chaliceNashua UU News - January 2012

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.

For best printing, and to see any photos and attachments, use the pdf file

Also try the online calendar

Upcoming Services

Steve Edington

Services start at 10:00AM.

January 1: New Year's Potpourri

As has become our tradition, this "Stone Soup" type service is an opportunity for those attending to help welcome the New Year. You're invited to bring a reading, poem, meditation, etc, that has been meaningful to you over the years that you'd like to share to usher in yet another year. Roy Goodman, a member of our Worship Associates Team, will lead the service.

There will be no Church School or Child Care this Sunday.

January 8: The Challenge and Promise of Transition, Rev. Keith Kron, Guest Speaker

We're delighted to welcome Rev. Keith Kron, the Director of the Transitions Office of the Unitarian Universalist Association, to our service today. His sermon will largely be about what our congregation may expect as a long-term ministry comes to a close and we prepare for a new one. (More about this in the Reflections and Ruminations column.)

January 15: My Life as a White Guy: A Martin Luther King Day Sermon

I've spoken many times during my ministry here on what I take to be the legacy of Martin Luther King. This time I'll take a more personal turn and reflect upon on my own "journey with race," so to speak, from my early encounters with racism to my dealings with matters of race and class today.

January 22: The Sixties: Still Crazy After All These Years

While this sermon may reach back some 40-50 years, my idea for it comes from the release this past summer (2011) of the documentary Magic Trip. It's about the 1964 cross-country tour taken by the late author, Ken Kesey, and his "Merry Pranksters" on a psychedelic painted bus driven by Neal Cassady. What intrigues me is the attention this film garnered, including a New York Times editorial, 47 years after the events it portrays. I'll use this film event to reflect on the still conflicted, and still debated, legacy of the 1960s.

[On Friday evening, January 20, I'll show the film/documentary Magic Trip at the church for any who want to view it prior to this Sunday.]

January 29: The Many Meanings of Ministry. Part II

This is the second in a series for this church year that I began on October 23. On that Sunday last fall I spoke in a rather broad based fashion about how I learned the meanings of ministry in the church in which I was raised and in theological school. On this Sunday I'll place the focus on what my years with this Nashua congregation have taught me about the meanings of ministry.

Reflections and Ruminations...

Welcome to 2012!

I have a strong feeling that this year will be a pivotal one both in my ministerial life and in the life of our congregation; or as Adam said to Eve as they exited the Garden of Eden, "My dear, we are living in a time of transition!"

Okay, so we're not quite the Garden of Eden, but Adam's imaginary words are certainly real and relevant to us as the year 2012 gets underway.

Even as I remain focused on the day-to-day responsibilities of ministry here with you, I am beginning to anticipate, in ways still rather undefined, my post Nashua UU Church life. And I know you are beginning to do this kind of forward thinking as well. This is a good thing for all of us to be doing really.

This is why I want to call your attention to two very important events for us in the first month of this New Year.

Do make every effort to attend our Sunday service on January 8th. As noted in the Upcoming Services section our guest speaker on that Sunday will be the Rev. Keith Kron. Keith, a long time friend and colleague of mine, is the Director of the Unitarian Universalist Association's Office of Ministerial Transitions. This is the office that helps facilitate the work of our UU congregations as they move from one minister to another, including taking on the services of an Interim Minister. Keith's topic is The Challenge and Promise of Transition. I'm sure what he'll have to say will be very helpful to us in the coming months.

Then on the evening of January 21st the Special Committee on Ministry and the Board of Trustees is hosting an All Church Dinner where those attending will be given the opportunity, in small group settings, to share their thoughts, hopes, ideas, dreams, and concerns as my ministry comes to a close and you move into a new phase in the ongoing life of this church.

Additional information about this important event is found elsewhere in this Newsletter, and you will also receive a mailed invitation to it. So mark that date!

We have important days ahead. Let us keep faith with one another as we move into them.

Peace, - Steve

Upcoming Events

Return of the Biggest Crazy UU Band That Ever Was - January 8

Jed Holland

The Music Committee invites everyone to bring an instrument and join us for the service on January 8 to play "Lean on Me" with the choir, and "Enter, Rejoice and Come In" as an introit. We will provide sheet music. Please arrive by 9:15 to rehearse.

