Greetings, everyone! I am happy to be writing to you this month while Rev. Barbara remains on sabbatical:
As November begins, we welcome the cooler, crisp change in the air from summer to autumn and are blessed by the brilliant colors of nature's "final hurrah" before the restful slumber of winter. Despite the beauty surrounding us, it's been difficult to relax at this time amid the chaos of this year's unprecedented and historic election season. Regardless of the outcome, we will have some sense of closure in mere days, after which we can get to the business of navigating what new leadership will mean for our country, and for some of us, much needed healing from the stress and trauma of the last many months.
Our theme of Story for November and the following excerpt from Rev. Scott Tayler helps me find an anchor for moving out of the many stories - true, false, exaggerated, hurtful - that have been a constant presence during the past year, politically, socially, culturally, and personally.
"Our lives are not just made up of stories; they are also made by stories. This might be the most important reminder of this month. Indeed, who of us hasn't felt controlled by a story? Stuck in a story? Hopeless about the way our story will end up? Simply put, stories write us as much as we write them.
So let's tell a new story! This is the message of our faith: We have a choice. Our stories are not predetermined. Remember that old theological debate our UU forefathers and mothers gave their lives for? ... Freedom has a much bigger role than we're giving it credit for. God is not so much the author of the story as she is the magical muse that needles and nags us to put our own stamp on the narratives before us.
How are you struggling right now to regain control of the storyline of your life? How are you and your friends working to regain control of the storyline of our community? Our country? Maybe your spiritual work is about finding a new storyline. Does that leave you excited about what's to come? Scared? A bit of both? Whatever it is. Wherever you are at. Don't give the storyline away. That's the message of our faith. And hopefully the gift of this month."
Kali Fyre, Ministerial Intern
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Johanna & Kim
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(From Kim) We can use Whole Congregation Worship to teach and model our faith, to be together in community, to experience the rituals and traditions of Unitarian Universalism, and to experience opportunities for silence, awe, and reverence.
(From Johanna)
Families need to be fully integrated into congregations. What does full integration look like? Everyone worshiping together, everyone pondering the same big questions at the same time, and everyone - youngest to oldest - growing in relationship with one another.
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Worship Services
Sundays at 10:30am
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Rev. Jeanne Nieuwejaar, Minister Emerita
Each of our singular lives is woven of dreams and memories, joys and sorrows, people and places. Beyond the facts of our lives there are the stories, treasure troves of wonder and of meaning. To bring these stories alive, to remember deeply is a rich and holy thing.
Jackie Davis
There is never a great time to talk about death. It is the ultimate unknown. Because it often is not talked about, our understanding of death can lurk in the shadows. Talking frankly and openly about dying can help us know what to expect when it happens to ourselves or to someone we love. UUCM member Jackie Davis will speak openly about the death of her husband Rick and their choice to have a "home funeral." Yes, you can die at home in New Hampshire. Let's shine some light on this dark subject and bring it out of the shadows, just a bit, together. Rick would like that. Home funeral director Deana Darby will be on hand for conversation after the service.
Kali Fyre, Ministerial Intern
Kali will offer a Thanksgiving reflection on the multicultural history of the first Thanksgiving, and how Story influences our understanding of Thanksgiving today.
Nancy Baker
The great storyteller, Madeline L'Engle said, "Stories make us more alive, more human, more courageous, more loving." Storytelling is common to every culture, and stories have taught us and created our humanity since people began living in community. This service is all about the power of story to connect us, affirm us, guide us and outlive us. There are so many powerful ways to tell a story, no matter how old you are or what kind of experiences you've had. Come, relax, laugh and listen
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Music! Music! Music!
For more information about our music programs, contact our music director, Carolyn McCreary (music@uucm.org 978-772-5870).
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All singers are invited to join the UUCM choir. We rehearse Wednesday evenings from 7:00 - 8:30pm in the sanctuary and Sunday mornings before the service. Please join us!
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Learn more about the transition from Religious Education to Faith Formation at
For more information about our Faith Formation programs, please contact Jamie Ferrier, our Office and Faith Formation Program Administrator (603-673-1870 or office@uucm.org).
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It is essential that you register your children and youth right away! (Fill out a separate registration form for each child/youth.) Child/Youth Registration: https://goo.gl/forms/ETH5oWf0ZrwqQYrv1 Parent/Guardian Registration: https://goo.gl/forms/Khv348l1pbkc7nRl2
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See the website for more information about these upcoming events.
