Monthly Newsletter from the Unitarian
Universalist Fellowship of the Eastern Slopes
Services
Every Sunday at
Sunday School at
Minister: Rev. Mary Giles Edes
UUFES Meetinghouse
President: Rick Friend, President
Nov. 6
Humanist David Niose --"Change Your Culture, Not Your
Values" A board member of the American Humanist Association and
author of numerous articles, Attorney David Niose from
After the Sunday, November 6 service with David Niose of the
American Humanist Association, Stephen and Wendy Gaal in
Nov. 13
Rev. Mary, "Taking Stock" Some thoughts about the
meaning and place of money in our lives and how our faith may inform both. (Preceded
by Newcomer Breakfast at
Nov. 20
Rev. Mary, Thanksgiving Service and Guest At Your Table kick
off.
Also:
Sunday afternoon, November 20th at
Nov. 27
To Be Announced
If would like your birthday included, please pass along the
date to Kathy Burnell at
Mondays off
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, by appointment
Friday, writing day
Specifics
Nov. 1-3: District Minister’s Meeting in
Nov. 8: Tamworth Clergy UUFES Meetinghouse
Nov. 15: NH/VT District Conference Planning Department,
Nov. 18: Minister turns FIFTY; Divas concert South Church Portsmouth
Our religious education program is off to a great
start. The following individuals have generously volunteered their time
and energy to teach classes on Sunday mornings: Russ Maidment, Brenda
Taylor and Erin Wright-Stanten with our youngest group. Jim Clemons, Jo
Anne Rainville and Howard Stanten with the seven to nine year olds. David
Emerson, Steve Kull and Willow Whitehouse for the nine to eleven set; and
finishing out with the over 12 group we have Donna Polhamus, Dianne Sinclair
and Jessie Wright. Thank you for your time, energy and commitment.
Our Sunday morning helpers so far have been Helen Crowell and Tina Craig. Please see Joy if you would like more information about being a Sunday morning helper or have your name added to the list.
Our four to six-year-old group is using a curriculum titled We Are Many, We Are One. Their lesson on October 23 was titled Old and Young Make Good Friends. They enjoyed a special morning with two visitors from the Fellowship, Willie Mork and Bob Young. Everyone brought in their baby pictures, told some memorable stories, and enjoyed yummy treats courtesy of Erin Wright-Stanten. A good time was had by all, and some new friends were made in the process.
By the time you read this we will have had our first UUFES
family sleepover, which was held on Saturday October 29th. In keeping
with the season and some great suggestions we are going to enjoy autumn
activities, carving pumpkins and bobbing for apples, along with eating Lois'
wonderful donuts - off a string of course. Andy Davis and Bill Huntley
have been kind enough to offer entertainment in story and song. Steve
Kull is going to sustain us in the morning with a pancake breakfast.
Thanks Everyone!!
Sunday October 30th happens to be a 5th Sunday. It has
long been a dream to have an occasional children's chapel service but the time
or place was never right. Well, finally it has all come together. Every
5th Sunday there will be a Children's Chapel service lead by Rev. Mary in the
library for the kids from
Very soon, you will be hearing about the new and revised
Chalice Lighters Program. This program is managed by each District of the
UUA. In the past, we, as individuals, have been asked to
contribute monies yearly to the Chalice Lighters Program. Individual
district churches seeking grant monies for special programs or projects would
then write and apply for these funds. The Chalice Lighter committee would
review these requests and award grants. We have been a recipient of
these funds twice in the past six years.
We applied for such a grant this spring but due
to minimal funds in the Chalice Lighter account (stemming from lack of
support), we were not selected. That's the bad news. The good
news is the whole program has been revised. The District is now selecting
a church to be the "called" Chalice Lighters Congregation and they
will encourage all other churches in NH/VT to strongly support the efforts of
this one fellowship. UUFES was selected to be the first Chalice Lighters
Congregation in our District. What this means to us is that we will
receive 100% of the revenues received from this year’s Chalice Lighter outreach
program. This is a great honor and great opportunity for our fellowship.
I am writing this article to encourage you to give generously
to the Chalice Lighters Program. You may ask "Why not just give my
donation directly to UUFES?" Here's why: Being involved in
district-wide activities and efforts is important! We have received
thousands of dollars in grants from our district and the UUA over the
years. This simply would not have happened if we hadn't shown our
commitment by contributing our Fair Share dollars each year and being an active
member of our District team. Also, Chalice Lighters is an
invaluable program. It enables our district churches to accomplish goals
that they couldn't have met on their own. It is neighbor helping
neighbor. We are a small denomination with an important message for the
world and we have to look to each other to have the strength to make sure
our voices are heard.
Thanksgiving is coming! Thanksgiving is my favorite
"holiday."
Whether one is Deist, Theist, Atheist, or Agnostic, Pagan, Hindu, Christian,
Muslim, Jew, or None of the Above, we all know what it is and what it means to
be thankful. Gratitude is a welling up and over that needs no named recipient.
