The UUFP Blast 

Live our UU Principles 

A weekly reminder of Fellowship & related activities

Issue 7/6/2023 

 Monthly Theme: The Path of Belonging

Sunday, July 9, 2023

Service Begins at 10:30am

"The More and Less of Zoom"

The Program and Technology Committees

Join us for Sunday Service via Zoom only.

You can join this meeting from your computer, tablet, or smartphone:

https://zoom.us/j/327711271 | Password: 792394

You can also dial in using your phone: +1 646 558 8656 

When asked, enter: 327 711 271# | Password: 792394

Welcoming Rev Dan and Erica

As you know, Rev. Dan and his wife will be coming in person on July 16 and will be staying through July 20, leaving the morning of July 21. They would gladly accept home hospitality. 

If you are interested in getting to know Rev. Dan and his wife, and have a spare bedroom, 

please contact Pat Lamanna.

They are planning a trip to New York City on Tuesday, July 18. Pat will be accompanying them to the city, where we will take a Circle Line Cruise. All are welcome to join. The cruise is 2 1/2 hours and the cost is $69.  If you'd like to join us, please contact Pat Lamanna. 

It would be great to have a small group onboard.

Of course, don't forget the potluck picnic on Sunday, July 16, at 5:00 p.m. 

Please bring a favorite dish and let's give Rev. Dan and Erica a warm welcome!

Summer Soul Matters Sessions

Rachael & Bruce Epstein will be leading Soul Matters Small Group sessions this summer, on Sundays July 23 and August 20 at 7 pm on Zoom. The topic for July will be The Path of Belonging; the topic for August will be chosen at the July meeting. These are opportunities for deep sharing in a Covenant Group setting.

Everyone is invited, whether you have participated in Soul Matters this year or not. Please email Bruce Epstein for more information and to be added to the participant list to receive the materials and Zoom link.

Shedding The Excess

Here’s the current plan to declutter the building and prepare for our ‘Estate Sale’ in July:

• Work Days/Times: Wednesdays & Saturdays (began May 27) 10:00-1:00PM
• Upper Lobby and Conference Room will be Sorting/Pricing areas
• Items of quality/value will be stored & locked in former Minister’s Office
• Items deemed ‘trash’ will go to East Wing Library to await dumpster
• Salable items will go to Baldwin Room. During the pre-sale period, UUPOK folks may purchase any item(s) from any area by placing their donation in the appropriate collection box - memo for cash/checks/PayPal “Building Contents”
• All items (except dumpster stuff) will be moved to the MMR Wednesday June 28
• Personal items should be removed from UUFP prior to June 28, 2023.
• Public Sale will be 2 Saturdays in July: 8th, and 15th from 10:00am to 3:00pm each of those days
• Any remaining items will be donated to local thrift shops
• It is intended to provide food to volunteers each of these work sessions…snacks for the 10-1pm shifts; more substantial lunch items for the actual sale Saturdays

Of course, We Need Your Help! Please sign up to assist as often as your schedule allows. Sign-up online or contact Jolanda Jansen.

Soup Santa’s Needed

We have a serious soup situation at the North Pole - NO SOUPS! We are expecting an influx of community on the next two Saturdays. We need to stock the ice hut with soups to be purchased. HELP!

Assisting Asylum Seekers

Thanks to all who have donated hygiene items. We are not collecting items of clothing or shoes at the UUFP. They should be taken to the drop off site at Vassar Temple, open 10-2 M-F. Ring the bell to have the door opened. The asylum seekers particularly need shoes and work boots men’s sizes 8-10,  and jeans waist size 30 and length 30-32. Try the dollar store at the Stop and Shop Plaza for good buys on hygiene items and laundry supplies, Big Lots for shoes, and Ocean State Job Lots for clothing and shoes.

Those who wish to form a group looking for ways that the UUFP, as a community, can support the asylum seekers in addition to collecting hygiene items should contact Paul Hirsch. For questions, contact Carol Miyake.

TLC for the Mel Tiger Memorial Tree

The dogwood tree planted in memory of beloved long time member, Mel Tiger is still a young tree and needs water in dry spells. Mulch will help to retain water. If there has not been a good rain in a week's time, the tree needs water. For instructions, email: bandg@uupok.org

UUFP Food Ministry

Thanks to all who have contributed to the UUFP’s food ministry. Throughout the Covid pandemic and beyond, our Fellowship has continued to provide monthly meals to the unhoused population of Dutchess County.

