Starr King View

January 2010 Newsletter

Sunday Services - 9:30 a.m

January 3: “What God Has Joined Together"
The Rev. Sarah C. Stewart preaching.
January 10: “After the suicide of a Loved One ”
Worship and Music service with Marcia VanderMast
January 17: “Singing Our Faith”
The Rev. Sarah C. Stewart preaching
January 24: “We Covenant Together”
The Rev. Sarah C. Stewart preaching
January 31: “Paradise Found”
The Rev. Sarah C. Stewart preaching

  

 

 Adult Ed Programs Sunday at 11:00

 

January 3: Rev. Sarah Stewart - sermon discussion. A Conversation on the State of Civil Rights in Our State and Our Country. Unitarian Universalist congregations across New Hampshire are celebrating legal same-sex marriage in our state.  She will be officiating at one such marriage later this month.  Yet there are still challenges for same-sex couples, including unfair military policies, unequal marriage laws in many states, and the federal Defense of Marriage Act.  

 

January 10: Paul Tierney - Where Do We Come From?  Where Are We Going? See Rev.  Sarah Stewart’s column on page 2.

 

January 17: Committee Meetings (No Adult Ed)

 

January 24: (10:45 – 12:00) Jamie Capach and Barbara Lambert, Workshop #4 What Moves Us -Sophia Lyon Fahs’ Theology of Religious Naturalism. Fahs explored five basic emotional urges and needs she believed were foundational to the religious experiences of liberal faith: (1) an instinctive urge to keep alive and avoid death; (2) wonderment; (3) love and the dread of being alone; (4) the emotional need to resolve conflicting emotional impulses in an ordered way; and (5) the basic emotional need for idealized selves as heroes and/or as divinity.

 

January 31  Sam Miller – Plymouth, Transition Town - Let’s begin a discussion on local strategies for adapting to climate change and peak oil, and how SKUUF can contribute.  Local resilience, taking the forms of reskilling, an Energy Descent Action Plan (EDAP), and Community Supported Agriculture (CSA), seems to be the way to a durable future.  There are no global prescriptions for how to do this -- each community must find its own way -- but close cooperation between neighbors and allies is essential.  How do we begin Transition Town Plymouth?

 

  

 

 

In Fellowship                                                                                                  January 1020

The Rev. Sarah C. Stewart

 

            “Where are we going?  What are we?  Where do we come from?”

            We sang these words, written by artist Paul Gaugin and hymnist Brian Tate, in a hymn on the Sunday before Thanksgiving.  The words have been resonating with me ever since.  They are with me as I think about what’s next for our congregation.  Who are we?  Where do we come from?  Where are we going?

            It is time for us, as a congregation, to consider once again our mission together as a community.  This coming year, I will be leading a process for all of us to come together to shape our future.  We will tell our stories, sharing the times when we have felt most alive and excited about our place in the fellowship.  We will listen to one another.  We will dream dreams of what we can do together.  We will find common themes in what we share, and out of these shared values will come our mission as a congregation.  I hope that we will have a new mission statement to consider and adopt at our annual meeting in May.

            This process will be based on two assumptions.  First, I assume that our future will emerge if we share stories together about our past as a congregation.  This need not be the distant past; even our newest members and friends have memories and stories to share.  Secondly, I assume that we will build on strengths we already have as a congregation.  By talking together we will discover what we already do well, and that will lead us into our mission together.

            Come to the adult education session on Sunday, January 10, to begin the conversation.    And come again to the service on January 24 to deepen it.  At these two events, we will share with one another our answers to deep questions about our past and our future. Who are we?  Where are we going?  You will have an opportunity to share your stories and listen to the stories of others. The more of us involved in creating our future, the better it will be.

