Search Results

Heading 1

Yes, please, donate your money, but also donate your time and experiences. Giving Giving includes many aspects of congregational life: fellowship, time, and talents, as well as treasure, as you see throughout this site. Here are some ways we offer treasure to both UUSE and the greater community. Donate At UUSE, we encourage a culture of giving. Every gift makes an incredible difference to our incredible church, to the people of Manchester and the surrounding towns, and to our work in the world. Give a single gift online or in person, and you can even set up recurring donations. We are so grateful for your commitment and generosity. Donate Directly to UUSE Community Outreach Ministry Charitable Giving Charitable Giving for March As always, thank you for your generosity. We do not gather our gifts only for ourselves, but to share with the larger community. Continuing our practice of sharing our gifts with the community beyond our walls, fifty percent of our Sunday plate collections for the month will be shared with: CT Alliance to End Sexual Violence Please contact Louisa Graver at uuseoffice@uuse.org , David Lacoss, or Nancy Madar at n uuseoffice@uuse.org . Make checks out to UUSE. If the memo line: ✓ is blank or “pledge” - all will go toward your pledge. ✓ has “COM” or the name of the charity - all will go to the charity. ✓ has “1/2 pledge, 1/2 COM” - it will be divided equally. #MarchNewsletter Stewardship We think it is taking care of things that matter: the earth, our families and friends, the marginalized and historically oppressed. Closer to home, it means taking care of our spiritual home, Unitarian Universalist Society East. This is where we make the connections that matter. We are mindful of the many generous gifts of time, talent and treasure that support and sustain our mission. We come together to celebrate and to do the important work that makes the world a better place. We come to rejuvenate our senses, to create a holy space, and to strengthen our resolve. Each March we conduct our Annual Appeal that raises funds for the continued operation of our Meetinghouse and its many programs. We also encourage newcomers, members and friends, to make pledges throughout the year. We hope you will join us in this spirit of generosity. Annual Appeal Link The Stewardship Committee – Louisa Graver, Larry Lunden, Phil Sawyer, Stan McMillen, Jerry Myers, and Patricia Wildes Legacy Giving Program The Legacy Giving Program was initiated as part of the Unitarian Universalist Society East (UUSE) 50th anniversary celebration with the goal of significantly expanding the UUSE General Endowment Fund. A larger Endowment Fund (e.g. $4 million by 2035) will enable using a portion of the income to fund special activities. Legacy Bequest A legacy bequest is a gift of personal property or financial assets made through the provisions of a will, a trust, or as a beneficiary of a retirement plan. It is generally the largest gift a member will give to their church and can be based on a fixed amount or on a percent of the remaining balance of a member’s estate. Legacy bequests are revocable, which means that if your circumstances change over time, you can change your will or your retirement plan beneficiary. If you want to make or change a legacy bequest please contact the UUSE office. Gift and Endowment Policies Link to Gift Policy Link to Endowment Policy

Music plays a key role in our services and in our congregational life. Music Music plays a huge part in our worship and in our community, and there's room for everyone to participate in our music programs. Many talented individuals take part in our services individually, in groups, in singing circles, and in choirs. Whether it's leading hymns, participating in choirs, playing piano or guitar, or even gifted professional musicians providing spirited musical themes, everyone can play a part. Our music director, Mary Bopp, with help from a very active music committee, plays a key role in all of the musical offerings that take place at UUSE. Mary Bopp Music Director Mary has served UUSE since 2015, after over 30 years as a professional full-time musician in New York City! An award-winning artist, Mary brings more than hymns and classical composers' music to our services. She is also an improv-magician to many, directs our choir with her unique creativity and adaptability, and brings a variety of professional artists to perform at services and more! Mary is a beloved inspiration to us all. Choir News

Social Justice is a central point of any liberal religion. Social Justice UUSE is committed to social justice in all its forms. Greater Hartford Interfaith Action Alliance (GHIAA) UUSE fully supports GHIAA is all its endeavors. To find out more check the GHIAA website Conversation on CT’s Fiscal Roadblocks w/ Speaker Ritter April 8 A Conversation on CT's Fiscal Roadblocks with House Speaker Matt Ritter, joined by members of the Hartford Legislative Delegation A GHIAA and CT For All event to compel policy change on CT's path to passing a budget that invests in community needs. Tuesday, April 8, 6:00-7:30 pm Immanuel Congregational Church, 10 Woodland St., Hartford ASL & Spanish interpretation provided Please register here We are grateful for the collaboration between Immanuel Congregational Church, Asylum Hill Congregational Church, GHIAA, and CT for All in organizing this event

Think green. That's what the sustainability committee does. This is their page. Sustainable Living & Climate Action UUSE is committed to ongoing efforts to save our planet through green action. We are a certified Green Sanctuary. Green Sanctuary News Green Sanctuary News Do You Like Breathing Clean Air? The EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) has been protecting the health of the people and the planet since as far back as 1963. In 1970 under President Nixon it was strengthened and Earth Day was begun. It has been amended several times since then. In 2009, during the Obama administration, the EPA declared that greenhouse gases in the atmosphere were a hazard to people. We have had rules regulating climate pollution from coal and gas-fired power plants, car and truck exhaust, and methane from the oil and gas industry. Connecticut’s own Gina McCarthy served as the EPA Administrator, and later as the head of the Climate Policy Office under President Biden, creating clean energy innovation and investments. However, our current President has declared climate change a “hoax”, ramping up the use of coal fired energy and increasing fossil fuel production for the benefit of the billionaire owners. A PBS report on February 12th aired a speech by Trump and his appointed administrator, Lee Zeldin touting all the money which will be saved by eliminating these regulations. Thankfully individual states like Connecticut are working on their own Environmental Rights Amendments. It’s a small step, but it’s something. Climate Superfund Bill H.B 5156 — will have a public hearing in the CT Environment Committee. Since this hearing will have happened by the time you read this, you can check with the CT League of Conservation Voters for updates. https://www.ctlcv.org/ From Yale Climate Connections subscription newsletter: Despite Trump, renewable energy keeps surging, according to reporter Barbara Grady. Grady writes: Solar and wind electricity generation grew 109% worldwide last year, pushing these renewable sources past coal for the first time as a global energy supplier, according to an analysis by Ember Energy Research. More than 600 gigawatts of solar electricity were added last year, led by China and also including India, Brazil, Vietnam, the European Union, Kenya, and Mozambique. African experts say much of the continent is leaning heavily into solar and wind as it electrifies new regions and industries, bypassing fossil fuels. Don’t forget to Support Equal Exchange on the 2nd Sunday of each month for your sustainably grown chocolate, tea and coffee at reasonable prices. Go to Equal Exchange to learn more. You can even order other products for yourself and friends, and you’re supporting small farmers with Fair Trade practices. https://shop.equalexchange.coop/ And finally, since February is Chocolate Month – or March or any month for that matter, here’s a simple 2 ingredient recipe for Chocolate Mousse from the Happy Pear website. 100 g. dark chocolate chips, such as Equal Exchange Dark Chocolate Chips. 