Starr King View
December 2009 Newsletter
Sunday Services - 9:30 a.m
December 6: “Taking Root”
The Rev. Sarah C. Stewart preaching
December 13: “The Sounds of Silence”
The Rev.
Sarah C. Stewart preaching
December 20: “Giving Gifts”
The Rev. Sarah C. Stewart preaching
December 24, 5:30 p. m.: Family Christmas Eve
service.
This service will celebrate
the wonder and mystery of the season with all ages. The service will
include Starr King's traditional candle lighting and will be followed by a
fellowship hour.
December 24, 9:30 p. m.: Contemplative Christmas Eve
service.
Come to hear readings from
the Bible and sing traditional Christmas carols. The service will
include Starr King's traditional candle lighting.
Worship
and Music
Please
come prepared to share your favorite books with the rest of the Fellowship.
Adult Ed Programs Sunday at 11:00
December 6: Reverend
Sarah Stewart, sermon discussion -“The Sounds of Silence.”
During
her sabbatical Sarah went on a three-day silent retreat. Come experience
some silence and discuss the place of quiet in our noisy world.
December 13: Bob and Jane Clay- An introduction to Our
Whole Lives for adults. See
article on page 11 for additional information.
December 20: Jamie Capach and Barbara Lambert –
Workshop #3 What Moves Us, The Human Heart, Margaret Fuller.
December 27: No
Adult Ed program
Pot luck supper, cookie swap and tree decorating!
Friday,
December 4 at 6:00 p.m.
Bring
a dish to share for supper and your own eating utensils.
If
you wish to join the cookie swap, bring two or three dozen Christmas cookies to
trade.
Materials
for making new decorations for the tree will be provided. There will also be decorations from
previous years ready to hang on the tree and enjoy again this year.
Bev Walker
In
Fellowship December
2009
The
Rev. Sarah C. Stewart
Welcome
back to the minister’s blog at starrkingfellowship.org! Or, should I say, the blog is happy to
be back. This will be a place to
find out what I’m thinking about and discuss spiritual issues. It will be a place to read my sermons
and comment on them. It will be a
place where I share the things I’m thinking about and invite you to think about
them, too. You can find the blog
at starrkingfellowship.org/ministerblog.
I will update the
blog about three times per week, and I will post my sermons there. But the true function of the internet
is not just to provide content for you to read, but also to invite your
discussion of that content. After
each post on the blog, there will be a space where you can leave your
comments. I look forward to making
this blog truly interactive.
Comments on a
blog are a discussion of a kind, and any civil discussion needs some ground
rules. I will not be formally
moderating the comments; in other words, you will not need to submit comments
to me before posting them. However, I will be reading comments daily, and I look forward to being
part of the larger conversation. I
also reserve the right to delete comments that don’t meet the civility
standards of the blog. Here are
some guidelines:
* Be
considerate. Be just as
considerate as if you were having a face-to-face conversation with the other commenters.
* No
profanity.
* No ad hominem
attacks. If you disagree with
someone, be polite and address the substance of their remark.
* Keep content
family-friendly. This is, in fact,
required by Starr King’s web policy.
This blog will be
a forum for fostering conversation within the fellowship. Although I will read comments
regularly, it is not a good platform for getting a message to me or being sure
to get a response. If you decide I
need to know something, or if you need to reach me, the best ways are through
my e-mail at sstewart@starrkingfellowship.org or on the phone at 536-8908.
I think this will
be fun. Enjoy the blog, and please
let me know what you think!
In fellowship,
Rev.
Sarah
RE Calendar
Date
|
Story Time
|
Creating Home
|
Neighboring Faiths
|
December 6
|
Little Drummer Boy
w/ Amy & Erica
|
Our Chalice
w/ Kim & Mark
|
Roman Catholicism
w/ Cappy
|
December 13
|
Hanukkah Story
w/ Stew & Barbara
|
At Home In a Barn
w/ Nancy & Jeanette
|
Roman Catholicism
w/ Cappy
|
December 20
|
Gingerbread houses for all
classes-more info to follow
|
||
December 27
|
No classes for any group
|
||
RE News
On December 6 all classes will be
starting downstairs for Children’s Chapel.
