The Mystic Grove at First Unitarian Church of Orlando

For shoe who might need...

NEXT FOOD DISTRIBUTION 🚛🚛🚛

❌we are not opening the week of Thanksgiving.

⚠️⚠️ drive slow ⚠️⚠️
Please be cautious of your driving the speed limit is 25mph

❌ 3 fam max per vehicle

❌ Clear out your trunks/backseats

❌ if you can not come at 8am to get a pass you can get in line AFTER 2pm but food is not guaranteed at that time. Its on a first come first serve basis.

From the main 1U facebook --

"We are so excited to announce the organizations selected by the members and friends of our congregation for the new year of Share the Plate!
We will kick off the STP year in December! So stay tuned to see who the first organization will be!
Share the Plate: Friends and members of 1U select an organization, from the pool of those nominated, whose mission is in keeping with the values of this congregation and sending them 100% of the undesignated funds given to our offering plates. We believe that this practice will help us deepen our practice of generosity and strengthen our commitment to and relationships with our partner organizations."

We are so excited to announce the organizations selected by the members and friends of our congregation for the new year of Share the Plate!

We will kick off the STP year in December! So stay tuned to see who the first organization will be!

Share the Plate: Friends and members of 1U select an organization, from the pool of those nominated, whose mission is in keeping with the values of this congregation and sending them 100% of the undesignated funds given to our offering plates. We believe that this practice will help us deepen our practice of generosity and strengthen our commitment to and relationships with our partner organizations.

Plan ahead. Witches Ball is Dec 18, 2020.

The theme this year is "Vintage Carnival." For more info, visit

http://www.venusinvelvet.com/witches--ball-orlando-.html

It’s still game on! We need to know if you’re coming to our #witchesball and it’s close to the #yule holiday this year. #qrcodes are a great way to go. We will #mail them out until #December 4th then you can pick them up at the door with proof of ID and purchase. Making this easy for YOU🖤 Blessed Be 🦉

For kids and family and the inner child to have some fun! 💕

First Unitarian Church of Orlando

Did you miss the service on Sunday? Catch it in the 1U Facebook video collection.

Rev. Samuel Schaal / Sarah Gray / Aubrey Connelly-Candelario

The election is over. How do we heal as a nation?
Service streamed on Facebook Premier and Zoom. Video on demand at www.orlandouu.org and YouTube.

Man Makes Adorable Acorn People and Sends Them on Magical Adventures in the Woods

For those who like whimsy...

"After moving to a small house in the woods, a Czech man and his kids started gathering chestnuts and acorns on their fall walks in the forest.

To entertain themselves they’d glue them together in the shapes of various animals and people. Over time, they got super creative with the hobby. They arrange the little “acorn elves” into all kinds of hilarious poses and photograph them embarking on all kinds of adventures together."

returntonow.net This guy makes elaborate “acorn elves” and photographs them in the most hilarious poses After moving to a small house in the woods, a Czech man and his kids started gathering chestnuts and acorns on their fall walks in the forest. To entertain themselves they’d glue them together in the […]

From City of Orlando -- "Need a distraction while we wait for the ballots to be counted? Help us round up all the election signs to make sure they don't go to waste!
Drop them off at convenient locations around Orange County from November 4 to 22."

Rare yellow turtle spotted for only second time looks like melted cheese

For the animal lovers....

cnet.com The unusual bright yellow creature, an albino Indian flapshell turtle, got rescued in West Bengal, India. And the internet thinks it looks like cheese, or an egg yolk.

Family fun to relax and enjoy!

From Skinner House:

"Late Fall

"Less light.
A time of rest for eyes weary of bright lights
competing for our attention.
Less light.
A time to focus carefully on things
that the spotlight has missed.
Less light. No need to squint.
Eyes wide and alive.
Less light.
No need to look frantically
for what we might be missing.
Eyes closed and breath steady.
Less light.
Ample time to see the slant sun of dawn
kindling dewy webs between bare wet branches. . . .
Less light.
A time to notice shapes and textures as well as color.
Less light. A gilt of the tilting earth.
Less light.
A gift, a blessing, a reminder,
and a time of opportunity.
Blessed are you, light that wanes."

