What’s Happening at the Society?

To SeekTo ServeTo Inspire

WORSHIP Sunday’s Service

I Said “Excuse Me” Rev. Dr. Tracy Sprowls

John Murray, the father of Universalism wanted every person to know they were loved and redeemable. What does this concept look like in the face of micro-aggression, modern individualism and “community.”

WORSHIPOCT 4TH SERVICE

Letting go of the Hyphen Rev. Dr. Tracy Sprowls

We explore Unitarian Universalism and the tendency to hyphenate ourselves in as in a UU Buddhist or UU Christian.

To DeepenTHEME EXERCISE FOR SEPTEMBER

Each month, each of us is invited to explore the monthly theme by sharing in an exercise. You can find the theme exercise:• In the Newsletter• On the Bulletin Boards• In the Stevens Room (look for the lavender paper)

During fellowship hour, please share with each other your experience of doing the exercise. Or talk about it as a check-in at a meeting. Or share with your family and friends over dinner.

Would you like to share during the Sunday morning service? The last Sunday of each month you have the opportunity to do so but let Rev. Tracy know!

TO SEEK:A PATH TO MEMBERSHIP

This Sunday, 11:15 am, Stevens Room

• If you have been visiting us and want to become a member of FUSP, please come to the “Path to Membership” class after the service.

• The "Path to Membership" class will help you learn more about Unitarian Universalism and to find out what becoming a member means. Whether you have been attending for a few weeks, a few months or longer, we would like you to consider becoming a member of the First Unitarian Society of Plainfield.

• For more information, please contact membership chairs Peter Jones (preaderj@aol.com) or Denise Soppas (dsoppas@aol.com).

To Connect: Women’s Alliance Book Group

Thursday, Oct. 8, 2015, 7:30 pm, Van Savage home

We will discuss "Mr. Penumbra's 24 Hour Bookstore," by Robin Sloan. Please note location change. The book for the November 10th meeting is "Love and Treasure," by Ayelet Waldman.•

To ConnectWomen’s Alliance Meeting, Saturday, October 10, 2015, 9:45 am. Stevens RoomFUSP's own political pundit, Lillian Goss, will be discussing the 2016 Presidential Race.

Come prepared to be enlightened!

All women are invited! Any questions contact Lois Laning, lblaning@yahoo.com.

To Seek JusticeUU Legislative Ministry of New Jersey Issues Conference, October 17, 2015, Unitarian Church in Summit, 9:00 am-2:00 pm

Keynote Speaker: Janice Marie Johnson, Multicultural Ministries and Leadership Director, UUA.

Conference will include: Task Force Meetings, Planning, Networking and Information. Register Today at www.uulmnj.orgRegistration at 8:30 am event day.

TO SERVE: Food Pantry and Sandwich Sunday

Food Pantry: Saturday, Sept. 26, 8:30 am -1 pm Volunteers Needed.

Sandwich Sunday: Sept. 27, 11 am-1 pmWe'll have all the extras (drink, snack, dessert), we just need your sandwiches!

Please email (cassbass@verizon.net) with what kind and how many sandwiches you'll make and then just bring them to church on Sunday morning. Volunteers will bag and distribute the lunches to our grateful neighbors.

SHARING YOUR TALENTS

• Membership Committee: September 30, 2015, 7:30 pm Parish Hall- Please join the Membership Committee or come to a meeting to help with our projects.

• September-November: Creating a NEW Larger Food Pantry: Need strong able bodied folks to help on different days: Contact JoAnne Macaluso

• October-November: Fall Yard Clean-up to be announced when the leaves fall! Intergenerational volunteers needed. Contact Mark Williams

TO INSPIRE and CONNECTBelle: film at FUSP

Greetings Members and Friends,

I would like to invite you to a screening of “Belle” on Friday evening October 9th at 7 pm, in the Stevens Room at FUSP.   Belle, starring Tom Wilkerson and Emily Watson,  is inspired by the true story of Dido Elizabeth Belle (Gugu Mbatha-Raw), the illegitimate mixed race daughter of a Royal Navy Captain. Raised by her aristocratic great-uncle Lord Mansfield (Tom Wilkinson) and his wife (Emily Watson), Belle's lineage affords her certain privileges, yet the color of her skin prevents her from fully participating in the traditions of her social standing.  Left to wonder if she will ever find love, Belle falls for an idealistic young vicar's son bent on change who, with her help, shapes Lord Mansfield's role as Lord Chief Justice to end slavery in England. 