10/23 Souhegan Low Ropes Course (12-3pm)
11/20 Outdoor Fun (12-2pm)
12/2-12/3 Holiday Fair Community Service (Times TBD)
12/11 Movie, Games (12-3pm)
1/15 Climbing Wall (12-3pm)
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UUCM
News & Activities
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Saturday, November 12, 9am-12pm
A great family activity! Come help us tidy up the church and its grounds. Bring your rakes and rags. Let's get the church ready for this year's activities, inside and out.
Coffee and snacks provided. All welcome!
Barbara Smith for the Property Committee.
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- We welcomed two members of the High School Youth Group who will attend our meetings to learn about congregational governance.
- UUA and District Dues
- Discussed new fundraising idea for this purpose.
- Agreed to send a letter this fall to UUCM congregants.
- Bob Baker made a presentation on the history of the Capital Campaign and the Sanctuary Improvements project.
- Beth Soederberg joined us and introduced some ideas about making the worship space more welcoming. We encouraged her to continue to work on this.
- We discussed the October 2 Congregational Conversation and considered some of the items that Council was to address. (See the next article for details.)
- Read minutes from UUCM Council meetings.
The participants at this congregational meeting generated a number of questions about the
Worship and Faith Formation experiments we are trying this year. The Council took an action to address four questions:
1. What precipitated these changes to Worship and Faith Formation?
2. Are the changes sustainable and do they adequately address the problems that started us down this path?
3. Are sanctuary/physical plant changes needed to support these ideas?
4. How can we brighten our worship space to make it more inviting?
Read the Council's initial thoughts. There will be further discussion at Council meetings and with various other groups and committees.
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House too small to host your holiday gathering? Need a venue for your office party? Consider renting space at UUCM. Members get discounted rates. Contact Jamie at
office@uucm.org
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The Membership committee's role is to reach out to new people and welcome them to our spiritual home. Please consider attending our meeting in the Reeb room to learn how you can contribute to this fulfilling and FUN work.
Contact Barbara Livoli (
babl53@yahoo.com) or Susan Deschenes (
suzedesch@gmail.com) if you plan to attend.
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Once again this year UUCM will provide gifts to families in need through the SHARE Adopt-a-Family program. Each child has two "needs" and two "wants" on their list. We also purchase a gift the whole family can use or enjoy.
The High School Youth Group will be organizing the request using ornaments that will be on a Christmas tree in Barnum Hall. Each ornament has a name and a gift description. The tree will be up by November 13
th
. All you need to do is take as many ornaments as you want, purchase the gifts, and
bring to UUCM by December 4
th
at the latest. Then we will wrap the family gifts, organize the presents, and pack/label them for delivery to SHARE as part of our December 4
th
service activities. If you have questions, contact Sandy Frades at
sandyfrades@comcast.net
or 673-2955.
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- This assumes that you have a personal Google calendar.
- On the UUCM Calendar, click the title of the event you are interested in to display information about the event.
- At the bottom right, click on copy to my calendar. The event will appear in your personal Google calendar.
Click for more CommTeam hints.
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Greater UU Community Events
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The UUCM Holiday Fair is just weeks away, on December 3, and we need everyone's help to make it successful. There are dozens of volunteer spots waiting to be filled. We need your help during the Fair, in the days and weeks before the Fair, and after the Fair.
Sign up now and be a part of one of our biggest fundraisers of the year.
Volunteer opportunities include:
Setup and Cleanup:
- The more volunteers we get for these jobs, the quicker and easier they will be. The Holiday Fair is a large event that uses most of the church building, and this is where we need you the most, if you are able.
- Help set up or clean up an area of the Fair by moving tables, chairs, and boxes as directed by Fair Leads.
Crafts:
- In Emerson Hall, help set out the beautifully handcrafted items our Craft Group has been working on all year.
- Sign up for a shift during the Fair, assisting visitors in Emerson Hall.
Ritzy Boutique:
- Donate new or gently used, giftable items to sell in the Ritzy Boutique.
- Help sort and price donated items in the weeks leading up to the Fair.
- Help set out donated items for sale in the 4 rooms of the Ritzy Boutique.
- Sign up for a shift during the Fair, assisting visitors in the Ritzy Boutique.
Cafe:
- Help prepare or donate food for sale in the cafe for Breakfast and Lunch.
