Newsletter of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation at Montclair September 2016 VOL. 120 ISSUE 1 ________________________________________________________________________ Michael Mernin, President Rev. Dr. Justin S. Osterman, Interim Senior Minister Rev. Judy Tomlinson, Associate Minister Markus Grae‐Hauck, Music Director Stearns Matthews, Assistant Music Director Rev. Jackie Lahey, Affiliated Community Minister Iris DeLaPaz, Religious Education Program Coordinator Dana Moore, Religious Education Sr. Youth Coordinator Danielle Ramcharan, Administrator Jaclyn Puleo, Copy Editor/Office Manager Emilia Sadonis, Bookkeeper Gerry McCart, Facilities Manager “The most powerful agent of growth and transformation is something much more basic than any technique: a change of heart.” ‐‐John Welwood OFFICE HOURS Monday thru Friday 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM (973) 744‐6276 FAX: (973) 744‐0131 [email protected]www.uumontclair.org
Transcript
Newsletter of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation at Montclair September 2016 VOL. 120 ISSUE 1 ________________________________________________________________________
Michael Mernin, President Rev. Dr. Justin S. Osterman, Interim Senior Minister Rev. Judy Tomlinson, Associate Minister Markus Grae‐Hauck, Music Director Stearns Matthews, Assistant Music Director Rev. Jackie Lahey, Affiliated Community Minister Iris DeLaPaz, Religious Education Program Coordinator Dana Moore, Religious Education Sr. Youth Coordinator Danielle Ramcharan, Administrator Jaclyn Puleo, Copy Editor/Office Manager Emilia Sadonis, Bookkeeper Gerry McCart, Facilities Manager
“The most powerful agent of growth and transformation is something much more basic than any technique: a change of heart.” ‐‐John Welwood
In the Interim Lighting a chalice in worship is a relatively new tradition within Unitarian Universalism, having only been adopted in the past 40 years. The flaming chalice, as a religious symbol, is older and was designed by Austrian artist Hans Deutsch as a document stamp for the Unitarian Service Committee (USC) in 1941. It was intended to make the transit papers of Jewish refugees look more official as they fled the approaching Holocaust. Rev. Charles Joy, Euro-pean Commissioner for the USC, described the symbol as “a chalice with a flame, the kind of chalice which the Greeks and Romans put on their altars. The holy oil burn-ing in it is a symbol of helpfulness and sacrifice.”
The organized effort by Unitarians to help escaping refu-gees never would have happened without the leadership of Martha and Rev. Waitstill Sharp. Following the Nazi inva-sion of Czechoslovakia in 1939, the Sharps organized the escape of hundreds of Jews and political dissidents. Their work led to the founding of the USC the following year.
During September, public television stations will be airing the documentary “Defying the Nazis: The Sharps’ War.” The White House and US Holocaust Memorial will hold pre-release screenings of the film and students from Hillel Centers (Jewish) and Newman Houses (Catholic) at 600 colleges nationwide will view the film together and be in-troduced to the curriculum “We Who Defy Hate,” created by Meadville Lombard Theological School, our Unitarian Universalist seminary in Chicago.
I am proud that Martha and Waitstill Sharp are my reli-gious forebears and proud that the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee continues to work for human rights around the world today. I am proud that Meadville Lombard, my alma mater, is equipping America’s youth to defy hatred through respectful dialogue, shared under-standing, and respect. This is the best of our religious tra-dition; honoring a proud past, putting our faith into action in the present, and working to shape a better future.
As we enter this second year of interim ministry, we need to stay focused on the past, present, and future. It’s impor-tant that you continue to draw inspiration from UUCM’s proud institutional past, work to increase the congrega-tion’s strength and health today, and prepare the way for bright future with your new settled minister.
We have work to do this year, but I am optimistic about your future. This is a good congregation that will only be better through your dedication and commitment. Thank you for your continued support and service.
Yours in faith,
Rev. Dr. Justin S. Osterman Interim Senior Minister
WORSHIP SERVICES Sunday Services are at 9:00 and 11:00 AM
*(Unless otherwise noted)
Sunday, September 4, 2016 *ONE SERVICE ONLY AT 10:00 AM*
“Compassion is Revolution” Rev. Jack Cuffari
Rev. Cuffari is the Spiritual Director in Residence at the First Congregational Church of Montclair
and recently served as President of the Montclair Clergy Association.
