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F IRST U NITARIAN S OCIETY

OF

P LAINFIELD

Minister ·························Tracy Sprowls Religious Ed. Dir ·············· Melissa Logan Music Director ··············· Gordon Rowan Office Administrator ····· Sharon McGuire Phone: 908-756-0750 Fax: 908-769-0452 www.fusp.org (see back page for e-mails)

Established 1889 (Unitarian-Universalist)

November 2014

W ORSHIP S ERVICES How Do We become a Long-Haul People? -- Gamblers When it comes to philosophizing about “gamblers,” Kenny Rogers leads the pack. How could you resist?! Rogers’ “The Gambler” was not only the longest running number one country song in 1978, but it remains one of our culture’s all-time favorite tunes. A bit corny? Yes. Not exactly high art? Certainly. But if you’re looking for a number of different angles on the idea of “gamblers,” there’s no better place to look.

Come on, how can you beat these lines: “Every gambler knows that the secret to survivin’ is knowin’ what to throw away and knowin’ what to keep...” “Know when to walk away and know when to run...”“You never count your money when you’re sittin’ at the table...” If there is anything that long-haul people know or aren’t afraid to

experiment with, it’s when to take risks and when to hold back. So we’ve got a lot to talk about in regard to Gamblers. At the same time, “The Gambler” tells a story about one person reaching out to another: sharing honestly what they see; sharing some wisdom; and offering support. Long-haul people have mentors, perhaps disguised as Gamblers, who have been around the block a few times and can offer real advice.

PROGRAM TOPICS FOR NOVEMBER November 2, FUSP U.N. Sunday: Building the Beloved Community with Love, Bruce Knotts, Director, Unitarian Universalist United Nations Office. We Unitar ian Univer salists are committed to building the Beloved Community, but as we go about our social justice work, we often forget the quality of love necessary to carry out our goals. This year, the UU-UNO explored the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and learned that, while we proclaimed religious freedom for all, we denied this right to indigenous peoples around the world. Indigenous belief that all existence possesses the sacred can give us a new respect for the interdependent web November 2014

of all existence. How can we get in touch with our minds and hearts and be connected respectfully to the wisdom of indigenous people’s spiritual ideas? November 9, The Power of Boundless Compassion, Rev. Dr. Tracy Sprowls. What does radical love look like? How does risk-taking play out in a community? Our children will be joining us for the first part of the service. November 16, Gamblers, Mavericks, and Rogues, Rev. Dr. Tracy Sprowls. Risk-taking as a spiritual practice. Examining the costs of being a Unitarian Universalist, whether you describe yourself as spiritual or not. This morn-

ing we have special music from the Beacon Hill Musicians. November 23, Getting to ‘Thank you,’ Rev. Dr. Tracy Sprowls & Melissa Logan, DRE. We celebr ate Thanksgiving with a multi-generational service. This morning we will introduce the annual UU Service Committee Guest at Your Table program, too. This morning’s service will be joyful and full of thanks and praise through music, storytelling, and sharing with each other. It is also the service where we will take time to send Tracy off on her sabbatical. November 30, Our Three (Continued on page 2)

W ORSHIP M INISTRY Beyond the Pulpit Time sure flies when you are celebrating a 125th anniversary! What a busy fall we have had getting ready for such a great weekend, but the celebration is only beginning. Throughout the year there will be ways to honor our past, affirm our present, and plan for our future. Exciting times! Some things to share: I have been asked to write a

quarterly faith column for the Courier News. My first column appears next week and will be on the Fall Equinox. I’ll post it on Facebook and our webpage, too, so you’ll have plenty of chances to read it. I have also been asked by the

UU Minister’s Association to become a mentor for two to three of my colleagues. This is such an honor and a privilege, and so I readily said yes. I look forward to this being a growth experience for me as well. Sabbatical plans are underway,

with me buying tickets for a couple of trips and making plans for study and some writing. I can’t wait to learn Spanish and bring it back to our congregation. More about the sabbatical elsewhere. Did you know we do not have a

Pastoral Care Team or a Caring Committee or a Member Support Committee? We have a few volunteers who step up on their own, and we have had a few volunteers to say yes to help, but then scheduling becomes difficult. At this time, there is no committee of people who check in on the homebound folks, or cook a meal for a person who is sick, or drive a person to the doctor. This is of great concern to me as I begin a five-month sabbatical. I know you will care for each other as you have always done (and done so well), but I would feel so much better if there were a core group of people the con-