75 ml. boiling water (Hot non-dairy milk can also be substituted.) Measure chips into a glass bowl. Pour in boiling water. Whisk until chocolate melts. Set bowl into a larger bowl of ice water. Continue whisking until mousse thickens. This may take 3 – 5 minutes. That’s it! Serve with your favorite fruit and whipped cream, over ice cream, as a topping for brownies, or come up with your own healthy chocolate creations! Thank you, Anne Vaugn #MarchNewsletter Go Solar! The Sustainable Living Committee is thrilled to report that UUSE has contracted with Connecticut solar provider, Savkat, to resume our popular solar program! Savkat has agreed to donate $25 to UUSE for every appointment and $1,000 for every signed solar contract. The program begins immediately, and is available to all UUSE members, family, and friends. Just tell them you were referred by UUSE! We will be hosting several informational sessions with our Savkat representative on Sunday mornings during coffee hour to answer any questions congregants may have. If you're interested in learning more about getting solar installed, you can make an appointment at this time. Already know you want to reduce your carbon footprint by installing solar? You can contact our Savkat representative, Jordan Bernstein, right away! His contact info is below. Thank you for caring about our planet! Jordan Bernstein Lead Manager 203.441.7961 Jordan@savkat.com www.savkat.com Schedule a Meeting Green Actions You Can Take Join our ecological landscaping team Help with recycling and composting Help sell "Fair Trade" coffee, tea, and chocolate after Sunday services Help with the annual organic veggie garden About the Green Sanctuary program UUSE has been a certified Green Sanctuary congregation since the spring of 2006. The Green Sanctuary program was developed and begun by the UU Ministry for Earth for UU congregations. The program at UUSE was led by the Sustainable Living Committee with approval and involvement of the policy board, staff, various committees and the full congregation. Goals and projects were developed in four different areas: worship, religious education, sustainable living and social/environmental justice. Our Action Plan for 2005 included 15 different projects, heavily focused on our response to global warming. It included implementing recommendations from an energy audit, starting our children’s organic vegetable garden program, starting recycling and composting programs, working with other state and local organizations on common goals, and much more. The congregation-wide support and success of the program led us to seek out the greenest way we could afford to implement our planned building and expansion project. Between 2007 and the spring of 2010 we were deep into the planning, fundraising for and implementation of our building project. The Growth of the Green Sanctuary Program allowed it to become a project of the UUA. And by 2011 we were encouraged to apply for Re- accreditation. Our application for Re-accreditation included various projects in the areas of worship and celebration, religious education, sustainable living, and active environmental justice efforts, such as helping to pass CT’s first environmental justice law, working with local groups to start school and other community gardens and to help low-income residents benefit from CT’s Home Energy Solutions program. We documented all the work done in the UUSE building project including energy conservation work, the geo-thermal system and eventual solar panel system, and Energy Star certification with a 98% score in 2013, as well as various ecological landscaping projects. On February 17, 2013 we received the notice we were awarded Green Sanctuary Recertification. We were encouraged to continue our efforts to become a net zero facility and continue with our outreach and advocacy work.

Every year we have ten to twelve ministry themes, usually one a month. These ministry themes guide us and provide a framework for services held that month. 2025/2026 Ministry Themes September : Building Belonging October : Cultivating Compassion November: Nurturing Gratitude December : Choosing Hope January : Practicing Resistance February : Embodying Resilience March : Paying Attention April : Embracing Possibility May : Awakening Curiosity June : Flourishing Together #MarchNewsletter

The Pastoral Friends are a caring group of individuals that can help in times of need. Pastoral Friends The Pastoral Friends Committee offers help for those in need and gives support in times of stress. Whether it's providing transportation, visiting to offer comfort and encouragement, delivering meals, helping obtain medical equipment, or organizing help with pets or other household responsibilities in times of crisis, Pastoral Friends is here to help. Pastoral Friends Rotating Chair 2024-25 Use this email address to contact the current chairperson - pastoralfriends@uuse.org March/April: Ellen Williams PastoralFriends@uuse.org. #MarchNewsletter

Reverend Josh Pawelek's monthly column, a message of meaning and hope. Minister's Column for March Rev. Josh Pawelek Minister I am a theistic Unitarian Universalist; an aspiring antiracist, feminist, queer ally; a liberal, suburban American minister practicing a modern version of New England’s old “congregational way;” a loving husband and father; and a spiritual leader dedicated to transformative preaching, teaching, healing and social justice ministries. Serving as the parish minister of UUSE has blessed my life in many ways. Most importantly, UUSE has allowed me—and continues to allow me—to serve as a spiritual leader striving to provide excellence in ministry. I am deeply grateful. Dear Ones: Spring is just around the corner. Which means March is upon us. Which means it’s time for our Annual Appeal, our largest yearly fundraiser, during which we ask every UUSE member and friend to make the most generous financial pledge possible for the coming fiscal year. If you read nothing else in this column, read this: Please sign up for one of the pledging potlucks. These meals in members’ homes are a great way to meet new people and discuss what value UUSE brings to your life. If you can’t make one of the potlucks, an Annual Appeal steward will reach out to you. Please remember the stewards are volunteers with full plates. Please respond to them quickly. Thanks As is the case every year, we are trying to raise more money in this year’s Annual Appeal than we raised last year. In addition to the usual cost-drivers (inflation, cost-of-living adjustments for our staff, anticipated health insurance increases, etc.), there are a number of essential new expenses. These are as follows: First , our Finance Committee and Policy Board have decided that the tasks of day-to-day financial management at UUSE are too big for volunteers to effectively manage. There is too much at stake. It is time for us to hire a professional bookkeeping service. The search for that service is already underway. Depending on what kind of service we ultimately hire, we anticipate a cost of anywhere from $8,000 to $25,000 annually. This is a big jump in our budget, and it is essential. Second , because we continue to anticipate a variety of building repairs over the next decade, we are hoping to raise significant funds for our building reserve in this year’s Annual Appeal. While we have other ways to increase this critical reserve fund, we believe a percentage of the Annual Appeal needs to be dedicated to it every year. This, too, is essential. There are some other new expenses, like building safety improvements and the one-time hiring of an amazing curriculum consultant, Kamora Herrington, to work with our Children and Youth Ministry program during the coming year. But what is most important to me, always, is that our Annual Appeal enables our congregation to continue thriving; that our Annual Appeal enables us to continue all the ministries we rely on (Sunday Services, Children and Youth, Music, Small Groups, Affinity Groups, Pastoral Friends, Buildings and Grounds, Sustainable Living, the Verplanck Partnership, and all our connections to social and environmental justice organizations and coalitions in the wider community). My fondest hope year in and year out is that our Annual Appeal enables us to continue serving as a beacon of liberal religion, spiritual searching, and community engagement from our home on Elm Hill, on the Manchester-Vernon line, above the Hockanum River on its way southwest to the Connecticut River. That is my hope. Please make the most generous pledge you can to this year’s Annual Appeal. With love, care, and hope, Rev. Josh #MarchNewsletter

