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The Unitarian Universalist Congregation at Montclair
THE GAZETTE Our Newsletter for July/August 2020
Vol. 123 Issue 11
Our Mission:
Grounded in faith, we come together to nurture the soul, inspire hope and bring into being a more just and loving world.
“Your acts of kindness are iridescent wings of divine love which linger
and continue to uplift others long after your sharing.”
—Rumi
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The Gazette is a monthly publication of: The Unitarian Universalist Congregation at Montclair 67 Church Street, Montclair NJ 07042 (973) 744-6276 Website: www.uumontclair.org At the time of this printing, all UUCM staff are working re-motely from home. We can be reached at the emails listed below.
OUR MINISTERS AND STAFF: Senior Co-Minister: Rev. Anya Sammler-Michael, Ext. 0011, [email protected] Senior Co-Minister: Rev. Scott Sammler-Michael, Ext. 0011, [email protected] Intern Minister: Antonia Bell-Delgado, [email protected] Director of Music Ministries: Markus Grae-Hauck, Ext. 0015, [email protected] Administrator: Danielle Carlo, Ext. 0012, [email protected] Office & Communications Manager: Jaclyn Puleo, Ext. 0010, [email protected] Director of Religious Education : Judith Hogan, Ext. 0016, [email protected] Bookkeeper: Emilia Sadonis, Ext. 0019, [email protected] Technology Systems Consultant: Bruce For, [email protected] Lead Custodian: Dawn Coleman, [email protected] Affiliated Community Minister: Rev. Jacqueline Lahey Minister Emeritus: Rev. Charles Blustein Ortman Minister Emerita: Rev. Judy Tomlinson
BOARD OF TRUSTEES 2020 –2021
President: Peter Arian, [email protected] President-Elect: Michael Hetrick Past President: Susan Raufer Treasurer: Chris Corbett, [email protected] Secretary: Shannon Gattens, [email protected] Trustees-At-Large: Lauren Carlton, Francesca Elms, Elaine Gibson, Ramona Hilgenkamp, Wil Hylton, David Jones, Nick Lewis and Matt Silverman.
THE DEADLINE FOR
THE SEPTEMBER GAZETTE IS
SATURDAY, AUGUST 15, 2020
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Ministers’ Columns………………….…………………………...……..……....…page 3
Theme of the Month………………………………………………...…………….page 4
Family Ministry………………………………………………...……...………...….page 5
FAQ’s……………………….………………………………….….………….…….…....page 8
Worship & Celebration…………………………..…….………………...……..page 9
Welcome & Engagement………………………….……....…………………..page 11
Governance…………………………………………………………………………..page 12
Service & Justice…………………………………………..…..…………….…….page 12
Care & Connection………………………………………...…….………..……...page 15
Upcoming Services…………………….……….……………..….…………back cover
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What Does Compassion Look Like in These Times? From Rev. Anya Sammler-Michael, Senior Co-Minister
Compassion looks like bold Black Lives Matter signs and direct action in accordance. Compassion looks like your faces in a Zoom meeting. Compassion looks like love in action. Compassion also looks like the making of tough decisions.
Our Board of Trustees in concert with our ministers, as well as the inclinations of many of our members, has decided that our congregation will not host any in-person gatherings through the summer. This is a compassionate choice - one that honors the health of our members and community, and recognizes that even if some of us feel safe enough to gather, many do not. Compassion requires us to consider the needs of the many, before the needs of the few.
Compassion also requires the sustenance of our virtual offerings. Members friends and visitors have been engaging our live streamed and recorded worship services, our virtual Connection Cafe conversations, our online religious education programs, our drop-in and regular Covenant Groups on Zoom, our Soulful Sundown evening online worship, our Chat and Chew lunch and our many small group offerings also found online.