PROGRAM TOPICS FOR NOVEMBER (Continued from page 1)

Faiths, Sermon by Rev. Scott W. Alexander delivered by Melissa Logon. “Our s is a WAY of religion much more than a WHAT – Ours is a process of faith where Christians, Theist, and Humanist can come together and grow…” Rev. Alexander was a minister at FUSP from 1978 to 1999. This sermon, borrowed from the FUSP archives, is a theNovember 2014

ological and philosophical debate regarding the three major grouping of Unitarian Universalist Christians, Theist and Humanists – each has something precious to teach the other on life’s journey. All three come out of a common Unitarian Universalist tradition. All three have a rightful place in our UU association. Our faith and our congregation continue this debate today.

gregation could count on to make a call or check in on someone after surgery or visit in the hospital. Our visiting ministers through Leadership Leaves are only available for emergencies. But this weighs on me even beyond the sabbatical. I have always felt that I could use some help in the caring ministry of the congregation. It is an area of my greatest concern and my greatest stress, mostly because I feel like I never do enough or that I can do enough. I really do need your help. If you can give time for this kind of ministry in our congregation, please let me know. If you have volunteered in the past, I still need you; we need you. Please be in touch. —Rev. Tracy Finding Rev. Tracy

Monday: Day of Rest Tuesday: 11:00-4:00 Wednesday: 11:00-4:00 Thursday: 11:00-4:00 (except once a month for NJ Minister’s Cluster mtg) Friday: Writing Day In addition, Rev. Tracy is available by appointment for pastoral needs, administrative needs or emergencies. Please call the office if you need to speak with her. If you call her office, leave a message on voicemail or follow the instructions to contact her. Rev. Tracy’s appointments with people sometimes keep her away from the office during her posted office hours. Call ahead to assure she is here when you wish to see her. 2

W ORSHIP M INISTRY Ministerial Sabbatical The Brochure for the sabbatical will be out on November 2. Please take one, as it tells you who the speakers are for the five months of the sabbatical, who to call for what, and how to find support while I am away. I want you to know how grateful I am to receive this sabbatical. I have been a minister for 15½ years, and this is my first one. I would never be able to take the trips I have planned, or learn Spanish in Guatemala, or spend hours working on my book if I didn’t have this sabbatical time. I am grateful and blessed to serve

this congregation and have this time away. A couple people have asked me if I will be able to see them during the sabbatical or attend an event. Unfortunately I cannot. The sabbatical is a time for a complete break from the congregation for me and a complete break for the congregation from me. The only people who should contact me are the President and Vice President of the congregation and the Church Administrator. That said, you will hear from me through my blog and a few postcards here and there. I probably

will write a column midway through the sabbatical to catch up and remind you that I exist. And the sabbatical team has made sure there are other ways that we will remain connected even while we are far apart. Finally, the sabbatical is for you too. During the sabbatical experiment, take risks; challenge yourselves to explore what it means to be “a long-haul people.” Good things will happen here while I am away. I know this and am excited for you! Thank you again, Rev. Tracy

Bruce Knotts, UU-UNO Bending Towards Justice— November 2 The director of the UUUNO will give the sermon on November 2. The Unitarian Universalist United Nations Office (UUUNO) is engaged in international

advocacy work at the United Nations (UN) based on Unitarian Universalist values including the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. After the sermon there will be a “talk-back” where Bruce will continue the discussion. He will also talk about the UU-UNO Envoy system and how it links us to

the global UU community. You may want to become an Envoy and engage in international advocacy work at the UN based on UU values. Please join us for Building Community, Bending Towards Justice, and a light lunch in the Stevens Room, 11:45 am 1:30 pm.

