Cottage Meetings Stimulate Ideas and Understanding
Cottage meetings are small gatherings of church members with our new minister, Rev. Beau Rivers. Ten cottage meetings are being held in October and early November as a way for Rev. Beau and the members to get to know each other. The meetings so far have fulfilled that expectation. Rev. Beau sparks the discussion with three simple but far-reaching questions: What excites you about church? What feeds your spirit? What are you passionate about? The answers from the participants give the Parish Committee (PC) a deeper understanding of the many reasons people find value in belonging to our church community. The discussions have also generated dozens of suggestions for things we can do together to enrich our experience and make the world better.
What a glorious season, crisp and colorful! Our fall music program reflects this enthusiasm. Read on…
The featured music event in November is a vocal workshop led by Jeannie Gagné, our former music director and wonderful jazz singer. The workshop will be held on Saturday afternoon, November 9, at 2:00. Please register with me.
We have a small group of Beta-Testers for the new Virtual Hymnal scheduled for release at General Assembly in July. All our comments and suggestions are due at the end of November. This is an ambitious project designed for today’s world of computers and will augment (by subscription) our current hymnals.
We care about the interdependent web of life and taking care of one another.
At UU Middleboro we strive to create a program that allows our children to explore their ideas and faith in a safe and nurturing environment. We have been going on nature walks, learning in the curriculum about nature, the earth and our role in sustainability as well as looking at ourselves and the world and where we fit.
On Saturday, October 19 the UU held its 4th Annual Road Rally. On a beautiful, sunny and warm day, 10 teams completed a 28 mile course, driving through the splendor of Middleboro and Lakeville fall foliage. Congratulations to the trophy/medal winners!
Jeff Stevens primes the coffee maker each Sunday and helps to make the coffee. The church buys the needed coffee. What do we need? Coffee Hour Hosts - Please Read More to sign up online. Val will email you instructions, and there are many hands around to help as needed.
Kudos to Lois Aldrich who organized this effort, and to the many members and friends of the congregation who participated. The messages were non-partisan and went to registered voters in Pennsylvania and Florida who had a sketchy record of actually voting. (Whether you vote is public record. How you vote is private.)
Members of the Parish Committee, our DRE Kelly Lownds, and I are happy to announce the dates for our upcoming Getting to Know You, cottage meetings! See the times listed below and look for the sign-up sheets on the Parlor table this Sunday or email office@uumiddleboro.org
with your preferred date:
This display of large posters was created for Yom Hashoah, Holocaust Remembrance Day, January 27, 2024, and is on loan from Bridgewater State University. It will be in the Parish Hall from Sunday, October 13, (Yom Kippur) through Sunday, October 20. We chose posters that best illustrate the warning signs of fascistic thinking. Thank you, Lauren Haugh, for arranging for this display.
As memories of summer fade in the cool air of Autumn, the rhythm of nature invites us to turn our focus inward. Buttoning up the garden, putting away the air conditioners, and debating on how soon we should turn up the heat remind us winter is coming. I am grateful for this time of year when I can don my favorite sweaters to enjoy the crisp morning air and feel the warm afternoon sun on my face. My delight in the beauty of brightly colored leaves and clear blue skies somehow make it easier to let go of Summer and prepare to embrace the quiet beauty of Winter in New England.
Parish Committee Sets Goals for the Church Year
At our annual retreat on August 25, the Parish Committee (PC) welcomed Rev. Beau Rivers, renewed our vision for the church, and set goals for the coming year. Our vision has not changed: we see a church that reaches out to the larger community, welcomes and integrates newcomers, provides opportunities for spiritual exploration, and serves social justice. The most important goals for 2024 -25 are completing major building repairs and streamlining committee functions.
