Mother’s Day, May 13, 2018, Child Dedication Service, 10:30 am

An invitation to nurture your child’s spirit . . .

Parents often come to Unitarian Universalism by way of their children.  They come to our congregations looking for ways to help their child develop a strong moral character, rooted in love and acceptance of others, able to guide them as they grow and face life’s challenges.  Those parents who become members of this covenantal congregation seek not a community that will tell their children what to believe, but a community that will help their children develop a resilient spirit that will steady and guide them throughout life.  In this faith community we offer our children experiences where they can explore, in safety, the meaning and purpose of different religious, spiritual, and human values.  We believe that, with support, we are each capable of discerning for ourselves those life values that bring health and wholeness.  Parents may come seeking answers for their children and, in the process, often find support for their own spiritual journey.

Welcoming a child into a community has been an ancient ritual observed by many cultures and faith traditions for millennia.  As members of this religious community, parents and their children are warmly invited to participate with the congregation in a Child Dedication Ceremony.  This ceremony celebrates:

·         the individuality of the child (often including recognition of the child’s name),

·         the parent’s commitment to and dreams for their child(ren), and,

·         the congregation’s dedication of itself to assist in nurturing the child’s physical, ethical and spiritual development.

Given that the most distinctive aspect of a Unitarian Universalist Child Dedication Ceremony is that a specific congregation dedicates itself to the child’s growth and their family, it may be performed more than once, such as when a parent(s) and their child(ren) join a new Unitarian Universalist congregation.   The ceremony is conducted with infants, pre-school children, and older children.  Young adults are encouraged to join the congregation as adult members.

The next Children’s Dedication Service is on Mother’s Day, May 13th, during the morning worship service (10:30 am).  If you are interested in having your child participate in the May 13th Child Dedication Ceremony, please contact me by April 29th to discuss the possibility. For more information, please check out our website for a more detailed description of this ceremony.  The description can be found under Worship / Rites of Passage at SUUS on the website….or by simply clicking HERE.

With love,

Hallelujah!

It seems at last (dare I say it?) that Spring has arrived!  Critters are coming out (two, four, and eight legged), and though there is a thin layer of snow underneath, the forsythia that lines our back yard is showing the promise of yellow blooms.  Earth awakens from her deep slumber, and we, with her.

If Earth expressed gratitude in ways we easily understood, for whatever we may do on her behalf, she might say thank you to all the local towns that have worked to ensure that fracking waste is banned.  On April 9th, the Madison Selectmen voted to ban fracking waste, by a vote of 4 to 1.  They followed the example of many of our other CT towns, including Branford and Guilford.  Clinton is up next.

For nearly two years, our SUUS members have been working to ban fracking waste in the shoreline towns.  Patiently and doggedly that have showed up at town meetings over and over again.  Madison is the latest town where members of our SUUS Green Team witnessed to this issue, fighting for the health of our environment and families.

Last Sunday I spoke about the Spirit of Life, our relationship to it and its presence among us.  I admitted that I can’t predict exactly how it is that humanity will come together to address the world’s problems, what that looks like or who leads the way.  But, there is one thing that I do know.  Resolving the issues of our day depends on one thing, and one thing only:  our presence.  Our presence to one another, our persistent presence at town meetings, our proximity to others in places like New Haven, our presence at our state capitol, and sometimes at our nation’s capitol.  Whatever needs doing, the way it will get done is by our presence.

Thank you to our Green Team and others, for speaking their truth, and for protecting our Earth.

With gratitude,

Spirit of Life

Dear Ones All,

This coming Sunday, I will be preaching on Carolyn McDade’s celebrated song, Spirit of Life. (Don’t forget to send me your stories (1-2 paragraphs) of how it is that you practice your faith in the larger world, answering this question, “Why do you do this work?”  Your reflections will be included in my sermon, so please send them to me by April 6th at the latest. Don’t be shy. You will be helping us celebrate the spirit of integrity that guides our lives as Unitarian Universalists.

