Reverend Josh Pawelek's monthly column, a message of meaning and hope. President's Column for ${month} Trisha Corey-Lisle President Bio Here

< To Upcoming Services Jan 12, 2025 Telling Our Stories Sunday, January 12: Telling Our Stories. According to author Madeleine L’Engle, “Stories make us more alive, more human, more courageous, and more loving.” In this service we explore how telling our own stories and listening to the stories of others can foster the healing, authenticity, understanding, and connection we need so much right now. Coordinators: Paula Baker & Gina Campellone #JanuaryNewsletter Sunday, January 12 : Telling Our Stories . According to author Madeleine L’Engle, “Stories make us more alive, more human, more courageous, and more loving.” In this service we explore how telling our own stories and listening to the stories of others can foster the healing, authenticity, understanding, and connection we need so much right now. Coordinators: Paula Baker & Gina Campellone #JanuaryNewsletter OOS Sermon YouTube

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

< To Upcoming Services Watch the eBlast for the next scheduled A Spring exhibit A Spring exhibit at UUSE will be installed on Thursday, March 27th. The new triptych and exhibit will remain in place until mid-June. Please register your entries at uuseoffice@uuse.org . Include your name, title and photo of the work, the price, if for sale. Drop off will be on March 27 from 12 noon - 1:30 P.M. Questions? Call Carolyn Emerson at 860-646-5151 #eBlast-03-12 A Spring exhibit at UUSE will be installed on Thursday, March 27th. The new triptych and exhibit will remain in place until mid-June. Please register your entries at uuseoffice@uuse.org . Include your name, title and photo of the work, the price, if for sale. Drop off will be on March 27 from 12 noon - 1:30 P.M. Questions? Call Carolyn Emerson at 860-646-5151 #eBlast -03-12 OOS Sermon YouTube

< To Upcoming Services Watch the eBlast for the next scheduled 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. #MarchNewsletter 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 . #MarchNewsletter OOS Sermon YouTube

0376e969-411b-4ccb-8397-cebd7d0ac846 < Back to Newsletter September Newsletter Article < Previous Article Next Article > Climate Future Film Festival - Chapter 2 October 18th at 2 PM The Sustainable Living Committee invites you to a free showing of The Climate Future Film Festival - Chapter 2! This new collection of 12 short films from around the world, explores the interior response to climate change - visceral, personal, artistic and emotional. Whether or not you have seen the original, chapter 1 set of films, shown at UUSE in Sept. 2025, you will be moved by these powerful short films to renewed action to fight the causes of and mitigate the harms done by climate change. Honorary judges are four-time academy award nominee and sustainability voice, Edward Norton, and ground-breaking author and climate leader, Bill McKibben. Come early to share info and ideas. Sponsored by the Sustainable Living Committee at UUSE. For more information, contact uuseoffice@uuse.org , call 860-646-5151, or visit uuse.org #SeptemberNewsletter Contact Information modified in accordance with UUSE Privacy Policies.

< To Upcoming Services Aug 18, 2024 Ritual and Repetition: Pathways to Spirituality. In this pulpit exchange with the Universalist Society of Hartford, we explore how familiarity with the patterns of ritual deepens the ease into a meditative state. Join us for a two-part harmony as Laurie Kelliher speaks of "In Search of Ritual" and Michael Michaud offers "Over and Over Again! Breath, Mantras, Meditation and Movement. Musicians will include Andy Ricci and Dorothy Bognar. Coordinator: Anne Vogel #eBlast-08-14 OOS Sermon YouTube

< To Upcoming Services Watch the eBlast for the next scheduled CCIU and UUs Present: CCIU and UUs Present: To Love Your Neighbor, Know Your Neighbor Sunday, July 20th, 12:00 P.M. - 1:30 P.M. at UUSE Bring a lunch on Sunday and join us for the last of a 3-part series as we explore three different religions - the Bahai Faith, Hinduism and Unitarian Universalism. This lively, candid and highly informative question-and-answer forum, is produced by the Connecticut Council for Interreligious Understanding. It will include three panelists from different religions who will answer your questions about what it means to practice their beliefs. #eBlast-07-16 CCIU and UUs Present: To Love Your Neighbor, Know Your Neighbor Sunday, July 20th, 12:00 P.M. - 1:30 P.M. at UUSE Bring a lunch on Sunday and join us for the last of a 3-part series as we explore three different religions - the Bahai Faith, Hinduism and Unitarian Universalism. This lively, candid and highly informative question-and-answer forum, is produced by the Connecticut Council for Interreligious Understanding. It will include three panelists from different religions who will answer your questions about what it means to practice their beliefs. #eBlast -07-16 OOS Sermon YouTube

