Betwixt & Between Weekly Newsletter (B&B)
BETWIXT & BETWEEN WEEKLY NEWS
346 Chestnut Street Meadville, PA 16335
(814)-724-4023
Website: www.uumeadville.org
Office Administrator Email: church@uumeadville.org
Office Hours- Monday-Friday 7:30-1:30 pm
SUNDAY SERVICE 10:30 AM
January 11th
“Rethinking Religion ”- Rev. Jane Ellen Nickell
UUCM begins its third century at a time when religion is going through a sea change, as it experiences the same tensions and challenges as other institutions. After some background about religious change that brought us to this point, we will look at how UUCM is positioned to thrive in this new religious climate and be part transitioning to a more inclusive future.
SUNDAY CREW
Coffee Hour -Tom and Janet Edmonds
Pulpit Assistant-Dave Anderson
Usher- Corinne and Rich Chafey
SUNDAY SIGN-UPS 2025
We will need Ushers and Pulpit Assistants through June 2026. Please sign up for the dates that are the most convenient for you. You can sign up emailing Jodi or the sign-up sheet in the Parish House. Melissa Mansfield and Ed Pechin have agreed to coordinate efforts to ensure that there are a couple of willing folks to serve each Sunday as our ushers! If you have never ushered before, they are always willing to work with you, so it is not a daunting experience. So, to help with coordinating efforts, either sign up for a date or dates that you can help, or reach out to Ed or Melissa. Many hands make light work. Thanks in advance!!
SHARE-THE-PLATE
Every month, we share our offerings with a community group whose mission is consonant with ours. This month we have selected St. James Haven. St. James Haven is a twelve bed, temporary, overnight shelter for homeless men located at 779 North Main St. in Meadville, PA. The Haven provides homeless men with a comfortable bed and clean, dry shelter on a first come-first served basis. A simple evening meal is served. The facility is staffed by a resident manager and is open 365 days/year from 6pm to 8am.
EMAIL AND TEXT SCAMS
There has been reports that emails have been sent from Rev. Jane Ellen asking for gift cards. This is a scam. We expect that there will be additional emails sent by “board members”. These are scams as well. Please do not respond to any text or emails from people saying they are from the Church asking for money or gift cards.
SOUP KITCHEN
Every second Friday each month a group of UU volunteers serve meals at the Meadville Area Soup kitchen as a way to help alleviate some of the symptoms of poverty in our region. You are welcome to volunteer. Michele Baker is now the contact person for the soup kitchen group and they are sometimes low on volunteers. It’s the 2nd Friday of each month from 10-1 at Stone United Methodist Church on S. Main Street. Please contact Michele for information about volunteering..
BICENTENNIAL PHOTO BOOK
As we review the Bicentennial year, we also want thank Corinne Chafey for the book she created that documents our history in photos. Corinne spent untold hours going through pictures, scanning them, and creating an album through Mixbooks. Thanks to everyone who helped identify pictures and to Corinne for the time, effort, and love involved in producing that archival record. People have asked about buying a copy, but due to the cost, Corinne only purchased three copies, which she gifted to the church and the Crawford County Historical Society, in addition to keeping one for herself. We do not want to let this valuable publication leave the church, but you are welcome to check it out from the minister’s office and look through it at the church. You can also review a slideshow of the pictures, complete with narration, which we have posted online https://drive.google.com/file/d/13I689-33RBs8LFsiyDvwjgiOpvFIFqoC/view?usp=share_link
Bicentennial Archives: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1xCA6wiAn0wClQLKi0cOGu7zRMToe_iEV?usp=share_link
Bicentennial Weekend materials and recordings: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1ZVC_6V4JZ8elARGFfxTy-TlWyGIcykGC?usp=share_link
Interviews with Former Pastors: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1ZVC_6V4JZ8elARGFfxTy-TlWyGIcykGC?usp=share_link
TREX RECYCLING CHALLENGE
UUCM is in the home stretch!! Our 1-year plastic collection period ends January 26, 2026. To date we have submitted 712 pounds of plastic, with 288 pounds to go!!!
If you are harboring plastic in your basement or garage now is the time to get it out and deliver it to the church to be weighed and taken to a drop off point. A workday will be set to make that final push. If you know of any sources of plastic, please cultivate them now. Let’s get that Trex bench!!
MEDITATION GROUP SCHEDULE BEGINNING 1/12/2026
A Buddhist meditation group was formed at the Unitarian Universalist Church when Reverend Alex Holt was the pastor. The group has evolved over the years with times and days shifting to fit the needs of the core group.