What's happening at UUSE? Lots of things. So many events here to keep your mind occupied and your hands busy. eBlast for March 18th Contact the office for details - email: info@uuse.org phone : 860.646.5151 Sign up here to receive the full eBlast by email Weekly News March 18, 2026 ------------------------------ Welcome to Unitarian Universalist Society East Email our office t o receive a visitor packet or to find out more. We schedule several newcomer events throughout the year after Sunday services. ------------------------------ Sunday Service: "Ferry Beach Retreat and Conference Center. What's It All About?" Participants in this service will provide information about Ferry Beach and share thoughts about experiences they have had there. Coordinators : Nancy Madar and David Klotz Services at 9:00 and 11:00 A.M. Sunday, March 22, 2026 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 a Youtube video of the 3/15/26 service: "On War, Women and Witness or Do UU Know Your History? Part III" ------------------------------ Gender Free Contra Dance Saturday, March 21, 2026 - 4:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M.  Come enjoy live music and joyous movement at this community dance for all ages, no experience necessary. Bring a friend or come solo. Beginner lesson and orientation at 3:45 P.M.; dance begins at 4:00 P.M. Bring soft-soled shoes to protect our floors. Admission $15, students $5, under 12 free. Free-will donation; no one turned away. All are welcome. The dance, sponsored by the Music Committee, will be held at the Unitarian Universalist Society East. For more information, click here or contact Meghan MacRae or Jane Osborn . ------------------------------ Help a Child Learn to Read  Can you spare an hour per week to help a child learn to read? Throughout this school year, UUSE members have been working with kindergarten and first grade students at Verplanck Elementary who are struggling with basic literacy skills. And it's really been working! The reading specialists and classroom teachers see clear, measurable progress! We could use five more adult volunteers for the rest of the school year, as well as a few who can fill in for tutors who are sick or traveling. Sessions are Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday at 10: 45 or 11:45. Please contact Nancy Pappas at uuseoffice@uuse.org for more details or to set up a school visit. ------------------------------ Reminder: UUSE Spring Art and Poetry Exhibit Our Spring theme is Renewal. Spring brings renewal through longer days, warmer air, and the return of growing things. The fresh light and new life of the season offer a sense of energy and hope after winter's stillness. The Spring Exhibit will be installed on March 26th, and signups are due by March 23rd. Please register your entries 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 March 20th. If you would like to include a photo or a small piece of artwork, please send it along as well. Drop-off for entries is March 26th from 11:00 A.M. to 12:30 P.M. Watch the e-blast for more information. Questions? Please contact Eric Vogel or Janet Heller. ------------------------------ Upcoming Workshops Help Brainstorm Vision and Mission Ideas with the Strategic Planning Task Force The Strategic Planning Task Force is offering three upcoming dates in March to join us in brainstorming our current vision and mission statements and what revision ideas we may want to consider to help guide our next five years and future strategic plan. During the short workshop (about 2 hours), participants will review both statements and give their ideas to help with brainstorming our new vision and mission statements. Upcoming Dates Sunday, March 22 , at 12:30 P.M. in the Children’s Chapel right after services Tuesday, March 24 at 7:00 P.M. in the Children’s Chapel Sunday, March 29 at 1:30 P.M. in the Children’s Chapel after the Chocolate Auction We’d love to hear your thoughts and incorporate your ideas! Please RSVP using the Google Form . ------------------------------ Heart-Centered Kirtan Sunday, March 22 at 3:00 P.M. Join us on Sunday, March 22 at 3:00 P.M. for an uplifting, meditative experience blending contemporary music with the call-and-response singing of mantras. The featured band, Heart Centered Kirtan, includes Libby Volckening, vocals and keys; Ezra Landis, guitar; Nico D'Amico, bass; and Chris Ball, drums. Together, the musicians offer contemporary arrangements that honor the roots of kirtan while remaining approachable for newcomers. Admission is by free-will donation ($20 suggested) at the door, but no one will be turned away. No ticket required but advance registration at eventbrite.com is encouraged to help organizers anticipate attendance. For more information, visit: https://uuse.org/kirtan . ------------------------------ UUSE Chocolate Auction Sunday, March 29 at 12:30 P.M.   Chocolate is awesome, and a chocolate auction is a great way to raise $$$$ for UUSE! This year's chocolate auction helps celebrate the end of our 2026 Annual Appeal. (Note: The March newsletter incorrectly advertised the event for March 31. It is on Sunday, March 29 at 12:30 p.m. following the second service.) All are invited to create chocolate confections (cookies, brownies, cakes, cupcakes--you name it!). Bring your creations to the Meeting House on the 29th and bid on whatever looks best to you. Bring your checkbook or cash and pay when you collect your WINNINGS. It's that simple!!! ------------------------------ Best Practices for Community Health Spring is just around the corner (fingers crossed!) but colds, influenza, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and COVID continue to circulate in the wider community. According to the CT Department of Public Health, there have been 30,440 seasonal reported cases of influenza, 5388 reported cases of RSV and 14,552 reported cases of Covid-19. What do these respiratory viral diseases all have in common? They are proving to be especially dangerous, even deadly, for those of us who are 70 and older. This is a friendly reminder that no matter your age, if you are experiencing any symptoms of illness, you always have the option to join Sunday services and other meetings and activities by Zoom from the comfort of your home. If you do need to come to the meetinghouse, keep in mind that masks have the power to protect both you and those with whom you come in contact. Let's all help keep each other as healthy as we can! From the UUSE Emergency Preparedness Task Force ------------------------------ Jazz Group Forming Organizational Meeting on Sunday, March 29th If you're interested in being part of a new jazz group at UUSE, please come to the organizational meeting on Sunday, March 29, from 2:00 to 3:30 P.M. , right after the Chocolate Auction. We're looking for input from people comfortable with playing or singing jazz, to put our heads together about forming a group. We'll discuss goals, interests, rehearsing, performing, availability, experience, instruments, etc. Then we'll play a song or two. So, please bring your instrument. If interested, please contact Eric Rosenberg . 860-646-5151. ------------------------------ Pastoral Friends The Pastoral Friends Committee has a rotating chair throughout the year. Should you need pastoral care during the months of March or April contact Ellen Williams . ------------------------------ 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. April 14: Stone Yard Devotional by Charlotte Wood . Discussion leader: Lesley Schurmann Women's Circle , 3rd Tuesdays at 7:00 P.M. (Zoom only December through March) Email Nora Alpers-Leon at uuseoffice@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. March's topic: Hertog's "Origin of Time" with Bill Bosworth. ------------------------------ 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 ------------------------------