Despite our commitment to this ministry, our “food teams” have lost members through attrition. We had to consolidate these teams so that each one has enough members to prepare meals for 75 – 90 people. As a result, we are now left with three teams versus the six we had before the pandemic. With each team taking two months in the calendar year, we can now provide only six months of meals. Fortunately, members of the Quaker Meeting and the B’hais have agreed to assume responsibility for three months of meals.

We are trying to partner with other churches in the area to complete a year of monthly meals. If you know of any churches or groups who might be interested in sharing our food ministry, please ask them to contact Anne Lancellotti at annielancellotti@gmail.com or Kathy Boone at Kathyboone@verizon.net. OR, if you have friends who might want to form a group with YOU, please let Kathy and Anne know! For example, an Ad Hoc group made up of Fran Sunderland, Geri Wilmot and family, Pat Lamanna, Laura Bracken, Ellen Waggener, Paul Hirsch, Carol Miyake and Jeanne Woods will provide the June meals. (Thank you!)

Below are the new teams and their months of service, for your information. Kathy and Anne welcome any comments you wish to offer.

Team 1 July/November: Leader – Julie Colacchio

Cathy Augello, Robyn Wood, Jolanda Jansen, Sue Sciacca, Betsy and Paul Silverstein, Roseanne Ashby, Barbara Corona, Jim Weissman

Team 2 August/December: Leaders - Kathy and Anne

Paul Hirsch and Ellen Waggener, Jane Bartik, Roy Bartels, Fran Sunderland, Michael Philips, Gonul Wilson, Jeanne Woods

Team 3 October/May 2024: Leaders - Duncan Duncan/John Way

Laura Bracken, Rachael and Bruce Epstein, Paula Greenspan, Joyce Marra, Jill Barasch, Carolyn and Tom Ferrara, Pat Lamanna, Geri Wilmot

Committee on Ministry

The Committee on Ministry (COM) supports healthy connections between the congregation, the minister, other professional staff, and lay leadership. One of COM’s functions is to evaluate how well or not the congregation’s needs are being met and to provide evaluation and feedback when necessary. When improvement is needed suggestions are offered. COM also assists when conflicts arise and the involved individuals are unable to resolve the issues on their own. One of COM’s functions is to facilitate the development of Right Relationship communication and conflict avoidance skills with the goal of assisting members in resolving issues as they arise.

We would like to thank departing COM member and chair Margie Davis for her years of service and guidance. A lot was accomplished under her leadership. We would also like to thank Paula Greenspan for stepping up and volunteering to be our next COM Chair.

In addition, we thank Rev. Alexa for her ex-officio support, input, and insight. We will miss her and wish her all the best in her continued journey.  

Current COM members are below:

Margie Davis, Rick Foster, Paula Greenspan, Ellen Waggener

The Committee on Ministry can be reached at com@uupok.org with any question or concerns.

Membership Committee News

The Membership Committee of the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Poughkeepsie (UUFP) is focused on the people of the Fellowship--its visitors, friends, and members. Our job as committee members is to find ways to help people feel welcome and serve their needs in whatever capacity.

We are the committee to contact if you have any questions or concerns about:

  * The history and background of Unitarian Universalism in general and/or the UUFP in particular.

  * How to become a “friend” of the Fellowship and what are the benefits.

  * How to become a “member” of the Fellowship and what are the benefits and obligations.

If you are interested in helping people feel welcome, then this may very well be the committee for you. You do not have to be a member of the UUFP in order to join our committee. In particular, we welcome people of all ages and backgrounds to represent the congregation at large. 

We usually meet the first Thursdays of the month at 7:00 p.m.

There has been a lot of talk lately about voting at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Poughkeepsie (UUFP), and there are many important issues to vote for! However, only members in good standing are eligible to vote at corporate meetings.

  Are you a member? Did you one time become a member, but perhaps have forgotten to pledge lately? Perhaps financial or personal issues have made it difficult to think about the financial issues of the UUFP. Nevertheless, it’s not too late.

  All people, whether they are members or friends, are welcome here at the Fellowship and can participate in activities. However, only members can vote at corporate meetings. Our fifth principle, “the right of conscience and the use of the democratic process within our congregations and in society at large” is a core belief of our UU Faith.

  Would you like to know how to become a member and join us in our democratic process of self-governance? Contact Laura A.G. Bracken to learn more about how you can become a member or reinstate your membership.

Submitted by Carol Miyake and Laura A.G. Bracken

The Caring Circle

If you need caring, please send an email to: caringcircle@uupok.org  

Or contact either Betsy Silverstein or Kathy Boone directly.

The weekly Blast is published on Thursdays.  

Please send input to TheBlast@uupok.org by Monday @ noon.

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