We are a spiritual fellowship dedicated to building beloved community

within and beyond our doors.

Minister’s Musings with Rev. Julie Lombard

Happy Holidays! And let us welcome in the gift of Mystery. Here, in the midst of darkness and the colder weather, perhaps a little mystery may be just what the spiritual doctor ordered for folks in our position. Maybe leaning into the mysteries and wonder is the real gift of the holidays. Frank Herbert said, “The mystery of life

isn’t a problem to solve, but a reality to experience.”

How do you like to experience the mystery of this season? Do you have a tradition that you relish? My children and I would drive around to look at the holiday lights each year, often choosing another way home to see what mystery this next road might offer. It wasn’t the quickest way to travel, but it was enjoyable with the holiday music playing over the radio and the glee of the youth.

At some point in the season, we revisit the familiar story of Mary and Joseph making their way. There is so much mystery even in the stories we think we know so well. Theologian Barbara Brown Taylor wrote a children’s book about their journey called Home by Another Way. It tells the tale many know so well, but Brown adds some twists that turn out to be where the mystery shows up and offers something new. As Barbara Brown Taylor says in Learning to Walk in the Dark, “I have learned things in the dark that I could never have learned in the light, things that have saved my life over and over again, so that there is really only one logical conclusion. I need darkness as much as I need light.”

Logic may not be what’s needed. Maybe the only conclusion is to let it all happen and see what unexpected twists occur. Try to remain curious and expectant like a mother about to give birth and never knowing when, where, or how it will all turn out. This is what life offers us in these precious moments -- the gift to welcome in the mystery and the ability to be grateful for the experience.

From the President's Desk  

It’s so easy to get wrapped up in the commercialization of Christmas as a kid. And as an adult.

Watching Christmas specials when I was little, it was easy to see how cool it was down in Whoville with all the great toys, games, and instruments. The evident joy everyone had, playing and singing. They were all having a blast with all their things! So it was difficult to understand why that joy didn’t fade when the Grinch took EVERYTHING... when the Grinch stole Christmas, and I bet it was hard for most grownups to understand too.

Clearly, though, the Whos understood something that I didn’t. Not yet, anyway.

Perhaps if I were a lifelong UU rather than a more recent convert in my early adulthood, the message might have made sense to me all those many years ago. My kiddo sure gets it, after all.

Or maybe even that wouldn’t have done it. Maybe it didn’t make sense to me until I became a parent.

Regardless, the Christmas Spirit that those joy-filled, toyless Whos so easily and naturally grasped is apparent to me now. And I can’t think of a better way to share the sentiment than to quote the wise Doctor Seuss himself.

Welcome Christmas. Bring your cheer,

Cheer to all Whos, far and near.

Christmas Day is in our grasp

So long as we have hands to clasp.

Christmas Day will always be

Just as long as we have we.

Welcome Christmas while we stand

Heart to heart and hand in hand.

December’s Worship Theme - The Gift of Mystery

We live in a culture that loves to conquer mysteries. For us modern folks, the unexplainable is simply a lock to be picked, a code to be cracked, a puzzle to be figured out. But what if mystery isn’t just something to solve? What if it’s also something to be listened to? Read more.

December Worship Services

Sunday Services at 10:30am (in person and on Zoom)

December 3 - Finding Hope in the Gift of Mystery

Rev. Julie Lombard

As the holiday season starts to consume our lives, some of us may feel stuck in a sense of

hopelessness. We know we are supposed to feel the joy of this season, but we don’t, and our internal flame may not feel very merry and bright. We struggle to connect with the spirit of the season and we seek what will help us get beyond our humbug ways. Nothing can help us believe in life more than the coming of a child. Join us while we light the first candle of hope for the first Sunday of Advent.

December 10 - Finding Peace in the Gift of Mystery

Rev. Julie Lombard

In this holy place we come together in peace, no matter your faith tradition or your family heritage, no matter your class or gender, age or race. Peace is yours and there is plenty of it to go around. This is the gold of our well-being, which radiates out to the wider world bringing hope. Join us as we light our chalice, the Hanukkah candles, and our second Advent candle to bring the life of tradition and light to our sanctuary. All are welcome to find peace with us.

December 17 - Finding Joy in the Gift of Mystery - A Holiday Music Service!

Joes Peck, Acting Music Director, and his many UUCM friends

You don't want to miss this joy-filled holiday service that will include our choir and some special guest musicians. This service will include a variety of music, readings, reflections and poetry. This will be an uplifting service where we light our third Advent candle. We hope you will join us for some wonderful holiday music.

December 24 (Morning) - Finding Love in the Gift of Mystery (Family Sunday)

Rev. Julie Lombard

Today, on the morning of Christmas Eve, we will revisit a Christmas Eve story forged in history. In 1941, the British Prime Minister, Winston Churchill, met President Franklin D. Roosevelt at the White House on Christmas Eve. As war raged around the world, these two leaders stood together to deliver a powerful message that still rings true. Come hear David McCullough’s legacy tale of the spirit of this holiday season as we recall his story, In the Dark Streets Shineth, and discover the power of light in the midst of hard times. Join us as we light the love candle on our Advent wreath to celebrate that Christmas is on the doorstep.

