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< To Upcoming Services Watch the eBlast for the next scheduled Ladies At Lunch Ladies at Lunch meet on 2nd Thursdays or Fridays. Check the eBlast for location and day. Ladies at Lunch meet on 2nd Thursdays or Fridays. Check the eBlast for location and day. OOS Sermon YouTube

< To Upcoming Services Aug 23, 2026 Blessed Are the Animals Blessed Are the Animals As Unitarian Universalists, we believe all life is sacred. For anyone who has had a connection to an animal, you have felt the interdependence of all life. On August 23rd, we will lift up our non-human family and celebrate all that they bring to our lives. If you have, or have had, an animal in your life that you would like to hold in spirit that day (note: we will not be blessing animals in the sanctuary), please send us a photo along with the animal's name, and whether the animal is living or has passed - we would love to create a slideshow to use in the service. In addition, if you have a story, poem or song that you would be willing to share, please reach out to us. We may not be able to use all of them but we would like to incorporate as much as possible. And we'd love to hear from the children and youth as well!! Please send photos to Paula Baker (uuseoffice@uuse.org ), and if you'd like to participate, contact Paula or Ellen Williams (uuseoffice@uuse.org ). Please send photos or be in touch by August 7. #eBlast-07-29 Blessed Are the Animals As Unitarian Universalists, we believe all life is sacred. For anyone who has had a connection to an animal, you have felt the interdependence of all life. On August 23rd, we will lift up our non-human family and celebrate all that they bring to our lives. If you have, or have had, an animal in your life that you would like to hold in spirit that day (note: we will not be blessing animals in the sanctuary), please send us a photo along with the animal's name, and whether the animal is living or has passed - we would love to create a slideshow to use in the service. In addition, if you have a story, poem or song that you would be willing to share, please reach out to us. We may not be able to use all of them but we would like to incorporate as much as possible. And we'd love to hear from the children and youth as well!! Please send photos to Paula Baker ( uuseoffice@uuse.org ), and if you'd like to participate, contact Paula or Ellen Williams ( uuseoffice@uuse.org ). Please send photos or be in touch by August 7 . #eBlast -07-29 OOS Sermon YouTube

< To Upcoming Services Aug 15, 2026 Paddle Into Nature Paddle Into Nature A Beginner-Friendly Kayak Adventure - With Instruction Saturday, August 15 at 2:00 P.M. Enjoy a relaxing afternoon exploring the beauty of Mansfield Hollow Lake by kayak! Whether you're new to kayaking or simply looking fora peaceful paddle with friendly company, this outing is designed to help you feel comfortable on the water. We'll begin with an introduction to kayak safety, paddling techniques, and basic boating skills before launching Date and Time: Saturday, August 15, 2:00 p.m. Rain Date: Sunday, August 16, 2:00 p.m. Duration: Approximately 2-3 hours Location: Mansfield Hollow Dam State Park - meet at 151 Bassetts Bridge Rd, Mansfield, CT entrance Bring: Water shoes or old sneakers, weather appropriate clothing, hat, sunscreen, bug spray, change of clothes Experience: No previous kayaking experience required. Instruction provided. Health & Safety: Please participate only if medically cleared for this activity and comfortable being on the water. A signed waiver is required. Cost: $10 per person Group Size: Maximum of 5 participants Registration: Call Annie at the UUSE office: 860-646-5151 Kayaks are provided through the Columbia Canoe Club, a nonprofit paddling organization based at Mansfield Hollow State Park. Learn more at columbiacanoeclub.weebly.com #eBlast-07-29 Paddle Into Nature A Beginner-Friendly Kayak Adventure - With Instruction Saturday, August 15 at 2:00 P.M. Enjoy a relaxing afternoon exploring the beauty of Mansfield Hollow Lake by kayak! Whether you're new to kayaking or simply looking fora peaceful paddle with friendly company, this outing is designed to help you feel comfortable on the water. We'll begin with an introduction to kayak safety, paddling techniques, and basic boating skills before launching Date and Time : Saturday, August 15, 2:00 p.m. Rain Date : Sunday, August 16, 2:00 p.m. Duration : Approximately 2-3 hours Location : Mansfield Hollow Dam State Park - meet at 151 Bassetts Bridge Rd, Mansfield, CT entrance Bring : Water shoes or old sneakers, weather appropriate clothing, hat, sunscreen, bug spray, change of clothes Experience : No previous kayaking experience required. Instruction provided. Health & Safety: Please participate only if medically cleared for this activity and comfortable being on the water. A signed waiver is required. Cost : $10 per person Group Size : Maximum of 5 participants Registration : Call Annie at the UUSE office: 860-646-5151 Kayaks are provided through the Columbia Canoe Club, a nonprofit paddling organization based at Mansfield Hollow State Park. Learn more at columbiacanoeclub.weebly.com #eBlast -07-29 OOS Sermon YouTube

