In this joyful and reflective sermon, Clint Tawes looks to the music and public persona of one of his personal icons, Diana Ross, as a kind of sacred text. In the spirit of this month’s theme of awakening curiosity, the sermon invites us to wonder where wisdom, courage, and liberation might be found when we look beyond traditional sources.
Priscilla Shumway and Lisa Hajjar will be our Worship Associates,
Clint Tawes will give the Time for All Ages,
with music provided by our Choir, Bill Gesin, and Ryan Pagels.
9:30 AM - Nursery Opens, Annex - For the summer, children ages 7 and under are welcome in the nursery 9:30am - 12:15pm
- Beginning next week, while Forum pauses for the summer, the nursery will open at 10:30am.
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 FINAL FORUM OF THE SEASON! Robby Maynor – Protecting Our Environment in the Digital Age The presentation will offer a snapshot of data center trends in South Carolina and across the Southeast, highlight the primary environmental concerns with rapid data center development, take a brief look at newly proposed data centers in our state, and provide some ideas for ways folks can directly engage in conversations about data centers in their community.
Robby Maynor is a writer and environmentalist from the Lowcountry of South Carolina. He serves as a Policy Advocate with the nonprofit Southern Environmental Law Center.
12:00 PM - Coffee Hour, Gage Hall Immediately following the service you are invited next door to join us for coffee and light refreshments in our fellowship hall.
RE Closet Clean-Out Volunteers Needed This Sunday
Volunteers requested for this Sunday, May 24, following the service. We’ll be organizing the RE closet and clearing out unused materials. Many hands make light work! Email emily@charlestonuu.org if you are able to volunteer!
Call for RE Volunteers for Next Church Year
We’re looking for volunteers to teach and support both our Elementary and Youth RE programs in the coming church year. No teaching experience is necessary—just a willingness to bring positive energy, help where needed, and be a caring presence for our children and youth. If you’re interested, please contact Emily at emily@charlestonuu.org.
THIS WEEK AT CHURCH
TONIGHT: UU Happy Hour Thursday, May 21; 5:00-7:00pm
Commonhouse Aleworks, North Charleston
Are you new or new-ish to our church? Or have you been a member for a few years but want to reconnect with our community? Then this happy hour is for you! Join us for a drink and ask questions, explore life as a UU, and meet new folks. Rev. Rebecca and Jules, our membership coordinator, want to get to know you and help discover your place in our community! Contact Jules@charlestonuu.org with questions.
May Book Clubs
Books and Coffee:Sunday, May 24, 4:30pm at Ellie and Ray Setser's home.
Our chosen book is The NY Times Bestseller “Breath” by James Nestor. Please bring a snack to share.
Women's Book Group:Tuesday May 26, 6:00pm at the Charleston Main Library on Calhoun St. + Zoom
This will be the last for this season, we will be reading and discussing "The Lion Women of Tehran" by Marjan Kamali. We will meet at the Main Library on Calhoun Street. Contact Diane Hopkins or office@charlestonuu.org for the Zoom information.
Minister's Book Club:Saturday, May 30, 10:00am in Lower Gage Hall
We will be discussing Mother Emanuel: Two Centuries of Race, Resistance, and Forgiveness in One Charleston Church by Kevin Sack.
Church offices will be close Monday, May 25 in recognition of Memorial Day
Invitation to Serve on the Worship Service Team
The Worship Service Team is looking for new members to join us in planning meaningful and engaging worship experiences for our congregation. If you have a heart for worship, enjoy working collaboratively, and would like to help shape our services, we would love to hear from you. If you are interested or have questions about what serving on the team involves, please contact Maureen Porter, Scott Morgan, or Reverend Rebecca at minister@charlestonuu.org
May Vestry Board Meeting Thursday, May 28; 6:30 - 8:00pm
Zoom
If you would like to attend the May Vestry Board meeting contact christine@charlestonuu.org for the Zoom meeting information.
SAVE THE DATE
Classical Pride Sunday, May 31; 4:00pm Sanctuary
Classical Pride Charleston is a celebration of LGBTQIA+ community in Classical Music. It will feature LGBTQIA+ composers both past and present, as well as performers who identify with or provide allyship for the LGBTQIA+ community.
This year’s feature piece is George Gershwin’s Piano Concerto in F.
Featuring:
The Classical Pride Chamber Orchestra, The Unitarian Church of Charleston’s Chancel Choir,
The Palmetto Choral Collective, Vox Insolita
Farewell Potluck Celebration Sunday, June 8; 4:00pm Lower Gage Hall
With several members moving, we are hosting a farewell potluck to serve as an opportunity to say goodbye and shower our outgoing members with love. Bring a dish and a memory to share!
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Thank you for participating in our Annual Meeting! Thank you to everyone who attended and participated in our annual meeting. Congratulations to our members who will begin serving our community in new capacities. And thank you to those who have served and continue to serve our church!
An Update from Guest at Your Table Partner and UUSC
This December our church supported UUSC's work and partners. See below for this update on the important work these donations support:
Recently, your generosity helped fund “Haiti Rising” — a wellness retreat that brought together leaders from a number of UUSC’s grassroots partner organizations in Haiti. At a time when many Haitian advocates, journalists, and organizers are working under extraordinary and oftentimes life-threatening pressure, UUSC’s retreat created space for rest, reflection, and renewed connection.
Among the participants was our partner, AyiboPost, an independent media collective dedicated to amplifying the voices and stories too often ignored by mainstream narratives about Haiti. Their work challenges harmful stereotypes and centers the resilience, creativity, and dignity of Haitian communities.
Mike Hala Joly of AyiboPost reflected on what the experience meant to him:
“Living in Haiti is a constant challenge, and working in media adds a layer of relentless stress. As an administrator, I see the toll it takes on our young team … This is where UUSC became a lifesaver. At the retreat in Cap-Haitien, I found a stillness I had forgotten existed … I left the Haiti Rising retreat not just rested, but restored.”
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.
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.
