Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
The Unitarian Universalist Congregation at Montclair
THE GAZETTE Our Newsletter for May 2019 Vol. 122 Issue 9
Our Mission: We are a liberal religious community seeking transformation
in our hearts, our homes, our community, and our world.
“I have no special talent. I am just passionately curious.”
—Albert Einstein
2
The Gazette is a monthly publication of: The Unitarian Universalist Congregation at Montclair 67 Church Street, Montclair NJ 07042 (973) 744-6276 Website: www.uumontclair.org
Our office hours as are: Monday & Friday, 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM Our Ministers and RE Staff are here on Sunday, 8:30 AM to 12:30 PM.
Our office will be closed on Monday, May 27, 2019 in observance of Memorial Day.
For recorded information on emergency closings and memorial services, call: (973) 744-6276, ext. 0017
OUR MINISTERS AND STAFF: Senior Co-Minister: Rev. Anya Sammler-Michael, Ext. 0011, [email protected] Senior Co-Minister: Rev. Scott Sammler-Michael, Ext. 0011, [email protected] Music Director: Markus Grae-Hauck, Ext. 0015, [email protected] Administrator: Danielle Carlo, Ext. 0012, [email protected] Office & Communications Manager: Jaclyn Puleo, Ext. 0010, [email protected] Director of Family Ministries: Lily Rappaport, Ext. 0023, [email protected] RE Administrator: John Laney, Ext. 0023, [email protected] Bookkeeper: Emilia Sadonis, Ext. 0019, [email protected] Technology Systems Consultant: Bruce For, [email protected] Head Custodian: Dawn Coleman Affiliated Community Minister: Rev. Jacqueline Lahey, [email protected] Minister Emeritus: Rev. Charles Blustein Ortman , [email protected] Minister Emerita: Rev. Judy Tomlinson, [email protected]
BOARD OF TRUSTEES 2018-2019 President: Susan Raufer Vice President: Denise Rodgers Treasurer: Dennis Kurtti Secretary: Sheila Eby Trustees-At-Large: Doug Andrews, Peter Arian, Brian Crooks, Kitty Cullina-Bessey, Elaine Gibson, Steven Mintz, Matt Silverman, Laura Wilson
THE DEADLINE FOR THE JUNE GAZETTE IS
WEDNESDAY, MAY 22, 2019
TABLE OF CONTENTS —————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
Minister’s Column……………………………………………………..…………page 3 Theme of the Month….....………………………………...…………………...page 4 Family Ministry………………………………………………...………………….page 5 Governance…………...…………………………………….……………………...page 8 Stewardship.………………………………………………………………………..page 9 FAQ’s……………………….…………………………………….………………….page 10 Worship & Celebration……………….……………………………………..page 11 Welcome & Engagement………………………………..…………………..page 13 Service & Justice………………………………………….…………………….page 15 Care & Connection………………………………………..…………………...page 18 Calendar……………………………………………………………..……………..page 21 Upcoming Services…………………………………………..……………back cover
3
The Listening Booth May’s Theme—Curiosity
“It is a miracle that curiosity survives formal education.” - Albert Einstein I was someone who did not always thrive in formal classroom settings. I did well enough in school, for a time, but became frustrated with the model of in-struction that expected us to sit quietly still and just receive information for 8 hours a day. Luckily for me I had friends and mentors who knew other ways to learn and explore. My learning style suggests I un-derstand the world by doing things, like taking things apart and re-assembling them. I was also blessed to have chances to immerse myself in different experi-ences, often with little preparation, and figure out how to succeed - or learn from my failures. Most of my deepest learning occurred outside formal class-room settings, driven by curiosity, without parental supervision. Imagine walking through a luscious forest, and the trail leads you to the banks of a river. Across the river is a glorious temple, with gorgeous music emanating from inside. There is, however, no bridge, and the only way to discover the mysteries of the temple is to wade in the water, stepping into the river in hopes of reaching the other side. How do we become comfortable walking out into a “river of unknowing,” to step into the cur-rent and not know where it might take us? Curiosity provokes our creativity, helps us dream of new inven-tions, and it emboldens us. May your curiosity lead you to a courageous adventure of self-discovery and truth seeking. In Faith and Truth, Reverend Scott Sammler-Michael
Theme Based Ministry at UUCM The purpose of theme-based ministry is to foster a cohesive theological understanding by breaking down silos of faith education, and knitting the congregation’s programs together, along thematic lines. Secondary purposes include the development of multigenerational connections, the extension of faith development beyond Sunday morning, and the solidification of the correlation between the religious and the practical. To learn more, please contact Rev. Anya ([email protected] ).
Our Vision Includes: Programs that are integrated across congregational life A central thread that makes congregational life feel cohesive and grounded A worship life that builds in depth over the month A common language of common religious and spiritual themes Congregants of all ages utilizing theology practically to meet the challenges of their lives The needs of busy families met with points of access beyond Sunday attendance Greater creative collaboration across the creative disciplines, through both lay and staff leadership
Our Monthly Themes for 2018-19 will be: September 2018 – Vision October 2018 – Sanctuary November 2018 – Memory December 2018 – Mystery January 2019 – Possibility February 2019 – Trust March 2019 – Journey April 2019 – Wholeness May 2019 – Curiosity June 2019 – Beauty
4
MATERIAL PREPARED FOR OUR CONGREGATION BY THE UUCM STAFF FROM THE THEME OF THE MONTH, MAY 2019 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CURIOSITY
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
What does it mean to be a people of curiosity?
Get Curious About Yourself When it comes to curiosity, we often leave out ourselves. Saint Augustine captured this perfectly when he wrote, “People go abroad to wonder at the heights of mountains, at the huge waves of the sea, at the long courses of the rivers, at the vast compass of the ocean, at the circular motions of the stars, and they pass by themselves without wondering.”
So this month you are invited to get curious and wonder about yourself. Aim your inquisitiveness your way. Here are two ways to do this:
Option #1: Are you a Giver, Taker or Matcher? Organizational psychologist, Adam Grant suggests that there are three basic relational and work styles. Explore his TED talk and the overview and quiz below to figure out which style is yours.
