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UUCM Newsletter
December 2017
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 The season of looking for light in the darkness is upon us. I love the ancient practice of lighting beseeching fires to keep the dark at bay while keeping the flame of those things we hold most dear burning brightly in our hearts. The darkness invites us to slow down, looking inward, while stories, songs, and rituals that renew a sense of hope and possibility for warmer, brighter days ahead abound.
Hanukkah reminds us that the light of freedom is a powerful force that cannot be snuffed out. The Winter Solstice reminds us of life's cycles and seasons, that the darkness is a call to stillness and contemplation and that the light will come again. The season of Advent reminds us about the importance of being intentional in preparing for the birth of something new. The Christmas story reminds us that we were born to love one another and that each night a child is born is a holy night, filled with the promise of a more peaceful, loving, and just world. We need the light and truth in all these traditions more then ever. So I'm eager to turn to the old stories (and a few new ones) for inspiration and renewal. These stories of light and hope are what we need to face the future together with open hearts and open hands.
For as African American theologian Howard Thurman writes,
When the song of the angels is stilled,
When the star in the sky is gone,
When the kings and princes are home,
When the shepherds are back with their flocks,
The work of Christmas begins:
To find the lost,
To heal the broken,
To feed the hungry,
To release the prisoner,
To rebuild the nations,
To bring peace among the people,
To make music in the heart.
May the light of this holiday season nourish and sustain you in the days ahead to do what needs to be done to heal a broken and hurting world.
Faithfully Yours,
Carol
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December Worship Services
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Rev. Carol Strecker
The chorus of Leonard Cohen's "Anthem" goes like this - "
Ring those bells that still can ring. Forget your perfect offering. There is a crack in everything. That's how the light gets in." Hope is the light that shines through the cracks in our lives that can illuminate the way ahead.
(Sunday Morning Circles)
Jamie Ferrier and the CYFF Committee
This year's annual holiday pageant will be a twist of the beloved children's story,
The Polar Express. Come take a ride on a train full of children that explores holidays around the world, helping them understand the beauty of the light and dark in the winter season. Come experience the Solar Express! (Whole Congregation Worship)
Rev. Carol Strecker
The winter holidays can be a difficult time for many people for a variety of reasons. Feelings of inadequacy, overwhelm, emptiness, sadness, and loss can stand in stark contrast amidst all the holiday hubbub and merriment. This vespers service is an opportunity to step out of the business of the season into a time of quiet reflection and candlelight to make room for all the feelings that can come with this season in our lives.
Carolyn McCreary, Music Director
Music is a language of hope. No matter what we hope for -- peace, love, change, or connection -- music gives us a voice in community and a lasting harmony to depend upon. Many voices of all ages will join Carolyn McCreary and the Choir in our annual holiday music service. Come add yours.
Rev. Linda Goodman, Interfaith Minister
As the earth pauses its cycle and begins to turn again toward more light, let us also pause at this busy time and experience the wonder of the season with soft music, candlelight, and community. In this special ceremony for all ages you will be invited to walk a large spiral path laid out in evergreen boughs. At the center, you will receive a gift of candle's light by an "angel". As you walk the spiral path out, you will place your light on a star along the path, adding the gift of your light to the light of many candles shining on sparkling crystals. Come share the wonder!
Rev. Carol Strecker and UUCM musicians
We'll gather in Emerson Hall to sing lots of holiday songs and hear some of the stories behind them. Did you know, for instance, that "Jingle Bells" was written by a Unitarian? Or that a Unitarian minister is responsible for the revival of the tradition of the Christmas Tree in New England? Or that "Rudolf the Red Nosed Reindeer" was actually written by a father who wanted to affirm his child's worth and dignity?
Help us create a
special Christmas feast
after the service by bringing a plate of finger food: cheese and crackers, veggies, mini-sandwiches or your favorite Christmas cookies.