< To Upcoming Services Jun 18, 2023 A Celebration of Children & Youth Ministry. Join us this morning as we look back at a year of love, laughter, and learning, recognize the transitions of our children and youth, and applaud the dedication and enthusiasm of our volunteers. This service includes a year in review slide show, great music, and some really fun Children & Youth Ministry (CYM) swag! Coordinator(s): Gina Campellone & members of the CYM Committee OOS Sermon YouTube

< To Upcoming Services Watch the eBlast for the next scheduled UUSE "Mid-summer Community Suppers" UUSE "Mid-summer Community Suppers" The Membership Committee is happy to announce that three UUSE families have come forward and offered to host summer potluck suppers in their homes, on August 2, 8 and 22. Sign-up sheets will be out in the lobby after this Sunday's service with all the details, so please sign up if you would like to join the fun! Feel free to contact Sue Myers or Carole Boster if you have any questions. #eBlast-07-16 UUSE "Mid-summer Community Suppers" The Membership Committee is happy to announce that three UUSE families have come forward and offered to host summer potluck suppers in their homes, on August 2, 8 and 22 . Sign-up sheets will be out in the lobby after this Sunday's service with all the details, so please sign up if you would like to join the fun! Feel free to contact Sue Myers or Carole Boster if you have any questions. #eBlast -07-16 OOS Sermon YouTube

< To Upcoming Services Watch the eBlast for the next scheduled A Concert for Two Pianos A Concert for Two Pianos Come hear the two UUSE Steinway grands in a blockbuster program of duo piano works by Mozart, Liszt and Gershwin, performed by virtuosos Paul Bisaccia and Corbin Beisner on Sunday, April 27 at 3:00 P.M. at the UUSE Meetinghouse. The suggested donation is $15 but no one will be turned away. #eBlast-04-23 A Concert for Two Pianos Come hear the two UUSE Steinway grands in a blockbuster program of duo piano works by Mozart, Liszt and Gershwin, performed by virtuosos Paul Bisaccia and Corbin Beisner on Sunday, April 27 at 3:00 P.M. at the UUSE Meetinghouse. The suggested donation is $15 but no one will be turned away. #eBlast -04-23 OOS Sermon YouTube

