Dear Friends,
As we close in on the end of our 15-year ministry together, people ask me, "Are you counting the days?"
I haven't been. But for the purposes of this message to you, I will. My last two Sunday morning worship services with you will be the first two weeks in June. After June 11, I will clear out my study, finish up the staff supervision work of performance reviews, attend committee meetings as requested, take care of other administrative tasks, continue some pastoral visits, and respond to requests for coffee and meals with parishioners at restaurants or in their homes. I will also be in conversation with your wonderful Interim Minister, Rev. Carol Strecker, to make sure I leave behind all that will be most helpful to her as you and she launch your shared ministry together. My last day at UUCM will be Tuesday, June 27. These days are precious indeed -- filled with continuing accomplishments, poignant memories, and a surge of connection.
Many have asked if we can get together socially after I have finished my ministry with you. Please know that I am honored by these sweet invitations, but I will not be able to accept and you should not take this personally. Likewise, I will need to remove my Facebook presence in your life. There doesn't seem to be a way to express this in Facebook language that doesn't feel hurtful: "unfriend". Really! I think I will always feel like your friend and I have enjoyed our Facebook connections. It's been a way for me to keep up with your lives and a way for you to offer me affirmation in return. But this is yet another social connection that former ministers should not engage in. So when I no longer "follow" you and you don't receive notifications of my posts, please do not take this personally.
I will, however, continue to keep up with you and the life of our UUCM community through the weekly and monthly emails and any special communications that go out to the UUCM email list.
I do not plan to move away from the area anytime soon, so we are bound to run into each other from time to time. We don't need to avoid eye contact or avoid saying hello to one another, but we will avoid talking about UUCM and engaging in pastoral conversations. If either come up, you will find me encouraging you to talk with your minister or one of the other wonderful people in our UUCM community.
In our last weeks together, we have much to celebrate as we continue our thriving ministry. And you have much to celebrate as you bring your abundant gifts and commitment into the future.
For everything, I thank you. Please know that I will always love you and I wish you much joy.
With love and abundant blessings to you,
Barbara
Rev. Barbara McKusick Liscord
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What a perfect theme to close out our regular church year and carry with us through the summer.
Every day, I see or hear something that more or less kills me with delight, that leaves me like a needle in the haystack of light. It was what I was born for - to look, to listen, to lose myself inside this soft world - to instruct myself over and over in joy and acclamation. ~Mary Oliver
Click
here to find links to resource packets containing spiritual practices, readings, and audio/video offerings for Joy and each of the past year's monthly themes.
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Rev. Barbara McKusick Liscord and Candy Shirey
We will recognize our volunteers, enjoy a slide show of our congregational year, and sing! This will be a shorter multigenerational service, followed by the Annual Meeting, where voting members will make decisions about the opera- tions of our congregation. If you would like to have a say in how our congregation operates and are not currently a voting member, please contact Rev. Barbara through our office at [email protected] or 603-673-1870.
After church in Barnum - UUCM Annual Meeting
Deadline to register for Ferry Beach retreat.
- Rev. Barbara McKusick Liscord
This is our final regular worship service of the congregational year. We will honor our youth who are graduating from high school and say thank you and farewell to Kali Fyre, our ministerial intern of three years. This will be Rev. Barbara's last worship service with us after 15 years of our shared ministry.
Please bring a blossom to share in our annual flower communion, a tradition that began in Czechoslovakia after WWI when Rev. Norbert Capek created the service to uplift the lives of his parishioners who had suffered through the dark time of war. (Whole Congregation Worship)
12:00-2:00 - Retirement Celebration for Rev. Barbara in Barnum
Summer Services are smaller in scale and less formal than our regular services. They provide a way to keep our connections alive through the summer. More aptly called "significant Sunday sharing," these sessions provide a time to share our joys, concerns, thoughts, and inspirations in a meaningful way. We sit in a circle in the Fireside Room and the week's leader supplies a word, phrase, or theme, which leads to a group discussion that can evolve in any direction. There's no sermon and little ritual, but there is a wonderful feeling of nurturing our spirits by sharing our thoughts and experiences. If you have questions or would like to facilitate a circle, please contact Cathy at
[email protected].
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Music! Music! Music!
