Earth Day 2076: A Love Letter with Rev. Rebecca Hinds
In 50 years, if we could talk with our descendants about life on Planet Earth in 2026, what would we talk about? Join us for a soulful Earth Day celebration, where we will honor the planet and our local campus, and imagine a better future.
Scott Morgan will be our Worship Associate,
David Ruef will give the Time for All Ages,
with music provided by our choir and Ryan Pagels.
9:30 AM - Nursery Opens, Annex - Children ages 5 and under are welcome in the nursery 9:30am - 12:15pm
- Children ages 7 and under are welcome after RE classes until 12:15pm.
9:45 AM - Meditation, 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 - Forum, Lower Gage Hall (and now livestreaming on YouTube!) Foraging Wild Herbs - Becoming the Ecosystem with April Punsalan, Botanist and Founder, Wild Herb Academy
This interactive Forum will consist of a presentation by April Punsalan about local herbs, including a tour of our churchyard to see the kinds of plants you may have in your own backyard that might be of interest. April is a botanist, ethnobotanist, and herbalist, dedicated to healing the coevolved relationship between people and plants. With formal degrees in Horticulture and Botany, and a Traditional Herbalism Certificate, she is concerned about the effect of our growing disconnection to the earth, and has committed herself to help create a paradigm shift in America where foraging and connecting with wild herbs is the norm!
12:00 PM - Coffee Hour, Lower Gage Hall Everyone is invited to our fellowship hall following the Sunday service for coffee and conversation.
Save the Date: May Day Service at James Island County Park May 3 11:00am at Stono Picnic Shelter
THIS WEEK AT CHURCH
Low Country Foodbank Volunteering Saturday, April 18; 9:00am - 12:00pm 2864 Azalea Ave, North Charleston
Please join us on the 3rd Saturday of each month to volunteer at the LCFB. 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. Sign up HERE
Coffeehouse Concert featuring Ryan Pagels Saturday, April 18th; 3pm Gage Hall
From Ragtime to Radiohead, Ryan plays some of his favorite piano works during April's Coffeehouse Concert! Reserve your tickets HERE. ($20 suggested donation due at the door)
Family Circle Saturday Saturday, April 18; 5:00 - 7:00pm West Ashley
For people raising children in our church community. At Emily's home in West Ashley. RSVP here (Navigate to "April" tab in the spreadsheet).
New Member Lunch and Learn Membership Class Sunday, April 19; 12:30 - 2:00pm Lower Gage Hall
If you have been curious about membership this is your chance to join Reverend Rebecca and others just like you for a class to help us get to know one another better, connect you with the programs and people you’ll want to meet and answer questions. Light lunch provided. Bring your friends! (Please note the location has been updated to Lower Gage Hall)
Email or call to let us know you’ll be there. To RSVP email jules@charlestonuu.org or call her at 843-284-6735.
Books and Coffee Sunday, April 19; 4:30pm Mount Pleasant
We will discuss, Notes on Being a Man, by Scott Galloway We are meeting at the Manning's Home at Franke in Mount Pleasant.
Death Cafe Monday, April 20; 7pm Lower Gage Hall
The Unitarian Church in Charleston is pleased to host a monthly Death Cafe. At a Death Cafe people gather to eat cake, drink tea and discuss death. Our objective is "to increase awareness of death with a view to helping people make the most of their (finite) lives." A Death Cafe is a group-directed discussion of death with no agenda, objectives or themes. It is a discussion group rather than a grief support or counseling session. Death Cafe is an international social franchise. To learn more about Death Cafes in general,click here.
Blessing box donations can be placed directly in the box, if there is room, or in the storage cabinet in the back storage area of Gage Hall (where the folding chairs are stored.) Throughout the week, staff will refill the box outside as space allows.
Legislation Corner
Welcome to the Legislation Corner! In this segment we will provide information on what our elected officials are doing.
Trans Discrimination Bill
Recent Actions: Yesterday, the House voted to pass the anti-trans bathroom bill, H.4756.