Set in England in the late 1700's, it shows the impact of the slave trade on society. The patriarch of the family is a justice of the High Court of England and takes on an important case regarding a slave trading ship while confronting the reality of limitations faced by his mulatto niece. It shows that when someone becomes part of your family, and you love that person, it changes your perspective on cultural norms. 

The film also showed the similarities between his white and mulatto nieces: as women both had a price on their heads and suffered due to their "place" in that society beneath men. This film showed that while much has changed, many attitudes have not changed in 300 years. The two brothers who court the nieces could have come from any current film if they just updated their styles of clothes, hair, and accents.  Not only a love story but a lesson in morality, class and traditions.  

TO INSPIREACT IV: Theater at FUSP

Andrea (Andie) Fleck and her family were distinguished members of FUSP for many years during her childhood and youth. We feel privileged to bring some of her plays to the Act IV stage.

Nov 13, 14, 20 and 21at 7:30 pm

Nov. 15 and 22 matinees at 2 pm

Act IVpresents

An Evening of Short Plays

byAndrea Fleck

ClardyDirected by

Cass Cochrane

Nov 13, 14, 20 and 21at 7: 30 pm

Nov. 15 and 22 matinees at 2 pm

ACT IV VOLUNTEERSNot all the fun happens on-stage!

Backstage, crew and production volunteers needed. Please contact Cass Cochrane and/or Barbara Van Savage.

Sandy has FREE tickets to the next 6 performances of ACT IV; Friday and Saturday, November 13, 14, 20, and 21 and Sunday at 2 PM on November 15 an 22  Sell tickets and serve light refreshments during intermission and see the shows  at no charge. Contact Sandy Kaplan. First come, first served!

Welcome Booktable

Come to the Welcome Booktable each Sunday after the service to fill your soul with books and other items to enrich yourself with Unitarian Universalism.

Newcomers, friends, and members will be welcomed with information about us and the denomination.

New this fall are:

                "Just Mercy" - the common read for this year that will be discussed after church one Sunday, also up for discussion is 'Prophetic Witness', the 2015 common read.

                "A God That Could Be Real"  Spirituality, Science, and the Future of Our Planet

                 "Poetry of the heart - "Rumi's Little Book of Love" and "Rumi Day by Day“

                "Governance and Ministry" - Toward right relationship between Board and Ministry

Special for newcomers: "Welcome," "Pocket Guide,"  "100 Question," and "A Chosen Faith"

Plus:  UU bookbags, mugs, chalice jewelry, bumper stickers, themed socks to order.

Stylin’ FUSP Fundraiser

• What bag will the calm and cool UU carry this year?

•The UU tote bag of

course! • Navy and white 100% organic cotton,

the subtle UU logo, the generous size and the social justice connection. The bags are sewn at a California non-profit by people with developmental disabilities providing job opportunities to an underserved community. Just enough subtlety to invite the question "What does UU mean?"

Bags cost FUSP $5.25. YOUR COST: You are invited to pay anything ABOVE $5.25 All profits go to FUSP projects. Please be generous.

BEYOND FUSPSupport Mental Health Services in Plainfield

Sponsor FUSP walker Mark Williams to raise funds for Bridgeway activities in Plainfield. Help make mental health services more accessible in our community. Contact Mark for more information.

BEYOND FUSPRepresentation of Race in Film

Visual Arts Center of New Jersey

Upcoming at the Summit-based Visual Arts Center of New Jersey is a film series,  The Representation of Race in Film, offering films which explore the depiction of race in American cinema.

TALKING PICTURES FILM SERIES   Begins Wednesday, October 7.             Film expert Kaia Shivers will introduce each film and guide the discussion afterward.  All films are screened in the Art Center's Mitzi & Warren Eisenberg Gallery.

To Kill a Mockingbird, Wednesday, October 7, 7pm, (130 minutes, 1962)

The Help, Wednesday, October 14, 7 pm, (146 minutes, 2011)

Do the Right Thing, Wednesday, October 21, 7 pm, (125 minutes, 1989)

Tickets: free with Gallery AdmissionNon-Member $5 / Members are always free!                 Seats are limited. Register Online Today

For more information visit the Visual Arts of New Jersey website, artcenternj.org or contact Cara Bramson, Director of Programs, at 908.273.9121, x213 or cbramson@artcenternj.org.