NOVEMBER WORSHIP CALENDAR
1 November 2014 The Messenger The Messenger November 2014 Volume 14 Issue 10 Keene Unitarian Universalist Church, 69 Washington Street , Keene, NH 03431 http://www.kuuc.org/ [email protected] 603-352-1719 ______________________________________________________ CONTENTS 1 Worship Calendar 3 Rev. Michael’s In 2014-15, November is “Month of Sundays” a month long whole Moment church exploration of a particular issue or theme through the many 4 President’s Corner lenses of worship, fellowship activities, religious education, covenant 5 Religious groups spiritual practice, service and public witness. This year our Education theme is “Committing to Economic Justice.” A full “Month of Sundays” News calendar and a description of program offerings can be found elsewhere 6 Music Notes 7 Events, etc. in this publication and will be posted in various locations throughout the 10 Month of church. Sundays plans 13 KUUC Outdoors November Hymn of the Month: 14 Kitchen News #1028 “The Fire of Commitment” 15 Greens Sale 17 Month of Sundays November 2: “Freedom, Free Them, Free Yourself” Calendar We begin our worship this month by focusing on what it is going to take to repair the 12 Rev. Michael’s systems that lead to Economic Disparity and Exploitation. Rev. Michael begins his Office Hours sermon series by asking the question: How can we free ourselves from attitudes, And much more! practices and structures that impoverish us all. Sounds heavy for a MultiPlease join us: Generational Service, but don’t worry, there is something in this message for 10:00 a.m. everyone. Today the choir shares a classic gospel tune and all are welcome to share Worship Services their Joys and Concerns. Don’t forget Daylight Savings ends in the wee and Coffee Hour following the hours prior to our service so set your clocks back! service. NOVEMBER WORSHIP CALENDAR Childcare is available for children ages 5 and under. Children’s RE and/or Worship activities are offered every Sunday. November 9: “You Ought to Be Committed” What are the qualities necessary to do long-term Economic Justice work? Whether you are on the front lines serving people in need, or trying to change the system, commitment, that is clarity of purpose combined with sustained effort, is essential to getting things done. If “service is our prayer” than what will it take to make this work our collective spiritual practice? Animaterra sings, Rev. Michael preaches and there will be a special Multi-Generational moment based on the theme of commitment. In a change from the usual routine the kids will be at Children’s Chapel today. 2 November 2014 The Messenger November 16: “Meet Me at the Corner (of Religion and the Real World)” One church can do amazing things in this world, it’s true. Yet, when it comes to making substantive and systematic change, it is best to have partners. Our theme for today is reaching out; how do we build alliances with other faith communities, with local government, business leaders and non-profits to create equity and economic justice. The choir sings as part of a special Multi-Generational Moment. November 23: “Give and Take” Everyone is in the sanctuary today as we celebrate generosity and gratitude, the twin pillars of faith formation, spiritual growth and ethical living. Rev. Michael will share some lessons he learned from his former work depicting the Pilgrims of Plymouth Colony. There will be a Time for All Ages and we will share our Joys and Concerns. November 30: The Open Door In the final service of our Month of Sundays: Committing to Economic Justice programming, we reexamine all that we have done and that which we have committed ourselves to as we go forward together. Through the open door between the season of thanks and the season of hope we will march, as agents of change and representatives of our lively and loving faith. During this Multi-Generational service we will kick off our participation in the annual UUSC Guest at Your Table program. REV. MICHAEL’S MOMENT The body’s needs are few: it wants to be free from cold, to banish hunger and thirst with nourishment; if we long for anything more we are exerting ourselves to serve our vices, not our needs…Nothing satisfies greed, but even a little satisfies nature. ---Seneca Good People: I have many hopes for the month of November, for the “Month of Sundays” programs and panels, fellowship & worship services. I hope that KUUC will in fact commit to Economic Justice. I hope that we commit to do our part, to help create a more equitable world community, where poverty is at worst only temporary, where the markets are both free and fair, where work is plentiful and wages sufficient enough to make a living. I hope that this month will help us 3 November 2014 The Messenger clarify and deepen into our mission. I hope that we will form strong and evolving partnerships with other churches and find allies and collaborators within the business community, the government and local social service and civic organizations. I hope that we will make justice seeking a collective spiritual practice and our faith manifest by the many good works we have planned and performed. I hope