chaliceNashua UU News - December 2008

Newsletter of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Nashua, New Hampshire

58 Lowell Street, Nashua NH 03064  603-882-1091
www.UUNashua.org  Sunday Service: 10:00 a.m.

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Upcoming Services

Services begin at 10:00 AM

December 7: Making the Holidays Holy.

This is generally the time of year when my more orthodox Christian clergy friends do a sermon about "keeping Christ in Christmas." With all due respect to them, my concern at this time of year is keeping the Holy in Holiday. Can we preserve some sense of calm, and quiet, and even sacredness in a season that can very easily run us over if we let it? I'm not talking about somberness as I love joy as much as the next person and celebrate it whenever I can. But given that the word "Holiday" is an amalgam of the words "Holy" and "Day," I want to explore how we can truly put the two words together.

December 14: Good Giving.

One of my favorite readings for this Season is a piece I've often used by Clarke Dewey Wells titled "The Nicest Gifts I Ever Got." He concludes it with these words: "The nicest gifts people have given me have been enabling, confirming gifts, bestowing understanding and self-esteem, help in time of trouble and delight for ordinary days... May I suggest that you draw up a list of the nicest gifts you ever received? I think it will give you perspective to the kind of gifts we really want to give others." I'll use Clarke's words to do a little probing into how we best do our gift giving of any kind.

December 21: Miraculous Births.

One common theme in many of the world's religious traditions is an account of an extraordinary, or even miraculous birth, of their founder-the story/legend/myth of the birth of Jesus being one of them. What is the significance of this? Why is a miraculous birth regarded as a precondition or a foundation for a faith tradition? I happen to believe that such stories are ultimately rooted in a fundamental human need for mystery, awe, and wonder-and that's why we tell them.

The Church School children will join us for the first part of this service. You are also invited to bring "White Gifts" that will be distributed to area families in need by the Nashua Pastoral Care Center. Please indicate the age for which your gift would be appropriate.

December 24: Christmas Eve Candlelight Services-7:00 PM and 10:00 PM

Our move one year ago to two Christmas Eve services proved to be a good one; so, we're doing it again.

The 7:00 PM Service is the All Family one, for children and adults-with infant and toddler care provided. The choir will sing and members of the congregation will be invited to offer their reflection of the significance of this Season for them. Please bring a plate of your "holiday goodies" to share in the fellowship time that will follow.

The 10:00 PM Service is a more low-key, contemplative one. Instrumental musical offerings will be provided along with a variety of readings and meditations that reflect the Spirit of the Season itself.

December 28th: A New Year's Potpourri.

It has become a tradition amongst us to have an annual year-end "potluck" service. Those attending are asked to bring a reading, poem, or even a song if you like, that is especially meaningful to you as a New Year approaches.

There is no Church School on this Sunday.

Reflections and Ruminations...

There are times when I seek the wisdom and words of colleagues to speak to my own thoughts and feelings. Some words by the Rev. Roger Greeley frame my thoughts well in this Holiday Season. I offer them to you:

The Christmas I celebrate begins and ends with an affirmation of life.

There is a human need for joy, and if it be portrayed in a manger scene and the birth of a child, I shall rejoice in the gift of life; I shall rejoice in knowing that as we grow in years then human family is always happening again. Birth is the star that I shall see in the East.

There is a human need for belief, and if for many belief is faith, I shall try to make my beliefs as meaningful, and as sustaining, as their faith.

There is a human need for worship, and if for many this means a falling down and adoring, I shall try to stand tall and let the strength of my belief show in the dignity of my labors.

There is a human need for love, and if for many this means a union with God, I shall seek to live lovingly. Let the legacy of those who come here be such that later it may be said, "It is clear that love walked here."

There is a human need for giving and receiving, and if for many it is done in the name of a child and in the hopes of receiving his blessing, I shall give in the name of all children in the hope for their happiness. I shall endeavor to give of myself to the needs of the human family, and receive in return some measure of ennoblement.