Sunday, September 11, 2016
Ingathering Sunday and Water Communion Rev. Dr. Justin S. Osterman
& Rev. Judy Tomlinson We will dedicate our Religious Education teachers and
celebrate our Annual Water Communion Ceremony. Please remember to bring a small amount
of water from your summer wanderings or from a meaningful source so that you can
contribute it to our ceremony.
Our UU Family ReUUnion will be held today!
Sunday, September 18, 2016
“Is All Forgiven?” Rev. Dr. Justin S. Osterman
Today we make a collection for our MESH Café Ministry. Volunteers cook for and serve hungry and
homeless guests a hearty dinner each Wednesday night in Fletcher Hall. Your continued financial backing
each month provides a meal for up to 70 guests.
Sunday, September 25, 2016 “I’m a Spiritual Person, But I’m Not Religious” Rev. Dr. Justin S. Osterman
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SHARED MINISTRY
This is going to be an exciting year! The Search Commit-tee is in full swing as, through conversation, they help us become more self-aware as a congregation and think about new directions. This will help them as they find a minister who will be a good leader and partner with you in your ministry with each other and the wider community. Mean-while, the Transition Team is helping us understand the current religious landscape of our country and what we need to be as a congregation to thrive in to the next genera-tion. I hope you will take part in this in-depth work.
This is also Rev. Justin’s and my final year with you. So even as you say goodbye to us you will be welcoming new religious leaders who will guide and partner with you into the future. There will be many goodbyes and hellos. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Let’s be present in the here and now and stay grounded even with the knowledge that there is much in store for us all.
Religious Education teachers gather for Start-Up Saturday on September 10 to prepare to lead our children and youth. We have an exciting new look and clear goals for each age group. We will be fostering a connection between class-room and home. We also have a few teaching position open at 9:00. Also this year we will have a very large Coming of Age class. Will you consider being a mentor?
Harvest the Power leadership development class begins at my home with a kick-off dinner on September 24. Then, in early October, we go on retreat to learn about self-care, share our Unitarian Universalist journeys and develop a personal vision statement. Classes continue two Thursday evenings a month through April graduation.
Covenant Groups will begin this month. Groups will con-tinue with some new leadership at the helm. We are also adding a parenting group. Our monthly themes that we will explore in depth, are: laughter, resiliency, ancestry, tradi-tion, curiosity, desire, awakening, rootedness, growth and color. We hope you will make a meaningful connection with one of our small groups.
Our new member classes will be offered on October 2, 9, 16 and 23 between services from 10:00-11:00 AM in the Alliance Room (near the kitchen). You are welcome to join us and we hope you will.
Let us begin again in love,
Rev. Judith Ann Tomlinson, Associate Minister
UUCM’S MINISTERIAL SEARCH COMMITTEE
Your Ministerial Search Committee (MSC) is hard at work, and we know that you have been too. THANK YOU to everyone who filled out the Congregational Survey and signed up to attend a Searchlight meeting.
Your input is incredibly important to us right now. Throughout the next several months, we will continue to ask for your feedback and participation in the search proc-ess. The process, designed and tested by the UUA, asks for Congregations participation in three ways: Through the Survey: We have closed the Survey and
are now compiling the results. The results of the Sur-vey will help us to describe the UUCM to potential ministers through data. Thank you to everyone who completed one. We will be presenting the results of the Survey later this fall in partnership with the Board of Trustees.
Through Searchlight meetings: In these small group meetings, you will be asked questions that bubbled up from the Survey. We intend on making these meetings fun and filled with feedback. If you have not already signed up for a Searchlight meeting, there are several more opportunities in September to do so. The Search Committee would like to extend a special thank you to those who have hosted meetings in their homes. We are grateful for your hospitality!
Through a UUA Workshop: Over the weekend of Oc-tober 15 and 16, our Congregation will be hosting Keith Kron, the Director of the UUA Transitions Office. Keith will be conducting a workshop called Beyond Categorical Thinking, which is an amazing opportunity to explore the topic of “implicit bias.” We are looking forward to this time as an exercise in personal reflection and in community building. The Beyond Categorical Thinking Workshop is a required step in the UUA process for Ministerial Search and we are honored to have Keith to lead us. Please save the date for Saturday October 15th from 9:00 AM to Noon.