What you can do: There is still opportunity to stop H.4756 from becoming law: Governor McMaster must veto the bill. Urge him to say "NO" to discrimination here. (Sending an email will take one minute of your time!) Want to be more direct? You can use to call the Governor's office at (803) 734-2100
Environmental Legislation
Statehouse recent actions: The House approved bill H.5069, South Carolina Protected Lands and Conservation Coordination Act. The SC statehouse voted 107 to 2 to make Natural Resources a PRIORITY in our state! They intend to fulfill Governor McMaster’s goal to preserve 10 million acres.
What you can do: The bill has now moved to the Senate’s Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources. Charleston county state senator Ed Sutton is a member of that committee. This is a perfect opportunity to contact your senator and tell them to support House bill 5069.
CAJM Nehemiah Action Monday, April 27; 6:30 – 8pm
Mt. Moriah Missionary Baptist Church
The centerpiece of our year — thousands gather to call for justice, present solutions, and stand with one voice for change. We will advocate for improved school governance, protections for Gadsden Creek, and food security for all.
Churchyard Memorials Costs Increasing May 1!
The churchyard will be filled with activity this spring and summer as we celebrate the first anniversary of the Memorial Walkway, the completion of The Open Space Memorial Garden, and progress on the churchyard master plan.
Members have two options for memorials in our churchyard for themselves and their families. The fees for either option support the Churchyard Maintenance Endowment Fund (held at the Coastal Community Foundation) to ensure the perpetual care of the memorials and the churchyard.
Memorial Walkway
April 30 is your last chance to become a founding member of the Memorial Walkway. Founding members receive a $500 discount on their niche. Beginning in May 2026 the cost of a memorial walkway niche will be $2,500 plus engraving fees.
Open Space Memorial Garden
To reserve an inscription on one of the Open Space plinths, there is an application and fee of $500, plus the cost of engravings. For those who reserve an inscription before the end of April 2026, the engraving cost is $125. After installation, the cost will increase to $395 per inscription.
Interested? Visit the information table in Gage Hall during coffee hour or contact Lily in the office at (843) 723-4617 or lily@charlestonuu.org.
Women's Group Prayer Retreat Saturday, May 16; 9:00 am to 12:00 pm Lower Gage Hall
How can we nourish the soul in these times? Retreat is listed as one of the ways of prayer. Explore 13 ways of prayer and add your own. Engage in silence meditation, liturgical dance, song, journaling, blessing of the hands and honey communion. If desired, bring a small token representing your spirituality to decorate our prayer altar.
Cost: $20 to Lily at the church office. Early registration is encouraged as participation will be limited to 15 people. Journals and light snacks will be provided. Participants are asked to bring a blanket or cushion. Register HERE
Questions? contact Geni Felsinger or office@charlestonuu.org
April Book Clubs:
Books and Coffee - Notes on Being a Man by Scott Galloway Sunday April 19, 4:30pm Meeting at the Manning's Home at Franke in Mount Pleasant
Minister's Book Club - Mother Emanuel: Two Centuries of Race, Resistance, and Forgiveness in One Charleston Church by Kevin Sack Saturday, April 25, at 10am in the Annex.
Women's Book Club - Here One Moment by Liane Moriarty Tuesday, April 28, 6:00pm, Lower Gage Hall (subject to change if the Library rooms open)
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Social Justice Endowment Grants for 2026:
You can help our Church to financially support worthy non-profit causes that YOU believe in - in our local community! The Social Justice Council is seeking nominations for the 2026 Social Justice Endowment grant. Every few years we disperse endowment fund earnings in the form of grants to non-profit organizations.
You may have a relationship with or knowledge of a worthy non-profit organization that supports our UU values. By all means, let us know about it by completing the nomination form. Don’t know where to star? Here’s a way to do so! The list below has a sample of various categories of non-profit organizations.
Which ones interest you most? Do an internet search for Charleston County non-profits that fit that category and see if you find one or more that may be worth your investigation. Then, let us know why you think they are worthy by completing the nomination form HERE and submitting it to Maureen Porter at mlpmaureen@gmail.com.
Join the Music Program! Now is the perfect time to get involved with our music program at UCC! The two primary ways to be involved are our Chancel Choir, which meets Wednesdays at 6:45pm, and our House Band which typically meets once a month. Professional training/experience not needed! For any questions, please reach out to our music director at ryan@charlestonuu.org
To share a significant life event (births, deaths, celebrations, transitions and other joys and sorrows) send to Marcia Castano at BookOfLife@CharlestonUU.org 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.
