UUMTAIRY NEWSLETTER:
SERVICES & UPCOMING EVENTS
Sunday, June 7 - Flower Communion and Annual Meeting |
Updated: Friday, June 5 —
Sunday services begin at 11am in the sanctuary immediately followed by refreshments and conversation in our Fellowship Hall.
Both spaces are air conditioned in the summer for your comfort.
We are Accessible for those with Disabilities!
UUMtAiry features a ramp to the main sanctuary level, a wheelchair lift and an accessible restrooms on both the main and lower levels. Check here for photos.Words of Inspiration |
Upcoming Worship ServicesSunday, June 7 - "Flower Communion: Flourishing Together" Sunday, June 14 - "RE for All Sunday"
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Join us for a service on flourishing. Our annual flower communion service invites all of us to
bring something of beauty from our home to share with each other. Please feel free to bring a
flower or growing thing from your garden, the park, or a wildflower from the side of the road to
put into a common vase. We will then take home a different beautiful flower to honor the
diversity and beauty of this congregation. There will also be Child Dedications and a New
Member ceremony if the schedules of our families align!
From our Minister
 The Story of Norbert Čapek's Flower Ceremony (shared
from uua.org)His mother was a devout Catholic, his father agnostic. He became an
acolyte at age 10, in 1890 at St. Martin's Catholic Church. In the years
that followed, he became disillusioned: his priest was a cynic.
At 18, apprenticed to his uncle, a successful tailor in Vienna, Norbert
discovered the Baptists and became a minister. He founded almost a
dozen churches from Ukraine to Budapest.
Yet, slowly, his faith became more and more liberal. He left Bohemia under government threat and accepted a call to serve a Baptist church in New York City... until one day in 1919. That day, he wrote in his diary: "I cannot be a Baptist anymore, even in compromise. The fire of new desires, new worlds, is burning inside me." *Norbert and his wife, Mája Čapek, joined a Unitarian church in New Jersey in 1921—for the same reason a whole lot of you did: their children liked the religious education program. That's the power of our Sunday School teachers. Kids, that's your power, too! World WarI ended. His home country now independent, he and Maja returned home to Czechoslovakia. His Unitarian church was the Prague Liberal Religious Fellowship. In just 20 years, his church had 3,200 members. |
The traditional Christian communion service of bread and wine wouldn't meet the needs of his
congregation, because his church—like ours—had people who believed different things.
Čapek turned to the beauty of the countryside; to the beauty of flowers. In 1923, he developed the flower ceremony. He asked his congregants to bring a flower to church—from their gardens, the field, or the roadside. He invited each person to place their flower in a vase. There was the church community, no less unique for being united. Following the service, each person could take a flower from the vase—a different one than they had brought. Čapek was a visionary minister with a church ahead of its time, a BOLD church, a church thinking beyond its doors, beyond what it thought possible. It was a church that was willing to take risks; to make tough decisions; to bear disappointment; and to build a new way... first by building a church, and that church could build up the world. That is our church. That was Čapek's church For this, the Gestapo arrested him in 1942. The Nazis accused Čapek of listening to foreign broadcasts, and sent him to the Dachau concentration camp. Even in starvation and torture, he held a flower ceremony with his fellow prisoners, finding whatever flowers they could among the weeds of the camp. They testified to a beauty larger than themselves, and a love that would outlive them. — 06/05/2026 |
Important Announcements |
Seeking Religious Exploration Volunteers
If you're feeling called to help out every once in a while with our wonderful RE Kids, please fill out the interest form at the link below. This is not meant to be a big commitment; just a big time to be had with our little ones. We'll help you with safety clearances if you don't have them, but more important is your willingness to say yes and have fun! A link is here to contact Teacher Iz.ATTENTION: IT'S SCAM SEASON!
Beware of unusual emails that appear to come from church people. These emails are bogus! The intent is to collect names from your contact list to send more scam emails. If you receive a strange email from someone you think you know, don’t open it. Instead, contact the person by phone, text, or another email address and ask if the invitation is legitimate. Delete it unopened if your friend denies sending it. Protect your privacy. (This is a separate scam from the one where people are impersonating Reverend McKinley and asking for gift cards or other things.)
Also, someone is impersonating Rev. McKinley again! Please flag suspicious emails or text messages. Double check the email address it comes from (legit emails come from uumtairy.org domain).
SOMETHING OR ARE UNSURE!
Change for Change: June
Each month the Justice Council chooses an organization to support using the following guidelines: "...organizations led by and primarily serving Black, Indigenous and Other People of Color (BIPOC) in our surrounding community as well as periodic, special Justice-related appeals or projects from UUA associated organizations such as Side With Love, UU Service Committee, UU the Vote, and UU Ministry for the Earth."
