Dear Friends,
We are about four months away from my retirement from my 15-year settled ministry with you. Thank you for all your kind words and good wishes. These last weeks have brought many sweet memories from our time together - even going back to those early days when your search committee first called me. Every time, I meet with our High School youth group, I remember that these fabulous young people were infants and toddlers when I first met many of them. I am also filled with poignant memories of dear ones we have lost to death or who moved away over my time with you. And I continue to be inspired by the life-giving ministry we do together, as manifested in the very moving Welcoming Congregation service just this past Sunday. More than ever, our Milford area community needs this accepting place and the wider world needs our Unitarian Universalist values and presence in the public square.
This transition time offers each of us an opportunity to examine our patterns of leave-taking over the course of our lives. How have we managed endings in the past? Do we embody gratitude for the time we've had together? Do we intentionally say "goodbye" and offer best wishes for each other's future? Or do we ignore the process and just go away, attempting to cut ourselves off from the past, ignoring the pain of the change. Do we pick a fight, so leave-taking has "good riddance" tone? Do we lean creatively into the future, seeing this change as an opportunity to discern our direction, our purpose, our call?
Be assured that I am committed to co-creating our best last months together. Let me know what I can do to help and I will share what I am learning about transitions such as ours. Please know that I cherish all your many contributions to our shared ministry.
With love, deep gratitude and abundant blessings to each of you and your dear ones.
Barbara
Rev. Barbara McKusick Liscord
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The important question about risk (and about life) is not "Are you willing to jump off?" but "Are you willing to jump in?" Not "Are you willing to put yourself in danger?" but "Are you willing to give yourself to something bigger?" Not "Will you be daring?" but "Will you stay true?"
Click here to access the Risk Resource Packet.
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Sunday Worship Services - 10:30am
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Susan Tordella, Julia Tripp, Rev. Jeanne Nieuwejaar
The homeless, the incarcerated and the very poor are invisible in our culture. This service will give voice to these injustices. Susan Tordella, a prison volunteer and prison rights advocate and Julia Tripp, who has known these hardships, will lead the service. Rev. Jeanne Nieuwejaar will briefly share some experiences and readings from the groups she leads at the Goffstown Women's Prison. Julia will bring us her beautiful, heartfelt original music.
Service Project for Children/Youth
Linda Goodman
In this one-woman play, we will be visited by Hildegard Von Bingen, the extraordinary 12th-century nun, writer, composer, healer and prophet. Her message of spirituality, holistic healing, the divine feminine and caring for the earth was daring in her time and is more urgent than ever in ours.
Rev. Barbara McKusick Liscord
"Risk" is our theme for March. What does it mean to be a community of risk? Risk is often associated with daredevils and thrill seekers. Yet, James Baldwin said "to act is to be committed, and to be committed is to be in danger." Are you willing to give yourself to something bigger?
Sunday Morning Circles
Carolyn McCreary, Music Director, Rev. Barbara McKusick Liscord
& Nancy Baker
This music service features a cantata based on the life of Harriet Tubman. A narration and songs of her time tell the story of a journey to freedom on the Underground Railroad, which prior to the Civil War led thousands of slaves to the free states and Canada.
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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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For more information about our Faith Formation programs or to register your child/youth, please contact Jamie Ferrier, our Office & Faith Formation Program Administrator (603-673-1870 or office@uucm.org).
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On Sunday, March 5, the Sunday Morning Circles will be participating in a service project - creating Blessing Bags for those in need. Please consider donating a few items to help our children help others in the community. Below is a list of items to donate. Travel-sized items are best. Items may be dropped off in Barnum Hall. Thank you in advance! Contact the Office 603-673-1870 with questions.
Personal hygiene products: shampoo, toothbrush, toothpaste, mouthwash, deodorant, comb, razor, lip balm, sunscreen
Accessories: scarf, hat, gloves, thermal socks
Necessities: tissues, hand lotion, wet wipes, small first aid kit
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Sign up to take your turn bringing the meal: send note or text Rev. Barbara
minister@uucm.org or 603-554-6643.
- February 26 - UU Ideas about God Rev. Barbara and Kristin Rounds
- March 5 - Your God Project Kristin Rounds and TBD
- March 12 - Your God Project (continued) Emily Jones and Kristin Rounds
- March 19 - Sharing God Project/Preparing for Boston Trip Rev. Barbara and Kristin Rounds
- March 25 (Saturday) - Boston UU Heritage Tour 8:45am meet at UUCM for a day in Boston, connecting with our Unitarian and Universalist history.
- April 2 - Learning How to Lead Worship Rev. Barbara and Kristin Rounds
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UUCM, the UU Church of Nashua, and the UU Church of Manchester are sharing our Lifespan Faith Formation programs, which are designed to encourage spiritual growth and a free and responsible search for truth and meaning. Click here to download the March Faith Formation brochure, which includes all programs for all three churches. You can also find the same information online at http://uucm.org/religious-education/adult-programs/
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Friday, March 3, 7-8:30pm, UUCM
Friday Night Enrichment - "Hope in Challenging Times."