The monthly C&YM column holds a trove of interesting ideas for your kids. Director's Corner Emmy's Update For Sunday February 22nd Greetings CYM Families & Friends! I have a few things to share! First, please note a change to the CYM program schedule: Sunday, March 1st will be an All Ages Sunday service, instead of a classroom day . Classroom teachers: I will be updating the curriculum schedule to account for this. The nursery will be open as usual on this day, but all other classrooms will be closed and families are invited to attend Sunday service in its entirety together. Next, I wanted to give more information about the upcoming Nightlight Mission than many are excited about, myself included! This is an event I have previously communicated about with a “mark your calendars” date of Saturday, March 28th from 2pm-9pm. (But you do not have to stay the whole time to participate.) This event is being planned and sponsored by our sister congregation, the Unitarian Society of Hartford. It is modeled after NYC’s successful program“Midnight Run”, and USH has done their own local Nightlight Mission before. I am so grateful to be invited to engage with this activity! Beginning this coming Sunday, you will see collection bins in the Lobby for donations to the Nightlight Mission. Needed items include warm socks, gloves, boots, small fleece blankets, hand warmers, snack packs, sweaters and other good quality clothing. The three area UU congregations are collecting items over the coming weeks, and we will bring what we’ve gathered over to USH on March 28th at 2pm. At USH, all of the donation items will be sorted and organized by the group of volunteers gathered there. During this timeframe folks will also be working in the kitchen, cooking up soup, sandwiches, and coffee. Once all the work is done, we will load up into USH vans and family vehicles and caravan to an area inhabited by unhoused people in Hartford. A Hartford police officer who specializes in working with the unhoused will accompany us there. With his assistance we will distribute the goods directly to the unhoused people there. They are familiar with this process, and it is always appreciated. And that is the plan! Families can choose to participate in whatever parts they would like, and its open to all ages. If any older children or youth would like to attend but need an adult chaperone, I would be happy to bring them with me in my car. Just let me know! And now, here’s some news from the CYM Committee : 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. UUSE is looking for people to attend virtually or at a satellite location. The 2026 GA will be held virtually June 14th-21st. Check out https://www.uua.org/ga for some info. Are you interested in representing UUSE at this year's General Assembly? Would you be interested in supporting a group of children of youth to attend virtually together from UUSE? Questions? Email Desiree at desiree.holian@gmail.com Stewardship : The CYM steward, Desirée Holian-Borgnis, will be holding "office hours" on Sunday March 15th and 22th from 12-12:30 in the Garden Level Lobby to collect pledges, answer questions and help in any other way. If you have questions or need to meet at a different time please reach out to Desirée at desiree.holian@gmail.com or text 203-206-3605 And now onto this coming Sunday: Here's What's Happening in CYM this Sunday, February 22nd: Children’s Chapel will *NOT* be held this Sunday Nursery : Childcare will be available in our nursery at 11 AM for children age 3 and under. Sunday Service : “The Generous Spirit” - Rev Josh explores the many ways we manifest generosity and why it matters that we continually cultivate generous spirits. Kate Kimmerle purchased this service at the 2025 Goods and Services Auction. Coordinator: Rev. Josh Pawelek Time For All Ages : Children and youth in grades 2-12 will attend the beginning of the Sunday service in the Sanctuary on the Main Level. The first two rows on the right are reserved for children and youth to sit together, and families are welcome to join them. After the “Time For All Ages” segment of Sunday service, children and youth will be dismissed to the Garden Level to attend further programming. Spirit Play : “Jetpig Comes to Spirit Play” - Spirit Play children will go directly to their classroom at 11 AM for the day’s lesson, a story about new UU character “Jetpig”. You may have seen a crocheted pig hanging around the Garden Level, wearing a rainbow jetpack! Jetpig introduces children to the new UU values language, and a handy tool to remember them! (JETPIG stands for: J=justice, E=equity, T=transformation, P=pluralism, I=interdependence, G=generosity) Young UUs: "Signs of Welcome: Part 2" - Welcoming others is a sign of our Unitarian Universalist faith. In this session, the children hear a story based on a Hawaiian tale in which Pele, the goddess of fire, visits two families in disguise to teach a lesson of welcoming. They will also start some of their own art pieces featuring signs of welcome! Jr Youth Group : “Hoot" - O ur Junior Youth will watch a film in two parts, based on Carl Hiaasen’s novel “Hoot” - a tale about a group of middle school children trying to save a burrowing owl habitat from destruction by a developer. Junior youth are invited to wear their comfiest clothes and hunker down with popcorn and friends in the junior youth classroom this Sunday for part one of the film screening. High School Youth Group: Meets this Sunday, February 22 in the couch room after attending TFAA in the Sanctuary. Bring your imaginations and creativity for a group vision board activity! Next Affirmation Meeting: Sunday, March 8th will be a full group class in the couch room from 12:30-2. Bring a lunch! Tentative group outing scheduled for March 21st at 10am. Next OWL Teacher Team Meeting: Sunday, March 8th at 12:45 in classroom #7 ! See you Sunday! Seasonal Happenings : FEBRUARY Sun, Feb 22: Annual PFLAG "Love is Love" Roller-skate at Ron-A-Roll located at 85 S Frontage Rd, in Vernon, CT. For all ages! "Get ready for our annual LOVE IS LOVE roller skating event! This year’s theme is K-POP DEMON HUNTERS! We will be hosting an auction for everything from themed banners, standees and more! Get your tickets today at the QR Code and message us with any questions." PFLAG (Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays) is a longstanding civil rights organization and this family and kid-friendly event is always a fun and fabulous time. See the graphic at the top of this email for the QR code for more info and to buy tickets for the event. MARCH 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 @ 2PM to sort clothes & prepare soup, coffee and sandwiches; @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. Director of Children and Youth Ministry's Monthly Column for ${month}