What's happening at UUSE? Lots of things. So many events here to keep your mind occupied and your hands busy. March Newsletter Website Edition Sign up here to receive the full newsletter by email Contact the office for details - email: info@uuse.org phone: 860.646.5151 Sunday Services Schedule March Ministry Theme: Paying Attention Join us at 9 or 11 AM. The 11 AM Zoom service login and call-in information is shared through the congregational eblasts on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Subscribe to the eblast by sending a message to uuseoffice@uuse.org or call the UUSE office at 860-646-5151. ------------------------------ Sunday, March 1st: Belonging and Thriving -- Together! All Congregation service featuring beautiful music by the Atrium Brass Quintet! This morning we launch our 2026 Annual Appeal. Rev. Josh will discuss the goals for this year’s appeal. What needs are we trying to meet? What programs are we hoping to grow? What vision are we trying to fulfill? Coordinator: Rev. Josh Pawelek. Sunday, March 8th: Caring for Parents, Children, and Their Families in These Times. The Surgeon General states that parents are more stressed than perhaps ever before; our young people experience unprecedented mental health challenges; and the rights of our beloveds are at grave risk. Yet, many families with children show up at our doors, seeking community and care. What can we do as a congregation to best respond to the needs of our families? Coordinators: Emmy Galbraith and Vivian Carlson. Sunday, March 15th: Paying Attention. Our ministry theme for March is paying attention. How do you pay attention? With your eyes, your body, your heart, your soul? What grabs and holds your attention? Most importantly, are you attending to what matters? Coordinator: Rev. Josh Pawelek. Sunday, March 22nd: Ferry Beach Retreat and Conference Center. What’s it all about? Participants in this service will provide information about Ferry Beach and share thoughts about experiences they have had there. Coordinators: Nancy Madar and David Klotz Sunday, March 29th: Transgender Day of Visibility . Mindful that March 31st is Transgender Day of Visibility, we will lift up transgender lives in our morning service. We will also explore the work of recertifying UUSE as a Welcoming Congregation. Coordinator: Rev. Josh Pawelek. Sunday, April 5th: Easter Service. Coordinators: Rev. Josh Pawelek, Emmy Galbraith, and Mary Bopp. ------------------------------ Community Outreach Ministry Charitable Giving for March As always, thank you for your generosity. We do not gather our gifts only for ourselves, but to share with the larger community. Continuing our practice of sharing our gifts with the community beyond our walls, fifty percent of our Sunday plate collections for the month will be shared with: CT Alliance to End Sexual Violence Please contact Louisa Graver at uuseoffice@uuse.org , David Lacoss, or Nancy Madar at n uuseoffice@uuse.org . Make checks out to UUSE. If the memo line: ✓ is blank or “pledge” - all will go toward your pledge. ✓ has “COM” or the name of the charity - all will go to the charity. ✓ has “1/2 pledge, 1/2 COM” - it will be divided equally. ------------------------------ 2025/2026 Ministry Themes September : Building Belonging October : Cultivating Compassion November: Nurturing Gratitude December : Choosing Hope January : Practicing Resistance February : Embodying Resilience March : Paying Attention April : Embracing Possibility May : Awakening Curiosity June : Flourishing Together ------------------------------ Minister's Column Dear Ones: Spring is just around the corner. Which means March is upon us. Which means it’s time for our Annual Appeal, our largest yearly fundraiser, during which we ask every UUSE member and friend to make the most generous financial pledge possible for the coming fiscal year. If you read nothing else in this column, read this: Please sign up for one of the pledging potlucks. These meals in members’ homes are a great way to meet new people and discuss what value UUSE brings to your life. If you can’t make one of the potlucks, an Annual Appeal steward will reach out to you. Please remember the stewards are volunteers with full plates. Please respond to them quickly. Thanks As is the case every year, we are trying to raise more money in this year’s Annual Appeal than we raised last year. In addition to the usual cost-drivers (inflation, cost-of-living adjustments for our staff, anticipated health insurance increases, etc.), there are a number of essential new expenses. These are as follows: First , our Finance Committee and Policy Board have decided that the tasks of day-to-day financial management at UUSE are too big for volunteers to effectively manage. There is too much at stake. It is time for us to hire a professional bookkeeping service. The search for that service is already underway. Depending on what kind of service we ultimately hire, we anticipate a cost of anywhere from $8,000 to $25,000 annually. This is a big jump in our budget, and it is essential. Second , because we continue to anticipate a variety of building repairs over the next decade, we are hoping to raise significant funds for our building reserve in this year’s Annual Appeal. While we have other ways to increase this critical reserve fund, we believe a percentage of the Annual Appeal needs to be dedicated to it every year. This, too, is essential. There are some other new expenses, like building safety improvements and the one-time hiring of an amazing curriculum consultant, Kamora Herrington, to work with our Children and Youth Ministry program during the coming year. But what is most important to me, always, is that our Annual Appeal enables our congregation to continue thriving; that our Annual Appeal enables us to continue all the ministries we rely on (Sunday Services, Children and Youth, Music, Small Groups, Affinity Groups, Pastoral Friends, Buildings and Grounds, Sustainable Living, the Verplanck Partnership, and all our connections to social and environmental justice organizations and coalitions in the wider community). My fondest hope year in and year out is that our Annual Appeal enables us to continue serving as a beacon of liberal religion, spiritual searching, and community engagement from our home on Elm Hill, on the Manchester-Vernon line, above the Hockanum River on its way southwest to the Connecticut River. That is my hope. Please make the most generous pledge you can to this year’s Annual Appeal. With love, care, and hope, Rev. Josh ------------------------------ President's Column on Resistance and Hope for the Future This week has been very disheartening from the perspective of anyone who loves our democracy, our constitution, and this country. In all my years, I never thought I would see everything fall apart like it has, our world is upside down. I remain committed to peaceful protesting and doing everything we can to try to spark our legislative bodies into doing their job. I had to complete this week’s long run on my treadmill and used this time to re-watch 1984. This should be required for all High School Classes to watch and analyze. Our youth need to discuss the ways in which power can bend reality and distort the truth until it is no longer recognizable. “War is peace, freedom is slavery, ignorance is strength”. The more I see our way of life unravel, the more important defining who we are as a congregation becomes. Yes, I am talking about our Mission, our Vision, and our Strategic Plan. It has become clear as part of our qualitative interviews in the form of user stories and our sprint, that the future of religion and of UUSE may change in ways that we can only begin to fathom. Insights from the user stories assessment: While there is some support for the current Mission and Vision we can make it more concise and memorable. There is interest in a broader connection to the larger community It’s clear that there must be a link between our Mission and Vision AND our Strategic Plan. We must be able to keep this awareness throughout our committees and programs and provide updates. We need more volunteers, more folks to pick up the leadership banner. In attending to unfinished business, we need to support unbiased debates We need to ensure broad congregational participation and incorporation. The vision can focus on an unknown future, but the mission statement needs to be more measurable action-oriented. The Strategic Planning Task Force had a sprint to work on our path forward. We want broad inclusion in this path, and that means EVERYONE. In times like this, it is important we stick together and decide what UUSE means to us and how to achieve it! There are lots of ideas of what the future of UUSE may look like and how we interact with the community. We are planning on Sprints, Focus groups, and surveys; there are lots of ways for you to commit and have your voice included. What does this congregation mean to you? How do we ensure we are relevant in the future? How do we reach out and support our broader community? One thing that gives me great hope is that we are poised for a cultural change at UUSE, and we are looking forward to a future that is constructed by each and every one of us. Sincerely, Trisha Lisle UUSE President ------------------------------ Children and Youth Ministry News Sun, March 8, 2026: Interfaith Film Series: Soul. Co-presented with the Connecticut Council for Interreligious Understanding. Location: Wadsworth Antheneum Museum of Art at 600 Main Street, Hartford, CT Joe Gardner, a middle school music teacher, finally gets his big break playing jazz in New York City, only to find himself unexpectedly separated from his body and transported to the realm where souls develop before birth. There, he teams up with a reluctant soul named 22 to rediscover what it means to live a full and purposeful life. Soul offers a moving reflection on creativity, destiny, and what truly makes life worth living. Free. Museum admission not included. Registration encouraged. 