There is a human need for peace, and if for many this is the most compelling voice of our time, we shall have it. We shall hear it as it has never been heard before and the whole world shall be filled with its music.

The Christmas I celebrate is thus a seasonal recognition of human needs and an attempt to satisfy these longings within the totality of my beliefs. The universality of Christmas lies in its seeking to meet human needs.

Thanks Roger-and a Blessed and Happy Holiday Season to each of you.

Peace,
Steve

Announcements

Message From the President

With this note I want to warmly welcome those of you who recently signed our membership book both in November and this past spring, along with long time members, guests and everyone in between to a new Holiday Season at our church. This time of year I feel especially blessed to be a part of this community. We have created an affirming, safe place for all of us, young and old, to thrive and grow and offer our gift of friendship to each other and the larger community in which we live.

We offer lots of opportunities for fellowship this time of year, beginning with opening our doors and inviting in members of the Nashua Community for music and celebration during the city's Holiday Stroll. We celebrate the season with each other on Sunday mornings during and after church, in the Religious Education program, in the Winter Solstice service, and in the two Christmas Eve services-one fashioned to meet the needs of families early in the evening and a more contemplative, meditative service later in the evening. The service between Christmas and New Years is an intimate service where we gather to share stories, poems, songs, and music with special meaning to those gathered. And new this year, members of our congregation will come together in mid-December for holiday crafts, cookie decorating, and to refresh our memories with the words of traditional holiday songs, then set out for holiday caroling throughout the downtown Nashua neighborhoods!

And we offer lots of ways to share our gift of friendship with those less fortunate around the world and right here in Nashua with Guest at Your Table, the chance to adopt a family served by the Nashua Soup Kitchen and Shelter by providing gifts of clothes and toys, and the annual White Gifts offering. We also continue to reach out to those in need in our community through our ongoing collection of food and toiletries for the Nashua Soup Kitchen, our monthly casserole preparation for the NSK&S, and with our Sunday Outreach Collections throughout the Holiday Season and all year long to help local agencies provide basic services and necessities.

If you have an idea for something we can include in our annual holiday celebrations that would make this season more meaningful to you, perhaps a treasured custom from your childhood faith tradition, I encourage you to share it with Steve Edington or myself so that we can include it in our planning for next year.

Wishing you the very best this holiday season,
Laurie Goodman

White Wing School Pre-Registration for Program Year 2009-2010

White Wing School offers pre-registration to all Unitarian-Universalist Church members and current and former White Wing parents. Pre-registrations will be accepted from November 12, 2008 through December 18, 2008 in the White Wing Office. For those of you unfamiliar with White Wing School, Unitarian-Universalist Church members founded the School in 1959. Over the past forty-nine years, White Wing has provided an exemplary hands-on, developmentally appropriate preschool and kindergarten program. White Wing is currently working toward re-accreditation (spring, 2009) by NAEYC (the National Association for the Education of Young Children) and enrolls children ages 3 to 6. We have classrooms for three-year-old preschool, four-year-old preschool and kindergarten. Please call Becky Parsons at 882-1041 for more information.

Pet Sitting

I have a part-time pet sitting business for people that come recommended or whom I know. I stay overnight with the dogs or cats, play, walk, enjoy them, and your house gets to look occupied while you are away. The house must be reasonably clean, with a place to sleep. I am a 65-year old responsible church member. Reasonable rates. References available. Please contact Paula Super if interested.

