INCLINATIONS

Calendar

Services:

Jan. 1: David Emerson, “From Us to Us: Gifts of Love Through Telling of Stories”

Jan. 8: Rev. Mary Edes, “Annual service of Endings and Beginnings” Each January we remember those who have died and celebrate the coming of newborn lives among us during the year just passed - in our fellowship, our families, in the world.

Jan. 15: Rev. Mary Edes, “Consider the Source: Part 2.” Last month we looked at our first named source of inspiration for our free faith. Today we will move on to the words and deeds of prophetic women and men which challenge us to confront powers and structures of evil with justice, compassion, and the transforming power of love.

At 5:00 p.m. UUFES will host a Community Service honoring the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. Service will be led by Revs. Heidi Franz - Dale, Tom Abugelis, and Mary Edes. All are welcome.

Jan. 22: Worship Service

Jan. 29: Theme, TBA. Whatever it may be, the Fifth Sunday Band will once again grace our service with their presence and lively music!

Minister’s Schedule

General Schedule:   Mondays off
   Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, by appointment
   Friday, writing at home

January Birthdays

12^th Betty Gordon

18^th Cindy Barnicoat

22^nd Russ Miller

Ira Lubkin

Missy Myers

23^rd Ann Thomas Wilkins

24^th Greg Bossart

25^th Wardner Gilroy

29^th Connie Jan Sears

30^th Jean Holbrook

Helen Crowell

31^st Joy Maidment

If you would like your birthday included, please pass along the date to Kathy Burnell at 447-6796 or kburnell47@verizon.net .

New calendar on UUFES website to be up and running for the New Year!

Starting January 1, the UUFES website will take you to a link for a new 31-day grid style of calendar for all Meetinghouse activities. Please notify Beth Bonanno at guido299@adelphia.net or phone 207-625-8560 if you have an event to be published in the calendar. This calendar will indicate all worship services, committee meetings, special events, private functions, RE goings-on, classes, etc. Hopefully the computer gods will smile at us and everything will run smoothly.

Message from Mary

Happy New Year - and what a year it has been!

It has been my habit for a number of years to sit down with my journal on New Year’s Day and jot down whatever thoughts and memories of the last twelve months come to mind. It hardly seems possible that less than a year ago we were holding meetings around a sawhorse table in the construction site we have come to know as our Common Room. This has been such a gratifying and exciting process. The warm welcome we have received in the village, the relationships we are building here, give a new dimension to our fellowship. Having established our roots a bit, we can now take some good time to reevaluate our priorities, our vision for the future. In the coming months we will begin this process. Meeting in large and small groups, we will see where we are, brainstorm about where, what, and how we want to be together…and plot a course for the coming years. What’s next for UUFES?

As I write this, Stephen and I are enjoying a week off together with our families, but I am looking forward to getting back to UUFES and all that 2006 will bring our way.

Just for starters, we will be offering some alternative worship services during the week, beginning in this month. Our culture has changed a great deal in the past few decades, and it is clear that Sunday morning is not the best or most desirable time for everyone to attend services.

The first such offering will be on Monday evening January 9th at 6:00. The plan is for this Monday offering to become a monthly service for our friends and neighbors who work in the hospitality business - and anyone else who would like to join us for that matter. These services will be very much like those we offer on Sunday morning and will hopefully fill a need for those folks who are seldom if ever able to attend on Sunday.

There are plans underway for a shorter, weekly, lay led, service, as well. These will vary, depending on who is leading the service. Some may be mostly music, some meditation or at least silence, some interactive - who knows?! Watch this space for details as they become available. If you are interested in participating in these services, please let me know.

Thank you to all who came and participated in the Solstice, Christmas Eve and Christmas morning services. It was delightful to celebrate the season in our new home!

See you at the Meetinghouse! With love,

Mary

News from UUFES SCC:

Happy holiday recovery from the Social Concerns Committee!

We are excited about the new economic justice group that was spawned by the big turnout for our showing of “Wal-Mart: The High Cost of a Low Price.” With your blessings, it will convene at our meetinghouse but will be independent of UUFES to be able to attract folks from other churches.

Fresh back from the World Trade Organization meeting in Hong Kong, Arnie Alpert, Coordinator of New Hampshire’s American Friends Service Committee will discuss with us his findings about prospects for slowing down corporate takeover of third world resources after our UUFES service February 26.

At the request of the UU Service Committee, Mary will be relating a sermon to the high human cost of poverty in the United States, in concert with churches nationally on UU Justice Sunday,” March 26. The SCC will be presenting simple, effective action steps relative to pending New Hampshire legislation for economic justice and inviting anyone interested to join us.