Growing up as a liberal Christian, I was always most taken with that part of the trinity that often gets the least attention, the Holy Spirit.  It isn’t easy to define what the word “spirit” means, but I think we know it when we see it.  There is a luminous and ephemeral quality to it that defies definition, while at the same time radiating an unmatched energy and beauty.

Spirit is what I think we found and celebrated at our Easter Services last Sunday. It was there in our gathering together for our rich morning of celebration and music.  It was there as we gathered at the beach to celebrate nature as spring awakens in our hearts and earthly lives.  It was there in all the extra effort so many people put into rehearsing (for weeks) and singing on that day.  It was there in our shared ministry and our choosing to share our lives and talents with one another.

Few places show such generosity of spirit as does this congregation.  Thank you to all for making it a great day.  Thank you for being with us.  You are loved.

Fondly,

Dear Ones All,

Last Sunday I spoke on the value of action that transforms hope into reality.  I named that with action, we make the path as we walk it, even when the we don’t quite know how we will get to our hoped for destination.

I am reminded of those words written by William DeWitt Hyde (1858-1917) in our hymnal (#289), “Since what we choose is what we are, and what we love we yet shall be, the goal may ever shine afar – the will to reach it makes us free.”

I believe it’s important to acknowledge the power of the choices we make. Our choices represent the power of our conscious to act on what truly matters to us.   Sometimes we make course corrections.  Sometimes, we re-dedicate ourselves to a path already chosen, with gratitude.  As you weigh your choices in life, I hope you will thoughtfully sort out for yourself, the relative merits of what brings life to your spirit and sustains you during the joys and sorrows of life.

And . . .  if some of the reasons you stay connected to this congregation are because it sustains you in your efforts to:

·         recharge your spiritual batteries;

·         refresh your perspective on life;

·         nurture the courage to keep trying;

·         be with others who care about your spirit;

·         feed your love of music;

·         guide your children;

·         have fun with others;

·         share your talents and passions;

·         ___________________ (feel free to fill in the blank)

. . . then please consider re-committing yourself to this community and introducing others to our congregation.

Every week, people visit looking for something they can’t quite name.  Often they find an unnamed hope here and the power of choice.  They find it because of your spirit of generosity.  Let us continue to embolden that spirit so that this congregation of love, faith, justice & reason, is here when they (and you) cross our threshold.

This faith community opens doors.  Let our choices embody those hopes and actions that transform lives.

With love,

Blessings!

As winter reminds us once again of nature’s power and glory, I am counting my blessings.

First, for our abundantly beautiful shared ministry, proven in so many ways, but especially by the fabulous multigenerational weekend we just shared.  Friday night was the culmination of six weeks of getting to know our younger and older pen pals, topped with a shared dinner and dessert at SUUS in the sanctuary.  It’s a great experience!  We have 35 children (and their parents) in our midst.  We need them and they need us.

Thank you to the adults, children, and parents who participated, and to Nate Pawelek who helped us connect to each other.  Relationships and memories were created.

On Saturday evening we saw 19 acts at our Talent Show. Again, this was only possible by the many who stepped forward to offer their gifts of talent and organization to us, ranging from the harmoniously beautiful to the hilarious!

Thank you, to all of you, who helped pull the Talent Show together. A special thanks goes to those (especially our rehearsal directors) whose patience and persistence made possible the outstanding performance offered by our children and cast who sang the SEUSS performance of “Oh, the Thinks You Can Think!”  Mike Rosen also deserves a special thanks for his creativity in writing the SEUSS inspired Board of Trustees skit, assisted by Sue Rosen in her alter ego, Hortense.

On Sunday, we learned about ants and rams, to the backdrop of some great music. Afterwards, we had a town meeting where we counted our blessings and named in gratitude some of the reasons this congregation is worthy of our time, talent and treasure.

As I write this, I worry about who I am leaving out?  No one is left out of my heart.