For more information about our music programs, contact our music director, Carolyn McCreary ([email protected] 978-772-5870).
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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 [email protected]).
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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. Visit http://uucm.org/religious-education/adult-programs/ to see a list of programs for all three churches or to download the latest Faith Formation brochure. To learn of other events you might enjoy at UU Nashua, check the UU Nashua calendar.
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UUCM
 News & Activities
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If you have a senior graduating from high school, please contact Rev. Barbara to have your senior included in our Bridging Ceremony on June 11 at 10:30am. [email protected] or call or text cell: 603-554-6643.
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 The UUCM Annual Meeting will convene in Barnum Hall after the service on June 4. All are invited to attend, but only members can vote. For more information, including a detailed agenda and proposed budget, visit http://uucm.org/members/governance/annual-meetings/. To become a voting member, contact Rev. Barbara through the office at [email protected] or 603-673-1870.
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Saturday, June 10, 4:00PM - Tree of Life Interfaith Seminary Graduation/Ordination & Celebration Dinner
Linda Goodman is a member of this year's graduating class of Tree of Life Interfaith Seminary and is being ordained at the UUCM sanctuary. She invites her church family to attend. (There will be a Tree of Life reception afterwards -- yes, with cake!)
Linda and Joe also hope you can stay afterwards for a celebration dinner. All are welcome! Please RSVP to [email protected] by June 3 if you can join them for dinner so that they have an approximate head count.
Sunday, June 25, Noon - Sarah Pollock Memorial Contra Dance Celebration
Joseph Pollock invites you to the celebration of his sister's life. There will be a
potluck in Barnum Hall at noon, followed by live music and dancing.
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You can do so without attending General Assembly in New Orleans. Our congregation is allowed up to four congregational delegates. Learn more at
If you are interested in being a UUCM delegate, please contact Lynn Coakley, 603-204-8873. The Council will appoint delegates at the June 13 Council meeting. Note: This is for voting on the president only. There is another offsite option that allows voting on business matters as well, but this requires additional registration and payment of a fee:
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By now you have likely seen Council's announcement about hiring Rev. Carol E. Strecker as our interim minister, beginning August 1, 2017. You can read her bio and learn more about the transition process on our web site at http://uucm.org/ministerial-transition/. Our agreement with the interim includes an understanding that the interim will not be a candidate for the called ministry with us. We want to be clear with the congregation that the Interim Minister is here to serve us for a limited time only. The Interim Minister will carry out the normal responsibilities of ministry as well as assist us in our interim work so that we can be ready to call a minister in the next few years. Please feel free to contact Lynn Coakley, President, and member of the Interim Committee Task Force, with any questions. (603-204-8873 or [email protected]).
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- We discussed the budget for next year and feedback from the congregational budget discussion.
- We continue to look at how information is communicated to the congregation. We try to make sure that information is available in the monthly and weekly emails, in announcements, and at meetings. We hope the congregation feels comfortable asking questions of Council members.
- The Congregational Development Committee reports they are pleased with the slate of nominees for Council members and Trustees of the Endowment for next year, to be voted on at the annual meeting.
- We discussed the next steps in the ministerial transition.
- We talked about voting for the next UUA President.
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 Many of you know that Betty Winberg, a longtime member of UUCM, passed earlier this year. Several UUCM'ers attended her memorial service in February at Harbor Homes in Nashua.
During her life, Betty accomplished much and moved forward many causes that she deeply believed in. Continuing that practice, Betty has left a generous and substantial bequest to the UUCM Endowment. Betty's bequest will continue to support the existence of UUCM, which she believed in while living.
Although it will be some time before her estate is settled and the total amount of the gift is known, the Winberg bequest should add enough value to the UUCM Endowment so that it can begin to provide a potential income stream for UUCM in years to come.
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Our newest (and youngest) member is 16-year-old Joe Bennett, a junior at Souhegan High School. He is an avid reader and a busy student with lots of extracurricular activities, from being a page at the Amherst Library to participating in crew, the Nordic ski team, the Flying Gravity Circus, the Claw (SHS's student newspaper), and Community Council (SHS student government). Joe has been attending UUCM since 2004 or so, when the Bennett family moved to NH from MA. He is a stalwart member of the UUCM High School Youth Group and served as the Youth Group representative on the Council this congregational year. It was that experience that inspired Joe to become a member as soon as he became eligible at age 16. Joe finds the divine in his relationships with others and sees UUCM as a key source of community and love in his life.
