THE FIRST UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST SOCIETY OF MIDDLEBOROUGH
- January 19 @ 10:30 am-11:30 am
Liberating Love
Rev. Michael Hall preaching These are times we feel beset by personal or social conditions. They leave us questioning: What am I to do? What is the meaning and purpose of my life, never mind 8 billion lives? Is there really anything meaningful that holds us together? If you are feeling the post-holiday blues or, worse still, a full-on existential crisis, make sure to join us this morning as we welcome former FUUSM member Michael Hall back to our pulpit. Rev. Michael F. Hall has been an ordained Unitarian Universalist minister since 2012. After serving the Keene, NH congregation for 12 years, he accepted a position as the contract minister of the UU Congregation of Franklin, NH. Michael is enjoying the ministry he shares with the congregation in Franklin, while having almost too much fun doing pulpit supply all over New England! Rev. Hall lives in Keene, NH, with his family, including three opinionated pets.
- January 26 @ 10:30 am-11:30 am
Gender Diversity Matters
Rev. Beau Rivers preaching This collaborative service offered by members of the transgender and non-binary community will be followed by a discussion forum after coffee hour. Come learn how you can support the trans community in 2025. The Chalice Choir will be singing. Photo Credit Zjazjazoie
- February 2 @ 10:30 am-11:30 am
Worship Service
If you are looking for a spiritual home, come in and experience our open minds, open hearts, and open doors. For over 125 years, the First Unitarian Universalist Society has been serving individuals and families in Middleboro and surrounding towns with great music, meaningful and thought-provoking sermons, and opportunities to give back. We are committed to spiritual growth and lifelong learning with religious exploration that promotes creativity, integrity, and compassion. We work together to build a world that is more loving and more just for all people.
- February 9 @ 10:30 am-11:30 am
Worship Service
If you are looking for a spiritual home, come in and experience our open minds, open hearts, and open doors. For over 125 years, the First Unitarian Universalist Society has been serving individuals and families in Middleboro and surrounding towns with great music, meaningful and thought-provoking sermons, and opportunities to give back. We are committed to spiritual growth and lifelong learning with religious exploration that promotes creativity, integrity, and compassion. We work together to build a world that is more loving and more just for all people.
- February 16 @ 10:30 am-11:30 am
Worship Service
If you are looking for a spiritual home, come in and experience our open minds, open hearts, and open doors. For over 125 years, the First Unitarian Universalist Society has been serving individuals and families in Middleboro and surrounding towns with great music, meaningful and thought-provoking sermons, and opportunities to give back. We are committed to spiritual growth and lifelong learning with religious exploration that promotes creativity, integrity, and compassion. We work together to build a world that is more loving and more just for all people.
January Music Musings
After all the hullabaloo of December holidays, the thought of a shift into quiet contemplation is MOST welcomed! It’s cold, but the light is returning, slow & steady. We have heat in our homes, food in our bellies, fresh water, friends, family, and the constant wonder of exploration. It’s good to be a part of our beloved community, UU Middleboro!
Many of you know Erik Lindgren who is a friend of our church as well as a personal friend. Erik is an explorer of that crossover between genres of music: classical and rock, spiritual and light jazz, contemplative and wild. He started his music career writing advertising ditties, but you’ll never find his music piped into your local elevator. In maturity, his voice is unique and expansive.
Erik will be subbing for me on January 5. On January 12 at 3:00, we will welcome Erik and one of his “bands” (Bespoke Consort) to our church for a concert not to be missed. Mark your calendars and stay tuned for details.
I wish you all, both great and small,
a happy, healthy, and bright new year!
Susan Hotchkiss, Director of Music
Religious Exploration in January
The program we are sharing this year explores the interdependent web of life. Our Sunday morning RE program occurs during the church service and has an open enrollment. We are very excited to have a new outdoor space that we share with the church and are hopeful to grow flowers and plants as we continue to explore nature. We do nature walks, crafts, tell stories and share ideas about our local environment, animal habitats and native plants. We consider our role in sustainability.
