Because of the coronavirus pandemic, the church will not be holding services in person until May 2nd, 2021 at the earliest.
November 29, 2020
Our building is still closed due to the Covid pandemic but we are meeting every Sunday for online Zoom worship and special programs.
September 9, 2020
To prevent the spread of Covid-19, we are continuing to keep our buildings closed, but some volunteers are talking about small gatherings outside for those who feel safe doing that.
This brings up an important point. This congregation has adopted the recommendation of the UUA to plan to continue meeting online until
May of 2021- we have members who are immune compromised, or have high risk folks in their families, and we know that church service is one of
the riskiest activities for spreading the disease.
But UUs are not dogmatic; we know there is not a one size fits all answer about what is best for each of us. We believe in supporting one another in
discerning and living our ethics. We encourage you to continue to do the difficult calculous of your own risk tolerance, your health concerns, your
financial situation and your values. We encourage everyone to follow the CDC guidance of social distancing, wearing face coverings, and hand
washing, but we know that there are lots of factors in considering when and how we should or should not visit with family and friends.
Parents make challenging decisions about how their children should be cared for and educated, and when the needs of childhood socialization
outweigh the risks of being with a friend or relative. We know that large gatherings like the Black Lives Matter protests increase our risk of exposure, but some feel called to take that risk because the status quo is not safe for people of color, and we must create visible pressure for transformation.
So please have good conversations with your family, with your friends, with your fellow churchgoers, about what makes you feel safe, about what your
expectations are when gathering together. Feel free to tell us to “back up” when we get inside your 6 foot bubble, to ask for a zoom or phone alternative when you don’t feel safe attending an in person event. And most importantly find ways to stay connected that care for your body, heart and spirit.
Blessings
Rev. Darcey Laine
Got a Phone?
That’s all you need to be part of all our “at home” programs. We are using Zoom for our gatherings, which can be used with a regular phone (or any kind of phone). It’s a simple as making a phone call, then dialing the meeting number when asked. We chose Zoom because we want everyone to be included, whether you have a computer or internet at your home. Please join us. Call Autumn Pfister at 607-592-8302 if you need help.
June 5, 2020:
Dear Members and Friends of the UUCC,
Last week New York began implementing a “phased reopening” plan, and we are all wondering what this means for our families, for our businesses and for our congregations.
We are grateful that Rev. Dr. Susan Frederick-Gray, president of the UUA also released guidance for UU congregations, https://www.uua.org/pressroom/press-releases/message-uua-president-updated-guidance-gathering including this bold recommendation:
“Based on advice from experts, we continue to recommend that congregations not gather in person. We also recommend that congregations begin planning for virtual operations for the next year (through May 2021).
Take a moment to breathe. I know this is significant. “
We did breathe, as we read those words, grateful for the clear, science-driven advice. We also felt the weight of anticipating another year of online services. We miss each other and long to be together!
The letter continues:
“anticipating a year of virtual operations allows for more creative long-term planning, while still being flexible if conditions change significantly.”
This makes a lot of sense. It is hard to be continuously planning for multiple realities, and would be a daunting task to simultaneously be planning for online worship and scheduling speakers for in-person worship, to be designing Sunday School classes that are effective both in person and on zoom.
So far we have been responding to the Covid outbreak as we would for a blizzard or other sudden emergency; we shelter in place and do what we can to get by until the danger passes. But Rev. Frederick-Gray is suggesting; don’t just get by– prepare and plan, dream and be creative. Consider together what you most need and want out of our online worship and religious education.
Your board has taken the UUA’s recommendations under advisement, and is considering how we will “do church” in the coming weeks and months. Let’s find ways of being together that support the most vulnerable among us, and challenge and enrich us all. Plans are in the works for “going visiting” for worship on Zoom this summer; we will keep you up to date when our schedule is finalized.
Your input is always welcome. Please contact your minister or any member of the board with your hopes and wishes for moving forward together.
Blessings,
Darcey & UUCC Board
May 22, 2020:
Services are still online and we are collaborating with our sister churches, the Unitarian Universalist Church of Athens & Sheshequin and the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Big Flats.
Got a Phone?
That’s all you need to be part of all our “at home” programs. We are using Zoom for our gatherings, which can be used with a regular phone (or any kind of phone). It’s a simple as making a phone call, then dialing the meeting number when asked. We chose Zoom because we want everyone to be included, whether you have a computer or internet at your home. Please join us. Call Autumn Pfister at 607-592-8302 if you need help.
At Home- Craft (or not) and Chat
Wed, May 27, 1 – 2pm,
Sometimes in these days of physical distancing, what we really miss is just a chance ot hang out informally. Please join Rev. Laine with your knitting, sewing, painting, woodwork and let’s just sit and work and chat together. Or just come and chat. This has been an informal and fun way to connect with Rev. Laine and other members.
https://uuma.zoom.us/j/810643728
Or from your phone dial +1 646 876 9923 US (New York) Zoom Meeting ID: 810-643-728
New Columns at “Living In Spirit”
An archive of Rev. Laine’s “Living in Spirit” column is available online. Recently added posts include “An extroverted Spiritual Practice” https://livinginspiritrevlaine.blogspot.com/2020/05/an-extroverted-spiritual-practice.html
May 15, 2020:
We will continue to have online services for the rest of our Church year. Please see the list of services on our main page for information on how to attend through Zoom or by phone.
