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One of the major shifts in human understanding has been a move away from seeing ourselves as solitary, independent agents in charge of our destiny toward a more complex awareness that who we are is a direct function of who we are with. We are relational creatures. Everything about us is shaped by our connections (or disconnections) with those around us.
~Rev. Kenn Hurto
Greetings:
By now, you have probably heard the news that I will be resigning as UUCM's Minister as of this June 30. I turn 65 this summer and yearn for better balance, including more time with grandchildren and my 93-year old Mom. If you didn't see the announcement,
click here for my letter and a message from our President, Lynn Coakley.
How appropriate that February's theme just happens to be IDENTITY. For the last 15 years, my identity as a minister has been woven with our congregation's shared ministry here in Milford. We have been shaped by our connections with one another. As we all prepare for this transition, we have the chance to discern what shape our ministries will take going forward.
I do not plan to pursue full-time parish ministry and I am open to variety of opportunities. Yet, full-time ministry is a way of life -- a way of being in the world. So, I am recognizing the discomfiting internal shifts that come with a change of role -- a change of identity. What shape will my ministry take going forward? How will my life unfold?
You, my beloved congregation, now have a wonderful opening to determine how you want to live out your values. What identity will you bring forth into the world? What shape will you give UUCM's ministry? How will you choose to live out your mission to
Honor Each and
Enrich All.
This month's worship services celebrate the theme of IDENTITY in a variety of ways. The first two services investigate and honor community identity. The last two services celebrate the joy of living an open life -- being who you are, just as you are -- without having to pretend you are something different. Our Unitarian Universalist faith wants you to stop hiding and live fully -- not just for your sake but for our sake as well.
Please
explore the Soul Matters materials on IDENTITY. There are spiritual practices, questions to consider, quotes, music, books, and movies. There are even some sites where you can test your identity -- find your spiritual type, your personality, what your higher self wants and, even, your "spirit animal." As always, Small Groups will have a special session on this theme. I wish you insight and joy as you journey through these rich resources.
May we thoroughly enjoy our last months together, enriching one another with our presence and purpose.
With love and abundant blessings to you,
Barbara
Rev. Barbara McKusick Liscord
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Sunday Worship Services - 10:30am
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Michael Conley & Rev. Barbara McKusick Liscord
This service will inspire hope for sustainable, resilient communities that will improve health and happiness in a post-carbon era.
Members of the
Souhegan Transition Network
will be on hand after the service to offer details about various programs currently "in the works" throughout the Souhegan Valley, including the Souhegan Valley Food Co-op, the Sustainability Fair, the Souhegan Hour Exchange, and Threshold Care.
Sunday Morning Circles
Sandy Frades & Rev. Barbara McKusick Liscord
One of the most important documents from the holocaust was written by a young girl named Anne Frank. This service explores the holocaust through the writings in her diary, music, stories of other courageous people, readings and photographs.
Jackie Davis, Mark Schwartzberg, Ella Blanchard, Sandy Frades and the choir will bring these moving experiences to you as a dramatic presentation that moves through different feelings starting with memory and ending with hope.
This service is appropriate for 5th grade and above. There will be circles for the younger children.
Cathy Goldwater & Rev. Barbara McKusick Liscord
For more than 20 years, UUCM has been a
Welcoming Congregation, affirming and supporting all individuals, regardless of their gender identity and/or sexual orientation. This lively service will expand our understanding and awareness of current challenges and opportunities facing LGBTQ folk and their allies -- through story, music, poetry, and visual images.
This service is appropriate for 5th grade and above. There will be circles for the younger children.
Kali Fyre, Ministerial Intern & Rev. Barbara McKusick Liscord
For the last Sunday on February's theme of IDENTITY, we will focus on Gender and the various ways we categorize gender: identity, expression, orientation, and biology. We will grow in understanding the limits of our "binary" way of seeing gender.
Following worship, Kali will facilitate a deeper discussion about "Identity in Conversation", specifically addressing pronouns and how we reference each other in conversation, what are some options, and how to support various gender-identified people in conversation.
There will be an event for children and youth in lieu of Sunday Morning Circles
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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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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 February Faith Formation flyer, which includes all programs for all three churches. You can also find the same information online at http://uucm.org/religious-education/adult-programs/
Friday, February 3 - 7-8:30pm in Emerson
Friday Night Enrichment: "You Don't Know Dick" (a documentary)
This month's Enrichment offering is the excellent documentary "You Don't Know Dick." The film focuses on six transmen -- individuals born with female bodies who transitioned to live as men. They talk about their childhoods, how they
made
the change, telling parents and friends and co-workers, testosterone therapy, surgeries, and how their lives are now. Friends, a parent, lovers, and two children also talk.
All six men express joy
at their
now congruent identities
as men.