A few weeks ago I offered a sermon that highlighted a quote by John McKnight, community organizer, who said, “A weak community is where many people don’t give their gifts.”  If ever there was any doubt, this is no weak community.  Those who persist in the good and tough times have and exude a resilience that is contagious to long term and new members.  We count on each other.  This is no weak community.  It is strong, vibrant, and has that thing that is most important, a truly shared ministry.  I am grateful for this shared ministry.  No one person can sustain this congregation.  Together, in the spotlight or behind the scenes, we all do.  A strong community is where many people give their gifts.

As Spring approaches, let us receive and offer our blessings to one another.  There is nothing more important than the generosity of spirit we offer each other and the larger community.

With love and gratitude,

Best Laid Plans of Mice and Humans . . .

Dear Ones All,

They say that if you want to make God laugh, make plans.

I believe that when we plan a worship service, try as we might want to do our best, we must also leave room for the Spirit to enter.  A worship service that is too tightly controlled dulls the opportunity for spontaneity and creativity to touch our souls.  If it’s too “tight,” it’s hard for it to find the crooks and crannies whereby the Spirit can enter our hearts.

If all that is true, then perhaps the Spirit found a comfortable place to enter our worship last Sunday, when I was speaking on sin, disabilities and community spirit?  That’s what I was speaking on.  But perhaps you were expecting something else?  My apologies to those attending last Sunday if you were expecting what was posted electronically last week.  Mysteriously, this coming week’s description was posted for last week’s description.

In addition, on Sunday, I had trouble getting a video to play during my sermon.  Though I summed it up for those attending, I still think it’s useful to view in person.  It asks the question, “What does it take to live to age 100 or beyond?”  Go to this link for the answer.

So . . . if perfection is the enemy of the good and the Spirit is most comfortable where spontaneity abounds, then I’m pretty sure it found a home with us on Sunday!

Lest there be any doubt, our worship theme this week is called, “High Apple Pie, in the Sky, Hopes!” It will illuminate this congregation’s ministries, and the many ways we can apply them toward the future.  It’ll be fun!  Come join us.

With love,
Jeanne

Awakening!

As I write this, we are anticipating our second Nor’easter in a week:  snow, rain, flooding.  Ah, New England!  But, have you noticed?  The sun is shifting, there are more warm days than before, and here and there, bulbs are poking their leaves through the ground, and more birds are singing.  Spring and summer are coming, and though winter may want its last word, its harsh weather days are numbered, as we turn once again toward warmer weather and its beauty.

This year, Easter arrives on April 1st.  I invite you to join SUUS for a full morning festival celebration of Spring/Easter, starting with our Beach Side Service at 8:30am at the Madison Surf Club (near the flagpole), to sharing a “carry-in” breakfast at SUUS at 9:15am, to joining in a multigenerational Easter Music Sunday Worship Service at 10:30am.   In these ways, we will gather in community to celebrate the story and season of Easter.  In particular, we are pulling out all the stops at our 10:30am multigenerational Sunday Service.  At that service we will share Easter’s story through many forms of choral and instrumental music provided by our SUUS Orchestra (Godspell’s ‘Day by Day’), instrumental soloists, SUUS Choirs (Shepherd on the Rock, Shubert, and, Ave Verum Corpus, Mozart), congregational hymns, and more!  Even if the sun doesn’t shine that day, you will be warmer for coming.  Bring your friends and family!  Join us for a full morning of glorious music and an uplifting start to Spring!

With love and anticipation!

Rev. Jeanne

Showing Up

Last Friday, it was my privilege to accompany Joan Means, Rev. Todd Vetter (UUC, Madison), and several others from the shoreline to meet with Representative William Tong (D), at the Legislative Office Building.  At that meeting, we requested his renewed focus on keeping our citizenry and children safe from violence in general, and gun violence, in particular.  Rep. Tong represents southwestern Connecticut and is also a Co-Chair of the Joint Committee on Judiciary that addresses all matters related to the courts, judicial procedures, criminal law, civil and criminal penalties, and, much more.  Rep. Sean Scanlon (D), Branford and Guilford, assisted Joan Means in setting up this meeting.