TED Talk: https://www.ted.com/talks/adam_grant_are_you_a_giver_or_a_taker Short Overview: https://www.michellemcquaid.com/give-take-quiz/ Give and Take Quiz: https://www.adamgrant.net/give-and-take-assessment
Option #2: Through the Eyes of a Trusted Friend There’s no better way to get curious about yourself than with the help of an honest and trusted friend. Think of a few questions that get at the heart of who you are. There are some examples below. Then ask a friend out for coffee or invite them to take a walk and ask them how they would answer these questions about you.
• What makes me come alive? What is my greatest strength? What scares me?
• What makes me a good friend? How happy am I? • What three adjectives describe me best? Do I fight fair? Am I good at
saying I’m sorry? • What makes me light up with joy? When was/am I most daring? Do I
take care of myself?
Next Month’s Theme is…BEAUTY!
Definition: Curiosity stems from the Latin curiosus: careful, diligent, or inquisitive. This is the same root for care and careful which implies an intention in curiosity, a sense of purpose about it. As the word moved into old French and middle English it took on quali-ties of eager to know (often in a bad sense), solicitous, anxious, inquisitive, odd, strange. Blessing for a Meal or at Bedtime: “May we remember that while we have some answers, we don’t have all the answers; while we know some things, we don’t know every-thing; and while we have lived, others have experiences very different from our own. Welcome to this community full of questions and possibilities.” - Alexis Englebrecht To Watch: “Temple Grandin,” the celebration of a curi-ous, courageous and wonderfully “not nor-mal” mind. https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/temple_grandin “The Beauty That Curiosity Sees by Richard Feynman .” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cRmbwczTC6E “The Case for Curiosity (TED talk) by Mario Livio,” a celebration of curiosity as the most human and maybe most precious “hunger” that exists. https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1102&v=Z_ojyXVVFKA To Read: “Why Are We So Curious?” By Tom Stafford “We humans have a deeply curious nature, and… our curiosity has us doing utterly un-productive things like reading news about people we will never meet, learning topics we will never have use for, or exploring places we will never come back to… “ http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20120618-why-are-we-so-curious To Listen: Open Your Mind by Melissa Etheridge https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=110&v=vkk23bIXuxY
5
The following resources help parents as they engage the question: “What does it mean to be a family of Curiosity?”
Family Rituals
From Tapestry of Faith, Faithful Journeys, Taking It Home
https://www.uua.org/re/tapestry/children/journeys/session9/132491.shtml
Share Curiosity
Gather as a family before an evening meal. Have each member of the family name something they are curious about or something they learned that day. If you like, light candles as you share. Consider saying candle-lighting words that affirm asking questions, for example, "We give thanks for our curiosity and the answers it brings." Avoid editing or an-swering one another's questions, correcting information, or exchanging dialogue until everyone has shared. Where possible, provide resources and encourage family members to seek answers themselves. It is okay to validate questioning as a process that is as important, if not more important than, determining answers. (To keep this activity popular, avoid pressuring family members to do research every time a "wondering" is shared.)
Attention to Curiosity
Pay extra attention to times when your child asks questions, shows curiosity, or otherwise actively seeks to learn. Point out instances of your child acting faithfully in a way that affirms or promotes a free and responsible search for truth and meaning our — their own search, or others'.
Family Journeys
From Tapestry of Faith, Faithful Journeys, Taking It Home
https://www.uua.org/re/tapestry/children/journeys/session9/132491.shtml
Choose a topic that interests family members or a question you would like to have answered. Spend an evening in a library or online, learning everything you can about it. Challenge each person to learn at least one new thing (or five, if you are ambitious).
Family Games for Curiosity
• I Spy (Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m344VlHbmXM)
• Twenty Questions: One person thinks of a person, place or thing, and the others try to guess by asking ques-tions that can be answered yes or no. For example: "Is this a person?" / "Is the person alive?" / "Is it a character from a book?" / "Is it a man?" If someone guesses correctly before twenty questions have been asked and an-swered, it is their turn to think of a person, place, or thing for others to guess.
Video about Curiosity
Sesame Street Follow Your Curiosity
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qW-Bo4QsYcM
FAMILY MINISTRY
6
Imagining Multicultural Family Community From Lily Rappaport, Developmental Director of Family Ministries
For over a decade Unitarian Universalists religious professionals of color have gathered together annually for community build-ing, spiritual reflection, collegial support, and essentially to “find our way home” toward our common spiritual home with one an-other. This year’s Finding Our Way Home Retreat was held in Miami, Florida, and was the largest gathering ever with 132 UU professionals (ministers, religious educators, administrators, seminarians, musicians) in attendance.
I have been fortunate to attend these retreats for the past seven years. It has been an awe-inspiring and nurturing experience to connect with a diverse group of religious professionals -- peers and mentors of color -- and to live in the Beloved Community. The experience has enriched my work and my vision for what’s possible in Unitarian Universalism. It has given me a place to explore what it means to be a multicultural leader within our denomination.
It is impossible to capture all the magic that happens when UU religious professionals collectively gather our full selves, the depths of our spiritual traditions, and the dexterity of our cultural experiences. It leads to such ques-tions as, “How might this type of experience benefit UU families who are culturally diverse and/or multicultural?” “How can we build a progressive and inclusive learning structure, within a Unitarian Universalism frame, that will offer families of color with programming that responds to the strengths, possibilities, and threats of living as peo-ple of color?”
A couple of years ago, several colleagues and I began to dream about what a multicultural family retreat might look like. This summer, this dream becomes a reality in “The Well”, an intentional gathering space of spiritual healing for individuals and families who are directly impacted by racism. This family-friendly retreat is intended for racially blended families, parents of color with children/family of color, white parents/guardians who are rais-ing children of color. It will take place on July 24-27 at Ferry Beach, in Saco, Maine, 30 minutes from Portland. For more information and registration, go to: www.ferrybeach.org/thewell.