Rev. Carol Strecker
We'll welcome Christmas with candles, music, and readings, celebrating the light of the world born in the hope of every child. We'll tell the ancient story of Jesus' humble birth and light candles for the birth of every child born since last Christmas Eve. This is a service for all ages but it is not specifically designed for young children. "
Every night a child is born is a holy night" ~Sophia Lyon Fahs, Unitarian Religious Educator
Rev. Linda Goodman, Interfaith Minister
Let us gather in Emerson Hall to ceremoniously "sweep away" any sorrows, disappointments, and regrets from the past year, and step together into the new year with clear intentions. If there would be more peace, justice, and healing in 2018, it will take us all. Bring your hopes, your dreams, your ideas. Let's get to work. (Event for Children/Youth)
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Whole Congregation Worship is designed to be welcoming, engaging, and meaningful for all ages. These are gatherings for the entire community. Nursery care is available every Sunday for infants and toddlers. At any time during the service, children accompanied by a parent may leave the sanctuary and enjoy our Family Room, which has a speaker broadcasting the service.
Soul Work Boxes are available for anyone of any age who would like to work with their hands during worship.
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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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All singers are invited to join the UUCM choir. We rehearse Wednesday evenings from 7:00 - 8:30pm in the sanctuary. Please join us!
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To learn more about current and ongoing programs, see the
Adult Faith Formation webpage and the
church calendar.
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Tuesday, Dec. 5 @ 6:30 - 8:00pm
 Whether you're a newcomer or you've been a Unitarian since birth, this course may be just what you've been looking for. In this third session of the series we'll be focusing on contemporary issues within Unitarian Universalism and the intersection of those issues with our daily lives.
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If you have any questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to reach out to Jamie (
[email protected]) or the CYFF Committee chair, Cathy Goldwater,
[email protected]. We look forward to seeing you soon!
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Thank you to everyone who donated to the making of the blessing bags! It couldn't have happened without your generosity. The assembled bags of items, along with thoughtful notes and cards from the children and youth, were donated to SHARE, where they will be passed out to those in need.
Wed, Dec 20, 5:30-6:30pm
UUCM children and youth will be preparing and serving this month's community supper. Please
email the office to sign up to help.
During the
Holiday Music Service on December 17, the children and youth will be making gingerbread houses.
We are gratefully accepting donations of the following materials: house decorations (i.e., small candies, licorice), small/medium cardboard cartons, graham crackers, and icing. Please leave your donations in the box in Barnum or in the office.
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UUCM
 Activities & News
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Come enjoy breakfast or lunch in the Cafe', and shop for unique, handcrafted gifts and laurel wreaths in our Crafts Room, homemade goodies in our Bakery, and inexpensive gifts and decorations in our Ritzy Boutique.
Come begin your holiday season in the warmth and light of your faith community. We look forward to seeing you!
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On December
3
during Coffee Hour, we will be organizing the Adopt-a-Family gifts for our three SHARE families. We could use your help!
If you took a
n ornament from the SHARE tree, please deliver your gift to UUCM by Dec. 3. Thanks to everyone who bought something for our families!
For more information, contact Sandy Frades ([email protected] or 603-673-2955).
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Pick up a certificate from the Garden Door shelf or at the Holiday Fair -- or
print your own. A percentage of all purchases made at the Milford Toadstool Bookshop on December 9 will go to UUCM.
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If you are shopping online as the holidays approach -- or anytime! -- it is effortless to link UUCM to your shopping experience and add to our bottom line at no additional cost to you. Take a moment now to learn about AmazonSmile and 2ClickFundraising by clicking here: https://uucm.org/community/support/.
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Spread the word among family and friends to join us again this year. The kitchen will open at 3pm and feasting will commence at 5pm, followed by a regifting Yankee Swap for those who wish to participate. If possible, contact
John Bigl
if you plan to come and let him know what you'll be bringing.
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 After a post on the UUCM Facebook page about Blessing Bags was shared to the Milford, NH Residents Facebook page, more than 1200 people had seen it in less than 24 hours. If you have announcements or good photos of UUCM happenings that might be of interest to the community, send them to [email protected] and our Facebook administrators will take it from there. We also welcome your ideas about other ways to spread good news about UUCM into the wider community.
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Thank you to everyone who participated in the
November 12th
UUCM Timeline Workshop. We shared our collective stories, many of them interesting, some sad, some funny, some even romantic. The Timeline Scroll will remain on the wall in Barnum for awhile longer, then it will be taken down and digitized so that you will continue to have opportunities to read and add information to it.