UUCM is alive and well. Our congregation is not our building. Our justice and care work continue and you may be surprised to know that even now we are reaching a wider audience - expanding our pool of wor-shippers and participants to the far reaches of our state and nation. Compassion requires that we care for those we know and those who are just getting to know us. To ensure that this compassion continues UUCM is dedicated to maintain our virtual offerings even when we are again able to gather in person.
UUCM is a compassionate enterprise - not perfect - but working always, with compassion as our goal. And you, dear ones, you are our congregation’s compassion in action. The way you care for one another within our fold and beyond is our compassionate expression unfolding. Take care of yourself. You deserve your compassion as well. We will get through this together.
Theme Based Ministry at UUCM
The purpose of theme-based ministry is to foster a cohesive theological understanding by breaking down silos of faith education, and knitting the congregation’s programs together, along thematic lines. Secondary purposes include the development of multigenerational connections, the extension of faith development beyond Sunday morning, and the solidification of the correlation between the religious and the practi-cal. To learn more, please contact Rev. Anya ([email protected] ).
Our Vision Includes: · Programs that are integrated across congregational life · A central thread that makes congregational life feel cohesive and grounded · A worship life that builds in depth over the month · A common language of common religious and spiritual themes · Congregants of all ages utilizing theology practically to meet the challenges of their lives · The needs of busy families met with points of access beyond Sunday attendance · Greater creative collaboration across the creative disciplines, through both lay and staff leadership
Our Monthly Themes for 2020-21 will be: September 2020 – Renewal February 2021 – Beloved Community October 2020 – Deep Listening March 2021 – Commitment November 2020 – Healing April 2021 – Becoming December 2020 – Stillness May 2021 – Story January 2021 – Imagination June 2021 – Play
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MATERIAL PREPARED FOR OUR CONGREGATION BY THE UUCM STAFF FROM THE THEME OF THE MONTH, SUMMER 2020
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COMPASSION ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
What does it mean to be a people of compassion?
Wrestle With Your Niceness
There’s wide agreement that compassion plays a role in fighting racial injustice and dismantling white supremacy, but it’s also true that there’s nothing simple about that relationship between com-passion and racial justice. One everyday example of this is the way niceness is used to mask, perpetuate and even defend one’s unacknowledged racism. For writer and anti-racism coach, Robin diAngelo, one small but important step in dismantling white su-premacy is getting clear about the many ways we conflate and confuse niceness with compassion. So as your exercise this month, spend some time with diAngelo’s article and use it to offer yourself some challenge and compassion as you bring awareness to your own habits of “problematic niceness.”
White People Assume Niceness Is The Answer To Racial Ine-
quality. It's Not, Robin diAngelo https://www.theguardian.com/
commentisfree/2019/jan/16/racial-inequality-niceness-white-
people
Dig Deeper: At the recent Unitarian Universalist MidAmerica Re-gional Assembly, Taquiena Boston, Special Advisor the UUA Pres-ident on Equity, Inclusion, and Change, offered a number of ques-tions to help support decentering work during COVID-19. Here are two for you to spend some time with:
• Who or what are you holding in your heart at this moment?
• What inequities have become more visible to you as a result of
COVID-19?
Our monthly themes will resume in September 2020.
September’s Theme is…RENEWAL!
Word Meaning: “Compassion is the heart’s response to suf-fering. Compassion — from the roots passio (suffering) and com (with) — means to suffer with another. Compassion is an innate part of human response to suffering, which is com-prised of a three-part experience of noticing another’s pain, feeling with another, and responding in some way.