Ferry Beach Update by Sherri Woolsey

Those of you who joined us for Ferry Beach Weekend this past year saw the plans Ferry Beach Park Association (FBPA) has for a new dining hall. While they have not started construction of that building, they have made changes to the use of the kitchen facilities in the Quillen building that affect our weekend in June. Weekend groups are no longer able to have access to the kitchen to prepare meals. All meals will now be handled by a professional chef and staff. Prior to the weekend, the group will be able to select one of two different menus for their weekend. I spoke with Ed Mann, the coordinator for weekend groups, to try to find out what rates they are looking at charging for this coming year with the meals being prepared. As of this writing, they have not been able to get an exact dollar amount per person for the entire weekend's meals (five meals in all) but he said it would likely be somewhere in the $30-$40 range for children 12 and under and in the $40-$50 range for all others. He said it is very likely the individual rate for the entire weekend (room and meals) will be somewhere between $79-$95 per person. The contract will be mailed out sometime in December and needs to be returned in mid January. I would like to know from everyone who is anticipating going this next year whether that cost would keep you from going. Typically we need to have 120 people attending in order to make the weekend sustainable. Please send me an e-mail letting me know your thoughts or give me a call. If we decide to continue our tradition at Ferry Beach, the dates will be June 13-15, 2009.

Christmas Eve Service Singers and Instrumentalists Wanted

The choir is looking for musicians to sing and/or play for the 7:00 PM and 10:00 PM Christmas

Eve services. We need singers for the Christmas Eve Pickup Choir for the 7:00 PM service and we are looking for soloist and ensembles for the 10:00 PM service.

We will have songs for an adult choir, a children's choir, and for a mixed choir. We will be rehearsing on:

Please sign up at coffee hour.

Soloist and ensembles wishing to play for the 10:00 PM service may contact John Burkitt .

Project to End Homelessness by 2012

There are many ways in which you can become involved, some only taking minutes of your time. You can cook for the Soup Kitchen, donate food and other goods or go and serve a meal directly to clients at the Soup Kitchen.

Our ongoing collection for food will expand to include tube socks, all sizes, and diapers, especially sizes 3, 4 and 5. Please try to contribute, as the cost of diapers is high. Also, the demand for socks by those living on the streets goes up in winter. Place items in the basket located in the vestibule outside the dining room. We will continue this through March.

Providing affordable housing is one of the best ways to end homelessness. This is a call for anyone interested in getting a group from church together to help Habitat for Humanity on occasional projects. I would particularly like to hear from any church member who is already doing this.

To get involved, contact Mary Ferguson .

New Members as of November 16, 2008

Sue Cater grew up in Nashua and now lives in Hudson with her "son" Fred, who is a very energetic four year-old German Shepherd. Sue is currently a nurse at St. Joseph's Hospital and will be going back to Rivier College in January to pursue her master's degree in counseling. She enjoys sports and has umpired baseball from Little League to college. A friend had introduced her to Unitarian-Universalism through the church in Peterborough. Upon returning home, she Googled to see if there was a UU church closer to home and found us.

Mary Jo Cannarella lives in Nashua with her husband of fifty years, Joe. They have two grown children; their son is in Hawaii and their daughter lives in NY. Mary Jo is retired from psychiatric nursing and nurse educating after twenty years in the field. She is passionate about social justice, especially for the mentally ill. For the past eighteen years she has been breeding purebred Siamese cats. Over the course of the political campaign season she realized she needed to find a place to belong that would nurture her spiritually and politically. Her daughter and son-in-law are members of the UU Church in Ithaca and suggested she visit her local UU church.

Michelle Morrison lives in Nashua with her spouse, Jennifer. They have two children, Grace and Ben. Jenn was the one that started coming to church several years ago and Michelle was resistant. She was raised in the Assembly of God and had a hard time believing there are churches that would accept her "just as I am." She would attend services with Jenn only to listen to Ben and Grace in the Treble Choir. She knew before the Water Service this year that she was going to get involved with the church. She is presently teaching in the preschool classroom. Her full time job is as a project manager for Xerox where she has been employed the last 10 years. She feels she has found her spiritual home here and is looking forward to being more involved.

Diane Fontas lives in Nashua with her husband, Jon. They have three boys, one of whom is 19-year old Jeff Fontas, a state representative from Nashua. Diane is a nurse at St. Joseph's hospital. When she is not working, she is involved with the Women Spirit Song through Inner Harmony Music. This is a women-only choral group in Manchester. Diane also loves to read and practice yoga and is a member of Pat Ladew's book group that meets here once a month to do both. This last month Diane joined the Membership Committee and is helping to coordinate the Circle Suppers. She is excited to be here and feels there is a strong community feeling within our church.