that you, our members and friends, will get what you need from the month: substance, inspiration and insight enough to nourish and support your ethical and spiritual lives. Also, because no long-term journey, spiritual or otherwise, can be all work and unremitting seriousness, I hope we enjoy ourselves, have some fun and engage in the necessary spiritual practice of humor which balances our view and makes us more able to bear difficult and harsh realities such as the poverty and hopelessness caused by economic disparity. Make no mistake about it, as we commit to Economic Justice we will have to reckon with sad things that make us uncomfortable. We will have to consider what we are ignoring so that we may still benefit from the system (broken) as it is. We will have to wrestle with the question, “what is enough?” We may need to reckon with and redefine some old-fashioned religious concepts words like sin, greed, redemption, church and slavery. We will need to see clearly the dark realities in the world of money and marketplace before we can find the silver lining of opportunity embedded in that world. We may well feel overwhelmed but we need not feel that way for long. We are not alone and creating change is not something that is done once and for all times. What we are doing is committing to do our best, to make a little difference in our community and to give others something to build on today and tomorrow, here and elsewhere for our good, the good of our neighbors for everyone---for “people you will never know.” With Heart and in Hope, Rev. Michael 4 November 2014 The Messenger PRESIDENT’S CORNER I have had to do a lot of soul-searching recently regarding our 7 Principles, in particular, the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th. There are a lot of resources on the UUA web site regarding these and there are resources from other churches and other church leaders. I don’t have time to review all that is available. I wish I did. In my scanning these resources, I found much on how we relate with each other and how we relate to visitors and newcomers to our church. I found a great deal about Safe Congregations and Safe Environments. The insurance company serving churches has many resources of Fire Safety, Building Safety, Emergency Preparedness, Crime Prevention, etc. There is a fount of information on the UUA (Unitarian Universalist Association) and NNED (Northern New England District) web sites. (Google it) It is a major challenge to be a church whose desire is to serve communities in need, house a school for young children, offer a meeting place for diverse groups not affiliated with our church and serve our own various and diverse groups and gatherings. We are a small church in a small neighborhood that includes our own rental tenants. We need to be good neighbors, good landlords and good hosts. In order to do that, rules are needed. We are responsible and affected by all that happens in our building, so we need to have a way to manage and I do hope we are on our way to creating an environment that is welcoming and inviting to all. How can that be done safely, equitably, and compassionately while honoring the inherent worth and dignity of each individual and acceptance of one another? How does one open one’s heart and mind and “home” to all while keeping everyone safe and secure? Rules. Those are the avenues to peaceful and compatible living. So we must have rules to live by. Without them, leading the way feels like an episode of the Keystone Cops. (Google that). Perhaps it says something about me but I really love the kids’ version of the 7 UU Principles because they go right to the point, not nearly as much gray area as the adult version. Have you ever seen them? 1. We believe that each and every person is important. 2. We believe that all people should be treated fairly and kindly. 3. We believe that we should accept one another and keep on learning together. 4. We believe that each person must be free to search for what is true and right in life. 5. We believe that all persons should have a vote about the things that concern them. 6. We believe in working for a peaceful, fair, and free world. 7. We believe in caring for our planet Earth, the home we share with all living things. I know other things too, like “fences make good neighbors” and “do unto others…” and “balance and moderation in all things” etc. etc. etc. Yet, in the end, as a lay leader and as the President of the Board of Trustees, these rules and resources, principles and axioms don’t limit my leadership, but together with love they sure do help guide it. – Leslie A. Erdoben-Evans, Board President 5 November 2014 The Messenger RELIGIOUS EDUCATION NEWS For the past few years, the RE kids have had Sunday morning snack either in their separate classrooms or all together in the Undercroft. During the November Month of Sundays, we're going to transition to having the RE kids join the rest of the congregation at coffee hour in the Parish Hall. The Public Worship and Faith Formation Cluster meeting (composed of representatives from Worship, Music, Covenant Groups and Religious Education committees) has come up with