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< To Upcoming Services Jan 2, 2026 Meals to tickle the tastebuds! Meals are our most popular offerings. Italian dinners, picnic lunches, wine tasting, pool parties, DIY dessert classes, brunches by a lake… all are popular! And you can buddy up to share the work, cost and space! Lend a Hand… It’s Fun and Rewarding The auction is more than a fundraiser, it’s the biggest party of the UUSE year. Can you spare an hour or two to help this event run smoothly? Contact auction@uuse.org if you can take a shift. Key Dates and Deadlines • NOW: It’s never too early to claim your spot in the Get Saucy Cooking Competition! • Throughout December: Plan your donations and email the committee at auction@uuse.org ! Include: Thorough description, Approximate value and minimum bid (optional), Time, date, number of spaces, several photos with plain backgrounds are best. • By January 2: Claim your basket theme. 10 basket limit and we want them all to be different. • By January 9: Submit basket description, list of contents, several photos. • January 12-15: Drop the baskets off at the meetinghouse. We can help package it. • January 16: Absolute deadline to send donation details to auction@uuse.org . Sooner is better. • January 17 and 24: Baskets are displayed in the lobby; raffle tickets sold • January 19: Online auction opens at 8 AM • January 30: Online auction closes at 10 PM. Set up crew works through afternoon. • January 31: Live Extravaganza at the meetinghouse with exclusive auction items, the Get Saucy Cooking Competition and free dinner starts at 5 pm. Snow date is February 14. #NovemberNewsletter Meals are our most popular offerings. Italian dinners, picnic lunches, wine tasting, pool parties, DIY dessert classes, brunches by a lake… all are popular! And you can buddy up to share the work, cost and space! Lend a Hand… It’s Fun and Rewarding The auction is more than a fundraiser, it’s the biggest party of the UUSE year. Can you spare an hour or two to help this event run smoothly? Contact auction@uuse.org if you can take a shift. Key Dates and Deadlines NOW : It’s never too early to claim your spot in the Get Saucy Cooking Competition! Throughout December : Plan your donations and email the committee at auction@uuse.org !  Include : Thorough description, Approximate value and minimum bid (optional), Time, date, number of spaces, several photos with plain backgrounds are best. By January 2: Claim your basket theme. 10 basket limit and we want them all to be different. By January 9 : Submit basket description, list of contents, several photos. January 12-15 : Drop the baskets off at the meetinghouse. We can help package it. January 16 : Absolute deadline to send donation details to auction@uuse.org. Sooner is better. January 17 and 24 : Baskets are displayed in the lobby; raffle tickets sold January 19 : Online auction opens at 8 AM January 30 : Online auction closes at 10 PM. Set up crew works through afternoon. January 31 : Live Extravaganza at the meetinghouse with exclusive auction items, the Get Saucy Cooking Competition and free dinner starts at 5 pm. Snow date is February 14. #NovemberNewsletter OOS Sermon YouTube

< To Upcoming Services Watch the eBlast for the next scheduled Handler Levesque Guitar Duo Judy Handler and Mark Levesque Guitar Duo WORLD CAFÉ - A Musical World Tour for Mandolin & Guitar Sunday, April 21st, 3:00PM Come and enjoy a musical journey through many countries with Judy Handler & Mark Levesque. They perform their own inspiring arrangements on guitars and mandolin and will include music from the U.S., Europe, Eastern Europe, Brazil, Latin America and more! Audiences respond with enthusiasm to their extraordinary sound, passionate performance, amusing anecdotes, and the joyful spirit of their music. Judy Handler and Mark Levesque Guitar Duo WORLD CAFÉ - A Musical World Tour for Mandolin & Guitar Sunday, April 21st, 3:00PM Come and enjoy a musical journey through many countries with Judy Handler & Mark Levesque. They perform their own inspiring arrangements on guitars and mandolin and will include music from the U.S., Europe, Eastern Europe, Brazil, Latin America and more! Audiences respond with enthusiasm to their extraordinary sound, passionate performance, amusing anecdotes, and the joyful spirit of their music. Husband and wife duo, Handler & Levesque, have performed over 2,500 concerts together over the past 30 years throughout the United States & Europe. They create unique programs of guitar duets and music for guitar & mandolin. Their friendly and entertaining way of chatting with audiences immediately makes a personal and authentic connection. "It's a perfect musical marriage. A rich, zesty guitar gumbo, Handler & Levesque crackle with tasty elements of classical, swing, Gypsy, Brazilian and a dizzying array of world-music flavorings." Owen McNally, music critic, Hartford Courant “What made this eclectic concert so wonderful was the incredible unity of their two instruments, which to the ear sounded as a single instrument...They are so accomplished that if you hear them once, you will want to hear them again. But even once in a single performance their precision blend echoes in one’s memory.” Kevin T. McEneaney, The Millbrook Independent OOS Sermon YouTube