Salvage Compost is a dynamic spin-off from its parent company, Northwest Mutual Aid Collective - our Pantry’s largest supplier. The organization was founded in 2024 to
address the growing need for sustainable waste management in Philadelphia’s nonprofit
sector. Salvage Compost was born out of a commitment to environmental stewardship
and the vision to transform food waste into valuable resources for urban farmers and
community growers around Philadelphia. Through its efforts, Salvage Compost aims to
create a ripple effect that encourages more environmentally friendly practices
throughout society.
The Composting Program partners with local nonprofits, shelters, and food banks to divert food waste from landfills. The program transforms inedible food scraps into nutrient-rich compost that supports urban farms, community gardens, and schools. This initiative not only reduces waste but also enriches soil health and promotes sustainable food systems throughout the city.
The Waste Wise Program educates nonprofits and community organizations on comprehensive waste reduction strategies. Through workshops and customized waste reduction plans, Salvage Compost helps organizations minimize food waste, improve recycling practices, and implement zero-waste initiatives. The organization’s goal is to foster environmental stewardship and create a more sustainable future for all.
and and could use some support? If so, please contact Rita F.
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Linking to the Worship Service
Reminder that there are two ways to watch worship:- Click the blue "Live Streaming" arrow on the homepage.
- The Zoom link has been changed because security protocols on their end. If you are a congregant of ours, check the weekly eNewsletter for the link and password.
Are You Following UUs of Mt Airy on Social Media?
Follow us on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/uumtairy/
Upcoming Events |
View Social Justice Events Here...
| Saturday, June 6, 8pm — |
People's Choice Open Stage/Open Circle
6900 Stenton Avenue, Philadelphia
The top vote-getters from the People’s Choice Open Stages at the Folk Factory will perform in concert on Saturday, June 6 at UUsMA.
The performers were selected by a vote of audience favorites from the roster of singers and songwriters who appeared from January through April 2026. Scheduled to perform are Jamie the Optimist, Jen Sheffield, Pete Smyth, Rick Mohr, and Simon Purchase James.
Admission is $7-20*, sliding scale. Advance tickets can be obtained here.
*At the door, no-wage and low-wage attendees pay half price at the low end of the scale, and people from UUsMA get a $2 ticket reduction by mentioning their affiliation to the person staffing the table.
 Singer-songwriter, member of UUsMA, drummer and lead singer of the Gene Smith Band, Jamie counts The Decemberists, Felly, and Flight of the Conchords among his influences. His fifth album, “Only One Home,” a call to action about climate change, was recently released. |
 Jennifer sings for social justice with music influenced by Holly Near, Judy Small, and Emma’s Revolution. Jennifer is currently a member of Voices Rising Philly and the Mendelssohn Chorus. She has performed at the Folk Factory and Mt. Airy Porchfest and sang with Anna Crusis Feminist Choir. |
 Peter Smyth is a painter, photographer, writer, and songwriter who began writing songs and singing when he found inspiration at a Bob Dylan concert in the early 1960s. Many performers have influenced his music including Joni Mitchell, Leonard Cohen, and Richie Havens. |
 Rick Mohr tells uplifting, funny, poignant, and vivid stories with guitar, concertina, and button accordion. His goal is to engage listeners and encouraging them to sing. Rick performs with the family band Wissahickon Bridge and plays fiddle for contra and barn dances. |
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Simon Purchase James grew up on the eastern shore of the Chesapeake Bay in the southern reaches of Lenapehoking, the current and ancestral land of the Lenape. His music weaves the principles and practices of collective liberation, restorative justice, and Earth care into his life, work, and music. His songs are heavily influenced by the folk music of Ireland and the British Isles. |
| Sunday, June 7 — |
Let's Make the FIRST SUNDAY of each Month
a Souper Sunday!
Bring a can of soup (healthy and not expired) to our wonderful community fridge. If we all did this, we would really be helping our neighbors. Thanks!
| Sunday, June 7 — |
Sunday Coffee Hour
Come down to Fellowship Hall following the church service for coffee and conversation... a great way to hang out with old and new friends!Curious about how hospitality works at UU Mt Airy? You can still join one of the 3 teams (serving a month at a time in sequence) and get the inside scoop on what we do. Just use this Google link to sign up for a team or look for team coordinators Steve, Rita, or Jill at coffee hour.
| Sunday, June 7 — |
Annual Meeting
Dear Members and Friends of UUs of Mt Airy,Please plan to attend our Annual Membership Meeting on Sunday, June 7, at 12:30 to participate in this major event in our congregational life. In addition to voting on the budget and candidates for the Board and Nominating Committee, we will show our appreciation for a number of folks whose labors of love have enriched our community, within and beyond our walls. There will also be a state-of-the-congregation message and updates on our capital projects.