Upcoming in Religious Education May 5 Coming of Age Services May 12 (2-4pm) Safe Space LGBTQ+ Drop in (for youth and friends) in Tomlinson Room May 26 One room RE program on Memorial Day Weekend June 2 Youth Service June 7-9 Senior Youth (plus incoming COAers) Annual Overnight down the shore June 9 Last day of RE classes June 16 Flower Communion & last day for 2 services June 23 Summer schedule (one service at 10 am)
Philosophical Questions Class This is an extension of the 5 Questions Class given last Fall but there is no neces-sary prerequisite. We will meet on the 4th Wednesday of the month at 7:30 PM in the Rotunda. Our upcoming class will be on May 22, 2019. Each participant con-tributes a meaningful quote, and relates it to their own lives. A time for questions and clarification ensues. Fee:$10. Call Jerry Boutcher (201-836-4057) to attend.
7
1. YAC YAC YAC--what's that? YAC is the YOUTH ADULT COMMITTEE of the Metro NY Region of the UUA. YAC is open to all high school youth (and adults) who seek to support youth programming and engagement and support regional learning with working cons, social cons and chaplain training for youth. The final YAC meeting open to all is 5/18/19. These YAC meetings offer tools for planning events, team building and youth leadership in our region. All are welcome and find out more! https://www.uua.org/central-east/events/youth
2. Announcing Central East Region's NEW summer immersion program River Rising for youth ages 13 to 18!
This program builds on the best of our former Goldmine program for a transformational experience for UU youth ages 13-18. Please encourage youth in your lives to check it out and sign up! At River Rising Youth will spend a week creating community and learning to care for that community spiritually, pastorally and physically. They will have conversations about how Unitarian, Universalist and Unitarian Universalist values influence their own sense of purpose and work on articulating their own faith based values. We’ll approach leadership as a continual process of self reflection, group processing and practice work. And we’ll have a lot fun just hanging out and playing together! The school is taught by pairs of youth and adult co-trainers. A typical day at River Ris-ing will consist of youth lead worships, silent reflection time, small group discussions, team based cooking pro-jects, games and activities to teach leadership skills, and of course necessary free time. To attend River Rising youth should be entering grades 9-12 the following school year (having just graduated grades 8-11) or the equivalent home school age 13-18. Youth outside that range who wish to attend Goldmine should contact Evin Carvill-Ziemer, [email protected].
Central PA July 28-August 3 or Schenectady NY August 18-August 24 https://www.uua.org/central-east/youth/goldmine?fbclid=IwAR3AS9pLqrcjhPl95Ng3X7ElUT6pzSt7QNPJPECP0e3cUY0va_wqRVIDEPY 3. Often you may see postings for UUA high school cons for youth grades 9 to 12: Social cons provide a safe space for UU youth to meet other youth and explore their religious identity. At cons, UU youth from different congregations come together for a weekend of worship, workshops, and fun! Registration and info at: https://www.uua.org/central-east/events/youth/. Follow our congregation’s Facebook page for how to register! 4. For Middle School Youth grades 6, 7, 8, the Central East Region holds Middle School CONS twice a year: once in the early autumn and once in the spring. Youth in 6th, 7th or 8th grades are spending 24 hours at a campsite with other Unitarian middle school youth from around the tri state area and is filled with other regional UU middle school youth, games, sports, music and much more. It is a 24 hour program, packed with fun. In addition to welcoming all UUCM middle school youth, some of our UUCM senior youth serve as conference lead-ers. UUCM parent Anneliese Scherfen is our anchor to support middle school youth to learn more about UUA Jr Youth CONS and to help parents get questions answered. Please contact her at [email protected] We will post the autumn 2019 date when it's announced so stay tuned!
YOUTH ENGAGEMENT WITH UUA PROGRAMS AROUND OUR REGION
Harvest the Power Info Sessions Are you interested in developing yourself as a lay leader, discovering where your heart is called to serve in our congregation, getting to know a group of ap-proximately 14 persons really well, and transforming your life in a fun and pow-erful 7 month program? If this speaks to you, come find out about Harvest the Power, a UUA curriculum on lay leadership development.
Sunday, May 05, 2019 from 10:30 to 11:10 AM in the Alliance Room Sunday, June 09, 2019 from 12:30 to 1:10 PM in the Narthex
Please RSVP to Patty Dow ([email protected]) or Dana Moore ([email protected]). If you are interested, but cannot make any of these sessions, please contact Patty to set up a time to discuss the possi-bility of participating.
8
The Board Corner From Laura Wilson on behalf of the Board of Trustees
Happy Spring! For many of us, this is the season of daf-fodils and tulips and joyous holidays. For the Board, it also means planning some important congregational matters and activities. Our focus right now is preparing for the Annual Meeting scheduled for Sunday, June 2. At this meeting, members* have the opportunity to vote on the budget for 2019-202), the candidates for the Board of Trustees and for the Nominating and Leadership De-velopment Committee, and the proposed Mission State-ment. The agenda and all related documents will be sent to members 15 days before the meeting.
As the work of the Strategic Planning Team continues, there will be an opportunity to learn more about the process and view a work-in-progress Vision Statement at the Town Hall Meeting on Sunday, May 19, 2019 fol-lowing the second service. All are welcome to attend and contribute! Because it is important for the congre-gation to have a voice in the development of this Vision Statement, there will be another Congregational Meet-ing in September or October to vote on the Vision State-ment that will guide the Strategic Plan.
*Please note that our bylaws state that to vote at the meeting, one must be a member for at least 2 months (Article VII, Section 6).
GOVERNANCE June 2, 2019 is UUCM's Annual Meeting: Are You a Voting Member? One of the benefits of membership is having an official 'vote' for our congre-gational business, the right to directly influence what we do and how. Voting should be seen as both a benefit and a duty of membership. As per the cur-rent UUCM bylaws, a member is: "Any person who is at least 18 years old and is in accord with the purpose of the Society may become a member by signing the Membership Book ... Membership shall continue as long as the member takes an active interest in the work of the Society by attendance at its ser-vices, by involvement with any of its activities, and by making an annual pledge resulting in a financial contribution of record." If you have become a member prior to April 2, 2019 you will be eligible to vote in our June Congregational Meeting. If you are not sure if you are officially a member, please contact our Administrator Danielle Carlo ([email protected]). If you would like to become a member, please contact Rev. Scott ([email protected]).
Installation of Rev. Kimberly Quinn Johnson The Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the South Fork in Bridgehampton NY requests the pleasure of your presence as they install The Rev. Kimberly Quinn Johnson as their called minister on Saturday, May 4, 2019 at 2:00 PM. Clergy will be invited to robe at 1:30 PM. Visit www.uucsf.org for more information. If anyone is interested in carpooling to this event, please contact Jane Gaertner ([email protected]).
