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Rev. Carol's Message
I’m thrilled that UUCM will be facing a bold and bright future in partnership with
Rev. Shayna Appel
. Shayna’s inquiring mind, her compassionate and playful heart, and her passion for building community are just a few of the things that make her a great leader and companion for the journey.
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Worship Services - Sundays at 10:30am
Our theme for February is Balance and Blessings.
February 2 - Looking for Signs - Rev. Carol Strecker
Imbolc is the earth-centered celebration of the first stirrings of new life. Believe it or not, this is the time of year when seeds begin to germinate and the sap starts to rise in the trees -- signs of new life that are so subtle we hardly notice them -- but they are there.
February 9 - Inspiring Social Action - Worship Committee
This service will explore the heroes who have inspired social change in the areas of climate change, gun control, civil rights, and the Me Too movement.
February 16 - “What’s Love Got to Do With It?” - Rev. Carol Strecker
As Black History month draws to a close, we’ll look at love as a motivating force for seeking justice during the civil rights movement and the need to deconstruct systems of oppression built into the very fabric of this country that maintain racial inequality.
Related event: Film “Shadows Fall North” on Feb. 20 (Details below.)
February 23 - Across the Great Divide - Rev. Carol Strecker & Rev. Linda Goodman
What does it mean to live in a country that seems hopelessly polarized on a number of levels? How does it impact our relationships and our ability to live into Unitarian Universalist principles and our commitments to the democratic process and the interconnected web of all existence?
After the service: Soup lunch & “Depolarizing Within” workshop. (Details below)
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A Message From the Board
This month, please be sure to read the Weekly newsletters so you don't miss out on upcoming opportunities to get to know our incoming minister,
Rev. Shayna Appel
. The Search Committee will have more information in the coming weeks.
In the meantime, a gentle reminder, and a gentle push: While the future is bright, we are still in our interim ministry, and there is still work to be done before we can move forward with Rev. Shayna. Rev. Carol will be with us through June to accompany us to the end of our interim and to help us with the remaining work. There is no such thing as a "lame duck" ministry!
In the coming weeks, the Board will be offering opportunities for you to participate in this work. We look forward to spending time with you in reflection and fellowship, as we examine our commitment to the future of UUCM -- both as individuals and as a congregation.
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Finance Committee News
Pledges are coming in ahead of schedule. Keep those pledges coming! Search Committee expenses have been less than expected, and expenses for the new minister will be significantly less because Rev. Shayna lives in Milford and we did not need to go through the full search process again.
Finance Committee Happenings
The Stewardship effort is underway with a flurry of planning meetings. Stewardship will start on March 1 and end at the celebratory brunch on March 22.
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Stewardship
Begins in March
Dare to Dream! Believe it's Possible! Give what you Can!
We all have been blessed by our connection to a wonderful church. Now we need to secure our future for its continued success and so the 2020 Stewardship Drive begins. Reverend Carol, Jackie Davis and Sandy Frades will be organizing our creative team and Michael Conley will join Sandy on the operational side of the effort to raise the resources so that our church can flourish.
We want to know what YOU think - how can we ensure our future? What will make our church even more fulfilling, satisfying, successful? How can you help make this happen? The conversation begins on March 1 and ends with pledging Sunday on March 22.
Be prepared to discuss your dreams for UUCM at the Stewardship Kickoff on March 1st. Bring ingredients for a stone soup collection as part of the service. After the service we'll lunch on stone soup, bread, and dessert along with conversation about our updated 5-year plan and our dreams for UUCM.
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A Generous Gift from Sherri Conyers
From the Trustees of the UUCM Endowment
Sherri Conyers, a friend of our congregation and the widow of David Moore, passed away this fall. Her lawyer recently informed us of her final gift to our Endowment. We expect it will be at least a year before the estate is settled, and at that time we expect to receive an amount of about $100,000. This money is restricted to use for the care, maintenance, and improvement of the building.
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Annual Trivia Night -
Feb 8, 7pm
We promise you will have fun, laugh a lot, and enjoy food and drink. Come with a group and buy a whole table for 10 people. Or come alone or with a friend and join a table. There will be prizes and a raffle. The topics for this event are math, science, animals, geography, history, art, TV, movies, books and potluck. So go ahead and study for Trivia Night.
The cost is $10 per person. Beverages and dessert available for a donation. Snacks free at each table. For more information or to reserve your table/space, contact Sandy Frades or Leslie Bennett. Or see them at coffee hour to sign up!
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Film: Shadows Fall North
Feb 20, 6:30 in Granite Room
Please join Rev. Strecker for a showing of this film, which features some untold stories of African Americans living in New Hampshire. As the title implies, the history of racism in this country casts a long shadow that extends all the way to New England.
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Depolarizing Within: Becoming a Better Angel in Your Own World
Feb 23, 12:30-3:30 (Following a soup lunch)
Facilitator: Rev. Linda Goodman, Interfaith Minister
Much of today’s epidemic of toxic polarization is driven by how we talk with like-minded people about those on the other side. Too often we stereotype, dismiss, or ridicule our fellow citizens who support the other political party, its leaders, and its policies. Although political polarization in some form has always been around, it was less problematic when people interacted more outside their own silos. Nowadays, people on the other side have become not just strangers, but enemies. How we talk among ourselves about them fuels fires that threaten our democracy.
(Snow date: March 15)
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UUCM Volunteers Share Dinner
On January 5th, two members of the WITT committee prepared and shared dinner with the staff and women who live at
Dismas Home -- a halfway house in Manchester that is home to six previously incarcerated women. On the first Sunday of every month, volunteers socialize with the residents and help prepare dinner and clean up afterwards. To learn more about how you can help WITT serve this vital need, contact
WITT@uucm.org.
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Community Supper - 2/19
Get out of the kitchen and enjoy dinner and conversation with folks from UUCM and our neighborhood.
Turkey tetrazzini and
tapioca for dessert this month.
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Women's Potluck - 2/17
We gather to prep food at 11:30 and will eat in the Reeb room promptly at noon. We'll be cleaned up and ready to leave by 1:30pm. Many hands make light work. Check with Elise or calendar for snow cancellation.
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Friday Nights at UUCM
First Fridays - Game Night in Barnum, 7pm
Second Fridays - Song Circle with Amy Conley, 7pm
Third Fridays - "On Being" podcast and potluck, 6:30pm
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SHARE Donations in February
Leave in the baskets in Barnum Hall.
February is Birthday Party Month - We will be collecting things needed to create a birthday party -- cake mixes, cans of frosting, birthday candles, cake decorations, and party favors. SHARE clients take them home to create a party for their child.
Pantry Collection - Canned Ham, Canned Meats, Side Dishes (seasoned pasta mix, hamburger helper, etc.), Ravioli & Beefaroni
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Try it! Volunteer at NSK This Winter
Every month we need three volunteers to help serve Sunday lunch at the Nashua Soup Kitchen.
- When: 2nd Sunday of every month
- Time: 10:30am-2:30pm
- Duties: Setup, simple food prep, serving, cleanup
- Who: Adults and youth 12 and older (accompanied by a responsible adult).
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Pastoral Care Contact
February: Linda Higgs
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Weather Cancellation Information
here.
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Parking Reminder
NO parking in the large lot outside the Garden Door on M-F before 6 and Sat. before 5.
Read more.
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UUCM
603-673-1870 office@uucm.org
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