1 hour, 40 minutes. Rated PG. Sat, Mar 28: Nightlight Mission in partnership with USH (Unitarian Society of Hartford): Families with children/youth meet at 2PM to sort clothes & prepare soup, coffee and sandwiches; at 8PM distribute clothing and food to the unhoused. Be on the lookout for an announcement of an upcoming zoom call with CYM for initial talks about logistics for this event. Thank you, Emmy ------------------------------ Green Sanctuary News Do You Like Breathing Clean Air? The EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) has been protecting the health of the people and the planet since as far back as 1963. In 1970 under President Nixon it was strengthened and Earth Day was begun. It has been amended several times since then. In 2009, during the Obama administration, the EPA declared that greenhouse gases in the atmosphere were a hazard to people. We have had rules regulating climate pollution from coal and gas-fired power plants, car and truck exhaust, and methane from the oil and gas industry. Connecticut’s own Gina McCarthy served as the EPA Administrator, and later as the head of the Climate Policy Office under President Biden, creating clean energy innovation and investments. However, our current President has declared climate change a “hoax”, ramping up the use of coal fired energy and increasing fossil fuel production for the benefit of the billionaire owners. A PBS report on February 12th aired a speech by Trump and his appointed administrator, Lee Zeldin touting all the money which will be saved by eliminating these regulations. Thankfully individual states like Connecticut are working on their own Environmental Rights Amendments. It’s a small step, but it’s something. Climate Superfund Bill H.B 5156 — will have a public hearing in the CT Environment Committee. Since this hearing will have happened by the time you read this, you can check with the CT League of Conservation Voters for updates. https://www.ctlcv.org/ From Yale Climate Connections subscription newsletter: Despite Trump, renewable energy keeps surging, according to reporter Barbara Grady. Grady writes: Solar and wind electricity generation grew 109% worldwide last year, pushing these renewable sources past coal for the first time as a global energy supplier, according to an analysis by Ember Energy Research. More than 600 gigawatts of solar electricity were added last year, led by China and also including India, Brazil, Vietnam, the European Union, Kenya, and Mozambique. African experts say much of the continent is leaning heavily into solar and wind as it electrifies new regions and industries, bypassing fossil fuels. Don’t forget to Support Equal Exchange on the 2nd Sunday of each month for your sustainably grown chocolate, tea and coffee at reasonable prices. Go to Equal Exchange to learn more. You can even order other products for yourself and friends, and you’re supporting small farmers with Fair Trade practices. https://shop.equalexchange.coop/ And finally, since February is Chocolate Month – or March or any month for that matter, here’s a simple 2 ingredient recipe for Chocolate Mousse from the Happy Pear website. 100 g. dark chocolate chips, such as Equal Exchange Dark Chocolate Chips. 75 ml. boiling water (Hot non-dairy milk can also be substituted.) Measure chips into a glass bowl. Pour in boiling water. Whisk until chocolate melts. Set bowl into a larger bowl of ice water. Continue whisking until mousse thickens. This may take 3 – 5 minutes. That’s it! Serve with your favorite fruit and whipped cream, over ice cream, as a topping for brownies, or come up with your own healthy chocolate creations! Thank you, Anne Vaugn ------------------------------ Annual Appeal Has Begun! ------------------------------ UUSE Annual Appeal 2026/2027 Belonging and Thriving - Together Our theme for this year’s Annual Appeal is “ Belonging and Thriving - Together. ” As we are confronted with national uncertainty and discord, it is vitally important that we build and strengthen our connection to one another and to other supportive communities. Our shared dedication to community outreach and social justice is essential. Rev. Josh will kick off the Annual Appeal with the March 1 Sunday service. You should soon receive a letter with information on our accomplishments from this past year and our aspirations for the next fiscal year (July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027). Again, this year we ask each member and friend to complete a pledge form and electronic funds transfer (EFT) form (if desired) and return to the church office. In addition, we will offer pledging potlucks to be together and share our hopes and dreams for UUSE. If you have not returned your letter or attended a potluck by March 17, a steward will contact you to see if they can provide assistance. Please let us know your plans for this year so that the church can plan accordingly. The Annual Appeal ends on Monday, April 6. We look forward to sharing our talents, time and treasure with you and this beloved community. Thank you for your contribution. The Stewardship Committee: Louisa Graver, Larry Lunden, Jean Knapp, Stan McMillen, Phil Sawyer, Jerry Myers, and Patricia Wildes ------------------------------ Sign Up for 2026 Annual Appeal Pledging Potlucks March 6, 7, 8, 13, 14 and 15. Signups for potlucks will end after services March 1, 2026 Sign-up sheets will be in the lobby on Sunday March 1. If you can't make it on a Sunday to sign up, please contact Stan McMillen and let him know which potluck you would like to attend: Email uuseoffice@uuse.org or phone 860-646-5151. Attention CYM Families and Friends: Desiree Holian-Borgnis will have "office hours" from 12:00 - 12:30 p.m. in the children's chapel on Sundays during the Annual Appeal for families to come and ask questions, sign their pledge forms, and hand them in. ------------------------------ Stewarding Opportunity! Our Annual Appeal occurs from March 1 – April 6, 2026. We are looking for people to canvass members & friends. Being a steward is a way to get to know new people, to share your enthusiasm and commitment for UUSE and to help make our Annual Appeal a success. The commitment time is relatively short with one training session and a couple of weeks to contact 2 - 4 members or friends. The stewardship conversations are a time of fellowship and sharing our dreams and aspirations. Talking about financial commitment is a small part of a much larger conversation about generosity and community. So please consider volunteering to be a steward this year. We especially want people who have never been stewards before, especially parents! We will provide training on Thursday evening, March 5 or Saturday morning, March 7, 2026. Specific times will follow. For those who did not mail in their pledge or did not attend a potluck, the steward will use a personal visit (if both feel comfortable), email, phone calls, or texts to get in touch with people to answer any questions and remind them to fill out their pledge form and return it to Annie. Personal canvassing will be from March 18 – April 6, 2026. Please email Phil Sawyer at uuseoffice@uuse.org or call 860-646-5151 if you are willing to help or have any questions. ------------------------------ Upcoming Events ------------------------------ The Atrium Brass Quintet joins UUSE for our Annual Appeal Kick-Off Service March 1st ------------------------------ We will be joined by the Atrium Brass Quintet: Steve Owens and Steve Lyons, trumpets; Beth Pratt, French horn; Fred Bagnall, trombone; and Jim Lendvay, tuba. ABQ formed in 1991 and unites five friends who share a love of brass music. What a great way to kick off our Annual Appeal! ABQ’s visit is funded by a generous grant for brass music from the estate of Roland and Lynn Chirico. ------------------------------ UUSE Coffeehouse and Open Mic Sign-up starts at 6 PM-- performances start at 6:30 PM  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 PM, and performances start at 6:30 PM. We feature 12 slots, each about 10 minutes or two songs. BYOB, BYO dinner, and BYO friends — we’ll provide the coffee! Unitarian Universalist Society East, 153 Vernon Street West, Manchester, CT ------------------------------ GHIAA's Winter 2026 Organizing Leadership Training GHIAA (The Greater Hartford Interfaith Action