some ways to make this a smooth transition, and both comfortable and safe for all of KUUC's members and friends. It will be different, but will also more accurately reflect the Multigenerational Culture we are striving for. Guest at Your Table is an annual fundraising and education program that supports the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee’s human rights work. This year’s Guest at Your Table theme is food sustainability. KUUC will kick off our participation in this program at the Multigenerational Worship service on November 30. Look for more information about this year's "guests" -- people working for human rights around the globe -- on the RE bulletin board in late November. KUUC will accept donations on behalf of the UUSC through January 11. Save The Date! December 21, in the Undercroft after coffee hour, the RE committee will present our very popular Holiday Craft Party. More details in next month's Messenger. ---Jill – Jill M. Hall, Acting Director of Religious Education [email protected] 508-821-8935 RE Calendar for November November 2: 10AM: Multigenerational Service, children in the sanctuary.* 11AM: Junior Activists meet in Parish Hall/kitchen to prepare for next week’s Bake Sale 12PM: Potluck Luncheon 4:30-6:30PM: Back to the Future with the Coming of Age group in the Alliance Room November 9: 10AM: Children's Chapel, children begin in the Undercroft. Coffee Hour: RE Kids' Bake Sale (by donation) to support the Hundred Nights Shelter and the Community Kitchen November 16: 10AM: Children begin in the sanctuary, then are sung out to RE classes 4:30-6:30PM: Coming of Age meets in the Parish Hall November 23: 10AM: Multigenerational Service, children in the sanctuary.** November 30: 10AM: Multigenerational Service, children in the sanctuary.** Guest at Your Table kickoff today ** Childcare is available in the nursery for children under 5 years old. 6 November 2014 The Messenger ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ MUSIC NOTES Dear ones, At times in our lives, we feel that all we need is some support from our friends, a universal power, or the will of humanity. In the spirit of Freedom and Help, the choir will be singing “Precious Lord, Take My Hand” on November 2nd. This African American Spiritual was written by Thomas A. Dorsey, but the setting was written by Jack Schrader. Vladimir’s robust accompaniment supports the choir as they sing from the depths of their souls. Precious Lord, take my hand, lead me home, help me stand I am tired, I am weak, I am worn. Through the storm, through the night, lead me on to the light. Take my hand, precious Lord, lead me home. When my way grows drear, Precious Lord, linger near. When my life is almost gone, hear my cry, hear my call Hold my hand lest I fall: Take my hand, Precious Lord, lead me home. On November 16th, as a part of a MultiGenerational Moment, the choir will sing the popular song written by Bobby McFerrin called “Don’t Worry, Be Happy.” We hoped to find a song that would be both casual and meaningful, joyful and serious. McFerrin had a certain understanding of poverty and hardship, but encourages you to overcome sadness. In another sense of the song’s meaning, we feel the irony of a poor job market, sexist financial structures, and a biased political system. Still, those holding money and power encourage us to remain happy – not to worry. This MultiGenerational moment is intended to be both thought provoking and upbeat. Here’s a little song I wrote – you might want to sing it note for note. Don’t Worry, be happy. In every life we have some trouble, but when you worry you make it double. Don’t worry, be happy. Ain’t got no place to lay your head. Somebody came and took your bed. Don’t worry, be happy. The Landlord say your rent is late. He may have to litigate. Don’t worry, be happy. Ain’t got no cash, ain’t got no style. Ain’t got no gal to make you smile. Don’t worry, be happy. 7 November 2014 The Messenger MUSIC FOR THE FUN OF IT! Our services are enriched by the members of our church who share their musical talents – Vladimir and his magnificence at the piano and organ, the choir, when singing a moving anthem, the congregation when we raise our voices and sing together -- all of these moments add something special to our Sunday service. The Music Committee is working to continue this tradition and invites you to share your musical talents during the Ingathering Music at the start of each service. Do you sing? Do you play the piano, flute, guitar, banjo or {fill the name of your instrument here}? Then WE WANT YOU! Musical offerings of any style and ability are welcome. We simply ask that you sign up for a date in advance, arrive at the church by 9:45 am, and share your music with us for 10-15 minutes! This is intended to be a relaxed and comfortable way to welcome people to our service, and we hope you will consider volunteering to be a part of it. For more information or to sign up for a Sunday service, please contact Susie Ericson-West at [email protected] or 603-313-9013. ---Esther ---Esther R.H. Rhoades, Choir Director EVENTS, ACTIVITIES, UPDATES & OTHER NEWS SLICE OF FELLOWSHIP TO FOCUS ON