Friends are welcome; however, only members may vote on the budget and the slates of candidates.
The budget has a few highlights to indicate minor adjustments that have been made to the draft that was presented at the Budget Meeting. Our treasurer, Len, has provided a narrative to explain the final budget, and he would welcome any questions prior to the meeting. Here are the candidates for 2026/2027:
Board of Trustees
- Moderator, Anam O-E
- Asst Moderator, Cathy M
- Treasurer, Bruce P-J
- Secretary, Vacant. (Annabel G has agreed to serve as interim secretary pending the Board appointment of a new secretary.)
- Trustee-at-large, Bethe O
- (Trustee-at-large, Anthony C, 2025-2027)
Nominating Committee
- Allen R
- Jill S
- Jane Z
See you on June 7th!
Cathy
| Sunday, June 14 — |
Second Sunday Potluck
Fellowship Hall, after 11am Worship Service.
The Second Sunday Potluck is a popular tradition now in its sixteenth year. On the second Sunday of each month throughout the church year (September to June) we gather for a sit-down meal where we can socialize and get to know one another.
All are invited to participate, whether or not they have a food item to contribute, but the event is much richer when as many as possible bring either a home-made or store-bought snack, main dish, or dessert. Make it stress-free! If you’re preparing a dish, choose one that’s quick, easy to make, and easy to transport. Whether you've been attending for many years or are new to UUs of Mt. Airy, this is a great way to connect with friends and members, and to welcome newcomers. Questions? Call Steve W at (215) 514-6662.
| Thursday, June 18 — |
Soul Circle
Thursday, June 18
7pm in Fellowship Hall
For our last meeting before summer break, bring something for the altar
that expresses appreciation for our experiences this year, and/or your
hopes for the future. This will be an open meeting for talking, laughing
and, perhaps, some planning for next year.— Annabel and Holly, Soul Circle Coordinators
Recurring Events |
| Every Day — |
The Community Pantry & Fridge Needs You...
 Founded by two of our UUsMA members along with a life-long resident of East Mt. Airy, our Mt Airy Community Fridge affirms food as a right not a privilege and is founded on radical hospitality: We are all here to help each other. People who come to get food also often help stock and clean the shelves and break down boxes. Folks from the neighborhood as well as our congregation donate food. There are no requirements, no qualifiers. And we even compost! You can be a part of this wonderful project.
Volunteers are needed to pick up food from distribution sites, to help stock the shelves, to help bag bulk produce, and to help keep it clean. Meeting and helping neighbors, reaching out. What better way to live our values? Pantry Wishlist (Drop off anytime): |
For composting: (Place these items in lower Pantry shelf with “Composting Materials” sign.) Contributions particularly needed on Sundays and Mondays when there are no scheduled deliveries! For information on how you can help support the Fridge and Pantry: Contact Laurie D, 215-514-7955 or Deb G, 412-600-9400 If you are interested in joining the team, fill out the volunteer form. We will keep you posted on new developments. You can call Courtney at 610-731-9452. Also, be sure to follow us on Instagram @mtairyfridge. Click here for more specific information about contributions. For more information, please visit our website. |
| Every Wednesday at 7pm — |
Soul Line Dance Classes
| Every Thursday, 5:30pm — |
Black Lives Matter
Take a stand against racism and white supremacy by centering the importance of Black
lives every Thursday, rain, or shine. Join us from 5:30-6:00 in Hale Lounge to sing
together, light candles, and to share racial justice news and history.
At 6:00pm we’ll line Stenton Avenue with anti-racist signs (and get tons of supportive honks). Those at home are welcome to join us on Zoom for the pre-vigil gathering at 5:30 using the Worship Zoom. If you want to connect online, please text Bruce at (215) 688-8747 or Fern at (215) 970-4746.
News & Information |
UPCOMING NEWSLETTER DEADLINES:
Please send questions about submissions to . |
Mailing Address and Contact Information
for Terry W (June 7 Sermon)
Terry W has been a member of our congregation for about 8 years. He is currently serving a
life sentence at SCI Phoenix in Collegeville. He grew up in Mt. Airy, was star quarterback at
Germantown High School, and actually sometimes ate snacks on our grounds at that time! While
incarcerated, he read an article about 1st Unitarian in Center City, and asked his lawyers if they
could find someone to help him learn more about Unitarian Universalism. One of the lawyers
asked a friend involved in POWER and antiracist educational activism, who had worked with Bruce
P-J and knew Bruce was UU, and connected the two of them.