            In fellowship,

            Rev. Sarah

 

 RE Calendar

 

Date	Story Time	Creating Home	Neighboring Faiths
January 3	Kwanzaa Flag with Amy and Jason	Animal Homes	Catholicism
January 10	The Little Engine that Could with Stew and Barbara	The Chalice as a Symbol of Unitarian Universalism	Catholicism
January 17	Snowy Day with Deb and Jamie	The Ritual of Walking the Labyrinth	Catholicism
January 24	Yoga with Darlene		Trip to WPCR radio station with Jay Apicelli
January 31	Group activity with all groups together

 

RE News

A huge Thank-you and Congratulations to all who worked on the float for the parade.  With all the hard work and fun we were awarded second place in our division.  Great job and what fun we had.  Special Thanks to Paul Tierney for the use of his trailer and for driving during the parade.  To the Woollies for the use of their generator so we could see all our wonderful decorations, and lastly to all the participants who came out in the snow to ride the float.

 

Thank-you to Darcy Hoffman for putting together all the gingerbread houses for all of our youth to decorate.  Fun was had by all and I think that more decorations ended up on the houses than in the kids…maybe!

            Mary Crowell         

 

 

 

 

  

Religious Education Program

 

Last month I mentioned Amy MacDonald and Cappy Hahn, our two lead teachers.  This month I wanted to acknowledge all of the regular teachers. With three classes and the Nursery, we needed a lot of volunteers this year!

 

Carolyn Towne is our paid Nursery Care-giver.   She is assisted by Nancy Crowell.  Substitutes for the Nursery are Allison Browne, Mary Crowell, Connie Maatta and Diana Pamplin.

 

The teaching team for our  three and four year olds has some “experienced folks” like Stew Weldon and Amy, and lots of first time teachers; Jason and Erica Anderson, Jamie McKinnon, Deb Casale and Barbara Avery.  Ruby Weldon is the classroom assistant.

 

The Creating Home Class also has a mixture of old and new teachers.  Nancy Dowey, Kelli Thompson, Mark Casale and Kim Batchelder all taught last year.   Sue Brothers is teaching for the first time, and Jeannette Bilodeau, who co-led the Coming of Age Class last year, has joined this team.   Dorothy Crowell is their assistant.

 

The Middle School group, led by Cappy, has a larger team due to the curriculum and the many Field Trips.  Leaders for this group are Quentin Blaine, Bill Trought, Whitney Howarth, Daryl Browne, Jon Maatta, Mary Joyce, Christie Faella, Leslie Bryant and Eric Hoffman. Bill, Jon, Whitney and Daryl all worked with this group last year.

 

Belinda Phillips and I are co-leading the Youth Group for our older teens.  Unfortunately, due to snow and busy schedules, we have only met once so far.  Beginning in January, we are hoping to meet twice a month.

 

When you see these folks at SKUUF, please thank them for the time and energy they are giving to our children and youth.

 

           

            Cindy Spring

            Religious Education Director

 

 

 

 “From the Prez”…

           

Hello everyone,

 

As I write this column, I’m looking forward to spending the holiday season with family and friends.  Every year I get to travel to the Adirondacks and get off the grid (almost) and spend some time just relaxing.  I hope that each of you also get a chance to have some time during the cold winter season to sit by the wood stove with a good book and good friends.

 

The governing board will be spending the New Year working on several items including the process for developing our new mission statement and a covenant.  At our December board meeting we decided to form a Personnel committee to work on developing a set of policies for our employees.  Marcia VanderMast and I will be working to develop a charge to the committee. After which, the board will work with the Nominating Committee to identify a committee chair and appoint a Personnel Committee this Spring.  We’ll also be working with the budget and finance committee on the drafts for next year’s budget.  As you can see, it will be quite busy.

 

Finally, I’d like to take this opportunity to remind everyone to please continue to make contributions to their capital campaign pledges.  Remember, even though our building addition is complete, we’re only in the second year, out of three, of our capital campaign.  The reason we’ve been able to complete construction by the middle of the second year is that several members and friends have given short term loans to the fellowship to allow us to pay our construction costs.  Your continued support of the capital campaign through your pledges is still very much needed.  Thank you to everyone that has supported our building addition.