GARLIC In November, Slice of Fellowship will be on Friday, November 7th with wine and cheese at 5:30 and dinner at 6:00PM. Please bring a salad, main dish or dessert to share. The theme for this month is food from southern Italy---Sicily, Calabria and Apulia---“Confartarse congli agliett” (console yourself with garlic). Slice of Fellowship is a monthly potluck dinner for all members and friends of KUUC. It is held on the first Friday of every month in the Parish Hall. Each month there is a different food theme which is just a suggestion. Please prepare and purchase food in keeping with the principles of Green Sanctuary---whenever possible use organic and buy local. For information, recipe resources or help with transportation please call Susan or Dick Segal at 352-8409 CLEAN-UP DAY The Property Committee will lead a clean-up morning at the church on Saturday, November 8th, from 9 am till noon. Outside and inside workers welcome. If planning on working outside, bring your favorite rake... NEWCOMERS COFFEE If you are new to the church and want to find out more about Unitarian Universalism and KUUC please join us for a Newcomer’s Coffee with the minister on Sunday, November 23rd at noon in the Alliance Room. Rev. Michael will be on hand to talk, listen and field questions on any church-related topic you have. For more details, or to reserve child care please contact Chip Southgate at [email protected] 8 November 2014 The Messenger FAREWELL TO UNIVERSALIST HERITAGE CHURCH IN WINCHESTER It was with a mixture of deep sadness, combined with gratitude, that we members of the Universalist Heritage Foundation/Living Universalism Project gathered on Monday, October 20th to say our farewells to our beloved Winchester Memorial Church, one of the birthplaces of our Universalist faith. In the cold of this past winter, the furnace failed, causing the water pipes to freeze, and burst, flooding the lower level. Although there was no serious structural damage to the building, the Universalist Heritage Foundation did not have sufficient funds to make needed repairs, and continue to maintain the building. Nor had we been able to manifest our dreams of having a mission church there. Therefore, we were so gratified when the Winchester Access Board/ Salt and Light Ministries agreed to purchase the building for uses to benefit the Winchester Community – for $1 plus closing costs. As we listened on Monday to one of their Board members talk about their hopes and plans for their work in Winchester, we realized that they will be doing the kind of work that the Universalist Heritage Foundation had dreamed of doing, but had been unable to pull off. And they have the advantage of living in the community, and having a track record for doing wonderful work there, especially in support of children and youth. We were also grateful that they intend to keep the sanctuary intact. As we talked together, sitting in the sanctuary, we came to understand that although details of our theologies differ, we share the belief in a loving God. ---Nancy Brigham UUSC NEWS UUSC is helping to organize actions throughout the country to support workers' rights at Darden restaurants. Darden is one of the largest corporations in the sit-down dining sector and is a key political contributor to the National Restaurant Association, which works to block increases in the minimum wage and improvements in policies governing working conditions like earned sick leave. UUSC's Patricia Jones is participating in consultations on the human right to water taking place at the University of California at Berkeley. After that, she will be revisiting Detroit and facilitating site visits with two United Nations special rapporteurs (for housing and for water and sanitation). This is a continuing effort to raise awareness of the human right to water and the effects of water shutoffs by municipal utilities. http://actnow.uusc.org/site/R?i=CijjUE-ylAjSbfLgWftgzA UUSC's goal is to raise $400,000 in unrestricted donations through the Guest at Your Table program. As a reminder, donations to Guest at Your Table qualify for membership in UUSC; donations of $125 or more are eligible to be matched dollar for dollar through a grant from the UU Congregation at Shelter Rock in Manhasset, N.Y. Fundraise for UUSC and for your congregation! This year's holiday card consignment program is underway. Contact Shari Yeaton at [email protected] to set up an account for your congregation if you have not already done so. We've got a new online ordering system that will make getting cards and merchandise to feature at your fair-trade holiday fair a breeze!? http://actnow.uusc.org/site/R?i=_msGhLjAQZjUas06DuO10g : (Submitted by Carol Packwood) 9 November 2014 The Messenger COMMIT2RESPOND UUSC and the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) are launching a joint initiative with several other UU groups to advance climate justice! Together, we are inviting individuals, families, congregations, and other UU organizations to join us in committing to take bold action. The commitment period will open on March 22, 2015, which is World Water Day. This commitment period will be the basis for