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Visit the publication
archives on our website!
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Join Us for Worship This Sunday!
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Sunday, February 4
at 9 a.m. and 11 a.m.
Rev. Mara Dowdall, Senior Minister
"We Need One Another"
This Sunday, we'll begin our exploration of "perseverance." We often think of perseverance as an individual quality or virtue. But our ability to survive, thrive and stay the course is deeply connected to our interdependence with one another. We'll explore how we can help one another persevere in our own lives and in community.
Worship Associate: Rodney Lowe
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| New UU Getting Acquainted Class |
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 Nina Dahlstedt Buss, Membership Coordinator
Would you like to learn more about Unitarian Universalism? Find out about some of our activities? Meet other newcomers? If so, please come to the New UU Getting Acquainted class. This class will be held on Sunday, February 4
from 9:30 to 10:45 a.m. in the Whitney Young, Jr. Room. RSVP is helpful but not required. Contact Nina Dahlstedt Buss at
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FUUSB Spiritual Theme Circles
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 Kenneth Russell
Winter-Spring Term:
February-June
Official sign-up time is here!
What Are Theme Circles?
Each Theme Circle is a group of eight to ten people who meet once per month for two hours to discuss, explore and reflect upon our monthly spiritual theme using the monthly newsletter called "The Path."
Joining a theme circle is a great way to meet new people, foster more meaningful connections with them and deepen your own spiritual journey. The commitment is for five months at a time.
Each group is led by a trained volunteer facilitator (a fellow UU), and each follows the same program using a similar structure to their meeting.
The spiritual themes to be discussed during this semester are:
February:
Perseverance
March:
Balance
April:
Emergence
May:
Creativity
June:
Blessing
How Do I Join a Circle?
In-person registration:
February 4
after each service
Deadline:
Monday, February 5
When you register...
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Give us your contact information
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Review the list of available groups (day, time, facilitator)
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Identify your 1
st
, 2
nd
and 3
rd
choice of groups (if possible)
Winter-Spring semester space may be somewhat limited because people who signed up in the fall can continue in their group if they wish. The sooner you register the more likely you will be placed in the group that is your first choice.
What to expect after registration:
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You will be notified of your group assignment by approximately February 12 by email or phone.
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Shortly after you'll get an email from your facilitator with a welcome and instructions.
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All groups meet on the 3
rd
______ of the month. (e.g., the 3rd Thursday evening). Mark these on your own calendar. You'll also get reminder emails from your facilitator.
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Finally...Join and enjoy your monthly Theme Circle, from February through June!! (Laugh, cry, listen, grow, and so much more!)
Thanks! We look forward to continuing this adventure with you!
If you have questions, you can email
[email protected]
and someone will be in touch.
With love,
Andre Mol, Melinda Lee, Kenneth Russell, Linda Graves
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| Soup Luncheon Fundraiser |
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 Elaine Sopchak
The 5th-6th grade RE class will again be serving delicious soup after the
11 a.m. service on Sunday, February 4 to raise money for their Boston trip. Bowls are $5; cups are $3. The last soup luncheon was a huge success--Come early for the best choices, or to get yours to go!
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| Champlain Consort at FUUSB |
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 Maggi Hayes
Come and join the Champlain Consort as they present "My Sweet Enemy," Music of the Spanish Renaissance on Sunday, February 4 at 3 p.m. The group plays period instruments such as recorders and sackbuts (early trombones) and is under the direction of Chapin Caynor. There is a suggested donation of $15.
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| Coffeehouse and Potluck |
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Sally Russell
February 10, 6-8:30 p.m. - Sanctuary City Coffee House - "Sweet Hearts and Broken Hearts" - Coffee House and Potluck - FUUSB Parlors
The music ministry team and a small planning group have  scheduled Coffee Houses/Potlucks for the second Saturday of the month, January-April of 2018. In the true spirit of a potluck please bring a dish of your choice to share with others. What better way to survive the winter weather, than to break bread together, while we entertain each other!
This month we will eat first and the entertainment will start at 7 p.m. People of all ages are encouraged to attend. We have some people who have agreed to perform a few songs. Additionally there will be time for an "open mic" so if you sing, play an instrument, want to recite a poem, etc., you will have an opportunity to perform. Invite your friends and come join us.
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| In Memoriam... |
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Christina Fulton, Director of Operations and Finance
We extend our heartfelt sympathy to the family and friends of Dorothy (Dot) Seale-Brown. Dot was a longtime, dearly loved member of our Society. There are currently no plans for a memorial service.
