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< To Upcoming Services Watch the eBlast for the next scheduled Death Cafe Death Cafe Tuesday, December 23rd at 1:00 P.M. UUSE's next Death Cafe will be held at the meeting house on Tuesday, December 23rd at 1:00 P.M. Death Cafe is a global movement with a simple goal: to provide participants in any stage of life with an opportunity for an open-ended discussion about death and dying. There is no formal agenda, but there is tea, cake, and a comfortable place to discuss this issue that will touch all of us at some point in our lives. All are welcome. Questions? Contact Rev. Josh Pawelek at minister@uuse.org . #eBlast-12-17 Death Cafe Tuesday, December 23rd at 1:00 P.M. UUSE's next Death Cafe will be held at the meeting house on Tuesday, December 23rd at 1:00 P.M. Death Cafe is a global movement with a simple goal: to provide participants in any stage of life with an opportunity for an open-ended discussion about death and dying. There is no formal agenda, but there is tea, cake, and a comfortable place to discuss this issue that will touch all of us at some point in our lives. All are welcome. Questions? Contact Rev. Josh Pawelek at minister@uuse.org . #eBlast -12-17 OOS Sermon YouTube

< To Upcoming Services Watch the eBlast for the next scheduled Sunday Service: Sunday Service: "Where the Light Begins." Let's try it again! This morning, we celebrate the winter solstice and continue with our annual, all-congregational holiday music service (postponed last week due to snow). Come and be joyful where the light begins. Coordinators: Mary Bopp and Rev. Josh Pawelek  Services at 9:00 and 11:00 A.M. Sunday, December 21, 2025 Gathering music starts at 8:50 and 10:50 A.M. Join the virtual service at 11:00 A.M. via our Zoom link: Contact the Office for Zoom Link. Or join by phone. Call 1-860-646-5151 Meeting ID 357 815 420#. In Case You Missed It Click here for the December 14, 2025 service, "Where the Light Begins." #eBlast-12-17 Sunday Service: "Where the Light Begins." Let's try it again! This morning, we celebrate the winter solstice and continue with our annual, all-congregational holiday music service (postponed last week due to snow). Come and be joyful where the light begins. Coordinators : Mary Bopp and Rev. Josh Pawelek  Services at 9:00 and 11:00 A.M. Sunday, December 21, 2025 Gathering music starts at 8:50 and 10:50 A.M. Join the virtual service at 11:00 A.M. via our Zoom link: Contact the Office for Zoom Link . Or join by phone. Call 1-860-646-5151 Meeting ID 357 815 420#. In Case You Missed It Click here for the December 14, 2025 service, "Where the Light Begins." #eBlast -12-17 OOS Sermon YouTube

< Back < Latest eBlast eBlast Article < Previous Article Next Article > UUSE Links and Information 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 #eBlast -12-17

< Back < Latest eBlast eBlast Article < Previous Article Next Article > Upcoming Holiday and Seasonal Services Upcoming Holiday and Seasonal Services Evening Vespers Service : Monday, December 22nd at 7:00 P.M. - In a season busy with 'bright and merry', we may also find ourselves sitting with sadness, grief, and pain in body or spirit. Join us as we pause in the quiet to acknowledge and support each other in bearing these burdens. We invite you to bring your chalice from home, where we will light it for the service. Silent Night, Holy Night: Wednesday, December 24th at 5:00 P.M. - Join us for Christmas Eve worship with beautiful music, timeless stories, and more. Anything might happen!!! Note: Unless otherwise indicated, the offertory collection will be given to the Minister's Discretionary Fund. Reflections and Hopes: Sunday, December 28th, one service only at 10:00 A.M. - Join us for shared reflections on the year gone by and our hopes for the upcoming year. #eBlast -12-17

< To Upcoming Services Watch the eBlast for the next scheduled Coffeehouse & Open Mic Coffeehouse & Open Mic Saturday, January 3 Join us on the first Saturday of each month, October through May, for an evening of music, poetry, stories, and community! Bring your own songs, poems, stories or any creative offering -- or simply come enjoy the warm, supportive atmosphere as part of our appreciative audience. Sign-ups begin at 6:00 P.M. and performances start at 6:30 P.M. We feature 12 slots, each about 10 minutes or two songs. BYOB, BYO dinner, and BYO friends - we'll provide the coffee! #eBlast-12-17 Coffeehouse & Open Mic Saturday, January 3 Join us on the first Saturday of each month, October through May, for an evening of music, poetry, stories, and community! Bring your own songs, poems, stories or any creative offering -- or simply come enjoy the warm, supportive atmosphere as part of our appreciative audience. Sign-ups begin at 6:00 P.M. and performances start at 6:30 P.M . We feature 12 slots, each about 10 minutes or two songs. BYOB, BYO dinner, and BYO friends - we'll provide the coffee! #eBlast -12-17 OOS Sermon YouTube

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 #DecemberNewsletter

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

< Back < Latest eBlast eBlast Article < Previous Article Next Article > Coffeehouse & Open Mic Coffeehouse & Open Mic Saturday, January 3 Join us on the first Saturday of each month, October through May, for an evening of music, poetry, stories, and community! Bring your own songs, poems, stories or any creative offering -- or simply come enjoy the warm, supportive atmosphere as part of our appreciative audience. Sign-ups begin at 6:00 P.M. and performances start at 6:30 P.M . We feature 12 slots, each about 10 minutes or two songs. BYOB, BYO dinner, and BYO friends - we'll provide the coffee! #eBlast -12-17