David Robbins recently moved to Nashua from Carlisle, MA where he was a member of the First Religious Society. He and Donna, his loving and understanding wife, built a new home up here after graduating from full time careers with the Social Security Administration. They have two grown children, Josh and Allie. David feels he is at a point in his life for a time of exploration of his inner and outer self in the physical, intellectual and emotional areas. He recently joined the Worship Associates.

Steve and Kathleen Griffis live in Windham, NH with their three sons, Nick, Nate and Andy. Steve is from Somerville, MA and Kathleen from NJ. Steve is a computer consultant and loves playing with his boys. His down time is spent playing computer/video games. Kathleen was a recruiter for strategic planning groups before becoming a stay at home mom. She has recently joined our Adult Choir and in her down time she runs, reads and is teaching herself how to quilt. They are looking forward to being active members of our church.

Scott and Patty Morin live in Windham, NH. They have three children, a son and daughter in college and another daughter in high school. Patty teaches English at Windham High School and is also the yearbook advisor. Scott is a software developer for financial systems. In their spare time they enjoy running and hiking. Patty enjoys gardening, reading and yoga. She is also a certified yoga instructor. They have been looking for a community of kindred spirits both religiously and politically.

Abby Saarinen lives in Merrimack with her husband, David and their two children, Annika, 2 and Eric, 5 months. Before becoming a stay at home mom, Abby taught high school physics and chemistry in Chelmsford, MA. She and David are both native New Hampshirites but met in Budapest, Hungary. Abby's father's side of the family has a long history with Unitarian-Universalism; in fact, her great-uncle used to be the director at Ferry Beach. Several of her relatives own homes just a few doors down from the Quillen at Ferry Beach. Abby did not grow up with a religion and is looking to expand her spiritual awareness as well as help her children develop their own spirituality.

Josh and Julie Reilly live in Nashua with their two boys, Jack, 2 and Griffin, 5 months. Josh is the son of Don and Diana Reilly and was dedicated and grew up in our church. Josh and Julie were married here and both boys have been dedicated here. Josh works at Beneficial Financial and Julie is the General Manager of Super Tan. When they have the time they enjoy traveling and all outdoor activities.

Upcoming Events

Saturday, December 6, 2008, 8:30 AM-2:00 PM: Holiday Fair and Café

The annual Holiday Fair and Café at the Unitarian-Universalist Church at 20 Elm Street in Milford will take place on Saturday, December 6th from 8:30 AM to 2:00 PM. Shoppers can have breakfast and lunch at the holiday café, which features breakfast strata, homemade soups and sandwiches, and desserts made by the same bakers whose breads, pies, cakes and other delicious treats are on sale at the Fair. Shoppers can expect the same high quality of handmade knitted scarves, hats, mittens, and ornaments as they have purchased for many years as well as handcrafted jewelry and other specialty items such as handmade patchwork potholders. The Ritzy Boutique and children's section are always popular places to visit. We are the granite church right off the Oval, across from Bales School, so drop by and see why so many have enjoyed our Holiday Fair for years! For more information, those interested can call the church office at 673-1870 or visit the church website at www.uumilfordnh.org.

Saturday, December 13 and Saturday, December 20: Social Activities Committee Upcoming Events

We wanted to let you know that a couple of fun, family-friendly events have been planned for two Saturdays in December. We hope you will join us on Saturday, December 13 from 2:30-4:00 PM in the auditorium (above the dining room) for games, holiday crafts, cookie decorating and carol singing. The following Saturday, December 20, we will meet in the Grove Street parking lot at 2:00 PM to take some of our crafts and our lovely singing voices to downtown Nashua neighborhoods for a caroling event. We hope to see you at one or both of these events. If you have questions, please contact Jenn Morton or Michelle Morrison .

