Photos of the Week for December 8, 2020

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Photo of the Week #1

Music Director Matt Johnsen warms up on the church’s Steinway grand piano before a videotaping session on December 3, 2020. Matt played a selection of Christmas songs that will be used for future Zoom church services. (photo by Betty Jenewin)

Photo of the Week #2

UU’s attending the morning’s Zoom church service on December 6, 2020 were surprised to see someone unexpected in the pulpit, although it was noted that this person sounded a lot like the Rev. Aaron Payson. Here, the Rev. Santa Claus delivers the Reflection “Christmas Is All Our Fault.”

Photo of the Week #3

Jenny Delgizzi, left, and Religious Exploration Director Robin Mitzcavitch rehearse their respective parts before a videotaping session on December 6, 2020. In this Spirit Play performance Robin will be the Storyteller, narrating “The Weight of a Snowflake” by Janeen K. Grohsmeyer. Jenny will be the Animator, moving the pieces of the felt board around to follow the arc of the story. The video will be produced by Vickie Cox-Lanyon, and will be part of a future Zoom service. (photo by Betty Jenewin)

Photo of the Week #4

The Social Threads Group met over Zoom on December 6, 2020 for their Quilt Challenge. This week it was making a ‘churn dash block.’ Displaying their work are, top row from left, Lisa Bailey and Sheryl Cassie. Middle row from left, are Robin Mitzcavitch taking the photo and Gladys Moldonado. Bottom row, from left, are Rachel Peckar and Dawn Cassie.

Photo of the Week #5

Nancy Hancock has been leading our church’s evening book group for 4-5 years, and Kim Napoleone led the afternoon group for about the same amount of time. When asked what their favorite fiction book of 2020 was, both women coincidentally selected The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek by Kim Michele Richardson. And, yes, this is the book a group of other church folks picked for our All Church Read!

Here’s why Nancy made this her top pick of the year. “I liked the book for several reasons: I enjoy historical settings, and the author presented the 1930’s Appalachian life, effects that poverty and outside influences like the Pack Horse program had on the isolated mountain people. I liked learning about the blue-skinned people. I liked the thoughtful development of the courageous main character and how she challenged ideas of racial prejudice, equality and justice in her time.”

And here’s why Kim selected it. “The book had so many layers: racism being the first theme, but toward blue people. I enjoyed it so much that I paused in reading to look it up and it was based in fact! Some people have blue-tinged skin but they are treated as colored, in the same way that they couldn’t use a bathroom that says no colored people, they can’t marry someone white, they were not to be touched and they were scorned by many townspeople. I loved the main character for her strength, humor, intelligence and perseverance. Plus, she shares a love of reading and helping people, as I do.”

Photo of the Week #6

In this photo from the UUCW archives, members of the Youth Group served as the waitstaff for the Gourmet Dinner on March 28, 2015. The youth volunteered their time every year for this dinner, which was once a large fundraiser for the church. They had fun doing it, it was a rite of passage, and their tips went into the Youth Group fund. Shown in this photo, are, back row from left, Mary, Skylar, Tom, Maggie, John, Peter and Emily. Middle row, from left, are Morgaine, Gareth, Maya, Thalia, Taeva, Miya and Mariah. Front row, from left, are Owen, Callie and Joannah. (photo by Betty Jenewin)

Photo of the Week #7

In this photo from the UUCW archives, Sandy Paracer and Peg Gifford chat on the porch at Ferry Beach in September of 2012. (photo by Ruth Silver)