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Dear Friends,
The USNH staff and Board cherish the connections that happen when good-hearted,
committed, and soulful people come together. We are deeply grateful for you, and all the ways our paths have crossed this year. We wish loving kindness to you this holiday season, and look forward to a new year of learning, connection and growth in 2016!
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 Dear Ones,
We look forward to celebrating with you this evening at our family-friendly "Candlelight and Carols" service (7pm). We will revel in traditional music, an age-old story, and prayers for peace.
On December 27, Jesse and I will take a break from playing with our Christmas presents to celebrate a fun and creative service with plenty of hymns, crayons, sharing, and silent meditation. We hope you will join us! (One multi-generational service 11:15am)
Come January, we continue our examination of our shared values with services themed around "Justice." On January 3, guest Rev. Allie Perry will preach on "The Art of Resistance" and the creative work of peace in Israel and Palestine.
We will also be experimenting in the new year: On January 10 and 17, the sanctuary will be open from 9:30am-10:30am for a time of quiet meditation and music. One service will then be held at 11:15am. Other activities scheduled for the 9am hour will continue as planned.
On January 10, our Social Justice Fair will follow the 11:15am service. If you are looking for a home in Social Justice at USNH, come check out the many ways you can get involved!
On January 17, join Jesse and me for breakfast in the Social Hall at 9:30am before the one service at 11:15am. What a gift to have more time to spend together!
Our "January Experiment" will explore ways that we can better use our resources of space and energy to serve the valued and beloved members of USNH as well as friends and visitors in search of a spiritual home.
I wish you rest and respite this holiday and a joyous New Year. I offer you this Christmas Prayer by my colleague
Lois Van Leer that will open our service this evening.
Let us still the world for a moment
Let it be blanketed by a soft darkness that quiets
Let us be brought to our knees
By innocence
By hope
By peace
In this night
Let something be born in us
That heals all brokenness
That does not bow down to hatred and fear
But rather meets them gently and offers them love
Let us chose all the gifts of life we are offered
Tonight is about the impossible
But no more so than any other impossibility
That fills our days
So let us embrace a story, a myth
If for a moment
Let us be carried away in its arms
Held tenderly, rocked, comforted
Let this night, these stories transform our hearts
That we may become
Joy
Hope
Love
Peace
Enfleshed
Incarnate.
May it be so. Amen.
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December 24
Christmas Eve: Candlelight and Carols
Multi-Generational, 7 pm
Rev. Megan Lloyd Joiner, Jesse Greist,
Linda Pawelek, Special Soloists, and the Christmas Eve Orchestra
CHRISTMAS EVE RECEPTION
following the service. Please bring cookies and ready-to-share treats. Cider provided.
December 27
"Leftovers and New Vision
"
ONE SERVICE ONLY, Multi-Generational, 11:15 am
Rev. Megan Lloyd Joiner, Jesse Greist
Nursery care is available
January 3, 2016
"The Art of Resistance"
Rev. Allie Perry and Gail Figliola
11:15am - One Service and RE Classes
12:15pm - First Sunday Soup Luncheon
January 10, 2016
"Justice is Never Just Us"
Rev. Megan, Jesse Greist and Linda Pawelek
9:30-10:30am - Sanctuary Open for Music and Meditation & Spirit Play
11:15am - One Service and RE Classes
12:30-2:00pm - Social Justice Fair
January 17, 2016
"Why We Can't Wait:
Remembering Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King"
Rev. Megan, Jesse Greist and Linda Pawelek
9:30-10:30am - Sanctuary Open for Music and Meditation
9:30am - Breakfast with Rev. Megan and Jesse
11:15am - One Service and Children's Chapel
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News from the Board of Trustees
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Hello from the Board!
We are
working closely with the Management Team to come to a shared understanding of how the policies by which we govern ourselves work in practice. These interpretations are being saved so future Boards and Management Teams will have this guidance to work from.
Let us know what's on your mind! The Board is
ALWAYS interested in hearing from you. Our contact information is available in the directory, or on the Board bulletin board, or you can email
[email protected].
We'd love to hear what you think about where USNH is and where we should be going. Or just let us know what you found awesome at USNH recently!
Best wishes,
Dan, O
n behalf of the Board of Trustees
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Children and Youth Religious Education
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by Jesse Greist,
Director, Religious Education
Children of all ages are welcomed and encouraged to attend the multi-generational services on December 24 and 27.