Silent Meditation Silent Meditation - 3:30PM in the Sanctuary < Previous Next >

< To Upcoming Services Watch the eBlast for the next scheduled Special Congregational Meeting Notice Special Congregational Meeting Dear UUSE Voting Members: UUSE's Policy Board is calling a special congregational meeting to take place on Sunday, March 30th, following the second service. The purpose of the meeting is to vote on recommendations from our Constitutional Change and UUA Discernment Task Forces. There will be an option to join and vote on Zoom using the Sunday Service link. Our Constitution requires a quorum of voting members to be present at the meeting to vote on business items. Please plan to attend either in person or on Zoom to help us accomplish this important Society business! And please feel free to bring lunch and eat during the meeting. The agenda for the special congregational meeting will include: 1) A vote to approve the Constitutional Change Task Force's recommendations. Any changes approved will enter the UUSE Constitution. The final version of these recommendations after congregational feedback is here. You can also pick up a copy on the UUSE Welcome Table in the Meeting House lobby, or contact the UUSE office to have one mailed to you. 2) A vote to approve the Discernment Task Force's recommendation to change Article XV of the UUSE Constitution, known as the Dissolution clause. This change, if approved, will also enter the UUSE Constitution. The proposed new language is the following: In the event this Society ceases to function and the membership votes to dissolve the corporation at a duly called Congregational Meeting, the net assets of the society shall be distributed to charitable 501(c)(3) organizations that the congregation determines have similar values to those of the Society and may include the Unitarian Universalist Association, and also with the objective of caring for the needs of the Memorial Garden. The vote to dissolve the corporation shall be by a two-thirds vote of the quorum present at such meeting. There are four ways you may vote at the March 30th meeting: A) in person at UUSE; B) by mail/email absentee voting form; C) by proxy; and D) by Zoom vote during the meeting. Mail/Email Voting Form: If you are unable to be present for the meeting but wish to vote absentee, click here for the form or pick one up on the Welcome Table. You can also contact Annie in the UUSE office to send you a copy. Print and return a hard copy to the UUSE office at 153 Vernon Street West, Manchester, CT 06042, or email a photo of the completed form to uuseoffice@uuse.org by Friday, March 28th at noon. Proxy Form: If you would like to vote by proxy, click here for the proxy form or pick one up from the UUSE Welcome Table. You can also request a copy from Annie in the UUSE office. Be sure to advise your proxy of your wishes in advance of the meeting. Your proxy can bring your completed form with them to the congregational meeting, or you can send the completed proxy form to the UUSE office by Friday, March 28th at noon. To request childcare, please contact the UUSE office by Monday, March 24th. We look forward to seeing you on March 30th and keeping our connection to UUSE strong! Sincerely, Peggy J. Webbe, President Anne Carr, Vice President Rev. Josh Pawelek, Minister Special Congregational Meeting Dear UUSE Voting Members: UUSE's Policy Board is calling a special congregational meeting to take place on Sunday, March 30th , following the second service. The purpose of the meeting is to vote on recommendations from our Constitutional Change and UUA Discernment Task Forces. There will be an option to join and vote on Zoom using the Sunday Service link. Our Constitution requires a quorum of voting members to be present at the meeting to vote on business items. Please plan to attend either in person or on Zoom to help us accomplish this important Society business! And please feel free to bring lunch and eat during the meeting. The agenda for the special congregational meeting will include: 1) A vote to approve the Constitutional Change Task Force's recommendations. Any changes approved will enter the UUSE Constitution. The final version of these recommendations after congregational feedback is here . You can also pick up a copy on the UUSE Welcome Table in the Meeting House lobby, or contact the UUSE office to have one mailed to you. 2) A vote to approve the Discernment Task Force's recommendation to change Article XV of the UUSE Constitution, known as the Dissolution clause. This change, if approved, will also enter the UUSE Constitution. The proposed new language is the following: In the event this Society ceases to function and the membership votes to dissolve the corporation at a duly called Congregational Meeting, the net assets of the society shall be distributed to charitable 501(c)(3) organizations that the congregation determines have similar values to those of the Society and may include the Unitarian Universalist Association, and also with the objective of caring for the needs of the Memorial Garden. The vote to dissolve the corporation shall be by a two-thirds vote of the quorum present at such meeting. There are four ways you may vote at the March 30th meeting: A) in person at UUSE; B) by mail/email absentee voting form; C) by proxy; and D) by Zoom vote during the meeting. Mail/Email Voting Form : If you are unable to be present for the meeting but wish to vote absentee, click here for the form or pick one up on the Welcome Table. You can also contact Annie in the UUSE office to send you a copy. Print and return a hard copy to the UUSE office at 153 Vernon Street West, Manchester, CT 06042, or email a photo of the completed form to uuseoffice@uuse.org by Friday, March 28th at noon. Proxy Form : If you would like to vote by proxy, click here for the proxy form or pick one up from the UUSE Welcome Table. You can also request a copy from Annie in the UUSE office. Be sure to advise your proxy of your wishes in advance of the meeting. Your proxy can bring your completed form with them to the congregational meeting, or you can send the completed proxy form to the UUSE office by Friday, March 28th at noon. To request childcare, please contact the UUSE office by Monday, March 24th . We look forward to seeing you on March 30th and keeping our connection to UUSE strong! Sincerely, Peggy J. Webbe, President Anne Carr, Vice President Rev. Josh Pawelek, Minister OOS Sermon YouTube

