Please Note: The Administrative Office will be closed on Friday, July 22, 2016.
Worship
Silent Meditation Summer Sundays 9:30 am
The sanctuary will be open for silent meditation during the summer from
9:30-10 am.
Settle in for silence in a sacred space with kindred spirits. All are welcome.
(Services begin at 10:30 am)
Child care for children up to ten years old is available during Worship services.
July 24, 2016, 10:30 am
"The Miraculous Magnified"
Rev. Megan Lloyd Joiner,
Jesse Greist
Sand reveals the miraculous when it is magnified 150-200 times: tiny particles, each one unique. What does the beauty of sand share with us about the beauty of our universe
and all we cannot see?
July 31, 2016
"Mistakes That Make Us Real"
Rev. Megan Lloyd Joiner, Jesse Greist
Accepting mistakes as a part of life, or even a way of life, leads to real freedom, what one poet calls "paradise." We explore our relationship with imperfection as we celebrate mistakes as opportunities for learning, growth, and freedom.
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Summer Sunday Flowers
In keeping with the more informal nature of our summer worship services, Sunday flowers most often come from our gardens rather than the florist. Thus we have tucked the order book away until fall.
What a month it's been. Istanbul, Baghdad, Nice. Baton Rouge, Minneapolis, Dallas. Like you, I imagine, I am heartbroken and weary. What can I say but what we already know: hatred begets hatred and violence begets violence? What I can say but what we also know to be true: love begets love and compassion begets compassion? What can I say but take care of yourselves and each other, be not afraid, and peace be with you? What can I say but let us carry on in our work for justice? Let us declare that violence is not the answer on any front. And let us remember that we are not powerless: we can and must and will do something to make change for the better.
It starts with understanding and compassion. It starts with condemning violence without writing off a movement. It starts with connection and listening and learning from communities of color. It starts with mourning the dead - all of the dead - and proclaiming that the struggle for justice continues.
Tonight I'll be at the forum: "The Struggle for Black Liberation and Socialism" featuring Lia Miller-Granger, one of the leaders of Black Lives Matter New Haven, 7/21 7:00-9:00pm.
First Unitarian Universalist Society, 608 Whitney Avenue, New Haven.
I invite you to join me.
On Saturday 7/23 at 10:30 am in front of the New Haven City Hall, we have been asked by Showing Up for Racial Justice and Black Lives Matter New Haven to come out and support awareness of racial injustice along with BLM New Haven and People Against Police Brutality.
We make our way in this bruised and battered, broken world the best we can. Let us make our way together. Let us be gentle with each other. Let us join hands with other weary travelers and share the burden. Let us listen and learn and show up.
Let us be the change we wish to see.
Yours in faith, in love, and in the struggle for justice,
Megan
Children and Youth Religious Education
Seeking RE teachers for 2016-2017
Please contact the RE office at
[email protected] to talk about teaching 1-2 Sundays per month starting in September 2016! It is an exciting, rewarding way to live out our principles and values. We need folks for all ages and grade levels, including the Young Religious Unitarian Universalists youth group and Our Whole Lives sexuality education. Write or call 203-288-1807, Ext. 203 for more information.
Registration for Religious Education
classes for 2016-2017 is open!
To register your children for Sunday classes or YRUU youth group, simply fill out a form at the table in the social hall, grab one from the bin outside the RE office,
We have 4 USNHchildren attending the UU Children's Choir Camp
and we are very proud of this fact. Let's help support them.
Please consider a donation to the UU Children's Choir on Faithify. It is a matching donation - we need to raise $3000.00 to have the matching grant.
The campaign ends on July 31, and they must raise the $3,000.00 by then for the matching grant. I am sure that there will be an opportunity for you to donate at the conference as well,
Thank you to the 35 people who signed the health care petition to the Ct Office of State Ethics. We are asking that agency to request the governor order Insurance Commissioner Katherine Wade to recuse herself from taking any part in the process of evaluating the merger between Anthem and Cigna. Health Care Reform group will let you know the outcome.
SG
m?
What is SGm at USNH? It stands for Small Group meetings, and is the new name for Small Group Ministry at USNH. The Steering Committee believes that the new name, "Small Group meetings" more clearly describes the program and its intent. The opportunity for deep reflection and meaningful connection remain the same. Challenging and thoughtful topics remain the same. These groups resume in the fall. Won't you be among the many participants who find them rewarding and nourishing?
Sue Linsley, Chair, SGm Steering Committee
First Sundays BBQ
It's the second of three
'First Sundays BBQ' for July, August and September.
Will you be there?
What: Barbecue and pot luck When: Sunday, August 7th, 2016, following the 10:30 service. Where: USNH patio under the canopy and in the social hall Who: YOU! Sponsored by your Membership Committee Why: Fellowship... and it's summer.
You bring a side dish and we'll supply the grill, burgers (incl. veggie), hot dogs, buns, condiments, paper/flat ware and soft drinks. See posters in the foyer and social hall.
Save the Date!
SUNDAY, AUGUST 21, 12-4
USNH MULTIGENERATIONAL PICNIC
Brooksvale Park, Hamden
Please bring YOUR picnic food!
We supply the grill, charcoal, plates, tableware and condiments!