Registration is rolling throughout the year and is available here. Religious Exploration Registration Form (google.com)
Earth Advocates!
We are learning about animal habitats and decomposition this month. The kids have loved exploring the new outdoor space, and we are going to start to think about how we can make rich soil for our plants in the spring. We are going to play with earthworms and think about decomposing plants.
Youth Group
Youth Group is for children 6th grade and up. We will be meeting at least once a month in the new year. We are hoping to create an interfaith program that can be shared with the church
Babysitting Available!
Nursery Care continues to be available for babies and toddlers under five years of age each Sunday morning from 10:15 to 11:45. Child care is also offered during other church activities.
Family Worship Services
The children will be upstairs for family worship services once a month. Our next Family Worship Service is on January 5, 2025.
RE Committee
The RE Committee meets on the 2nd Wednesday of the month at 6:00 p.m. in the Parish Hall. We are meeting next on Wednesday, January 8, 2025. Christine Hoyle is the Committee Chair, and we are always looking for new volunteers.
Kelly Lownds, Director of Religious Exploration
Minister’s Message
Finding Joy
To help support one another through this moment in history, I draw on the wisdom of Valarie Kaur, social activist and founder of The Revolutionary Love Project. The project inspires and equips people to build beloved community where they are, centered around an ethic of love.
Finding Joy this holiday season may be difficult for some than others. People with marginalized identities are living in fear of future legislation that already threatens their freedom and safety. When we do not resonate with the life experience of others, a Revolutionary Love calls upon us to Wonder. To Wonder is to cultivate a sense of awe and openness to the experiences of others, to listen to their pain, their needs, and desires. Wonder brings us the humility we need to recognize other people are as complex and infinite as we are. Wonder gives us information on how to love and care for each other. It is the wellspring of love.
When we resonate with a sense of dread about the future, Kaur’s Revolutionary Love invites us to find Joy. To find Joy means to find what gives us hope, reminds us of possibility, and gives our life purpose. Joy goes beyond simple happiness. Joy carries us through the darkness and uncertainty and makes us want to keep going. What brings us Joy and light does not need to be complicated or profound. It can be as simple as admiring the delicate beauty of a bird at a feeder, delighting in the laughter of a child, wearing a favorite sweater, or breathing in the fresh outdoor air. Kaur tells us,
To let in Joy is to give our senses over to what is beautiful, delightful, pleasurable, or wondrous in the present moment. Joy is the gift of love. It returns us to everything good and beautiful and worth fighting for.
If the aim of oppression is to deprive us of Joy, then finding Joy in the midst of fear and uncertainty is an act of resistance.
May the Gifts of Wonder and Joy Be Yours This Holiday Season!
Much Love,
Rev. Beau
Finding the Light in Little Things
by Garima Sharma
In a world that can feel tough and grey,
Finding joy may seem far away.
But fear not, for a secret lies,
In small moments, a precious prize.
Believe in the magic that’s all around,
In the simple gestures that may astound.
For life’s goodness, it may yet reveal,
When you pay attention and mindfully feel.
Embrace the beauty of tiny pleasures,
The suns’ gentle warmth and nature’s treasures.
From laughter shared to a tender touch,
These moments remind us life means so much.
Shift perspectives and, with hope, decree,
The world isn’t as terrible as it seems to be.
Choose gratitude, find reasons to adore,
And watch darkness fade, replace by more.
So, cherish the small moments each day,
And let the world’s troubles softly sway.
Embrace the goodness that life can bring
In little things, find joy’s sweet symphony.
Featured Posts
Announcement from Music Director
Dear Friends and Members of UU Middleboro,
It is with mixed feelings that I announce my retirement at the end of this church year in June. Being your music director is a joy, a creative mixture of music making and music teaching. I am eager, however, to embrace the freedom of retirement to read more, travel a bit, tackle some new music, explore some new horizons. The time has come for me to step down and to let someone else take up the baton.
Our church has excellent leadership; and we are strong, resourceful, and resilient. I look forward to finishing out this year with a grand crescendo and continuing to be of service to my church and community.