Sunday, December 21: Holiday Gift Sale

The Sr. High Youth Group asks that you bring your gently used items or re-gift those wonderful gems that you're sure others could benefit from. On December 21st, the children of our congregation will be invited to shop for their loved ones at incredibly reasonable prices. Remember to send your youngsters up to the auditorium with a list of people they buy gifts for and some cash.

Donations can be delivered to Room 6 labeled for the Holiday Gift Shop. Thank you for your generosity. Money earned from the sales will be donated to the fuel assistance outreach project.

-Sr. High

December 21, 4:00-5:00 PM: Advent Spiral

Come join us in the auditorium for the medieval custom of walking the Advent spiral. Done in silence and accompanied by seasonal, gentle melodies, individuals walk a spiral made of pine boughs. Carrying unlit candles, we journey to the center of the spiral where we light our candle, make a wish for the coming year and spiral back out. The event is led by the Advent Spirit and is suitable for young and old alike; children are welcome. For more information, or to assist, please contact Cynthia Schroer .

Saturday, January 17, 2009: Simple Gifts Coffee House

The next Simple Gifts show is January 17, 2009 and showcases Squeezebox Stompers, featuring the sounds of New Orleans at Simple Gifts-so get ready to move!

Squeezebox Stompers brings their eclectic mix of country blues, zydeco, Celtic, Cajun, ballads, and original tunes to the stage. The band plays a multitude of instruments, including piano and Cajun accordion, fiddle, guitar, mandolin, harmonica, acoustic bass, triangle, rub-board and drums.

As veteran performers for the past 25 years, various members of the band have distinguished themselves as music award winners. Ralph Tufo has won four Boston Music Awards as a former member of the Boogaloo Swamis, and Larry Pitt was the 2007 winner of the Boston Folk Festival Songwriting contest.

The following thank you note (and encapsulated review) is from their website:

"Can we TALK about the Squeezebox Stompers? I mean, HOLY COW!! Please pass along our deepest gratitude to your band for bringing us the sounds of New Orleans-people were RAVING about it!! I just wish I could have taped the whole night. You really added that authenticity to our Mardi Gras-you were TOTALLY AWESOME!! THANK YOU!!"

 -Habitat for Humanity

Tickets: $16 advance/$18 at door; $10 Children 12 and under, $2 discount for seniors and students with ID.

December CHURCH SCHOOL NEWS 2008

DECEMBER CALENDAR

7Children in church for the first 15 minutes
3rd Grade Class Lights the Chalice
14Chapel: 2nd to 6th Grades
21Children in church for the first 15 minutes:
Bring your WHITE GIFTS offering (for Nashua Pastoral Care) and GUEST at YOUR TABLE Boxes
WINTER PARTIES: Preschools and Kindergarten will return to their room. First - 6th Grade will go to the Auditorium for Crafts and Service Project
HOLIDAY GIFT SHOP in the Auditorium
28TEACHER'S DAY OFF/ NO CHILDCARE

WHITE GIFTS & HOLIDAY PARTIES

The church school children will attend the first 15 minutes of the church service on December 16 at which time they will have an opportunity to drop off their White Gifts Contributions and Guest at Your Table boxes.

This year gifts will be given to the Nashua Pastoral Care Center. They are especially in need of gifts for babies and teens. Items for newborns to two years old will be appreciated. If you are thinking in practical terms, larger disposable diapers (sizes 4, 5 & 6) are needed. Gift cards are a good choice for the older teens, for music, movies or clothing. If you would like to bring food, canned food that provides a hearty meal such as beef stew or chili will go a long way in providing nutrition for some less fortunate families; food banks have been especially needy this year. Then, the Preschool and Preschool-Kindergarten Classes will go to their own classrooms, and the First through sixth grade classes will have a crafts party in the auditorium and a chance to do a Service Project.