Shared Collection on November 2 On November 2, the offering during the service will be shared with the UU-UNO (Unitarian Universalist United Nations Office). Their mission is two-fold: Engage in the work of the UN

to advance a peaceful, just, susNovember 2014

tainable, and pluralistic world community that promotes human rights. Engage and inspire Unitarian

Universalists and others to support and participate in this work Please give generously to this

worthy organization that promotes our UU values. 3

R ELIGIOUS E DUCATION Gamblers and

Risk

TakErs

Last week I had the opportunity to sit in on our second-grade class. The teacher was showing eight wiggly seven-year olds some pictures of Unitarian Universalist and actor Christopher Reeve. One was from his iconic movie series, Superman. Another, Reeve standing on the red carpet in a tuxedo. The third photo was Reeve speaking to an audience after his accident. In this photo, Reeve is confined to a wheelchair and has a large machine attached to help him breathe and speak. The children passed these photos around with interest as the teacher told them about the work Christopher Reeve did after his accidentlobbying Congress to move forward with stem cell research, and helping to establish foundations of research on spinal cord injuries. “Christopher Reeve believed he was a real superhero when he looked like this,” the teacher said,

holding up a photo of Reeve in a wheelchair, “not like this.” He

This month’s theme is Gamblers. In Family worship, we will be examining stories of people who take risks and take a stand for what they believe in. Family Worship begins at 9:45 am. Check the e-mail blast or signs for location. Upcoming events in RE The Love Surrounds Us class (grades 3-5) are sponsoring a canned food drive for our food pantry.

held up the Superman photo. That is what our students are learning in religious education classes. Christopher Reeve was a gambler and a risk-taker. After his injury, he considered ending his life, but decided to go on. Reeve lived for nine years after his accident, using his fame and fortune to amplify his voice and make a positive difference in the world.

November 23 will be our Thanksgiving intergenerational service. There will be no classes on November 30, but child care will be available. We will be starting our Guest at Your Table program to benefit the UUSC. Stay tuned for details. Melissa Logan Director of Religious Education

Unplug the Christmas Machine – Four Things Children Really Want for the Holidays by Victoria Winterhalter | Parenting by the Book (reprinted from Richmond Family Magazine) According to Robinson and Staeheli, while parents desire a rich, family-centered celebration, they are often at a loss as to how to make it happen. Unplug the Christmas Machine believes you only need four things to give your November 2014

children what they want for the holidays: A relaxed and loving time with

the family Realistic expectations about

gifts An evenly-paced holiday season Reliable family traditions

“What children really want at

Christmas – just like at any time of the year, but more so during the holiday season – is time with their parents,” Dr. Patricia Love, director of the Austin Family Institute, argues. “A parent’s relaxed, freely given attention conveys a simple but profound message: ‘You are a priority in my life.’” (Continued on page 5)

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R ELIGIOUS E DUCATION Unplug the Christmas Machine — Continued…. (Continued from page 4)

Of course, Unplug the Christmas Machine explains that many parents find it more difficult to spend relaxed time with their children this month. Whether it’s from holiday obligations or the overscheduling of “fun” family events, most parents end up too exhausted to “just plain hang out” together. Robinson and Staeheli suggest you make long-range plans, refusing some social invitations in favor of quality time at home. Next, help your children set realistic expectations about gifts. “No matter how little money people have, they will always find a way to buy toys for their children. And advertisers learned long ago that it is more effective to target their toy commercials at children than at the parents who ultimately do the buying.” How can you protect your children from this commercialism? Robinson and Staeheli believe an effective way to do so is to watch an hour of television with them, requiring the youngest to point out the commercial when it comes on the screen and the older to count the number throughout a program. Then, talk with your kids about what is being advertised and how the product is made to seem inviting. “Children need the security of knowing that the family, not Madison Avenue, is in control.” November 2014

As far as Unplug the Christmas Machine is concerned, it’s easier

than most parents think to give their children a more natural holiday season. “All they have to do is hold off on their important family traditions until a few weeks before Christmas, and then reserve a few favorite ones to add joy and meaning to the remaining days of Christmas vacation.” Otherwise, the holiday can become a bit of a letdown. One seven-year-old told the authors, “I have to wait two billion years for Christmas. When it comes, it only lasts a second. Then the whole world is plain again.” Lastly, children need a celebration full of family traditions. “Many parents underestimate how important traditions are to their children and how many valuable purposes they serve. First of all, traditions give children something to look forward to year after year…Second, traditions enrich each holiday with the

memory of all the Christmases that have gone before…Finally, traditions give children great comfort. When many other routines are disrupted by the holiday season, children like to cling to well-defined rituals, which give them a welcome sense of order and the security of knowing exactly how the season will unfold.” Just after Thanksgiving, I’ve started asking my daughters what their favorite present was from the previous Christmas. Usually, they can’t remember what they got, even though there was a pile of presents under the tree. But what they can tell me all about is the fun they had decorating the house, baking cookies, and singing carols. Hearing them say this helps me keep the holidays in perspective, so why not give it a try? It might just make it easier to keep your kids from being what Robinson and Staeheil consider passive recipients of your labors and help them become active participants in the gift of joy. Want more? Come to the Unplug the Christmas Machine workshop on Nov. 23, 2014 from 12 to 2 pm. BYO lunch, or a nibble to share. This is not just for parents of young children, but for anyone who is looking for a more meaningful, less stressful holiday season. Contact Melissa at [email protected] if you have questions or need child care. 5