UU Men's Group - January 12 and 26

Dick Widhu

We meet every other Thursday (January 12 and 26) at 7pm in the Fellowship Room or the Youth Room to talk about personal issues in a non-threatening confidential environment, often stimulated by a topic from the book New Men - Deeper Hungers by Tom Owen-Towle. Any men are welcome to join us if only to see what our group is about. If you have questions, contact Dick Widhu.

UU Hikers: Outdoor Recreation Events

Dick Widhu

Each month we plan to organize at least one activity outdoors for people to enjoy active and sociable recreation. We try to schedule easy half-day local events for younger kids and challenging all-day major hikes for older ones, with kidless adults also welcome. If you would like more information, please contact Dick Widhu, or join the Hiking With Kids NH FaceBook group to get last-minute details, including times and places to meet.

Musquash Moonlight Hike in Hudson, NH - Sunday, January 8 - 4:30-5:30 PM

This is an easy one-mile roundtrip walk on a dirt trail beside Musquash Pond where young kids can experience being out in the woods after dark. We will view sunset color over the pond, then walk the new pond-side trail (out and back) by the light of the almost-full moon (moonrise will be at 4:10pm; sunset at 4:29 pm).

You may wish to wear comfortable walking shoes and bring a (perhaps not even needed) light source (headlamp or flashlight).

We will gather for the hike at the main parking lot on the east side of Musquash Road at 4:30 pm. For directions see: www.nhmountainhiking.com/hike/musquash2/directions.html

Hike Mt. Tom in Crawford Notch NH - Monday, January 16 - 9:30 AM - 4:00 PM

This is a challenging hike to one of NH's famous 4000-foot mountains, suitable for older kids in good condition (walking 6 miles round trip, going up 2100 feet, taking 6 hours).

We will meet at Crawford Depot to start our hike at 9:30 AM. A carpool will be leaving Route 93, Exit 11 (Hooksett) Park-and-Ride at 7:30 AM.

Here's what to bring: www.nhmountainhiking.com/hike/lists/hwk.html

For directions see: www.nhmountainhiking.com/hike/tom/directions.html

Simple Gifts Coffee House - Squeezebox Stompers! January 14, 2012, 7:30pm

Mary Beth Restivo

"Listening to the Squeezebox Stompers is like taking a walk through the streets of the French Quarter. The Stompers keep the dance floor busy with their trademark Louisiana sound injected into every genre from Cajun, Zydeco, Blues, to country. They are a refreshing change of pace in New England, a long way from the warm Bourbon Street vibe they lovingly conjure with every performance." -Brett Cromwell, Lowell Sun

The Squeezebox Stompers play a rousing and eclectic mix of bluesy Roadhouse roots music. The music combines the sounds of Cajun, Zydeco, Celtic, Country, Blues, and Jazz - we get it all! It's a mix of new and old, traditional yet contemporary; blending the sounds of accordion, guitar, fiddle, mandolin, bass, and drums. Squeezebox will entertain us with Cajun Waltzes, Delta Blues, two-steps, hoe-downs, swamp ballads, and original tunes. Whatever you want to call it, however you hear it, the Squeezebox Stompers will have you rocking in your seats and on the dance floor.

The band has been playing together for over 25 years. Ralph Tufo, a founding member of Boogaloo Swamis and band leader of the Squeezebox Stompers, has been recipient of 4 Boston Music Awards. Ralph plays the accordion, piano, Anglo concertina and Cajun accordion. He is a prolific songwriter as well with over 40 songs to his credit. Larry Plitt on guitar and vocals is winner of the 2007 Boston Folk Festival Songwriting Contest. The band also features Ron Chane, a multi instrumentalist and unrepentant rock and roller, on upright bass; Paul Harty on fiddle, mandolin, and vocals; and Mike Migliozzi keeping the beat on drums and vocals.

They are a hot and lively change of pace in our New Hampshire venue, bringing the sassy vibe of Bourbon Street to our coffee house space.