Our Senior High Youth Group is up
and running. The second meeting of the group will be on Sunday evening December
13 from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m.
On December 5 RE will again have a float in the Plymouth Parade. Thanks to the Woollies, we will be lit up with the use
of their generator. Thanks
also to Paul Tierney for the truck and trailer, thirty-six feet of it, to haul
all of us on! Parade starts at
5:00 p.m. Come out and see
the fun.
On December 12, RE will be hosting Present for Parents, an opportunity for parents to get some time to do
whatever is needed during this busy holiday time. This is available for all children ages three to twelve. Please call
Regina to reserve your spot as space is limited. We are offering it to SKUUF parents first but will
then open it to the community. Look for more information in this newsletter on
page 4.
Mary Crowell
Religious Education Program
I
hosted a wonderful event at SKUUF in mid October. Unitarian Universalist Directors of
Religious Education came from all over southern New Hampshire to see our new
space! I have been meeting with
the group every month to share ideas and support, but we always meet in Concord
since that is an easier drive for most. Last month I told them about our new RE space and asked if they would
consider making the journey to Plymouth and they said “yes”!
I
toured them through our colorful Nursery, the large classrooms and my private
office. Even showed off all our
storage space! These were DREs from
Portsmouth, Durham, Nashua and Manchester as well as Concord and Laconia. Thank you again for having the vision,
courage, money and energy to bring our new addition from dream to
reality!
Last year we had two church school classes and the Nursery. I wrote the lesson plans for both groups and it took the bulk of my SKUUF time. (I’m paid for 12 hours a week.) This year, due to an increase in numbers, we have three classes and the nursery. I am delighted to say
that two “seasoned” religious educators
have stepped forward to do the planning so I can concentrate on carrying out
the Program.
Amy
MacDonald is writing the lesson plans and gathering the supplies for “Story
Time”, our curriculum for the three and four year olds. They have been talking about what it
means to be thankful and what they are thankful for.
Cappy Hahn is coordinating the Neighboring
Faiths curriculum for our middle school students. Early last month eight students and four adults attended a
service at the Temple in Laconia.
Both
Amy and Cappy have served SKUUF as religious
education directors in the past. Of course I am in regular contact with them and support them as
needed. I also “hired” all the
teachers.
The RE Committee is always
looking for extra hands on their “special events” Sundays. Please let me know if you can help -
(usually the fourth Sunday of the month.)
Cindy
Spring
Religious
Education Director
Starr King Unitarian Universalist
Fellowship
is offering
Presents for Parents
on Saturday, December 12, 1:00 to 5:00 p.m.
This
program will allow parents of children (ages three to twelve years old) to have
their children enjoy supervised activities while parents have a few hours to
get ready for the busy holiday season.
Activities
will be held in the fellowship’s new religious education rooms and will include
movies, snacks, arts & crafts, general playtime and more. All activities
will be supervised by at least one adult and members of the fellowship’s youth
group (ages ten to fourteen).
This
program is open to the public and is free of charge. Donations will be accepted to support the fellowship’s
religious education programs. Parents or guardians who want to enroll children must RSVP by December 5
to the SKUUF office by calling 536-8908, or emailing admin@starrkingfellowship.org to leave a message. Please state the name and ages of all
children attending.
Signed permission slips will be required when dropping children off. Starr King Unitarian Universalist Fellowship is located on 101 Fairgrounds Road, Plymouth, NH 03264.
Attention Families
The
Holiday Season is upon us with it’s focus on
“getting.” Amid all the busyness,
are you looking for ways to help your children understand the importance of
giving to others who are less fortunate?
If
so, here are two suggestions for you ~
Supporting the Unitarian
Universalist Service Committee - On November 22 each family received a Guest at
Your Table box. Please put
the box on your table and remind the children about the UUSC and the good work
it does in the United States and around the world. (Visit their web site for more information.) “Feed” the box each day and bring it to
the service on December 20.