This month's Enrichment offering is a short video from "Awakening the Dreamer" that focuses on local actions in communities world-wide, and the value of each individual effort to make a positive difference. Following the 20-minute video, we will share discussion and dessert.
Saturday, March 4, 6:00pm
Milford United Methodist Church, 327 N. River Rd., Milford
Watch the movie, "13th" 13th is a documentary that explores the intersection of race, justice and mass incarceration in the United States.
Sunday, March 12, 5pm-7:45pm, UUCM
"Just Off Route 66: Painting the America of the 1930s" with Nancy Baker
Route 66 wound its way from Chicago to Santa Monica, running right through the "Dust Bowl." Times were hard everywhere during the Depression, but the federal government offered stimulus programs to both chronicle regional life and promote the American values of hard work, community and independence. Many great American artists found work that now fills our national consciousness and adorns public buildings. See some of the paintings that shaped our sense of self in difficult national circumstances. The program will feature the work of Edward Hopper, Thomas Hart Benton, Grant Wood, Georgia O'Keeffe, John Steuart Curry, John French Sloan, and others who painted the spirit of America in the face of economic and social struggle.
Saturday, March 18, 9:00am-10:30am
Milford United Methodist Church,
327 N. River Rd., Milford
"White Privilege - Let's Talk" (Register
office@uucm.org )
M
onthly continuation of the six-week program: you are invited to
to engage in safe, meaningful, substantive, and bold conversations on race.
UU historians, ethicists, and activists will present their research on the historical and future trajectories of Black Lives Matter and Unitarian Universalism.
Friday, March 31, 6:00 pm, First Church in Boston, 66 Marlborough St., Boston - The Rev. Mark Morrison-Reed, Affiliated Member, Meadville-Lombard Theological School
Saturday, April 1, 3:00 pm, First Parish in Cambridge, 3 Church St., Cambridge - The Rev. Rosemary Bray McNatt, President, Professor of Unitarian Universalist Ministry and Heritage, Starr King School for the Ministry
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UUCM
 News & Activities
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Help us select a new soup for the 2017 Holiday Fair Cafe.
Cooks:
- Select a soup that contains easy to find ingredients and is not time consuming to make
- Bring your soup in a crock pot (with the recipe) and drop off in the kitchen prior to the service.
Everyone:
- After the service, sample the soups and vote for your favorite.
- All are invited to participate. You may bring bread or dessert instead of soup, if you prefer.
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After school lets out, come have some fun, while playing games and making easy simple crafts. Light refreshments and snacks provided. Contact the Office for more information.
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Cammie and Steve Opre have developed an entirely new approach to the annual pledge drive. Highlights are:
- No extra meetings
- Will only take 20 minutes of your time
- The "Love Pass"
- Peace, Love and Pancake breakfast on March 26.
- Turn-Around T-Shirt if you return your pledge form promptly
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Help make UUCM Goods & Services Auction the best ever!
Here's how you can help NOW?
- Offer your vacation home/condo for a weekend.
- Offer to cook your favorite food/meal. What is your specialty? These are our best selling items and we could use more.
- Offer a service. Your special skill is probably just what someone will bid on.
- Request a service. If you want a special service, perhaps another UUCMer can offer it for auction. Tell us what you want to bid on.
- Visit your favorite store, restaurant, or hairdresser and ask for a gift card. They benefit when a new customer redeems the card.
- Offer to make bars or cookies to serve during the auction.
Plan to be there on Saturday, April 8 at 7pm. Mark your calendar now!
Send email to
auction@uucm.org or contact Dona Eaton, Susan Olsen, Elise deMichael or Leslie Bennett
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Highlights of Recent Meetings
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- The Spirit of Creativity UUA Fundraiser raised over $800 towards our UUA and District Dues!
- Rev. Barbara's report included a recommendation for a salary increase for the Administrator, whose job duties have grown significantly since she was first hired. Council recommended that Finance add this increase to the draft budget, as they are able.
- Bob Baker, Treasurer, reports that although we are operating on a deficit budget this year, our expenses are staying low and our cash flow is excellent.
- We reviewed the Transition process and discussed the importance of interim ministry as a period of reflection and renewal. We also discussed the importance of being intentional in our leave-taking with Rev. Barbara, as closure to her ministry with us.
- We put together an interim task force to work with the UUA Transition process, to review interim ministers in early May and recommend one to the Council. The deadline to apply for an interim minister is April 18.
- We feel we understand the process enough to be able to explain it to the congregation, and we put together a group to set up and lead a series of meetings for that purpose.
All Council meeting minutes are online at
http://uucm.org/members/governance/governance-council/. E
mail your questions/comments to council@uucm.org.