"How much fun is attending a Squeezebox Stompers show? I dare to say that it's so much fun that the band should be banned in Boston and made illegal. Nawwwww... then we wouldn't get to listen to their rollicking tunes and do the two-step and swirl around like we were all born on the bayou!" -Kathy Sands-Boehmer, Me & Thee Blogspot

The show starts at 7:30pm, doors open at 7:00pm, seating is general admission.

Tickets

City Arts Nashua online sales are allowed until 11:00pm the night before the show, and PayPal sales are allowed until Noon on the day of the show. Tickets will be held in your name at the door.

Join our Facebook group or the email list for up-to-the-minute performance information. More information is on the Simple Gifts website www.uunashua.org/simplegifts

Warm Clothes, Warm Hearts

Simple Gifts Coffee House will be supporting a winter clothing drive to benefit homeless people in the Nashua area. We will be collecting at our January 14th show. Please bring in new or gently used jackets, coats, gloves, mittens, and hats to our show and they will be distributed to those in need at area homeless shelters. You will receive three raffle tickets when you make a donation.

January 15: UUA Social Justice Issues

Ellen Fisher, President of the Congregation - Marty Storer, Chair of the Social Justice Committee

The Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) would like your help in identifying Social Justice issues that can be studied within all UU congregations. After a period of study, a statement of principle about an issue will be voted on, and if approved, adopted at a future General Assembly (GA). Each UU congregation has a chance, but is not required, to study the issues before they are taken up at General Assembly.

The UUA has asked that we, as a congregation, give our opinion of the issues that are being considered for study and possible action. This year's proposed issues are:

The Social Justice Committee has agreed to be a forum for discussion of the proposed issues. Any member of the congregation who would like to have a voice in the UU Church of Nashua's response to each of these issues is invited to attend the next Social Justice Committee meeting. It will be at 11:30 on Sunday, January 15th in the Fellowship Room. (You don't need to understand this process to attend!) Please join us.

Fleece Blankets, January 18 and 22

Jenn Morton, Social Activities

Our fleece blanket making project is back! Please join us for the easiest craft project you will ever do... with heartwarming results too! For 3 years now, we have made fleece blankets for donation to the Nashua Children's Home. They are simple to make, we just fringe the edge of the fleece and tie it together. If you can use scissors and tie knots, we need your help. Please join us on Wednesday, January 18 from 6:30-7:30pm in Room 6, or Sunday, January 22 in the Fellowship Room immediately after the service as we complete this project. If you are unable to join us but would still like to help, monetary donations to cover the cost of the fleece are gratefully accepted. Please contact Jenn Morton.

Third Thursday Game Nights, January 19, 6:30-8pm

Jenn Morton, Social Activities

Join the fun in the Dining Room. Bring your favorite game to share, or just bring yourself, we have lots of games to choose from. Light snack will be provided. Other Game Nights are February 16 and March 15.

And Save the Date: Saturday, February 11 from 10am-1pm in the Dining Room. Please join us as we make Pet Beds to donate to the Humane Society. All materials will be provided. Look for more details in the February newsletter.

Transition Supper and Discussion January 21

Bob Sampson

The transition next year from Steve's long time ministry in our Church will be a challenge and certainly not a free lunch, but there will be a free supper to talk about it on Saturday evening, January 21st.

On Sunday, January 8th, we will hear from Rev. Keith Kron, Director of the Unitarian Universalist Association's Transitions Office speaking about "The Challenge and Promise of Transition." On the 21st, we will talk about what Rev. Kron has told us; hear from the Church leadership on plans for the transition via an interim ministry; and collect the Congregation's questions and ideas. So that everyone can participate, we will break into small discussion groups, each of which will give a summary of their thoughts at the end of the evening.

As we move from a settled to an interim ministry and then to a new settlement, the entire Congregation needs to be informed and involved in the process. This is one of the opportunities to do just that. Do attend, and let the Church Office know by email or phone that you will be on hand.

