NUUC October 2023 Newsletter

October 2023

Picture above: Inside in the new sanctuary, the drywall is up, and the lights are installed!

Construction Updates: Notes on worshipping at "The Barn"

We are currently worshiping at the Barn at Stratford while our building is under construction. You can read all about our Building Expansion project here.

The Barn at Stratford is operated by the Delaware County Historical Society. It is located just nine minutes from our church building, just South of Delaware in the community of Stratford. It is immediately north from the junction of routes 315 and 23. The address of the barn is 2690 Stratford Road, Delaware, OH 43015.

While we will miss our beautiful building, the Barn provides a comfortable, historic temporary space that supports all of our regular Sunday morning activities. Please join us! Worship begins at 10:30 AM. Virtual Access to worship will continue to be offered via Zoom.

Some notes about our new space: the parking lot looks small, but it isn't! The entire grassy area North of the barn is available for parking. We recommend that most folks park on the grassy, reserving the paved lot for person with mobility issues. We'll serve coffee and water as usual, but as we will not have our own cups, we'll need to use disposable. So if you can, please bring your own reusable coffee mug and/or water bottle to reduce the amount of our waste.

Congregational Meeting Called for immediately after worship on October 8

Your Board of Trustees has called a congregational meeting for immediately after worship on Sunday, October 8. You can participate in person or online (just remain on the Zoom link for worship). The purpose of the meeting is to approve the operating budget for this fiscal year. There will also be an opportunity to have any questions you might have about the Building Expansion Project answered.

Second Annual NUUC Flower Bar Event October 22!

Mark your calendars! On Sunday, October 22nd we will be having our 2nd Annual Flower Bar Event after the service. Molly and Brent Watson, who own Watson's Acres Flower Farm are finishing their 2023 season and will be bringing buckets of their cut flowers to share with our congregation. Last year was a huge success! Come select the flowers you like and make a bouquet - or several to take to share with someone who needs extra cheer. ALL donations go to NUUC Building Fund! There will be lots to choose from - especially some gorgeous dahlias!

Watson’s Acres bouquets and arrangements are available from mid April through mid October at local farmers markets, bouquet subscription programs, for weddings and other events, and at workshops in their design studio. Watson’s Acres is a member of the Association for Specialty Cut Flower Growers. Click here for more information.

October 15--Join us for an All Virtual Sunday Morning Experience

Things That Matter

In the midst of today's cultural change, political uncertainty, and economic confusion, how often do we get a chance to deeply discuss with other members of our congregation those things that really matter?

On Sunday Oct. 15 we will have a chance to meet with other NUUC members in small groups on zoom and discuss our faith and how we live it out in our lives, in our families, and in the larger public sphere. These small group zoom discussions will be facilitated by Rev Chris Jones-Leavy, Ted Hicks, Rev Joan VanBecelaere and others.

(Please note, there will be no in-person gathering this Sunday.)

Choir Is BACK!!!

Calling all who love to sing (or might like to give it a try)!! Choir rehearsals begin on Sunday, September 10th at 9:15 a.m. and we want to welcome YOU to the choir family! All voices are needed in the ensemble! (Please note the start time - while we are meeting at The Barn, we’ll be starting rehearsal at 9:15 a.m.)

The choir welcomes new members at any time, but this is an ideal time to start! We only rehearse once a week - on Sunday morning before the service - so there is no mid-week commitment. Members of the NUUC choir should be able to read music, but you don’t have to be an expert - no prior choral experience is necessary. Choir members generally do some review/practice at home to make the most of our Sunday rehearsal time and we often send out recordings/videos to help review and prepare. It’s no problem if you cannot sing every Sunday, as long as you let us know of any upcoming planned absences.

New members should reach out to Molly Watson (mollystarfish@gmail.com) to get on the email list and allow for time to prepare choir folders. Please reach out if you have any questions, also. This is Molly’s first season as NUUC Music Director, although she has filled in for Marlene when needed for the past several years and previously directed both choir and bell choir for 11 years at her previous church. We are thrilled to have Holly Kessis as our choir accompanist - she brings a wealth of musical talent and knowledge to NUUC.

Help Needed with Coffee Hour!

Looking for Volunteer Coffee Hour Hosts! Rev. Susan has been doing the great majority of the coffee hours, and is not finding it sustainable with her other duties.

Coffee hour hosts arrive at 10:15 AM to begin the preliminary coffee set up and leave at some point after noon when folks have drifted away. While we are worshipping in the barn, Rev. Susan will bring each week portable tubs with coffee, sweeteners, creamers, stirrers and cups. Host duties include making the coffee using the drip coffee maker in the Barn kitchen, and pouring that coffee into the provided carafe (two batches are usually required). The host also fills one of the large water serving dispensers with water, also placing it on the table in the back of the hall, supplementing with ice from the freezer as available. Once coffee is over, the host cleans and returns the percolator and dispenser to where they were found. The coffee host has the option of supplementing the coffee service with snacks as desired.

Ways to Connect

Mindful Writing meets next on Oct. 16 via Zoom at 7:00 pm. Please let Marty Keith know if you are interested so she can send you the Zoom information you will need for our session. martykeith@zoho.com

Brown Bag Books meets the Third Tuesday of the month at Noon. Questions to rutharusk@gmail.com

Wednesday Noon Check In

Join us using the regular NUUC zoom connection at noon everyday Wednesday for informal check- ins and chat with your fellow members. Write revritchie@aol.com for a direct link.

Life has a way of rushing by. Sometimes we feel the need to pause or to reflect more deeply. Join me for a virtual half hour of mindful contemplation that is inclusive, non-judgmental and expectation free. I’ll bring a mix of poetry, music, breathwork, silence, or meditation to create a space for you to relax. Participants are muted. Feel free to turn your video off. Please engage in whatever way feels most meaningful to you. A Space for Reflection is freely offered the third Wednesday of the month at 7:00pm on Zoom. Registration is required (link here).

As for me, Karen McGuire, the facilitator, I’m a lifelong Unitarian Universalist, a retired educator, and a trained Interspiritual Companion who finds it necessary to stop every once in a while, and pay attention.