Delivering Holiday Baskets - On Saturday, December 19, the
Plymouth Community Closet will be looking for people to deliver almost 300
Holiday Baskets. This is a
wonderful way to help children “serve” their community. You would arrive at the Catholic Church
Parish Hall early Saturday morning, stack your vehicle with boxes of food, and
deliver them to the addresses you have been given. (A sheet of directions will be provided to each driver.) Sarah, our minister, has made this a
family Holiday tradition. They
begin the day with a special treat to put everyone in the holiday mood. Please contact Mimi Ford for more
information about this project.
Happy
Holidays to all of you,
Cindy
Spring
(For more information on these projects,
see page 7 and 8.)
Announcements:
Rev.
Sarah will be on vacation from Christmas Day through New Year's Day.
If you have a pastoral emergency during this time, you may contact the
office at 536-8908, and Regina will be able to reach Sarah
for you.
Comments from the
Former Cubby Hole
Now that we have all this new space, please tell Regina
Knowlton if you decide to move your existing meeting space. All meeting
locations are tracked on the SKUUF calendar which is very important so we can
prevent scheduling conflicts.
Regina Knowlton
Office Assistant
Office
Hours
Our
minister, Sarah Stewart, is in the office Tuesday through Thursday. You can reach her at: sstewart@starrkingfellowship.org. , or
536-8908.
Our
Office Assistant, Regina Knowlton, is in the office Monday through Friday from
9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Governing
Board Meeting
The Governing Board will meet on
Wednesday, December 9 at 5:00 p.m.
Committee
Chairs Meeting
Committee
Chairs will meet on Tuesday, December 15 at 5:00 p.m. at the Fellowship.
“From the Prez”…
Hello everyone,
It’s been a very interesting month
for me on many different levels. In the past month, I’ve been able to experience something new at
SKUUF. I volunteered to help teach
the ten to fourteen year old RE group in the Neighboring Faiths
curriculum. Christie Faella, Leslie Bryant, and I spent three weeks guiding the
students through their study of Judaism. I have really enjoyed spending time with this group of kids and getting
to know Christie, Leslie, and the children better.
On a personal level, it was nice
to be able to share my knowledge of Judaism from my childhood with them and
reconnect a bit with the religious and spiritual practices I grew up with. The kids and adult leaders were able to
visit Temple B’nai Israel in Laconia for a Friday night service. The people from the Temple were
extremely welcoming and it was a great experience for all. Even I learned a thing or two when we
were able to sit down with their Rabbi and ask her questions about Judaism. I have to say that I had some very warm
feelings about the experience, but importantly, I did feel a bit like an
outsider and I have never felt that way at SKUUF. Thank you to everyone that helps to make our religious and
spiritual community such a welcoming place.
The governing board continues to
work on things related to the building addition. In particular, we reviewed our building use policy and have
made some subtle changes to that policy that reflect that fact that we have
more space that might want to be used. The board will also continue to examine safety and security issues. Stay tuned for any policy changes that
might arise from those discussions.
To wrap up, I hope that everyone
had a meaningful Thanksgiving and has a joyful Holiday and New Year.
Eric Hoffman
SKUUF Finances Snapshot as of November 11, 2009
Fiscal Year to Date, Operating: Change
from Last Month
Income $ 50,952.03 +
$ 9,261.27
Expenses $ 51,271.67 + $ 14,655.07
Important Balances
Operating
Funds $ 16,775.33 - $ 2,883.31
Building
Funds** $
163,608.04 - $ 74,436.80
Endowment
Funds* $ 12,002.82 +
$ 472.16
This snapshot shows only selected funds. This is not a full accounting of assets
or liabilities. If you would like
more detailed information feel free to contact Nancy Chaddock, or me.
*These funds represent multiple
accounts grouped together.
** This includes the principal
from the new mortgage.
