supplies to a homeless encampment in Aston Park by the City of Asheville. This concert is to help them with their lawyer fees and other expenses.
Hope to see you there!
Linda Metzner, Music Director
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15,000 Years of Swannanoan Indigenous Settlements
David Moore, archeologist at Warren Wilson College, examines the indigenous settlements of the Swannanoa Valley and the traces of them that are still here today. This is a free program, open to everyone, at 6:30 p.m. on March 14, 2023, at the Swannanoa Library, 101 W.Charleston Ave, 828-250-6486.
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Michael Donnan, Office Manager Hours: Tuesday & Thursday,
8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Rev. Michael J S Carter, (Monday - Thursday, 8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.)Rev. Carter is available for pastoral care in the church office or virtually via Zoom or Skype. For in-person meetings, protocols of social distancing and face masks are followed. Please email Rev. Michael J S Carter to schedule an appointment.
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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