I’d like to leave you with an inspiring ecumenical response to the draconian federal budget that has been proposed:

Unitarian Univeralist Ministers Arrested for Civil Disobedience in support of "A Moral Budget"

(December 14, 2005 - Washington, DC). Nearly two hundred religious leaders and people of faith, including a contingent of Unitarian Universalists, gathered in front of the Cannon House Office building in frigid temperatures this morning to bear witness in the struggle for economic justice with the message that "budgets are moral documents." The gathering, which resulted in the arrest of 115 people, was prompted as Congress prepares to take up the White House's current budget draft for 2006, offering tax cuts primarily to those earning $200,000 per year or more, and which will be financed by slashing services for the poor. In addition to the acts of civil disobedience, leaders of the gathering urged participants to make 'surprise' visits to Congress. Seventy similar vigils were held in thirty-four states. http://www.uua.org/news/2005/051214_budget/index.html

Love,

David Ludlow for the Social Concerns Committee

davidludlow@mindspring.com

Save the Date

Saturday Evening May 6, 2006

For a special UUFES event!!!

What for? It’s a secret. More details forthcoming.

Suzanne and Tony Federer

603-356-6769

Membership Committee

POTLUCK SUPPER

The Membership Committee organized the first ever Pot Luck Supper in our new meetinghouse on December 10, 2005. Over 50 members and friends gathered on a cold December evening for the warmth of good food, fine companions and lovely holiday music led by Rev. Mary. It is indeed good to be home for the holidays!

GREETERS WANTED

Lyn Slanetz (and helper Sandra Carr) are departing soon for warmer winter climes and the Membership Committee is looking for some Sunday Service Greeters. The job description is quite simple: make members, friends and visitors feel welcome at UUFES, hand out the programs, have visitors sign our guest book and make themselves a name tag. If you can help out for one Sunday or more, please contact Donna Polhamus at donna@polhamus.org or 323-7391. Donna will be creating a calendar schedule for our winter greeters; let her know when you will be available.

CIRCLE DINNERS

The Membership Committee continues to organize Circle Dinners on a monthly basis. The January dinner will be hosted by Willie Mork. These cooperative dinners are designed to give our members a chance to enjoy an evening in a member’s home with Rev. Mary and Steve in a small group. If you would care to be a host or to attend one of these dinners, please let your interest be known to: Donna Polhamus at donna@polhamus.org or 323-7391.

FILM SHOWS

Coming soon to a Fellowship near you... THE UUFES SUNDAY NIGHT FILM SHOW! We'll be meeting Sunday, January 8^th at 6:30 at the Meetinghouse. The film will be an exciting, profound film classic (so profound
and exciting that Lois Glidden refuses to reveal the title ahead of time) Bring munchies to share and we'll begin (what we hope) will be a long series of classic (and stimulating) film showings. For more information (and if you must, the title) contact Lois Glidden at loisglidden@adelphia.net or Donna Polhamus, who will not know the film title at donna@polhamus.org

WORDS FROM THE GOVERNING BOARD

UUFES Sunday Service Cancellation Policy

With the onset of winter, we wish to repeat the protocol for alerting you of the cancellation of a Sunday service. Please be aware of the fact that RE classes may be cancelled when a service may still be held.

If, in consultation, the GB and Rev. Mary decide to cancel a service, the following will happen in the order of importance:

1. The cancellation will be posted on the website <www.uufes.org>.

2. An e-mail will be sent out alerting you to the cancellation.

3. A message of the cancellation will be placed on the UUFES answering service at 323-8585.

4. A notice of the cancellation will be telephoned to WMWV 93.5.

Therefore, whenever we are about to experience or are experiencing a major snow and/or ice storm, please go to the website, check your e-mail, call the UUFES number or tune to 93.5 The Voice of the Valley.

For Religious Education classes, in the event of poor driving conditions Sunday morning classes may be cancelled. Please bear in mind that classes may be cancelled independent of the regular Sunday morning service.

At this time we will be utilizing a telephone tree to spread the word. Each family will receive a separate email to explain this procedure. Joy will notify the teachers scheduled for the morning.

Joy will make the first call on the tree and notify the teachers beginning at 7:30. Hopefully everyone will get the message in plenty of time.

SUNDAY HOSPITALITY OPPORTUNITIES AT COFFEE HOUR

There is still a need for people to help one Sunday a month during coffee hour on a consistent basis. Please talk to Lois Glidden about which Sunday you would like to volunteer. You get free coffee and a chance to meet new members.

Safe Congregation Oversight

The NH/VT District is in the process of reviewing and implementing Safe Congregations guidelines for all Unitarian Universalist congregations in our district. Please let us know if you have any comments or concerns. We invite anyone who would like to be involved in this important process to please let Mary or Joy know. Help us make UUFES a safe place for all children.

Parent Accountability Timeline for their Children.

