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Plan Your Visit If this is your first visit to Starr King Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, let us know! We look forward to seeing you! Please take a moment to complete this form and let us know when you'll be joining us. Feel free to include as much information as you feel comfortable providing. If you have any questions, please ask them here as well. First Name Last Name E-mail Date You're Attending Number of People Attending (Adults and Kids) Please share any accommodations we can make to ensure you have a wonderful visit. Questions or other information you'd like to share Send Thank you for your message! We look forward to meeting you.

Solar Project Rev. Linda Starr King Unitarian Universalist Fellowship reached its goal of becoming carbon neutral in 2021 with the installation of a solar panel array. This means at least as much energy is now produced as is used annually, and all the energy is solar powered! ​ The solar panels are mounted on a steel frame located at the back of Starr King’s property on Morgan Drive. Currently, the system is fully operational, producing ~44,000 kWh (kilowatt hours) worth of electricity, which is enough to meet 100% of the 2022 usage and future estimated energy needs of the Fellowship building, or enough for 6 households. ​ The project was developed by Barrington Power and New England Commercial Solar Services. Pursuant to an agreement between Barrington Power and Starr King UU, known as a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA), Barrington Power designed, built, and owns the solar energy system and will operate it for five years, selling the electricity generated to Starr King. At the end of five years, Starr King plans to purchase the array and become the sole owner and operator. PPAs are often used by non-profit entities such as schools and towns to buy solar energy. ​ Starr King’s minister, the Reverend Linda Barnes, is excited at the progress the Fellowship has made in becoming carbon neutral. “We recently installed two electric boilers and two mini-split heat pumps, so, with the solar array, all our heat is solar powered. The array also generates enough to meet all our needs for other electricity.” ​ More importantly, becoming carbon neutral demonstrates one of the key principles of Unitarian Universalism: ‘respect for the interdependent web of existence of which we are a part.’ It also supports an aspect of Starr King’s mission and vision statement: ‘we live and model our values, collectively creating social and environmental justice with direct action and financial support.' ​ According to Ted Vansant, clean energy consultant, the benefits of being carbon neutral include no longer producing emissions from burning oil to heat the building, helping reduce the amount of fossil fuel-produced electricity on the electric grid, and simplifying the maintenance of the heating system. ​

Our entertainment at this year's auction will be provided by The Dreamers , Paul Hubert and Kathi Sheer, who hail from central New Hampshire’s Lakes Region. Shows combine old fashioned folk and pop with brand new original songs and arrangements. Kathi Sheer on flute, vocals, and percussion harmonizes with Paul Hubert’s guitar, soulful voice, and harmonica seeking a perfect balance of lyric musicality. Many of the songs in their repertoire are originals written by Paul himself. Styles range from deep blues to simple folk-like compositions.

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Worship UPCOMING SERVICES Worship With Us Sundays at 9:30 a.m. Join us in-person or via Zoom . Sunday Services typically include announcements, lighting of our chalice flame, a sermon, choir, congregational singing, and a variety of traditional and contemporary readings. ​ Vespers First Fridays at 6 p.m. (October through June) For an end-of-week slow down, come for 30 minutes of contemplation followed with pizza and fellowship. ​ During the summer months, our services become more casual and are often lay-led. We do not hold Vespers during the summer. View Upcoming Services View Past Services Meet Our Minister Reverend Dr. Linda Barnes came to New Hampshire from the Midwest in 2016. Her life has been a rich tapestry of experience that includes nearly 20 years as a community college biology professor and organic farmer. Read More Religious Education The Religious Education program is offered for children and youth of all ages. Grade school programs are held concurrently with the Sunday worship service. All types of activities, play, creativity, and sharing are used to assist in faith development of our children and youth. The Youth group meets twice monthly. Check the calendar for times. Learn More

Pastoral Care Caring for one another is a fundamental Unitarian Universalist value. Pastoral care is emotional, spiritual, and social support that helps us to heal and grow. We offer compassionate pastoral care around grief and loss, significant life transformations, illness, and emotional crises. Additionally, our pastoral care team can provide some support such as meals and visits to our members in need. Our minister provides confidential care. All you need to do, is ask. You can e-mail the minister or call the Fellowship at (603) 536-9808.

This April, fling off the frost of winter and spring into the Starr King Auction! Join us for bidding, food, and fun at our annual auction fundraiser! The event will be held on Saturday, April 13, 2024. The Silent Auction will begin at 5:30 p.m. and entertainment at 6:30 p.m. We'll have something for everyone - dinners, hikes, event tickets, lessons, services - and so much more! ​ Enjoy delicious hors d'oeuvres, desserts, and libations while being entertained by The Dreamers , Paul Hubert and Kathi Sheer, who hail from central New Hampshire’s Lakes Region. Bid!!! The online auction page is now open! Click here to see all the wonderful items available and start your bidding! Bid Early and Bid Often!!