some special related educational and advocacy events during General Assembly in Portland, Ore.; will extend through the U.N. Climate Summit later next year; and will end on December 31, 2015. UU Ministry For Earth and the UU Ministers Association are cosponsors of this initiative. Sign up to receive the latest updates at http://actnow.uusc.org/site/R?i=gitqtPyjWz7MGuYI_0REyg The initiative will focus on three areas: shifting to clean, renewable energy; growing the larger climate justice movement; and advancing the human rights of marginalized communities affected by climate change. Together, we'll provide many ways to reduce carbon emissions, build a greener and more just economy, and nurture local community partnerships. Minimum wage No action was taken on the Minimum Wage Fairness Act before the Congressional recess. Ballot initiatives to raise state minimum wages will be voted on in Alaska, South Dakota, Arkansas, and Illinois. MONADNOCK TIME EXCHANGE Representatives from the Monadnock Time exchange will be at coffee hour on November 9th, with a table of information, and a computer so folks can sign up for an orientation session or join on the spot if they so choose. As you may recall MTX made its first public presentation at KUUC, during Month of Sunday in March. There have been preliminary discussions about KUUC becoming one of MTX’s member organizations. That way, KUUC could "earn" hours for the orientation sessions and even for the coffee hour table. Those hours then could be used in a variety of ways - for the church itself (ie painting, raking) or could be given to members to use –especially those in need. MAKERSPACE MAKING NEWS Make It So, the brainchild of KUUC member Johnny Bolster is an innovative new reality turning Dreamers into Doers right here in Keene. Perhaps you saw the Monadnock Small Business Journal article about the space, part of the Makerspace Movement, featuring Johnny. Pictured among the first Make it So participants are KUUC members Dan Bartlett and Gene Cleveland. Bravo! 10 November 2014 The Messenger NOVEMBER IS MONTH OF SUNDAYS: COMMITTING TO ECONOMIC JUSTICE November 2014 will be Month of Sundays for KUUC! Our theme “Committing to Economic Justice” will pick-up where we left off last year, finding ways for KUUC to work toward a fairer economy in the Monadnock Region. This year, we hope to explore and create partnerships with local churches, city organizations, government leaders and business owners to meet needs and make changes. Our Action Groups - Arts in Action, Local Action for Service and Change, and our Junior Activists – will be meeting again to refocus and define their projects. What can we accomplish in November? What can we accomplish by June? Everyone is welcome to activate their commitment and creativity for one or more of these efforts! This MOS is a challenge to reinvigorate our enthusiasm and take ACTION! You will also have opportunities to explore Economic Justice further with Worship Services, MOS Covenant Groups, Friday Night Forums, and community events occurring this month. Below is a description of the MOS “Committing to Economic Justice” events as well as a calendar of activities. ACTION GROUPS PLANNING MEETING: Sunday 11/2/14 from 11 to noon, new and continuing participants welcome!! Come together and decide what you would like to do and when you would like to work together to accomplish your goals. These meetings will be followed by a pot luck luncheon in the Parish Hall. Arts in Action If you are interested in how the arts can be a vehicle for change, then this group is for you. Last year we successfully completed one small project as we initiated the making of posters to hang in our Parrish Hall and created small handouts to take with us on our march to the square during our final service of the Month of Sundays. This year we continue that march as we move forward with our other ideas from last year; hoping to make something happen during the month of November and also to begin work on longer term projects. See below for what we left off with last year and come join us in adding your creativity and readiness to act as we utilize the arts to make change towards more economic justice for all. We’ll meet on Sunday the 2nd to make our plan of action and then roll up our sleeves and get to work creating. Action plan for the church itself: *12’ Statue of Liberty on the front lawn proclaiming “we have our tired, our poor, our homeless, now give us social justice” *Commemorative Chalices on front lawn for every homeless person who has died in the past year in Cheshire County or the state. . . *Dinner Theatre in which a few people dine in luxury, few more with just rice/beans, more with nothing or mud done outside on lawn? . . . *Threshold Stones (Pineapples) on either side of front steps 11 November 2014 The Messenger Action plan for the larger community: *Death drop, possibly combined with shadow project teams of three (one to drop one to outline, one to explain?) *Flash Mob *Hearts/Economic Justice Message. . . plastering around town stealthily *Temporary transformation of central square sculptures *Documentary/interview/photography/music on