UUA General Assembly This year's General Assembly will be held in Spo-kane, Washington from June 19 - June 23, 2019. Attendees worship, witness, learn, connect and make policy for the Unitarian Universalist Asso-ciation through the democratic process. Anyone may attend, and we at UUCM are allotted voting delegates. You do not have to be physically present at the General Assembly to be a delegate - off-site delegates are welcome as well. This year’s theme is The Power of We. What do we want Unitarian Uni-versalism to be? It is a time when we are asking big questions in our faith, and GA 2019 will be focused on digging into those questions together. Visit the GA website (www.uua.org/ga) to learn more about this extraordinary gathering. if you have an interest in attending, as a delegate or otherwise, please contact Teresa DeSousa ([email protected]).
9
STEWARDSHIP MINISTRY Basic Guidelines for Taking Care of our Sacred Spaces We continue designing ways to help the staff and the congregation live into a deeper shared ministry of our building and grounds. Always leave the space used better or at least as good as you found it. Remember these basics of using our space: • open blinds if you like but leave them down; do not raise them • throw away any trash • make sure lights are off and doors are locked when leaving • if you open it, close it; if you take it out, put it away; if you move it, put it
back; if you turn it on, turn it off • alert staff if there are any issues with spaces, supplies or systems • there is no storage space in our facility, so make sure you leave our spaces clean, uncluttered and ready to
use How do I make a room temperature more comfortable? Avoid changing temperature settings but if you feel you must change the setting, follow these simple steps: • Make sure heat and A/C are not on at the same time; they are often on separate thermostats. If you are un-
sure which thermostat controls what, leave it alone. • Simply pressing an up or down arrow on the proper thermostat will change the temperature setting for 3
hours. The setting will return to its previously programmed temperature after that time. • Raise or lower only by a couple degrees as this saves energy. Never hit 'Hold' or turn off a thermostat without
checking with a staff person first. This causes serious issues with our systems. • Hit 'Run' on any thermostat you altered before leaving. If you have any questions, please reach out to Rev. Scott.
Shopping on Amazon! If you cannot find what you need locally, did you know you can support UUCM by shopping on Amazon? By visiting: https://tinyurl.com/yynnuulh and choose “Unitarian Church of Montclair.” 4% or more of your total purchase amount will go towards supporting UUCM. Amazon recently donated $120.97 to UUCM!
UU Marketplace News The UU Marketplace committee is trying to recruit additional members. Members simply commit to one hour of volunteer service each month. If you have been thinking about getting involved at church but feel you just don't have time, this might be the committee for you. Supermarket Gift Cards: Please consider supporting UUCM in your grocery errands by using gift cards at the grocery store. Shoprite grocery store gift can be purchased (cash or check only, please) any Sunday during Connec-tion Café. Shopping with gift cards helps the congregation make money while not taking any additional money from you. Buying a $25 gift card costs you the same amount, $25, and you can use that gift card at the store on your regular grocery shopping trip. Please consider taking this simple step to support our congregation’s pro-gramming. For more information or to volunteer please contact Myrna Brome ([email protected]) or Tanya Dix-on ([email protected]) or visit the Marketplace table at Connection Cafe.
10
How do I schedule a meeting with a minister? Contact Rev. Scott directly. To schedule a meeting with Rev. Anya please use this application: https://calendly.com/revanya How do I submit an announcement? For Sunday announcements, all requests need to be sent to our Office & Communications Manager Jaclyn Puleo ([email protected]) by Wednesday. We also send out our weekly email blast on Wednesday. All announcements are included in the blast and also added to our website and social media pages. UUCM-related events take precedence over outside events but we do our best to accommodate all requests. Where can I park? Although we do not have our own parking lot, there are several parking options within easy walking distance. Visit: https://en.parkopedia.com/ for an interactive map. There is parking available next door for an all-day Sunday price of $5. Parking is also permitted at metered spots on the street and is free after 7:00 PM and on Sunday. The driveway at UUCM is reserved for employees during the week and on Sunday for those needing handicapped access ONLY. Can I get a Member Directory? If you are a member, we can email a current directory or send you a hard copy in the mail. Please let us know when any revi-sions are made to your address, phone number, and/or email address so we can have the most current information. Can I get some photocopies made for my committee? We will be more than happy to make copies for your UUCM-related committee, group or event. Since the staff is most famil-iar with our machines, we ask that you submit all requests to the office during regular office hours. How do I make a monetary donation to UUCM? Checks may be made out to UUCM. Please use the memo line to indicate to us your intentions (i.e., Annual Pledge, Plate Col-lection, MESH). You can also make donations via electronic funds transfer (EFT). How do I submit a reimbursement request? All requests must come from the head of your committee or group and be received a week in advance of need. Submit your receipts to your committee leader and have them contact the Administrator. Who Should I Contact? Oftentimes, many members confuse the duties of our Administrator Danielle Carlo and our Office & Communications Man-ager Jaclyn Puleo. We’ve created this helpful chart below that can help clarify our duties. And as always, please reach out to us if you have any questions.
FAQ’S
11
WORSHIP & CELEBRATION
UUCM Sacred Wheel (CUUPS) Events The next UUCM Sacred Wheel (CUUPS—Covenant of Unitarian Universalist Pagans) meet-ing will be on Wednesday, May 22, 2019 at 7:30 PM in the Peierls Room. We will be working on putting together our Summer Solstice celebration. Ideas are welcome. This is open to all Earth-based paths and anyone interested. UUCM Sacred Wheel (CUUPS) will be hosting a Summer Solstice celebration on Friday, June 21, 2019, at 7:30 PM. The summer solstice, also known as midsummer, occurs when one of the Earth's poles has its maximum tilt toward the Sun. It happens twice yearly, once in each hemisphere. The sun reaches its highest position in the sky and is the day with the longest period of daylight. It is also known as Litha or in Druidry as Alban Hefin meaning 'The Light of the Shore.' Light refreshments will be provided. For more information on UUCM Sacred Wheel, email Ann Trip at [email protected]. For more infor-mation on CUUPS, visit cuups.org.
