Paint was applied, bromeliads were trimmed and transplanted, drainage issues studied and addressed, mulch moved in the Community Garden, and more-and a reward of conversation and snacks at the end!
Author: Martha H
The Joy of Flowers
The Pulpit Flowers Group and Flower Garden Team contribute so much to our members’ and friends’ joy. The following are photos of most of our Pulpit Flower givers. We thank them all.
Linda P., the force guiding our celebration of flowers, writes the following:
Our purpose is to provide fresh flowers for display in the sanctuary to enhance Sunday Services, and provide flowers for church meetings, church members, as well as the Care Team, Minister and others to take to those towhom they minister.
The flowers growing in our flower garden which is located at the front of the Enrichment Center are for all the church members/friends/staff and other associated folks/charities.
Some of the members of our group work in the Church Flower Garden help to grow flowers. Some of our members provide fresh flower arrangements from our garden and/or other sources to embellish our Sunday services.
We invite you to sign up to bring flowers once or more per year in memory of loved ones/causes or in celebration of memorable achievements, etc. Or, just because you want to bring flowers for all to enjoy! Email: flowers@orlandouu.org and Linda P. will respond to help you arrange for a specific date.
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Are you Worried about Our Democracy?
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Earth Day Wrap-up at 1U – EV’s, The Garden, and Goodfills
1U’s Electric Vehicle Show – Sun, April 28, 2024 and Helping our Planet
To wrap up Earth Month 2024, the Green Team hosted an electric vehicle (EV) show with eight owners/vehicles and Goodfills, a refillery store, during coffee hour after worship in 1U’s garden.
The 1U Hospitality Team provided refreshments and the Garden Team provided garden tours and fresh vegetables to take home.
To learn more about the owners and their EVs, read their comments below.
To learn more about Goodfills, go to https://goodfills.co/ See their portable store that came to 1U to share their vision and offer their products.
Electric Vehicles at 1U-Hearing from the Owners
1..Why did you decide to buy or lease an EV? For environmental reasons.
2. Why did you buy/lease this particular model? Good size and excellent reviews.
Debbie Reinhart, Owner of Hyundai Ionic 5
3.Did you buy or lease – which one did you choose and why? We bought because we never lease cars.4. What is your EV’s range? 330 miles
5. EV charging – where do you do it? How long does it take? Level 2 takes about 7 hours to go from 20 to 80 %, level 3 takes 18 minutes.6.What challenges have you faced? None so far, but we’ve only had it a month.
7. What are the benefits of your EV? Charge at home, no gas stations. Smooth ride. Nice car. Great for in town driving.8.Will your next car be an EV? I think so. So far, so good. What else? Thanks!
Continue readingVote Yes on 4 Rally fills Lake Eola seats
The following was selected from an article written by Jessica Corbett of Common Dreams:
The court’s early-April decision to let Floridians weigh in on abortion rights “underscores the crucial role of Florida’s ballot initiative process, which provides voters an important opportunity to take the reins when politicians aren’t representing our interests,” Yes on 4 campaign director Lauren Brenzel said earlier this month. She also said,” Polls have consistently shown well over 60% of Florida voters support limiting government intrusion in the personal healthcare decision of accessing abortion care,” she pointed out. Notably, the measure needs that percent of support to pass.“
Dr. Marian Sampson, an OB-GYN with Planned Parenthood of Southwest and Central Florida, told the Sentinel, “Trust me when I say there is no medical reason for abortion bans and there is no medical reason for the government to be forcing their way into our exam rooms and standing between me and my patients. Link to photos here.
THE PLEDGE Central Florida at 1U and Beyond
Commit at 1U and online at the website below.
“Hate cannot drive out hate,
only love can do that.”
— Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Right here in Central Florida, many in our community are living in fear — fear for their own safety, fear for the well-being of their children, and fear of practicing their religion and identifying with their culture.
This IS who we are
We are committed to the promise that Central Florida is a safe community for all who live here and for all future generations. We pledge to protect and value each of our neighbors, especially those who are being threatened or feel unsafe.
