Worship Service and Religious Education classes are held every Sunday at 10:30am - Child care is provided - Everyone is welcome!

Transcription

1 Sanford Unitarian Universalist Church UU NOTES Volume XXXVIII Issue 10 UUA PRINCIPLES We, the member congregations of the Unitarian Universalist Association, covenant to affirm and promote: Sanford UU Church 5 Lebanon Street Sanford, ME Telephone: info@sanforduuchurch.org Visit us on Facebook Minister: Rev. Sue Gabrielson Religious Education: Mesha/Ryan Quinn Choir Director: Charles Grindle Newsletter Editor: Mona Ouellette Church Historian: Helen Kane Webmaster: Emma Burnett Maintenance: Bill Ouellette The inherent worth and dignity of every person. Justice equity, and compassion in human relations. Acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth in our congregations. A free and responsible search for truth and meaning. The right of conscience and the use of democratic process within our congregations and in society at large. The goal of world community with peace, liberty and justice for all. Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part. (Adopted by the 1984 and 1985 General Assemblies) Worship Service and Religious Education classes are held every Sunday at 10:30am - Child care is provided - Everyone is welcome! December 1 - World AIDS Day - The service will be led by Rev. Sue Gabrielson, our choir, led by Charles Grindle, will sing. We invite you to stay following the service and help us decorate the church Christmas tree. December 8 - Sitting Among the Ashes - The service will be led by Rev. Larry Greer December 15 - The Religious Education play will be performed on this day. The service will be led by our Directors of Religious Education, Mesha and Ryan Quinn. The play, or performance, will be entitled Letters to Santa. The letters will be from children (and the young at heart) who have written to Santa with their holiday wishes, read aloud by the RE children. December 22 - The Ghost of Christmas Humble - The service will be led by Rev. David W. Chandler December 24 - Tuesday - Traditional Christmas Eve Candlelight Service at 6:00pm with the SUUC Bell and Vocal Choir - Childcare will be provided and refreshments will be served following the service. The service will be led by Rev. Larry Greer and Rev. Beverly Brent. Page 1

2 Worship Whisperings This morning when Mona called me at ten minutes before the 10:00am newsletter deadline to remind me that worship whisperings was due, I had an "oh sugar" moment of the four letter kind. I seem to have more and more of those lately, but that is a tale for another time. I was tempted to reach for a favorite poem but decided in favor of embracing the season. It is Thanksgiving--a time of giving thanks and voicing gratitude. Every Sunday that I show up at the church for service I feel so deeply thankful to be a part of such a wonderful community. No where else in my life am I greeted with so many hugs, and smiles and heartfelt warmth. Thank you for all the wonderful friends and like-minded folks that show up and participate, even when the numbers in the pews are too few. It is so very important to have this loving, open-hearted and accepting community in our lives. It means more than words could possibly capture. And thank you Mona for calling me!! With love and gratitude and blessings, Evelyn LaBree Worship Themes for November: Gratitude December: Holidays and Holy-Days January: Epiphany February: Joy/Play/Mystery March: Sustainability April: Rebirth and Renewal May: Blossoming: Our human diversity!! Page 2

3 Candles Lit in Memory or Honor of a Loved One Light a candle on Christmas Eve in memory or honor of a loved one. Donations are welcome. In Honor/Memory of Your name: Please leave your donation and information in the office or in the offertory plate. Thank you. Refreshments for Christmas Eve Service Our traditional Christmas Eve Candlelight Service will be held at 6:00pm on Tuesday, December 24th. Our SUUC bell and vocal choirs will perform and childcare will be provided. Following the service, join us for refreshments provided by the congregation. If you are able, we ask you to kindly bring finger foods, healthy snacks, or cookie treats. Coffee and other beverages will be available. Thank you. Mini Holiday Fair Please take a moment to visit our "Mini Holiday Fair" located in the Parlor. We have a lot of wonderful items available for your shopping pleasure. Church Christmas Tree We invite you to remain following the World AIDS Day Worship Service on Sunday, December 1st, and help us decorate the Christmas tree. Page 3