Mark Belletini
Sonata for Voice and Silence

Available at inSpirit: The UU Book and Gift Shop at http://bit.ly/1NM2sAS"

Late Fall

"Less light.
A time of rest for eyes weary of bright lights
competing for our attention.
Less light.
A time to focus carefully on things
that the spotlight has missed.
Less light. No need to squint.
Eyes wide and alive.
Less light.
No need to look frantically
for what we might be missing.
Eyes closed and breath steady.
Less light.
Ample time to see the slant sun of dawn
kindling dewy webs between bare wet branches. . . .
Less light.
A time to notice shapes and textures as well as color.
Less light. A gilt of the tilting earth.
Less light.
A gift, a blessing, a reminder,
and a time of opportunity.
Blessed are you, light that wanes."

Mark Belletini
Sonata for Voice and Silence

Available at inSpirit: The UU Book and Gift Shop at http://bit.ly/1NM2sAS

Scientists find Madagascar chameleon last seen 100 years ago

"Scientists say they have found an elusive chameleon species that was last spotted in Madagascar 100 years ago.

Researchers from Madagascar and Germany said Friday that they discovered several living specimens of Voeltzkow’s chameleon during an expedition to the northwest of the African island nation."

cbs8.com Scientists say they have found an elusive chameleon species that was last spotted in Madagascar 100 years ago.

First Unitarian Church of Orlando

Did you miss it? Catch it online!

November 1st Sunday Worship Service 10:30 AM on First Unitarian's Facebook Live and YouTube.

All Souls / Day of the Dead
Rev. Samuel Schaal / Sarah Gray / Aubrey Connelly-Candelario
We are the future of our past generations who have become the present. What of the unfolding future, always beyond our grasp?

https://www.facebook.com/orlandouu/videos/666528067395127

November 1st Sunday Worship Service
All Souls / Day of the Dead
Rev. Samuel Schaal / Sarah Gray / Aubrey Connelly-Candelario
We are the future of our past generations who have become the present. What of the unfolding future, always beyond our grasp?

Daralene Jones

This Sunday at 7pm. A long time coming... Members of 1U played a role in helping shed light on this, 20+ years ago. Grateful and hopeful, the truth will out.

My husband and I moved to Ocoee five years ago because we found a home in Winter Garden we loved, but the land was very expensive.

We loved the builder, and the sales guy told us that if we liked the model, we could get the same home in Ocoee a LOT cheaper.

So – we made the drive into Ocoee on a Sunday and looked at the model.

Of course, we loved it.

One day I was sitting in my living room in our new home, reading a book about the great migration. The writer describes how Black families had escaped this town called Ocoee in 1920.

I was floored because, of course, she couldn’t be talking about Ocoee, where I lived!

I searched the internet and found little information about what was described as a riot that had happened in Ocoee on November 2, 1920. Based on what I know now, a riot is too light of a term.

My husband and I talked about it, and we considered whether Ocoee was a safe place for us to live, considering the history we had discovered about its past.

My husband was pulled over by the police shortly after we bought our home and it scared me to death.

From time to time, friends would give us a strange look when we told then we lived in Ocoee, some questions, ‘why?’

That’s why I pitched this project.

It made me uneasy knowing that something terrible happened to Blacks in the community my husband and I are raising our three Black boys.

It concerned me that people who lived here either didn’t know about it or just didn’t talk about it.

It surprised me that my neighbors, some of them, knew nothing about this horrific event that forced Black families to run for their lives and leave this community as an all-white town for decades.

I have worked with a team of people in our newsroom who are just as passionate about telling this story as I am.

Journalists, videographers, editors, promotional producers, graphic artists and more have poured their hearts and souls into this project for months. All working on their time off, at times.

It is my hope that we are able to elevate the conversation about the Ocoee Massacre and educate our community about what the city of Ocoee was, and what it is still trying to become now.