Following the film (56 minutes) we will share discussion and dessert.
Saturday, February 4,11,18 - 9:00am-10:30am
"White Privilege - Let's Talk" (6-week curriculum from UCC)
At Milford United Methodist Church, 327 N. River Rd.
Register at office@uucm.org.
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UUCM
 News & Activities
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Art Show, Silent Auction, Music/Mime/Poetry performances by our members, Sacred Circle dancing, traditional folk dance, desserts and hors d'oeuvres! Great door prizes!
All ages and the public are welcome. Admission by donation. All proceeds go to the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA).
UUCM Members & Friends - We welcome your talents! We need:
- Donations of handmade or creative goods for the silent auction
- Performers of music/poetry/dance/drama
- Artists who want to show or sell their work (50/50 split to UUA)
- Door prize donations that are handmade or encourage the arts (such as art supplies, food, etc)
Feb. 5-10 - Leave your donation in Emerson Hall or the office.
Who to contact with questions and offers to help:
- Amy Conley (249-9560) - Performances & silent auction
- Traci Dorsey (235-2869) - Food/drink
- Betty Sweeney (575-636-4302) - Art show
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You can
help us out in February by asking your favorite restaurant for a gift card donation. Gift certificates are great for us because bidders willingly pay face value. Restaurants generously donate them because they know it will bring business in the door AND they can write them off as a charitable donation. Sign up for a restaurant in Barnum Hall. Send your suggestions/questions to
auction@uucm.org
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Our congregation contributed $1217.20 to the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee's (UUSC) Guest at your Table drive in the fall. Several individual contributions of $125 were eligible to be matched by another UU congregation. Thank you for supporting UUSC's vital programs around the globe.
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Tamás & Kinga sent a
long letter
about events in Szekelyszentmihaly.
Highlights include: 
- Tamás and Kinga will welcome a new baby in September.
- In November, the bishop will visit; an event that only happens every 35-40 years. This is a huge event!
- There will be a ceremonial inauguration for Tamás.
- One quarter of the church was re-roofed before Christmas.
Tamás & Kinga are thrilled to hear that some of the Milford congregation plans a visit. July would be the best time!
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Highlights of Recent Meetings
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- Rev Barbara gave us her letter of resignation. Council will clarify our options for next year, which will be discussed at a congregational meeting.
- We met with the chairs of Stewardship and are very excited for this year's campaign.
- We completed our congregational certification to the UUA for the year, reporting a membership of 165.
Read the Draft Minutes from this meeting and email your questions/comments to council@uucm.org. All Council meeting minutes are online at http://uucm.org/members/governance/governance-council/.
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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
- Plans were discussed for the Jan. 8th membership luncheon.
- The committee's Mission Statement was discussed and updated.
- Restarting a movie series at UUCM was discussed.
- The committee discussed ideas to revitalize the High School Youth Group.
- A proposal was put forth to shift "Sunday school" to 9:30 to 10:30 on Sunday mornings. Parents could socialize during that time; teachers would not have to miss the service and children could either attend the service or have supervised play time from 10:30-noon. Parental input will be solicited regarding this idea.
- Plans were made for calling families whose children have attended circles in order to get their feedback and input.
- Ideas on dealing with the lack of nursery coverage were discussed.
- The committee will create a play area in Barnum hall for children to use during coffee hour.
- CTeam to draft improved worship description for Nashua Telegraph and meet with Rev B and Jamie to discuss.
- CTeam discussed how to encourage more UUCM folks to read the newsletters. This is an ongoing problem and CTeam is encouraging any/all suggestions.
- CTeam continuing work on new UUCM website which displays better on smart phones and other small devices.
All meetings are open! Come if you are interested! See calendar for meeting times. Click here to see Committee member listing.
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Did you know that Jess Gerrior, and her daughters, Maggie and Willow, are rostered roller derby skaters and have been playing for five years? Look for them at church and ask them to tell you more. Or check out
Jess's Facebook page.
Tell us a little something about you to share with our community. Send it to
news@uucm.org.
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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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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
February 12); 10:30am-2:30pm
Duties: Setup, simple food prep, serving, cleanup
Who: Adults and youth 12 and older (accompanied by a responsible adult)
Learn more: Talk to an NSK volunteer: John & Marty Miller, Jeff Hoye, Marti Kennedy, Dona Eaton, Barbara Smith
Click here to volunteer for one or more Sundays.
Thanks so much!
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At UUCM: Weds., Feb. 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 ham, side dishes (seasoned pasta mix, Hamburger Helper, etc.), ravioli & Beefaroni
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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:
- 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.
- Spring workshops and webinars that you might like to attend
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February: Anne Rainey (annerainey@comcast.net or 547-2988)
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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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