L EADERSHIP M INISTRY Board of Trustees Update: September 2014 meeting The Board of Trustees held its regularly scheduled meeting on Thursday, September 18, 2014. The minutes of each month’s meeting are posted in the Parish Hall after approval by the Board at the following month’s meeting. Below are highlights of the September 2014 meeting, which were approved in October. For more detailed information, please see the full minutes posted on the bulletin board in the Parish Hall. Please note that all members of FUSP are welcome to attend and observe the monthly Board. Attendance, however, does not imply permission for active participation and the chair reserves the right to limit or exclude commentary from non-Board members during discussions. Non-Board members are welcome to voice their opinions and concerns in the New Business segment of the meeting. Board Members Present: Mark Williams, Kamala Brush, Andrew Garcia-Phillips, Fred Lange, Frank Lankey, Alice Logie, Joanne Macaluso, Charlie Neiss and Nancy Young. Board Members Absent: Hugh Gordon Other Guests: Rev. Tracy Sprowls (electronically), Director of Religious Education Melissa Logan, Chris Baglieri, Gloria Deodata and Carol LaPierre

President’s Report (Mark): Mark reviewed the agenda for the October 11 Board retreat. Mark then asked Chris Baglieri, Chair of the Committee on Ministry, to report on the ministerial review. Chris reported that the collection phase is done and has been presented to Tracy. He noted that the confidentiality of anonymous responses is being kept. There will be a narrative report to the Board by the next meeting. The data will be available to the Board. Lois Laning has joined the committee, and they are looking for additional new committee members.

have a policy governing the Minister’s Discretionary Fund. The Finance Committee, working with our minister, has developed the attached policy recommendation in order to provide the guidance for the management of this account, thus protecting the minister’s tax position and providing the Board with the appropriate level of oversight. The following was approved: RESOLVED that the Board of Trustees of the First Unitarian Society of Plainfield adopt the Minister’s Discretionary Fund policy.

Building Restoration Update: Mark reviewed the Restoration account balance and outstanding bills as of September 11. There is approximately $61K available. We are working to resolve issues relating to the inspection and warranty of the EDPM roof.

b. The finance committee has reviewed year to date revenues and expenditures, historic data, and current year forecasts for the month of October. After considering the requests for funding, the following recommendations have been developed. The following Resolution was approved: WHEREAS the Finance Committee has review current cash on account, and anticipated revenues and expenses, therefore be it RESOLVED that the Board approves to spending limits as presented.

Each month the Board receives a set of finance reports. Action must be taken to accept these reports. The following was approved: RESOLVED that the Board of Trustees of the First Unitarian Society of Plainfield accept the Finance Reports for July and August 2014. Finance Committee Report (Charlie): Char lie pr esented the following from the Finance Committee for discussion and vote: a. The Society does not currently

c. The finance committee, working with the endowment committee, has developed modifications to the by-laws and corresponding new policies for the management of the endowment funds. (Continued on page 7)

November 2014

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L EADERSHIP M INISTRY Board of Trustees Update: September 2014 meeting (Continued from page 6)

No action is required at this time. The by-law changes must be approved by the congregation at the meeting scheduled for November. After that, the board will be asked to approve the policies. The changes to the by-laws are intended to streamline them, focusing them on the core definitions and delegating to the board the responsibility for approving the detailed policies necessary for managing these assets. INFORMATION: Proposed bylaws changes and new policies were circulated prior to the meeting. Archives (Fred): The Plainfield Public Library has a professionally staffed, climate-controlled archival location. Fred suggests that we place the Society’s original scrapbook in that archive. Additional information is needed and Fred will return to the Board with a proposal and recommendation. 125th Anniversary Celebration (Fred and Gloria): Char lie of-

