Weekly News

December 3, 2025

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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:

"Choosing Hope"

Many holidays with themes of Hope are celebrated in the month of December: Hanukkah, Winter Solstice, Christmas, Kwanzaa, culminating in the optimism of a New Year. Is Hope a wish? an emotion? a choice? an action? a decision? Join us as we begin to reflect on this month's theme of Choosing Hope, and ways we can expand our ideas about what hope is, and how we can cultivate it. Coordinators: Stacey Musulin and Martha Larson

Services at 9:00 and 11:00 A.M.

Sunday, December 7, 2025

Gathering music starts at 8:50 and 10:50 A.M.

Join the virtual service at 11:00 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 the November 30th service, "Awake My Soul."

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CYM News

Do you feel comfortable talking about your personal spiritual practice? Would you be willing to come in to the 2nd-5th grade classroom to explore big questions with our young UUs, with the support of seasoned classroom teachers? If so, please reach out to the Director of Children & Youth Ministry at dcym@uuse.org.

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Verplanck Giving Tree

NOW through December 14th

Let's brighten the holidays for our friends at Verplanck Elementary. The Giving Tree will be set up in the lobby after each service on November 23 and 30. Stop by to choose a "wish list tag" for one of the students. Typically, gifts are around $30. Deadline is December 14 to return the wrapped present and original tag.

We're also buying $25 Stop & Shop grocery cards for families. You can donate by check (put Verplanck in the memo line) or in cash (in an envelope marked with your name and Verplanck). Annie will order cards in bulk. Questions? Call Nancy Pappas at 860-646-5151.

Want to help Verplanck students in another way? The Verplanck Tutoring project could use three or four more volunteers to spend one hour per week helping kindergarten and first grade students learn to read. Most urgently, they hope to find two people who can jump in from now through the beginning of December. It's a structured one-on-one program with excellent teacher support, so please consider helping out. Email Nancy Pappas at uuseoffice@uuse.org or text 860-646-5151.

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UU History Trip to Boston

During his November 16th UU history sermon, Rev. Josh mentioned a recent trip to Boston and Concord, MA with this year's Affirmation class. That got me thinking, why not offer a similar trip for the adult members of the congregation, both new and old, who would like to visit these historic places? Rev. Josh was very supportive of the idea provided there is enough interest and if a few of us are willing to work together to organize the logistics. If this is something that interests you, please email me--Jackie Muschiano--at uuseoffice@uuse.org.

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MACC Christmas Mitten/Gloves Drive!

December at UUSE

The Manchester Area Conference of Churches has put out a call for mittens and gloves in all sizes. UUSE is going to formally re-establish our holiday Mitten Tree. During the month of December, please bring mittens and gloves to decorate the Christmas tree in the UUSE sanctuary. For more information, contact Diana Creamer at (860) 648-9546. 

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Puzzle Me This

The Strategic Plan Task Force is just starting the work needed to update UUSE's Vision and Mission Statements (previously revised in 2011) -- read the original plan here -- in addition to creating a new strategic plan to meet set goals of interest to the congregation.

To kick off this congregational work and to start some brainstorming, try the following challenge: can you complete this crossword puzzle with some key pieces from the previous 2011 Strategic Plan?

Enjoy the interactive puzzle and the opportunity to start thinking about new goals as we look to the future. The task force will present more information and discuss ideas with the congregation around this work in the coming months.

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Building Reserve Fund

Dear UUSE Members and Friends

The UUSE Policy Board and Building and Grounds Committee are establishing a task force to create an ongoing "Building Reserve Fund" campaign. As our beloved meetinghouse matures, upgrades and repairs are estimated to exceed the capacity of the general fund to support. In order to maintain the beauty, safety and reliability of our meetinghouse, it is essential that we begin increasing our building reserves.

Our task force will provide more details in the coming year, but in the meantime, we would like to offer an opportunity to support this initiative in the 2025 tax year. Donations should be identified for the Building Reserve Fund and forwarded to the UUSE office. Please reach out to Trisha Corey-Lisle (UUSE President) or Laurel Hennebury (B&G Chair) for additional information.

If you would like to be part of the Building Reserve Fund Task Force, please let Trisha or Laurel know. Thank you to everyone in advance for donations and generosity of volunteering time.

Trisha Corey-Lisle

Laurel Hennebury

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The Burial at Thebes

December 4th - 7th, 2025

The UUSE Affirmation class is planning to attend The Burial at Thebes. We thought others might like to attend as well. This is a version of Sophocles' Antigone, a new translation by Seamus Heaney and directed by our own Kristen Morgan. Shows run from December 4 - 7, 2025 at the Proscenium Theater at Eastern Connecticut State University. For tickets and more information, look for the flyers around the building and scan the code or contact the box office by emailing uuseoffice@uuse.org or phone (860) 465-5123.

