Reimagining Climate Justice
(Green Sanctuary 2030)with Reverend Rebecca Hinds
As climate change rocks our world, there is a spirit at work committed to justice.
As we make these connections between climate and justice,
we are called to re-imagine what it means to do this urgent work together.
Join us to explore how our climate work can be less isolated and more connected;
less anxious and more nourishing; and less limited and more visionary!
Emily White will give the Time for All Ages,
Janet Watts will be our Worship Associate,
with music provided by the choir and Ryan Pagels.
Stream this Sunday's service here
9:30 AM - Nursery Opens, Annex
Children ages 5 and under are welcome in the nursery from 9:30am - 12:15pm.
Children ages 7 and under are welcome after RE classes until 12:15pm.9:45AM - Meditation Group, Upper Gage Hall
Participants gather for an hour to practice insight meditation and
discuss various aspects of the meditative path and its interplay with our lives.10:00 AM - RE Classes, Upper Gage Hall and Annex
Following RE classes, children will join their grown ups in the sanctuary for service.
Elementary aged students (K - 5th grade) will meet in Upper Gage Hall.
Youth (7th - 12th grade) will meet in the Annex.10:00 AM - Forum, Lower Gage Hall
Blake Scott: The M.A.R.S.H. Project (https://themarshproject.com/)
Dr. Blake Scott, Professor at the College of Charleston and
co-founder of the M.A.R.S.H. Project will, along with guest
speakers, discuss the ecological initiative, its value and how
residents can get involved and support it. Dave Ruef will coordinate
the distribution of a petition to be signed at the Forum and then
sent to Charleston City Council members and the Mayor,
advocating financial and political support of this project.
Please remember that this year, children and youth will meet in Upper Gage Hall and the Annex for RE Classes at 10:00am before service. Children and youth will then join the congregation for the full 11:00am service in the Sanctuary.
Family Circle Saturday September 20; 5:00-7:00pm
West Ashley, Address upon RSVP
Family Circle meets this Saturday for our first monthly gathering of the church year. Join others who are raising children in the church for a time of friendship, good food, and thoughtful conversation (plus an hour of child-free adult interaction). This month's meeting is in inner West Ashley. Please RSVP at the Signup Genius.
Location details will be shared by email on Friday.
Lowcountry Foodbank Volunteering Saturday, September 20; 9:00am
2864 Azalea Drive, North Charleston
This Saturday, we will dedicate our work in memory of Paul King who volunteered with us as recently as this spring. Paul's life was dedicated to helping others stay healthy and active, so this work was meaningful to him and Kathleen.
We meet at 9:00 a.m. and usually finish by 11:30. Closed-toe shoes required. Children 12 and older with an adult and 16 and older are welcome to participate; LCFB staff will sign for school volunteer hours. Please sign up using Sign up Genius for Food Bank Volunteersand contact Lisa Hajjar athajjarlm@gmail.comif you have questions.
Upcoming dates also include October 18th, November 15th, possibly December 20th, and January 24th.
Church-Led Downtown Creek Litter Sweep
Saturday, September 20
10:00 - 11:30am
601 Meeting Street, Charleston
Join us this Saturday at 10:00am for a cleanup at Newmarket Creek. We will meet outside the entrance to the parking garage of Meeting Street Lofts (601 Meeting Street, Charleston). Please wear closed toe shoes, long sleeves and pants for insects, bring hat/ water/ bug spray/ sunscreen/ gardening type gloves if you have (latex ones supplied). To register, email NCreekSweep@gmail.comand provide your name, # in party and reference the church.
This Sweep is organized by church member Dave Ruef, with other community groups and members participating. For more information contact Dave @ (215) 219-6059, Ruefassoc@gmail.com
See you there rain or shine! (unless pouring, but it looks like we will have great weather!)
Join the Docent Program! Each week Friday - Sunday, for three hours, our beautiful sanctuary is open to the public. Docents from our congregation are on hand to tell visitors about our history and answer questions about our philosophy. Docents serve one day a month from September to the end of May.
Anyone can be a Docent! Training is on the job and a new Docent is paired with an experienced one. All the informational material is printed and available in the sanctuary and online in advance. This program is especially enriching for new members. It is the best way to learn about our church - its history, philosophy, culture, Unitarianism, and the role we play in our community.
While we are always in need of new docents, we are particularly in need this fall. We have had to cancel several days of tours due to a lack of available volunteers. This program is not only a way to share our wonderful church building and culture with the community and tourists, but also a vital piece of how we pass down the oral and written history of this congregation. This is a once monthly commitment for one year (or more!) and is designed to be a fun three hours of volunteering.