What to Expect Accessibility There are two entrances to the building, both handicap accessible. The upper level offers the easiest access to the sanctuary and the most disability parking spaces. The building also has an elevator. All Sunday Services are available to live stream via Zoom. The Service You'll be greeted at the door and given an Order of Service before entering the sanctuary. Services begin with announcements. We light our chalice flame which may be explained as a symbol of “the light of truth found in the cup of life.” Then, a sermon, choir, and congregational singing, and a variety of traditional and contemporary readings. You may light a silent or spoken candle of joy or sorrow at an appropriate time. The service is crafted by the Minister and Music Director with input from the Director of Religious Education. Offerings There's an offering basket passed, but we ask our visitors to let it pass as you are our guests. Religious Education The children begin the morning with us so we have a Time for All Ages—usually a story. Afterwards our children go to their Religious Education classes with their leaders however, children are always welcome to stay in the Sanctuary. After the Service After the service we meet for coffee and conversation in the Fellowship Hall (attached to the sanctuary). There is a hallway with bulletin boards created by different committees. The youth group is usually selling coffee to raise funds to support a community in Nicaragua and we sell Hannaford Gift Cards which provide money to the fellowship. You are welcome to join us. ​ Those who join us via Zoom are also welcome to stay connected and chat (bring your own coffee!) What to Wear Dress as you wish, we run the gamut from “Sunday Best” to casual.

History 1980 Starr King Unitarian Universalist Fellowship had its beginning on a snowy afternoon when eighteen adults gathered in response to a newspaper ad. Two months later the Fellowship was admitted to membership in the Unitarian Universalist Association, with twenty-four charter members. 1986 Arthur Vaeni, a Harvard Divinity Student, became our part-time minister. The Reverend Vaeni was ordained in 1987, and in 1989 he became our full-time minster, serving until June 2001. 1994 The Fellowship’s eighty-three members celebrated the groundbreaking for a new building which was proudly dedicated in November of that year. Members provided considerable “sweat equity” over the next few years as the finish work proceeded. 2003 The Reverend Sarah C. Stewart became the second minister of Starr King Fellowship in 2003, serving until 2014. Continued growth through Rev. Stewart’s ministry prompted a large addition to the Fellowship meeting house in 2010, and new young families and children to our Fellowship. 2003 The labyrinth was created the summer of 2003 by then member, Marcia Vandermast, and many other Fellowship members as helpers. Stones were brought in to line the paths, dirt moved around, and greenery trimmed. Services have been held there, meditation groups and individuals meditate while walking the paths, and children run there! If viewed from the back parking lot, it is on the land to the left of the Fellowship building. It can be reached via a path between the back parking lot and the building. 2014 Starr King Fellowship was served by interim minister, the Reverend Judith Smith-Valley, ably assisting our transition process. 2016 It was with great joy that the members of the Fellowship voted unanimously in May 2016 to call the Reverend Dr. Linda Barnes as our new Minister. Linda received a PhD in Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology in 1994 and has taught at the college level for many years. 2020 April 26, 2020 marked the 40th anniversary of our membership in the Unitarian Universalist Association. The March celebration included the dedication and renaming of the Fellowship Hall to Macey Hall to honor Ruth and Irv Macey, founding members. The picture is of their children, Suzy Farrell and Peter Macey.

Top of Page SharePoint SimpleChurch CRM By-Laws & Policies Committee Descriptions Annual Report Donate Planned Giving Endowment Fund Request Reserve a Space Member Resources Area SharePoint SimpleChurch CRM SharePoint Click the SharePoint image to access the Starr King Document Repository where you can view Board and Committee Minutes and more. ​ Please be sure to have your user name and password ready! SimpleChurch CRM Click the SimpleChurch image to access our online directory, send group e-mails, and donate. ​ Did you know you can download the SimpleChurch CRM app on your phone? Connect with the "skuuf" domain. To log in, your username is as follows: firstname.lastname First time logging in or forget your password? Click "Forgot Password" to reset your credentials. By-Laws & Policies ​ Download the By-Laws PDF ​ Download the Policies ​ ​ Starr King Committee Descriptions Review the current Starr King Committee descriptions 2023 Annual Report Read the 2023 Annual Report ​ View the Annual Meeting ​ ​ Donate to Starr King ​ Submit a Pledge ​ Donate Today! Planned Giving If you're interested in learning about the planned giving opportunities of the Fellowship, please click the links below to download our brochures. ​ Gift Opportunities ​ Established Funds ​ Gift Info from UUA Additional information is available by contacting any one of the members of the Planned Giving Team. Endowment Fund Request The Endowment Fund enhances the mission of Starr King Unitarian Universalist Fellowship apart from the general operation of the congregation. Submit Your Request Reserve a Space If you are interested in using space in the Fellowship for a meeting or event, please submit your inquiry using the request form below. ​ See Available Spaces ​ Submit a Fellowship Space Reservation Request Form By-Laws & Policies Committee Descriptions Annual Report Planned Giving Donate Endowment Fund Request Reserve a Space