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Eclectica Concert

Friday, December 5th at 7:00 P.M.

Eclectica is a Connecticut-based ensemble performing original arrangements of (mostly Western) music spanning centuries, continents, styles, and cultures using voice and an eclectic variety of instruments. Eclectica's concert "Wheeling Through Time" will take the UUSE audience on a soulful musical journey through time and place from the 13th to 21st centuries with original arrangements of tunes from classical, folk, klezmer and more. Beautiful images accompany each piece in a slide show of art and photography curated just for this program for a truly immersive experience. $20 suggested free will donation. Click here for Eclectica's Facebook page.

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Coffeehouse & Open Mic

Saturday, December 6th

Join us on the first Saturday of each month, October through May, for an evening of music, poetry, stories, and community! Bring your own songs, poems, stories or any creative offering -- or simply come enjoy the warm, supportive atmosphere as part of our appreciative audience.

Sign-ups begin at 6:00 P.M. and performances start at 6:30 P.M. We feature 12 slots, each about 10 minutes or two songs. BYOB, BYO dinner, and BYO friends - we'll provide the coffee!

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Yuletide Festival

Saturday, December 6th at USH

As we approach the Winter Solstice and the season of holidays and celebrations, the Unitarian Society of Hartford is planning a holiday event--the Yuletide Festival. USH would love to invite and include UU friends and families from nearby congregations to celebrate with them on what is sure to be a fun and festive day.

The event will host craft workshops, a vendor area and an ongoing lineup of musicians throughout the day. Members of UUSE are invited to reach out if they would like to perform, participate, volunteer or set up a vendor stall. They are looking forward to sharing talent, sharing time, making new friends, and making magic this coming Yuletide. For more information, call (860) 233-9897 or email uuseoffice@uuse.org.

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Ladies at Lunch

Friday, December 12 at Georgina's Restaurant

The next Ladies Lunch will be held on Friday, December 12 at noon at the festively decorated Georgina's Restaurant, 275 Boston Turnpike in Bolton. Do join us if you can - everyone is welcome! If you plant to attend, please let Sharon Huber know by Thursday afternoon, December 11: uuseoffice@uuse.org or 860-646-5151.

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HSYG Holiday Bake Sale

Sunday, December 14th after each service

Please join us on Sunday, December 14th after each service in the main lobby to support the High School Youth Group Holiday Bake Sale! Proceeds will be shared between the HSYG activity fund and the UUSE general fund. Contact Michelle Spadaccini at uuseoffice@uuse.org with questions.

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Death Cafe

Tuesday, December 23rd at 1:00 P.M.

UUSE's next Death Cafe will be held at the meeting house on Tuesday, December 23rd at 1:00 P.M. Death Cafe is a global movement with a simple goal: to provide participants in any stage of life with an opportunity for an open-ended discussion about death and dying. There is no formal agenda, but there is tea, cake, and a comfortable place to discuss this issue that will touch all of us at some point in our lives. All are welcome. Questions? Contact Rev. Josh Pawelek at minister@uuse.org.

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Upcoming Holiday and Seasonal Services

Where the Light Begins: Sunday, December 14th - Don't miss our annual, all-congregational music service where we celebrate the holidays. Let us welcome the solstice; let us welcome Hanukkah; let us welcome Christmas in this season where the light begins.

Evening Vespers Service: Monday, December 22nd at 7:00 P.M. - In a season busy with 'bright and merry', we may also find ourselves sitting with sadness, grief, and pain in body or spirit. Join us as we pause in the quiet to acknowledge and support each other in bearing these burdens. We invite you to bring your chalice from home, where we will light it for the service.

Silent Night, Holy Night: Wednesday, December 24th at 5:00 P.M. - Join us for Christmas Eve worship with beautiful music, timeless stories, and more. Anything might happen!!!

Reflections and Hopes: Sunday, December 28th, one service only at 10:00 A.M. - Join us for shared reflections on the year gone by and our hopes for the upcoming year.

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Pastoral Friends

The Pastoral Friends Committee has a rotating chair throughout the year. Should you need pastoral care during the months of November and December, please contact Laurie Semprebon.

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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.
• 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.
• NEW! 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. November/Dec - "Origin Myths" with Jackie Muschiano -- Due to the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays, meeting is on December 11th.

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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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