Sponsored by The Sunday Morning Team
The Permanent Committee on Right Relations Presents:
BRINGING OUR COVENANT TO LIFE THROUGH RESTORATIVE PRACTICES Three Saturday Morning Workshop Trainings
for Restorative Dialogue and Peacemaking
Save the Dates:
September 24
Introduction to Restorative Justice and Circles
October 15
Circle Keeping and the Five Skills of Restorative Dialogue
November 12
Facilitating Circles that Address Harm and Healing
invites you to enjoy the Family to Family Training Course.
The course is free and will run from
September 20 - December 6, 6:00 pm to 8:30 pm.
The training provides education, information, resources and support for family members of individuals with serious mental illness, based on the lived experiences of other family members. The program is delivered by trained volunteer family facilitators. This course is a partnership between USNH Mental Health Awareness and NAMI.
Registration: email Graziela Reis -
[email protected] or register in the
Social Hall
after services in August.
ON-GOING EVENTS
Hope's Nest - Please come and feel free to ask questions. Relax with us on comfortable chairs in the Children's Chapel for a small social time before and after the discussion. Snacks, and drinks are served. Every third Sunday of the month at 4:00 pm. Presented by the Mental Health Awareness Team.
Folksinger's Group - Will meet Sunday, July 31, in the Sanctuary from 12:00 until 2:00 pm. This will replace the August meeting..
Insight Meditation Program with Beth Roth, APRN
Breathing meditation, walking meditation, instructor talk and discussion. Suggested donation: USNH members $12, non-members $20. Donations of any amount are gratefully accepted.Tuesdays 7-9 pm, Room 209.
Violent Deaths of Black Men and Law Enforcement Officers:
Our responses this week
We continue to hold the loved ones of all of these men in our thoughts and prayers.
Eight members of USNH attended the "Let's Get Together for Our Cities: Community Conversations" organized by Carroll E. Brown a member of Dixwell UCC. The forum focused on policing and race relations and included mayors and police chiefs
from six local towns.
We are continuing to pursue placing a "Black Lives Matter to Unitarian Universalists" banner on our building.
Through Black Lives of Unitarian Universalism we continue to offer space for healing and organizing to local Black activists.
Many of us will attend the rehanging of the Black Lives Matter banner at the Bridgeport UU church on
7/31/16 1:00pm.
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Come one and all!
Social Justice Forum
Sunday, July 24,
9:00 am
Children's Chapel USNH
The Social Justice Council is preparing its agenda for our fall
Social Justice Retreat and wants to hear your ideas and experiences at this open forum. Ask questions. Give feedback. Listen. Wherever you are on your service journey, you are welcome.
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Join the Clean Energy Revolution!
Buses will leave from Hartford (7:30 am) and New Haven (8:15 am) on Sunday, July 24, heading to Philadelphia for the March for a Clean Energy Revolution, which takes place the day before the Democratic National Convention starts in Philly. Demands include: Ban fracking now! Keep fossil fuels in the ground! and
Justly transition to 100% renewable energy. The bus will return to CT on Sunday evening.
It would be wonderful to have a USNH contingent that could carry our social justice banner in the march. Please contact me for more information.
HEART is a recently formed Task Force that will integrate our three existing efforts to help the homeless, which are Abraham's Tent, Abraham's Tent II and Columbus House Dinners and all three are in coordination with Columbus House. The acronym stands for:
Homeless
Emergency
Action
Resource
Team
If you wish to be placed on the mailing list for HEART, please contact Robert Garskof at
[email protected].
HEART's first meeting will take place on August 7th at 9:00 in the librarywith breakfast provided. If you are interested in coming contact Paul Trotta at [email protected]or 860.426.2126.
Waverly Children Will Need School Supplies
Take advantage of sales at local stationers, such as Staples, going on now.
There is a collection box in the lobby!
Waverly-USNH Partnership
To learn more or be part of our grassroots effort with
inner-city children and youth, contact Sharon McBlain at 203-288-4131 or by email [email protected].
FOOD BANK
Don't forget that the Food Bank food is available to any member of the USNH community who is in need.
GOOD THINGS HAPPENING AT USNH
David Stagg Has Joined the Management Team!
David Jones, Georgia Jennings, Rev. Megan, David Stagg
What does the Management Team do?!
Did you know that under Policy Governance, the Board of Trustees delegates the authority to run the day to day operations of our congregation to the Management Team? This includes everything from ensuring we treat one another with respect to making sure our facilities are safe and in good repair. It also includes financial planning and budgeting, communications, and myriad other responsibilities. Our highly competent staff and our good committees make it possible for the MT to continually make progress toward those ends.
Now we are so fortunate to welcome David Stagg to the Team! David has already contributed so much to USNH, as many of you know. He is the perfect fit for the MT. He replaces the highly competent, hard working, and quite humorous Sandy Frawley, who completed 2 years on the Team, for which we are so grateful.
a long time member of USNH and
the Tuesday Conversations group,
died June 17th, one month before her 85th birthday.
There are no plans for a memorial service at this time.
The best way to contact the Lay Ministry, or to request pastoral care in general, is to email [email protected]
Many thanks to our 2015-2016 Lay Ministers: Sarah Whitson and Susan Meredith, co-chairs, Dee Arneth, Carole Arnold, Pat Grigg, Cathy Jackson, Jamie Johnson,
Marty Lipnick and Pat Trotta.
SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS
Stop & Shop and Shop Rite cards
are available after Sunday Service in $50 and $100 denominations.
Checks or cash please.
Weekly News Information
The Weekly News is published every Thursday. Please email
your event or notice to [email protected] by the Friday before, noting "Newsletter" in the subject line. Your comments are invited, as are suggestions for improving USNH communications.