The Sanctuary is open for Docent tours Friday and Saturday 10:00am - 1:00pm and Sunday after church 12:30 - 3:00pm.
If you are interested, call or text or Docent Team Leader, Ginny Morgan at (734) 649-4524 or email her at ginn363@gmail.com.
Memorial Service for Carol Furtwangler Wednesday, September 24; 3:00pm
Sanctuary, Reception to follow in Gage Hall
Alliance Rummage Sale Saturday September 27; 9:00am - 12:00pm
Gage Hall
THE ALLIANCE IS HAVING ANOTHER FANTASTIC RUMMAGE SALE! COME SHOP WITH US AND FIND A TREASURE!
TO DONATE ITEMS IN GOOD CONDITION: Drop them off on Friday, September 26, 9 am - 3 pm (preferred) or at any time, place them in the designated area behind the curtain on the stage in Gage Hall. Please do not bring donations while the sale is going on Saturday. Large furniture items cannot be accepted.
Blessing box donations can be placed directly in the box, if there is room, or in the storage cabinet in the southwest corner of Gage Hall. Throughout the week, Willart will refill the box outside as space allows.
LAST CALL: Musicians Wanted!
This fall we will be forming a UC- CHS "House Band," which will play for the service one Sunday a month.
This volunteer group will cover a wide variety of styles and genres, depending on the themes of the service. We are primarily looking for drums, guitar, electric bass, keyboard, and singers; however we are open to other instruments! Time commitment is minimal, 1-2 rehearsals per service beginning in late September/early October.
Interested?
Please click the link below to respond to this quick questionnaire.
Our Chancel Choir rehearses every Wednesday! Interested singers are welcome to attend. Please email our music director at ryan@charlestonuu.org for more details.
SAVE THE DATE
Charleston Area Justice Ministry (CAJM) Potluck Luncheon Sunday, September 28; 12:30pm
Lower Gage Hall
Would you like to support addressing the root causes of, and solutions to, poverty and injustice in our communities? Join our Luncheon next Sunday following service to kick-off a new CAJM year. Whether you are a long time support or brand new to this work, all are welcome to attend to learn more about our work.
The Charleston Area Justice Ministry—CAJM—is a growing network of faith-based congregations who are culturally, economically, geographically and religiously diverse. We come together to make the Charleston area a more just place to live.
PrideParade Saturday October 11 Parade @ 9:00am
Festival @ 12:00pm
Save the Date! We will have a float in the parade and also table during the festival in the afternoon. More information for both will follow in the coming weeks. For now, check out the Charleston Pride website for more information on this year's festivities.
Guess who's back, back again? The UU Millennial Group! So bring a friend and a dish and RSVP to mariahdilling@gmail.com.
Books and Coffee Sunday, October 12; 4:30 pm Franke at Seaside, Mount Pleasant
For the next Books and Coffee we will review the book PATHOGENESIS: A history of the world in eight plagues by Jonathan Kennedy.
At the September meeting we had a spirited discussion of books read over the summer and our summer fiction selection JAMES. Eight people attended despite the monsoon rain! Contact rhsetser@aol.com for more information.
Minister's Book Club Saturday, October 25, 2025; 10:00am
Lower Gage Hall
In honor of Banned Book Week (Oct. 5-11) we will be reading one of the most banned books in recent years: All Boys Aren't Blue by George M. Johnson. This memoir about growing up Black and queer in America explores such topics as gender identity, masculinity, brotherhood, family, structural marginalization, consent, and Black joy.
Join Rev. Rebecca in Lower Gage Hall for a Saturday morning of coffee and conversation about these important themes and how we can join the fight to stop book banning.
Click this link to register for the SCUUJA Fall Festival: bit.ly/scuuja
Churches are often targets of scammers who try to glean personal contact information and money from members. This week several members were contacted via email by what seemed to be another member, asking for a PDF copy of our directory. It was difficult, if not impossible, to tell this was actually a scam email from someone impersonating a member. If someone is requesting information about the church or its members, you should ALWAYS DIRECT THEIR INQUIRIES TO STAFF. Members should never share the private directory with anyone.
BOOK OF LIFE
To share a significant life event (births, deaths, celebrations, transitions and other joys and sorrows) send to Marcia Castano at marciapate5@gmail.com by Saturday evenings at 6:00 p.m. or write them in person on Sunday morning.
The physical book is kept at the front of the church near the pulpit.
Interested in joining our wonderful church community?
Click here to learn more about membership.
