"The Cost of Community"

This week we are Sharing The Plate with Community Reach of Montgomery County. Community Reach sponsors multiple programs to serve the needs of those facing daily struggles, but two in particular echo the principles of service that we try to practice here at UUCR.

The Rockville Emergency Assistance Program provides direct assistance to pay landlords and mortgage

holders to help clients avoid evictions or foreclosures that can lead to immediate homelessness. REAP also

pays gas, water and electric company bills to stop turn-offs that would deprive clients of critical utility

services. REAP helps clients to gather information and complete paperwork to avoid repetitive rent and

payment threats, and to access available resources for food, clothing, dental and vision care and other services.

Community Reach’s Language Outreach Program offers U.S. Citizenship Test preparation classes free of

charge to help permanent residents secure citizenship and participate in our democracy. The classes

include interviews to assess language skills, assistance in assembling the personal information required by

the Test application, and civics education directed at the 100 questions from which an applicant’s individual Test questions are drawn.

As you are willing and able, please join in supporting Community Reach of Montgomery County.

OFFERTORY ANTHEM - Justin Furnia, Piano

HOMILY - Rev. Shari Quan

CLOSING SONG “Lead with Love” by Melanie DeMore - Congregation and Justin Furnia, Piano

BENEDICTION & CHALICE EXTINGUISHING - Rev. Shari Quan

POSTLUDE “We Belong” by Karen Marrolli - UUCR Community Choir, Nick Warren and Karen Malley, Percussion, Sydney Crisp and Rev. Mykal Slack, Soloists

Lyrics

Yonder Come Day

Yonder come day (x3)

Sun is arisin’ in my soul. (x3)

Yonder come day, day is a breakin’

Yonder come day, oh my soul!

Yonder come day, day is a breakin’

Sun is arisin’ in my soul.

It’s a brand new day, Sun is arisin’

Brand new day, Day is a breakin’

Day, day, it’s a brand new day, and the sun is arisin’ in my soul.

Oh the sun is arisin’ in my soul!

Here Together

We are here, here together, in this holy

moment, and we’re grateful for the

winding road that brought us to this place

(x2)

#1053 How Could Anyone

How could anyone ever tell you

you were anything less than beautiful?

How could anyone ever tell you

you were less than whole?

How could anyone fail to notice

that your loving is a miracle?

How deeply you’re connected to my soul.

“Show Us How to Love” by Mark Miller

Lyrics by Lindy Thompson

Hearts open, Minds awake.

Change us now, for heaven’s sake.

Leave us not alone in hatred’s wake.

Show us how to love.

Eyes open, souls awake.

Rules we made we now must break.

With our very own lives at stake,

we must learn to love.

Hearts open, shocked awake.

Much to learn from our mistakes.

Draw us close in our heartache.

Show us how to love.

“Lead with Love” by Melanie DeMore

Refrain:

You gotta put one foot in front of the other

and lead with love.

Put one foot in front of the other

and lead with love.

Don’t give up hope, (Don’t give up hope,)

You’re not alone. (You’re not alone.)

Don’t you give up, (Don’t you give up,)

Keep movin’ on. (Keep movin’ on.)

Refrain

Lift up your eyes, (Lift up your eyes,)

Don’t you despair (Don’t you despair)

Look up ahead, (Look up ahead)

The path is there. (The path is there.)

Refrain

I know you’re scared, (I know your scared,)

And I’m scared, too. (And I’m scared, too.)

But here I am, (But here I am)

Right next to you. (Right next to you.)

Refrain

Don’t give up hope, (Don’t give up hope,)

You’re not alone. (You’re not alone.)

Don’t you give up, (Don’t you give up,)

Keep movin’ on. (Keep movin’ on.)

Refrain

“We Belong” by Karen Marrolli

We belong to one another,

Standing side by side,

Our hearts open wide,

For our faith is strong. We belong,

We are all one breath, we are all one song,

We are all one hope, we are all one voice.

We are all one breath in unceasing spirit! We are one!

We belong to one another,

Marching hand in hand

All across this land.

Hope will be our song. We belong.

We are all one joy, we are all one triumph,

We are all one struggle, we are all one love.

Like the rain we will nurture

And sustain one another! We are one!