Bruce and Terry started a penpal relationship, then Bruce drove 5 hours to visit Terry near Pittsburgh in person (through plexiglass), and they got to a point where they spoke by phone almost every day for a while, partly because Terry was in isolation (solitary confinement). Terry got very excited about UUism, and wanted to join the church. Unfortunately, one requirement for membership in the bylaws is to sign the membership book in person. Clearly, Terry couldn't do that, so Bruce organized a Congregational Meeting, and we voted to |
suspend the bylaws to allow
Terry to sign a piece of paper that got inserted into the membership book, and he became a
member.
Terry was able to give a short presentation on recorded video for the congregation once before, but last Sunday was the first time he was able to give a full sermon, which was very enthusiastically received. If you missed it, or would like to hear it again, you can go here, and select the Livestream option. If you would like to communicate with Terry, you can write to him at the following address: Smart Communications/PA DOC To get a taste of the inhumanity of our system, letters, etc., are sent to Florida to then be photocopied, and the photocopies are sent to the incarcerated people. Because of that, normal letter-size paper is best to be sure to go through. There is also an email-like communication system that you could sign up for, or you could sign up to visit him in person. As mentioned last week, Terry is having an evidentiary hearing July 20- 22, and would love for members of our congregation to attend in person to support him if they are interested. For details, or if you would like to learn more about Terry, feel free to contact Bruce. Terry loves hearing from people! |
Spirit Matters
“We come from different homes, different paths, different worries and hopes. But we come to this same space, for the same reason: to remember that we do not have to carry this life alone. Here, we learn to flourish together, by choosing, again and again, to show up for one another.” — Reverend Michelle Collins
“If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other.” — Mother Teresa
“James Baldwin once said that “a People” do not come into being automatically. They become a People through what they are willing to face together. Throughout history, there have been moments when collective action has reshaped what is possible. The civil rights movement showed how sustained courage and persistence in the face of struggle could move an entire nation. People gathered not only for a day, but over months and years, turning protest into lasting change. A crowd can gather quickly. A People takes time.” — Becoming a People by Reverend Cameron Trimble
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Question for Contemplation“Throughout history, there have been moments when collective action has reshaped what is possible.” Do you think we are in one of those moments now? |
Just for Laughs
Hospitality Teams
For all who have enjoyed a weekly coffee hour or a second Sunday potluck, know that these don’t miraculously happen. We have three hospitality teams that rotate throughout the church year (beginning in September) to coordinate the tasks needed to ensure that hospitality is provided seamlessly:- Team 1 (Steve’s team): September / December / March / June
- Team 2 (Rita’s team): October / January / April / July
- Team 3 (Jill’s team): November / February / May / August
- Bring food to share each week (can be store bought or homemade)
- Make coffee and heat water for tea
- Set up food and beverage tables
- Set out plates, mugs, utensils, napkins
- Usher and welcome people as they arrive
- Pass the plate at the offertory
- Account for offertory donations (change for change, pledge contributions) after the service
- Clean-up
Many hands make these tasks easy to accomplish. If we can boost the number of volunteers, we’ll propose adding a fourth hospitality team so that each of the teams will be on duty three months each year instead of four.
Openings for New Participants in Covenant Groups!
A Covenant Group (small group ministry) is a group of usually 6-8 people in a congregation who get together to get to know each other and talk about themes that relate to the theme for the month of our Sunday worship services. We currently have a couple of active covenant groups. If you think you might be interested in joining an existing group or being part of a new group, please contact Rev. McKinley!Pastoral Care Update
| Each one of us can use some help and support at times in navigating life's ups and downs. Now there is an easy way to contact the Pastoral Care Team if you or someone you know needs a helping hand.
UUMtAiry has a convenient request/referral form that goes directly to Rev. McKinley and Care Team Coordinators. Within 24-48 hours a Care Team volunteer will acknowledge your request and have either the minister or a team member contact you. Before contacting the Care Team, please keep the following in mind: |
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Looking for the Latest Congregational Directory?
Find all this by clicking the DIRECTORY & CONTRIBUTIONS button at the right. From the ICON homepage, you can edit your own information (illustrated below on the left) or change your password on the Settings page (circled on the right).
If you attach a photo to an email and send it to either the Office or the Webmaster, we will be happy to add it to your profile.
Email the Office and request a new one.
Have You Seen our Google Calendar?
We're working on making this ultra-functional. Soon, group leaders will be able to add their classes, meetings, and notes to this calendar for easy access. Office hours, RE times, and maybe even worship topics will be listed as far in advance as we can make them. You can find the Monthly Meeting Calendar link at the bottom of every web page.Or go to it directly below (bookmark with Ctrl+D or CMD+D):
https://calendar.google.com/calendar/u/0/embed?src=minister@uumtairy.org&ctz=America/New_York