- Sign up for a shift during the Fair to serve, bus tables, or wash dishes.
Bakery:
- Donate homemade baked goods, candies, jams, jellies, preserves, or other treats for sale in the Bakery.
- Sign up for a shift during the Fair to assist visitors to the Bakery.
There are
additional volunteer positions available:
- Laurel Wreaths: Help gather laurel for our handmade laurel wreaths; help make laurel wreaths for sale at the Fair.
- Publicity: Help distribute flyers and other publicity materials.
- Baggers: Assist cashiers by wrapping and bagging visitors' purchases.
- Floaters: Work in different areas as needed, for those who need bathroom/food breaks, or for those who are unable to finish their shifts.
- Garden Door Hospitality: Greet visitors at the Garden Door with a cup of warm cider, and provide directions to the various areas of the Fair.
For more information, please contact Marti Kennedy, 673-6164, or Betty Sweeney, (575)636-4302. Sign up in Barnum Hall during Coffee Hour, or you can email Marti any time (
mamamarti@mac.com) with your sign-up preference. We look forward to working with you!
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This year, UUCM is using SignupGenius to allow you to sign yourself up to serve as Garden Door Greeters, Sanctuary Greeters, and Coffee Hour Cleanup volunteers. You can click here to sign up. If you have trouble signing yourself up online, please call Jamie in the UUCM office at 673-1870 between 9:30 am and 5:00 pm on Tuesdays - Thursdays. She can help!
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The Anne-Marie House (AMH) is in need of household supplies for the residents. AMH is a comprehensive housing and support program for people experiencing homelessness. DONATE toilet paper, paper towels, napkins, tissues, soup, crackers, cereal, granola bars, coffee, tea, juice boxes, mac+cheese by placing in the collection box in Barnum Hall.
Contact Cathy Goldwater, AMH volunteer, for more information.
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Volunteer at the Nashua Soup Kitchen
Every month we need three volunteers to help Meghan Hoye (424-3431 or
meghan_jeff@comcast.net) serve Sunday lunch at the Nashua Soup Kitchen.
When: 2nd Sunday of every month (next on
November 13)
Time: 10:30am-2:30pm
Duties: Setup, simple food prep, serving, cleanup
Who: Adults and youth 14 and older (accompanied by a responsible adult)
Learn more: Talk to an NSK volunteer: John & Marty Miller, Jeff Hoye, Marti Kennedy, Dona Eaton, Barbara Coan
Click here to volunteer for one or more Sundays.
Thanks so much!
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, 5:30-6:30pm (Third Wednesday Every Month) Our suppers are becoming ever more popular! To learn more or to join the pool of volunteers, please contact Nancy Danzinger, UUCM Community Supper Coordinator, (ndanzinger@comcast.net, 673-9561), Barbara Smith (673-6629, brbsmith@me.com), or Dona Eaton (donageaton@gmail.com, 673-7526).
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Please leave contributions in the SHARE basket in Barnum Hall. This month's needs: Canned Fruit, Flour, Sugar, Boxed Mixes & Baking Supplies, Coffee & Tea
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Life Line Screening, a leading provider of community-based preventive health screenings, will offer their affordable, non-invasive and painless health screenings in Barnum Hall from 8:30am-5:30pm. Five screenings will be offered that scan for potential health problems. Learn more. To register for this event and receive a discount, call 1-888-653-6441
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Check the
online calendar for details and contact information for these programs.
Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) - Sats, 9:00-10:30am - Big Book 12-Step
Narcotics Anonymous - Mondays, 7:00-8:15pm
Sacred Circle Dancing - 4th Thursdays, 7:00-8:45pmt:
Second Friday Song Circle - 2nd Fridays, 7:00-10:00pm
Souhegan Valley Insight Meditation - Tuesdays,
6:00-7:30pm Read more.
Yoga for Connection & Awareness - Sundays, 4:00-5:30pm
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November: Carole Treen (treencarole24@gmail.com or 493-3561)
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Why? Get the latest
Church Directory, Council minutes, newsletter archive, services provided by UUCM members & friends,
ways to shop to benefit UUCM, and more.
Please observe UUCM's Food Allergen and Alcohol policies on the
UUCM Policies
webpage.
Weekdays before 6pm and Saturdays before 5pm: Park only behind the church or in the circular driveway in front (and NOT in front of the Garden Door). For more parking information (including a printable map),
click
here
.
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