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| Racial Justice Task Force Announcement |
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Last August, the Racial Justice Task Force proposed that our Society "take a position in support of the broader Black Lives Matter movement and bear public witness to that support by hanging a banner and actively supporting local racial justice organizations led by people of color." We followed that announcement with a series of discussions where we explored together what that might look like and heard some of your questions and concerns. We want to thank all of you who participated in some or all of those discussions. Based on all that we heard from you, we are excited to announce that we are moving forward with plans to put up a Black Lives Matter banner in front of our Meeting House.
We are still working out all of the details. Watch for more communications in the coming weeks - in your Enews, the Fir
st
UU Facebook page, our Justice & Outreach bulletin board, or you may see us at a table in the Parlors.
We understand that many of you may be feeling concerned about the possible repercussions of putting up a Black Lives Matter banner. We acknowledge and share those concerns and are doing all that we can to prepare for possible responses. At the same time, we believe that this is an important part of the justice work that we are called to do. We encourage you always to feel free to share your concerns with members of the Racial Justice Task Force. If the putting up of the banner brings up difficult feelings for you, we encourage you to do whatever you need to take care of your spirit. As always, Reverend Mara is our first point of contact for pastoral support.
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| Care Network Team News |
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Area Grief Support Groups
After the Service of Remembrance in December, several community members inquired about ongoing grief support/groups. The Care Network Team has since collected some information about what is out there to help.
Both Bayada and the Visiting Nurse Association hold
free
community adult (18 or older) grief groups. You do
not
have to be associated with or have had contact with either Bayada or VNA to participate.
Meal Support
Please consider helping the following community members with the gift of a meal and connection. Nothing fancy is required or requested. The break from pl
anning, shopping for and cooking even the simplest meal is a tender offering to these families dealing with out of the ordinary challenges. Taking a meal to others is a wonderful way of meeting new people and building community. (The link to all these meal trains is below.)
Please let the Care Network Team know if you are aware of someone in the community who could use some support. The email is:
[email protected]
*
John Lincoln had additional shoulder surgery right after Thanksgiving and his partner, Jill Stevens, also has some long-term health challenges. They welcome some assistance a couple times per week for several weeks as John heals.
*
Elz Curtiss is caring for her partner, Lynne Matthews, and would love a meal once a week on Mondays for herself. She is the sole caregiver for Lynne on the weekends, and so by Monday has exhausted her food stores and hasn't had time to replenish them.
* Kathy Bonilla has been fighting a long-term health battle and she and her two granddaughters truly appreciate the help that a few meals a week can be.
* Miriam (Tammy) Strauss is also dealing with long-term health issues caused by being rear-ended by a cattle truck. One meal every week is a major support to her.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the Care Network Team,
Sarah Weber
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| Pet Food Drive at FUUSB |
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 Sarah Yandow
The UU Animal Ministry Team is beginning to collect pet food. Anything and everything "pets" will be appreciated: cat food, dog food, litter, treats, toys and other small pet supplies. These items should be clean and/or gently used. These items will be donated to local food shelves as a first step to reach out and help people in our community with their furry family members. Thank you so much for helping our goals and dreams become realities!
From the members of the UU Animal Ministry Team.
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| NNED-UUA Spring Assembly & Annual Meeting |
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Dismantling White Supremacy and Building Liberation as Unitarian Universalists
Friday, April 13, 7:30 p.m. to Saturday, April 14, 4:30 p.m.,
UU Church of Nashua,
58 Lowell Street,
Nashua, NH
Join fellow UUs from around the Northern New England District for inspiring worship, a thought-provoking program led by Lena Gardner and Liz Loeb, time to connect with one another, and our annual business meeting! People of all ages are invited to attend. Youth (ages 14-18) are welcome to be a part of our regular programming. Children (ages 2-13) will have their own fun programming for the day, led by Religious Educator Sandra Greenfield.
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| JUMP Needs Toilet Paper |
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 Ellen Wollensack
JUMP is currently in short supply of toilet paper to give to clients. Please try to remember to pick up an extra package of TP the next time you are shopping and drop it off on our JUMP shelves in the back of the Sanctuary. Thank you so much--in advance--for your help!
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| National Alliance for Mental Illness Vermont |
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The National Alliance for Mental Illness Vermont (NAMI VT) will offer a free 12-week class for families of people with a mental health condition starting
March 5
. For more information, contact NAMI VT at
(802) 876-7949
or email
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