December 24 (Evening) at 5:30pm – Our Traditional Christmas Eve Candlelight Service

Rev. Julie Lombard

Feel the spiritually renewing, magical powers of worshipping together by candlelight on Christmas Eve. Come to a multigenerational worship celebration that will rekindle all souls with the familiar carols, uplifting readings, and the needed warmth of community.

December 31 – Family Sunday

The Worship Team

Join us, one and all, as we say goodbye to 2023 and prepare to welcome 2024.

Candlelight Vespers

Every Wednesday at 6:00pm through 3/27/2024

All are welcome to soothe your soul during this season of darkness with music, poetry, and prayer in our candlelit sanctuary, followed by a simple meal of soup and bread. Even the atheists among us will find a deep sense of spiritual peace in this setting designed for all souls. Rekindle your flame with a little help from your friends. Rev. Julie Lombard and Joes Peck will lead this brief half hour series. Dinner will be waiting on the stovetop at 6:30pm. Please join us! Then stay for more fun with ping-pong if that calls to you.

Participate in Sunday Services

On Sundays, congregants are encouraged to participate in or help with various aspects of the service that we all enjoy. Sign up to be a worship reader, Garden Door greeter, or bring Sunday snacks, help with Coffee Hour setup or cleanup, and take the collection.  Your help will be truly appreciated by the Worship Team and Hospitality Committee.  Sign up here.

Thanks to those who helped out in November: Scott Blanchard, July Eriksen, Andy LaForge , Jackie Davis, Linda Pellerin, Lisa Rothmans, Julie Adl-Zarabi, the Conleys, Laura Lynch, Karen Walsh, Sue Durham, Heather Romeri, Debbie Maloney, the Mikas, the Eatons, Brenda Perry

UUCM Annual Holiday Fair!

Saturday, December 2 - 8:20am-2pm

Come one, come all! Plan to shop, eat, and share the joy at the fair!

* Chow down at the Cafe

* Raid the Ritzy Boutique

* Stock up on goodies from the Bakery

* Fall in love with beautifully crafted items

• Hand-crafted jewelry
• Many different kinds of unique ornaments
• Laurel & pine wreaths; Evergreen centerpieces
• Crocheted scarves, hats, afghans
• Children’s aprons, cloth tote bags, potholders, and scrubbies
• Upcycled items – cashmere scarves, cashmere fingerless gloves, felted wool mittens and hats, baby clothes

Read more here.

Children & Youth Committee (CYC) December News

Upcoming Family Sundays: December 24 & 31, January 14, 

February 25. 

December's theme is MYSTERY. Here are links to a story and activity you can do together at home when you cannot join us on Sunday:

• Video as Story: The Snowflake Man (a short film about Snowflake Bentley - 8:32 min)
• Make a Chalice Snowflake (see image at right) Instructions Page

Weather Cancellations at UUCM

It’s Snowing – Are Sunday Services/Programming Canceled? If so, you can still participate via Zoom. To find out whether we will be meeting in church:



• Call the Church at 603-673-1870. If in-person church is canceled, the answering machine will tell you.
• Check the calendar on the website. The title will say ‘Worship Service (Online Only) due to Snow’
• Check WMUR-TV (News 9) or http://www.wmur.com/weather/closings and look for “Unitarian Universalist Congregation, Milford” under the letter U.

Note that these closure notices apply to church services and programs only. It is up to group leaders, committee chairs, and renters to notify their people if a meeting is canceled.

Closings on Other Days:

If the office is closed, there will be a message on the answering machine. It is best to call ahead to ensure someone is in the office. For meetings or activities, check with the group

December Happenings

Community Sing-Along

Thursday, December 14, 7-9:30pm

All are welcome to a singalong and jam session using the Rise Again Songbook with songs we all love to sing. Instrumentalists and voices of all sorts are welcome! Including you! Songbooks are available, but feel free to bring ten copies of your favorite song lyrics (music or chords optional). Need more information? Contact: Amy Conley

UUCM Ping Pong!

Wednesdays @ 7:00pm

Come play ping pong with us every Wednesday in Barnum Hall. Hope to see you there!

No Community Supper on December 20th

In lieu of the Community Supper, please come to the Candlelight Vespers at 6:00pm on December 20th, followed by soup and bread in Barnum at 6:30. 

December 25 - Christmas Potluck

The kitchen will open at 5pm and feasting will commence at 6pm, followed by a regifting Yankee Swap for those who wish to participate. 

Coordinator: John Bigl

Concert - Seamus Conley & Vanessa Hale

December 28th @ 7:30pm

Singing original songs on guitar.

Doors open at 7:30 for refreshments, music at 8:00 pm.

Suggested donation $15.

SHARE Needs Your Support in December

This month, please purchase canned fruit, flour, sugar, boxed cake mixes, baking supplies, coffee, tea, juice, granola for the Food Pantry at SHARE. Leave items in the box in Barnum Hall, or click to see where to drop off food donations.

To contact UUCM leadership:

• The office is currently closed, and the administrator is working remotely. If there is an urgent matter, email [email protected] or leave a voicemail at (603) 673-1870 x1.
• Rev. Julie can be reached at [email protected] or call 603-673-1870 x2. For time sensitive or urgent situations, text or call Rev. Julie at (603) 724-0978
• The UUCM Board can be reached at [email protected].

Find it on UUCM.org

The easiest and fastest way to find information on our website is to enter a word or two in the search box located at the upper right on any page.

UUCM 603-673-1870 [email protected]