Some Compassion questions to ask yourself or your family over dinner: When were you healed by the com-passion of a stranger? When were you healed by the compassion of an animal? When were you healed by the compassion of nature? When were you healed by “compassionate art”? Have you ever been healed by the compassion of God? Who’s that person in your life that doesn’t de-serve compassion? Are you sure? Listen to Poetry: “Shoulders” by the poet Naomi Shihab Nye: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=thaNhao7aLg Read: Two articles on creating racial justice through compassion and self awareness: https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/how_to_fight_racism_through_inner_work And https://lindagraham-mft.net/creating-racial-justice-through-compassion-and-self-awareness/ Listen to Music: A YouTube playlist of songs about compassion: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvXOKgOQVYP4g7FvNsYXv_9BX9yoRU_pU A Self Compassion Exercise: https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=89&v=-kfUE41-JFw
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FAMILY MINISTRY Soul Matters for Family Ministries: Creating Sabbath Space - Making Room for Grief This is a time of uncertainty and isolation, and it’s also a time of grief. Loss of life. Loss of jobs. Loss of getting to experience once-in-a-lifetime rituals like graduation. It all takes its toll. And most importantly, we need to make space to acknowledge and honor it. One of the best ways to nurture ourselves in grief is to honor the truth that none of us have to carry our grief alone. Sabbath is the idea of setting aside time for rest and connection with each other. It is a time of remembering and paying attention to what really matters, and the people in your life that really matter. Here are some activities for healing and support:
Family Sabbath Activity: “Who would never say...”
This fun game invites you to bring your beloveds--as well as some well-known fictional, historical, or political characters and figures--into your mind, and maybe your phones! It begins when one player imagines a person, figure, or character--and then thinks of the most Uncharacteristic thing that person would ever say. The speak-er then says or texts that sentence.
• For example, “Who would NEVER say, ‘The military is just for cis boys. I’ll just sit this one out.” (The speaker might be thinking of the Disney character Mulan.) • Or, “Who would NEVER say, ‘Voldemort? We go way back! I’m a big fan!’” (Harry Potter) • Or, “Who would NEVER say, ‘Nah, I’ve got enough tennis balls, thanks; don’t need anybody to throw another one.’” (The family dog, Fido!)
The first one to correctly guess whom the speaker was thinking of offers the clue next time.
If it feels natural to do so, include a “Who would NEVER…” sentence from a beloved friend or family member who has died. In this way, you will be keeping that beloved’s memory fresh and new in your minds.
Family Sabbath Activity: Salt Dough Free-form (and Re-form) Art
One way you might symbolize a broken heart with artwork is with salt dough, a sim-ple and inexpensive medium for sculpting and building. If you make a big batch, you’ll have enough to create your heart altar piece, and then some leftover to play with. Art therapists use salt dough to help people express their thoughts, feelings, celebrations, and worries. The dough will keep fresh in an airtight container for sev-eral weeks, giving all your family members the opportunity to make, unmake, and remake objects and figures that help them process the grief and other feelings of our shared moment. For Salt Dough recipe, click on this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sYJN4XifvbY
Sabbath Extras
• Make a card with a broken heart to comfort one who is missing a precious time, such as a Senior who would have had a Graduation Ceremony and Prom. Offer your words of support and comfort. • Watch the Queen of England’s recent message during the pandemic to her people, meant to reassure and inspire. At 92, she qualifies as one elder who can help us understand how to live through hard times. See her message on the BBC at https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-52176222 • A video of a children’s book about death to watch: Badger's Parting Gifts by Susan Varley https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tRTRABhJTbo
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Family Ministries—Moving On and New Beginnings From Lily Rappaport, Developmental Director of Family Ministries
Children's storybooks can enrich us with fundamental wisdom and meaning. In one of my favorite children’s storybooks, The Complete Tales of Winnie-the-Pooh written by A.A. Milne, the beloved title character states, “How lucky I am to have some-thing that makes saying goodbye so hard.” These words so lovingly and accurately express how I feel as I take my leave of UUCM. In the past two years, I’ve done my best to sow some seeds. We have accomplished much together: creating family friendly spaces for all ages worships and children’s chapels, providing stability for the Sunday RE program, building self-reliant teach-ing teams, and supporting youth integration into the life of the congregation. Addi-tionally, we have been intentional about creating faith formation development op-portunities for families outside of Sunday mornings, including a network of parent support and at-home resources for family faith formation.