fered the following finance proposal related to disbursement of funds contributed for the 125th Anniversary Celebration. WHEREAS the congregation members and friends have begun donating funds for the celebration of the 125th Anniversary of the Society, and that celebration will occur during October 2014, therefore be it RESOLVED that the Board approves spending on that event not to exceed the amount contributed for that specific purpose. This authorization is limited to funds actually collected and held in the Society’s accounts and does not extend to unrealized pledges or other promises, or to funds managed by others. The Resolution was approved. Annual Fund Program (Tracy and Alice): The total assessment including both the Annual Fund Program and the Metro New York Region is $88 per Society member. The total is $14,080. Alice distributed a proposal from herself (Denominational Affairs) and Denise Soppas (Stewardship) for

allocation of Shared (50% of plate) or Special (100% of plate) Collections for 2014-15. There was a discussion of options for raising the funds, which are outside the operating budget, and Board members expressed a diversity of opinions. The following Resolution was offered and approved: RESOLVED that responsibility for the Annual Fund for 2014-15 be under Denominational Affairs. Tracy asked that it be entered into the minutes that she disagreed with this decision and that she would be writing a letter to the Board with her thoughts about the Annual Program Fund. Personnel expenses proposal (Andrew): Andr ew r eviewed the need for two unbudgeted items: $90 for a supervisory training workshop for the minister and $80 for a background check for the new office administrator. Andrew made a motion that the Board withdraw $200 from endowment income and put it in the line item for the office budget. There was no second.

Memorial Garden Sic transit gloria mundi--as do tired older men! I have been supervising the Memorial Garden for about 20 years. In that time. I’ve had it re-planted, an additional stone has been installed and the garden maintained, all at no cost to our operating budget or any November 2014

other society funds. I can’t physically take care of the garden anymore. I need REGULAR volunteers to do the physical work, which isn’t that great nor too often. I’ll continue to take care of everything else, all the paperwork and finances. Along the way, I

have done planting all over the grounds, much of which was destroyed in the renovation of our window. We will continue to do that, as needed and financially viable. Speak to me any time, Sandy Kaplan. 7

F INANCE M INISTRY Endowment Committee We are celebrating our 125th anniversary. We are the oldest Unitarian Universalist Society in New Jersey. This is quite an accomplishment. Help preserve this Society. Re-

member The First Unitarian Society in your will. You can also take out an annuity that will provide you a lifetime source of income. There may be a generous tax exemption available also. The

annuity will be guaranteed by FUSP, the UUA and a bank. See a member of the Endowment committee - Fred Lange, Herman Bieber, Alice Logie, Gloria Deodoto, or Joanne Macaluso.

DENOMINATIONALLY YOURS 1. In November make sure your pledge payments to FUSP are up to date. We depend on our members to meet our goals. 2. In December support the Guest At Your Table program of the Unitarian-Universalist Service Committee or as I do make a check for $125 to the UUSC. This amount will be matched by the legacy funds at the Shelter Rock Congregation. Members and children will receive boxes to put on dining table to reminding them daily of the nutritional needs of others in this world. Wouldn't it be wonderful if our

own Endowment Funds were available to help with this. In one UU home I visited the family ate only rice one night a week as a reminder of what some families only have. Invite your friends to share a simple meal and contribute together. 3. In January we will be collecting for the Annual Program Fund which our congregation skipped budgeting for this year. The Unitarian-Universalist Association is requesting that our congregation pay $9000 as their Fair Share. We have 160 members so that amounts to $55 per member. In

addition there are district dues. Last year it was suggested each member pay $100 through our congregation. That's only a dollar a day from now through January. Start saving now. 4. Buy books. We are fortunate to have a denominational press, Beacon Press, that publishes books for all ages and needs. Your purchases support both the UUA and our congregation. On Bring a Friend Sunday two of our RE girls stood at the table and each read a different children's book to the end. Alice Logie

M EMBERSHIP D EVELOPMENT Invitation to Membership - Nov. 9, 2014 - 11:30 am - 1 pm Are you considering membership in the First Unitarian Society of Plainfield? Join us to learn about what membership means, what we expect of each other as members, and how to join. This is also

a chance to meet leaders of our Society and other members, and to talk about what brings you here. Includes a light lunch. We hope you'll invite yourself! If

you're interested in attending, or if you'd like to know about future sessions, please let us know at [email protected]. John Hawkins, Membership

Adult Learning and Enrichment November 9th, our Building Bridges, compar ative r eligions for adults, continues with IntroNovember 2014

duction to Eastern religions. November 23rd 12-2 p.m. Un-

plug the Christmas Machine! How to de-stress and simplify your holiday experience...Really! 8

M EMBERSHIP D EVELOPMENT Atheist & Secular Humanist Announcement Please join us on Monday, November 17, 2014 for the Atheists Agnostics Secular Humanists Freethinkers Skeptics Meeting at 7:30 pm, Stevens Room. Joey

Collins will lead the discussion on ‘A Show, A Ballgame, Church? An Actor's Musings on Pheromones.’