Before moving to Milford, Sally Sennott had been an active member of the UU church in Petersham, MA, for the past 10 years. She was drawn to UUCM after attending a summer service led by Cathy Goldwater on the subject of Black Lives Matter. A plus is that UUCM is within walking distance! Sally's interests include walking, reading, writing, and video. She gave up gardening with the move to senior living, but says Betty and Mimi have offered to get her up to speed in bridge!
Jan Cohen moved to NH two years ago from Binghamton, NY, where she had been a member of the UU Congregation since 1992. She lives in Amherst with her fiancé, Scott Trudo, and their adorable rescue dog, Baxter. Jan is a Child and Family Therapist at the Riverbend Children's Intervention Program in Concord. She has two adult children that live in upstate NY. She is thrilled to have found such a warm and welcoming faith community at UUCM!
Pat Nelson first came to UUCM in 2006, doing her first sermon seminar in 2007. She has been a member of the New Boston Small Group Ministry for 10 years, leading it for several, and also usually leads several of the summer services each year. She's served on UUCM's Communications Team for the last few years, but being her self-described noncommittal self, had not signed the members book until recently. Pat says the prospect of joining with others to examine who we are and creatively shape what we want UUCM to be during this transition time is what finally inspired her to take the leap.
If YOU want a voice in this creative process too, it's not too late to sign the book and be eligible to vote at the annual meeting on June 4. Contact Rev. Barbara via [email protected].
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Friday, Sept. 8 - Sunday, Sept. 10 - Saco, Maine (Register by June 4!)
Every year, for decades, UUCM members and 
their families have come together by the sea in September for fun, relaxation, and spiritual grounding. Please join us this September as we mark the beginning of a new year of fellowship!
Sign up in Barnum Hall after church. You can also find registration forms and a scholarship request form on our website. Please don't hesitate to ask for a scholarship if you need one to attend. If you have questions or want to help with the planning, please email [email protected]
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Greater UU Community Events
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Goldmine is an intense leadership school for youth (those graduating from Grades 9-12) focusing on self-reflection and leadership skills. 6-day programs are offered in OH, VA, and NJ this summer. Registration deadlines are coming up soon and there are discounts for early enrollment. (In some cases, that's by June 1!) http://www.uua.org/central-east/youth/goldmine
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Check out the UUA New England Region May newsletter for an article about the controversy of using the term "white supremacy" and our history as a denomination.
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Roy Zimmerman always provides an evening of laugh therapy. Says Zimmerman, "I'm calling my new show ReZist, bringing laughter and encouragement to progressive-minded people who need a lot of both. What can one person do about climate change, torture, racism, gun violence, fracking, ignorance, war, and greed? Write funny songs!" In the social climate of America in 2017, ReZist is a funny and forceful affirmation of Peace and Social Justice. Roy has performed here before and gets rave reviews from his fans. Tickets at the door -- $20 or pay what you can. Don't miss it!
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Check the
online calendar for details about these other programs that are also held at UUCM.
Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) - Saturdays, 9:00-10:30am - Big Book 12-Step
Narcotics Anonymous (NA) - Mondays, 7:00-8:15pm
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We need two volunteers each month  (2nd Sunday) all summer long, as well as during the church year. Join Meghan Hoye and Marti Kennedy from 10:30am-2:30pm to prepare a simple meal at the Nashua Soup Kitchen and clean up afterwards. It's easy to jump right in and there is always someone there to help. The children and adults we serve are truly grateful not only for the meal, but also for the fellowship. Teens age 12 and older are welcome to volunteer if accompanied by an adult. Volunteers often carpool to Nashua and there is plenty of parking at the NSK. You can sign up online or call us:
Contact Marti Kennedy [email protected] (603-673-8184) Contact Meghan Hoye [email protected] (603-424-3431) |
At SHARE: Next dinner hosted by UUCM is Tues, June 6.
At UUCM: Weds., June 21 (3rd Wednesday)
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, ([email protected], 673-9561) to learn more or join the pool.
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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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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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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 [email protected] if you need help logging on.
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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