Dear Friends,
Where has the time gone? I can't believe it's June and that my first year of interim minister with you is quickly drawing to a close. I want to thank you all for so many things -- for helping me find my way around UUCM and Milford and for helping me get to know you and what's important to you. It's been a rich and meaningful journey on so many levels. I hope I've been able to help navigate this time of transition, looking at your history and identity in the interest of bringing your best to bear on UUCM's future.
The
Soul Matters theme for June is blessing. This seems like a great time of year to give thanks for the many blessings we share. So many have given so much to create the life we share. I especially want to thank Tricia Jalbert for her leadership this year - as well as the Council, committee chairs and all the people who keep the wheels of UUCM going round and round. UUCM is indeed fortunate to have such capable and dedicated leadership.
On June 3rd we'll celebrate the blessing of growing up in this congregation and this tradition with a bridging ceremony honoring our graduating seniors. We'll also celebrate the blessings of the gift of service as we appreciate our volunteers. The service will be followed by the annual meeting, an opportunity to exercise and celebrate the blessings of congregational polity, the
form of governance at the heart of our tradition in which the people decide.
On June 10th we'll celebrate the Flower Ceremony, lifting up the blessings of community and the unique gifts each of us contributes to the beauty of this bouquet. We'll continue the celebration with a potluck lunch outdoors in the Shelley garden
(weather permitting).
I'll be heading to Ministry Days, a gathering for UU ministers before General Assembly, the following week. It will be a blessing to gather with colleagues and to hear our own Rev. Olav Nieuwejaar's reflections on 50 years of ordained ministry as part of a special worship service honoring ministry.
The keynote this year will feature a panel of international scholars focusing on the theological, ethical, and cultural implications of the Edict of Torda as we celebrate it's 450th anniversary. In 1568 King John Sigismund of Transylvania issued a decree affirming religious freedom that provided the bedrock for much of contemporary Unitarianism. I'm looking forward to sharing that conversation with you in the fall.
I'll be back in Milford to wrap things up during the last week of June. Then I'll be heading home to Maine for the month of July. I'm looking forward to the opportunity to reconnect with home, family, and friends as well as some great adventures exploring the Maine coast by land and by sea. I will return to Milford and UUCM refreshed and ready to begin the second year of my ministry with you at the beginning of August.
I'm so grateful for all that we've shared this year. I can only hope that you feel as blessed as I do by our time together.
Faithfully Yours,
Rev. Carol |
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Rev. Carol Strecker
Today we honor and bless our Senior Youth as they cross the bridge from all they've known to explore the unknown. We'll also honor all those among us who bless this congregation with their gifts of service.
Rev. Carol Strecker
Together we'll learn more about this historic Unitarian ritual (including its name) as we celebrate the blessings of unity in diversity. Please
bring a flower (or two) from your garden to share with members of our beloved community. The celebration will continue with a potluck lunch in the Shelley garden (weather permitting).
Summer Services are smaller in scale and less formal than our regular services. They provide a way to keep our connections alive through the summer. More aptly called "significant
Sunday
sharing," these sessions provide a time to share our joys, concerns, thoughts, and inspirations in a meaningful way. We sit in a circle in the Fireside Room and the week's leader supplies a word, phrase, or theme, which leads to a group discussion that can evolve in any direction. T
here is a wonderful feeling of nurturing our spirits by sharing our thoughts and experiences. If you have questions or would like to facilitate a circle, please contact Cathy at
[email protected].
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UUCM Activities & News
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Bridging Ceremony on June 3
If you have a senior graduating from high school, please contact Rev. Carol to have your senior included in our Bridging Ceremony on June 3 at 10:30am. Contact
[email protected]
or call or text cell: 603-554-6643.
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The UUCM Annual Meeting will convene in Barnum Hall after the service on June 3. All are invited to attend, but only member
s can vote.
- For more information, including a detailed agenda and proposed budget, click here.
- To become a voting member, contact Rev. Carol through the office at [email protected] or 603-673-1870.
- Bring your brown bag lunch - beverages and cookies will be provided.
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Friday, Sept. 7 - Sunday, Sept. 9 - Saco, Maine
(Register by June 3)
Every year for decades, UUCM members and
their families have come together by the sea in September for fun, relaxation, and spiritual grounding. Please join us this September as we mark the beginning of a new year of fellowship! You can find registration and scholarship request forms on our website. Please
don't hesitate to ask for a scholarship if you need one. If you have questions or want to help with planning, please email Beth Soederberg.
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Come to a potluck picnic right after the service. Weather permitting, we will be picnicking next door in the Elizabeth Shelley garden.
Bring folding chairs and your musical instruments so we can sing our way into summer.
- Please contribute by bringing food to share that does not require heating - appetizers, salads, sandwiches, desserts. Beverages will be provided.
- Help is needed for setup/cleanup. Please contact Dona Eaton
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We'll gather in Barnum Hall at
11:45
to set up, and enjoy lunch at
noon
. Afterwards, many hands make cleanup fast. Lunches are tentatively scheduled for July 16 and August 20. Please check with Elise deMichael or the church calendar to confirm that they will take place.
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Multi-Church Picnic in Greeley Park, Nashua
Everyone is invited to a multi-church picnic on
August 18
, from
4-7 p.m.
in Greeley Park,
100 Concord St., Nashua, NH
. This is a wonderful opportunity for members and friends from the UU congregations in Manchester, Milford, and Nashua to relax, eat, and connect with each other. More information to come in the July newsletter.
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There will be two newsletters this summer - early July and mid/late August. Deadlines are June 20 & August 10. Send submissions to
[email protected]
.
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Throughout  June, we will be collecting school supplies for SHARE. Please bring your donations to UUCM and put them in the basket in Barnum Hall. New items needed include (but are not limited to): pens, Ticonderoga pencils, notebooks, USB memory sticks, and backpacks. For more info, contact Sandy Frades.
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Every month we need three volunteers to help Meghan Hoye
serve
Sunday
lunch at the Nashua Soup Kitchen.
When
: 2nd
Sunday
of every month (next on
June 10
)
Time:
10:30am-2:30pm
Duties:
Setup, simple food prep, serving, cleanup
Who:
Adults and youth 12 and older (accompanied by a responsible adult)
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Please leave contributions in the SHARE basket in Barnum. This month's needs: canned ham, canned meats, side dishes (seasoned pasta mix, Hamburger Helper, etc.), ravioli & Beefaroni.
Weekdays before 6pm and Saturdays before 5pm: Park only behind the church or in the circular driveway in front (and NOT in front of the Garden Door). For more parking information (including a printable map),
click
here
.
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Choir Rehearsal - Wednesdays from 7-8:30pm in the Sanctuary
w/Carolyn
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