UUS:E Activities & Events Calendar 2007-2008.
Have you ever wondered what the Nominating and Leadership Development Committee (NLDC) is all about? Here’s our mission in a nutshell:
And something new for NLDC in 2008: We’ll be offering Saturday and evening learning opportunities for our leaders—and those who aspire to be leaders! Watch for more information in the newsletter and other communications.
You may hear from one of us to discuss open leadership positions for the 2008-2009 church year. If you’d like to be considered for a particular leadership position or training opportunity, please give one of us a call—we love to encourage members and friends to learn more about leadership at UUS:E.
We’ve just updated our profile on the UUS:E web site, so take a look if you want
more information about NLDC. Or, you can contact any of our committee members:
David Garnes, Co-Chair
Jo Anne Gillespie, Co-Chair
Lorraine DeFreitas
Randy Huber
Kate Kimmerle
Nancy Pappas
Nancy Simonds
It's not too early to be thinking about the 2008 Goods and Services Auction. It will take place on Saturday, May 10. What can you donate? We'll need your usual and your unique items and services.
Please remember that all gift certificates from the 2007 auction expire on May 10, 2008 unless otherwise noted.
Nancy Lister, Auction Coordinator
The Manchester and Vernon pantries need your donations of non-perishable food items. Won’t you consider bringing a couple of items each to Sunday services this week and in the weeks ahead to help our neighbors in need. Together we can make a difference!
Sunday, March 30, 2008: “How Shall We Live? Part XI: Conclusion.” Rev. Pawelek concludes his sermon series on the Unitarian Universalist principles with a meditation on birth and rebirth. Coordinator: Rev. Josh Pawelek.
Sunday, April 13, 2008: “To Be Joyfully Determined.” An introductory reflection on the Positive Psychology movement. Coordinator: Rev. Josh Pawelek.
Sunday, May 4, 2008: “When the Gods Stop Speaking, the People Start Thinking.” Rev. Pawelek will speak about the insights of psychologist Julian Jaynes as presented in his seminal work, The Rise of Consciousness in the Breakdown of the Bicameral Mind. (This sermon was purchased at UUS:E’s 2007 Goods and Services auction!) Coordinator: Rev. Josh Pawelek.
Traumatic experiences—whether personal (such as the experience of being abused) or collective (such as the national experience of the 9-11 terrorist attacks)—often cause spiritual disconnection. They challenge our sense of self, our sense of connection to the sacred, our sense of safety, our faith in the inherent worth and dignity of every person. In the wake of traumatic experiences we ask, “Who am I?” “What is my relationship to the sacred?” “How can I forgive?” “What is the meaning and purpose of my life?” “Can the world feel safe again?” During this three-session course we will explore these questions and look at how spiritual intimacy can assist in healing through difficult times. Rev. Josh Pawelek and Lynn Dove will co-facilitate. Rev. Josh is the parish minister of UUS:E. Lynn Dove, along with being a member of UUS: E, is both a psychotherapist in private practice who specializes in working with adult survivors of trauma, and a survivor of trauma herself.
Please sign up for this class with Annie Gentile, the UUS:E administrator, at (860) 646-5151 or uuse153@sbcglobal.net by April 30. Please let us know if you will be needing childcare.
We are pleased to announce this special concert, which will feature Sonatas by Shostakovich and Rachmanioff. The performers will be Kangho Lee, cellist (and member of the New England Trio) and his wife Min Young Lee, pianist. While the Lees are offering their talents as a gift to UUS:E members and friends, this musical event will be a fund raiser for our general fund.
Ticket prices will are:
$12 for adults
$10 for seniors and teens over 14.
Tickets will be sold after Sunday Services
on March 16 and 23 and will also be available at the door.
See you there!
Join fellow members of Clara Barton
District congregations for our Spring Conference
and Annual Meeting at Nichols College
in Dudley, MA on Saturday, April 5, 2008. Our
theme speaker will be UU activist and musician
Jim Scott. Members, friends, and delegates
welcome!
2008 UU University and UUA General Assembly — UU University is a gathering just
before General Assembly (GA) of congregational
leaders of all kinds. If you want to increase
your knowledge and ability to serve
your congregation, UU University is for you!
UU University 2008 starts at about noon on June 24 and concludes by 12:30 p.m. on June 25. This year’s keynote speaker is Nick Carter, President of Andover Newton Theological School. Carter will teach strategies for leading theologically diverse congregations and how congregations might have a positive impact on a theologically diverse world.
ind out
more from the UU University Web page.
General Assembly, a meeting of congregations,
begins on June 25 and runs through
June 29 in Ft. Lauderdale, FL. The theme for
2008 is “Common Threads.” Watch the GA
page of the UUA Web site for more details.
This year the Coffee House will be every other month, and on the off months we will have Game night.
LIfe Span Religious Education-Winter Spring 2008
UUS:E will sponsor ten programs for the winter/spring, all at no cost, all held at the meetinghouse between January and June.