living wage and homelessness . . . although we don’t want to slow down too much, there is certainly room for more ideas if you have something you want to take leadership in creating. Come Join the fun! Local Action for Service and Change Come and make a commitment to change! We will explore where and how our efforts will be most beneficial. Would you like to make a difference now by providing service to our neighbors in need, and/or work for long term solutions to the challenges of Economic Justice? On Sunday November 2nd we will begin with our list of suggested actions and service projects from March, check our progress, add to it as appropriate and prioritize our list for immediate and long-term action Junior Activists On Sunday, 11/2/14, the Junior Activists will meet from 11 am to noon, to plan for the RE Bake Sale that will take place at KUUC following the Sunday, 11/09/14, Service and following the Friday, 11/21/14, evening Forum. As the Junior Activists decided in the June Annual Children’s Meeting, proceeds from these Bake Sales will be donated to the 100 Nights Shelter and to the Community Kitchen, both of which organizations they had visited as part of Month of Sunday activities last March. During this meeting we will be working on the logistics of the Bake Sales, and we will also be planning future Junior Activist activities. Everyone in the KUUC community should feel free to join this planning session. We are especially looking for people who are willing to help the Junior Activists in creating delicious baked goods. Everyone should plan to save room for dessert on Sunday, 11/09/14 and Friday 11/21/14! Month of Sundays Potluck Luncheon: November 2, 2014 at Noon – Bring a Dish to Share! Sunday November 2, 2014, will be the start of our Month of Sundays “Committing to Economic Justice” program. This Sunday will feature a multigenerational service, followed by time to meet and organize with our Action Groups – Local Action, Arts in Action, Junior Activists, and then at noon we will have a potluck luncheon in the Parish Hall. All are invited to attend and bring a dish to share! 12 November 2014 The Messenger OTHER MONTH OF SUNDAY (MOS) Programs & Activities MOS COVENANT GROUP: This special Covenant Group will meet for the 4 Mondays in November at 7 PM in the Alliance Room. The sessions will be designed to tap into our thoughts and feelings around Economic Justice, looking at Covenant, Commitment, Collaboration, and Creativity. Come for one, some, or all of the sessions. FRIDAY NIGHT FORUMS: KUUC will be hosting two panel discussions with representatives from the Monadnock region sharing their insights, efforts, and hopes for Economic Justice in this area. 11/7/14: 7-8PM Beyond Charity: Strengthening the Safety Net for Vulnerable Populations Join us for Slice of Fellowship Potluck Dinner at 5:30 PM in the Parish Hall, followed by a panel discussion with Phoebe Bray from Community Kitchen, Mindy Cambier from the Hundred Nights Shelter, Sr. Kathleen Haight from Catholic Charities and the Manna Fund and Susan McNeil from AIDS Services of the Monadnock Region. 11/21/14: 7-8:30PM (Sanctuary) Standing Together For Fair Pay & A Better Way Join us in the Sanctuary at 7 PM for a panel discussion with leaders of the Monadnock region who are working for change and can share their view from the frontlines. Among the panelists will be Jan Peterson, Supervisor of the Public Defenders Office and Linda Rubin from Healthy Monadnock 2020. There will be refreshments following the event in the Parish Hall and a Junior Activist Bake Sale to raise funds for the Community Kitchen and Hundred Nights Shelter! MONTH OF SUNDAYS CALENDAR ~ SEE PAGES 17-18 ~ 13 November 2014 The Messenger KUUC OUTDOORS What a great afternoon at Madam Sherri's Forest we had on October 26th! Crunchy leaves, autumn sky, wonderful company. Whether you joined us or not, you can experience the day on the KUUC Outdoors Shutterfly site Or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/KUUCFriends/ If you took some pics, you can add photos to the Shutterfly site yourself or send them to Tom Julius who will upload them. Walk with KUUC Outdoors in Keene’s Woodland Cemetery! Join us Sunday, November 23, 12pm for a walk in Keene’s Woodland Cemetery, just a few blocks from KUUC. Woodland Cemetery was established in 1854, it features the grave of Keene naturalist George A. Wheelock, the Sumner Knight Chapel and monuments to many prominent Keene families. We will leave from KUUC at 12pm, Sunday, October 26. Plan for a one hour excursion. Bring good walking shoes and water. For RSVP or info: Tom Julius, [email protected] (603) 357-4521. KUUC Outdoors meets to make plans on Tuesdays before every excursion at The Works Café, Main St, Keene, 8:30am. Next planning meeting Tuesday, 11/18. Upcoming KUUC Outdoors events: Jan 25, Sun 1pm Robin Hood Park Skating & Sledding, Keene As always, KUUC Outdoors says… Go take a hike! A LABOR OF LOVE . . . What has 1296 diamonds, 114,000 plus pokes and required roughly 1000 collaborative hours of loving labor? If you guessed the 2014 KUUC quilt you would be correct. It is displayed this morning on our altar for all to see and bless before it starts its fund-raising journey throughout our greater community. This labor of love was crafted by Hazel Erdoben-Evans, Judy Saunders, Jill M. Hall and Melinda Hildreth-Honkala with the intention that 25% of the raffle proceeds will be donated to our Community Breakfast Program, and the remaining funds going to the Church general fund. The raffle drawing will be held at the KUUC Greens Sale December 6th. We will sell tickets here on Sundays in November at Coffee Hours. If you have a workplace, civic group, choir, senior center, etc. where you would like to help in this endeavor, please contact Judy Saunders at 603-863-0343 or email [email protected] or Hazel Erdoben-Evans at 603-499-6162 or email [email protected] . 