- YRUU will have their annual alumni get-together on December 28, from 6-8 pm at USNH.
- There will be no RE classes until January 3.
- The January 3 Spirit Play, Big Questions and Affirmations classes are cancelled.
- Second service RE classes for K-7 grade will meet as usual on January 3.
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Friday, January 8
- Social Cinema
The Soloist
Saturday, January 16 - Social Cinema
Salam Neighbor
Potluck at 6:30 pm, Film at 7:15 pm,
Special Event in support of IRIS & Syrian Refugee Resettlement in
New Haven
Poster
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Trailer
Friday, February 5
- Social Cinema
Roadmap To Apartheid
Potluck at 6:30 pm, Film at 7:15 pm
Sunday, February 21 and 28,1:00pm
*Next Adult Religious Education Committee
meeting:
Monday, January 4, 2016
7pm
in the Social Hall.
Join us - and make something good happen!
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SURJ - Showing Up
for Racial Justice
In recent months, the Anti-Racism Team (ART) and other USNH members have participated in organizing meetings of a New Haven chapter of SURJ, a national
Show Up for Racial Justice movement, with a long history of activism.
We are working with members of other groups with goals and values that are similar to or overlap ours.
ART continues to reach out to strengthen the broad network we all need to effectively change our culture. Join us!
~ Lois Smith, for the Anti-Racism Team of USNH.
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USNH & Waverly Townhouses Partnership
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We celebrated a very special Christmas with our partners from Waverly this year. Thank you for your generosity. Everyone had a wonderful time at the party on December 16th. Learn more about the Waverly youth's focus on leadership development and community service.
To learn more or be part of our grassroots effort with inner-city children and youth, contact
Sharon McBlain,
e-mail
or
203-288-4131.
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Social Justice Opportunities
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Looking to Put Your Faith into Action
in the New Year?
Come to the
Social Justice Fair
January 10
12:30-2:00 pm
in the Social Hall to learn which opportunity is right for you.
Each SJ group will provide an overview of their activities during a light lunch, and then be available to chat about your interests. Youth, 6th grade and older are invited to participate. Childcare is provided.
Other Ways to Get Involved:
1. Sign Up for the Social Justice Action Alert Network
Sign-up for action alerts about special projects, demonstrations, petitions, and more on the Social Justice Bulletin Board or email Lurline at
[email protected]
2. Join a Social Justice Group
Groups are posted on the Social Justice Bulletin Board
3. Join the Social Justice Council and support the work of our justice groups. Contact Dan Gelperin at
[email protected].
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Calling All Coffee and Tea Maker
USNH Loves Coffee!
Sign up on the poster in the Social Hall to help make Fellowship Hour a success.
You can make coffee or provide snacks.
It's a great way to meet people!
A Sunday Morning Team member will help you get started and answer any questions.
click for more details
Thanking you in advance.
~The Sunday Morning Team
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First Sunday Soup
NEXT: January 3, 2016, 11:15am
Whatever you bring is always welcome.
Beverages provided.
Can't bring anything? P
lease come for soup, conversation, and getting-to-know-each-other opportunities.
~The Sunday Morning Team
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There will not be a meeting on December 29.
The theme for January 5 will be "The Ultimate Blackout"(electrical).
Article from The Week, Dec.18, 2015. Copies will be available on the bulletin board in the lobby.
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Elder Discussion Group
Explore topics, decided by the group, pertaining to elders.
First Thursday of each month, 1 pm in the USNH library.
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Needleworking Group
"In Stitches" meets the
3rd Sunday of each month
to work on needlework projects in the fellowship of others. All are welcome to attend.
from 7 - 9:00 pm.
Refreshments will be served. If you have any questions or need directions, email Mary or
call 203-626-5672.
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Stop and Shop
Gift Card
Purchase a Stop & Shop $25 gift card.
It's a win-in for you and it supports many USNH programs The cards are available after every service. Check or cash please.
Read more
Stop and Shop
Gift Cards
Read more
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Insight Meditation Program
with Beth Roth, APRN
Breathing meditation, walking meditation, instructor talk & group discussion. info: Suggested donation $12.00 USNH members/$20.00 non-members. Donations of any amount are gratefully accepted.