Susan Hotchkiss
Jan. 9, 2025
Volunteer Opportunities in the New Year
There are volunteer opportunities available in January and February. We believe that participation in a worship service will help us build community and work together to meet our individual and Society goals. You may use the sign-up sheets on the Parlor table to support these ministries, or you may click below to sign up online.
To sign up to be a Coffee Hour Host or a Greeter on a Sunday morning, click here.
Announcements from Rev. Beau
Membership Committee Needs You!
Do you feel called to warmly greet new visitors, sit beside them during worship, accompany them to coffee hour, and introduce them to people with similar backgrounds or interests? To learn more about how you can support this vital ministry, please contact Rev. Beau at minister@uumiddleboro.org.
Understanding the Transgender Community
Are you knowledgeable about the experiences, challenges, and hopes of the transgender and non-binary community? Would you like to participate in our January 26th service to help raise awareness about trans lives? Contact Rev. Beau to learn more at minister@uumiddleboro.org.
New Member Ceremony
Have you been visiting us for some time and think you might like to become a member of this beloved community? Let us know so we can schedule a group orientation with you in January and welcome you into the life of the congregation at our New Member Dedication Ceremony Sunday, February 16, 2025. For more information, please contact Rev. Beau at minister@uumiddleboro.org.
Celebrate Women’s History!
Each year we dedicate a service to recognize and celebrate the achievements of women. This year’s service will be March 09, 2025. If you would like to participate in this service, please email Rev. Beau at minister@uumiddleboro.org.
Featured Events
CUUPS Council Circle
There is no ritual for the month of January. Our next Sabbat will be Imbolc, which we will celebrate on Monday, February 3, from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. in the Parish Hall. The purpose of this Council is to gather together to discuss ideas about the direction we would like to see CUUPS take in 2025. We have been missing longtime members who, for a variety of reasons, have not been able to attend regularly this past year. We have been blessed with several new visitors since the Fall.
Full Moon Meditation on Zoom
This month’s Full Moon falls in the sign of Cancer and is known as the Wolf Moon. As we enter into the first month of the new year, we are reminded of Janus, the Roman god with two faces…one looking back and the other ahead.
The Year Compass Workshop
Andrea Priest and Rev. Beau will offer an afternoon workshop called The Year Compass on Sunday, February 2, from 1:00 to 3:00 PM. The Year Compass offers a workbook to help participants reflect on the past year and set their intentions for the new year. Through a series of carefully curated questions, the first half of the workbook helps participants review, learn from, and celebrate the past year, while the second half of the workbook invites participants to dream, plan, and prepare to get the most out of the new year.
Calendar
- January 13 @ 7:00 pm-9:00 pm
CUUPS Council Circle
There is no ritual for the month of January. Our next Sabbat will be Imbolc, which we will celebrate on Monday, February 3, from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. in the Parish Hall. The purpose of this Council is to gather together to discuss ideas about the direction we would like to see CUUPS take in 2025. We have been missing longtime members who, for a variety of reasons, have not been able to attend regularly this past year. We have been blessed with several new visitors since the Fall. Some are solitary practitioners, some were circle members elsewhere, some are simply looking for a spiritually minded community that is safe and welcoming. All have come with openness, curiosity and a willingness to share ideas, practices and aspirations. Please join us for an open discussion of how CUUPS might grow in the new year…of what we might co-create beyond the 8 Sabbats, and how we might partner with the church at large to incorporate our love for Gaia and our practice of earth based tra...
