By Elizabeth Corbett, Programs & Membership Coordinator
As always, Westside is holding many events and is busy! The auction was a success, and we’re looking forward to the pledge/canvass campaign, planting trees in March, and there’s lots more with our ongoing events: spiritual practices before the service on Sundays, adult conversations on Wednesday and Thursday evenings, Poetry and Arts and Crafts groups meeting monthly, and the Earth Church meeting on February 18th. Committees such as Marketing, Green Sanctuary, Aesthetics, and Stewardship continue to meet as well.
So, I’m kinda at a loss as to what a new Justice and Generosity Project could be for the next few months. Do you have any suggestions? Do you know of a local organization, school, or club that might want a boost from WUUC? Something we can donate or partner with them on? Please email, text, or call your ideas to me! My contact information is membership@westsideuuc.org or 865-235-3917.
While we’re waiting for another project, I’ll suggest other ways you can share your generosity and caring with the community:
● It’s too late to show up in Nashville for this, but you can still phone or email TODAY, February 14: The House Education Administration Committee votes at 1:30 and the Senate Education Committee votes at 3pm on bill 1603, the Pride flag ban bill, which bans schools from displaying flags other than the American or state flag. EMAIL: Use the easy form at the link to send email messages to the members of the Senate Education Committee and the House Education Administration Committee urging them to oppose the flag ban bill. CALL: Use the scripts and the numbers at the link to call members of the House Education and Administration Committee to oppose the flag ban bill. Call at night or on the weekend to get office voice mail. CALL: Use the scripts and the numbers at the link to call members of the Senate Education Committee to oppose the flag ban bill. Call at night or on the weekend to get office voice mail.
● Our current Share the Plate partner, The Bottom, has a number of events this month. You can sign up for their Book It monthly subscription which will get you a book written by a Black author that affirms and uplifts the Black community. In addition, during Black History month, educators can receive a 20% discount on in-store book purchases.
● And don’t forget our ongoing Justice and Generosity Project–filling the food donation box in the foyer. Alice and Jerry Thornton take what we collect to another Farragut church that then stocks a food pantry. I came across an article the other day about what food pantries need, and here are some ideas if you’re tired of picking out chicken soup and peanut butter (although these items are needed also!):
○ flour, sugar, salt and pepper, and other basic herbs and spices (cinnamon, oregano, garlic and/or onion salt)
○ olive oil or other cooking oil
○ anything that is appropriate for a special diet, such as cashew butter, gluten free bread, sugar-free jam or cookies
○ baby food and formula
I also welcome comments and questions in general 🙂. You can email me at membership@westsideuuc.org.