T
uesdays 6:50-9 pm,
Children's Chapel
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Weekly Drop-in Meditation
Thursday from 7:00 - 8:15 pm
Room 209.
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Book Cart
News
The Book Cart offers new books on a variety of topics of interest.
Greg Feeley regularly offers high quality used books which have been donated by members.
Both earn money to support USNH's operating budget.
The Book Cart is in urgent need of a
If you like books this may be a job for you, Contact Becky for more information.
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Hope's Nest
 .
If you feel a little 'left out' of social hour on Sunday, please join us in the Children's Chapel every third Sunday (next session: January 17) 4-6 pm. This smaller, quieter get together will include movies, speakers, pot luck dinners and discussion on Mental Health and related issues that you suggest.
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Click on a title below to go directly to an article
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Click here to see what's
happening at USNH. |
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2016 Social Justice Fair
January 10
12:30-2pm Social Hall
Explore Social Justice opportunities at USNH. Meet representatives from our Social Justice groups and find your home in Social Justice! Delicious refreshments and plenty of inspiration!
Abraham's Tent
January 18-25
This project of Columbus House provides shelter and meals for twelve homeless men during the cold winter months.
Each week the men are hosted by a different place of worship. USNH will host the week of January 18.
We need volunteers to prepare breakfast (which can be a delivered the evening before), cook and serve dinner, join the men in eating, spend time during the evening hours socializing or staying overnight to provide a light level of supervision.
Sign up in the social hall after services OR online. To sign up online, you need to be on our email list. Contact Robert Garskof at
[email protected].
Questions? Please contact our facilitators:
Fred Morrison 203.288.1382 or
e-mail
Robert Garskof 203.623.2381 or
e-mail
Paul Trotta 860.426.2126
e-mail
For the last six years, USNH's young people have been getting to know Rheylene Ogabang, a twelve year old Unitarian Universalist child who lives on Negros Island in the Philippines. We have been supporting Rheylene's education through our ongoing fundraising initiative called READ FOR RHEYLENE, which will kick off at the Children's Chapel on
January 17
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Community Build
for All Ages
Friday, January 29
6-9 pm Social Hall
Enjoy a pasta dinner and being with friends. Join the giant Lego and block build-a-thon, play a game, do a craft, or just have an uninterrupted conversation. Pasta and salad dinner is provided. Cookies for dessert! Come chase away the mid-winter blues! Individuals and families welcome!
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Lay Ministry
We all need a listening ear sometimes. Thankfully, at USNH, we have ten people (that's twenty ears) who volunteer as Lay Ministers. They are here for YOU - whether you need to talk briefly through a concern or sorrow, or are seeking a companion through a life change or difficult time. They are also are in regular contact with members of our community who are experiencing hardship or have difficulties getting to services.
Lay ministers work closely with Rev. Megan, including ongoing training and monthly meetings. We think of the Lay Ministry as an extension of the minister's office, and encourage you to do the same. In the new year, expect to see a lay minister identified at each Sunday service and remain available after the service for those needing support.
The best way to contact the Lay Ministry, or to request pastoral care in general is to email [email protected].
This email reaches our co-chairs, who work with Rev. Megan and other lay ministers to meet pastoral needs.
Stay tuned to this section of the newsletter in future months for more information on rides and meals as well as how we care for each other during times of joy and sorrow.
2015-2016 Lay Ministers
Sarah Whitson - co-chair
Susan Meredith - co-chair
Dee Arneth
Carole Arnold
Pat Grigg
Cathy Jackson
Jamie Johnson
Marty Lipnick
Fred Morrison
Pat Trottaa
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GOOD THINGS HAPPENING AT USNH
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There are so many good things happening at USNH, it's hard to keep track of them all.
We are starting this new section so we can all bask in the warmth of knowing the many ways in which we are doing good in the world.
Please send us
your "good things" for future editions with "Good Things at USNH" in the subject line of your e-mail. Thank you for shining your light!
The Affirmation Class raised $2600 for Heifer International.
Many thanks to everyone at USNH who participated in the annual Heifer fundraiser.
Kids' Service Team is waiting for a refugee family scheduled to arrive in January.
Thanks to the generosity of so many, all we need now are Stop and Shop and Target gift cards in order to provide food and
size-appropriate clothing when they arrive!
The Re-Gifting Sale by the Green Sanctuary Committee was a huge success! We raised $3300 over these last few weeks! Thanks to all who participated.