Men’s Breakfast

Women's Alliance Book Group

Men’s Breakfast will next meet on Saturday, November 15th, at 9 am in the Stevens Room. A topic to be examined will be chosen at that time. It’s still BYO Breakfast; juice and coffee served, along with a lot of talk.

The Women's Alliance Book Group will meet on Thursday, November 13, at 7:30 pm at Barbara VanSavage's home. We will discuss The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt. The December book we have chosen is The Testament of

S OCIAL J USTICE

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On December 15, 2014, Dan Zucker will lead the discussion on The Blind Watchmaker by Richard Dawkins.

Mary by Colm Toibin. The meeting will be December 11 at Barbara's home. Call Barbara for directions if you would like to attend. —Kathy Weldy

C OMMUNITY O UTREACH

Greetings from the Food Pantry — October Edition! You have been very busy providing for the hungry in our community. We have had to put our expansion to a larger room downstairs on hold for now, since some of our volunteers are not available. We hope to revisit this plan in the near future.

lak donates his truck, muscle and time each month together with Dominick and Larry help us load, unload and shelve, so that Jim can get back to work.

We have been serving approximately 150 to 225 families each month. Each family receives between 2-7 bags of food, serving from 550-675 people in these families. Each month I report our statistics and put in our order for free food available from the Community FoodBank of NJ. USDA and SFPP food donations are the backbone of our service. Jim SedNovember 2014

On the Friday before our Giveaway Day, these three stalwart women bag and prepare the food for distribution. They also set the stage and display lightly used clothing and other items for our clients. We only accept these donations Friday before or Saturday of our Giveaway. Brenda Williams and Karen Caesar are our regulars on Giveaway Days. Our Mason Brothers have been an invaluable addition to our Food Pantry family. Ten more clients have been volunteering also, eager to return the gift of food to others.

Barbara Van Savage, Gail Pollak and Carol LaPierre (and I) purchase extra foodstuff for the bags.

You who provide funds and other donations are invaluable partners (Continued on page 10)

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C OMMUNITY O UTREACH

Greetings from the Food Pantry — October Edition! (Continued from page 9)

in our job to provide equality and justice to all. We are also partnered with a group at Rutgers to provide recipes and food preparation using donated food. Also, we look forward to working with our youth in providing other items.

We are forging ahead to further educate and serve our community. Do speak with me if you can donate time, dollars or items for the aid of others.

November 22 is the Giveaway Day before Thanksgiving. We need volunteers and donations of Turkey Dinner fixings or dollars to buy them.

In love and service, Joanne Macaluso, Your FoodPantry Director

D ENOMINATIONAL A FFAIRS Defying Gravity...Habits of the Heart Growing Beyond Our Divisions A joint program offered by the UU Congregation at Shelter Rock and the UU District of Metro NY on Saturday November 15, 2014, 9 am to 4 pm at the UU Congregation at Shelter Rock, 48 Shelter Rock Rd, Manhasset, NY 10030. Coffee and bagels at 9 am; program starts at 9:30 am. Registration is $30 – Lunch included; scholarships available. Leadership in a congregation can feel like a heavy responsibility. Come to the Defying Gravity Leadership Day and find out how to ease your mind, lighten your heart, and inflate your soul. This multi-track conference will provide specific skills instruction tailored just for you, uncovering the link between leadership and your personal spiritual growth. Keynote - “Beyond Partisan Division” by Revs. Anya and Scott November 2014

Sammler-Michael Congregations promote and champion, sometimes knowingly and sometimes unknowingly, partisan bias. Partisan affiliation exists on a continuum. Many politically conservative UUs who love our theological diversity and our anti-oppression outreach, struggle to find a hospitable welcome within our ranks. Anya and Scott SammlerMichael, ministers of the Sterling and Accotink UU congregations in Virginia, are committed to making our congregations sanctuaries of the spirit where a diversity of partisan affiliations is recognized as a strength and a blessing. General Session - “Choosing Civility” by Mark Bernstein