- January 14 @ 11:00 am-12:00 pm
Lay Ministry on Zoom
Members of this team are trained to offer lay pastoral counseling. They may also provide meals; visits; phone calls; cards; transportation to medical appointments, the grocery store, church, or social outings; help with yard work; music; or respite/break time for caregivers. Contact: Susan Curtiss
- January 14 @ 6:00 pm-6:45 pm
Full Moon Meditation on Zoom
with Natalie Johnson This month’s Full Moon falls in the sign of Cancer and is known as the Wolf Moon. As we enter into the first month of the new year, we are reminded of Janus, the Roman god with two faces…one looking back and the other ahead. https://zoom.us/j/95107432576 Janus is a god of duality: exits and entrances, endings and beginnings. He is the threshold, the doorkeeper, the ruler of transitions. All of humanity stands at the threshold of birth and death at this moment in time. We are being asked to attend the dying of the old, outworn paradigm that has ruled us for millennia, while seeding and germinating a new way of living. We are called to both hospice the dying world of oppression, greed and inequality and to birth the new world that awaits our co-creation. Cancer is the embodiment of the Great Mother, the Divine Feminine…She who brings forth, nurtures and protects all of life. We shall call upon Her this night to assist us in stepping into our new role as bot...
- January 14 @ 7:00 pm-8:30 pm
Chalice Choir Rehearsal
The Chalice Choir is a volunteer group that meets in the Parish Hall on Tuesday evenings from 7:00 to 8:30. This choir sings every other Sunday from a wide variety of choral anthems, most set in four parts: soprano, alto, tenor, and bass. Membership is open but limited. Please contact Susan Hotchkiss for more information.
- January 15 @ 12:00 pm
Order of Service Deadline
Please submit your information to the church office.
- January 15 @ 4:00 pm-5:00 pm
Meditation Group
The Meditation Group meets every Wednesday afternoon in the Avis Clay Parlor to practice quiet meditation. It is open to those new to meditation as well as experienced meditators. Contact: Holly Begley or Diane Reed
- January 16 @ 6:30 pm-8:30 pm
Handcrafters Group
Do you enjoy hand crafts such as knitting, crocheting, embroidery, needlepoint, quilting, etc.? We are resurrecting our hand crafting group. We gather once per month to work on our projects, offer support, and also make prayer shawls for folks in the congregation in need of comfort. Come experts and newbies (we can help teach you) and gather for handwork, snacks, and conversation. The Hand Crafters Group is meeting the third Thursday of every month from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. in the Avis Clay Parlor
- January 19 @ 10:30 am-11:30 am
Liberating Love
Rev. Michael Hall preaching These are times we feel beset by personal or social conditions. They leave us questioning: What am I to do? What is the meaning and purpose of my life, never mind 8 billion lives? Is there really anything meaningful that holds us together? If you are feeling the post-holiday blues or, worse still, a full-on existential crisis, make sure to join us this morning as we welcome former FUUSM member Michael Hall back to our pulpit. Rev. Michael F. Hall has been an ordained Unitarian Universalist minister since 2012. After serving the Keene, NH congregation for 12 years, he accepted a position as the contract minister of the UU Congregation of Franklin, NH. Michael is enjoying the ministry he shares with the congregation in Franklin, while having almost too much fun doing pulpit supply all over New England! Rev. Hall lives in Keene, NH, with his family, including three opinionated pets.
Current News
What Can We Do for Freedom?
Near the end of her December 29 Sunday worship service, Adrienne Williams asked the congregation, “What can we do, what can you do, for freedom? What do you think?” Here are the responses:
We can make a difference. Be there. Listen. Be awake.
Stick together. Bear witness. Support the most vulnerable.
Don’t panic based on what might happen. Watch what actually happens.
Take care of ourselves and those we love.
Keep our building strong so we have a place to gather in community and do the work.
Have humor. Be compassionate. Lift up our common values.
Don’t let hate take away the light and joy.
From the Parish Committee
Adjusting Our Priorities
Last August, when the Parish Committee (PC) began the church year by setting goals for 2024-2025, the top priorities were: (1) to integrate Rev. Beau into the church; (2) to address the need for major restoration of the building’s exterior; (3) to strengthen our committees; and (4) to have fun. The PC and the congregation have made progress on all of these goals during the past 4 months and this will certainly continue into 2025. But rapid changes in our social and political environment have significant implications for our church and our denomination. Protecting our church family and property is now a top priority for the PC, and supporting vulnerable people in our community and beyond becomes a top priority for our Minister, our Social Justice Team (SJT), and the UU Association.