This meeting was a follow-up action to present to Rep. Tong, the individual hand-made doves made for our interfaith December 11, 2017 Vigil on the Madison Green, that named all the people who have died in Connecticut in the past five years from gun wounds, including suicides, victims of Sandy Hook, and the numbers of people who have likewise died in national shootings.  Our focus was to demand and embolden the State of Connecticut to take further action to protect the lives of our citizens and children.

In the course of our conversation, I asked Rep. Tong what I named was a naïve question (but one to which I needed an answer, nonetheless).  “Why does the 2nd Amendment of our Constitution get to trump the primary premise of our Declaration of Independence, i.e., the right to ‘life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness,’ with life as its first priority?”

Rep. Tong explained that the Constitution takes precedent over the Declaration of Independence, and that there is no guaranteed right to life, only to safety as provided for by the Constitution.  Therefore, his focus as it relates to safety is to work on bills that primarily support police and other legal intervention.  He is currently working to ban ghost guns and bump stocks.

It is possible that I once knew the answer to that question in 8th grade, but last Friday I learned something, and it will help me refocus my efforts as we seek to address the safety of our children and our fellow citizens.

Several marches are being held on March 24th, to put human bodies, souls and spirit behind the sentiment and words, “enough is enough!”  I’ll be at the Hartford march, and others as they arise.  I hope you’ll find more than one to attend.  Showing up matters to our souls and to other’s.

With love,

Rev. Jeanne

Showing Up

There are five kinds of social justice actions:  service, education, advocacy, witness and community organizing.  Each has its place at the appropriate time.  Different actions will suit different people and issues.  No one action is the “best.”  But, when focused on the same issue, all these different types of actions generate the real possibility for permanent and systemic change.

To effect change, we will need to “show up” for different kinds of actions at different times.  It will not be convenient.  It will be necessary to persist in showing up for a variety of actions across a long span of time.  We can debate whether it should require such persistence and resolve all we want, but doing so will not accomplish anything.  Showing up, on the other hand, can turn an increasingly violent society toward one that does not recklessly put our children, their protectors, and ourselves at risk.

If you are interested in entering this campaign to stop violence in our schools and elsewhere, plan on reorganizing your priorities for the long haul.

Join me and others at various social justice actions whenever you can.  I’m planning on going to the “CT March for our Lives!” at our state capitol on Saturday, March 24, at 12:30 pm.  More information can be found on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/events/130235897797192/?ti=icl

Persist.

Rev. Jeanne

On this Valentine’s Day that reminds us to love each other with grace and forgiveness, I offer you this reflection from the Irish poet, John O’Donahue, from his book “To Bless the Space Between Us.”

The Gift of the World is Our First Blessing

“There is a quiet light that shines in every heart . . . It is what illuminates our minds to see beauty, our desire to seek possibility, and our hearts to love life.  Without this subtle quickening, our days would be empty and wearisome, and no horizon would ever awaken our longing.  Our passion for life is quietly sustained from somewhere in us that is wedded to the energy and excitement of life.  This shy inner light is what enables us to recognize and receive our very presence here as blessing.  We enter the world as strangers who all at once become heirs to a harvest of memory, spirit, and dream that has long preceded us and will now enfold, nourish, and sustain us.  The gift of the world is our first blessing.”

May you nurture your quiet light into love for yourself, others and this most beautiful and deserving world.

With love,

In this season of celebrating love and those we love, I offer you this poem from “Love Poems from God, Twelve Sacred Voices from the East and West,” edited and translated by Daniel Ladinsky.

“Love Does That”
by
Meister Eckhart, 1260 – 1328,
a Christian priest, mystic and heretic

All day long a little burro labors,

sometimes with heavy loads on her back

and sometimes just with worries

about things that bother only burros.

And worries, as we know, can be more exhausting than physical labor.

Once in a while a kind monk comes to her stable and brings a pear,

but more than that . . .

he looks into the burro’s eyes and touches her ears

and for a few seconds the burro is free

and even seems to laugh,

Because love does

that.

Love frees.

With love,

Getting hooked, staying hooked, avoiding getting hooked . . .