Accurately
submitted,
Mark
Becker
SKUUF 5 Year Strategic Plan
The Board and the Committee Chairs
are in the process of reviewing and updating the SKUUF Five Year Strategic
Plan. This plan was originally
written and accepted by the Fellowship in 2007. It is past due for an examination and review and in the
future we will endeavor to update it every year. It is important that the Fellowship at large have an
opportunity to provide their vision, their ideas, their desires and wishes into
the five year plan.
On January 10, 2010 we will use the Adult
Education period, following the service, as an opportunity for any and all
members and friends of the Fellowship to give their input to the Board and
Committee Chairs. More details
will follow in the January newsletter.
Paul Tierney
Social Justice—
December
Social Justice Outreach
Guest
at your Table, under the auspices of the Unitarian Universalist
Service Committee, is our Social Justice Outreach for December. GAYT has been a part of SKUUF for many years.
This year we want to increase awareness of the importance of the
organization by asking not only the children to contribute money in their
boxes, but also
asking the adults in our Fellowship to become more involved. Our
monetary support is vitally important.
The
Unitarian Universalist Service Committee is a leading voice for Social
Justice
around the world. Fair trade coffee, clean available water, climate change
are just a few of their current activities.
Cindy
and Sarah kicked off the drive on November 22. We will be asking for your
donations (boxes and checks) to be returned on December 20.
Thank you,
Mimi
Ford
Social
Justice Committee supports New Hampshire Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty
At a recent meeting the Social
Justice committee voted unanimously to contribute $100 from its SKUUF budget to
the New Hampshire Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty (NHCADP).
Presently a legislative
commission, composed of twenty-two New Hampshire citizens, is studying the death
penalty. They are meeting monthly,
usually on the first Friday of the month, will be holding hearings, and will
deliver their report to the legislature in December 2010. The Death Penalty Study Commission is
chaired by Walter Murphy, a retired judge of the Superior Court, who used to
practice law in Plymouth.
The New Hampshire Coalition to
Abolish the Death Penalty is working hard to make sure that those opposed to
the death penalty are encouraged and have the opportunity to make their views
heard. Twice a month on the second
and fourth Friday of the month, a vigil against the death penalty is held in
Concord from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. Your attendance at the commission meetings is encouraged.
The website for NHCADP is www.nodeathpenaltynh.org Go there to read more about why the death
penalty is both ineffective as a deterrent and immoral. You can sign up for regular emails
updating you on the workings of the Commission, and keeping you posted on
activities sponsored by NHCADP
Martha Copithorne
For the Social Justice Committee
Social Justice Committee Considers
draft of UUA Statement of Conscience
In September an excellent Adult Ed
session was led by Betty Ann and Bill Trought, on the latest draft of the
Unitarian Universalist Association’s Statement of Conscience titled Peacemaking. What is a UUA
Statement of Conscience? It
generally starts as a study/action issue for three years before it becomes a
final draft for adoption and implementation at General Assembly. Stated simply, this social
witness process is the method by which the Unitarian Universalist Association
comes to understand and act on the social issues of our times.
Now every couple of years the
Social Justice Committee conducts a SKUUF “brainstorming session” with members
and friends of the Fellowship, with the goal of selecting the one or two social
justice issues the Fellowship would like to focus on. This coming winter the Committee will be
inviting you to join us again for this process. It will be a potluck and will include a
celebration of where we are in our efforts to reduce carbon in our lives. You will be hearing more
about this winter event.
But where does the above Statement
of Conscience fit in? Well, it could, of course, become one of our major focus issues. Whether it becomes so
or not, however, it is clear that this particular Statement of Conscience on
Peacemaking has already generated a good deal of discussion by the members and
friends of SKUUF. Therefore, the Committee encourages everyone who has not already done
so, to read the latest draft of this statement. It may be found at the UUA website at www.uua.org/social justice/issues process/index.shtml. Copies of the Statement will also be made
available in the Foyer at the Meetinghouse.