With these activities completed, the Search Committee then moves into a stage of “marketing” by creating materials that tell the amazing story of our UUCM and the compelling opportunity we offer to a future minister. We are incredibly proud of this Congregation and excited to share our story with potential candidates. Many thanks for the trust and faith you have put in us.
We are your Ministerial Search Committee: Peter Arian, John Carlton, Nancy Felix, Erin Krupa, Lawrence Ramsey, Chelsea Vaughn Showalter, and Connie Thames - [email protected]
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FROM OUR MINISTERIAL TRANSITION TEAM
It’s time to register for our next congregational work-shop!
This summer marked the half-way point of our interim story. Over the last year, we worked together on a timeline that explored the history of the UUCM. The Ministerial Transition Team hosted conversations after services and with many committees and examined where our story is today. As part of the QuantUUm Leap Workshop in May, we celebrated our strengths, but we also learned about the challenges we face both as a congregation and as part of a larger religious community in America.
So what happens next? What work remains to prepare us to welcome a new settled minister and become an ever-more vibrant congregation?
To address these questions, the Ministerial Transition Team is planning another workshop – Shaping Our Story - for Sunday, September 18, from 1:00 to 4:00 PM. All members and friends are encouraged to attend. Please at-tend this event whether or not you attended the workshop in May - this workshop will provide highlights from the May event, give updates on steps taken since that time, and offer additional discussion opportunities as we continue to strengthen our congregational identity and plan for the fu-ture. Childcare will be provided. Contact Laura Wil-son ([email protected]) if you have questions or to RSVP.
This will be an exciting second year of the interim period. This year will also offer a number of opportunities to par-ticipate in planning our future as a congregation and also to help define who we are seeking as the next settled min-ister. Our story will be stronger with each member who participates in this event and our other planned discussions throughout the year. Come join us.
Finally, a brief update on the team membership. Erin Krupa served with great enthusiasm and talent during our first year. We appreciate all she has done to serve the con-gregation as part of the transition. Because Erin is now serving on the Search Committee, we welcome Sarah Scalet to the team for this year. As always, we welcome your questions and feedback.
Hello! We hope you had a relaxing and reinvigorating summer! Your Board of Trustees (with five new mem-bers!) has gotten off to an active summer start. We have held the July and August meetings and are making plans for our retreat, tentatively set for October 1st. We will be fo-cusing this fall on working toward fulfillment of our previ-ously established goals regarding the UUCM’s organiza-tion, governance and communications, using our time be-tween and at meetings to review and analyze where we are and to plot our course forward. The Board formed sub-committees last fall to structure our approach to this work, and we will be continuing, and adding to the work with new goals emerging from the coming retreat. Details to follow! We are looking forward to kicking off the congregational year on September 11 with our ReUUnion festivities at the Pre-K park across Valley Road, and hope to see you there.
Michael Mernin President, Board of Trustees
AMONG OURSELVES
Our Calendar Will Soon Be Online!
Coming soon – an online UUCM calendar! We are working steadily to get our calendar online so you can view the various meetings and events happening in our building. We hope to get it up and running soon. In the meantime, if you wish to add an event or meeting to the calendar, please contact our Admin-istrator Danielle Ramcharan at [email protected] and she will be happy to assist you.
Water Communion Reminder
Remember to bring back some water from your travels for our Water Communion on September 11th.
You are invited to bring back a small amount of water from places you have visited during the summer or from a meaningful source. This water will be added to our congregational bowl during
our Water Communion ceremony.
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Important Reminders from Our Staff
Please take a moment and read through the following paragraphs for pertinent information when working with the office staff. We want to be able to accom-modate your requests, and following these guidelines will better enable us to do so.
SCHEDULING MEETINGS AND EVENTS Managing all of the events of UUCM can get pretty hectic, with many committees, classes, and groups requesting space (and that's not even counting our rentals!). Please inform us of a meeting or event as soon as you can so we can help accommodate your request and reserve a space for you. Please let us know the time, the purpose or group and anything needed for set-up – all of this informa-tion goes on our schedule. All requests must go through our Administrator Danielle Ramcharan at [email protected] or extension 12.