< To Upcoming Services Aug 12, 2026 Postcarding for the Environmental Voter Project Postcarding for the Environmental Voter Project Wednesdays, August 12 and August 19 UUSE's Sustainable Living Committee, in conjunction with Third Act - Connecticut's Defending Democracy team, will be gathering in the main meeting room on Wednesday, August 12 and again on Wednesday, August 19 from 2:00 to 4:00 P.M. to write get-out-the-vote postcards for the Environmental Voter Project (EVP). The goal is to turn infrequent-voting people in swing states whose highest priority is the environment, into reliable voters. Postcards, stamps, addresses, message text, pens and snacks are provided. All are welcome! Contact Carole Tenny for further information. #eBlast-07-29 Postcarding for the Environmental Voter Project Wednesdays, August 12 and August 19 UUSE's Sustainable Living Committee, in conjunction with Third Act - Connecticut's Defending Democracy team, will be gathering in the main meeting room on Wednesday, August 12 and again on Wednesday, August 19 from 2:00 to 4:00 P.M. to write get-out-the-vote postcards for the Environmental Voter Project (EVP). The goal is to turn infrequent-voting people in swing states whose highest priority is the environment, into reliable voters. Postcards, stamps, addresses, message text, pens and snacks are provided. All are welcome! Contact Carole Tenny for further information. #eBlast -07-29 OOS Sermon YouTube

< To Upcoming Services Aug 6, 2026 Guitar Jam! Guitar Jam! Come play, sing, or listen. Acoustic jam at the Napiers' in Tolland, August 6, 7:00 P.M. - 8:30 P.M. John Prine, John Denver, Johnny Cash, Rise Up Singing, or whatever you'd like to bring. Contact uuseoffice@uuse.org or see the flier in the lobby for details. #eBlast-07-29 Guitar Jam! Come play, sing, or listen. Acoustic jam at the Napiers' in Tolland, August 6, 7:00 P.M. - 8:30 P.M. John Prine, John Denver, Johnny Cash, Rise Up Singing, or whatever you'd like to bring. Contact uuseoffice@uuse.org or see the flier in the lobby for details. #eBlast -07-29 OOS Sermon YouTube

< To Upcoming Services Jan 30, 2027 The Chili Cook-Off is Back! January 30, 2027! The Chili Cook-Off is Back! January 30, 2027! Enjoy a free, delicious chili dinner with our vibrant beloved community, including beer & wine, cornbread, salad and dessert, plus pizza for those who don’t eat chili. Exclusive Live Event Items -- Places at dinners and activities offered by our members and fabulous auction items like Rev. Josh’s sermon will only be available at the live event. The Auction is one of our biggest fundraisers and fun family events. It’s important to our congregation. We know, it’s far away, but things get busy in the Fall. How You Can Help This Summer and Fall? Donate! What can you contribute to auction off at this extraordinary event? Could you teach, repair, entertain, bake? Share your talent in other ways? We’ll have the ever-popular dinners, group activities, lessons, services and select items that need a new home. As you are out and about this summer, contact your favorite merchants to ask for donations. If you love a place, others will, too. Stop by our table after services July 12 and 26 to pick up a merchant donation letter or email auction@uuse.org . Think About Entering the Chili Cook-Off! It’s never too early to dream of your favorite chili! Who makes the best chili? Enter your tried and true family recipe or a new experiment you’ve been wanting to try. Vegan, vegetarian, and with meat—all are welcome! Bragging rights and a beautiful UUSE Chili Cook-Off Apron are up for grabs for the winners! Entry is limited, so contact Auction@uuse.org ASAP to reserve your spot. Questions? Email Auction@uuse.org or talk to any Auction Committee member -- Robin Byrne, Susan Gabriele, Jennifer Klee, Colin Guerrette, Stan McMillen, or Nancy Pappas. #eBlast-07-29 The Chili Cook-Off is Back! January 30, 2027! Enjoy a free, delicious chili dinner with our vibrant beloved community, including beer & wine, cornbread, salad and dessert, plus pizza for those who don’t eat chili. Exclusive Live Event Items -- Places at dinners and activities offered by our members and fabulous auction items like Rev. Josh’s sermon will only be available at the live event. The Auction is one of our biggest fundraisers and fun family events. It’s important to our congregation. We know, it’s far away, but things get busy in the Fall. How You Can Help This Summer and Fall? Donate! What can you contribute to auction off at this extraordinary event? Could you teach, repair, entertain, bake? Share your talent in other ways? We’ll have the ever-popular dinners, group activities, lessons, services and select items that need a new home. As you are out and about this summer, contact your favorite merchants to ask for donations . If you love a place, others will, too. Stop by our table after services July 12 and 26 to pick up a merchant donation letter or email auction@uuse.org . Think About Entering the Chili Cook-Off! It’s never too early to dream of your favorite chili! Who makes the best chili? Enter your tried and true family recipe or a new experiment you’ve been wanting to try. Vegan, vegetarian, and with meat—all are welcome! Bragging rights and a beautiful UUSE Chili Cook-Off Apron are up for grabs for the winners! Entry is limited, so contact Auction@uuse.org ASAP to reserve your spot. Questions? Email Auction@uuse.org or talk to any Auction Committee member -- Robin Byrne, Susan Gabriele, Jennifer Klee, Colin Guerrette, Stan McMillen, or Nancy Pappas. #eBlast -07-29 OOS Sermon YouTube