 

      Eric Hoffman

 

 

 

 

SKUUF Finances Snapshot as of December 17, 2009

 

Fiscal Year to Date, Operating:                                     Change from Last Month                                                

                        Income          $ 66,339.04                                   + $   15,387.01                                                                              

                        Expenses         $  64,426.62                                + $   13,154.95                                                                  

 

Important Balances

                   Operating Funds    $    18,422.02                     +  $   1,646.69                               

                   Building Funds**               $    96,193.53                     -  $   67,414.51      

                   Endowment Funds*          $    12,004.37                     + $             1.55                   

 

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

 

 

 

 

Fundraising Committee

 

            The Christmas wreath fundraising netted us $879.00 profit.  Thanks to Forrest and et al for making this yet another successful year!

           

            Marilyn Ashley has been added to the fund raising committee.  Thank you Marilyn for volunteering.  We are seeking to expand the committee so if any one would like to be a part of this just let me know.

            George Maloof

             

 

 

 

 

Worship and Music

 

Sunday readers for January and February are: 

 

 

Danni Simon—January 3

Bill Trought—January 10

Jules Doner—January 17

Margaret Salt—January 24

Barbara Lambert—January 31

 

Robert Gannett—February 7

Leslie Livingstone—February 14

Darlene Nadeau—February 21

Darlene Nadeau—February 28

 

 

 

 

Social Justice—

 

January Community Outreach

Pemi-Valley Habitat for Humanity

 

Habitat for Humanity International (HFHI) is a non-profit Christian organization whose goal is to eradicate poverty housing worldwide.   HFHI seeks to eliminate poverty housing and homelessness from the world, and to make decent shelter a matter of conscience and action.  Habitat invites people of all backgrounds, races and religions (or lack thereof) to build houses together in partnership with families in need.

 

Habitat for Humanity's work is accomplished at the community level by affiliates -- independent, locally run, non-profit organizations such as Pemi-Valley Habitat for Humanity (PVH).  Each affiliate coordinates all aspects of Habitat home building in its local area (fund-raising, building site selection, family selection and support, house construction, mortgage servicing, volunteers, and church relations).  PVH works in partnership with economically disadvantaged people in the Plymouth, New Hampshire area to improve the condition in which they live.   PVH has served Plymouth and surrounding towns (Ashland, Bridgewater, Bristol, Campton, Dorchester, Groton, Hebron, Holderness, New Hampton, Plymouth, Rumney, Thornton, Warren, and Wentworth) since 1985, assisting twenty-three families.  PVH's last build was completed in May of 2008.  Our current 2009 build started on August 7 and will continue through early December, to be completed by the end of year 2009.

 

In addition to the home building efforts, PVH has recently added a new community service opportunity by opening a “ReStore” for construction materials.  Habitat ReStores are retail outlets where used and surplus building materials are sold at a fraction of normal prices.  Proceeds from ReStores help local affiliates fund the construction of Habitat houses within their communities. Materials sold by Habitat ReStores are tax deductible donations from building supply stores, contractors, demolition crews or from individual homeowners.   In addition to raising funds, ReStores help the environment by re-channeling good usable materials into house building rather than disposing of them into landfills.

 

      Leslie Bryant

 

Social Justice Potluck Vegetarian Dinner

            Don’t miss the Social Justice Potluck Vegetarian Dinner on Friday, January 22, at 6:00 p.m. at SKUUF.  Bring a vegetarian dish to share and the recipe for your dish.  If you have another favorite vegetarian dish, please bring that recipe too.

            After a delicious dinner, there will be a brainstorming session to find a direction for the Social Justice Committee in 2010.

            Mimi Ford

 

 

UUA Statement of Conscience:  Peacemaking

At the end of October our Fellowship received a notice from David May, Chair of the UUA Commission on Social Witness.   The notice invites us to participate in an online poll that will determine whether to admit a revised Draft Statement of Conscience on Peacemaking to the Final General Assembly (GA) Agenda for 2010.    At least twenty-five per cent of congregations must participate in this poll by February 1 for the Statement to appear on this upcoming GA Agenda.   If the Draft Statement does make it to the Agenda, congregational delegates to GA from SKUUF and from congregations around the country will have opportunity to listen to debate at GA and decide if the Draft Statement is to be approved or rejected.