Two weeks ago, a courageous and persistently engaged group of eight SUUS members completed their first Compassionate Listening/Non-Violent Communication course.  I first started teaching this course as my way of addressing violence in response to the 2012 Newtown tragedy.  I knew then, that there would be no quick fix to this problem of violence in our lives.  I reasoned that if we, as human beings, could listen more effectively and compassionately earlier in other’s lives, the experience of being truly heard might just change the course of their lives, and ours.  Compassionate listening is not just about helping others, it is also about compassionately listening to our own needs and feelings, as well as creating change in the life of the speaker and the listener.

Different kinds of emotionally charged situations require different kinds of responses, if we want to effectively address the situation.  We need to select the right tool for listening at the right time.  In our Compassionate Listening/Non-Violent Communication course, we learned deep listening skills to apply to challenging situations.  (For those interested, I will offer a different version of this class, next fall.)

This language of non-violent communication is explained by different world religions and philosophies in different but similar ways because there are universal truths about the art of effective non-violent communication.  Recently, I ran across an interview by Bill Moyers with Pema Chodron, an American born Buddhist nun.  In it they speak of getting “hooked” into feelings of anger, anxiety, stress, and other upsetting emotions.  Chodron’s reflections on the ways you can learn to “unhook” yourself from events that normally trigger a non-productive emotional response are consistent with the truths of compassionate listening and non-violent communication.

The three part interview is worth listening to in its entirety. But, if you are running short of time (and who isn’t?), view Part 2 of the interview where they engage the topic of “getting hooked”.   When we recognize those things that trigger us to react in non-productive ways, and then choose more selectively our response to such moments, we get to redirect our energy to more positive and life-giving outcomes.

You can find Part 2 of the interview at   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jTfx-fm_ZzU

In the spirit of living the lives we choose to live . . .

Love,

Rev. Jeanne Lloyd, Minister

Giving Thanks for the Tumbles

It is said that we can attribute the following joke to Woody Allen –

“If you want to make God laugh, tell him about your plans.”

Most likely it comes from an old Yiddish proverb, “We plan, God laughs.”

As funny as it may be, it’s a little disconcerting don’t you think?  Our plans are important to us.  As an example, there is perhaps no event more planned each week than our Sunday Services.  Lots of thought and time go into them by lots of people.  We all try to do our best to make them relevant and inspiring.  And, if we can sneak a bit of fun in, so much the better!

That said, despite our best efforts, I don’t think that we as humans can, by ourselves, polish it up like a perfect diamond for presentation.  Best not to take ourselves too seriously.  We start with doing our best, and then, with humility and awe, we hopefully create space for the Spirit to join us.  Sometimes, if we are lucky, it arrives, having been invited into a hospitable place were hearts and minds are open to receiving a presence of peace, love and inspiration that we know we have no control over.

I am reminded of these words by a colleague of mine, Bruce Southworth:

“O Source of life and love,

Torn by desires to sit back and to enjoy the beauty of the world —
to savor the blue skies and gentle days — and by desires to recast the world and to fight its evils — to save the world…

Torn by all those things that hurt and confuse
and make no sense amid beauty —
yet supported by all those things that heal and hold us —
smiles, kisses, mountain vistas and gentle waves, warm words…

We live in mystery.

We live torn apart at times — so much glory — so much pain.

We live in faith — faith in ourselves and each other — faith that we can create bonds of the spirit that proclaim we are not alone.
We have much health within us — we can live through the heartache to new life.

So, for the grace of the world and all the tumble, too,
this day we give thanks.”

Let us give thanks for the tumbles that leave room for the Spirit to enter.

With love,
Rev. Jeanne

This last Sunday, we held a conversation about who, what, when, where and how, elected representatives of this congregation may speak on behalf of the congregation.  Culminating a year of conversation, I was gratified to share with you our conclusions and to listen to your input.  Thank you for trusting the process and each other, choosing to relinquish emotional obstacles, choosing to step boldly into the future.

I offer you these words written by my colleague, Steve Schick, from his book “Be the Change, Poems, Prayers and Meditations for Peacemakers and Justice Seekers, 55.”