OFFICE HOURS Our office hours are Monday thru Friday from 8:00
AM to 4:00 PM. We keep the Annex door locked for security reasons. It is best to set an appointment with the person you wish to see. If you have a key to the building, you must relock the door upon entering.
GAZETTE ARTICLES Please keep your articles as brief as possible, about
one paragraph in length (about ¼ page maximum). If articles are too long, we will have to edit them to fit but prefer that they are within the limits to save time.
The deadline listed in the Gazette is firm. Any late submissions cannot be considered for publication. After the deadline date, the Gazette has to be typed, edited, printed, sorted, mailed and e-mailed to a preset schedule.
Send your articles and announcement requests to our Office Manager, Jaclyn Puleo, via email ([email protected]) or fax (973-744-0131).
SPOKEN AND WRITTEN ANNOUNCEMENTS All announcement requests need to be received by
WEDNESDAY in order to be considered for the Sunday service. We suggest submitting them ASAP as space fills up very quickly. We ask that articles and announcements be kept as short as possible.
We keep to a maximum of one spoken announce-ment on Sunday. Announcements are chosen based on the broadest impact to UU Montclair; additional announcements may have to be postponed if we have reached our limit for the week.
UPDATING YOUR INFORMATION Please let us know when any revisions are made to your address, phone number, and/or email address so we can have the most current information for you in our system. CHECK REQUESTS All check requests made to the office must be received a week in advance of need. Check request forms can be sent to you by e-mail or you can pick one up. For any inquiries, contact our administrator. MAKING COPIES IN THE OFFICE Depending on the machine, we get charged for the amount of copies made. Please submit ALL copying jobs to us dur-ing regular office hours or on Sunday morning, and we will be more than happy to assist you with your request. DONATIONS Our deep gratitude goes to all who made a financial com-mitment to UUCM this year. Your generosity and commit-ment to our congregation is truly appreciated. Every penny goes a long way toward helping us be all we can be to the local and world community.
BY CHECK
Checks may be made out to UUCM. Please use the memo line of your check to indicate to us
your intentions with regard to any donations you make to UUCM. Some of the possibilities now include 1) Annual Pledge, 2) Plate Collection, 3) Capital Cam-paign, 4) Seasons of Life, 5) Rev. Ortman Fund for Ministerial Development. It is especially confusing to us when we receive checks that might be for #2 above. We do not want to confuse this donation with your pledge donation. Please use the memo line and write “plate.”
Donations to Sharing Our Riches, MESH or any other cause: Please make your check out to UUCM, and put the name of the recipient in the memo line. Your dona-tion will show up on your giving statement. We will forward checks made out to the recipient organization, but no record is made of them individually. BY CREDIT CARD/EFT: During the past years we have incurred significant credit card fees, mostly associated with credit card pledges. We encourage you to consider switching to electronic funds transfer (EFT). It’s easy and comes straight out of your bank account. You can set up a pay schedule, just like you do with your credit card, and the service fee is a fraction of what we currently pay. If you do pay by credit card, we must have the 3-digit security code on the back of the card. Contact the UUCM office if you have any questions.
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We Lit a Candle of Remembrance:
For Philando Castile, who was killed by police on July 6th in Falcon Heights, MN as well as Alton Sterling who was killed by police while selling CDs outside of a local store in Baton Rouge, LA. We are holding their families and community in our thoughts. We also hold the 5 police officers who were killed in Dallas - Sgt. Michael Smith, Senior Cpl. Lorne Ahrens, Officer Mi-chael Krol, Officer Patrick Zamarripa, and Officer Brent Thompson - in our loving thoughts along with their families and colleagues.
For Norma Fleischman who had heart surgery on July 7th. She has faith that our community connections will help her heal.
Joe Thomasberger lit a candle saying, "I want to share a joyous event. One of our adopted grandchildren, Samuel Howusu, whom Becky (Doggett) and I met a few years ago while he was detained in an Immigra-tion Detention Center, was granted asylum in the Im-migration Court on Tuesday, July 12th, and will be eligible to receive a Green Card in one year. We give thanks for this major event in his and our lives."