April 17, 2020:
We invite you to participate with our Church in the following Zoom events:
At Home- Craft (or stitch) and Chat
Wed, April 22, 1 – 2pm,
Sometimes in these days of physical distancing, what we really miss is just a chance ot hang out informally. Please join Rev. Laine with your knitting, sewing, painting, woodwork and let’s just sit and work and chat together
https://uuma.zoom.us/j/810643728
Or from your phone dial +1 646 876 9923 US (New York) Zoom Meeting ID: 810-643-728
At Home- Story Time For All Ages
Wednesday, April 22, 7 – 8pm
Rev. Darcey leads a story time for all ages. Feel free to come in your Jammas if this is near your bedtime. Bring your own story if you have one to share. Feel free to invite a friend.
https://uuma.zoom.us/j/810643728
Or from your phone dial +1 646 876 9923 US (New York) Zoom Meeting ID: 810-643-728
At Home- Spirituality Retreat
May 9, 2020 10:00 am-2:00 pm
Rev. Laine and Rev. Taylor are excited to offer a multi-congregation virtual retreat we can do together in our own homes. We will gather at 10:00 am for worship- please bring an object representing where you are in your spiritual life to share. Then we will alternate between invite you to spiritual practices in your home and gathering together to reflect, and a closing worship. Please bring your own lunch 😉
March 18, 2020:
Dear Members and Friends of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Cortland,
Last Sunday we gathered to worship and decide our path forward through this Covid-19 outbreak. We unanimously agreed that we are committed to protecting the most vulnerable among us and in the larger community, so we have decided to pause all in-person church activities for the next month, and to reevaluate at that time. That means we want to find new ways to connect- because staying connected is more important than ever.
We will continue to come together on Sunday mornings for worship.
· March 22, 10:00 am- We have been invited to join Rev. Jo VonRue (yes, the very Rev. Jo who served our congregation a few years back) in a shared worship with May Memorial. You can join it by clicking here on your computer or smartphone https://zoom.us/j/705702501 or by calling this phone number 1 646 558 8656 US Meeting ID: 705 702 501
· March 29, 10:00 am- Rev. Laine leads a multi-congregation Zoom worship with our sibling church in Athens, PA. You can join it by clicking here on your computer or smartphone https://uuma.zoom.us/j/293194025 or by calling this phone number +1 646 876 9923 and when it asks punch in the Meeting ID: 293 194 025
· April 5, 10:30 am- Marion Lutz will be coordinating an online worship experience for us
· April 12, 10:00 am- Rev. Laine and Rev. Jo will lead a multi congregation Easter service.
Information about all our services will be posted on our website https://www.uucortland.org/, will be in the newsletter, and on our Facebook page. We will make an effort to mail out newsletters to folks who don’t have computers at least once a month.
· Need help connecting to worship? Call Autumn Pfister at 607-592-8302.
· Not sure what’s happening? Feeling low? Longing for connection? Call Rev. Laine 607-220-4152
We know not everyone is confident meeting online, so we want to make it as simple as possible. We will be using Zoom for many of our gatherings, which can be used with a regular phone as a phone call, a smart phone, or a computer where you can see and hear everyone.
If it is your first time using Zoom, we recommend starting 10-15 minutes early to get set up.
We encourage you to stay in touch with one another. Think of someone in the church community that could use a phone call, or a card. Contact Rev. Laine if you think someone might need some extra support. In the words of Rabbi Yosef Kanefsky – “Every hand that we don’t shake must become a phone call that we place. Every embrace that we avoid must become a verbal expression of warmth and concern. Every inch and every foot that we physically place between ourselves and another, must become a thought as to how we might be of help to that other, should the need arise.”
Blessings for you, and for our world community.
Sincerely,
Rev. Darcey Laine
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Rev. Darcey Laine (she/her/hers)
Home Study: 607-220-4152
Unitarian Universalist Church of Cortland
3 Church Street, Cortland, NY 13045
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March 15, 2020:
We will not be holding services in person until April 19 at the earliest. We are moving to worship by Zoom on Sunday mornings; some weeks we will be joining a different church’s online service and some weeks we will be hosting our own online service. Please send and email to [email protected] to be added to our mailing list for announcements and links to those services.
Here is the first of our online Services:
Sunday, March 22, 10:00 am- We have been invited to join Rev. Jo VonRue (yes, the very Rev. Jo who served our congregation a few years back) in a shared worship with May Memorial. You can join it by clicking here on your computer or smartphone https://zoom.us/j/705702501 or by calling this phone number 1 646 558 8656 US Meeting ID: 705 702 501