We are committed to the promise that Central Florida is a safe community for all who live here and for all future generations. We pledge to protect and value each of our neighbors, especially those who are being threatened or feel unsafe.
I WILL lead by example, treating all people, especially those with whom I disagree, with kindness and respect.
I WILL refrain from inflammatory words and actions, and actively support those being attacked.
I WILL report threatening incidents of hate and violence to 800-423 TIPS (8477)
I WILL educate myself about antisemitism, Islamophobia, racism, homophobia, and all other forms of discrimination, and help others in my circle of influence to do the same. I WILL lead by example, treating all. See website and learn more.
Celebrating the Sacred Web with Food and Information – Sunday, April 14
The Green Mini-Fair after The Sacred Web service was bountiful. Tables sharing information: Go Solar, Gardener’s Corner, GO Energy Efficient, Zero Waste Lifestyle,Mystic Grove Corner and the Right Place, Right Plant table (with plants to take home). Furthering the message of green, no paper products and vegetarian foods. Thank you Green Team. And, remember Earth Day at Lake Eola on April 20.
The Pledge asks each of us to look out for each other.
The Central Florida Pledge is a call to action for residents of Central Florida who are tired of hateful discourse and want to create a safe and inclusive community for all. The Pledge asks residents to commit to treating all people with kindness and respect, especially those with whom they disagree.
The organizers ask residents of central Florida to commit to THE CENTRAL FLORIDA PLEDGE and help eliminate all forms of harassment, hate speech, or persecution directed toward any group who resides in our community!
Building a Better Community is the goal and THE PLEDGE asks you to sign in Agreement to be and act as follows:
I WILL lead by example, treating all people, especially those with whom I disagree, with kindness and respect
I WILL refrain from inflammatory words and actions, and actively support those being attacked
I WILL report threatening incidents of hate and violence to 800-423-TIPS (8477)
I WILL educate myself about antisemitism, Islamophobia, racism, homophobia, and all other forms of discrimination, and help others in my circle of influence to do the same
Go to the website to learn more and to sign. Check out THE PLEDGE in Gore Hall. Whether you sign or not, know about THE PLEDGE and protect others as is needed. Refer people to this effort who may be be helped knowing of this community support and those who want to build a better community.
YES ON 4 – Saturday, April 13 Lake Eola at Noon
Starting at Walt Disney Amphitheater at Lake Eola Park at 195 N Rosalind Ave, Orlando, FL 32801
Parking:Downtown Orlando hosts ample paid street parking and paid public parking garages. Costs and availability will vary. It is recommended that attendees arrive early with enough time to find parking. There are a few nearby paid parking lots/garages that are within 2 blocks walking distance to the Walt Disney Amphitheater at Lake Eola Park.
Signs and Posters:
From the Promoters of the Amendment:
We welcome and encourage our supporters to bring their signs. We will have a limited number of printed signs to offer to folks who are unable to make their own signs. It is extremely important that any homemade signs remain on message and absolutely no partisan messaging or coat hanger imagery will be permitted at our rally. These are losing messages and we have a responsibility to 84k patients to WIN. If you bring an off message sign, our staff will ask you to put your sign in your car and will give you a printed placard to use. Please keep the following messaging points in mind as you craft your signs.
Key Sign Making Tips
Labels do not work. Don’t use “pro-choice” or “pro-life” Lead with empathy- we don’t know a person’s situation.
Stress that the government should not interfere with medical decisions between patients and doctors
Don’t focus on partisan politics, focus on removing governmental interference with abortion
Do’s
Vote Yes on 4
Limit Government Interference With Abortion
Stop Political Interference Doctors Not Politicians
Don’ts
Don’t say Anything about EITHER political party or candidates. Example: NO signs for or against Trump, DeSantis, Biden, Debbie Mucarsel Powell, etc. or anything about candidates running for any level of public office.
No coat hanger/ violent imagery
Keep the Government out of our healthcare.