Our hearts go out to Jason Brome and his sister at the passing of their father. Jason and she were at their fa-ther's side when he passed peacefully on July 19th.
Of sadness for member Susan Reinhard who passed
away on July 24th. Her memorial service was held in our Rotunda on July 29th.
If you wish for your spoken Sunday remembrance to be shared with the congregation (in our weekly email an-
nouncements and Gazette), please be sure to leave a writ-ten version with the Liturgist or our minister
Parking at UU Montclair
There are 7 parking areas within easy walking distance of UU Montclair (parking is permitted at metered spots on the street and is free after 7:00 PM and on Sunday). Visit: www.uumontclair.org/contact/ for a complete list of areas.
Please note that the driveway at UUCM is reserved for employees during the week and on Sunday for those needing handicapped access ONLY.
We ask that ALL other members and visitors DO NOT park in the driveway, even if you are just visiting or drop-ping something off. You will be asked to move your car, or if we cannot find the owner of the vehicle, it will need to be towed at the owner’s expense. If you are not a mem-ber of the staff, please leave your handicapped parking permit in plain view. Thank you for your cooperation!
Sunday Flower Dedications Do you know that you can provide the Sunday Chancel
flowers to honor a memory or a per-son? The price of the donation is reasonable and your dedication will be acknowledged in the Order of Service. For information, contact our Flower Dedication Coordinator, Lori
Child dedications are our ritual way of welcoming infants and children into the congregation. They are similar to Bap-tisms, Christenings or Naming Ceremonies in other faith traditions. For members, a small child is dedicated as part of our Sunday morning worship services. We also perform Child Dedications in people’s homes. For more informa-tion, please call during regular office hours.
UU Community Network
If you (or someone you know in the congregation) are hos-pitalized, going through difficult times or need someone to reach out to you, please contact Rev. Judy Tomlinson at [email protected] or (973) 744-6276 ext. 16.
Your Annual Pledge All inquiries regarding your annual Pledge – how much you owe, how to pay, etc. – are now being handled by our Boo-keeper Emilia Sadonis. Please note that Emilia is only in the office on Tuesdays and Fridays from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Please be sure to call or email [email protected] during these hours if you want to speak with Emilia di-rectly.
Donating Items to the U Many times we come across bags of clothing, computer hardware, books, etc. that folks will leave here at the U in the hopes that someone can use it. Although we appreciate
your kindness, please do not leave these items here. We suggest donating used clothing to either the Salvation Army or the Red Cross on Park Street (there are drop off contain-ers in their parking lot). Your local library might also be happy to accept your old books. If you wish to donate items for our MESH Café Ministry, we recommend that you con-tact one of our MESH leaders at [email protected]. Thank you for your charitable work & good hearts!
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AROUND UU MONTCLAIR
UUCM Family ReUUnion
We hope you are enjoying the last few weeks of this summer weather and pace. But when you do start to think about the fall getting up and running, mark your calendar for Sunday, September 11th -- the date of our annual regrouping as a congregation. In the past, we have held our "UU-Ville" or "Homecom-
ing High Coffee." This year we will be celebrating our "UUCM Family ReUUnion" from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM in the Pre-K playground across the street (or in Fletcher Hall if it rains). In the near future you will be contacted regarding requirements for committee participa-tion. In the meantime, please begin to think about how you will want the group or committee that you are a part of represented at this event. If you are not part of any group or committee, the ReUUnion will be a good opportunity for you to learn of all of opportunities to get involved. As always, we can use help with all aspects of the event -- set-up, clean-up and activities throughout. For questions, con-tact Sue Raufer at [email protected] or (609) 417-4603.
Pathway to Membership Classes
Are you new to UU Mont-clair? Do you want to know more about Unitarian Universalism? Are you inter-ested in what it means to be a member? Formerly known as New UU, you are invited to our Pathway to Membership classes. Join our Interim Senior Minister, Rev. Justin Osterman, over four consecutive Sundays – October 2nd, 9th, 16th and 23rd from 10:00 to 11:00 AM (between services) in the Alliance Room – to learn more about Unitarian Universalism and our congregation. In these four sessions, we share our faith journeys, explore the history of the Unitarian and Universalist traditions, and gain an orientation to this congregation’s life by members and leaders who are involved in making it work. Those who choose can become UUCM members at the last ses-sion. Sign up at the Religious Education table on Sunday or call the office during the week for information.