Stewardship Drive 2024-25 Dear Starr King Members and Friends, This year is different. Last year, we completed our Stewardship drive and then discovered that we were short of the amount needed to support our Fellowship through the 23-24 Fiscal Year. Following a special appeal, your pledges increased to $187,000. Additional one-time gifts also helped us close the gap. With this increase and some painful budget cuts, we generated enough for essential operations. This year, our Finance Committee has established a budget of $200,000 which restores some of the cuts made last year and accounts for inflationary and other increased costs. We do not want to be in the position of another special appeal this year. Instead, we are being clear up-front about our Fellowship’s needs to sustain our dedicated staff, our building, our Sunday services and other programs, and our community work. We can achieve our $200,000 budget goal if a sufficient number of members and friends who have not previously pledged are able to pledge this year, and those who pledged last year are able to increase their pledge by about 6.5%. We understand that this is more than some can manage, and that others could do more than 6.5% to help compensate. Those newer to our community and pledging for the first time can consult the guidelines in the Stewardship packet. Here are some links to our Stewardship packet which includes a letter from Reverend Linda , a review of our financial data , and ways to pledge for the 2024-2025 budget year. We will also send you a brief email regarding your pledge. We invite you to sign up for a cottage meeting at the home of one of our members for food, fellowship, and an opportunity to share your ideas regarding our community. In addition to the cottage meetings, there will be a Zoom meeting option and a brunch following a Sunday service. To sign up click here . Last year your pledges to our stewardship campaign provided essential support for our Fellowship and you stepped up in response to our special appeal. We hope you will reflect on the value of our community to you and help us to keep on moving forward by again pledging to the best of your ability and increasing your pledge to help us achieve our needed 6.5% increase. In these dark and challenging times our Fellowship is a beacon of hope and love for us, the community and the world. Please do everything you can to help us sustain the light. With love and gratitude, your Stewardship Committee, Mary Hazelton, Chair Sandy Mucci, Vice Chair Nancy Chaddock Bob Gannett Susan C. Scrimshaw A Message from Cindy Spring, Member

Adult Spiritual Exploration ​Date with Death Club: A Multi-Session Curriculum to Explore Mortality in Community Developed by Karen G. Johnston, MSW, MDiv Presented by Rev. Linda Barnes ​ The Date with Death Club curriculum explores mortality in community. Classes meet from 1-3 p.m. on Sundays. Learn More Soul Matters Soul Matters Something familiar... ​ Soul Matters Sharing Circle (Soul Matters) is the program we use to provide themes and material for worship, religious educatio n, and small group gatherings. Soul Matters invites us to explore and to reflect upon a different spiritual theme each month. ​ What Happens at a Soul Matters Session ​ Chalice lighting and a short reading or piece of music. Brief check-in. Members briefly share what is going on “beneath the surface” for them. Typically takes no more than 20 minutes. Facilitated discussion inspired by the monthly participant packet (readings, questions for reflection and suggested spiritual exercises which participants receive a few weeks before the meeting). We will consider the question “What does it mean to be a people of ________?” (see monthly themes below) Check-out. An opportunity to briefly share reactions to the meeting. Closing words or music. ​ ​ Soul Matters 2023 -2024 Themes This year’s themes are The Gift of : September: Welcome October: Heritage November: Generosity December: Mystery January: Liberating Love February: Justice & Equity March: Transformation April: Interdependence May: Pluralism June: Renewal ​ How Do I Sign Up? We currently have two Soul Matters sharing circles with a few openings yet remaining. These groups (of no more than 10 people) meet to explore the material provided in the monthly packets. Both groups meet online, via Zoom. If you’d like to join one of these groups, please let Taphi know at admin@starrkingfellowship.org . There are a limited number of spots available. If we have the interest, we’ll look to open another group. Meeting Dates/Times 3rd Tuesday of the month from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. via Zoom (starting in September) 4th Wednesday of the month from 6:30-8:30 p.m. via Zoom (starting in October) Monthly packets are available via SharePoint . The packets contain wonderful exercises and links to other media relating to this month's topic. You do not need to be a member of one of the above groups to download your copy, but we hope you'll considering joining us! ​ If you're new to Soul Matters, start with the New Participant Guide here . Meditation Meditation Group Meditation Group Our meditation group meets every Monday from 6-7 p.m. in the upstairs foyer. We are a small informal group that shares an abiding interest in meditation. Usually, we have between 5 and 10 participants. We are not affiliated with any sect or religion, however we often follow meditations in the Buddhist tradition of Thich Nhat Hanh, Jack Kornfield, Pema Chodron and the like. ​ ​We generally get together at 6 p.m. for brief hellos and pertinent comments. Then a facilitator for the week will offer a short reading or discussion on a meditation topic, followed by a guided meditation, related to the topic. The meditation can be anywhere between 20 and 40 minutes. Afterward we have a short debriefing and discussion of the experience. We adjourn at 7 p.m. There is no designated leader of the group and there is no effort to persuade anyone to any point of view. We welcome newcomers to our group. This group is free and requires no dues or contributions. No previous meditation experience necessary.