When the Past Arrives

Gather what you can for we must leave now.
Gather what you must,
for hatred is marching and we are no longer safe.

What shall we take?  Time is running out.
The way from here will be rough and we’ll make justice as we go.

Take only what you can carry.

‘Carry me,’ history cries.
From her wrinkled mouth she begs, ‘Carry me lightly in your hearts.’

Gather what you can into your hearts
The present moment has arrived and we must leave much behind.

With love and affection,
Rev. Jeanne

From my friend and colleague, Kate Lore …

AS A NEW YEAR BEGINS
“… As a new year begins, we turn inward to reflect about the state of our lives:

• What lessons have we learned in the past year and which new ones now call us forward?
• To whom do we still owe an apology or expression of thanks?
• And with whom must we draw fresh boundaries?

As we pause from our regular rhythms of rush-rush-rush, we open ourselves to new perspectives and possibilities. We give thanks for these moments and for the wisdom they afford us. May they help bring us together in the sacred dynamics of life so that we—as individuals and as members of this community—might reach our full potential.

As we step across this threshold, let this new year be a year of greater awe and gratitude,
Of deeper kindness and acceptance, and more courageous acts of conviction.
For a kinder, more equitable and sustainable world is not only possible, she is on her way. And in the quietness of this sacred community, we can ever hear her breathing.”

Love and peace to all of you.  See you next year!

Rev.  Jeanne

As we move toward the close of this year, having already celebrated Hanukah and Winter Solstice, we now await Christmas.  I invite you to savor this time of reflection, sharing, and love.  Savor the precious moments we and others offer each other even if done in clumsy but well intentioned ways.  Look for the good in people. It is there to be found if we look hard enough, set aside our assumptions, and, search for other’s strengths, instead of sorting for the negative.  Beauty truly is in the eye of the beholder.  By our vulnerability and humility, when we search out other’s good intentions and best side, we enable them to shine and grow in ways they cannot do for themselves.  Save the world by how you view others.

I wish I had written the following words.  They so aptly the spirit that resides here at SUUS.

May these days be joyful for you and yours.

With love,

Rev. Jeanne

You Are the Holiday Miracle by Gwen Matthews

As December opens up before us, we welcome in the gift of reflection. We turn toward our holiday celebrations and search for common threads of meaning.

[We begin with] Hanukkah, the festival of lights, [commemorating] a time of miracles when the faith of the Jewish people sustained them to reclaim their holy temple and keep the light of the menorah burning for eight days.

[In] Yule, the winter solstice, and we are invited to explore duality, cycles, and seasons, and to witness the [rise and fall of the Sun King and the eternal presence of enduring Goddess]. Yule reminds us that we all partake in the miracle of renewal.

Christmas, the celebration of Jesus’ humble birth in a manger, offers us to revisit the miracle of birth and the desire . . . to heal the scars of humanity.

Here, in our church, you are just as much a holiday miracle as the turning of the earth, as persistence and dedication to a faith, as the creation of each new life. We see the love you give to others, the space you create to hold one another’s joys and sorrows, and the generosity and spirit you entrust to this community.

You are the holiday miracle. This community is one of miracle-makers.

Dear Ones All,

On Thursday, five years ago, a tsunami of shock, grief and despair swept through the community I was serving then, the Newtown, CT area.  Enough is enough.  Please come.

Did you know?

Did you know that every week it takes about 50 hours of staff and members’ time to plan and share a Sunday Service? Our Staff Worship Team meet every Tuesday afternoon to creatively brainstorm and finalize the formation of our Sunday Services.  In addition, the Worship Committee meets once a month (with many other conversations behind the scenes) to plan other worship services.  Both groups spend their time putting the finishing touches on the upcoming Sunday Service, often looking ahead several months to plan other services as well.  It is a true joy for me to work with both the Worship Committee (Laura Kasprow, Chair; Sue Schaedler; Kathy Helmrich; Roy Ogren; Suzanne Carlson; Cynthia Goetz; Jere Armen; and, Chris Jennings Penders) and our Staff Worship Team (Martha Wells Hoffman, Nate Pawelek, Amy Buckley and Nick Stanford)!