Three ongoing programs:
Small Group Ministries
UU Buddhist Group
Second Friday Film Series
Four courses with six monthly sessions:
Coming Back to Live
Eliminating White Racism
Killing Rage: Ending Racism
Building Your Own Theology
Three on-session programs
Microfinance-Changing the World One Woman at a time
Introduction to Unitarian Universalist Society:East
A Brief History of Unitarian Universalism
Friday, March 28, 7:30 P.M. An Evening of Romantic Russian Music for Cello and Piano. Tickets are $12.00 for adults, $10 for seniors and teens.
Sat. March 29 9:30-12 AM. Workshop, Same as March 12
Sat. April 19, 9:30-12AM. Workshop, "Effective Group Dynamics."
Wed. April 23, 6:30-9 PM. Same as April 19.
Module 1 - February: Bringing Your Spiritual Self to
Committee Work
Module 2 - March: Working with Volunteers:
Recruiting, Motivating and Delegating
Module 3 - April: Effective Group Dynamics
Name: ___________________________________
Phone: ____________________
Please check off your preferred dates and times. Training will be offered only once and at the time convenient for most attendees. Training will be conducted at UUS:E, 153 Vernon St., Manchester, CT in the Program Room. You will be notified of the final class date and time offering. Childcare will be provided. If you have any questions, please contact Jo Anne Gillespie at (860) 742-6342.
Module 1 Sat., Feb. 9, 2-4 OR Wed., Feb.20, 7-9
Module 2 Wed., Mar. 12, 6:30-9 OR Sat., Mar. 29, 9:30-12
Module 3 Sat., Apr. 19, 9:30-12 OR Wed., Apr. 23, 6:30-9
Please print and complete this form and mail it to: Jo Anne Gillespie, 36 Kathy Circle,
Coventry, CT 06238
Note: We at UUS:E strive to be an accessible community for all persons. Please refrain from wearing perfumes and colognes at our activities. If any adaptation or alternative format is required for participation in any event, please contact the UUS:E office in advance at (860) 646-5151.
UUS:E Nominating and Leadership Development presents…Three learning
opportunities for our leaders and those who aspire to be leaders.
Sign up for one or more of these by January 31.
An experiential learning exercise that examines group interactions on several
levels, and helps us identify ways in which we may unknowingly be limiting how
effectively we communicate on our committees, boards and councils. This
module will help improve participant’s understanding of how to achieve a group
dynamic that results in the best outcome when brainstorming, addressing
issues or seeking working solutions. Facilitated by Jo Anne Gillespie.
If you’re in charge of recruiting and organizing committee members, this
session will give you helpful tips on how to:
• Talk honestly with potential volunteers about job duties
• Delegate duties that match volunteers’ interests and skills
• Hold volunteers accountable in a gentle but assertive way
• Appreciate and reward volunteers in meaningful ways
You’ll get a chance to role-play some difficult situations, and you’ll leave
with ideas you can put into practice right away. Facilitated by Kate
Kimmerle and Nancy Simonds.
Many of us invest more time and effort on our church work each month than on
our spiritual practices, including worship or building intentional community. How
can we incorporate reflection and build spirituality into our meetings and tasks?
This workshop draws on material presented at two General Assembly workshops
and the work of Roy Phillips, Transforming Liberal Congregations for the New
Millennium.” Facilitated by Nancy Pappas.
REBUILDING TOGETHER: Christmas in April Saturday, April 26, 2008
Winter is definitely on its way out (we hope) and that means that REBUILDING TOGETHER: Christmas in April is on its way in. It also means that it’s time to think about volunteering for one of our long term social justice commitments: repainting the home and cleaning up the yard of an elderly couple or (more often) a widow who don’t possess the cash or the energy to do the work themselves.
Over the past ten years many, many of our members and friends have worked on this great project. (Last year about sixty homes were done in Manchester by the efforts of 1,450 community volunteers + the donations of materials and money by individuals and businesses.)
An important part of this project is to assemble a list of at least twenty volunteers (who will also need to have signed waivers) by Sunday, March 9. We will be emailing all of our past volunteers. If you would like to learn more about the project or to sign up, please call or email John Crowley (871-1301; jc3370@sbcglobal.net) or Robin Starkel (646-8289; atrix171@sbcglobal.net) as soon as possible. You may also contact them before or after a Sunday Service. This year will mark a change in the leadership of the Unitarian Universalist Society: East Rebuilding Together team. John has served as “house captain” for ten years. This year will be his last in that capacity. Fortunately, he will be breaking in two new “house co-captains”: George Jannsen and Robin Starkel. George will assume the directing of the painting and yard work; Robin will be the organizational guru. Please consider becoming a volunteer for Rebuilding Together. You’ll be glad you did.—John Crowley, George Janssen, Robin Starkel
Saturday, May 3
Saturday, May 10 Goods and Services Auction. "Spring Into Auction." Doors open 5:30 P.M. Hearty appetizers and drinks and Silent Auction 6-7:15
7:30-9:30 Live Auction and Desserts
Come for a profitable and fun evening.
Saturday, May 31 9 A.M. to Noon. "Introduction to UUS:E"
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UU. University June 24 to June 25. 12:30 P.M. June 25 to June 20 General Assembly. Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
Last Updated March 26, 2008
