Weekly News

June 10, 2026

------------------------------

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.

------------------------------

Sunday Service:

"CYM Sunday"

Please join us for a celebration of this year's accomplishments within the Children & Youth Ministry program at UUSE! Rejoice with CYM staff, committee members, volunteers, children, youth and families as we reflect on all the gifts both given and received this year. Coordinators: Paula Baker and Michelle Spadaccini.

Summer Schedule

Sunday, June 14 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 Youtube video of the 6/7/26 service,

"Creativity: Meaning Beyond Words - Affirmation Service"

------------------------------

CT Crank-In 2026

June 10 - 13 at UUSE

------------------------------

The Connecticut Crank-In is being held at UUSE today through Saturday from 8:00 A.M. to 6:00 P.M. If you are interested in antique machines, sock knitting, or yarn dyeing, stop by for a visit and see what sock knitting machines and those who love them are all about!

------------------------------

Ladies at Lunch

Friday, June 12th at Noon at Sadler's Ordinary

Let's hope for good weather on Friday, June 12th. We'd like to dine al fresco that day at Sadler's Ordinary, 61 N. Main Street, Marlborough, meeting at noon. Join us if you can! All are welcome. If you plan to attend, please let Sharon Huber know by the afternoon of June 11th: uuseoffice@uuse.org or 860-646-5151.

------------------------------

Equal Exchange Coffee Sale

This Sunday, June 14 after the service in the lobby

Equal Exchange started with an idea: what if food could be traded in a way that is honest and fair, a way that empowers both farmers and consumers? Its founders envisioned a trade model that values each part of the supply chain. They decided to take a big risk and started importing fairly traded coffee from Nicaragua in 1986, despite a US embargo against the Sandinista government. A new business was born from this bold act of solidarity with Latin American farmers, and Equal Exchange grew from there. For a fuller rendering of Equal Exchange's early history, click here.

More importantly, stop in the lobby after this Sunday's service to purchase Equal Exchange coffee, and be a part of its successful history!

------------------------------

Join Us for Manchester Pride!

June 13th at Northwest Park and June 14th at NUMC, 300 Parker Street

Celebrate Pride with purpose! Join us at Northwest Park on Saturday, June 13th from 11 A.M. to 3 P.M. for a day of community, connection and action with live music, food trucks and guest speakers. Then join us and other organizations and advocates in queer rights, health, mental wellness and spirituality on Sunday, June 14th at North United Methodist Church, 300 Parker Street, from 10 A.M. to 6 P.M. to continue the celebration. UUSE is a co-sponsor of both events.

------------------------------

General Assembly 2026

Virtual Gathering June 14th - June 21st

General Assembly (GA) is the annual meeting of the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA), where participants gather to worship, witness, learn, connect, and make policy decisions for the Association through a democratic process. The 2026 GA will be held virtually June 14th - 21st.

Are you interested in representing UUSE at this year's General Assembly? Questions? Email Desiree at uuseoffice@uuse.org.

------------------------------

Death Cafe - Two Opportunities!

Tuesday, June 16th, 6:00 P.M. - 8:00 P.M. at the Spiritual Life Center

and Tuesday, June 23rd, 1:00 P.M. at UUSE

Death Cafe is a free gathering where people come together to share thoughts, questions, experiences and reflections about death and dying in a supportive and welcoming environment. The objective is "to increase awareness of death with a view to helping people make the most of their finite lives." There is no agenda, no presentations and no pressure -- just meaningful conversation guided by the interests of those who attend. Everyone is welcome. Refreshments will be available.

UUSE will be holding its next Death Cafe on Tuesday, June 23rd at 1:00 P.M. No reservations required.

In addition, UUSE member Marie Lorenzo, a certified End of Life Doula (UVM), will be moderating a Death Cafe on Tuesday, June 16th at the Spiritual Life Center, 76 Sherman Street in Hartford. The Cafe will run from 6:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. and registration is required. Register online at https://www.SpiritLifeCtr.org. Click on Events and Programs, then Death Cafe at the top of the page. For more information, email: uuseoffice@uuse.org or phone 860-646-5151.

------------------------------

Calling All Artists, Photographers and Poets

A new art exhibit for the Sanctuary will open on June 21st. Signups by June 15th. Drop-off for entries is June 18th from 11 A.M. to 12:30 P.M.

Our summer theme, "Nature, Animal and Vegetable," invites us to explore the living world around us.

"And so with the sunshine and the great bursts of leaves growing on the trees, just as things grow in fast movies, I had that familiar conviction that life was beginning over again with the summer" -- F. Scott Fitzgerald - The Great Gatsby

Register your entries with Carol Marion at uuseoffice@uuse.org. Include title, medium, price (if for sale), and photo (if you wish to have your submission included in the sanctuary slide show.) Poets, please send your poems to Carol for mounting by June 15th. If you would like to include a photo or a small piece of artwork, please send it along as well. Questions? Please contact Eric Vogel or Janet Heller.

------------------------------

Gender-Free Contra Dance

Saturday, June 20, 2026, 4 - 7 P.M. at UUSE

Here's your next chance to kick up your heels with all your friends in a joyous, life-affirming, beginner-friendly folk dance. All are welcome! Hannah Johlas will bring the tailored instruction, and The First Time String Band will bring the electrifying music! Admission $15, students $5, under 12 free. Free-will donation; no one turned away. Sponsored by the Music Committee. Unitarian Universalist Society East Meetinghouse, 153 Vernon St. West, Manchester, CT. For more info, click here, email contra@uuse.org or talk to Jane Osborn and Meghan MacRae.

------------------------------

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.

------------------------------

Hymn Sing 2026

Hybrid Hymn Sing Service on June 28th

Our third post-Covid hybrid Hymn Sing service is happening on June 28th. While we hope many attend in person, we want it to be accessible to those who Zoom the service. Therefore, the hymns must be chosen in advance, so slides of the lyrics can be made. We are looking for many people to tell us a favorite hymn, and for a few people to speak about what that hymn means to them. So, please, as soon as possible, let Martha Larson (uuseoffice@uuse.org) know what hymn you really love, and if you would like to talk about it. Also let Mary Bopp know if you want to play it on an instrument. If you have questions, ask Martha Larson or Stacey Musulin, coordinators.

------------------------------

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.

------------------------------

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.

------------------------------

"In an Emergency, the Plan is Useless"

Learning beforehand what is in the plan is essential!

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.

------------------------------

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.

------------------------------

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. June 9: A Death in the Family by James Agee. Discussion leader: Jacquie Heintz
• 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.

------------------------------

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.

------------------------------

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

------------------------------