< To Upcoming Services Mar 3, 2024 Love is the Spirit of This Church This morning, we kick off our 2024 Annual Appeal. We are joined on this truly celebratory morning by the Unitarian Universalist folk rock group Meetinghouse! Coordinator: Rev. Josh Pawelek #eBlast-02-28 OOS Sermon YouTube

< To Upcoming Services Sep 1, 2024 You're Invited!   Sunday, September 1, 2024 Summer Schedule One service only at 10:00 a.m. The service is also live-streamed. Note: We return to the 9:00 and 11:00 a.m. two-service schedule next Sunday. Gathering music begins at 9:55 a.m. “You’re Invited!” As we begin a new congregational year, we come together to explore the spiritual practice of Invitation. How does invitation relate to our UU values centering on love? Are we taking action to invite and include? How do we respond to invitations in our own lives? Coordinators: Stacey Musulin and Paula Baker #eBlast-08-28 Sunday, September 1st : You're Invited. As we begin a new congregational year, we come together to explore the spiritual practice of Invitation. How does Invitation relate to our UU values centering on Love? Are we taking action to invite and include? How do we respond to invitations in our own lives? Coordinators: Stacey Musulin and Paula Baker OOS Sermon YouTube

< To Upcoming Services Mar 16, 2025 Hows Your Rhythm Section? Sunday Service: "How's Your Rhythm Section?" Continuing our exploration of trust, Rev. Josh reflects on his rock 'n' roll days, when a solid rhythm section made all the difference. What does it mean to be part of a trustworthy rhythm section? What does it mean to trust the rhythm section? And more to the point, how's your rhythm section doing? Coordinator : Rev. Josh Pawelek Services at 9:00 and 11:00 A.M. #eBlast-03-12 Sunday Service: "How's Your Rhythm Section?" Continuing our exploration of trust, Rev. Josh reflects on his rock 'n' roll days, when a solid rhythm section made all the difference. What does it mean to be part of a trustworthy rhythm section? What does it mean to trust the rhythm section? And more to the point, how's your rhythm section doing? Coordinator : Rev. Josh Pawelek Services at 9:00 and 11:00 A.M. Sunday, March 16, 2025 In Case You Missed It: #eBlast -03-12 OOS Sermon YouTube