T Shirt Design Contest

Monica Staples

Would you like to try your hand at designing a new T shirt for the UU Church of Nashua? The Membership Committee officially invites you to submit a design you think would look great on the T shirt all of your UU friends will want to wear! The deadline for submissions is Sunday, January 29th. Congregation-wide voting will be held in February to select the new design!

Announcements

New Pictorial Directories

Sherri Woolsey

New Pictorial Directories will be available at the Information Table starting on January 8. The Membership Committee has been taking pictures of Members and Friends on Sunday's before and after church. If you haven't had your photo taken, please be sure to speak with Sherri Woolsey or Jenn Morton so we can take your picture and add it to our directory. If you would rather send in a photo please feel free to email it to the church office. Thank you.

Parking Across the Street?

Sherri Woolsey

If you park across the street in the Margarita's Restaurant on Sundays, you need to be parking behind the barriers that separate their lot from the BAE lot. Parking in the Restaurant lot could get you towed. They do open for business on Sundays at 11:30 but do not like to see cars that aren't visiting their establishment in their lot. Please be respectful of them and park behind the barriers on the BAE side of the lot. Thank you.

Denominational Connections News

Mary Licking

The UUA General Assembly 2012 is a Justice GA being held in Phoenix, Arizona from June 20th to June 24th. To learn more, go to the UUA website, click on Our Association and on the drop down menu click on General Assembly. If you would like to represent UUNashua as a delegate to the GA 2012, please call the church office or contact Mary Licking, preferably by January 20, 2012. When you contact us, please give your name and contact information. Delegates from UUNashua are responsible for making their own financing and travel arrangements.

Circle Suppers

Eileen Herring

If you enjoy having great discussions over a fabulous meal, please consider joining us for a Circle Supper. What is a Circle Supper? It's simply a potluck dinner held in a church member or friend's home that several people attend. How do they work? Each month we try to have 3-6 home hosts (home host is someone who is willing to host the dinner at their house). The host picks a date and time that works for them to host the supper. The host lets me know, and then I inform the others who have signed up on the Circle Supper list.

If you are interested, please sign up at the Information Table or e-mail Eileen Herring. All I need is your name, the number of adults you would like to host, and your contact information.

A Gift for Steve

Kim Steele and Ellen Fisher

The newly-formed UU Quilters group is cooking up a project that everyone can be a part of. We are planning a "signature quilt" to give to Steve Edington in honor of his retirement at the end of this church year. The quilt design will be made from different colored fabric pieces sewn together to form a design. Some of the fabric pieces will be plain white, however - where all of us in the church community can sign our names.

This will not really be a surprise since Steve knows about this, but we are not directly discussing it with him. He has been told not to pay attention. Let's not tell him any more details.

Please make sure that you and your family members take the opportunity to sign a quilt piece. There will be many opportunities to do so in the coming months. If anyone would like to join in to help make the quilt, please let us know.

Winter Donations - Thanks!

Elaine Thomas

You met the challenge! The donation basket was filled to the brim with warm "stuff" - hats, mittens, sox, scarfs, a sweater and even a cuddly white teddy bear! There were also donations of food and toiletries. Thanks from the Social Justice Committee and the Soup Kitchen for the generous response of those who contributed.

January and February are going to be cold, too, so let's try to fill the basket again! Questions/comments email Elaine Thomas.

My Brother, My Friend

Gil Dubray

My wonderful brother Andrew Dubray has a fairly advanced case of periodontal disease - directly tied to early death - and needs extensive dental work. Dr. Patricia Hamden, my fabulous dentist for many years, has offered to donate her time, but there are still the costs of the oral surgeon and probably the dentures themselves, several thousand dollars.

Can you help? There is a PayPal account ,. a bank account "Andy's Smile" at Digital Federal Credit Union. Or you can write to me.

Thank you so much for considering.

CHURCH SCHOOL NEWS

UU PRINCIPLE of the MONTH: We believe that we should accept one another and keep on learning together

JANUARY CALENDAR

1NO CHURCH SCHOOL (New Year's Day)
8Classes Resume; 7th Grade Visit by Ajahn David Chitko and pot luck lunch
15Martin Luther King Day, classes as usual
22Classes as Usual
29Transition Sunday; TEACHER ORIENTATION - 11:30am - 12:15 in Room 7

NOTE FROM THE DRE

We are coming to the end of the first semester. This year is flying by! Many of our teachers will be continuing through the spring, but we still have a few opportunities to teach. Please let me know if you are interested!