No handmaids tale costumes
No antiquated labels like “pro-life” or “pro-choice”
Agenda:We will be beginning our rally promptly at 12 PM. We will gather at the amphitheater where we will hear directly from patients, providers, and partners that have been negatively impacted by Florida’s Abortion Bans. After our speaker rally we will grab our signs and march and chant around the park to show our strength in numbers. We anticipate our rally to end around 2 PM. Absolutely no elected officials or partisan leaders will be invited to speak at our rally as we believe ALL politicians should be removed from interfering with abortion.
Safety & Security:By attending this rally, you are agreeing to abide by Yes on 4’s non engagement policy. This means that regardless of what sort of presence we might have at our rally by anti’s, you will not engage visually, verbally, or physically.If you choose to engage with any opposition, you will be removed from our event.
We will have safety marshals, private security, and uniformed police officers present at our rally to ensure everyone’s safety. We ask for all of our attendees to remain alert and if you see something, say something to our team which will be identifiable by their bright yellow safety vests.
Help us get word out! Help us grow our rally, utilize resources from our partner toolkit to invite your networks to join us as we rally to end the 6 week abortion ban.
Gmail – How to prepare: Rally to End the 6-week Abortion Ban
If you have any questions, please reach out to volunteer@ floridiansprotectingfreedom.com
The Pledge Drive-Why we contribute
Each year The Pledge Drive gives some of our members an opportunity to share the importance of 1U in their lives. The following are excerpts—
A mother of two children offered the following: Know that when you support 1U you support families who need this village and children who need us to say “I’m so proud of you.” You’re supporting programming that teaches children to act on their values and speak out about their beliefs, making positive changes in the world.
Today I give to 1U and volunteer with the RE program because I want our children to have a loving community. We give our UU children a space where they can be themselves and not only be accepted for who they are but supported and celebrated. Our children need us. They need to know we’re here and we’re on their side. And my message for the youth here is: What you do matters. You are making a difference. And I am so proud of you.
A grandfather shared: “As we traveled around the country building houses with Habitat for Humanity, Here’s what we found — As we worked side by side with future home owners – We found that our gift of helping them was also their gift right back to us – it was a gift that lifted our spirit and filled our hearts.
I think the Unitarians have gotten it right all along – that spreading love and justice, and helping others, is a necessary part of our spiritual journey. — It completes the circle from looking inward to reaching out.”
A dedicated climate change activist shared: My experience at 1U affirms that our church community truly affirms that the environment is vital and that we are all part of the interdependent web of life. That was brought home to me by the support I received when I brought up the new idea of a solar co-op.
A meeting on May 15, 2015 that started solar co-ops in this Sanctuary happened because I received an immediate “Yes” when I asked Dan H. if he would be interested in hearing about solar co-ops, an idea I had heard about on NPR which sparked a “light bulb” moment. And, next I received another supportive “Yes” when I asked Rev Kathy, our minister at the time, for her OK to use the Sanctuary for a public meeting to launch the solar co-op.
Now looking forward, I have aspirations for THIS church-that we install SOLAR panels on THIS Sanctuary and our other rooftops so that we reduce our energy footprint and serve to encourage others in our community to consider the solar option.
And, then we have a long time member person share how the Unitarian Universalist principles support her life path: She reminded us about the worth and dignity of each person, compassion for all, the value of a personal philosophy, the importance of democracy, and that all the nations of the world and the natural world are interconnected.
A dedicated Justice member said: I’ve been invited to speak with you this morning about JUSTICE and GENEROSITY. 1U has a reputation in Central Florida as
a place where justice is our core principle, a place where justice happens. So, anything we do to support the existence and life of this church is an act of justice . . . So, here’s the GENEROSITY part. One of the major ways we support this church is by being generous with our money. To keep justice alive at 1U, we must pledge as much money as our circumstances allow. . . . LIVE YOUR VALUES, TAKE OWNERSHIP OF 1U IN YOUR HEART, AND PLEDGE ACCORDINGLY.
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