14 November 2014 The Messenger KITCHEN NEWS With a lot of help from Ann Shedd and Nancy Brigham, I have gone through the kitchen and done a bit of reorganizing. We have tried to make the labels all accurate, but there are still some labels that need updating. We have done some consolidating and got rid of things that were out of date or broken or otherwise unusable. Nancy tackled the floor and made a remarkable improvement on its appearance by scrubbing away the ring that had accumulated under the fronts of the counters. Many thanks to Nancy for that service. I will be creating a Coffee Hour Manual in the next few weeks, with step-by-step instructions on how to host coffee hour. I plan to include a photo tutorial on how to use the commercial coffee pots, since many people are unfamiliar with how to use them. If there is specific information you would like me to include, please let me know by mid-November. I want to have this manual available for everyone to see and use as soon as possible. I am also creating a wish list of items for the kitchen. If you are part of a group that regularly uses the kitchen, please let me know what would make that easier for you. We have recently gotten a broom and sponge mop to live in the kitchen that will make cleaning up easier. I had put out a request earlier for a new coffee urn for the tea water, and Dick Segal has stepped up and offered to purchase one for us with donations from the Pancake Breakfast and out of his own pocket. Thank you very much, Dick. I would like to get an idea of what it costs to run coffee hour on an ongoing basis. I have noticed that oftentimes the money that is donated at coffee hour is insufficient to cover even the cost of the fair trade coffee that is provided, let alone the sugar, tea, creamer, etc. I am not sure where the money is coming from for these items since I have never seen it as a line item in the yearly budget, but obviously it is coming from somewhere. I suspect that most of the non-coffee items (which are billed directly to the church) are donated, but nonetheless we should know what our actual coffee hour costs are. If you have donated supplies to the kitchen for coffee hour, please let us know what and how often. Know that we are all very grateful for your mostly anonymous generosity and will be glad to keep information about who donated what under wraps. I think we are off to a great start in the kitchen this year. I want to express my gratitude for all the folks who have hosted coffee hour so far. I think I speak for everyone when I say that your service in this regard has made us all feel welcome and cared for. If you haven't signed up yet to host, there are still open weeks. If you've never done it before, I am available to answer any questions. Thank you very much. -- Judy Saunders, Kitchen Coordinator, [email protected] 15 November 2014 The Messenger 2014 GREENS SALE COMING SOON The KUUC Annual Holiday/Christmas Greens Sale is Friday, Dec. 5, 2014, 5:00-8:00 p.m. & Saturday, Dec. 6, 2014, 9:00-1:00 p.m. This year’s Greens Sale features a beautiful quilt to be raffled, decorated and plain wreaths, balsam roping, kissing balls, swags, and berry bowls. For sale will be holiday baked goods, craft items and the popular “Book Nook”. Greens Sale Donations Needed: - Gently used books for the Book Nook - Baked goods and cookies for the Baked Goods Table - Handmade crafts for the Craft Table - Pine cones any size for wreath decorating There are “planty” of ways to get involved in the Greens Sale, (see below): Work Sessions: (no experience required) Berry Bowls (contact Darcy Doyle 355-8220) Berry picking - November 3, 2014 Berry Bowl Making – Sat., November 8, 2014 9:00 am in the KUUC kitchen Berry Bowl covering – Sun., November 30, 2014 11:30 in the KUUC kitchen Wreath decorating, kissing balls & swags (contact Carol McIntyre-Peale, [email protected], 357-7875) Monday, December 1, 2013, 6:30 – 9:00 pm KUUC Parish Hall Wednesday, December 3, 2013, 6:30 – 9:00 pm KUUC Parish Hall Book Nook (contact Nancy Brigham, 357-2626) It’s the time of year to check your shelves for gently used books, CDs, tapes, videos, etc. that you no longer need. Thanks to your donations, each December the BOOK NOOK tables are filled with fantastic buys during the Greens Sale. Please leave all items in the undercroft area opposite the furnace room door. If you need help getting things to the church, please