Dance Party Fundraiser
Our Dance Party Fundraiser will be held on September 24th, from 7:00 to 10:00 PM. How much fun is it to go to a wedding and dance all night to that fabulous music? WAY better than a club with the lights and techno music. Are you tired of waiting for the next wedding to dance? We are! Join us for a good old-fashioned dance party featuring mu-sic from the 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s and today. Only $10 per per-son for advance tickets ($20 at the door) with the proceeds benefiting the U. For more information, please contact Kate Conroy at [email protected].
Our CommUUnity Mart
Come visit us every Sunday at Coffee Hour! Purchase your weekly gift cards from ShopRite, Fairway and King’s as well as many other items. And don’t forget that you can use your grocery script cards when you shop to buy various gift cards so the UU also benefits from the purchase. Looking for something new to try next year? Do you need a place to display and sell your art? We'd love to wel-come you as an "Artist of the Month" at our UU Mar-ketplace table at our Coffee and Connection Hour from 10:00 to 11:00 AM each Sunday. We are currently sched-uling artists beginning in October and continuing through next year. We've had such varied offerings as pottery, hand-made jewelry, graphic art, photography, buttons, re-cycled art and hand-knit items. 80% of sales go to the artist and 20% is donated to the UU. Member and friends of members are welcome to take part. If you would like more information please contact Arlene Dodge at (908)889-5784 or at [email protected]. Every little bit helps sup-port the U. Do you shop on Amazon.com? Support UUCM by visiting www.uumontclair.org/amazon and 4% or more of your total purchase amount will go towards sup-porting UUCM.
Ongoing Groups and Meetings
Below are our groups that meet on a regular basis and the dates when they are meeting this month. Please visit our website at www.uumontclair.org to learn more! Women’s Group – September 2nd 5th at 7:00 PM Men’s Group – September 10th at 8:30 AM Senior Lunch Bunch – September 14th & 28th at Noon The Crazy QUUilters –September 17th at 11:00 AM MESH Café Ministry – Wednesdays at 6:00 PM.
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As I See It A Monthly Take on Race in America from Members of
the Undoing Racism Committee
Ban Solitary Confinement, Support National Prisoner Work Strike
In early June, the Undoing Racism Committee presented a program to bring attention to and support legislation to end solitary confinement in New Jersey prisons. Senate bill S51 was passed by the New Jersey Senate that week. To ensure that the legislation is passed by the Assembly and signed by the governor, our Undoing Racism Committee and UU Legislative Ministry of NJ have launched The Out the Box North Jersey Campaign. The Box, which is a replica of a solitary confinement cell, is a powerful way to educate and activate concerned citi-zens to press for criminal justice reform. UUCM opened The Box on our lawn three months ago. The Unitarian So-ciety of Ridgewood will host The Box from September 9th thru 25th. Union Congregational in Montclair will sponsor The Box in October. On a related issue, prisoners all across America will go on strike to call for the abolition of what is termed “prison slavery” on September 9, 2016. This is the 45th anniversary of the Attica Prison Uprising. Prisons maintain their bot-tom line by paying inmate workers, disproportionately Black and Latino, much less than minimum wage or, in three states, nothing at all. While this exploitation saves taxpayers money in the short term, leaving prisoners im-poverished and without marketable skills leads to the high cost of re-incarceration. It takes courage to go on strike in ordinary circumstances, but the prisons have an increased ability to punish workers who participate in the strike. They risk not only their “wages,” but also their limited freedom and, if placed in solitary confinement, their health. We urge our community to stand in solidarity with prisoners. It is our goal to educate the public about these issues that NJ and the nation face in light of the U.S. mass incarceration problem. Interest has been expressed by 3 other congregations and dates will be set in the near future. For more information or to forward leads, please contact Becky Doggett at [email protected] or 973-651-6396 (voice or text).