 

This Draft Statement has been the subject of considerable interest and conversation at SKUUF.    The SKUUF Social Justice Committee has made the following plans to enable the members of SKUUF to determine if this Draft Statement on Peacemaking should be debated at GA in 2010:  a ballot box will be placed in the Foyer during the first four Sundays of January to enable you to cast your opinion: “yes,” “no,” or “abstain.”    Only members of the Fellowship can vote.   We will need at least forty-one members which is thirty per cent of our membership to vote (SKUUF’s official quorum for most issues), and a simple majority of those voting in the affirmative, to enable SKUUF to be one of the congregations moving this Draft Statement on Peacemaking forward to the 2010 GA Agenda.  Copies of the Draft Statement are available for your review in the Foyer.    We urge you to vote.   If you have any questions concerning this Draft Statement, the process used by the Unitarian Universalist Association to understand and act on social issues, or the relationship of SKUUF action to this process, please ask one of the members of the Social Justice Committee.

 

Nancy Chaddock

 

Be a District Chalice Lighter!

 

January is “Chalice Lighter” month in our Northern New England UUA District.    Nancy Chaddock is our representative for this important District program.   Years ago, when SKUUF was just getting established as a Congregation, it was the first recipient of a Chalice Lighter grant from our District.    That grant to SKUUF came at a crucial time, filling an important financial need for our Fellowship.

 

The District Chalice Lighter Program was newly launched a couple of years ago.  Here’s how it works:  Individuals agree to be a Chalice Lighter by filling out an Enrollment Form and sending it to the District Office.  Congregations apply for a Chalice Lighter Grant for building projects including energy efficiency and accessibility, adding professional staff, or Small Growth Grants for growth initiatives.   The Chalice Lighter Committee reviews applications and selects the next recipient(s).   A Call Letter and Donation Form are sent to all known Chalice Lighters describing the chosen project(s) and asking for a donation of $15 or more.  Chalice Lighters return their Donation Forms with their chosen donation to the District Office.  All the money donated is then sent to the selected congregation.   The maximum number of Calls per year is three!

 

As a member of the District Chalice Lighter Committee, Nancy has learned how important this program is to the growth of UU congregations.   And there is something very special that comes to the members of the recipient congregation when they realize that the Grant they are receiving has been contributed by individual members of congregations located in Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont.

 

If you are already signed up as a Chalice Lighter, Nancy thanks you!   If you would like to sign up or learn more about the program, please contact her.

 

            Nancy Chaddock

 

 

NH Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty

            Come join our vigil against the death penalty this Friday.  We meet on the second and fourth Fridays of each month from noon to 1:00 p.m. at the State House to bear witness against the death penalty.  Come for the full hour or for as long as you can.  Bring a friend!

 

CASA: Volunteers Needed

 

The Social Justice Committee plans from time to time to bring to you in this newsletter opportunities to volunteer in the community:

 

Giving New Hampshire’s

Abused Children a Voice in Court

Ordinary Citizens Doing Extraordinary Things.

 

The New Year often brings resolutions and new beginnings.  Abused and neglected children need more men and women to advocate for their best interests and provide them permanency in their lives.  What better way to better oneself and our community, than to provided these children the voice they deserve in court?  CASA of NH is in particular need of volunteers in Plymouth to take the cases they are appointed in regional family courts.

 

CASA volunteers are ordinary citizens that come from a variety of professional and life experiences; teachers, scientists, managers, trades occupations, professors, stay-at-home parents, CEO’s, sales professionals, retirees, etc. The court appoints these volunteers to represent children in abuse/neglect cases.  Their responsibilities include visiting with the child monthly, writing reports that advocate for the child’s best interest, and being their voice in court proceedings. 