The following is a reminder for parents bringing their children to UUFES for morning Sunday school, worship service. It is a timeline concerning supervision during the dropping off and picking up of children on Sunday morning.

Religious Education Classes – 8:55 a.m. to 9:50 a.m.

Please drop children off at their Sunday school classes promptly at 8:55 a.m. so that class may begin at 9:00 a.m.
Children are to be picked up by a parent or parent designee at 9:50 a.m.; this allows the instructors a few minutes to clean up after the class and the families to be seated in the sanctuary before service begins at 10 a.m. In the event that you do not want your child to attend the service with you, you still need to arrive at 9:50 to transition your child from his class teacher to the childcare provider for the duration of the service.

General Child Care during the morning worship service.

The scheduling and oversight of childcare during the worship service is the purview of the Sunday Service Committee Child Care Coordinator. All sitters come well recommended and have been screened.
9:45 a.m. Two child care providers will be available beginning at 9:45 a.m. to receive parents leaving their children for the entire church service, orient them to our facilities and assure them of their child’s safety. These providers will be hired to come on a regular basis for continuity for the children and the parents alike.

9:50 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.: Children may attend service with their parents through “A Time for All Ages,” at which time they will be led down to the first floor rooms for child care. In the event that a childcare provider is not already sitting in the sanctuary during A Time for All Ages, the greeter or other designated person will accompany the children downstairs for childcare.

10:30-11:30 Childcare providers will continue to watch all children then assembled downstairs.

11:30: Children need to be picked up from childcare at 11:30. This allows the sitters 15 minutes to clean up before leaving. If someone other than a parent/guardian will be picking a child up from childcare the sitters need to be told who that person would be.

Safety Issues

Downtown Church - We are now a downtown (albeit a small town) church. We are located on the corner of a very busy intersection.

Many Doors, Many Dangers – We have three doors on the first floor that lead outside. The children are instructed never to go outdoors without an adult. There is one door just inside the main entrance that leads to the basement. This is a real and valid cause for concern here since most all of the adults are on the 2nd floor during morning worship.

Parking Lot - No children in the parking lot unless they are going to or from the car with a parent or guardian, ever. Most of our kids are 4 feet tall or under. Many of our attendees are elderly. Townspeople use our lot as a short cut. This does not create a safe environment. Think of the Meetinghouse parking lot as if it were the grocery store lot. You would not let your child walk unattended in that lot; please do not allow it in this one.

Stairs - Be careful. Use the railing. I have seen two people almost lose their balance on the stairs because children were going up or down too fast and not paying attention. Many of our elderly are unsteady on their feet. Let’s keep our stairs safe for all ages.

Coffee Hour – When the children are picked up by their parents/guardians at 11:30 they may be returning upstairs for the remainder of coffee hour. A tablecloth will be laid out picnic style for them on the floor of the sanctuary. This will give them a space of their own and keep them on the 2nd floor, off the stairs and in view of their parents all at the same time. Children may be on the deck only under adult supervision. There should be no child left downstairs unsupervised by an adult at any time.

This may seem detailed but it is our first best effort as we adapt to the spaces of our new meetinghouse. Thank you for your care and consideration in keeping everyone safe.

Approved by the UUFES Governing Board December 8, 2005.

"CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF"
by Tennessee Williams
January 18th, 19, 20, 21, 26, 27, 28^th

M&D Productions opens the first show of their 2006 season with a classic by Tennessee Williams. The lights go up on "Cat On A Hot Tin Roof" January 18th at the Red Barn Outlet Center (the M&D Productions theater) in North Conway, NH. Tickets are now on sale. Show time is at 7:30pm and the doors open at 7:00pm. There will be a special "Pay What you Can Night" January 18 (Dress Rehearsal) which is open to the general public.

UUFES’s own Jake Maidment is a member of the cast!

Seating is limited for this production, and reservations are requested. Ticket prices are $20 for adults and $18 for students and seniors. For reservations, call M&D Productions at 603-356-4449. You can also take a look at upcoming productions by logging on to www.yourtheatre.com.

If Windows Could Speak

The contemporary and contemplative window in the committee meeting room, outside Mary's office, is a piece of Unitarian history. It was donated by Deborah Frock, who discovered much about the Unitarians’ Midwestern expansion, her own connection to Illinois' history, and Tamworth's history.

In 1866 in Bloomington, Illinois, a small group built a large Unitarian Church. Several notables of the area plus many native state and national politicians aided its growth.

As a child, Deborah joined the "new" startup Sunday School in '47. She watched soybeans grow, looked out the windows for tornadoes and watched the increase in traffic. As Deborah was the only teen, adults encouraged her to attend summer camp and Liberal Religious Youth activities with other churches miles away. She remembers many years of discussion on the merger of Unitarians and Universalists. Also, a new building in Bloomington was a major focus of discussion.