It should then come as no surprise that here at SUUS, we have a strong commitment to provide a service every Sunday of the year, especially for any visitor or newcomer who may drop by in search of inspiration and community.  That said, the calendar schedule for this particular December has not been kind to us in terms of scheduling worship services. We faced a difficult dilemma in terms of meeting all our shared worship goals.

To start with, this month has 5 Sundays.  The addition of a Christmas Eve service in the evening, would require planning for 6 worship services.  Further, the provision of two services on the day of Christmas Eve, would place the services in competition with each other, resulting in lower attendance at both, and thereby reducing participation in these services.  The reason we come together for worship in general, and in this holiday season, in particular, is to be together.

Mindful of our limited resources, our need to care for one another and the needs of this congregation as a whole, Rev. Jeanne and the Worship Committee discussed this dilemma in several meetings and circumstances.  In the end, our compromise solution for this particular year only, is to move the entire Christmas Eve service ahead six hours to our Sunday morning worship time.  We will start with our traditional “shout out” Carol Sing at 10:00 am, followed by the Worship Service itself at 10:30 am, and thereafter by a “Christmas Treats” reception.

We know that changing the time of the Christmas Eve service does not suit everyone.  In truth, it’s not our first choice either.  But, for this year, let’s once again gather together to celebrate the coming of Christmas in song, word and food on Sunday morning.  What matters now and always is that we are together.

With love,
Rev. Jeanne
Laura Kasprow, Worship Committee Chair
Dan Brill, SUUS President

Welcome! and Action . . .

Welcome

This coming Sunday we will be putting a special welcome mat out for newcomers who want to learn about our values as well as the openness and acceptance of Unitarian Universalism. We are planning a special service on radical spiritual hospitality and invite you to bring someone along to join us!

Sunday will also be a special day because we will be welcoming our new pianist/accompanist, Nick Stanwood.  Nick is a wonderful musician and mathematician.  He is from Connecticut, currently living in Deep River.  His academic degrees include specialties in 20th century music, classical piano, and mathematics.  He is accomplished in classical and musical theater music, and has accompanied/conducted in a variety of productions including (among others) “Chorus Line,” “West Side Story,” “Little Shop of Horrors,” and “Bye, Bye Birdie.”   He has also worked as a substitute church organist, and, has volunteered as a recreational therapy pianist at a nursing and rehabilitation center.  The Pianist Search Committee (Sue Schaedler, Convener; Maria Puziello; Steve Ernst; Wendy Cohn; Ellen Creane; Amy Buckley; Rev. Jeanne Lloyd) enjoyed getting to know Nick, and noticed in particular his enthusiasm, creativity, and accomplished skill at the piano.  We are very excited to welcome him aboard!

As we gather together this coming Sunday, please join me in welcoming our newcomers and friends, as well as in welcoming Nick and thanking the Pianist Search Committee for their several months of diligent work in reviewing candidates and selecting someone suitable for this congregation.

Action:  A call for protection from gun violence

On an entirely different matter, I think that most of us agree that it is important to reduce the amount of gun violence that has become a regular occurrence in this country.  It is unacceptable that innocent children and adults have been dying from gun violence for so long.  (December 14th is the 5th anniversary of the Newtown tragedy.)  Toward that end, and at my request, the Board has voted for SUUS to become a sponsoring partner in conducting a vigil called, “Say their Name, A Vigil for Victims of Gun Violence” on the Madison Green on Sunday, December 17, 2017, 3:30 pm.  Its purpose is to honor those lost and to call for action for protection from gun violence.  It is part of a collaborative community effort to educate our communities on the growing tragedy of gun violence in America.

Several of us are going.  Will you come, too?  Click here for details and to RSVP: https://actionnetwork.org/events/say-their-name-a-vigil-for-victims-gun-violence?source=direct_link&

And, click on the following link to view a flyer with more info:   Say Their Name…

With abiding faith that LOVE will guide us . . .

Rev. Jeanne Lloyd, M.Div., M.A.