 

CASA/GAL volunteers are provided an extensive forty hour pre-service training.  Volunteers commit to a case which averages twenty-two months of service, engage professionally with all parties involved, and use objectivity and common sense in the course of advocating for children during a pivotal time in their lives.

 

Learn more by visiting www.casanh.org, contacting Krista, the Regional Recruitment Coordinator at (603) 536-1663 or by emailing speakup@casanh.org.

 

Mimi Ford

 

 

The Story of Cap & Trade

As our national and international leaders plod onward, various so-called solutions to global warming are being tossed around: Alternative energy, Cap and Trade, adaption and mitigation, and many more.  It can be hard to make sense of them, and even more difficult to unpack the myths from realities. 

Fortunately, Annie Leonard, who provided us with The story of Stuff offers a new video to explain the Story of Cap & Trade.  This is a fast-paced, fact filled look at the leading climate change solution being discussed on Capitol Hill.  Host Annie Leonard introducers the energy traders and Wall Street financiers at the heart of this scheme and reveals some of the “devils in the details” in current cap & trade proposals: free permits to current big polluters, fake offsets and distraction from what’s really required to tackle the climate crisis.  If you’ve heard about cap & trade, but aren’t sure how it works (or who benefits), this is the short film for you.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pA6FSy6EKrM

            Betty Ann Trought

 

 

 

January Finish for Share-A-Book

 

            January is our wrap up month for Share-A-Book.  We try to limit this appeal to two months of the year, although we truly welcome Spanish language book donations at any time. (We keep a box handy for mid year donations that come to us from travelers and friends of the project.) If you have not yet made a contribution and wish to do so, please send it to SKUUF with the check legend reading “Share-A-Book”.) With big differences in the exchange rate, even a small donation makes a big difference!

 

            Mike Boudreau, our contact in Managua, recently wrote to say thank you for our on-going support over the years.  The book room at the Women in Action Center is making books available to the children who gather there.  Books are not common in the neighborhood homes, so we have a chance to make a real difference in this neighborhood. The children are hungry for stories, and the books you send help fill this void.  There is no other library in this area, including the school. Each book counts!

 

            Michael commented that the mothers are reading to their children more as they continue their schooling and realize how important early reading can be for their children.

 

            We will be sending some books that are available world wide, as well as unique Spanish titles.  Some members of our congregation give holiday or birthday books to the children in their lives, and then they give the same book to the Share-a-Book library. We are happy to help you find just the right book. Danni Simon will be using her library skills in the new year to add to our “wish list” so we can put your donation to work as soon as the money arrives.  Each year we include a few more reference and general “how to” books for the adults in the community. We hope to make a difference for readers of all ages.

 

            Margaret Salt

 

 

  Hospitality Committee – Carole Estes, Chair

 

            Hi, it’s me bringing you information about hosting a Hospitality Hour.  I know those who have never done so may assume it must be onerous, difficult, and time consuming.  Well, it could be, but not at SKUUF.  I understand the reluctance to perform a task that you don’t feel comfortable doing, but that's my job – to make it as easy as possible.  Let’s talk about what is expected when you sign up.

 

FOOD

            Anything you choose to bring is appreciated and will be enjoyed.  That includes cookies, cakes, donuts, breads, pies, bagels, fruits, vegetables, chips, crackers, cheeses, nuts, etc.  As you can see, there is NO restriction, and everything will be enjoyed.  Those of you who enjoy baking – all the better, but purchased food is also appreciated and enjoyed.  Also, SKUUF buys the coffee and sugar, but the host provides milk and cream.

 

            As far as quantities, packs of cookies, sliced cake, baby carrots, broccoli, strawberries, grape tomatoes, chips, cheese, crackers,  dip, salsa or anything you like, I’ll guarantee, we’ll like.  By the way, I save my receipts and claim a deduction on my taxes – and so can you!  It’s not much but every little bit helps -   and its not reduced like the medical limitation.  But, since this is not a tax article, do not attribute the advice to me – I’ll continue taking my chances.  So far, so good!!!