The PC and Rev. Beau discussed these issues at length during our monthly meeting on December 18. Rev. Beau described resources available to UUs to help congregations prepare for challenging situations such as threats, vandalism, and violence. She outlined steps she is taking to work with other churches to re-build an Interfaith Coalition to strengthen our mutual safety and security. We will hear much more from Rev. Beau and from the SJT about these initiatives in the coming weeks.
The PC identified steps that can be taken to assure the safety and security of our building and its contents. We plan to ask the State Police to provide a threat assessment for the building. The Building and Grounds Committee will investigate security systems including cameras and keypad entrances. The SJT will coordinate another de-escalation training early in the new year. Rev. Beau will develop new content for the Wayside Pulpit (the small framed message board facing Nickerson Ave) to let the public know who we are and what we value, which is key to building support within the local community.The PC will continue to work on the other goals identified earlier, especially membership development, creating a system for digital file sharing and archiving, and policy updates. The next PC meeting will take place by Zoom on January 22, 2025, 6:30-8:00 pm. All members and friends are welcome to attend – please contact the church administrator (office@middleboro.org) or myself (president@uumiddleboro.org) if you would like to receive an agenda and a link to the Zoom meeting.
Minister’s Message
My Hope for You in the New Year
Joyce Rupp, adapted
I hope…
…the single most significant dimension of life is your relationship with the Spirit of Life
and Love, who never ceases to sing love songs to your soul.
…you daily find meaning, purpose, and vitality in all you do.
…you treasure your loved ones and let them know how precious they are to you.
…you make choices and decisions that reflect your truest self.
…you look in the mirror at least once a day and smile in happy amazement.
…you remember relationships are what count above all else, more than work or money,
or the material things we spend so much time tending.
…you live in an uncluttered manner, enjoying the freedom to be content.
…you keep your sense of humor when things don’t go as planned.
…you find adventure in each new day and marvel at the wonders of creation which
constantly present themselves to you.
…you never give up on yourself when others turn away or do not understand.
…you are attentive to the health of your body, mind, and spirit.
…you take risks and accept the growth-filled challenges as they come.
…you draw on your inner strength and resilience when you need it.
…you carry peace within yourself, and encourage it to slip into the hearts of others, so our
planet becomes a place where violence, division, and war are no more.
Wishing you all this and so much more…
With Great Love and Affection,
Rev. Beau
January Cash in the Plate
The Cash in the Plate for the first week of January will go to World Central Kitchen. The Cash in the Plate for the remainder of January will be donated to the Minister’s Discretionary Fund.
The World Central Kitchen (WCK) was founded in 2010 by José Ramón Andrés and his wife, Patricia, in the wake of the earthquake in Haiti. Cooking alongside displaced families in a camp, he was guided on the proper way to cook black beans the way Haitians like to eat them, mashed and sieved into a creamy sauce. It wasn’t just about feeding people in need. It was about listening, learning, and cooking side by side with the people impacted by the crisis. This is the real meaning of comfort food.
WCK uses the same approach wherever they operate. In Gaza, they have recently lost staff in yet another drone strike; the third in a year. Each time, they take a few days to grieve and regroup, then they’re back to cooking, serving and delivering food. Please give generously on this one-day collection for them.
December Cash in the Plate
The first week of December will be donated to the Boston Immigration Justice Accompaniment Network (BIJAN), with whom the Boston-based UU Justice Action team has been working.
BIJAN “is a community network of faith communities, individuals and other activist groups working to reduce the escalating harm of our immigration system in the current political context.”
“BIJAN provides accompaniment, which may include support in court or at ICE check-ins, legal referrals, fundraising for bond or legal fees, letters of support from the community, rides for families to visit loved ones in detention, and assistance with paperwork or bond payments. BIJAN can also help with housing, transportation, and other immediate needs of people released on bond who have no other resources in the community. BIJAN works closely with immigration justice and abolitionist organizations to support those impacted by the immigration system. BIJAN takes action only in response to requests from those in need of support.”