Jane Gaertner Chair, The Undoing Racism Committee
Coffee and Connections Hour Coffee and Connections Hour is a great time to meet and catch up with friends and members of the congregation as well as make our visitors feel welcome. Please consider hosting a Coffee Hour by bringing food, setting up snacks for the congregation and cleaning up. It is easier (and more fun) to host when a few of us get together to share the responsibility. There will be a sign-up sheet at every coffee hour posted in the kitchen on the wall. You can sign up there or online at http://www.uumontclair.org/worship/coffee-hour/. If you need any help, including during coffee hour, or would like more information, please contact Connie Thames at [email protected] or Petra Kershaw at [email protected]. Thanks for pitching in and let's work together to keep this great opportunity to connect, celebrate and stay in touch with one another!
WIDER UU CIRCLES
Interfaith Mental Health Roundtable
Ministering to families and creating local outreach, an Interfaith Roundtable on Mental Health will be held on Wednesday, October 5th, at Central Unitarian Church, located at 156 Forest Avenue in Paramus, NJ. Co-sponsored by CUC and the Paramus Stigma Free Zone, they will present a panel of faith leaders from Roman Catholic, Jewish, Muslim and other religious communities active in creating mental health outreach to congregations and community. Winner of the 2016 NJ Governor's Award on Fighting Stigma, CUC joins these congregations in of-fering easy, effective ideas to open the door to a more com-passionate understanding of a difficult topic. The half day includes networking, coffee, lunch, panel & round table discussions, plus an opportunity to meet NJ nonprof-its needing assistance in building better mental health-care. If you would like to lead a round table discussion at the event, please contact Rev. David Horst at CUC at 201-262-6300 x 202. Suggested donation is $15. Register today by calling Cynthia at 201-767-8122 or by visiting: www.eventbrite.com/e/interfaith-round-table-on-mental-health-tickets-26307355007.
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Mindful UU Journeys in 2017
UU minister Wayne Walder from the Neighbourhood UU Congregation in Toronto, Canada is leading journeys for UU’s and their friends to Peru (March 25-April 5, 2017) and Portugal/Spain (May 14-24, 2017). These trips raise funds for their congregation and provide an opportunity for UU’s to travel together to learn about and experience dif-ferent cultures and traditions and to gain insights to take back home. To receive a detailed itinerary for either jour-ney, please email [email protected] or to learn more about Mindful Journeys, you can visit: http://nuuc.ca/spiritual-growth/spiritual-practice/mindful-journeys/.
WIDER CIRCLES
The Montclair-based nonprofit organization, Outpost in the 'Burbs, features folk-acoustic-Americana performers from across the country. All concerts start at 8:00 PM and are held in our Sanctuary (unless otherwise noted):
Friday, September 16th – Dan Bern with Jason Dar-ling ($25 adv/$28 door)
Friday, September 23rd - Outpost Benefit Concert – David Bromberg Quintet with Matt Arons ($42 gen-eral admission/$125 VIP with meet and greet)
Tickets are on sale now at www.ticketweb.com. Call (973) 744-6560 or visit www.outpostintheburbs.org for concert or information on other Outpost activities.
Early Explorers Preschool
The goal of Early Explorers Preschool, which is located here at 67 Church Street, is to provide a stimulating and enriching environment for young children to learn, grow, and explore while de-veloping social/emotional,
physical, cognitive and language skills. Each classroom includes “interest areas” such as a library, sand/water ta-bles, block, dramatic play, art, music, and table toys. Early Explorers Preschool is open Monday through Friday from 7:30 AM to 5:30 PM, and follows a schedule similar to the Montclair Public Schools. The Preschool has three sepa-rate classrooms at UUCM for children ages 2½-3, 3-4 and 4-5 year olds and offers parents the option to choose full day, partial day hours. Visit www.earlyexplorerspreschool.org for info.
For a variety of up‐to‐date information about schedules and special events,
visit our website at
WWW.UUMONTCLAIR.ORG
Join us on Facebook at UU Congregation at Montclair,
and Twitter & Instagram @UUMontclair. If you have an update or announcement you would like posted through our social networks or on the website,
For recorded information on emergency closings and memorial services, please call the office at:
(973) 744‐6276, ext. 17
Pastoral Counseling is available to anyone at UU Mont-clair through our ministers. Long term counseling is also available from our licensed counselor, Leslie Trawin (phone: 973-509-9191). Inquiries regarding both of these services may be made to our ministers.
The deadline for the October Gazette is Monday, September 26th