And now Judith Hogan, our RE Administrator, will be taking over as the Director of Religious Education. It has been a pleasure to work with and to mentor Judith this year and to help her and the RE Committee transition to a new beginning. While this leave-taking is part of the nature of transitional ministry, it is made hard-er by COVID-19. We don’t get to say goodbye in person and instead have had to do so virtually. You have done deep, loving, remarkable work in ministering to the needs of families and in doing so you’ve created space for new opportunities to take root and flourish. I’m proud to have worked here and to support the congregation in moving through the challenges of this pandemic. May you live ever more fully and fiercely into the world. SUMMER RELIGIOUS EDUCATION In collaboration with area Unitarian Universalist congregations, UUCM will offer a summer program that will Connect our UUCM children with other UU children. UU Kids Connect: Summer Classes for grades K-2 & 3-5 and their families 8 weeks, 8 Unitarian Universalist Principles Mondays/Wednesdays 11 am - 12 pm; July 6 through August 31 Realm Registration for grades K-5 8 Principles class: https://onrealm.org/uumontclair/PublicRegistrations/Event?linkString=NzVlODU1ZTgtMDJhMi00NDFmLWE1MzQtYWJkMzAxN2Q5ZjRm UU Kids Connect: Summer Socials for Grades 6-8 Games, Social Time, Connection, Justice Grades 6-8 Fridays 3pm-4pm; July 10, 24, August 7, 21 Realm Registration for grades 6-8 Summer Socials: https://onrealm.org/uumontclair/PublicRegistrations/Event?linkString=NGNiNGY5NDYtMzBlNy00MzMwLTkzMDYtYWJkYjAxMjkwM2I1 The Treehouse for High School Youth Central East Region is offering a summer program for rising 9th graders through 2020 high school graduates. CER staff and youth leaders are developing a private social media space where youth can connect with each other; with break out spaces for POC and LGBTQ youth, programs to plan worship, and other the communi-ty needs. Registration for Treehouse TBD
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FAQ’S
How do I schedule a meeting with a minister? Contact Rev. Scott ([email protected]) and Intern Antonia ([email protected]) di-rectly. To schedule a meeting with Rev. Anya please use this application: calendly.com/revanya. How do I submit an announcement? For Sunday announcements, all requests need to be sent to our Office & Communications Manager Jaclyn Puleo ([email protected]) by Wednesday. We also send out our weekly email blast on Wednesday. All announcements are included in the blast and also added to our website and social media pages. UUCM-related events take precedence over outside events but we do our best to accommodate all requests. How do I make a monetary donation to UUCM, especially during this difficult time? You can visit our website at www.uumontclair.org. Our homepage has buttons on how to donate electronically. You can also text UUCM Plate $5 or UUCM MESH $5 (or the dollar amount of your choice) to 73256. Standard text message rates do apply. Checks may also be made out to UUCM. Please use the memo line to indicate to us your intentions (i.e., Annual Pledge, Plate Collection, MESH). You can also make donations via electronic funds transfer (EFT). Can I get a Member Directory? If you are a member, you can access the UUCM directory via Realm. If you are not currently on Realm, please let us know when any changes are made to your address, phone number, and/or email address so we have the most current information. Who Should I Contact? Oftentimes, many members confuse the duties of our Administrator Danielle Carlo and our Office & Communications Manager Jaclyn Puleo. We’ve created this helpful chart below that can help clarify our duties. And as always, please reach out to us if you have any questions.
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WORSHIP & CELEBRATION
A Note on Summer Worship From Rev. Anya Sammler-Michael, Senior Co-Minister
Four area congregations are getting together to offer us a very special July worship experience. On each of the four July Sundays a different congregation will provide the service. This means that four congregations will experience the same worship, at the same time - connecting us in faith and community.