At a Sunday Service in January, Reverend Carol will help us highlight what our UUCM history means in terms of who we are and where we want the future to bring us. Please feel free to contact us: [email protected]
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As previously communicated in our June 2017 newsletter article, the UUCM Endowment was notified of a generous End of Life Bequest from long time member Betty Winberg.
Since that announcement, assets totaling $316,826 were gifted to UUCM Endowment General Fund by the Winberg Estate. We understand that a much smaller cash gift will be forwarded to the General Fund once Betty's physical estate is settled.
As of November 1, the UUCM Endowments General Fund totaled $702,746. The Building fund totals $13,094 and our Organ Fund totals $5,426 for an Endowment Invested total of $721,266.
Read more here about this Bequest and the Endowment.
~ Alan Shirey, Trustee
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WITT continues to be very active supporting women who have been released from prison. The major support we provide is transportation for women who settle in our area, assisting them to get to parole visits, clinics, medical offices, and other significant appointments. We have a team of 17 drivers, efficiently coordinated by Linda Higgs and Sue Olsen. Although most of the drivers are affiliated with UUCM, several are members of other faith communities, and we envision that our path forward will be increasingly interfaith.
Recently, Team members had a very informative visit to the Acadia Health Care facility in Manchester to learn more about their substance abuse services. We also have met with staff at Bridges to discuss partnering with them. We hope to schedule a training program in January with one of the Bridges staff members, continuing our process of ongoing education.
A new initiative is providing dinners once a month at Dismas Home, a transitional home in Manchester for women leaving prison. A subgroup of the WITT Team is also exploring ways to be involved in political advocacy on behalf of incarcerated people. Two WITT members will accompany Jeanne Nieuwejaar to the prison in Goffstown on January 1 for a special New Year's Day program.
If your heart calls you to engage with this work, there are many ways to be involved. Drivers are especially needed, but there are other tasks as well. Contact co-chairs Donna Ryan or Linda Pellerin, or Rev. Jeanne Nieuwejaar if you are interested.
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Check the signup sheets in Barnum Hall or contact us at
[email protected]
or Marti Kennedy 673-6164 or Betty Sweeney (575) 636-4302 to be added to a team that needs your help. This is one of UUCM's biggest fundraisers -- not to mention fun! -- so be a part of it!
We especially need:
Set-up Crews: Weds., Thurs., Fri. (Nov. 29-Dec. 1)
Clean-up Crews: Sat. Dec. 2 after the Fair (2pm)
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2 Sanctuary Greeters, & 2 Coffee Hour cleanup. Most jobs are suitable for families with kids. Contact
Barbara Livoli
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From Meghan Hoye: 
The Soup Kitchen needs you! To run the Sunday lunch service smoothly I need two volunteers on the 2nd Sunday each month.
Please consider joining Marti Kennedy and me at least once this year. Invite a friend to join you! (Being a UUCM member is not a requirement.) If you want to volunteer, but can't commit to four hours, consider joining us for a two-hour shift: 10:30-12:30 or 12:30-2:30. If you have considered volunteering, but are on the fence, stop by and check it out! Anyone age 14 and up can volunteer. Children age 12 or 13 can volunteer with parent supervision.
Come help serve up this month's theme of Hope by helping us prepare and serve lunch to our grateful guests on Dec 10.
Click this link to volunteer for one or more Sundays:
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Audrey Fraizer -- 603-345-9809 [email protected]
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Please leave contributions in the SHARE basket in Barnum. This month's needs:Pancake Mix & Syrup, Condiments, Cooking Sauces & Seasonings, Cooking Oil, Jelly, Cold Cereal
That time of year might soon be upon us. In the event of bad weather, you can check whether church programs have been cancelled in several different ways.
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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Once you log in to UUCM.org to access the Members & Friends section, you will find the latest directory, committee listings, and info about people who've moved. Or you can get a directory from the UUCM office. If your contact information is incorrect, send email to [email protected] with 'Directory Changes' in the subject line.
You can also learn about church governance and read Council minutes at
https://uucm.org/members/governance/governance-council/
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