First, Please Be Careful
Even though spring is here, I want to urge you, with every fiber of my being, to be EVEN MORE CAREFUL about “social solidarity” for the next few weeks. Every model suggests that we are going into peak infection time. You might be thinking that we are doing such a great job as a community that somehow we will be spared. Julie Pryde assures me this is a dangerous fallacy. Assume that 1) you may be an asymptomatic carrier, and b) anyone you meet may be an asymptomatic carrier.
If you have been going to the grocery store, see if you can arrange delivery or curbside pickup. There are people in the congregation who have offered to help, so let me know if you need something picked up for you, or call our warm line (see below) and they can help you find someone to help. If you have other errands, think once, twice, three times about whether that thing is really and truly necessary. NOW is the time to eat those cans of Progresso soup you have been saving for a rainy day. This is the rainy day.
If you do go out for a walk, please wear a mask, even if it is just a bandanna. This is mostly to protect others from you, and to keep you from touching your face. Consider it the new way of being polite.There are people in the church making masks, if you need one. Just let me know or post on our Members and Friends Facebook page, and I’m pretty sure one will magically appear for you.
Also, avoid some of the more crowded parks, like Meadowbrook, and especially be careful of runners, who are breathing hard. Give them a very wide berth. And carry hand sanitizer if you do have to go out, and wash your hands and any items you have brought home with you when you get home.
Thank you for listening to me. I want us all to be safe and well through this time. I do not want to officiate any COVID-19 online memorials, for any of you.
Warm Line
Our 24/7 “warm line” is up and running and staffed by an extraordinary team of trained staff and volunteers. If you are having a hard day, please call, and know that someone is ready and happy to listen, whatever may be going on. If you are worried or scared or lonely, please call. We have referral information and can connect you with help, including doctors if you have health questions, and we can also just be a listening ear. It will be very sad for us if no one calls, so please call!
Please put this number on your fridge for fast reference.
Here is the number: 1-800-705-8158
Church Survey of Needs and Resources
We want to make sure that everyone is safe, cared for, and able to access our church resources through this time. Please take a minute to fill out this brief survey. We care about you and want to know what your situation is. You may also have ways you would like to help others – another reason to complete the survey! Click here to fill it out.
Other Ways We Are Here for You
Check out our website, UUCUC.org, for live stream services, worshipful listening, adult and family religious education opportunities.
Wonderful Channing Murray Project
Channing-Murray has been preparing a #bucketbrigade of essential grocery deliveries for extremely low-income families in Urbana who are recommended by Cunningham Township Supervisor’s Office. These buckets have beans, rice, cereal, soup, eggs, and more! We’ve sanitized each and every item, and we’ll be delivering these to drop off on doorsteps.
Please donate via Omella to help them expand delivery to more C-U families in need!
Also, if you don’t have funds to donate, but want to support the cause, there are some low-no-contact ways to volunteer. Please message Emily McKown for more information.
Please reach out to the church if you become ill, if isolation or worry begins to be too much, or if you or a family members receive a positive COVID-19 test. We want to be here for you, and we can only do that if we know what is happening for you.
With love and blessings,
Rev. Florence Caplow