12
On That Note... From Markus Grae-Hauck, Music Director “The only true voyage, the only bath in the Fountain of Youth, would be not to visit strange lands but to possess other eyes.” - Marcel Proust
You may have noticed that recently we have been repeating one of our gathering hymns every Sunday for a month at a time. We also sing the same prayer response (in the middle of the service, right before the readings) for an entire month, concurrent with our monthly themes. I have occasionally wondered whether this is a good idea or whether people might get bored with this approach - until a few weeks ago I heard our 8-year old singing “I Know This Rose Will Open.” Not just the first line (which is also the title), but the whole thing:
I know this rose will open I know my fear will burn away I know my soul will unfurl its wings I know this rose will open
In addition to the text, she had also correctly memorized the music (the melody of each line starts the same way but ends slightly differently).
When I heard Beatrice intone the hymn that we had sung at the beginning of each worship service in February, I realized that what we were doing was working. Bringing back the same song four weeks in a row allows us to not just hear it but absorb it. Aside from being able to recall something because we have heard it multiple times, rep-etition can lead us to listening deeper, to finding additional layers of meaning, to entering a deeper relationship with a melody or lyric.
May you discover ever new ways of seeing, hearing, and feeling the world around you, even (and especially) if that world is very familiar to you.
PS: Don’t miss the dance party co-sponsored by the Music Committee and Out Front on Saturday, May 4th, at 7 pm in Fletcher Hall. May the Fourth be with you!
For more information and to register, visit: http://tinyurl.com/wovengreenmay2019.
13
What is Realm? Realm is our interactive system that we use for: • Giving • Pledging • Small and Large group communication • And much more! Ever wish you could message your covenant group, committee, or team all at once and not have to search through emails for responses? Ever wanted to see your giving statements any time you wanted? Or make or change pledge payments without calling the office? Realm will help with that! You will also receive an email to Opt you into the Online Directory if you are already apart of the current directory.
Giving and Pledging through Realm • Giving as a visitor—Not a member? You can give to The U by clicking this link: https://onrealm.org/
uumontclair/Give • Giving as a member - Do you already have a login? Want to keep track of all of your groups, communications
and need a tax statement at the end of the year? Click here (https://onrealm.org/uumontclair) to login to Realm to give to our various funds including Sunday Plate, MESH, Flowers and Season of Life.
• Don't have a login? Reach out to our Administrator at [email protected]
Setup your online pledge! 1. Activate your account by clicking the link in the email sent by The U! (Didn’t receive the email? Reach out to our Administrator at [email protected]) 2. Click Giving on the left heading. 3. Click “+Pledge” and enter your information in the 2019-2020 pledge campaign 4. Click Save Pledge.
Wearing Our Nametags It's important that we all wear our name tags on Sun-day! Part of our hospitality is letting people know who you are. You and your friends know who you are, but if we are to be a welcoming Congregation, we need to let everyone know our name. Please remember to wear your name tags when you come to Sunday services. If you need a new tag, please contact the office at [email protected].
WELCOME & ENGAGEMENT
UUCM Talk & Tour Have you ever been curious to learn a bit more about UUCM? Join us for our Talk and Tour on the second Sunday of the month after each service. Our next T&T will be on May 12, 2019. Come to learn more about our UU history, beliefs and values along with discovering our beautiful Sanctuary and build-ings. Meet us by the fireplace in the Narthex after each service!
Greeters Wanted! Here’s a great way to get to know the friendly faces walk-ing through the door Sunday mornings: be a Greeter! Sign up with David Hanley in the Narthex or contact him at [email protected].
14
Connection Café The mission of Connection Cafe is to provide a space where we gath-er to serve one another, nourish bodies and souls, connect to congre-gational life, and build the Beloved Community. Join the Membership Committee on Sunday June 16 , 2019 for a spe-cial year-end Connection Café with delicious food, beautiful music, arts and crafts and meaningful connections! More details to follow in the coming weeks. Connection Cafe needs your help! Our small committee needs volun-teers to supply snacks. Whether it's a bowl of grapes, a loaf of banana bread, a box of crackers....each is a gift and makes it a whole lot easier for us! UUCM Committees: How about hosting a Connection Cafe Sunday? If each committee signs up for a 2-3 Sundays a year, we would be in great shape! Contact John Lytle ([email protected]) or Nicole Gray ([email protected]). For more information on how to be a host, please visit: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20f044eaba62ba20-connection.
MEMBERSHIP CORNER
Newcomer Connections Our Newcomer Connections will be held on Sunday, May 5, 2019 from 12:30 to 1:30 PM in the Alliance Room. Membership Team member will be present at the Welcome Table to meet guests. You will know them by the "Newcomer's Connection" sign. Are you new to the Unitarian Universalist Congregation at Montclair? Are you visiting or "Congregation Shopping" for yourself or your family? Do you want to know a bit more about our con-gregation and the Unitarian Universalist tradition? Join with one of our ministers and other newcomers to for a short, honest, in-depth conversation. All of your questions will be honored. Childcare is available in our Nursery. Children age 12 and above are welcome to participate. RSVP with our Administrator Danielle Carlo for either or both classes.
New Member Covenant Group Brand New to UUCM, or new in the past few years? Join a welcoming group of other newcomers for a New Mem-ber Covenant Group co-facilitated by Rev. Anya and other relative newcomers. This group is for new members and visitors who wish to know the congregation better. The current group will meet next on May 28, 2019 at 6:15 PM in the Alliance Room (enter thru the red door on the driveway side of the building; one of the co-facilitators will be there to open the door and welcome you in). This is the third New Member Covenant Group for our con-gregation! Please RSVP to Rev. Anya ([email protected]) if you wish to attend.
Pathway to Membership Class Join us on June 1, 2019 from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM as we deepen our understanding of the intricacies of the UU tradition as well as the complexity of our congregational life. We will gather for bagels at 9:45 AM. Please RSVP: https://onrealm.org/uumontclair/PublicRegistrations/Event?linkString=NjcxNjkwMGUtNjJhMy00YzQ1LWFiYzEtYTlmMzAxMzdkY2M0
New Member Signing Ceremony We will be having a signing ceremony on Sunday, August 25 ,2019. Those wishing to join UUCM are invited to con-tact Rev. Anya ([email protected]). Membership at UUCM is available to those who have participated in the Pathways to Membership class or another comparable learning experience. We also extend an invitation to those who have joined UUCM but have yet to be recognized in a public ceremony.