< To Upcoming Services Watch the eBlast for the next scheduled Crafts & Kids Crafts & Kids Wednesday, November 5th from 3:00 PM to 4:00 PM Peggy Gagne is running craft activities for children who live in Squire Village, an affordable housing complex off Silver Lane in Manchester. This is an extension of our partnerships with Verplanck School and PowerUp. She's doing this on Wednesday, November 5th from 3:00 PM to 4:00 PM (3rd, 4th & 5th grades). Although she has one adult (thank you Louisa Graver!), she could use 1 or 2 more helpers. YOU DO NOT NEED TO BE CRAFTY -- JUST WANT TO HAVE FUN! She'll have the plans and supplies. You just need to show up! Please contact Peggy at uuseoffice@uuse.org or call or text 860-646-5151 so she knows who wants to play. And thank you! #eBlast-11-05 Crafts & Kids Wednesday, November 5th from 3:00 PM to 4:00 PM Peggy Gagne is running craft activities for children who live in Squire Village, an affordable housing complex off Silver Lane in Manchester. This is an extension of our partnerships with Verplanck School and PowerUp. She's doing this on Wednesday, November 5th from 3:00 PM to 4:00 PM (3rd, 4th & 5th grades). Although she has one adult (thank you Louisa Graver!), she could use 1 or 2 more helpers. YOU DO NOT NEED TO BE CRAFTY -- JUST WANT TO HAVE FUN! She'll have the plans and supplies. You just need to show up! Please contact Peggy at uuseoffice@uuse.org or call or text 860-646-5151 so she knows who wants to play. And thank you! #eBlast -11-05 OOS Sermon YouTube

< To Upcoming Services Watch the eBlast for the next scheduled Young Adult Care Packages Young Adult Care Packages Collection runs through November 9 Each year we collect for and put together care packages for our young adults who are moving on with their post-high-school plans. Don't know what to donate? Look for the flyers around the building with the care package symbol, scan the QR code and purchase something from our Amazon wish list by November 2. Drop off your items in the bins in the coat closet upstairs or in the lobby on the Garden Level by November 9. Thank you for your support! #eBlast-10-29 Young Adult Care Packages Collection runs through November 9 Each year we collect for and put together care packages for our young adults who are moving on with their post-high-school plans. Don't know what to donate? Look for the flyers around the building with the care package symbol, scan the QR code and purchase something from our Amazon wish list by November 2 . Drop off your items in the bins in the coat closet upstairs or in the lobby on the Garden Level by November 9 . Thank you for your support! #eBlast -10-29 OOS Sermon YouTube

UUSE has Sunday School options for children and youth from 1 year olds up to high schoolers, and even programs for adults. Sunday School Click to Redirect to Children and Youth Ministry

< To Upcoming Services Watch the eBlast for the next scheduled Summer Bittersweet Clearing Summer Bittersweet Clearing Saturday, July 12th, 8:00 A.M. - 11:00 A.M. Continuing our long-term project to manage invasive bittersweet, we're going to cut down vines in their prime, before the berries ripen. Join the Building & Grounds Committee for our Summer Invasives Clearing on Saturday, July 12th from 8:00 A.M. to 11:00 a.m. We recommend protecting your skin with long sleeves and pants, closed shoes and work gloves. Bring loppers and pruning shears. We'll supply cold beverages. Children and youth with responsible adults are welcome. Contact Cory Clark or Jane Osborn for more information. #eBlast-07-09 Summer Bittersweet Clearing Saturday, July 12th, 8:00 A.M. - 11:00 A.M. Continuing our long-term project to manage invasive bittersweet, we're going to cut down vines in their prime, before the berries ripen. Join the Building & Grounds Committee for our Summer Invasives Clearing on Saturday, July 12th from 8:00 A.M. to 11:00 a.m. We recommend protecting your skin with long sleeves and pants, closed shoes and work gloves. Bring loppers and pruning shears. We'll supply cold beverages. Children and youth with responsible adults are welcome. Contact Cory Clark or Jane Osborn for more information. #eBlast -07-09 OOS Sermon YouTube

< To Upcoming Services Watch the eBlast for the next scheduled Piano Bash 2025 Piano Bash 2025 Sunday, November 9 at 2:00 P.M. On Sunday, November 9 at 2:00 P.M., piano lovers of all ages and levels are invited to play our two Steinway pianos in the UUSE meeting room. This is a fun, informal event. If you like to play the piano and want to perform or have questions, send an email to Mary Bopp at music@uuse.org . Listeners are welcome to attend! This is a free event. #eBlast-11-05 Piano Bash 2025 Sunday, November 9 at 2:00 P.M. On Sunday, November 9 at 2:00 P.M., piano lovers of all ages and levels are invited to play our two Steinway pianos in the UUSE meeting room. This is a fun, informal event. If you like to play the piano and want to perform or have questions, send an email to Mary Bopp at music@uuse.org . Listeners are welcome to attend! This is a free event. #eBlast -11-05 OOS Sermon YouTube