Unitarian Universalist congregations. We have the opportunity to do the right thing in our relationships with each other and with those who seek to become one of us. “The Matter with Music” by David M. Glasgow Join David for morning Centering music and a workshop. David is a Credentialed Music Leader in the UUA, an active member of the UU Musician’s Network, and General Assembly music leader for 2013-14. *Also: weekend workshop for Youth and Advisors – Team Leadership Fri 6pm-Sun 9am (separate registration process) Register online

Rudeness in our general society doesn’t have to be a quality of our 10

D ENOMINATIONAL A FFAIRS YUUR Voice in Trenton - November 2014 UULMNJ’s 2014 Fall Issues Conference, held Sept 27 at CUC (Paramus) was a huge success, with over 100 attendees representing sixteen of NJ’s UU congregations. Thank you to all who came out to help make the day a success, and a special thanks to our friends at the Paramus Congregation. ACLU-NJ executive director, Udi Ofer was the keynote speaker (watch it here). Task forces convened and set this year’s priority agenda: UULMNJ’s priorities this year: Environmental Protection:

Environmental Sustainability with a goal of 80% renewable energy by 2050, wind energy, and fracking;

Economic Justice: Affor dable

Housing with a focus on container housing and strengthening the partnership with the Anti Poverty Network; Immigration: Par tner ing with

First Friends; a collaborative congregational film series; wage theft and drivers licenses for documented workers; Mass Incarceration: Advoca-

cy and Education, concerning passing of Ballot Question One, parole reform and marijuana decriminalization; Healthcare and Reproductive Justice: Safe Access to Repr oductive Health Services through education, buffer zone safety, and Medicaid expansion; researching

intimate partner violence. Get Out and Vote Nov. 4 on Ballot Question One: Eliminating the requirement for bail can be a good thing. A constitutional amendment must be passed to enact the NJ bail reform legislation passed and signed this past summer. Your vote will determine the fate of bail reform in New Jersey. Please get out and vote on Question 1. For more details on this important question, please read the Star Ledger column by UULMNJ Exec. Director Rev. Craig Hirshberg here. Are you receiving UULMNJ Action Alerts? If not, send your email address to [email protected] and we will get you on our UULMNJ list.

Summer Camp for UU Youth and Families Registration for UU summer camp experiences for our youth and families is under way. Sessions fill quickly at many of the UU Camp and Conference Centers and now is the time to register to avoid waiting lists. Many youth and families from the region attend Unirondack, a UU Camp and Conference Center in the forever-wild Adirondacks in upstate New York. The camp provides an opportunity for children and families to live our UU values in a creative, accepting and nurturing community outside the November 2014

doors of our congregation. For more information about Uni-

rondack, and to register for summer camp or weekend programs, visit their website at http:// www.unirondack.org/.

Camp and Conference Centers in the region include Rowe, Ferry Beach, Star Island, and Murray Grove. And if you are looking for experiences further from home, there is Unicamp in Canada, DeBenneville Pines in California, U-Bar-U in Texas, Unistar in Minnesota, and The Mountain in North Carolina. Many of the centers have yearround programs. All provide an opportunity for personal growth, fellowship and community.

In addition to Unirondack, other 11

Established 1889 (Unitarian-Universalist) 724 Park Avenue Plainfield, NJ 07060

FUSP Email Addresses: [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] DATED MATERIAL – PLEASE RUSH

N EWSLET TER D EADLINES Edition

Deadline

December

November 21

January

December 19

February March

January 16 February 20

April

March 20

May

April 17

June

May 22

July

June 18

Electronic submissions by 5 PM on the corresponding dates Send to [email protected] and only this address. Multiple people receive the emails sent to this address.

Assistance requested Sylvia Walker is looking for someone to drive to the following concerts which get out after dark: January 11: Selections of Romeo & Juliet as interpreted by Tchaikovsky, Gounod and Proko-

fiev March 1: Mendelssohn, The Fair Melusine Overture & Symphony No. 3, "Scottish" and Mozart - Flute & Harp Concerto

Sylvia will buy the person who drives her a low price (comparable to her's) ticket to the concerts in exchange for the ride. Thank you. Syl

This event is not sponsored by FUSP. November 2014

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