DOCUMENTARY AIRS SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 1 AT 7:00 P.M.

S. J. Tucker

From SJ Tucker's Tik Tok. https://www.facebook.com/sjtuckermusic/videos/400017897664778

To hear the album version, visit her YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fB5TnX-zdPI

(Though the campus is closed for in person Sunday worship and we do digital worship during pandemic, you can go walk the 1U labyrinth during daylight hours with a mask/social distancing and visit the community garden.)

Happy Halloween, Sweet Samhain, Blessed Belloween!

Wheel of the Year: Samhain

From the CUUPS blog -- In her series on the Wheel of the Year, Mary Ann Clark writes about Samhain.

https://www.patheos.com/blogs/naturessacredjourney/2020/10/wheel-of-the-year-samhain/?fbclid=IwAR0-dTX3hM99nwTZANzd41qA5Ul3JcafkwjVTHBO8SfzorHSnZzAQ85w4dI

patheos.com In her series on the Wheel of the Year, Mary Ann Clark writes about Samhain.

General Assembly 2020 Sunday Service: "We Are"

Thank to everyone who was able to make it out to Samhain 2020 online! Hope you are all enjoying the beautiful moon out there with the spirit of your ancestors. Our song for "Last Call" was STJ #1051 We Are. This version is from General Assembly 2020.

"We Are" by Dr. Ysaÿe Barnwell, performed by Dr. Ysaÿe Barnwell and the UUA General Assembly 2020 virtual choir. Produced and Directed by Benjie Messer Video...

From Chalice Well --

"Resting/Samhain/Halloween ~ Thoughts on the Well Dressing ~ Deeper Within.

The dressings include Thuja plicata, Pyrus (pear), purple pittosporum, Lysimachia clethroides, Spirea, Panicum elegans, amaranth, medlars, rosehips, pyracantha (orange) and callicarpa (purple) berries, Sedum ‘Autumn Joy’, Verbena bonariensis, the last of the dahlias, zinnias & chrysanthemums and pumpkins ‘Jack Be Little’, grown in our cutting garden.

At this time of withdrawal comes opportunity to pause, to feel loss & grief, connection & value.

With the stillness comes space for consideration, acceptance & transformation …

"let all go – the
big small middling
tall bigger really
the biggest and all
things – let all go
dear
so comes love"
From "let it go" – e.e. cummings

Whatever the Well and its dressing means to you, may this offering give you a moment or more to pause, breathe and be ~ just as you are.

With love, blessings and gratitude,
Penny"

Resting/Samhain/Halloween ~ Thoughts on the Well Dressing ~ Deeper Within.

The dressings include Thuja plicata, Pyrus (pear), purple pittosporum, Lysimachia clethroides, Spirea, Panicum elegans, amaranth, medlars, rosehips, pyracantha (orange) and callicarpa (purple) berries, Sedum ‘Autumn Joy’, Verbena bonariensis, the last of the dahlias, zinnias & chrysanthemums and pumpkins ‘Jack Be Little’, grown in our cutting garden.

At this time of withdrawal comes opportunity to pause, to feel loss & grief, connection & value.

With the stillness comes space for consideration, acceptance & transformation …

"let all go – the
big small middling
tall bigger really
the biggest and all
things – let all go
dear

so comes love"

From "let it go" – e.e. cummings

Whatever the Well and its dressing means to you, may this offering give you a moment or more to pause, breathe and be ~ just as you are.

With love, blessings and gratitude,
Penny

www.mixcloud.com

Did you miss "Pagan Sunrise" yesterday? You can catch it online.

https://www.mixcloud.com/jerry-waller2/pagan-sunrise-oct-30-2020/?fbclid=IwAR2U0Lg0lMyrC4eYhPq20qIsYWJjx7eyIf8MdFNmBuvmPHIbpSXVfFDDEbs

mixcloud.com

Full moon will shine on Halloween for first time since 1944

Full moon for Halloween!

wjbf.com It hasn’t happened in decades! For the first time since the 1940s, Halloween will receive some spooky ambiance from a full moon this year.