Our congregation, UUCM will provide the service on July 5th, our neighbors in Summit, the Beacon Unitari-an Universalists will shine on July 12th. Morristown Unitarian will speak to us on July 19th, and another co-minister duo at the UU Congregation of Monmouth County will preach on July 26th.
Then in August, (like June 28th before) we will be blessed by the return of some of our most revered UUCM lay worship leaders as well as Rev. Scott and I.
Worship is moving to 10:00 AM from June 28 thru September 6, 2020. All of these services will premiere live at our regular summer time of 10:00 AM.
June 28, 2020 “Blessed Be the Fruits” with UUCM member Becca Kennedy Seibert Nast
July 5, 2020 “The Color of Law” with Rev. Anya and Rev. Scott Sammler-Michael
July 12, 2020 “How to Light a Chalice” with Rev. Robin Tanner and Rev. Emily Boggis of Beacon UU Congre-
gation in Summit
July 19, 2020 Sunday Worship Service with Rev. Alison Miller and Stearns Matthews of Morristown Unitarian
Fellowship
July 26, 2020 “In This Together” with Rev. Virginia Jarocha Earnst and Rev. Dr. Craig Rubano from the UU
Congregation of Monmouth County
August 2, 2020 “The Color Purple” with UUCM Member Ghana Imani Hylton August 9, 2020 “For All the Saints” with Rev. Scott Sammler-Michael August 16, 2020 “Post Hoc Ergo Propter Hoc” with UUCM Member Laura Anthony
August 23, 2020 “An Examined Faith” with Rev. Scott Sammler-Michael
August 30, 2020 “A Living Faith” with Rev. Anya Sammler-Michael
Here is some information on how to view services online:
• To watch, you can use your computer, either a desktop or laptop or tablet that can access the Internet. • Use this link to watch the service live: https://www.facebook.com/uumontclair/live • You do not need to log into Facebook: scroll down below the green 'create new account' button and
press 'Not Now'. • The Worship Service will begin to air a few minutes before 10:00 AM. • The Video will then remain on the page, so you and your family can watch at a time that is convenient for
you. Use this same link to watch the video after it airs live: https://www.facebook.com/uumontclair/live • If you have a Facebook account that you use on your smart phone you can access the worship service on
your phone. • Alternately, the you can watch the video after it airs live, from your desktop, laptop, tablet or phone that
can access the internet, on our UUCM YouTube Page: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiu_muZvGUZpyiDUfT88hMg
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On That Note... From Markus Grae-Hauck, Director of Music Ministries
Black Lives Matter.
George Floyd. Breonna Taylor. Ahmaud Arbery.
Three lives lost to racism. Horrific deaths, and yet they are only the tip of a very large iceberg that we have not yet, collectively, acknowledged.
We are not on a collision course. We already hit the iceberg, a long time ago. The ship of our society is taking on water at a rapid rate, but the fact that (as always) the people in steerage are the ones impacted first and foremost has afforded those of us on the upper deck the luxury of pretending that we are not sinking - or if we are indeed sinking (because that real-ity is getting harder to deny every day), that somehow there will be enough lifeboats at least for us who have first-class tickets, that we can make it out alive while others are drowning.
It is not so.
We are all in this together. We either face the history, acknowledge the guilt and shame, and start making amends - or we all go down.
Black Lives Matter.
