Weekly News

June 24, 2026

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Welcome to Unitarian Universalist Society East

Email our office to receive a visitor packet or to find out more. We schedule several newcomer events throughout the year after Sunday services.

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Sunday Service:

"Hymn Sing"

Join us in person or online for our third hybrid hymn sing. Coordinators: Martha Larson and Stacey Musulin.

Summer Schedule

Sunday, June 28 at 10:00 A.M.

Gathering music starts at 9:50 A.M.

Join the virtual service at 10:00 A.M. via our Zoom link:

Contact the Office for Zoom Link.

Or join by phone. Call 1-860-646-5151 Meeting ID 357 815 420#.

In Case You Missed It

Click here for a link to the 6/21/26 service, "It's Not All Right / It's All Right"

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Music Salon Unplugged

Friday, June 26, 6:30 P.M. in the Meeting Room

Time to start thinking "Music Salon" again! If you like music and fun, you will like the Salon. We play instruments of all types for each other, sometimes sing, sometimes solo, sometimes in groups ... lots of variety. This is a low-keyed group of friendly folks that are happy to hear and participate in music of different types. If you are an amateur, a sometimes professional, a beginner, a player who is rusty on an instrument you used to play... ALL ARE WELCOME. You may play alone or with others. Or, just come to listen. We typically try to play a couple of pieces together as a group. We want to hear from you, so please, share your ideas with us. Questions? Comments? Email Peggy Webbe at 000 or Mary Bopp at Musicdirector@uuse.org.

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Hope in Hard Times

Tuesday, June 30, 2026, 3:00 P.M. at UUSE

In these troubling times, many of us feel anxious, despondent, or alone. On Tuesday, June 30 at 3:00 P.M., Rev. Josh Pawelek and members of the Pastoral Friends Committee will host a hybrid gathering for anyone who is looking for camaraderie and conversation geared towards finding hope in hard times. This will be a hybrid meeting. Watch these Wednesday morning eblasts for a Zoom link.

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Reflections on Our Declaration of Independence

A Multifaith Panel Discussion

Wednesday, July 1st - 4:30 P.M. to 6:00 P.M.

Join faith leaders from diverse traditions as they reflect on liberty, equality, justice, and the role faith communities have played in shaping Manchester. This is a community conversation about celebrating our shared ideals while acknowledging the work still to be done. The panel discussion will be held on Wednesday, July 1st from 4:30 P.M. to 6:00 P.M. at the Bangladesh Bhaban Community Center, 9 Delmont Street in Manchester. Doors open at 4:00 P.M. Community members of all faiths and backgrounds are welcome to attend and participate in the Q & A.

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Ladies Lunch

Thursday, July 9th at Lakeview Restaurant

Join us for lunch Thursday, July 9th at noon at the Lakeview Restaurant, 50 Lake Street in Coventry. All are welcome! If you plan to attend, please let Sharon Huber know by Wednesday afternoon, July 8th. Contact her at uuseoffice@uuse.org or 860-646-5151.

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UUSE Directory of Members & Friends

You may have noticed leftover copies of the light-green-covered annual Directory of Members and Friends out on Welcome Table. Summer is the time of year when Annie updates the directory adding contact information for new members and friends and updating information that has changed. If your information has changed or if for any reason you don't want to be included in the directory, please contact Annie in the office. We usually include name(s), physical addresses, email addresses and phone numbers. Note: This booklet is only shared with members and friends for ease in contacting one another. The booklet also includes useful "Who's Who" contact pages for committees and other groups. It is printed annually in October.

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Swing Into the Fun!