Alliance) is holding its Winter Organizing Leadership Training in person on Tuesday evenings from 6:30-8:30 pm in Newington, from Feb 10 to March 10. Join us to explore the fundamentals of faith-based organizing, practice the tools of relational culture (individual meetings and house meetings), consider how we build and wield power, share our process of identifying issues and developing campaigns, and build our skills for action. For more detailed info and to register click here . Version shared directly with members and friends. ------------------------------ Gender-Free Contra Dance March 21, 4-7 PM There are no "ladies" or "gents" in a gender-free dance. Dance with anyone you want! It's a rollercoaster you make yourselves! Contra is a community folk dance with partners in long lines. The caller teaches the dances as you go. Calling by Rich Sbardella with music by Mickey Koth and John Kalinowski on fiddle and digital accordion. March 21, 2026, 4-7 PM, beginner lesson at 3:45 . Admission $15, students $5, under 12 free. All are welcome! Sponsored by the Music Committee. For more information, contact Meghan MacRae at uuseoffice@uuse.org or Jane Osborn at uuseoffice@uuse.org . Or download and share the flyer here . Unitarian Universalist Society East, Meeting Room, 153 Vernon St. W, Manchester, CT 06042. ------------------------------ UUSE Chocolate Auction!!! To Celebrate the end of our 2026 Annual Appeal!! Sunday afternoon, March 29th, 12:30 PM Chocolate is awesome, and a chocolate auction is a great way to raise $$$$ for UUSE! This year’s chocolate auction helps celebrate the end of our 2026 Annual Appeal. All members and friends of UUSE are invited to create chocolate confections (cookies, brownies, cakes, cupcakes, and any other kind of chocolate dessert you can imagine). Bring your creations to the meeting house on the 31st (include your name and a list of ingredients). Then, come to the auction at 12;30 and bid on whatever looks best to you! Bring your check book or cash and pay when you collect your WINNINGS. It's that simple!!! We need 5-6 volunteers to help out on the 17th. If you'd like to volunteer, please contact Rev. Josh at minister@uuse.org or 860-646-5151! ------------------------------ Transgender Day of Visibility Special Event: Unitarian Universalist Association 2025 Ware Lecture with Imara Jones Tuesday, March 31st, 7:00 PM  In honor of the 2026 Transgender Day of Visibility Day, the UUSE Welcoming Congregation Recertification Team is screening the UUA’s 2025 Ware Lecture by award-winning Transgender journalist, activist and story-teller, Imara Jones. Jones has won Emmy and Peabody Awards, and is the creator of TransLash Media, a cross-platform project seeking to shift the current culture of hostility towards transgender people in the US. Her powerful 2025 Ware Lecture lays out how the Heritage Foundation and the architects of Project 2025 use anti-trans policies as a wedge to divide the country. While her analysis is chilling, her lecture is equally hopeful and uplifting. Please join us. Unitarian Universalist Society East, Meeting Room, 153 Vernon St. W, Manchester, CT 06042. ------------------------------ Future Vote on Joining the CT UU Social Justice Ministry For the past several years, social justice leaders in a number of UU congregations have been meeting to create a UU social justice network in Connecticut. Such networks exist in a number of states and have received organizational and material support from the UUA. The coalition of these state-level organizations is CUUSAN, Coalition of UU Social Action Networks. (At the time of writing their website is down) The Rev. Sierra-Marie Gerfao, who is one of the people spearheading the initiative, held information sessions on the proposed UU Social Justice Ministry in 2025, announced in our eblast and attended by a number of UUSE members and friends. The group has gotten a grant from the UUA. It is currently incorporating as a non-profit and forming a board. Sierra-Marie Gerfao has been hired as the executive director, at 5 hours per week for year one. The first goal of the CT UU Social Justice Ministry is to build relationships with partner organizations and build relationships among UU congregations in CT. It will likely focus on issues not addressed by existing faith-based coalitions in CT (e.g. trans rights; reproductive rights). Besides the Board (which will be small in size), the CT UU Social Justice Ministry will have a congregational liaisons group and an annual conference to develop relationships among congregations. The first conference is planned for Fall 2026. The CT UU Social Justice Ministry is already active, participating in both local actions, for example with Equality CT, and national actions in partnership with Side With Love campaigns. If you would like to be among the first to know about CT UU Social Justice Ministry activities, reach out to uuseoffice@uuse.org . They will also be shared by the SJ/AO Committee through its Basecamp list. The time has now come for UU congregations in CT to consider formally joining this network. The SJ/AO Committee, which met with Sierra-Marie during its December meeting, believes this is an important effort that our congregation should commit to. We have a long history of activism and have strong partnerships in the state. It is an opportunity to work on issues that other faith-based coalitions like GHIAA may be unwilling to take on. It is also an opportunity to build a coalition that has the capacity to support smaller UU congregations in their social justice work. Joining this coalition requires a vote by the congregation. This vote will be held at our May congregational meeting. The SJ/AO Committee will hold information sessions prior to the vote. As would be expected, joining this coalition entails a financial commitment. The funding model for the CT UU Social Justice Ministry is based on the experience of other statewide networks. (The organizing committee was given extensive advice by the North Carolina coalition.) The likely funding structure is: (1) individual donors—largest source; (2) project-based grants; and (3) congregational contributions. Expected congregational contributions would be 1/4 to 1/2 of 1% of the congregation's annual budget. The UUA grant for year 1 is about $20,000. The group hopes to get another UUA grant for year 2. One possible way for UUSE to raise the ¼ of 1% of the congregation’s annual budget (about $1385 in the case of 2025/26 budget) would be to dedicate fifth Sunday plate collections to the coalition. This idea has been received favorably by the Policy Board and the members of the outreach committee that decides on the beneficiaries of the plate collection. The SJ/AO Committee welcomes any thoughts or questions you may have. Reach out to the Committee co-chairs, Monica van Beusekom and Sid Soderholm. ------------------------------ Keep up to date on all UUSE happenings here . ------------------------------ Help Us Spread the Word and Keep Up on Happenings! Social media is another way to keep you informed...and share our bounty of events and happenings. You can also share with just the UUSE community your joys, accomplishments, and concerns. Look us up! Don't forget to Like and Share. Facebook: UUSEast , Instagram: uu_society_east . Community sharing only: UUSE Happenings on Facebook is a private page for sharing among members. You can also share events or posts in other groups on Facebook. If you have any suggestions for places to publicize events, email uuseoffice@uuse.org , the Communications/Technology Committee. ------------------------------ Sing Out Love Listening Sessions February 26th and March 5th Are you interested in hearing (and maybe even singing) music from the UUA's new online hymnal, Sing Out Love? Join our Music Director, Mary Bopp, and Rev. Josh for an exploration of the music in this wonderful new resource. Thursdays, February 26th and March 5th, 11:00 to 1:00 PM at the meeting house. All are welcome. ------------------------------ Hope in Hard Times In these troubling times, many of us feel anxious, despondent, or alone. Thursday, March 12th, 3 PM 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 the Wednesday morning eblast for a Zoom link. ------------------------------ Best Practices for Community Health Colds, influenza, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and -- yes -- Covid continue to circulate in the wider community. According to the CT Department of Public Health, these illnesses are especially dangerous for those of us who are 60 and older. This is a friendly reminder that no matter your age, if you are experiencing any symptoms of illness, you