By February 1, 2010, twenty-five
per cent of congregations need to approve placing this Draft Statement on the
final agenda for the next General Assembly. Comments to change the statement must also be
submitted with Congregational authority. The importance of the subject matter is such that the Committee
believes polling our membership on the acceptability of this Statement would be
worthwhile. It should
also be instructive to SKUUF delegates at next year’s General Assembly. So far, the debate over the
Statement at General Assembly has revealed no consensus.
The Committee seeks your input, as it moves ahead to
conduct further SKUUF discussion and perhaps action to poll our membership.
Thank
you,
Nancy
Chaddock
Social
Justice Committee
COMMUNITY
CLOSET
HOLIDAY
BASKETS
Are
you ready for an adventure? Delivering Holiday Baskets (big boxes) is
great fun. What you need is a friend, or a partner,
or an entire family to arrive at the Catholic Parish Hall on
December 19 in a vehicle, preferably full of gas. Arrive sometime
after 8:30 a.m. You will decide how many boxes you and your car can deliver
and where you want to go. Quentin Blaine, or George Smith, or Gail Smith,
or Jules
Doner or other familiar faces will be among those
folks who will help you along the way. You will be given written directions to the houses where you will
drop off the boxes.
Please ask for more information from Mimi Ford.
Mimi Ford
HELP!
Volunteer help is needed urgently at the Community Closet Financial Assistance Office at Whole Village for one day a month Thursday, 9:00 to 12:00 noon. Contact Mimi Ford for more information.
This
event sponsored by the
UU Church
in Manchester
Awakening the Dreamer
Changing the Dream
We want to leave our children a better world. Yet the collective dream of progress
through endless growth and rampant consumption has become a nightmare that is
threatening life on earth.
The purpose of
the Awakening The Dreamer symposium is to bring forth an environmentally
sustainable, spiritually fulfilling, socially just
human presence on this planet. It
is a live interactive group experience led by trained volunteers using powerful
documentary modules to reveal where we are and how we got here and then to
illuminate what is possible for the future. As Archbishop Desmond Tutu said “Every single one of us can
do something that will make a difference.”
The Awakening The Dreamer
symposium will be offered at the Unitarian Universalist Church in Manchester on
January 10, 2010, from 12:30 to 5 p.m. Suggested donation (sliding scale) is $15 for adults and $5 for
students. Register by Jan 8 online at awakeningthedreamer.org or by contacting
Mary Till at mlt145@comcast.net. For more information, call Mary at 603-203-1961.
Circle
Dinners
These dinners are a great way to
get to know one another. The
dinners are strictly a social event and are lots of fun.
There is still time to volunteer
for hosting a December dinner. Also, looking
for hosts for January and February. Please contact Sue Appleton if you
are interested.
Suzanne Appleton
Membership Committee
Story Time Books Needed for
Nicaragua!
Over
past years we have sent thousands of small books written in Spanish to the
children in one of Managua’s poorest neighborhoods. Many of you have discovered how easy it is to make a
donation in the name of family or friends or as part of your own holiday
sharing. We will give you a simple
gift card to send with your holiday greetings to acknowledge the donation made
in your loved one’s name.
In
the last two years we have purchased a number of children’s picture books that especially lend
themselves to reading aloud, as well as a few adult “How To” books. Last year our box included two new
beautiful picture atlases. We hope
to continue this pattern so that the women can share a regular story time for
the children when they gather for meetings, soy food preparation, etc. Also, we have a number of storybook
pairs, books available in English and Spanish. If you have children or grandchildren in your life, you may
want to give an English language book to your child and make a gift of the
Spanish language edition in their name.
We
will also send a cash donation for book purchases in Managua. This allows us to support their
publishing industry, a local store and the children, all through one
project. In addition, we are happy
to forward Spanish language children’s books you may have on your shelves. If you have questions, please ask one
of the committee members: Margaret Salt or Gigi Estes. Extra helpers are welcome. Remember, you may write your check in
this or the coming tax year, whichever is better for your purposes. We will be collecting money through
January 30 again this year.