call Nancy Brigham and arrangements will be made to pick them up. Sorting books - Wed., December 3, 2014 and Thurs., December 4, 2014 16 November 2014 The Messenger PIES FOR THE HOLIDAYS Would you like a homemade pie for the Holidays? To raise money for the Ferry Beach scholarship fund, the Ferry Beach Committee will be selling pies during coffee hour after Church on: November 9th, November 16th, and November 23rd. SAVE THE DATES: FERRY BEACH WEEKEND GATHERING Friday, April 17, 2015, Saturday, April 18, 2015, Sunday, April 19, 2015 The Ferry Beach Committee invites you to our eleventh Annual Ferry Beach Get-Away Weekend. Ferry Beach is a UU Conference Center on the Saco Bay in Maine. During Spring and Fall weekends, the facilities are rented to UU Church groups. Our weekend is a wonderful intergenerational gathering. Imagine long walks on the beach or in the nearby State Forest, conversations in front of the large fireplace in Quillen lobby, playing board games, joining various activities to get to know one another, or long solitary walks by the ocean. The accommodations are rustic, but the setting is wonderful. Meals will be provided by Pangea Food Service, LLC in the DeWolf dining hall. For further information contact Jim Peale or Carol McIntyre-Peale, [email protected] or call 357-7875. UPCOMING CONGREGATIONAL CONVERSATION DECEMBER 15TH: WHO AND WHAT ARE WE? As we negotiate this time of great energy, new growth and transition it seems appropriate that we consider what and who we are as a congregation and faith community. Some ask are we a church or a social club? Others wonder if our mission and focus should be toward more outreach and social action. We want to know what you think. Join Program and Membership Council co-chairs Rev. Michael and longtime member D'Vorah Kelley in this ninety minute Congregational Conversation, the first in a series. We will meet in the Alliance Room. Please contact us three days in advance if you will need childcare. 17 November 2014 The Messenger NOVEMBER CALENDAR 2014 – MONTH OF SUNDAYS During this interim time, please check the calendar outside the church office for regularly scheduled events. What follows are special events for Month of Sundays. Sun. Nov. 2: 10 – 11: Multigenerational Service: “Freedom: Free Them, Free Yourself” 11 – 12: Action planning meetings (Junior Activists; Arts Action; Local Action) 12 – 1pm: Potluck lunch. Mon. Nov 3: 7 – 9 pm: MOS Covenant Group: "Covenant" Fri. Nov. 7: 5:30 – 7pm: Slice of Fellowship, followed by panel discussion 7-8pm: “Beyond Charity: Strengthening the Safety Net for Vulnerable Populations” with representatives from Hundred Nights, Community Kitchen, the Manna Fund and AIDS Services. Sun. Nov. 9: 10 – 11am: Service: “You Ought to be Committed”, RE Classes 11 – 12pm: RE Bake sale to Benefit 100 Nights & Community Kitchen Presentation by Monadnock Time Exchange Mon. Nov. 10: 7 – 9 pm: MOS Covenant Group: "Commitment" Thu Nov. 13: 7:30 am- 3:00 pm: Healthiest Community Summit IV: "Why Living Wages Matter to the Health of Our Community," at Monadnock Covenant Church, Rte 9 in Keene (No cost, but need to RSVP to Kelsey Plifka at [email protected] or (603) 354-5454 ext 2322) Sun. Nov. 16: 10 – 11am: Service “Meet Me at the Corner of Religion and the Real World” RE Classes 2:30 – 4pm: Presentation (Sanctuary) United Valley Interfaith Project in KUUC Mon. Nov. 17: 7 – 9 pm: MOS Covenant Group: "Collaboration" Wed. Nov. 19: 7 – 8pm: Contemplative Worship Service: Called to Serve Fri. Nov. 21: 7– 8:30pm: Panel Discussion “Standing Together for Fair Pay and a Better Way” (Sanctuary) Coffee/tea and RE Bake Sale to follow (Parish Hall) 18 November 2014 The Messenger Sun. Nov. 23: 10 – 11pm: Multi-generational Service: “Give and Take.” Mon. Nov. 24: 7 – 9 pm: MOS Covenant Group: "Creativity" Tue. Nov. 25: 6 – 7pm: Annual Interfaith Service. At UCC-Keene Sun. Nov. 30: 10 – 11am: Multigenerational Service “The Open Door” Guest at Your Table Kickoff 11 – 12pm: Month of Sundays “Sundae Sundays” CHURCH OFFICE HOURS During the interim between Office Administrators the office will be staffed by volunteers. Therefore office hours will vary so it is best to call ahead if you need to come in. Someone will regularly check and answer emails, take phone messages and schedule room reservations etc. We will be interviewing candidates for a new Office Administrator during the month of November and hope to have a new OA by the end of the month. REV. MICHAEL’S OFFICE HOURS Rev. Michael's Office Hours in November will be every Tuesday afternoon 1-5PM and Wednesday mornings 8AM-12PM. Rev. Michael can also meet or visit you by appointment. The best ways to contact Rev. Michael are via email at [email protected] or call his cell (508)821-6092. DEADLINES FOR MESSENGER AND MINI-MESSENGER ARTICLES Messenger Deadline: 24th of each month Mini Messenger: Beginning in October there will be no Mini-Messenger. Unfortunately, it takes too much staff time to develop, edit and produce. From now on the Messenger, Order of Service insert and the website will be our primary vehicles for communication.
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