15
North Jersey Safe Space Drop in!
LGBTQ+ Youth Drop in at UUCM for youth ages 11 to 17 is a new com-munity offering that will run the second Sunday each month from 2:00 to 4:00 PM in the Tomlinson Room during the school year. Youth are welcomed to gather for crafts, snacks and social support on May 12 and June 9, 2019. Facilitated by two community educators who are GSA advisors and GLSEN educators, the purpose is to create a safe space for LGBTQ+ youth in our community that fosters resilience and equity. Join us, bring your friends, be you! “Drop in.” For more info, email [email protected] or [email protected].
Sharing Our Riches Planned Parenthood of Metropolitan NJ is the Sharing Our Riches recipient for May and June. Their clinics in East Orange, Montclair, Newark, and Paterson provide highest quality reproductive health care and family planning services regardless of gender, age, ethnicity, or ability to pay. They offer factual, medically accurate education pro-grams that emphasize responsible choices and lifestyles and ensure the fundamental right of every woman to decide for herself whether and when to have children. For more infor-mation, go to plannedparenthood.org.
Our Monthly MESH Collection Our MESH Collection has shifted from “2nd Sunday” of every month to “5th Sunday.” When there is a month with 5 Sundays there will be just one collection at each service, and MESH will get the entire collection. Our next 5th Sunday collection will be on June 30, 2019. Every penny received is used to buy food for the guests. No exceptions. Thank you so much to everyone who contributes to UUCM MESH via the UU collection, dona-tions in honor or memory of an event or person, or out of extreme gener-osity. For more information, please contact David Bronstein ([email protected]). Clothing donations for MESH: We will be distributing clothing on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of each month. Clothing must be: GENTLY used, no stains/rips/broken zippers/missing buttons/odors, folded and in small plastic or paper bags (large garbage bags will not be accepted). As always, we need adult sleeping bags and socks. Donations can be made at the Connections Café on Sundays or at MESH on Wednesdays from 5-7pm ONLY; please do not drop off donations at any other time. Please email Cindy Carlson ([email protected]) if you have questions, want to make other arrangements (she’s happy to pick up) or want to confirm a Sunday donation.
SERVICE & JUSTICE
16
Undoing Racism Committee News Racism as I See It: A Monthly Take on Racism From Jane Gaertner, Chair of the Undoing Racism Committee
Rev. Anya gave a sermon entitled “A Testimony from the Past and Present” which wove together the story of Jesus’ arrival in Jerusalem during that violent time with the suffering and violence our world is experiencing now. “From our witness, hope will rise,” were her inspiring words to me, as she related the violence of Jesus’ era to our times’ witness to the pain of Emmett Till’s mother, when she allowed her son’s disfigured body to il-lustrate the horror and reality of Jim Crow to the world. How much has changed since 1955?
“Hope will rise.” Georgiana Hart and I witnessed Rev. Charles Boyer and his wife, Rosalie’s work on April 17, 2019 asking us to witness today’s violence against people of color. Rev. Boyer’s justice work urgently calls us to unite with coalitions to address and right the injustices happening in NJ today. There were four moving testi-monies for two women and two men. Georgiana and I heard a 19 year old African American man’s account of being stopped at a Woodbridge QuickChek, and for no reason found himself arrested, held for two days in jail, then released. He had not able to obtain a police report about why he was arrested. This happened on April 2, 2019. Help was offered by the coalitions at this hearing by Rev. Boyer’s Salvation and Social Justice organiza-tion.
The Undoing Racism Committee’s work attempts to focus our towns, our state and the country to hold police and the criminal justice systems accountable for the disparities which appear almost daily in the news of vio-lence against people of color. We stand in solidarity with many coalitions to witness this violence, speak out and act against it. Join our efforts.
Book Discussion The Undoing Racism Committee at UUCM invites you to participate in a three-part discussion group on the book "White Fragility" by Robin Di-Angelo in Peierls Room on Thursdays, May 2, 16, and 30, 2019 from 7:00 to 9:00 PM. As UU’s, we are willing to have deep discussions about rac-ism. DiAngelo writes, "[we are still] affected by the forces of racism as a member of society in which racism is the bedrock . . . If we want to chal-lenge this construct, we must make an honest accounting of how it is manifest in our own lives and in the society around us.” Register at: https://tinyurl.com/y5dp2ogs. For more information, contact the URC at [email protected].
URC to March in the Montclair African-American Heritage Parade March with UUCM and URC to support the African American community in Montclair at the annual Montclair African-American Heritage Parade on Saturday, June 1, 2019. Cars are available for those wishing to ride! Why do we march? Frank Rennie, former UUCM/URC member suggested the URC and UUCM members march in the parade to support the Kwanzaa principal: “To share wealth and work, then, is to share concern, care and responsibility for a new, more human and fulfilling future.” We will meet at 9:30 AM at Glenfield Park (Maple & Bloomfield Avenues, Montclair); parade ends around Noon at Nishuane Park when a festival begins at 1:00 PM. Questions? Email: [email protected].
Planning Retreat The Undoing Racism Committee invites you to attend our annual planning ‘retreat,’ to be held on Saturday, June 15, 2019 from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM in the Peierls Room to plan activism and impact events for the 2019-2020 year. Our foci areas include a film series in September on the criminal injustice system, mass incarcera-tion, 400 Years of Inequality, other educational programs to impact systemic and institutional racism. RSVP to Jane Gaertner, Chair, if you will attend at [email protected].
17
You Can Reduce Your Use: News from our Earth Justice Team From Debbie Mueller and Silke Springorum on behalf of the Earth Justice Team
We are continuing to share with you the content of the UUA Read “Justice on Earth.” After the history of the Environmental Movement and the spiritual, ethical, and theological underpinnings of the Earth Justice Movement, the book urged us to “Transform Unitarian Universalist Culture” by seeing and working at all the intersections of justice in our society and with Earth. In the remaining chapters the authors share successful collaborations as examples of what this work can look like.