This
project is coordinated through the Women In Action program, and the books are
delivered by one of the delegations which travels to
Nicaragua in the spring. Coordinators, Ana Narvaez and Michael Boudreau, have
told us repeatedly how happy the children (and adults) are to have the books
which we have sent. There are now
large shelves in the new community building, and we know this year’s collection
will be used on those shelves to add to the small community resource
library. We were honored at our
recent visit to learn that the book room has been named for our Share-a-Book
project.
Margaret Salt
Eating
Healthy in Our Economy
One good place for budget cutbacks
is in the food arena. Healthy
eating can sometimes be very compatible with budget cutbacks. Advice includes:
• Prepare more of
your own food.
Make as much as you
can from scratch because the prepackaged foods are often the most expensive and
least healthy for you and your family. Don’t forget to have each family member pack lunch as this is another
great way to decrease costs while avoiding processed food. Make coffee at home and carry it to
work with you. Coffee shops are
too expensive and designed to get you to buy unhealthy additions like those
famous egg sandwiches or donuts.
• Have a plan at
the supermarket.
Don’t go to the
grocery store hungry and go with a list. Remember the store’s layout and the
food packaging is designed to get you and your kids to buy. A full stomach and
a list can help you stay on track. Save yourself a hassle by avoiding the TV
commercial kid’s aisles filled with colorfully wrapped crackers, cookies, candy
and sugared cereals. Generally
what you really need is in outer aisles. Begin educating your kids that most stuff
in TV commercials are not what should be eaten as too
expensive and not healthy.
• Take advantage
of seasonal produce.
Produce that’s
in-season is going to be a little bit cheaper than off-season produce. Try not to buy those off-season fruits
and vegetables from “far away” as they will be expensive, usually have less
nutrition, and transportation doesn’t help the environment. Also, when buying perishables, make
sure you’re only buying what you’re going to consume. If it's on special but
you buy more than you’ll consume (unless you freeze or preserve), you haven’t
really saved any money.
• Stockpile
non-perishables. Stock up on
canned foods (or if a freezer, preferably frozen food) when they’re on sale.
Buying food in bulk is good if it doesn’t spoil before you use it or if looking
for non-perishable items.
• Buy inexpensive
sources of needed nutrients.
READ LABELS! Try to
reduce saturated fats, carbohydrates, sodium and sugar. Eliminate all sugar
drinks including fruit drinks. Do
not buy bottled water. If you don’t
like your water, fill old bottles at a friend’s house or public spring. Reduce
meat, poultry, pork and fish consumption, no more than twice a week per class
is more than enough particularly for beef. Avoid processed sandwich meats
(PB&J makes a great sandwich if only use two flat tablespoons of PB). Look
for vegetable protein substitutes. Beans are a very inexpensive source of
protein and fiber, and very versatile. There are many varieties of beans, and
you can do many things with them. Check your cookbook or on-line for non-meat
recipes. Popcorn and oatmeal are inexpensive grain options, and nonfat dry milk
is a cheap source of dairy and a great thing to have on hand. It’s inexpensive,
and it’s got shelf life. You just mix it up when you need it. Look for whole
grain breads to increase nutrition and fiber.
There are many other
suggestions, but you get the drift. Generally you and your family are eating far more calories than your
body needs and so would benefit from reduced consumption. Move away from meat. Eat as many whole
grains, fruits and vegetables as possible each day. Try serving on smaller plates, bowls and tall slim glasses
to assist in reducing consumption.
Good luck this is a
process not an immediate conversion. Save $$ and be healthy.
Betty Ann Trought
Our Whole Lives
for Adults
Our Whole Lives is a series of
workshops providing an overview of many aspects of human sexuality. It can provide a time to learn about an
extraordinarily rich and complex area of human behavior, an opportunity to
better understand sexuality and self, and a space for growth beyond present
limits and concerns. Leaders and
participants who invest the necessary time and energy will realize great
reward.