Needless to say we have much for which to be grateful this year. We are getting
settled into our long-awaited home and welcoming new members and friends almost
weekly. Joy Maidment is bringing great energy and focus to our religious
education program. And we have been selected as a Breakthrough Congregation by
the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) Growth Team.
What is a Breakthrough Congregation? It is an annual award given by the UUA to
only four congregations nationwide. As a result, UUFES has been invited to make
a presentation at our General Assembly in St. Louis this coming June, as one of
those four UU congregations in the country who have made inspiring breakthroughs
in areas including ministry, numerical and spiritual growth, worship, and
stewardship. It is the hope of the UUA - and one I know we share - that our
story may inspire other small fellowships to follow in our footsteps or to
forge their own path with our story as a guiding light and hopeful companion
for their journey.
I am so proud to be a part of this unfolding adventure that is UUFES - proud
and thankful!
See you at the meetinghouse!
In gratitude, and love,
Mary
The Membership Committee continues to arrange Circle Dinners
in the homes of UUFES members on a monthly basis. Rev. Mary and Steve attend
these dinners as well and new and old UUFES members. It is a time to share a
meal and get to know one another better in a small setting. If you would like
to host one of these dinners or be a guest, please contact any member of the
Membership Committee and let us know of your interest.
Ted and Bobbi Hoyt joined UUFES in 2004; Bobbi has been a UU
for the past 30 years starting at the Church on the River,
Bobbi was an integral part of the Building Committee and now
works on the meetinghouse’s landscaping; Ted is our Treasurer and is a member
of the Finance Committee. We at UUFES are so grateful to have this talented and
energetic couple in our midst. Be sure to welcome them when next you see them
at Sunday services.
A series of three workshops has been planned by Rev. Mary
and the Membership Committee. The purpose of these workshops is educational and
exploratory. New members, old members, potential members and people with an
interest and curiosity about Unitarian Universalism are all welcome. The dates
are as follows: Wednesday evenings November 9th and 16th and noontime
(including lunch) after Sunday service November 20th. Please watch your e-mail
or call for more details.
The Membership Committee will host a Newcomer Breakfast on
Sunday, November 13th at
Guest at Your Table has been an important part of UUSC, and
of UU culture, since 1975. The program made its UUSC debut following then
Institutional Advancement Director Warren Salinger's trip to the
You can keep this spirit and tradition alive. Put a Guest at
Your Table box on your family's table and discuss together what it means to
welcome a guest to your table. The Social Concerns Committee will make
announcement about this program and will have boxes and envelopes to
distribute. We will collect this the Sunday before Thanksgiving…or
sometime thereafter! Thank you in advance.
Fellowship
Council
The Fellowship Council met on October 11th in the sanctuary. This is not a
policy setting gathering but a listening post. It is also a time to hold
conversation on a topic of UUFES-wide interest. Committee chairs or reps shared
their activities and future plans. Lisa Herder, our webmistress (and a
managerial consultant as well), came to meet the UUFES cast of characters and
to discuss how we might organize information sent to her to make our web site a
welcoming reflection of our Fellowship. Lisa asked good questions and offered
ideas in the way of organization and communication.
Jim Pittman is working on a proposed calendar program that
should be up and running on our website before long.
Kathy Burnell welcomes feedback on Inclinations which will
be edited by David Emerson for posting on the website.
There is a need to reconstruct the "advertising"
committee into a more inclusive Communications Committee and volunteers are
being sought. Although Joan Sherman has recently resigned from the committee,
she is ready to work with any committees that want help getting their
information on the radio.
The Fellowship Council will meet again on February 7th. It
is an open meeting and a very good way for newcomers and members alike to get a
bird’s eye view on the total picture of Fellowship activities.
Mini-fundraiser for a new printer:
Cider and cooking apples for sale by Eleanor Jenkins from the Uplands Apple
Farm. 1/2 gallon for $3 and one gallon for $5. Apples for $.50 a pound:
Jonathan and York Imperial available. Please call
Please search your attic, basement or garage…UUFES needs the
following—and thank you for your generosity!!
¨
TV cart
¨
Narrow table with long drop leaves for northeast
wall of Sanctuary—to be used for meetings, small group meals or material
display.
¨
Nesting tables for Sanctuary to assist someone
sitting or in a wheel chair for coffee hour
¨
In-house digital camera
¨
Please contact Donna Polhamus if you have any of
the above items to contribute.
¨
Microscope
¨
Stereoscope
¨
Binoculars
¨
Magnifying Glasses
¨ Please contact Joy Maidment (Director, Religious Education) if you can contribute any of the above items
Contact Denise D’Eri if your committee has requests
for the wish list.
***********
Please send changes of address, notices and requests to be added to or
removed from the mailing list to:
UUFES --- Inclinations
K. Burnell, Editor
Deadline for December issue: Saturday, Nov. 26