On another note, I will be working from home for about a month or month-and-a-half as I recover from upcoming knee replacement surgery. My wonderful Religious Education committee will be covering many of my functions at church and we are working on having my church computer linked with home for even greater accessibility. I hope to be back, more mobile than ever, in early March.

NEW BABY/TODDLER ROOM CARE PROVIDER

We are pleased to welcome Crystal Edington to the Baby/Toddler Room. She will be working with Klaudia Yanushkevich taking care of our youngest children each week. Crystal has an associate's degree in Early Childhood Education and is presently working at the Tollhouse Childcare Center in Merrimack, NH. Thank you for joining us, Crystal!

SEMESTER TRANSITION

Second Semester teachers are invited to attend their prospective classes on Sunday, Jan. 31 to meet the students and get familiar with class routines We will then meet in Room 7 with Jamie Hinkle and a presentation by Mary Ellen Wessels on Classroom Management. There will be a chance to meet the other teachers and ask questions. Curriculum will be distributed and teacher pictures will be taken for classroom signs. If you are teaching and do not receive information in the mail concerning this, contact Chris Parker in the R.E. Office!

TEACHERS NEEDED!

We are in the process of recruiting volunteers for the spring semester that starts on February 1st. We need a second teacher to work with Jamie Hinkle in the Kindergarten-First Grade and two teachers in the fourth grade. If you are interested in participating in teaching, please speak with Jamie Hinkle or Chris Parker in the R.E. Office.

VISITING MONK

On January 8th, the seventh grade will be graced by a visit from the Venerable Ajahn David Chitko from the Great Wisdom Center in Westford, MA (www.greatwisdomcenter.org). After his presentation, the class will be offering him a light lunch donated by the class members. He has visited us before and with his wise and calm presence, it will be a joy to see him again. We like to offer a small donation to his center, so please share what you can!!

HOLIDAY PARTY WAS FUN!

The auditorium was active and festive on December 18! The children did several service projects, made crafts, played with balloons and socialized. Amy Savoie supervised a project to make fleece hats for local pediatric cancer patients at St. Joseph's Hospital. This was a busy table and 44 hats were completed!

Jamie Hinkle and Jenn Morton engaged the children in decorating Holiday ornaments, including UU Chalices. These ornaments were sold at the coffee hour on 12/18. Thank you to all that were able to donate. The RE Committee hopes you will enjoy the ornament for years to come (we hear they can last up to 40 years). The $58.58 that was collected is earmarked for relief for the victims of the massive flooding this fall in Thailand and will be made through the Thai Red Cross. The devastation has been wildly underreported and our hope was to bring some awareness to the tragedy. These floods have affected over 3.5 million people in Thailand by displacing them or putting them out of work. The area that was affected by the floods is as large as Lake Michigan. There are still some ornaments left so keep your eyes open in upcoming coffee hours.

On the stage, the Senior High Youth Group sold donated gift items and raised $223 to be divided by "The Hope for Gus Foundation" (www.hopeforgus.org), started by a local family whose son, Gus, has Muscular Dystrophy and the Anne Marie House, a local transitional living facility. Thank you to all the donors and to the buyers!

Jenn and Julia Saucier guided children in creating paper poinsettias, Mary Beth Restivo and her daughter, Bridget, taught the children how to make pony bead wreathes, Kurt Reifsnyder provided wooden ornaments to decorate and Laurie Conrad organized balloon games for our active folk. Max Shepherd managed the refreshment table. Thank you to the teachers and other adult volunteers who helped out wherever they could. A fun time was had by all!

HAPPY NEW YEARS!!!

Youth Group Comic, by Devon George

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.

The next Newsletter deadline is Sunday, January 22, 2012, at 6:00pm.
Please send your content to the editor Message to the Newsletter Editor.

Unitarian Universalist Church of Nashua

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

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 anytime 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