< Back < Latest eBlast eBlast Article < Previous Article Next Article > Our Mission 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. #eBlast -07-29

< Back < Latest eBlast eBlast Article < Previous Article Next Article > The Chili Cook-Off is Back! January 30, 2027! The Chili Cook-Off is Back! January 30, 2027! Enjoy a free, delicious chili dinner with our vibrant beloved community, including beer & wine, cornbread, salad and dessert, plus pizza for those who don’t eat chili. Exclusive Live Event Items -- Places at dinners and activities offered by our members and fabulous auction items like Rev. Josh’s sermon will only be available at the live event. The Auction is one of our biggest fundraisers and fun family events. It’s important to our congregation. We know, it’s far away, but things get busy in the Fall. How You Can Help This Summer and Fall? Donate! What can you contribute to auction off at this extraordinary event? Could you teach, repair, entertain, bake? Share your talent in other ways? We’ll have the ever-popular dinners, group activities, lessons, services and select items that need a new home. As you are out and about this summer, contact your favorite merchants to ask for donations . If you love a place, others will, too. Stop by our table after services July 12 and 26 to pick up a merchant donation letter or email auction@uuse.org . Think About Entering the Chili Cook-Off! It’s never too early to dream of your favorite chili! Who makes the best chili? Enter your tried and true family recipe or a new experiment you’ve been wanting to try. Vegan, vegetarian, and with meat—all are welcome! Bragging rights and a beautiful UUSE Chili Cook-Off Apron are up for grabs for the winners! Entry is limited, so contact Auction@uuse.org ASAP to reserve your spot. Questions? Email Auction@uuse.org or talk to any Auction Committee member -- Robin Byrne, Susan Gabriele, Jennifer Klee, Colin Guerrette, Stan McMillen, or Nancy Pappas. #eBlast -07-29

< Back < Latest eBlast eBlast Article < Previous Article Next Article > Ladies at Lunch Ladies at Lunch Friday, August 14th at noon Ladies at Lunch has reserved space at Red Heat, 400 Evergreen Way in South Windsor for Friday, August 14th. We'll meet at noon. Please join us if you can! If you plan to attend, please let Sharon Huber know by Thursday afternoon on the 13th. uuseoffice@uuse.org or text/call 860-646-5151. #eBlast -07-29

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 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.

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 July/August: Jackie Muschiano PastoralFriends@uuse.org. #AugustNewsletter

< Back < Latest eBlast eBlast Article < Previous Article Next Article > Postcarding for the Environmental Voter Project Postcarding for the Environmental Voter Project Wednesdays, August 12 and August 19 UUSE's Sustainable Living Committee, in conjunction with Third Act - Connecticut's Defending Democracy team, will be gathering in the main meeting room on Wednesday, August 12 and again on Wednesday, August 19 from 2:00 to 4:00 P.M. to write get-out-the-vote postcards for the Environmental Voter Project (EVP). The goal is to turn infrequent-voting people in swing states whose highest priority is the environment, into reliable voters. Postcards, stamps, addresses, message text, pens and snacks are provided. All are welcome! Contact Carole Tenny for further information. #eBlast -07-29