For those who love to garden... the month is about to change. Check your November chart!

https://gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/plants/plant-of-the-month/infographics.html?fbclid=IwAR06Zd1w9RdKMr1XZpcWhkss6WAXYt1xAls6y8YJ-lSZewMp2u5TIGWn3Zo#!/-1/

Full Cart

For those who might need.

fullcart.org Full Cart America's Virtual Food Bank!

Five Ways to Show Your Pagan Pride Without a Festival

If you still want to catch Orlando Pagan Pride 2020 , it is on YouTube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5sCN01OJgx4

As all the "Pagan Pride" events from cities that are part of the larger "Pagan Pride Project" wind down to a close, Irene shares her thoughts over at the CUUPS blog for how to show your Pagan pride even without a festival in these COVID-19 times.
https://www.patheos.com/blogs/naturessacredjourney/2020/09/five-ways-to-show-your-pagan-pride-without-a-festival/

patheos.com Five ways to carry the Pagan Pride banner in a year without a festival.

Allen

For those who love music and parades...

"The Real Witch Wives of Grosse Ile 2020" had an Oct 24, 2020 event. They are based on the island of Grosse Ile, MI and paraded down Malcombe St.

The song is “Schüttel Dein Speck” by Peter Fox. (It means "shake your bacon.")

https://www.facebook.com/aseapang10/videos/2251160948360838

The Real Witch Wives of Grosse Ile 2020!

Note: Smoke at the beginning of the video is from a fog machine.

The very catchy song being played is “Schüttel deinen Speck”, by Peter Fox

8 Things to do for Samhain as a Solitary Pagan

From Under the Ancient Oaks blog --

"But maybe you don’t want to do a ritual. Or perhaps you’re part of a group that holds its rituals on the Saturday nearest the holiday and you don’t want to do a second ritual. Here are eight things you can do to celebrate Samhain as a solitary Pagan."

patheos.com Many traditional activities for Samhain are designed for large groups, but many Pagans are solitary practitioners, either by choice or by necessity. Here are eight things you can do to celebrate Samhain as a solitary.

/The Pooka Pages for Pagan Kids

For kids and the young at heart... the Samhain 2020 issue of Pooka Pages is posted.

pookapages.com Elsie & Pooka's Special Place for Kids.

From Skinner House:

"Gratitude to My Ancestors
"With honor and respect, these eyes see for you
all manner of life you could not have imagined.
My lips move with the rhythm of your words
flowing through me,
my tongue caressing each morsel of wisdom
I am graced to pass on.
Your DNA rides my veins
and with every breath I take,
your cautious steps from the past
toward a fuller life become
bold moves I make toward my destiny.
Together, we wrap arms
around a new generation,
here to become who they were born to be,
to cast their magic as we once did
and bless each day for their ability to do so.
For you, dear ancestors, we live this day."
—Marta I. Valentín
A Long Time Blooming
Available at inSpirit: The UU Book and Gift Shop at http://bit.ly/2bUoXak"

Gratitude to My Ancestors

"With honor and respect, these eyes see for you
all manner of life you could not have imagined.
My lips move with the rhythm of your words
flowing through me,
my tongue caressing each morsel of wisdom
I am graced to pass on.
Your DNA rides my veins
and with every breath I take,
your cautious steps from the past
toward a fuller life become
bold moves I make toward my destiny.
Together, we wrap arms
around a new generation,
here to become who they were born to be,
to cast their magic as we once did
and bless each day for their ability to do so.

For you, dear ancestors, we live this day."

—Marta I. Valentín
A Long Time Blooming

Available at inSpirit: The UU Book and Gift Shop at http://bit.ly/2bUoXak

First Unitarian Church of Orlando

"We Will Not Let Hate Win.
Love Will Prevail, says Rev. Sam. A Sunday morning surprise awaited us today. Thanks to the choir who happened to be rehearsing on campus this morning."

Love Will Prevail, says Rev. Sam. A Sunday morning surprise awaited us today. Thanks to the choir who happened to be rehearsing on campus this morning.