The Cash in the Plate for the remaining four weeks of December will be donated to the Minister’s Discretionary Fund.
From the Parish Committee
Coming Together to Preserve Our Church Building
Recent events remind us how important it is to protect what we value. In that spirit, we are preparing to launch a major project to renew the exterior shell of our church building before the aging roof and shingles lead to potentially expensive damage. The Building & Grounds Committee has done a thorough examination of the building, identified the necessary repairs, and outlined a 3-phase plan to complete the work efficiently. When the project is completed in 2027, the building will be safe and dry for many years to come.
The plans are not final, but the overall cost of this work is estimated in the range of $150,000 to $200,000. This is a challenge and an opportunity for members and friends of our church family to come together to protect and preserve our beautiful, sacred, and yes, quirky building for future generations. The Finance Committee has appointed a Fund Drive Team, headed by Norm Grenier and Rick Benard, to raise the money needed for the project. The Fund Drive will get underway in December and continue until February. Donations can be spread out over 3 to 5 years.
It’s important to understand that this essential renewal project will depend on contributions above the pledges that pay for our regular operating expenses. This special project Fund Drive is separate from our annual pledge drive, which will take place in March-April and will cover operating expenses for the coming fiscal year (July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2026).
The success of our mission, beginning with “to create and sustain a welcoming and caring community that embodies our shared UU values,” has always depended on the deep generosity of our members and friends. Numerous times in our history we have faced similar challenges, and we have always risen to the occasion. This is another such opportunity. The conflict, confusion, and suffering we see in the world today make clear the importance of coming together to keep our flame alive.
Thank You from The Tumminos
We received this lovely flower arrangement from the Tummino Family, thanking the whole church for organizing a beautiful service last Saturday. “It was perfect.”
Thank You!
Thank you to all who helped with the Outdoor Cleanup Work Party on October 22. We had beautiful weather, and many hands helped the cleanup to go smoothly. We have already used the space for our Halloween Bonfire. We appreciate the hard work and effort to clean this parcel of land so we can use it for outdoor activities. Well done!
Photos by Kelly Lownds
Samhain Ritual on October 28
Spirits ran high on Monday night as CUUPS celebrated the ritual of Samhain. We circled around an altar set with autumn leaves, marigolds, crows, glowing candles and mementos of our beloved dead.
Knowing the veil between this world and the other was thin, we invited the Ancestors to come close as we shared stories of those who had passed on, acknowledging their continued presence in our lives. A delicious potluck feast was enjoyed after the ritual. Many new friends showed up, and it was a joy getting to know each other better and share our different traditions.
Another gathering is planned for November in honor of Goddess Hecate. Check our website, Updates or social media for further details….Blessed be!
Minister’s Message
Every leaf speaks bliss to me
Fluttering from the autumn tree.
Emily Brontë
The Glory of Autumn
Rev. Beau Rivers
Autumn is such a magical time when the
trees beckon me to come outside and play.
Inviting me to dance with the leaves
as they fall gracefully from the trees…
Breathing in the musk of Autumn soil
I fling my arms wide with face to the sky and
twirl amid the swirl of leaves about my feet.
Feasting my eyes upon their radiant colors,
Each tree blazes against the azure sky.
I pause to bask in their brilliance as they
rival the sun, even on the darkest of days.
Each leaf is like the last kiss of summer…
Creating a blanket of leaves to keep me
warm beneath the downy snow of winter.
Each season offers a different
kind of beauty for us to savor.
When all the leaves have fallen, we
enter a time of rest and regeneration
When we tell the stories of our ancestors
from seasons past and germinate
new ideas to emerge from the soil
of our communal lives in the spring.
This is our dreamtime…
Dear Members and Friends,
What a pleasure it has been to meet with you during our cottage meetings! Your vital energy and creativity are an inspiration to me! I look forward to collating, prioritizing, and implementing our ideas in the new year.