< Back < Latest eBlast eBlast Article < Previous Article Next Article > EBlast Weekly News December 17, 2025 ------------------------------ 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: "Where the Light Begins." Let's try it again! This morning, we celebrate the winter solstice and continue with our annual, all-congregational holiday music service (postponed last week due to snow). Come and be joyful where the light begins. Coordinators : Mary Bopp and Rev. Josh Pawelek  Services at 9:00 and 11:00 A.M. Sunday, December 21, 2025 Gathering music starts at 8:50 and 10:50 A.M. Join the virtual service at 11:00 A.M. via our Zoom link: Contact the Office for Zoom Link . Or join by phone. Call 1-860-646-5151 Meeting ID 357 815 420#. In Case You Missed It Click here for the December 14, 2025 service, "Where the Light Begins." ------------------------------ CYM News Do you feel comfortable talking about your personal spiritual practice? Would you be willing to come in to the 2nd-5th grade classroom to explore big questions with our young UUs, with the support of seasoned classroom teachers? If so, please reach out to the Director of Children & Youth Ministry at dcym@uuse.org . ------------------------------ MACC Christmas Mitten/Gloves Drive! December at UUSE The Manchester Area Conference of Churches has put out a call for mittens and gloves in all sizes. UUSE is going to formally re-establish our holiday Mitten Tree. During the month of December, please bring mittens and gloves to decorate the Christmas tree in the UUSE sanctuary. For more information, contact Diana Creamer at (860) 648-9546. ------------------------------ Yoga Monday, December 22 at noon at Samadhi Studio Due to the Christmas Eve service setup, the Wednesday, December 24 yoga class has been cancelled . However, Susan Barlow will be holding a class at Samadhi Yoga Studio, 283 East Center Street in Manchester on Monday, December 22 at noon . All are welcome. The cost for the class is $8. ------------------------------ Death Cafe Tuesday, December 23rd at 1:00 P.M. UUSE's next Death Cafe will be held at the meeting house on Tuesday, December 23rd at 1:00 P.M. Death Cafe is a global movement with a simple goal: to provide participants in any stage of life with an opportunity for an open-ended discussion about death and dying. There is no formal agenda, but there is tea, cake, and a comfortable place to discuss this issue that will touch all of us at some point in our lives. All are welcome. Questions? Contact Rev. Josh Pawelek at minister@uuse.org . ------------------------------ Upcoming Holiday and Seasonal Services Evening Vespers Service : Monday, December 22nd at 7:00 P.M. - In a season busy with 'bright and merry', we may also find ourselves sitting with sadness, grief, and pain in body or spirit. Join us as we pause in the quiet to acknowledge and support each other in bearing these burdens. We invite you to bring your chalice from home, where we will light it for the service. Silent Night, Holy Night: Wednesday, December 24th at 5:00 P.M. - Join us for Christmas Eve worship with beautiful music, timeless stories, and more. Anything might happen!!! Note: Unless otherwise indicated, the offertory collection will be given to the Minister's Discretionary Fund. Reflections and Hopes: Sunday, December 28th, one service only at 10:00 A.M. - Join us for shared reflections on the year gone by and our hopes for the upcoming year. ------------------------------ Coffeehouse & Open Mic Saturday, January 3 Join us on the first Saturday of each month, October through May, for an evening of music, poetry, stories, and community! Bring your own songs, poems, stories or any creative offering -- or simply come enjoy the warm, supportive atmosphere as part of our appreciative audience. Sign-ups begin at 6:00 P.M. and performances start at 6:30 P.M . We feature 12 slots, each about 10 minutes or two songs. BYOB, BYO dinner, and BYO friends - we'll provide the coffee! ------------------------------ 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 ------------------------------ Pastoral Friends The Pastoral Friends Committee has a rotating chair throughout the year. Should you need pastoral care during the months of November and December , please contact Laurie Semprebon . ------------------------------ 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. January 13: James - A Novel by Percival Everett. Discussion leader: Nancy Thompson. 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. NEW! Meditation Group , 3rd Mondays, 3:30 P.M. to 5:00 P.M. God Talk , 4th Tuesdays at 4:30 P.M. Humanist Group , 3rd Tuesdays at 4:30 P.M. Science and Religion Discussion Group , 4th Thursdays at 4:30 P.M. November/Dec - "Origin Myths" with Jackie Muschiano -- Due to the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays, meeting is on December 11th. ------------------------------ 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 ------------------------------

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 Donate to the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee Emergency Response Fund for Ukraine and Haiti Community Outreach Ministry Charitable Giving Charitable Giving for December 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: McKinney Men’s Shelter (Hartford) East Hartford Shelter Cornerstone Shelter (Rockville) 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. #DecemberNewsletter 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 2024-25 Stewardship Committee – Louisa Graver, Jean Knapp, Larry Lunden, Phil Sawyer, Stan McMillen, 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

< Back < Latest eBlast eBlast Article < Previous Article Next Article > Weekly News Weekly News December 17, 2025 #eBlast -12-17