Rev. Peggy Clarke of Hastings-on-Hudson, NY shared her disappointment of our modern culture which lacks inter-generational opportunities besides many others dividers. One way to bridge the many separations in our society today was to create InterGenerate, a small food-justice organization, which started to open a community garden. This in conjunction with supporting lo-cal, independent (organic) farms provide food and community regardless of the many divisions we often experience such as age, class, physical ability, race, or gender identity. This project asks the questions, “Who reaps the bene-fit and who bears the burden of the modern industrial society?”(pg. 114) and Rev. Clark continues: “[It] is about food, but it’s also about harvesting a deeper way of living. It’s about planting and watering and weeding and harvesting community. It’s about deeper life, better life, shared life. It’s about being transformed.” (pg. 116)
The Reverends Mel Hoover and Rose Edington in Charleston, West Virginia describe in their Essay ‘Water Unites Us’ how local community organizing and humanitarian work can be very important and meaningful work for a congre-gation. This often means for a congregation to build, maintain, and grow their relationships with people and organizations in one’s area over a long time and for the long haul. They recount their experience and deep and successful involvement at their town and county level during a water crisis through a chemical spill in 2014 and again in 2016 when severe flooding occurred in the same area. They share in inspiring detail their experience of community organizing, humanitarian work, and the growing of the congregation in many ways through this work. We hope you feel inspired through these examples to decide what we at UUCM are called to do and to de-cide what our next Social Justice Focus Issues are at our Annual Meeting on June 2, 2019. We look forward to our continuing exploration and work toward greater justice between people and with Earth.
18
Care Team Ministry The Meals Team contacts UUCM members to provide meals to members and families who are in need because of: • Illness or return from hospital • Caregiver fatigue • Death in the family • Birth of a baby If you are aware of a congregant who should receive a meal, please contact Nikki Kean, Meals Team Leader, at (201) 240-4197 or email [email protected] or one of the Care Team Ministry co-chairs listed below. Looking for Volunteer Opportunities? The UU Care Team Ministry is a wonderful way to do service and help out your fellow UU’s. The Care Team provide meals; offer transportation to and from the U; visit members who are house bound or in the hospital; write cards of sympathy, support, or joy; and reach out with calls to ensure that members who are struggling know they are not alone. If you need direct help, such as a call, visit, or meal, please do not hesitate to contact: Arlene Marin, co-chair, at (973) 768-9121 (voice or text) or email at [email protected]. Melissa Mintz, co-chair, at (973) 744-0889 or email at [email protected].
If you need help for whatever reason, please do not hesitate to contact: Rev. Anya Sammler-Michael at (973) 744-6276 ext.11 or email at [email protected] Rev. Scott Sammler-Michael at (973) 744-6276 ext.11 or email at [email protected]. Rev. Anya is the point of contact for our Care Team Ministries, but both Rev. Anya and Rev. Scott are available for pastoral care. We will all work to insure that you get the support you might need.
Care Team Ministry Meals Team Leader, Nikki Kean
May is Mental Health Awareness Month For seventy years Mental Health America has spotlighted some aspect of mental health each May to bring awareness to the public. This year, Our Positive Place Covenant Group offers a variety of online resources to heighten awareness and educate our spiritual community. For more info on our group, please contact Carol McGough ([email protected]).
www.mentalhealthamerica.net - A toolkit of materials. www.seizetheawkward.org - Think Randy Rainbow does mental health. www.bevocalspeakup.com - Features ten ways to be vocal in your community. www.chophealth.com - Community Care Outreach Program – Local program of integrated health care. www.pathways2promise.org - Mental Health Ministry: A Toolkit for Congregations. www.morriscountynj.gov/hs/stigma‐free - Stigma Free Communities Initiative: Faith Organizations Toolkit.
Sunday Flowers Our Sunday Chancel flowers honor a memory or a person. The price of the donation is reasonable and your dedication will be acknowledged in the Order of Service. For information on available dates, please email Elizabeth Walsh at [email protected].
CARE & CONNECTION
19
Below are our groups that meet on a reg-ular basis and their upcoming meeting dates.
Our UUCM Women's Group meets on the first Friday of the month from 7:00 to 9:00 PM. We meet in various participants homes. Our next meeting will be on Friday, May 3, 2019. Abby will be leading us in a 'Decades Cir-cle'. Please bring a short poem/reading (2 minute max), which speaks positively to the growth and aging pro-cess. Women who are interested should contact either Marcia Mandel or Maryann Ficker to find out the meet-ing location that month. Come and enjoy the company and support of other women! If you'd like you may bring food, snacks, liquid refreshment, or JUST BRING YOURSELF. We will get to know each other through monthly discussion topics and other activities. All are welcome. We hope to see you there! The Senior Lunch Bunch meets on the second and fourth Wednesdays of every month from 12 Noon to 1:30 PM in the Peierls Room (bring your own lunch). We will meet next on May 8 & 22, 2019. Our recent meetings have focused on simply sharing general conversation about things that we have done recently and things going on around us. Remember, all UU's and their friends are welcome; there are no age constraints on participation: All are welcome. For more information, contact Gary Sanderson at (973) 857-3447 .
The UUCM Men's Group meets twice a month to discuss our aspirations, challenges, and concerns with empa-thy and a dose of humor. Meetings are the second Saturday and fourth Monday of the month in the Alliance Room. Our next Saturday meeting will be on May 11 2019, from 8:30 to 10:30 AM and our next Monday meet-ing will be on May 27, 2019. from 7:30 to 9:30 PM. Contact Christian Turek ([email protected]) with any questions. All men are welcome. We look forward to seeing you!
Be it a queen-sized bed quilt or decorator pillows, the work done by the Crazy QUUilters brings joy to the crea-tors and the recipients. Among our current projects are lap quilts lovingly made for UUCM members as a warm reminder of our congregation’s thoughts and prayers. We meet in the Rotunda on the third Saturday of each month from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM. Our next meeting will be on May 18, 2019. Our bee includes sharing of a potluck lunch. The workshop is open to all willing hands. For more info, contact Arlene at (973) 748-9194 or [email protected]. The Young Adults Group meet on the third Sunday of each month to celebrate each other's company, chat about the unique challenges of being a young adult in this era, and practice our faith together. Our next meet-ing will be on May 19, 2019 from 2:00 to 5:30 PM in the Mortenson Room. Welcoming all UUCM Members ag-es 20-35. Hope to see you there! Email: [email protected] for info.
