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July 28, 2024
your weekly newsletter of events & issues
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You are welcome here.
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OUR MISSION:
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For every individual searching for spiritual meaning, Berrien Unitarian Universalist Fellowship provides a welcoming and caring religious community dedicated to diversity of thought, social and environmental justice, and peace for all.
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Your donations help us build a loving and just community.
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Coming up: Sunday, August 4, 2024 at 10:30am
Exploring the Baha'i Faith in Music
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The earth is but one country,
and mankind its citizens.
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This week's service we will have as guest speakers and musicians, two nephews of Liz Goodwin. The Licata Brothers are an inspirational acoustic-rock duo from Los Angeles that have been performing together for over fourteen years. As members of the Bahá’í Faith, this Sunday they will share some uplifting music that embodies the message of this worldwide religion that began in the mid 1800s—the oneness of mankind. They will also discuss how Baha'is engage with neighborhoods across the globe to strengthen bonds of unity and combat social issues on the grassroots level. Rev. Jim will also give us a short meditation on why we encourage people to find their own religious path.
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To join BUUF’s Sunday Service via Zoom, please click this link; Meeting ID: 973 1741 4085; Password: 354882. If you have trouble getting connected please contact Beth LaFleur (269-932-8598). To minimize background noise, please mute yourself unless you are speaking. Please leave your camera on; we love knowing you are there.
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Thank you, BUUFers!
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Soup Kitchen: Saturday 9am–1pm
- Many of our regulars are out of town this week so, if you haven't come before, please consider it. We need folks at 9am to make the pizza and 11am to serve. Feel free to come for all or part of this opportunity to help.
- Meet here: Salvation Army Soup Kitchen
233 Michigan Street, Benton Harbor, MI 49022
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If you are able, please call or text BUUF's Office Admin Leanne Thomas 407-488-4057 so we can be sure of folks for preparing and serving.
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Our August circle will be at the home of Laura Mock on Sunday, August 4th from 2-4:30 pm. If you plan to attend, please RSVP here. Carpooling is encouraged. If you haven't yet, create a streamer using any medium--fabric, yarn, beads, etc--to add to our Loving Energy threshold curtain. It really is a joy to pass through the streamers and feel the love, energy and creativity of our New Moon Womyn. A length of 4-5 feet is just right.
Bright Blessings, Lisa Marie Fuller
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New Moon
Womyn's Circle
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Drum Circle
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A poll was taken and it was determined that Monday, August 5th would be a good day to plan for, with a rain date of Tuesday, August 6th.
Let's plan on meeting on the bluff in front of the top of the stairs to the beach at 6:30 p.m.
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Please bring your drum, if possible. I'll also pick up a box of stuff from BUUF so we can have public join in as they please…
This is instead of July's circle…August's circle will return to the regular meeting place at BUUF. Very excited to do something different! Looking forward to drumming together! Bring a friend (or two, or three..) Liz Goodwin
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SAVE THE DATE:
BUUF Family Picnic
Sunday August 25 after service
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- Ellen Higdon: UU the Vote is underway. I have postcards and supplies for you; please see me after service. Please bring them back by September. If it's earlier and we have interest, we could do another batch. See me if you're interested.
- Harvey Johnson: BUUF's Green Sanctuary Team supports Emma Kinnard's Community Garden in Benton Harbor by helping out weeding at the garden. I have a key now and am looking at creating a regular Saturday from 9-11am to stop by and do some weeding for an hour. I'll keep you posted.
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The Social Justice Committee is very appreciative to all who brought clothing
for the migrant workers. Many items were donated and all will be used.
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When it comes to charging your car, are there going to be car chargers where you need them. A little story I am going to tell is when my brother and I brought my aunts house back to life after she passed away. If you look down in the bottom right-hand corner, you will notice my home town of Frankfort. My aunt’s house is in the opposite side of the state in the northwest corner of Illinois. There is a little blue and red 355 right next to Frankfort on the map. I would take 355 north up to route 90 and head into Rockford in the middle of the state. According to google maps its 113 miles to Rockford. There is a charger in the mall where I pull in and hook up my 2015 Tesla Model S to it. Use the bathroom at the grocery store, buy a small bag of popcorn and walk back to my car mostly charged up. Wait a little more and off to Elizabeth, Illinois. Notice Route 20 at the bottom of Rockford, Illinois. That is my road to Elizabeth which is about 75 more miles to go. This small town of 695 was my home for the next 5 to 7 days before I headed back home to Frankfort. My brother who is a retired electrician, set up the charging chord from aunt’s basement, through the basement door out the back porch window. There I tied in my charger to charge my car back up to 80% full.