HOLIDAY GIFT SALE

The Sr. High Youth Group asks that you bring your gently used items or re-gift those wonderful gems that you're sure others could benefit from. On December 21st, the children of our congregation

will be invited to shop for their loved ones at incredibly reasonable prices. Remember to send your youngsters up to the Auditorium with a list of people they buy gifts for and some cash.

Donations can be delivered to Room 6 labeled for the Holiday Gift Shop. Thank you for your generosity. Money earned from the sales will be donated to the fuel assistance outreach project.

- Sr. High

NO CHURCH SCHOOL OR B/T DEC 28th

There will be a morning service, but no Church School or Child Care on Sunday, DECEMBER 30th.

4th-5th GRADE HEART TALK FOR KIDS

A few weeks ago we heard from the 4th & 5th grade RE class during chalice lighting. Members of this class shared their observations of the classroom experience to this point. One student shared with the congregation that their classroom is a judgment-free-zone. Another child stated that the classroom is very active.

During a recent visit to the class, I found both things to be very true. Twelve nine and ten year olds gather together each week with Dan and Krista Early teaching "Heart Talk For Kids." The class has plenty of action, both in the energy of the students and the amount of thought provoking discussion about one's true feelings. How would you feel if your best friend said s/he didn't want to be friends anymore? These children are learning about each other, their true feelings and the importance of having a judgment-free zone... to be who they will be.

This week Krista shared with the kids that one of UU's seven principles can be translated into "each person must be free to search for what is true and right in life." In this class their feelings will be and will stay judgment free.

Thanks to Krista and Dan Early for their continued dedication to this curriculum and to our children! By Donna LaRue

COMING IN JANUARY!

CAKES FOR THE QUEEN OF HEAVEN, IN ANCIENT TIMES - FOOD FOR THOUGHT THURSDAY, UU FEMINIST THEALOGY COURSE FOR WOMEN

A 5 session UU religious education curriculum in feminist theology by Rev. Shirley Ann Ranck. More information will be available SOON!

HONK! THE MUSICAL

Performed in our church service on MARCH 22, 2009

Participation Opportunities for ALL who are interested!

DEADLINE for INTEREST FORM: DECEMBER 7, 2008

AUDITIONS: DECEMBER 14, 2008

READINGS for SPEAKING PARTS: DECEMBER 21, 2008

Our church will be presenting a shortened form of Honk!, the Broadway musical based on the story of the Ugly Duckling, in church on March 22, 2009. It will be an intergenerational production. All young people enrolled in the RE program are invited to participate, and we also need adults to perform some onstage roles and to work backstage; adult participants do NOT need tohave children enrolled in RE.Our music director, Jed Holland, and his wife Martha will be directing. Rehearsals will take place on Sunday afternoons from 12:15 to 2:15 starting on January 4.

An Interest Form is enclosed in this newsletter. If you are interested in participating and have not already filled out a form, please fill out this one and return to Jed or Chris Parker by December 7th.

Cast roles for children: Chorus of ducks, chorus of geese, blizzard (chorus of snowflakes), chorus of frogs. Every interested child will be put into one of these groups according to child's age, the number of children participating, and the needs of the show (example, "blizzard" might be the entire 1st and 2nd grade, but the actual assignments will depend on interest and will be announced before January 4). For older children or teens, there are a few leading roles: "Ugly," who is the ugly duckling (spoiler alert: turns out he's a swan),preferably male;Penny, a swan, preferably female; one leadingmale or female bullfrog; Greylag and Dot (husband and wife) who are geese,andone male or female cat. The latter roles-especially the cat-might best be played by teens or could be adults.

Cast roles for adults: Ida and Drake (parents of Ugly); Maureen (his aunt); Father and Mother Swan; and possibly the cat, Greylag and Dot.