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With the goal of enhancing communication within our congregation, I will try to summarize any minutes or notes I receive from our various congregational committees. ~ Mark Schwartzberg, Council Clerk
- New members Steve Opre, Cammie Opre, Joan Cavoli, Kim Shapiro, Betty Sweeney, Susan Fallon and Richard Fallon were welcomed to the committee
- The formation of a "UU Social Club" was proposed. The group could attend movies or other events together. Outings might be planned with groups from outside UUCM. This could be a way to strengthen the ties among congregants at UUCM and to bring in new members. Further details will be worked out at subsequent meetings.
- Further details were discussed regarding the restart of a family movie series at UUCM.
- Bringing speakers to UUCM was discussed. Several suggestions for speakers were discussed as well as ways to enhance turnout for such programs.
- The committee offered to help the Children & Youth Faith Formation Committee (CYFF) as it seeks input from families regarding a proposal to shift Faith Formation activities to 9:30 - 10:30 on Sunday mornings.
- An idea was discussed to provide newcomers with a small card to take home with them after their first visit. The card would have contact information wording along the lines of: "Have a question about the UUCM? Call 673-1870".
- Identified technical tasks to be completed by CTeam during transition from Rev Barbara to an interim minister.
- Finalized draft one of the new responsive UUCM website. Implementation and iterative reviews are ongoing. Demos to be provided during coffee hour soon.
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NEW: You can now sign up here to Light the Chalice and help lead the affirmation! We welcome anyone to sign up, especially children/youth.
OR, click here to sign up to be a Garden Door Greeter, Sanctuary Greeter, or Coffee Hour Cleanup volunteer.
>>> 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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Members and friends of UUCM volunteer at the Nashua Soup Kitchen once a month, the second Sunday of each month, from 10:30am - 2:30pm. A simple meal is prepared and served, and the kitchen and dining room are cleaned afterwards. It takes 4 volunteers each month to complete this meaningful, rewarding work.
Meghan Hoye and I are reaching out to you, to ask you to consider signing up for a volunteer slot once or twice this year. She and I are there every Sunday (with few exceptions), and we need two more volunteers for each month. If you have never helped at the Soup Kitchen before, no worries! It's easy to jump right in and feel helpful, and there will always be someone there with experience. The men, women, and families we serve are truly grateful not only for the meal, but also the fellowship the Soup Kitchen provides.
Teens age 12 and up are welcome to volunteer, if accompanied by an additional adult.
Volunteers often carpool to Nashua from the parking lot next to the Police Station in Milford, and there is plenty of parking in the Soup Kitchen lot.
To volunteer, you can:
We are in need of one more volunteer for March 12, and at least two volunteers a month for the rest of the church year, as well as all summer long. Please consider volunteering at the Nashua Soup Kitchen this year. ~ Marti Kennedy
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At UUCM: Weds., March 15 (3rd Wednesdays)
At SHARE: Next dinner hosted by UUCM is Tues, April 4.
In keeping with UUCM's mission to Honor Each, Enrich All, our congregation hosts suppers at UUCM every month and hosts at SHARE on a staggered basis with other churches. You are invited to join a pool of volunteers who help prepare and serve nutritious meals to the delight of our guests. Please contact Nancy Danzinger, UUCM Community Supper Coordinator, (ndanzinger@comcast.net, 673-9561) to learn more or join the pool.
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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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Greater UU Community Events
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To learn of other events you might enjoy at UU Nashua, check the UU Nashua calendar. Some events are also included on our webpage for Adult Ed.
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Check the
online calendar for details about these programs.
Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) - Sats, 9:00-10:30am - Big Book 12-Step
Narcotics Anonymous (NA) - Mondays, 7:00-8:15pm
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Click here to learn more about:
- Spring workshops and webinars that you might like to attend
- Regional Assembly (April 21/22) in Woburn, MA. Meet the three candidates (all women) for UUA President, who will be elected at the UUA General Assembly, June 21-25 in New Orleans, LA. Early registration ends 2/28.
- If you are attending our Northern New England District Meeting at Regional Assembly as a delegate from your congregation, we are offering scholarships up to the full cost of housing. These scholarships will be given out based on need. If you are interested in a scholarship to help cover housing for Regional Assembly, please submit a completed application and email to NNEDAdmin@comcast.net or mail to PO Box 333, New Ipswich NH 03071 prior to February 28, 2017
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The rising tide of inequality, intolerance and racism makes it more important for UUs to stand up for their values. UUJEC and UUs for Social Justice in the National Capital Region (UUSJ) are organizing a spring conference in Washington DC to give UUs an opportunity to advocate for a vision of a fair and compassionate society directly to decision makers on Capitol Hill. We cannot take a step back on progress in equality and human rights. Now more than ever we must act...
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March: Carole Treen (603-472-5806 treencarole24@gmail.com)
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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.
Contact commteam@uucm.org if you need help logging on.
In the event of bad weather, you can check whether the church is open by calling the church (603-673-1870), checking the UUCM website for a
banner alert on the home page
, or checking WMUR. Read details here.
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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