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As you can see, the fast chargers are few and far between in northwest Illinois. This is where I grew up during the 60s and 70s in my hometown of Stockton. Stockton is in between Rockford and Dubuque. There are many lower-level chargers that I have excluded from the map. For me it’s like crossing the fast-charging desert. Having a gas car in the family works for me in that sometimes my Tesla runs too close to the limits for me to be comfortable driving there. But for Elizabeth and back, I had access to all my destination points.
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US Public EV Chargers Set to Surpass Gas Stations in Eight Years
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The US added about 700 new public fast-charging stations for electric cars in the second quarter, bringing the nationwide total to nearly 9,000.
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When I started out in my first EV of 64-mile range, it was affordable, and I could learn as I go. If I needed longer range, I would trade over to gas. Now you can see the projection by Bloomberg chargers will surpass gas stations in 8 years. I’m quite sure this is due to the law passed by Biden in the inflation reduction act (IRA). When we get the rural areas filled with EV chargers, the EV transition will reach a new level of acceptance by the public.
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Transitions take time. Looking ahead is quite wise in this case. In the Chicago suburbs, I can drive anywhere I want to go with complete confidence I can get a fast charge somewhere. Out in the rural areas with my wife in tow, as long as I have my destination chargers in place, (brother helps me with this), I’m good. Beyond that, I will stick to happy wife, happy life, and go with gas.
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I want to thank everyone for letting me into your reading time and pleasure.
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These are available to subscribers. Please feel free to subscribe here on our homepage.
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Spoken or unspoken, we hold you in our hearts.
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Drum Circle
- Last Sunday of each month from 12:30-1:30 in the BUUF Sanctuary
- All are welcome to join. Feel free to bring your own drum, or share what we have. All over the age of 8 are welcome to attend and participate.
- There is a $5.00 donation requested to build a drumming fund for special events.
Euchre, Anyone?
- Thursdays at 3:30–5:30pm in various BUUFers' homes
- You do not need to know how to play. Contact Leanne Thomas, BUUF Office Admin, office@berrienuu.org or 407-488-4057
Men's Group
- Second Thursday of the month at 7:00pm at BUUF
- If you have any questions, please contact Nico Rojas at lucificador@gmail.com
New Moon Womyn's Circle
- 6:15—9:00pm on or around the new moon each month at various locations
- Contact Lisa Fuller lmfuller0116@gmail.com to be added to our email list.
Salvation Army Soup Kitchen in Benton Harbor
- First Saturday of the month from 9:00am—1:00pm
- 233 Michigan St, Benton Harbor, MI 49022
- Feel free to come for all or part of this opportunity to help. Contact Leanne Thomas office@berrienuu.org for more info.
Small Group Ministry
- First Monday of the month at 6:30pm at BUUF
- The curriculum is always heart and mind opening. This is a friendly way to get to know other interesting BUUFers—as well as yourself! For details contact our DRE Rachel Reed dre@berrienuu.org
Writing Group
- Every other Monday at Noon at BUUF
- Bring your lunch, notebook, and favorite pen. Contact Patrice Grant at astilbe531@gmail.com or Leanne Thomas office@berrienuu.org for next meeting date. Janice Zerfas is also a leader.
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For help with any of this, please contact
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Leanne Thomas, BUUF Office Admin,
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Would you like a copy of our Members & Friends directory including our leadership roster? Just let me know.
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BUUF Caring Committee Do you need a call or a card, some food or funds? Application forms for the caring fund are available in Fuller Fellowship Hall behind the visitor's table. Many requests for support can be fulfilled simply by reaching out.
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BUUF on the World Wide Web
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Did you know BUUF has a hearty online presence? BUUF members are invited to visit and become familiar with BUUF's website, facebook page, private facebook group and YouTube channel. These platforms provide information about BUUF governance, upcoming events, discussion of various topics and an opportunity to view previous services and messages.
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Being familiar with these online locations will help you participate more fully in BUUF activities and share information with others who might appreciate our BUUF community.
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For information about upcoming events, visit, like, and follow BUUF on Facebook at
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Berrien Unitarian Universalist Fellowship • 4340 Lincoln Ave, St. Joseph, Michigan 49085
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