The
Our Whole Lives series begins with an age-appropriate education for Grades K-1,
and then continues with Grades 4-6, 7-9, 10-12, young adults (18-35) and
adults. Sexuality is
presented as a good, creative force with enormous potential to enrich as well
as to generate life. Some of the
ideas on which these workshops are based include the following: 1) every person
is entitled to dignity and self-worth and to his/her own attitudes and beliefs
about sexuality; 2) Every individual has the right to accurate information
about sexuality and to have his/her questions answered; 3) it is our right and
obligation to make responsible sexual choices that enhance the expressions of
love, commitment, delight, and pleasure; 4) individuals of all ages, of
different races, backgrounds, income levels, physical and mental abilities, and
sexual orientations must have equal value and rights, and 5) romantic and sexual attractions to both genders, same
gender, or the other gender are all natural in the range of human sexual
experience.
There
can be as many as fourteen sessions in the adult program but often adults just
cannot seem to meet that many times! Most often, a participant survey and group discussion at the first
meeting assist in determining the length and frequency of meetings and topics
to be covered. When a group includes participants of different ages, genders,
gender identities, sexual orientations, and life experiences, the experience is
particularly rich for everyone. At
this point in developing the Adult OWL program at Starr King Unitarian
Universalist Fellowship and Plymouth Congregational, United Church of
Christ, young adults and adults will meet together as one.
Programming
will begin in January 2010, day and time to be determined. Because of prior commitments of the
facilitators, it will not be possible to be on the first and third Tuesdays or
first and third Sundays, in the evening, or immediately after the worship
services at either Starr King or PCUCC.
Jane and Bob Clay
SKUUF Men’s Group
On November 15 the SKUUF Men’s
Group welcomed Scott Merrill, philosophy adjunct at Plymouth State
University. Scott shared his
dissertation interests which coincided with the topic
of the evening, namely ‘gift giving’ and it’s origins. An interesting evening all
around!
The SKUUF men’s group meets on the
first and third Sunday of each month at SKUUF at 6:00 p.m. Co-leaders are Bob Clay, George Maloof, and Bill Trought.
George Maloof
Remember
to wear your Nametag.
It
helps Everyone.
Our
Favorite Books
(As
space allows, each month we list some of the books mentioned
at our annual Book Sharing service held at the end of each year. Join our December 27 Book sharing service so we can have a new list of
books to recommend next year.)
The
Granite Landscape: a natural history of America’s mountain domes from Acadia to
Yosemite by Tom Wessels
Activities Committee
We welcome your suggestions.
Outdoor Activities.
We
have now had two monthly hikes: one to Stinson Mountain in October, one November 15
that Nancy Chaddock and Mitch led along the Heritage trail from Profile Falls
to the remains of the original Hill Village. Participation has increased substantially: it seems that the
Sunday afternoon time works best. Forrest Seavey took the accompanying photos.
Our
next event will be a hike along the Sculptured Rocks Road in Groton on Sunday,
December 13, departing SKUUF at noontime. To ensure timely notification of any changes, or for
any questions, please e-mail Mitch. He’ll enroll you in the SKUUF Outdoor
Activities mailing list. This will allow timely notification without resorting
to SKUUF-wide e-mails.
We
intend to continue monthly events through winter, on boots, snowshoes or skis;
and welcome venue and event suggestions.
No
Meeting of the Activities Committee in December.
Phyllis
Rockwell and Mitch Manseau
Activities
Committee Co-chairs
A Gift for You:
Awakening Peace and
Relieving Stress with Yoga
Taking time for ourselves is often challenging especially during the
holidays. A yoga practice
offers you time to slow down, release tension, and find your inner source of
peace and calm.
Our December Saturday morning classes will focus on Yoga for Self
Care. In the spirit of giving, I
present this gentle and restorative series that you may experience calm amidst
this season’s activity. Free
classes will be held in the SKUUF Fellowship Hall on Saturday December 5, 12,
and 19 from 8:30 – 9:45 a.m. Bring a mat and wear comfortable clothing. Space is limited; please reserve your place by
contacting Darlene.