Saturday, August 1 -- Liberty Bank Pavillion at Dunkin' Park

On Saturday evening, August 1, the 3 area UU societies (Fern Street, USH and UUSE) will be at the Liberty Bank Pavillion at Dunkin' Park. It's a picnic package which will include standard ballpark fare and vegetarian options, free water and soft drinks and a chance to meet other UUs in the area. Doors and the picnic open at 4:30 p.m. with the game scheduled to start at 6:10 p.m. The picnic will remain open and serving food until about 7:00 p.m. A fireworks show follows the game. We are excited our 3 societies are exploring how we can work and play together. Tickets are $50 per person and must be sold by June 30th, but if you need some help, some financial assistance is available. Interested? Sign up here or scan the QR code on the poster on the large bulletin board in the main hallway.

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"In an Emergency, the Plan is Useless"

Learning beforehand what is in the plan is essential!

June Message

For nearly a decade, UUSE has had an Emergency Management Plan as its policy. It defines immediate actions to be taken for ten different hazards risking life, limb or property before 911 responders arrive. But when an emergency strikes there is no time to find and read that plan. One must learn ahead what to do. To be prepared, here's one action to know for one of the hazards.

During a Sunday Service, you're singing a hymn upstairs. Your child is downstairs with the CYM program. Suddenly, the fire alarm goes off, and you are told to evacuate. Leaving the sanctuary, you immediately go downstairs to pick up your child. Is this what the Emergency Management Plan describes you should do?

In any fire or smoke emergency, the safest actions require each person to leave the building quickly. The plan defines children will be quickly led to their exits at the ground level. In small groups, they will go up with adults to the parking lot. Thus, any parent going downstairs will find it impossible to locate their child and will not be where their child will be looking for them.

You can obtain a printed copy of the UUSE Emergency Management Plan at the church office. A quick way to learn all the actions for any hazard would be to ask for a discussion or tabletop exercise. At a future committee or group meeting, this will only take 10 to 15 minutes to learn and practice the details. Contact Annie in the office (860) 646-5151 if interested in holding a tabletop exercise.

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Romeos

Perhaps you have not heard of our Romeos lunch group: (Retired Old Men Eating Out). We meet on the 2nd Tuesday of each month for lunch and conversation at various local restaurants. If you are retired or simply have free time, feel welcome to participate. To be included on the email call list, contact Annie at the church office.

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Pastoral Friends

The Pastoral Friends Committee has a rotating chair throughout the year. Should you need pastoral care during the month of June, contact Roy Maynard.

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Ongoing Happenings at UUSE!

There’s Always Something Good Going On

• Stop & Shop Gift Card sales after services on 1st Sundays
• Fair Trade Coffee/Tea/Chocolate sales after services on 2nd Sundays
• Yoga, every Wednesday at 10 A.M. All welcome!
• Manchester Women's Singing Circle, every Thursday at 7 P.M.
• Book Lovers, 2nd Tuesdays at 3:30 P.M. in person and on Zoom. July 14: Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides. Discussion leader: Janet Heller
• Women's Circle, 3rd Tuesdays at 7:00 P.M. (Zoom only December through March) Email Nora Alpers-Leon atuuseoffice@uuse.org for the Zoom link.
• Romeos, a monthly lunch for retired men on second Tuesdays - contact the UUSE office to be put on the email list.
• Ladies at Lunch, a monthly women's lunch typically on second Thursdays - advertised in the weekly eblasts.
• Buddhist Group, 1st Tuesdays at 7 P.M.
• Meditation Group, 3rd Mondays, 3:30 P.M. to 5:00 P.M.
• God Talk, 4th Tuesdays at 4:30 P.M.
• Humanist Group, 3rd Tuesdays at 4:30 P.M.
• Science and Religion Discussion Group, 4th Thursdays at 4:30 P.M. June's topic: "Memory" - led by Chris Larson.

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Our Mission

Unitarian Universalist Society East is a welcoming, open-minded spiritual community seeking truth and meaning in its many forms. We share responsibility for building a more equitable, peaceful, and sustainable world.

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UUSE Links and Information

• Monthly Newsletter • Website • Previous Sunday Services

 • Children & Youth Ministry • Facebook •

New England Region of the Unitarian Universalist Association

uuse.org • 860-646-5151

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