always have the option to join Sunday services and other meetings and activities by Zoom from the comfort of your home. If you do need to come to the meetinghouse, keep in mind that masks have the power to protect both you and those with whom you come in contact. Let's all help keep each other as healthy as we can! From the UUSE Emergency Preparedness Task Force ------------------------------ CT UU Social Justice Ministry Action Hours: Trans Rights & Immigrant Rights The newly formed CT UU Social Justice Ministry (a statewide coalition) invites you to join two zoom "Action Hours." Friday, February 20 at 4PM: We will write postcards to protect gender affirming care in our state (postcards provided) and will chat with special Guests Matthew Blinstrubas of Equality CT and Liz Gustafson of Reproductive Equity Now about their legislative agendas for this short CT legislative session. Friday, February 27 at 4PM: Come share what you know about immigration justice and care work in your part of the state. We will learn from each other. Special guests and/or actions to be announced, but one thing we will do for sure is get a better sense of the work being done across the state to protect immigrants and learn more about the resources available to do this work. Please RSVP here for one or both action hours on Zoom. ------------------------------ Brainstorm Vision and Mission Ideas Workshops with the Strategic Planning Task Force! The Strategic Planning Task Force is offering three upcoming dates in March to join us in brainstorming our current vision and mission statements and what revision ideas we may want to consider to help guide our next five years and future strategic plan. During the short workshop (about 2 hours), participants will review both statements and give their ideas to help with brainstorming our new vision and mission statements. Sunday, March 22, at 12:30 in the Children’s Chapel right after services Tuesday, March 24 at 7p in the Children’s Chapel Sunday, March 29 at 1:30p in the Children’s Chapel after the Chocolate Auction We’d love to hear your thoughts and incorporate your ideas! Please RSVP using the Google Form . ------------------------------ Responses from the February 15th Service:  The Strategic Planning Task Force thanks everyone for their thoughtful and considerate responses during the February 15th service. It’s a great way to kick off our brainstorming as we begin our revision considerations. After reviewing nearly 100 responses to our current vision statement, the six most popular words in our current vision statement that people strongly feel speak to them include (in order by most selected) justice, spiritually, alive, social, environmental, and diverse. To review all of the chosen words, review our WordArt presenting all of the chosen selections (the larger the word appears, the more times it was selected). ------------------------------ In addition, when asked “in the next 5 years, we as a congregation will…,” the seven most common repeated words were: more, community, diverse, members, justice, work, and grow. To review all of the submitted words, review our WordArt (the larger the word appears, the more times it was written in). To continue the conversation and brainstorming, we hope to see people at the upcoming Strategic Planning workshops in March. ------------------------------ 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 ------------------------------ Ongoing Groups, Activities, and Fun ------------------------------ Calling all Artists. Photographers and Poets A new art exhibit for the Sanctuary will go up on March 29th—signups by March 23rd. Our Spring theme is Renewal . Spring brings renewal through longer days, warmer air, and the return of growing things. The fresh light and new life of the season offer a sense of energy and hope after winter’s stillness. Please register your entries by sending an email to 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 March 20th. If you would like to include a photo or a small piece of artwork, please send it along as well. Drop-off for entries is on March 26th from 11 to 12:30. Watch the e-blast for more information. Questions? Please contact Eric Vogel or Jannet Heller ------------------------------ Community Contra Dance March 21, 2026, 4-7 PM in the UUSE Meeting Room Live music! Gender-free! Beginner friendly! All are welcome! Contact: Meghan MacRae, uuseoffice@uuse.org . ------------------------------ Ladies at Lunch Thursday, March 12 , we will have lunch at Main Pub in Manchester, 306 Main Street, meeting at noon . Join us! All are welcome. If you will attend, please reply to Sharon Huber by Wednesday March 11th afternoon. uuseoffice@uuse.org or 860-646-5151. ------------------------------ Romeos for Lunch Romeos (Retired Old Men Eating Out) meet at noon 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. Contact Annie at the church office to be included on the email call list. ------------------------------ Yoga at the Meetinghouse Wednesdays at 10:00 AM All are welcome to these gentle-to-moderate yoga classes for all abilities. $5 drop-in fee. Bring a yoga mat (we have some extras). Bring a friend! Questions to: Susan at uuseoffice@uuse.org . Yoga is a UUSE adult education offering. ------------------------------ Women's Sacred Singing Circle Every Thursday at 7 PM We sing songs and chants from a variety of traditions, including some written by women from circles around the country, including our own. All are about the earth, healing, spirit, and, of course, women. Come late, leave early, or stay the whole time. Come every week or off and on, when you choose. But come! We have so much fun each week, we want you to join us in the laughter, song and community! ------------------------------  Pastoral Friends Rotating Chair March/April: Ellen Williams PastoralFriends@uuse.org. ------------------------------ Books, Classes, and Discussions Adult Religious Education ------------------------------ Meditation Group The Meditation Group will meet third Mondays from 3:30 PM in the Sanctuary to meditate in community. The group started because members of the Buddhist Group, which meets on Zoom, wanted to gather in person. You don’t have to be a member of the Buddhist Group or interested in Buddhism to join. Everyone is welcome; no experience required. Contact Nancy Thompson with questions, uuseoffice@uuse.org . ------------------------------ Book Lovers The Book Lovers meet in person and simultaneously on Zoom every second Tuesday from 3:30 to 5:00 PM . You are welcome even if you haven’t finished the book. The link is sent out the weekend before by Carolyn Gimbrone. March 10, 2026: The Emperor of Gladness by Ocean Vuong: Pub. May 2025, 416 Pages. Discussion leader: Jeannine Gluck April 14, 2026 : Stone Yard Devotional by Charlotte Wood: Pub. Feb. 2025, 304 pages. Discussion leader: Lesley Schurmann ------------------------------ Buddhist Group The UUSE Buddhist Group will meet on the 1st Tuesday, at 7 PM on Zoom for meditation and discussion of a Buddhist perspective on the monthly ministry theme. Email Nancy Thompson at uuseoffice@uuse.org for details or the Zoom link. ------------------------------ Humanist Group Join us in on the 3rd Tuesday at 4:30 PM. This ongoing group explores Religious Humanism and its applications to life, both historically and today. All welcome. Contact Rev. Josh at minister@uuse.org for the Zoom link. ------------------------------ Science and Religion Discussion Group Where do science and religion meet? Where are they in opposition? Meet 4th Tuesdays at 4:30 in the Chapel, and on Zoom. Contact Chris Larson for the Zoom link. ------------------------------ God Talk A discussion group for UU theists 4th Tuesdays at 4:30 PM. This ongoing group explores how UUs can name and experience God in meaningful, useful ways. All are welcome. Contact Rev. Josh at minister@uuse.org for the Zoom link. ------------------------------ Newsletter Submissions Submit articles using newsletter@uuse.org or use this publicity form . Deadline for the Newsletter is the 20th of each month. ------------------------------ UUSE General Information UUSE Office Schedule: Monday – Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM Meetinghouse Office: 860-646-5151 Office Administrator: Annie Gentile email: uuseoffice@uuse.org Minister: Rev. Joshua Pawelek, 860-646-5151, minister@uuse.org Minister Office Hours: Tuesday 10 AM to 7 PM and Thursday 10 AM to 4 PM Director of Children & Youth Ministry: Emmy Galbraith, 860-646-5151, dcym@uuse.org President: Trisha Corey-Lisle, 805-750--3488, uuseoffice@uuse.org Newsletter Editor: Carol Marion, 860-646-5151, newsletter@uuse.org Website Coordinator: uuse.web@uuse.org UUSE Website : https://www.uuse.org ------------------------------