Here is the playlist from our Soulful Sundown on Friday, June 12, 2020: • “I’ll Rise” - text by Maya Angelou, music by Ben Harper (www.youtube.com/watch?v=-
vgzdkZe4ig) • “I Just Wanna Live” - Keedron Bryant (www.youtube.com/watch?v=UIuSLBX74Ac) • “A Dedication” - LEA (www.youtube.com/watch?v=889FV4gpXIA) • “Resist” - Rev. Sekou ( www.youtube.com/watch?v=uS7UJzEGb4E) • Montclair Unity Walk - Juliana Cardoso (vimeo.com/426838423) • “Black Lives Matter” - Dax (www.youtube.com/watch?v=A2o15RCtSS0) • “Amen/We Shall Overcome” - Shades (www.youtube.com/watch?v=QQmgt8qNKD8)
Friday Night Soulful Sundown We will be hosting this special Friday night programming one Friday a month at 7:30 PM. Connection Cafe will be hosting the Soulful Sundown Comedy Show on Friday, July 10, 2020 at 7:30 PM. We are inviting every-one interested to send in a video with a joke. It can be 1 person or more than one. Also, if they don't want to make a video, they can send in jokes that we will read on air, or reach out to us for help with a video. Email [email protected] for info. Our August Soulful Sundown will be held on Friday, August 7, 2020 at 7:30 PM. It will include ves-pers services, music hours, Sing-a-Longs, Poetry Slams and more.
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Virtual Connection Café—Now at 11:00 AM! You are invited to join us for our virtual Connection Café on Sunday morn-ings, now held at 11:00 AM via Zoom. Our Connection Cafe Team is hard at work creating a meaningful space for us to gather and share. If you haven’t yet experienced our online Connection Cafe, give it a try. Participants report that this format allows us to build relationships across the congregation in ways that will sustain us as individual participants and support our growth as a community. So grab your coffee and join us for a fun way to connect on Sun-day morning. All are welcome. We hope you can join us! Email [email protected] for more info.
MEMBERSHIP CORNER
Newcomer Connections Are you new to the Unitarian Universalist Congregation at Montclair? Are you visiting or "Congregation Shopping" for yourself or your family? Do you want to know a bit more about our congregation and the Uni-tarian Universalist tradition? Join with one of our ministers and other newcomers to for a short, honest, in-depth conversation. We will meet on the first Sunday of the month. Our next meetings will be held on July 5 and August 2, 2020 at 11:00 AM. All of your questions will be honored. Register in advance for any one meet-ing. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. Email [email protected] for more info.
Pathways to Membership Class Join us for our 2-session Pathways to Membership Class on Wednesdays, August 26 and September 2, 2020 from 7:00 to 8:30 PM as we deepen our understanding of the intricacies of the UU tradition as well as the complexity of our congregational life. This class is your path to becoming a member and joining UUCM. Email [email protected] for more info.
New Member Covenant Group
Brand New to UUCM, or new in the past few years? Join a welcoming group of other newcomers for a New Member Covenant Group. This group is for new members and visitors who wish to know the congregation better. We meet on the fourth Thursday of each month. Our next meetings will be held on July 23 and August 27, 2020 at 7:15 PM. Please contact Rev. Anya ([email protected]) for more information.
Find us on social media! Join us on social media by visiting us at: Facebook: UU Congregation at Montclair Twitter: @uumontclair Instagram: uu_montclair YouTube : www.youtube.com/channel/UCiu_muZvGUZpyiDUfT88hMg/ If you have an update or announcement you would like posted through our social networks or on our website, send to [email protected].
WELCOME & ENGAGEMENT
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SERVICE & JUSTICE
GOVERNANCE
Sharing Our Riches
As Unitarian Universalists, one thing that we value is the interdependent web of existence of which we are a part. The health of this web relies on us giving of our time, our talents, and our resources. When you give monetarily to the U, 80 percent of your gifts will care for the Unitarian Universalist Congregation at Montclair, and 20 percent will support our justice recipient.
July’s Sharing Our Riches recipient is the In Our Names Network. It's a national network of organizations, campaigns and individuals working to end police violence against Black women, girls, trans and gender non-conforming people. Since 2016 they have been creating, gathering, and sharing resources and calls for ac-tion for individuals, families, and communities responding to and demanding justice in cases of police vio-lence against Black women, girls, trans and gender nonconforming folks through their website and Face-book page. Learn more at www.inournamesnetwork.com.