Upcoming Events and Announcements

Newcomers Chat - Every Sunday following service in Fellowship Hall - If you want to learn more about UUCR and our community, our Congregants are here for you! Each Sunday after the service two congregants are available to answer any questions you may have. Not sure where to go? Our greeters and ushers are here to help!
We want to give congregants a way to honor loved ones and/or celebrate special occasions. Sign up to bring a floral arrangement for the chancel, and to indicate to whom / to what event you are honoring. We will publish your name and dedication in the OOS that Sunday.
Save the Date! The UUCR Action Auction is just around the corner, and we're excited to kick off another year of fun, generosity, and community! Our Online Auction will be on Saturday, October 31 – Saturday, November 7, 2026 and the Dinner & In-Person Auction Event will be Saturday, November 7, 2026. The Action Auction is one of our most enjoyable community-building events of the year, filled with fun experiences, unique treasures, delicious treats, and opportunities to support the work of our congregation. Start thinking about what you might donate, and stay tuned for more information!
Young Adults Community Gathering & Retreat - Sept. 5th at 1p - Calling all Young Adults between the ages of 18-35! Join us in Founders Hall on Saturday, September 5th for our opening lunch and community gathering! Lunch is provided, please use the registration form to indicate any dietary restrictions / allergies. You do not have to be a member of the Young Adults Group to attend this event!
New2UUCR - September 12th at 1p - New2UUCR is a class both for those of you who are new to our congregation and are interested in learning more about Unitarian Universalism broadly speaking and about its particular expression here, and also for those who have been around a little while and have decided to deepen your commitment to UUCR by joining as members.
HELP INTERFAITH WORKS FILL BACKPACKS FOR STUDENTS - Filling a new backpack for the school year is a milestone in continuing a child’s education. Together with a stable place to sleep, nutritious foods and quality clothing, a backpack carrying the tools of learning plays an important role in a child’s attendance, school readiness and ability to succeed academically and socially. Donations can be made through Realm (Memo Line: Backpacks) or at uucr.org/give throughout August, to help connect families with the support that creates the healthy environment that every child deserves. Please join in supporting our neighboring children.
Help Get Out the Vote! We're writing postcards to communities of color in Texas through our continuing partnership with Reclaim Our Vote. Texas' U.S. Senate and all statewide elected offices (Governor, AG, etc.) and House seats are on the ballot. This is a great opportunity to encourage the Lone Star State to vote in this critically important election. If you'd like to be involved, write to rockvilledemocracy@gmail.com (goes to Emily Untermeyer). UUCR provides postcard packets with everything you'll need to write to 30 potential voters. All you need to provide is your time and handwriting!
Members and Friends Art Show! - Now – August 30 - Please join in celebrating our artists! Our Members and Friends Show drew pieces in a variety of media to help mark our 70th anniversary. Our artists are Richard Chitty, Sherry Dittmann, Gayle Hancock, Marge Holmes, Mike Holmes, Christine Koh, Beth Steel, Mark Stiles, Libby Sulllivan, and Emily Untermeyer. Media include ceramics, collage (fiber and paper), embroidery, glass, photography, tie dye, and watercolors. The art is located in the Corridor and Fellowship Hall. Lara Klopp’s wonderful Soul Matters collages are now in Founders Hall. Please take time to check out the art, thank all our artists, and give an extra thank you to Richard Chitty for his able assistance in hanging the show.
We Need a Hike! UUCR Hiking Group September Outing - Saturday, September 12th, 2026 - The UUCR Second Saturday Hiking Group will begin the year on Saturday, September 12th, at the Needwood Golf Course Clubhouse, at 6724 Needwood Road, Derwood, MD 20855. Led by Lou Cerney, we’ll circle up at 9 am. The hike will include paved and unpaved trails around Lake Needwood.
September RE Family Breakfast - Sunday, September 13th, 2026 at 9a in Founders Hall - The Family Faith Formation Team invites families with infants, toddlers, and school-age children through the end of high school to gather for our Family Breakfast! Food will be provided, as well as post-meal childcare. We will also be providing discussion questions on our September theme, Beginnings, for our parents and caregivers. This event is intended to support the families within our congregation and give them time and space to be in community with each other. For those with any questions or dietary concerns, please feel free to reach out to Ginny Folsom or Joan Keith.
Newcomers Breakfast with Rev. Shari - Sunday, September 20th at 9a in Founders Hall - All Newcomers, Visitors, and New Members to UUCR over the past year or so are invited to attend our Newcomers Breakfasts with Rev. Shari! If you’ve come to UUCR in that time, please take this opportunity to meet (or re-meet) and be in conversation with staff and congregants! If you’re able to join, please do register to let us know you’re coming so that we can be sure to have enough food to go around! Come, even if you haven’t registered, and even if you’ve attended another breakfast recently...we’d love to have you join us again!
Join UUCR's New Neighborhood Group System for Carpooling and More! The Environmental Action Group is creating new neighborhood groups in Realm to provide a convenient way to communicate with your UUCR neighbors for social connection, organizing carpool rides, or anything else. You can find the link to join in our weekly newsletter.
UUCR Common Read Discussion Group “Love at the Center: Unitarian Universalist Theologies” - Multiple Dates - "In these pages, you’ll find personal testimony to love’s power, reminders of the centrality of love throughout the long histories of Universalism and Unitarianism, and theologies of love drawn from many different expressions of Unitarian Universalism—from the natural world to the justice rally, to a loved one’s deathbed, to the quiet moment before a worship service begins. May Love at the Center serve as an invitation to deepen your own understanding and practices of love." (Source: inSpirit Online) Chloë Ockey and UUCR congregants will co-lead this 5 part discussion group. All are welcome to participate! Please register at uucr.org/crdg.

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