< Back < Latest eBlast eBlast Article < Previous Article Next Article > Heart-Centered Kirtan Heart-Centered Kirtan Sunday, March 22 at 3:00 P.M. Join us on Sunday, March 22 at 3:00 P.M. for an uplifting, meditative experience blending contemporary music with the call-and-response singing of mantras. The featured band, Heart Centered Kirtan, includes Libby Volckening, vocals and keys; Ezra Landis, guitar; Nico D'Amico, bass; and Chris Ball, drums. Together, the musicians offer contemporary arrangements that honor the roots of kirtan while remaining approachable for newcomers. Admission is by free-will donation ($20 suggested) at the door, but no one will be turned away. No ticket required but advance registration at eventbrite.com is encouraged to help organizers anticipate attendance. For more information, visit: https://uuse.org/kirtan . #eBlast -03-18

< Back < Latest eBlast eBlast Article < Previous Article Next Article > EBlast Weekly News March 18, 2026 ------------------------------ Welcome to Unitarian Universalist Society East Email our office t o receive a visitor packet or to find out more. We schedule several newcomer events throughout the year after Sunday services. ------------------------------ Sunday Service: "Ferry Beach Retreat and Conference Center. What's It All About?" Participants in this service will provide information about Ferry Beach and share thoughts about experiences they have had there. Coordinators : Nancy Madar and David Klotz Services at 9:00 and 11:00 A.M. Sunday, March 22, 2026 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 a Youtube video of the 3/15/26 service: "On War, Women and Witness or Do UU Know Your History? Part III" ------------------------------ Gender Free Contra Dance Saturday, March 21, 2026 - 4:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M.  Come enjoy live music and joyous movement at this community dance for all ages, no experience necessary. Bring a friend or come solo. Beginner lesson and orientation at 3:45 P.M.; dance begins at 4:00 P.M. Bring soft-soled shoes to protect our floors. Admission $15, students $5, under 12 free. Free-will donation; no one turned away. All are welcome. The dance, sponsored by the Music Committee, will be held at the Unitarian Universalist Society East. For more information, click here or contact Meghan MacRae or Jane Osborn . ------------------------------ Help a Child Learn to Read  Can you spare an hour per week to help a child learn to read? Throughout this school year, UUSE members have been working with kindergarten and first grade students at Verplanck Elementary who are struggling with basic literacy skills. And it's really been working! The reading specialists and classroom teachers see clear, measurable progress! We could use five more adult volunteers for the rest of the school year, as well as a few who can fill in for tutors who are sick or traveling. Sessions are Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday at 10: 45 or 11:45. Please contact Nancy Pappas at uuseoffice@uuse.org for more details or to set up a school visit. ------------------------------ Reminder: UUSE Spring Art and Poetry Exhibit Our Spring theme is Renewal. Spring brings renewal through longer days, warmer air, and the return of growing things. The fresh light and new life of the season offer a sense of energy and hope after winter's stillness. The Spring Exhibit will be installed on March 26th, and signups are due by March 23rd. Please register your entries 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 March 20th. If you would like to include a photo or a small piece of artwork, please send it along as well. Drop-off for entries is March 26th from 11:00 A.M. to 12:30 P.M. Watch the e-blast for more information. Questions? Please contact Eric Vogel or Janet Heller. ------------------------------ Upcoming Workshops Help Brainstorm Vision and Mission Ideas with the Strategic Planning Task Force The Strategic Planning Task Force is offering three upcoming dates in March to join us in brainstorming our current vision and mission statements and what revision ideas we may want to consider to help guide our next five years and future strategic plan. During the short workshop (about 2 hours), participants will review both statements and give their ideas to help with brainstorming our new vision and mission statements. Upcoming Dates Sunday, March 22 , at 12:30 P.M. in the Children’s Chapel right after services Tuesday, March 24 at 7:00 P.M. in the Children’s Chapel Sunday, March 29 at 1:30 P.M. in the Children’s Chapel after the Chocolate Auction We’d love to hear your thoughts and incorporate your ideas! Please RSVP using the Google Form . ------------------------------ Heart-Centered Kirtan Sunday, March 22 at 3:00 P.M. Join us on Sunday, March 22 at 3:00 P.M. for an uplifting, meditative experience blending contemporary music with the call-and-response singing of mantras. The featured band, Heart Centered Kirtan, includes Libby Volckening, vocals and keys; Ezra Landis, guitar; Nico D'Amico, bass; and Chris Ball, drums. Together, the musicians offer contemporary arrangements that honor the roots of kirtan while remaining approachable for newcomers. Admission is by free-will donation ($20 suggested) at the door, but no one will be turned away. No ticket required but advance registration at eventbrite.com is encouraged to help organizers anticipate attendance. For more information, visit: https://uuse.org/kirtan . ------------------------------ UUSE Chocolate Auction Sunday, March 29 at 12:30 P.M.   Chocolate is awesome, and a chocolate auction is a great way to raise $$$$ for UUSE! This year's chocolate auction helps celebrate the end of our 2026 Annual Appeal. (Note: The March newsletter incorrectly advertised the event for March 31. It is on Sunday, March 29 at 12:30 p.m. following the second service.) All are invited to create chocolate confections (cookies, brownies, cakes, cupcakes--you name it!). Bring your creations to the Meeting House on the 29th and bid on whatever looks best to you. Bring your checkbook or cash and pay when you collect your WINNINGS. It's that simple!!! ------------------------------ Best Practices for Community Health Spring is just around the corner (fingers crossed!) but colds, influenza, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and COVID continue to circulate in the wider community. According to the CT Department of Public Health, there have been 30,440 seasonal reported cases of influenza, 5388 reported cases of RSV and 14,552 reported cases of Covid-19. What do these respiratory viral diseases all have in common? They are proving to be especially dangerous, even deadly, for those of us who are 70 and older. This is a friendly reminder that no matter your age, if you are experiencing any symptoms of illness, you always have the option to join Sunday services and other meetings and activities by Zoom from the comfort of your home. If you do need to come to the meetinghouse, keep in mind that masks have the power to protect both you and those with whom you come in contact. Let's all help keep each other as healthy as we can! From the UUSE Emergency Preparedness Task Force ------------------------------ Jazz Group Forming Organizational Meeting on Sunday, March 29th If you're interested in being part of a new jazz group at UUSE, please come to the organizational meeting on Sunday, March 29, from 2:00 to 3:30 P.M. , right after the Chocolate Auction. We're looking for input from people comfortable with playing or singing jazz, to put our heads together about forming a group. We'll discuss goals, interests, rehearsing, performing, availability, experience, instruments, etc. Then we'll play a song or two. So, please bring your instrument. If interested, please contact Eric Rosenberg . 860-646-5151. ------------------------------ Pastoral Friends The Pastoral Friends Committee has a rotating chair throughout the year. Should you need pastoral care during the months of March or April contact Ellen Williams . ------------------------------ 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. April 14: Stone Yard Devotional by Charlotte Wood . Discussion leader: Lesley Schurmann Women's Circle , 3rd Tuesdays at 7:00 P.M. (Zoom only December through March) Email Nora Alpers-Leon at uuseoffice@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. March's topic: Hertog's "Origin of Time" with Bill Bosworth. ------------------------------ 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 ------------------------------