If you haven’t met with me yet and would like to have a conversation, please text or email me to schedule a time to meet. I am available for office or home visits Wednesdays and Thursdays and phone or Zoom conversations on Fridays.
Since the stakes in this year’s presidential election are high, I want to remind us to take good care of ourselves and each other. If you are feeling stressed, turn off the television, walk in the beauty of nature, stay hydrated (it’s hard to be fearful and drink water at the same time!), watch a good movie, hug someone you love, and get plenty of sleep.
If the unthinkable happens, we will have a gathering at the church. If we still have a democracy after the election, there may be other concerns for us to consider. Either way, connect with something greater than yourself and hold fast to the belief that the power of love is greater than the love of power.
In This Together,
Rev. Beau
From the Parish Committee
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.
A common theme emerging from the cottage meeting discussions is the “inspiring fellowship of the church.” People sense in this church community an openness to new ideas, to diverse perspectives, and to personal and social transformation. As one member put it, we are “decent human beings you can associate with.” This widely shared appreciation is a good sign that we are succeeding in our mission “to create and sustain a caring and welcoming community.”
We are also, of late, bursting with energy, activity, and joy. The feeling is palpable in the worship service, children’s activities, and coffee hour every Sunday and in the many gatherings and events taking place throughout the week. This renewed enthusiasm brings with it an urge to project ourselves more clearly into our local community, to connect with people who are looking for what we offer and to welcome them into our family. We need to look for opportunities to draw people in. Membership development and community outreach are key goals for the coming year.
There is widely shared concern for the needs of those in our local community. We want our church to be of service to our neighbors and to the world. We recognize that we can achieve more when we work together toward social justice. For some of us, social justice activities are the reason we became UUs.
Importantly, many people have spoken about the inspiration they derive from weekly sermons and small discussion groups. Promotion of “spiritual growth without dogma or creed,” as we say in our mission statement, is one of our defining characteristics and one of the main reasons people choose to become UUs. “It’s great to come to a place and not be told the answers but to be challenged by the right questions.”
Five more cottage meetings remain on the schedule, most of them by Zoom (Cottage Meetings). There is still plenty of room on the sign-up list! You can sign up in person in the church parlor or contact Val Ortelt in the church office (office@uumiddleboro.org).
The next meeting of the Parish Committee (PC) will be held Wednesday, November 20, at 6:30 pm in the parish hall. The agenda will include a review of the cottage meetings, planning for a Committee Fair, and an initial discussion of the budget for FY26 (July 1, 2025-June 30, 2026). We will also hear updates from the Building & Grounds Committee on plans for major repairs to the roof and siding and from the Finance Team on raising the money to pay for those necessary repairs. PC meetings are open to all members of the congregation, and visitors are welcome.
4th Annual UU Road Rally deemed a great success!
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!
- First Place: Team Benard – Rick, Cindy, Sydney, Amelie
- Second Place: Team Plymouth – Mal Marvill, Helen Jones, Katie Allen, Sue Curtiss
- Third Place: Team Gunn/Sykes- Adrian, Nicole, Emmett, Eamon
The “Persevering Pumpkin Award” for finishing no matter what went to Team 7:
- Kim Correia, Kelly Lownds, Christine Hoyle and Patricia Thomas
“Well done” to all participants in what may have been the toughest course yet. And a huge “Thank You!” to the Music Committee for sponsoring this event year after year and to all the volunteers who worked to make this event a success:
Susan Hotchkiss; Bet Giddings; Andrea Priest; Val Ortelt; Stephen Larrett; Jayne Johnson. And thanks to those who just pitched in to get things set up and taken down and otherwise helped to make it all happen.
An ENORMOUS thank you goes to Ed Priest, our very own Music Man who, for all 4 years of this event, has provided the post-Rally music!
As a result of everyone’s efforts and generous donations, we expect to net over $800 for the UU!
Mark your calendars for the 5th Annual UURR targeted for Saturday, October 18, 2025!
Over & Out for now: John Mullen, fearless leader of the Road Rally!