4 Rev. Sue s Incidental Inspiration Welcome Morning There is joy in all: in the hair I brush each morning, in the Cannon towel, newly washed, that I rub my body with each morning, in the chapel of eggs I cook each morning, in the outcry from the kettle that heats my coffee each morning, in the spoon and the chair that cry "hello there, Anne" each morning, in the godhead of the table that I set my silver, plate, cup upon each morning. All this is God, right here in my pea-green house each morning and I mean, though often forget, to give thanks, to faint down by the kitchen table in a prayer of rejoicing as the holy birds at the kitchen window peck into their marriage of seeds. So while I think of it, let me paint a thank-you on my palm for this God, this laughter of the morning, lest it go unspoken. The Joy that isn't shared, I've heard, dies young. ~ Anne Sexton ~ Save the Date: Saturday - April 5, :30pm - 8:30pm at the SUUC Annual Spring Fundraiser Dessert Buffet Silent and Live Auctions More surprises to come! Christmas for the Corner Cupboard Each year we try to have enough presents for our Corner Cupboard clients who have children to pick out one gift, as well as a couple of smaller things (stocking stuffers). Once again we are asking if you have any new items to donate to please drop them off at church and place in the box located in the parlor or give to anyone on the Corner Cupboard Team, unwrapped. If you know of any organizations that might help us out too, please let us know. These gifts will be given out on December 21st. We need gifts for newborns up to high school aged. Games, gloves, gift cards, stockings, scarves, hair accessories, toys, etc. are wonderful. Also items such as crafts, new books, dolls and boot socks are helpful. We are also looking for small hotel sized bottles of lotion, shampoo, soap, deodorant, etc. Our clients are always so grateful for the extras they are able to receive thanks to your generosity. Thank you very much for making a difference in the lives of families this holiday season. Page 4

5 Guest Minister at the SUUC - Rev. David W. Chandler Sunday, December 22nd, we welcome guest minister Rev. David W. Chandler. The title of his service is The Ghost of Christmas Humble. Rev. Chandler was minister at the UU Church of Saco and Biddeford from 2006 to His Master of Divinity is from Lancaster Theological Seminary, Lancaster, PA. He was ordained in 2005 by the Unitarian Church of Harrisburg, Harrisburg, PA. He and his wife Sally live in Saco. Welcome Rev. Chandler! CLYNK Bottle and Can Return at Hannaford Money generated through this program is picked up regularly and is deposited into our fundraising line. Please pick up a CLYNK bag at the church for your returnable cans and bottles, the bags are located on a table in Goodall Hall for your convenience. Please save only the cans and bottles that are redeemable. You may drop your CLYNK bag off at any Hannaford offering this incentive or at the church. Thank you to everyone for participating in this recycling program, we can all make a difference! Quilt Raffle Tickets The quilt in the parlor is being raffled off to benefit The Corner Cupboard. Tickets are $1 or 6 for $5. Also, it would be great if anyone would be willing to take some tickets to sell to friends. Please see Janet Wood for tickets. If you would like to sell to friends, photos of the quilt are available, they are pinned next to the quilt for your convenience. World AIDS Day in Portland and Saco Rev. Charlie, our Choir Director, will be speaking at SALT, 561 Congress Street in Portland for the opening of 'The Lonely Fight', a history of AIDS in Maine. The opening is from 5-7. The display will be in place until December 6th. In addition, the Saco UU Church will be hosting a World AIDS Day service at 7pm on December 1st. Rev. Charlie will be a participant. He invites everyone to join them. In the Family Congratulations to Pat Herrick and Manolo Garcia on their wedding! Pat and Manolo were married at the church by Rev. Sue on Thursday, November 21st. We send them both our love and best wishes! The Administrative Office will be closed December 2nd-6th. Parking for the Church MIDTOWN MALL (one block southeast) has plenty of free parking. If you need to park closer to the church: Lebanon Street: YES - in front of the church and Goodall Hall only. Twombley Road: YES. Sweetser lot: YES Salvation Army: NO (Their services are held at 10:45am REV. MAURICE COBB S CORNER Thanksgiving is not basically a religious holiday. Therefore, it doesn t exclude anyone, but offers an opportunity for everyone to count one s blessings. Page 5