For the specific individual roles named above, we'll have relaxed auditions after church on Sunday,

December 14 (or by appointment as needed at some other time, but appointment must be made before that day). Those who take the leading roles will need to put in some additional rehearsal times (beyond the Sunday afternoons) as needed and to be arranged. For auditions, Jed requests that all children and parents keep in mind that the show will be fun for all and that every participant (onstage or behind the scenes) is important. Competitiveness in auditions is not what the show is about; rather we want to find the people who can best help us express the story to our "audience" of churchgoers. Jed says our mission is (at least) threefold: Children will learn the story and its morals; children will learn and enjoy the process of theatrical storytelling; and the showwillbe really meaningful to its viewers.Toward that end we will de-emphasize "star" roles.

Non-cast roles for adults and children with guidance: Costume making (simple, evocativecostumes-no full fowl-suits) scene painting, "props" (properties-any items hand-carried in the play), and fowlherding (helping kids know where to go when).

Anyone with questions is invited to visit Jed at church, or contact Jed . Thanks for helping us put together what will be a wonderful show!

INTEREST FORM FOR PARTICIPATING

IN HONK! THE MUSICAL ON MARCH 22, 2009

DEADLINE for INTEREST FORM: DECEMBER 7, 2008

AUDITIONS: DECEMBER 14, 2008

READINGS for SPEAKING PARTS: DECEMBER 21, 2008

PLEASE PRINT YOUR NAME: _________________________________

CONTACT NUMBER (e-mail or phone) _______________________________

( ) I am interested in participating in the production of HONK!

( ) My calendar is clear on March 22, the day we will present HONK! in church.

( ) I understand that practices will be every Sunday starting on January 4, 2009 - from 12:15 - 2:15 pm, (additional rehearsals TBA for lead roles)

( ) I am _____ years old and I am interested in:

( ) Being a member of the cast

( ) Trying out for a lead part,

( ) Working on sets

( ) I am an adult and would like to help with:

( ) Being a member of the cast

( ) Working on sets

( ) Helping with costumes

( ) Kid wrangling

( ) Planning a cast party

( ) Whatever is needed

ADULT'S NAME: __________________________________________________

CONTACT INFORMATION __________________________________________

Return to Jed Holland or Chris Parker in the RE Office by December 7, 2008

OUR MISSION AND COVENANT

Embracing the Purposes and Principles of Unitarian Universalism and the Vision we have chosen, as members of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Nashua, New Hampshire, we will:

Support and respect one another in our searches for meaning, value, and personal/spiritual growth;

Join with one another in providing, nurturing, and celebrating a free religious community through common worship, shared activities, and programs for all ages;

Promote a sense of family within the congregation through mutual support and friendship, and by attending to each other's needs;

Be a positive presence for, and work to create, a more just, humane and caring society through outreach to our local community and to the wider human family.

OUR VISION

The Unitarian Universalist Church of Nashua, New Hampshire will be a beacon of liberal religious thought and action whose members are committed to the search for truth and meaning, the acceptance of diversity, and the promotion of social justice within a supportive and caring community.

Next Newsletter deadline is Sunday, December 14, 2008
Please send submissions via e-mail to the Newsletter Editor. Prepare your submission in MS Word (or save it as a text file) and send it as an attachment to the e-mail. Please send graphic files separately. If you do not use e-mail, leave a copy of your submission (preferably typed) in the red Newsletter folder outside the church office.

Unitarian Universalist Church of Nashua

Stephen D. Edington, Minister
Laurie Goodman, President
Jed Holland, Music Director
Chris Parker, Religious Education Director
Sherri Woolsey, Office Administrator/Membership & Volunteer Coordinator
Sandra Martinage, Custodian

Church Office Information

Steve Edington's Hours

9:00 a.m. to Noon, Tuesday through Thursday, Afternoon and evenings by appointment.
Feel free to call Steve's home anything before 9:30 p.m. Emergencies: call anytime. Message to Steve Edington

Church Staff Hours

Chris Parker, Religious Education Director: 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday
Sherri Woolsey, Church Administrator/Membership and Volunteer Coordinator: 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday during the church year

Contact the Church:
phone 603 882-1091 | Send a message Message to the Church Office | www.uunashua.org