Share the Spotlight!

UUCH is a community of Shared Ministry, and we invite YOU to share the spotlight.

Have you ever admired or envied the person who reads announcements and gets the service going on Sundays? Have you ever wondered how EASY it is to do it? Do you want to practice your speaking in front of a loving audience without having to compose anything? Are you craving an opportunity to ring the bowl? Do you want to show off your new haircut?

Being a host for our worship services could be for you! You don’t have to be a member of any committee to try it. You can do it only one time, or you can continue to be part of the rotation. Whatever is right for you. It’s TOTALLY SCRIPTED! No worries, no need to ad lib. 

Contact Suzey Delacey at pseuzieq@gmail.com to get access to the spotlight.

The The Real Mission: How Do I Find My Own Values?”

Part 1 of a 2-part article: The Real Mission: How Do I Find My Own Values?”

As many of you know, I am an Our Whole Lives Facilitator as well as a Facilitator Trainer (for elementary and teen levels). This program is so inspiring to me that I went to graduate school in my mid-50’s to study at Widener University’s Graduate School of Human Sexuality. It’s probably no surprise that my deepest area of interest is sexuality and spirituality.

A new online training began Monday night for the 7-9/10-12 OWL Program. There are a total of 15 participants from UU and UCC congregations from various midwestern and east coast locations. One of the topics for the first session focused on the Our Whole Lives Values (https://www.uua.org/re/owl), a vital pedagogy for the program.

Interestingly, on Tuesday morning, a group of us received an email from a colleague who reached out to ask for help answering a question raised during his 8th grade OWL class after a session on the importance of values to guide one’s life:

"How do I find my own values?"

My colleague briefly described their personal journey of searching and knew they could only answer this question for themselves. His request read: “I need help answering this question because I can’t imagine a question more insightful and impactful.”

I wonder how YOU would answer this question. I’ve been thinking about this all week. How would I respond?

During a recent tenure as Interim Director of Faith Formation for a southern New Hampshire congregation, I discovered a three-year program for teens that was (and still is) so inspiring and clarifying. Their program for 6th, 7th and 8th graders is affectionately called “The 3 R’s: Respect, Relationships, and Responsibility.” Sixth graders spent the year learning about world religions and visiting area faith communities. The 7th grade year was the OWL year. And the 8th graders immersed themselves in a values-clarifying experience called Coming of Age. This was (and still is) a powerful triad. The teens, along with their adult leaders and their parents, experienced themselves as Unitarian Universalists and members of this congregation in profound ways. And it was wicked fun (as we say in New England).

I believe that 8th grade year is a strategic one and developmentally appropriate, especially given the path they take to arrive at Coming of Age decisions. In my experience as a life-long educator, most younger teens cannot name, list, or identify a value. Many hear “value” and respond with “valuable” as in monetary or a possession.

It is not easy to list our values. The last OWL training I co-led found the adults struggling to write their top 5 values. But one-by-one they came forward with their index cards and read those values out loud as we witnessed their declarations.

Here’s that 8th grader’s question again: “How Do I Find My Own Values?” How would you answer this question? What would you even do to come up with this answer?

Here is one recommended response to that 8th grader: “Listen to those you respect. You won't always agree with them, but you can learn from them. It’s okay to explore new values to see what fits. It’s okay to make mistakes and change your mind. Listen to your conscience. Be forgiving when people don't live up to your expectations, including yourself. When in doubt, talk to people you trust. They can help you tell whims and wishful thinking from true values. Take time to reflect. With time, your values will become clear.”

Supporting and guiding our children and youth involves more than information or education. It involves a ministry that provides programming and access to develop the spiritual, social and emotional wellbeing and growth of our youngest community members. I’ll say more in next week’s newsletter article! Stay tuned!

In faith,

Sandra Greenfield (my pronouns are she/her)

RE Transition Consultant living on the tribal lands of the Cocheco in NH

sandra.l.greenfield@gmail.com

Children Books

Did you know that we have a full bookcase of children’s books? It is located in the Adult RE room. Feel free to peruse and borrow!

Sponsored by the Adult RE Committee

Calling All Plant Lovers

Calling all plant lovers: February is prime time for seed starting in Zone 8, so Property Chair & Gardening Intern Paul Wieland will lead a free workshop on growing plant starts inexpensively indoors. Join us Saturday February 18th from 10 AM to Noon. The main goal is to start popular vegetables for our community garden, but we should have plenty of starts for folks to take home. No fancy equipment is needed, but if you have packets of seeds, extra plastic garden pots, or yogurt cups waiting for recycling, bring them along.

It’s a great activity for plant-loving kids. Please RSVP to LaDawn Edwards at 319-431-7461.

Sponsored by the Property Committee

UUCH Annual Certification Completed



Each January, UU congregations nationwide report specific data to the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA). The following UUCH information was reported to the UUA in January of 2023:

• Current membership: 150
• Average 2022 Sunday weekly total attendance (in-person & virtual): range=101-125
• Average 2022 children/youth weekly attendance: 8
• Current RE registration: 26
• For the fiscal church year ended June 30, 2022:
• Total pledge income: $217,677
• Individual & family pledging units: 86
• Total operating expenses: $209,146

Sponsored by the Membership Committee

Circle of Candles

Lynda Lamitie on behalf of Nancy Pettus lit a candle of Joy: "Nancy expresses joy and thankfulness to church friends, specifically the care committee, who have offered rides, given food, helped with household errands, and chores since her knee surgery. She sends a big 'Thank you!'"

Cubby & Adrienne lit a candle of Concern: " Our dog, Jetta, begins her chemo treatment for cancer today (Thursday 02/09.) Good thoughts are appreciated."

Pam, Brad, & Sarah Korb lit a candle of Sorrow: "We want to share our sorrow at the loss of our beloved dog, Allie. Allie was a member of the Korb family for 12 years, and will be greatly missed."

Kathy Fisher lit a candle of Joy: "Happy Birthday to my daughter, Deidra Joy, who first made me a mother!'"

Glover Gray lit a candle of Joy: "Welcome to my neighbor Kevin Ho who is a new dad of a three month old son, Leo!'"

Bob Richmond lit a candle of Joy: "much joy was provided by the expressed support of several UUCH members following my hip and eye surgeries. This bolstered my recovery."

Special Note from Kathy Fisher

Dear UUCH,

Thank you all so much for the overwhelmingly beautiful and loving celebration this past Sunday! I was too overcome to say anything from the pulpit, but please know how deeply honored and humbled I was by every gesture of appreciation. Jaimie’s meaningful words, your basketful of lovely cards, the gorgeous flowers, the choir’s signing and framing of the first anthem I played for you in 1996 (“Let There Be Peace on Earth,”) the fabulous cake, and your conversation and hugs after the service all meant the world to me! I truly appreciate everyone who worked to make the day so special!

It has been my privilege and honor to have played for you. Now I look forward to being a member of choir and serving our sweet church in other capacities. And let’s all be sure to welcome and thank Ron Guthrie for his wonderful music!

Much love,

Kathy

When you shop at AmazonSmile, Amazon will donate to the UUCH. Support us every time you shop. Follow this link and search for Unitarian Church to choose us as your chosen organization.

If you have any questions about how to use the link, please contact Ryan Gonzales , Office Administrator, during office hours or send an email to the church office at uuch@uuch.org