6 Board President: Aileen Fortune ( June 30, 2015 Vice President: Deb Folsom ( June 30, 2015 Clerk: Janet Wood ( June 30, 2014 Financial Secretary: Jan Sacco ( June 30, 2014 Treasurer: Lisa Huestis ( June 30, 2015 Co-DREs: Mesha and Ryan Quinn Music Director: Charles Grindle Liaisons: Janie Waterhouse ( June 30, 2014 Diane Whiteside-Peck ( June 30, 2016 Gary Wood ( June 30, 2016 Church Leadership Budget and Finance Chair: Betsy Baker Building and Grounds Chair: Bob McCormick Caring Circle: Gail Lemley Burnett Choir: Charles Grindle Church Historian: Helen Kane Committee on Ministry: Julia Payne-Lewis, Ryan Quinn, Pat Herrick, Rev. Sue Corner Cupboard: Judi Reis Denominational Affairs: Barbara Fraser, Tim DeCoteau Earth Stewards Green Team: Judi Reis Fun(d)raising Coordinator: Grant Manager: Pat Herrick Homesteaders: Jan Sacco and Melody Wood Investment Management Committee: John Steffens, Peg Sawyer, Art Dumas, Howard Dupee Members and Friends: Tonia Chase and Julia Payne-Lewis Music Committee: Melody Wood Nominating Committee : Diane Whiteside-Peck Partners For Sacred Places: Lee Burnett Religious Education Committee: Second Century Fund Committee: Lee Burnett Social Action Committee: Stewardship: Diane Whiteside-Peck and Patty Kidder UUSC: Julia Payne-Lewis and Judi Reis Webmaster: Emma Burnett Women s Alliance: Nancy Farnham Worship: Rev. Sue Gabrielson Worship Associates: Bev Brent, Judi Reis, Jan Sacco, Janie Waterhouse, Stella DiAnn, Patty Kidder, Mesha Quinn, Evelyn LaBree, Tom Huber Caring Circle Gail Lemley Burnett is in charge of our Caring Circle for providing help in case of illness, hospitalization, need for a ride to church, doctors appointments, etc. Please call Gail at if you need assistance. Minister s Hours Rev. Sue Gabrielson will have Thursday office hours from 9:00am to 9:00pm. During that time she will attend a variety of day and evening meetings, tend to administrative tasks and provide pastoral care. You may be in touch with Rev. Sue via or cell phone, but please understand that with her limited hours, unless it is an emergency, there may not be an instant response. suucminister@gmail.com Administrative Office Hours Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday 7:00-12:00 info@sanforduuchurch.org Co-Directors of Religious Education Mesha and Ryan Quinn - dre@sanforduuchurch.org Church and Community Groups AA Meeting: Every Saturday 9:30am-11:30am in the vestry - open door speakers meetings Back on Track Meetings: Every Monday and Wednesday in Goodall Hall from 6:00-8:00pm Board Meeting: Next meeting will be held on Sunday, December 15th, at 8:15am Book Group: Meets the second and fourth Thursday of the month at 6:00pm in Goodall Hall Choirs: Bell choir rehearsal are from 6:15pm to 7:15pm at the church. Vocal choir is held from 7:15pm-8:00pm at the church. Committee on Ministry: Sunday, December 1st at 8:30am Corner Cupboard: The pantry open the third Saturday of every month in Goodall Hall from 10:00-2:00 throughout the year. Next date it is open is December 21st. Organizational meetings are held as needed Council Meeting: Earth Stewards Green Team: Finance Committee: This group usually meets the Sunday before a Board Meeting Homesteader s Group: Generally meets 6:30pm at the church or a member s home on the third Thursday of the month Members and Friends: Music Lessons: Private lessons are given in the Sanctuary or Goodall Hall every Tuesday from 4:30-6:30 and Wednesday from 1:15 to 3:00pm Second Century Building Committee: Violence No More: Every Thursday at 5:00pm in the vestry Women s Alliance: Meets the second Wednesday of the month at noon Worship Associates: Meetings are held the first Thursday of every month at the church from 6:30pm- 8:00pm Page 6