Darlene
Nadeau
Fundraising Committee
George Maloof, chair of fundraising, is currently seeking
musically talented individuals to play at our Spring contra dance. If you play the violins/fiddle, guitar, accordion, keyboard or
the like and are interested, please email me. Or if you know of someone who would be willing to
donate their time to this endeavor please let me know.
We need to start planning now as it will
take some to get a group together and ready to play. Hopefully, Byron Ricker will again be the caller. He might want to sit in on some
practice sessions.
The spring contra dance will have
a dessert menu rather than a full buffet. Volunteers for making desserts will also be appreciated. Email correspondence will be
fine.
George Maloof
Thank you Mitch !
Nancy Chaddock thanks Mitch Manseau for launching a hiking group as part of the SKUUF
Activities Committee. She joined Mitch and Bill Trought for a hike up Stinson Mountain in Rumney on October 31.
The last time Nancy climbed Stinson was forty years ago
with her Dad. The balsams now growing on top of Stinson block some of the view that
Nancy remembers, but the most dramatic view looking down toward Plymouth and
further south to Lake Winnipesaukee on the horizon is still unobstructed and
beautiful to behold.
Mitch is an excellent hiking leader, trained as he is by
the AMC to wait a few minutes here and there for folks like Nancy whose
mountain climbing experiences are not as frequent as they used to be. And Nancy’s thanks also
extend to Bill for waiting with Mitch.
News Notes
Nevin Scrimshaw attended two back to
back Scientific Meetings in Bangkok, Thailand in mid October and received an
award at each. One was a
designation as a “Living Legend in Nutrition.”
On October 23 Mary and Nevin attended the Installation of Susan Scrimshaw as Presdent of Sage College in Troy and Albany, New York. Nevin marched in the academic procession
in representation of his undergraduate alma mater, Ohio Wesleyan.
In mid November Nevin opened the Latin American Nutrition Congress in
Santiago, Chile.
On November 9, Senator Jeanne Shaheen presented Roger Aldrich with four medals. The presentation took place at the New
Hampshire Veterans Home in Tilton after a Veterans’ Day event at the home in
which residents were thanked for their service and sacrifice.
Roger had given up all hope of
receiving his medals since the records of his service were destroyed in a fire
at the Records Center in St. Louis. He received the American Campaign medal, the European-African-Middle
Eastern Campaign Medal and the Silver Star Attachment, the WWII Victory Medal,
a lapel button for honorable service, and a marksman badge and rifle bar.
Worship and Music
Sunday readers for December and
January are:
Gigi Estes—December 6
Betty Ann Trought—December
13
Bill Trought—December 20
Janet Doner—December
24
Marcia VanderMast—December
24
Danni Simon—January 3
Bill Trought—January 10
Jules Doner—January
17
Margaret Salt—January 24
Barbara Lambert—January 31
Community
Closet
Needs
Our Help
Remember, the Community Closet can
always use our help. There is a
basket in the foyer for your non-breakable food contributions. You can drop off canned or boxed goods
anytime.
Thank
you.
Play Bridge Thursday
Afternoons at SKUUF
If
you are a bridge player interested in the Thursday afternoon bridge game at
Starr King Fellowship, please see Anna Wilken.
Newsletter Deadline
The
deadline for the January Newsletter is Sunday, December 20. Please send all items, committee
reports, notice of events and activities to Barbara Avery.
Barbara
Avery
Starr King View
Minister: Rev. Sarah Stewart - sstewart@starrkingfellowship.org
Office Administrator: Regina Knowlton - admin@starrkingfellowship.org
Office: (603) 536-8908
Website—www.starrkingfellowship.org
Pres.: Eric
Hoffman
Vice Pres.: Paul Tierney
Treasurer: Nancy Chaddock
Secretary: Amy MacDonald
Trustees:
Marcia VanderMast
Gail
Smith
Don
Crowell