By 1963, the old church was falling down. Bricks, pews, and windows were sold at auction. Deborah's mother purchased one and passed it along to her.

A new building was erected by the Route 66 bypass, where it remains today. The present minister is David Robins, from the Franklin, NH church and the VT-NH District Extension Committee. (In fact, he was one of those who supported our growth while we were in Runnells Hall…Talk about connections!) Bloomington's church has recently purchased five of the original windows from the Historical Society of McLean County and has plans to display them.

If a window could speak - what it has seen is vast. Check it out - Imagine! Want to know more details? - Just ask Deborah Frock!

On gay marriage, open meetings and closed minds
Commission lacked fortitude for real debate
By: ED BUTLER

For the Monitor

I've written this commentary in my head many times over the past several months as the New Hampshire commission established by Senate Bill 427 to study same-sex marriage and its legal equivalents has gone about its work. As one of the four commissioners appointed from the public, I had a roller-coaster of a learning experience.

I'm a 56-year-old gay man in a 27-year-long committed relationship. My position on marriage for same sex couples should be obvious: We deserve to be able to marry. But I also know that working for equality has not been, nor will it be, an easy process.

I was eager to participate in the commission. I believed that it had been established to enter into a real public dialogue about the issues of concern for gay and lesbian couples in our state

Boy, was I wrong!
From the get-go, this was a political process. Despite the trappings of openness - public hearings, expert testimony, documents shared - there was never a moment when one commissioner said to another, "You know, we've heard passionate testimony from many people. How do we discuss these issues to better understand them?"

The chair of the commission had a golden opportunity to discuss and elucidate the complex issues around marriage for gay and lesbian couples. Instead, no matter what the testimony presented, he steered his commission towards its foregone conclusion. The conservative majority was not and is not willing to consider meaningful legal protections for gay and lesbian couples or their children. After months of work and testimony, the outcome of the commission is the same as it would have been had the proposals been made and the votes taken on the first day we met.

      The minority commissioners quickly understood the agenda. This wasn't just an inquiry into the issues related to gay and lesbian families. Instead, our existence as healthy and whole human beings was on trial. The only thing we could do was to find great people to give testimony, to counter the sometimes awful and vile things that were said about the lives of New Hampshire's gay and lesbian citizens.
     And we did just that. We brought before the commissioners a stream of well-qualified experts: doctors, professors, lawyers, constitutional scholars, legislators, child welfare experts. These witnesses made excellent arguments showing how the relationships of gays and lesbians and the parenting of gay and lesbian couples are as strong and stable and loving and healthful as those of their straight counterparts.
     There were also many members of the public - parents and grandparents of gay children, friends and neighbors, gay and lesbian couples together for a few to dozens of years, gay and lesbian couples with children, ministers and parishioners, youngsters and young adults - who gave eloquent testimony to support marriage equality.   (cont:)
    (Gay Marriage cont:)      No safety net
     Commissioners who were listening learned a tremendous amount about the many ways that living without marriage harms law-abiding, taxpaying gay and lesbian couples and their children. Just a few examples:
*We cannot obtain family health insurance.
* We lack the peace of mind that comes from knowing that our loved ones will be financially protected if one partner were to die.
* We must worry because we have no automatic right to make medical decisions for an incapacitated partner.
* When a relationship dissolves, we have no access to the protections of divorce proceedings, such as child support, alimony, custody and visitation.
       …For the majority of the commissioners, such testimony fell on deaf ears. The commission never had a chance to have an open and productive discussion about the issues of relationship discrimination for gay men and lesbians in New Hampshire.

The primary recommendation from the majority is that our state consider a constitutional amendment to restrict marriage to one man and one woman. What a shame. The only significant recommendation from a state commission that met for over a year, to discuss issues critical to the lives of thousands of New Hampshire residents, is to change our constitution to roll back protections guaranteed to all by that founding document. Change must come.

     The discussion that this commission lacked the vision, and the fortitude, to lead still needs to occur. Over the next months - for as long as it takes - those who support marriage equality must reach out to our family, friends, neighbors and co-workers to teach them about the lives of our gay and lesbian citizens.
     It can no longer be acceptable to denigrate us or discriminate against us. We are entitled to all of the same civil rights and responsibilities as our straight counterparts.
     Even more to the point, it is important that those who believe that gay and lesbian families are somehow a threat to their way of life learn that we are simply the same as they are - with the same needs, desires, hopes and dreams. And one of those dreams is to be able to marry.

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Please send changes of address, notices and requests to be added to or removed from the mailing list to:

UUFES—Inclinations, K. Burnell, Editor, PO Box 2785, Conway, NH 03818 kburnell47@verizon.net

Inclinations

PO Box 2785

Conway, NH 03818-2785