Food Bank
Generous USNH members and friends donated a whopping 1725 pounds of groceries to the Hamden Food Bank at the Keefe Community Center in 2015! We are always
 tou
ched that so many of you remember our neigh
bors in need. Every little item is appreciate
d, but some of you are true secret Santas (Dick, Jane, Joan, Peter...you know who you are!).
The folks at Keefe send their warm thanks to you, especially for the milk and the pet food, which their clients always appreciate.
May your kindnesses be returned to you many times over.
~
The Food Bank Action Group: Margaret, Chris, Pat,
and Liz.
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Living Our Covenant
Last year our congregation voted and approved a
Covenant on Right Relations
to assist and guide us to build a more perfect community, committed to creating and nurturing a culture of authenticity, respect and kindness. Our covenant asks each of us to reflect on our words and deeds. It lives and breathes in the way we treat one another and our staff.
* Be open * Value differences
Inevitably, we will fail. And in the words of researcher/story teller Brene Brown, "Failure is just another word for education." Failure gives us the opportunity to recognize our mistake, make amends, and do better in the future. In addition, our covenant lives in how we respond to other's mistakes.
* Listen Deeply * Use kind language
When we witness another congregant falter, we have the opportunity to respond in a way that embodies respect and non-judgement. When we live the spirit of our covenant, we move on from such an incident. We choose not to gossip, demonstrating our esteem for, and commitment to, one another.
* Speak our truths * Work with Conflict
Congregational life comes with joys and sorrows. We rejoice when a goal is reached or a social justice project is completed. We mourn when we lose a congregation member or fall short on a shared goal. We will have failures in Right Relations. Within our own failure is the opportunity to be accountable and make amends. Within other's non-covenantal lapse is the opportunity for a response that fosters forgiveness and respect.
* Seek humor and joy
In all our interactions, not only between one another but also with our staff, we have an opportunity to live our covenant and build a stronger USNH.
~ The Permanent Committee on Right Relations
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What is Cluster Connections:
"We Are Stronger Together"
It is workshops, panel discussions, focus groups & spontaneous affinity conversations about Religious Education, Social Justice and Policy Governance.
Keynote Speaker: Rev. Josh Pawelek will speak on how we can work together on the "Black Lives Matter" ministry.
When?: April 9, 2016
Where?: Here at USNH
Why?: To bring Connecticut UU congregations together for a day of sharing and learning.
Who? YOU and other Connecticut UUs.
~ From the Cluster Connections: 2016 Team-
Sue Linsley, Mary Donohue, Becky Sandmann, Robb Camm, Sally Connolly
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As time draws nigh to 'publish' this iteration of the NewsLetter, we regret to inform that in the joyful craziness that is so much a part of the holiday season, some folks have not been able to give us their calendar events and information.Certainly understandable and, no worries, the regular schedule will begin again 2016.
In the meanwhile, if something is missing from this Newsletter, please go our website and/or USNH's calendar - or look for it in our next News Brief scheduled for delivery December 31. Warm regards ... and to all a seasonably appropriate good night.
~Lewis Eisenberg, Operations Manager
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USNH Newsletters are published on the third Thursday of each month. The next Newsletter date is Thursday, January 21.
Newsbriefs are published weekly on the remaining Thursdays. The next News Briefs is scheduled for January 7, 2016.
Please submit
short notices for Newsbriefs
by the Friday preceding the publication date. Your Newsletter articles should be in our hands by the Friday prior to the publication date. Send all submissions to
[email protected].
We look forward to hearing from you.
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Unitarian Society of New Haven
700 Hartford Turnpike, Hamden CT 06517
203-288-1807
Rev. Megan Lloyd Joiner,
Minister
Jesse Greist, Director of Religious Education 203-288-1807 ext. 203 [email protected]
Administrative Office
The Unitarian Society of New Haven is a member congregation of the Unitarian Universalist Association, which includes over a thousand congregations through the United States and Canada. Unitarian Universalism, a liberal religion with historical roots in the Jewish and Christian traditions, comfortably embraces a diversity of spiritual perspectives. The congregation welcomes individuals and families from all backgrounds, with or without a belief in God. USNH welcomes and affirms bisexual, gay, lesbian and transgender persons and their friends, and those with handicaps and disabilities.
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