 

SET-UP

            Each Saturday about 11:30 a.m. (during NPR's Wait, Wait, Don’t Tell Me and through This American Life), I come to SKUUF and set up for the next day.  Let me know and we can coordinate food preparation, place it in the refrigerator, and be set to go on Sunday at about 9:00 a.m. – plugging in coffee and transferring food from the frig to the Fellowship Hall tables.

 

CLEAN-UP

            About 11:00 a.m., the coffee pots are unplugged.  After the crowd clears, dirty dishes, left over food, and the coffee pots are transferred to the kitchen (using our new cart) to be emptied and washed.  Things that won’t spoil (juices, cookies, etc) are refrigerated or frozen and used the next week.  Dirty dishes are placed in the dishwasher to wash while the remaining clean-up is done.  I empty the dishwasher, bag the garbage, take it downstairs, and make sure everything is put away for the next week.  Things are finished by about 11:45.  The host takes soiled table cloths and dish towels  home, washes them and returns them the following week.

 

            Those Sundays that I indulge myself and do not attend service, others help with set up and clean up.  The Hospitality Committee has only one member, but others volunteer to ease the work.

 

SUGGESTION

            I think we all enjoy the fellowship and interaction afforded by coffee hour in our new Hall, and I know our children enjoy the snacks and the freedom to have fun with each other while slaking their appetites.  I also believe we want the tradition to continue.  So it may be easier for two families to work together and sponsor a snack potluck...the offer of help stands for all comers, without regard to number.

 

            So now that you know what it entails, SIGN UP TO HOST COFFEE HOUR IN 2010.  You’ll enjoy it, we’ll enjoy it and like jury duty – you’re done for the year.

 

             

 

 

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.  The two leaders and all 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 January 10, 2010, 6:00—8:oo p.m. and continue on the second and fourth Sundays until June; pre-registration is necessary as numbers are limited.  All meetings will be held at Star King Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, Fairgrounds Road, Plymouth.  Attendance at all sessions is strongly recommended; check your calendars before making the commitment.    Please contact Jane Clay, Church School Coordinator.  Confirmation will be either by phone or email so please leave both in the message.

 

 

Jane and Bob Clay

 

 

 

Wise Women in Training

Wise Women in Training is a women’s study group which meets to discuss issues of women and aging.  Members share experiences, questions and concerns about improving their lives while optimizing their happiness.  Generally this group is recommended for any women over fifty years of age but younger women are welcome.  Questions will be researched and discussed by various members.  Meetings will be held on the second and fourth Wednesdays of each month from 10:00  to 11:30 a.m.  at SKUUF.  Please direct questions to Betty Ann Trought or Marceline Boomer.             

Betty Ann Trought

 

 

 

 

 

 Activities Committee
  

TGIF: Games Night

            On Friday January 8  the Activities Committee will be have a family games night at the fellowship Starting at 6:30 p.m.   You might want to bring a favorite game, snacks to share, and especially, friends and the family.  We will have Apples to Apples, Scrabble, a Bridge Table, Hit or Miss, Yahtzee and lots of space for others.  We will play games until we have laughed our selves sore and tired and go home and wish we could do it again.

 

 

Snowshoe Hike
            The Activity Committee is planning a snowshoe walk at D Acres on

Sunday, January 10.  Carpool from SKUUF leaving at noon following Adult Ed. 

 

This will be an easy walk in fields and woods beginning at 1:00 p.m.. 

Additional snowshoes are available.

 

 

                        Sledding Party

                                    The Doners are hosting a sledding party on Saturday, January 30.   Come at 1:00 p.m. to join the fun.  Potluck all afternoon, something warm would be good.

 

 

Committee Meeting

            There will be an Activities Committee meeting on Sunday, January 17 at 11:00 a.m.

 

            Mitch Manseau

            Committee Chair

 

 

Circle Dinners

The next Circle diner is being hosted on January 15 by Bill and Betty Trought and it filled up pretty quickly.  