Grief Support Group - We all experience losses throughout our lifetime, whether they are a loss of loved ones, others important to us, or important parts of our lives. The group provides a caring and confidential environ-ment that allows its members to share their experiences with others around their loss. The group is facilitated by an experienced group leader and participation guidelines are provided. The group meets on the third Mon-day of each month between 6:30 PM and 8:00 PM in the Alliance Room at UUCM. Our next meeting will be on May 20, 2019. Please call Dick Kessler @ 973-890-1039 (e-mail: [email protected]) for more infor-mation.
20
To share a remembrance during Sunday services ,you will find a small table with candles and remembrances book by the Chancel. Please write any joy or sorrow you have in the book, light a candle, and indi-cate whether you want your remembrance shared or kept private. Sharing Remembrances in Worship works best when we share our souls’ yearnings with the worship leader before Sunday morning. To have your request read aloud during the pastoral prayer, email: [email protected] by Thursday. If you would prefer not to have your concern read aloud, email your name, address, phone number to [email protected] and explain your situation or concern.
Sunday
Remembrances
Ian Kettles, husband of Felice Celikyol, died peacefully on April 30, 2019, surrounded by family. Please keep him, Felice, and their family in your prayers.
Nick Lewis and Judie Rinearson light a candle of sorrow for their dear long-time friend George Griggs who died after a long battle with cancer on Easter Sunday.
Susan Wright shared her gratitude for the love of her father Hugh and his wife Jane who joined us at services on April 28, 2019. At the age of 2 Hugh became a member of the Montclair congregation when his parents joined on Easter Sunday 1937. Susan became a member this winter and is grateful for the messages of peace and kindness that she hears each week.
Becca Seibert lit a candle of joy for the birth of Ramona Eleanor Koepp. Welcome to earth, sweet little one! Kate Loysen Turek lit a candle of hope for her aunt Renee Hill as she recovers from surgery and to her cousins as they become
her full-time caregivers. Wayne Martin lit a candle of concern for his friend Randy Ford who is fighting his best battle to put his cancer in remission. We lit a candle on behalf of member Dolores Davis, who now lives in Florida, who sends her love to her dear friends at UUCM. Deb & Rich Muller lit a candle of intercession and healing strength for Rich's cousin Nancy Murray who has just been diag-
nosed with 4th stage Non-Hopkins Lymphoma and has started aggressive treatment. Sally Apollon lit a candle for her Auntie, Eileen Pardoe, who was just diagnosed with mesothelioma, and hopes she can meet
an uncertain future knowing she is loved. We lit a candle of thanks and gratitude on behalf of Rebecca Lutzy who was hit, as a pedestrian, by a car on March 1,
2019. There has been an outpouring of concern and kind thoughts from her friends, as well as our ministers and Pastoral Care Team at UUCM. Even though she still has tiredness and dizziness, she miraculously does not have permanent dam-age and will be OK. She is grateful for this and very grateful to the congregation for your concern and care.
Deb Ellis lit a candle of joy for Andrea Parente, who grew up in UUCM and is the daughter of Susan and Tom Parente, as she graduates from Yale Law School. She has received an Award of Excellence for her work on behalf of immigrants and stu-dents with special education needs.
Val Ramshur lit a candle of hope for her family that they may find humor and that they support each other in the trying weeks to come. “Deep breaths! We can do it!”
Jill Magioncalda lit a candle for her father Otis Wragg with prayers for healing and a speedy recovery after being hospitalized this week.
Nick Lewis lit a candle of remembrance for Julian Caplan. Every April, for many year, Julian would light a candle to mark the beginning of the baseball season. He did this, not just in hope for his beloved Cardinals, but because he knew that spring and the start of baseball is when time begins again and anything is possible.
Larry and Marilyn Anthony lit a candle for Larry’s sister, Catherine Anthony, who died on March 28, 2019. We lit a candle of hope and healing for Aiden Braun’s Aunt Leslie DeVries who had been hospitalized . Please pray for her re-
covery. Leslie is a Unitarian Universalist and Buddhist who loves nature, coffee, cats, and caring for others as she pursues her Master's in social work and volunteers at the local animal shelter.
Rev. Terry Cummings, who was ordained here this past Autumn, has some exciting news. Effective on August 1, she will be the minister at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of York, Pennsylvania. She is really looking forward to being much closer to family, friends, and beloved colleagues.
Wayne Foti lit a candle of sorrow for his best friend Joyce Morissey who passed away 12 years ago on March 1st. Judie Rinearson lit a candle of concern for her dear friend Kevin who is taking of his mother who has severe dementia in a
small Virginia town where he has no friends or other family. We hope he finds a way to move back to New Jersey! Elaine Gibson lit a candle of sorrow in memory of her mother, Margaret Gibson, who’s 89th birthday would have been on
March 31st. She passed away 5 years ago but still feels like yesterday. Happy birthday Mom.
21
Visit: https://www.uumontclair.org/calendar/ for more info and events.
22
UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST CONGREGATION AT MONTCLAIR 67 Church Street, Montclair NJ 07042
DATED MATERIAL ~ PLEASE EXPEDITE
MAY 2019 WORSHIP SCHEDULE
Sunday, May 5, 2019 (9:30 & 11:15 AM)
“Crossing Over—A Coming of Age Service” Rev. Scott Sammler-Michael
Sunday, May 12, 2019 (9:30 & 11:15 AM)
“Crossing the Jordan” Rev. Anya Sammler-Michael
Sunday, May 19, 2019 (9:30 & 11:15 AM)
“Tell the Truth and Shame the Devil” Rev. Kimberly Quinn Johnson
Sunday, May 26, 2019 (9:30 & 11:15 AM)
“Beginning Again” Rev. Scott Sammler-Michael
Find us on social media! Join us on Facebook
at UU Congregation at Montclair, and Twitter, Instagram and YouTube
@UUMontclair. If you have an update or announcement you
would like posted through our social net-works or on our website, send to