Currently we meet in the Unitarian Universalist sanctuary on the corner of South Main and Chestnut Streets in Meadville. All meditations are a half hour duration.
* 6 pm Mondays – guided or partially guided meditation with discussion afterwards.
* 10 am Wednesdays- 1/2 hour silent sitting practice
* 10 am Fridays- 1/2 hour silent sitting practice
The meditation is a non-denominational practice and is open to anyone who is interested in deepening their inner spiritual journey. There is no cost.
If you have further questions, you may call the church office at 814 724 4023.
ELC’S CUPBOARD FULL OF SOUP
Please help stock the Early Learning Center’s Cupboard Full of Soup for its needy families. They would welcome donations of canned, kid-friendly soup, which can be left on the steps to the second floor of the parish house or delivered upstairs to the ELC. Help to feed the hungry kids in our community during these difficult times!
MEADVILLE 1825
Join us in supporting the Meadville community with donating to Soup on Saturdays. We will be serving soups to the community. We are looking for donations or soup ingredients (dry foods, stocks, cans and fresh veggies). We are also accepting any monetary donations. There will be a donation bin on the parish house during coffee hour. Contact Jodi Sipos with any questions or donations 814-724-4023 or church@uumeadville.org.
JANUARY 10TH: SPLIT PEA/LENTIL SOUP
ITEMS NEEDED
- Minced Garlic
- Unsalted Butter
INSPIRATION OF THE WEEK
THIS WEEK AT THE UU CHURCH OF MEADVILLE
Wednesday 1/7/2026- 10:00am-Meditation Group
Thursday 1/8/2026
Friday 1/9/2026- 10:00am- Soup Kitchen; 10:00am-Meditation Group
Saturday 1/10/2026-3:00-5:00pm- Soup on Saturday
Sunday 1/11/026- 10:30am- “Rethinking Religion ”- Rev. Jane Ellen Nickell
Monday 1/12/2026- 6:00pm- Meditation Group
Tuesday 1/13/2026-10:00am- Meditation Group; 11:00am- Worship Committee Meeting
WEEKLY INCOME
Pledges-$90.00
Previous Year Pledges- $0.00
Prepaid Pledges- $0.00
Non-Pledge- $297.00
Share the Plate- $47.00
Rentals- $1,675.00
Minister’s Discretionary Fund- $0.00
Coffee Hour- $0.00
Fundraiser-Ongoing – $0.00
Fundraiser-Ooh La La – $0.00
Fundraiser-Honey – $0.00
Poinsettias and Wreaths- $0.00
Memorial Fund- $0.00
Copies- $0.00
Key- $0.00
Soup on Saturday- $20.00
Capital Improvements- $0.00
Church Mutual- $0.00
Meadville 1825- $0.00
Bicentennial- $0.00
Sign- $0.00
Church Mutual- $0.00
Vanco Pledge- $0.00
Vanco Non-pledge- $0.00
STEWARDSHIP AND FUNDRAISING
VANCO ONLINE GIVING
The Unitarian Universalist Church of Meadville is excited to announce that you can now manage your giving online! Giving online is easy and allows you to set up automatic recurring contributions and view your complete online giving history from anywhere you have access to the Internet.
Simply follow these easy steps:
- Visit the church website at uumeadville.org
- Click on the give link located at the very top of the webpage next to the Facebook Icon. You can also find the give link under Stewardship.
- Click on the Create Profile button, then
- Follow the onscreen instructions to create an online profile and to schedule your one time or recurring contributions.
You can now make donations and pledge payments through the secure Vanco system. Click here to set up your free account.
Looking to downsize or clean out your closets? If you have a gently used ladies clothing, purses, shoes, or jewelry why not consider dropping them off at Ooh La La consignment boutique to contribute to our ongoing fundraiser?
Just bring your items in clean on hangers with no wrinkles, odors, stains, hairs or pilling and items that are accepted will go onto the church account! The church will earn 40% of the items selling price. To date we have made over $2000!
The store is currently accepting spring items, but below is a schedule for all seasons. Consignment is accepted Tuesday through Friday 11 AM- 5PM. No drop offs on Mondays please.
Jan 15-Mar 31 …..Spring
Apr 15-July 10 ….Summer
Aug 1-Oct 31 …….Fall
Nov 1- Jan 2 ……..Winter
FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CLICK ON THE FOLLOWING LINKS
·· STEWARDSHIP AND FUNDRAISING
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