 

We are now looking for a host for the month of February.   Please contact Suzanne Appleton if you would like to have an event at your home.  Remember, it can be a dinner, a brunch, a lunch or even a tea party.  What ever you are comfortable with.  It’s a great way to get to know one another.   If you are not sure what is involved feel free to contact me.

Suzanne Appleton

Membership Committee

  

Full Moon Circles, Open to All

 

Please join Mark and Elizabeth Becker for a Full Moon Circle on January 30 at 8:00 p.m.  Our circles are from a modern Eclectic Pagan style, and try to be inclusive of different traditions.

 

If you’ve attended our summer service any of the past few years, you have a general idea of what to expect. The major difference is that while the Lammas circle is a holy day “celebration” the full moon circle is more about doing work, and raising energy. We will be doing a walkthrough, and question and answer period for anyone who is new to neo-Pagan rituals, or working with personal/magikal energy.

 

Please RSVP to the Beckers, so we will have an idea how many people are coming.

 

Mark Becker

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Newsletter Deadline

 

            The deadline for the February Newsletter is Sunday, January 17. 

            Please send all items, committee reports, notice of events and activities to Barbara Avery

 

 

 

 

 

Office Hours

 

            Our minister, Sarah Stewart, is in the office  Tuesday through Thursday.    You can reach her at: 536-8908 or  sstewart@starrkingfellowship.org.                        

 

            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, January 13 at 5:00 p.m.

 

Committee Chairs Meeting

 

            Committee Chairs will meet on  Tuesday, January 19 at 5:00 p.m.

 

Announcements:

 

Office Closed

            The SKUUF office will be closed on Friday, January 1, 2010.

 

 

New Directory

            The 2010 SKUUF Directories are  available!  If you  do not already have your new directory, please pick up one on the table in the foyer.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Extending Family

 

The beginning of another new year is full of potential and opens another door of opportunity for conscious renewal.

            Extending Family wishes the days and months ahead bring everyone of you…

 

* 12 months of a relaxed mind,

* 52 weeks of a joyful spirit,

* 365 days of following your heart,

* 8760 hours of a healthy body,

* 52600 minutes without fear,

* 3153600 seconds of wisdom

            In other words, we wish you ALL  a HAPPY NEW YEAR!

 

Remember, we are here  when you might need a helping hand.

 

Marilyn Ashley

 

 

 

 

UU’re Home

 

 Do you dream of inexpensive vacation travel to interesting destinations where you can stay in the homes of friendly people who share your ideals and are happy to provide directions and advice for their area? 

 

The UU bed and breakfast directory UU’re Home (formerly Homecomings) can fulfill your dream. For 31 years, we’ve provided a network of hosts in the United States (and a few abroad) who enjoy meeting new friends and who are happy to open their home to like-minded people.

 

You can also become a host and be listed in the directory: see www.UUreHome.com for an application. If you have questions, contact us at info@uurehome.com or call 828-281-3253.

 

Host listings on the UU’re Home website at www.UUreHome.com are updated whenever changes are made or new hosts are added. The paper edition is published once a year in April.  For a copy of the 2010 directory and a year’s access to the website listings, please click on “become a member” to pay by credit card, or send a check for $25 and your e-mail address to UU’re Home, 43 Vermont Court, Asheville, NC

 

 

 

 

 Remember to notify the SKUUF Office if...

 

 you change your:

* name

* mailing address,

* phone number

* email address 

 

            Just call or email Regina with the corrected information.

 

            Thank you,

            Mary Tierney

 

 

 

News Notes

 

SKUUF members and friends helped Bob Pothier celebrate his eightieth  birthday recently.    

 

  Please see the PDF version of this month's newsletter to view photos of this event. Pictures were taken by Margaret Salt and include Bobbie Crocker, Bob Pothier, Betty Ann Trought and Bev Walker.

 

 Since Bob’s birthday, he has moved to Havenwood in Concord. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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