August’s Sharing Our Riches recipient is Color Of Change, the nation’s largest online racial justice organi-zation. They help people respond effectively to injustice in the world around us. As a national online force driven by 1.7 million members, they move decision-makers in corporations and government to create a more human and less hostile world for Black people in America. Their campaigns and initiatives win changes that matter. By designing strategies powerful enough to fight racism and injustice—in politics and culture, in the workplace and the economy, in criminal justice and community life, and wherever they exist—they are changing both the written and unwritten rules of society. They mobilize their members to end practices and systems that unfairly hold Black people back, and champion solutions that move us all forward. Until justice is real. Learn more at colorofchange.org/.
From the Board of Trustees From Peter Arian, President, Board of Trustees
I am honored to be writing this message as the newly elected President of the UUCM Board of Trus-tees. As I begin my new role, I believe the biggest issue our Congregation faces is the path to reopening the UUCM building and grounds. At this point in time, the Board has decided to keep the building and grounds closed for Congregational activities until at least August 31, 2020. In the interim, we have created a Reopening Task Force consisting of experts in various disciplines that effect reopening. This task force will be looking at the many complex issues involved and making a recommendation to the Board on how to move forward. I envision some sort of upcoming Town Hall as part of that decisioning. As many of you know, the congregation voted to change the structure of the Executive Committee, elimi-nating the Vice President and adding 2 new officers, President-Elect and Past President. I want to recog-nize that this means that Sue Raufer has graciously accepted to continue her service to UUCM as Past-President, however we have a mutual commitment that she try to limit her time and energy in this re-gard. Also, some members have asked why Denise Rogers, who was Vice President, was not nominated for President. This decision was made solely by Denise because she felt that she was not able to commit the time and energy required at this point in time. Had Denise been able to commit, I can’t think of a more able person to lead the Board.
I will be arranging to hold office hours at some point in the near future, but please know that I will always do my best to be available. My contact information is available in Realm.
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Racism As We See It From Anneliese Scherfen and Jane Gaertner on behalf of the Undoing Racism Committee
Fifty-three years ago, Dr. Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr wrote Where Do We Go From Here: Chaos or Commu-nity?, a book in which King focused on the cause of our national discord: ingrained white racism and pov-erty. The Undoing Racism Committee (URC) believes that we must take Dr. King’s pleas and rededicate our-selves to changing the culture, systems, institutions and laws with urgency. We cannot let another five dec-ades pass without real and lasting change.
Many people have emailed URC to ask how they can be involved. There are so many resources being shared now and many offer good suggestions. Marching in solidarity or virtually supporting the marchers is great. Educating yourself on the history of racism and anti-racism in America is an imperative step. Listening to and believing the voices of Black, Indigenous, & Brown People of Color (BIPOC) is paramount. Calling out your-self, family, & colleagues on microaggressions. Discussing issues of race with others openly. These and more are types of actions you can take.
Since April 2019, a team of about 7 people at UUCM have been examining disproportionate Use of Force against Black people in Montclair (under the Social Justice Coalition umbrella). According to the NJ Force Report, based on population, a Black person is 490% more likely to have force used against them in Montclair. This team, while acknowledging issues in the data, also knows from multiple reports that BIPOC are disproportionately injured/arrested/incarcerated state-wide and nationally. The team has been attempt-ing to tackle this behemoth problem to address excessive force by law enforcement, understand best meth-ods to hold police and our justice systems accountable, as well as how faith-based groups can have an impact. The killings of Breonna Taylor, Maurice Gordon, George Floyd, Tony McDade, Rayshard Brooks, and others at the hands of law enforcement in recent weeks has shone a spotlight and created a sense of urgency.
Black Lives Matter - we are committed to truly knowing the meaning of this banner we installed on UUCM five years ago. The work of antiracism involves taking responsibility and supporting risk. Risk something and join us to find your place in the movement.
The Undoing Racism Committee will begin using a new email ([email protected]) for all Committee correspondence. Please put this email in your contact address books, and always keep your Realm info up-to-date, as all URC correspondence for meetings will be through Realm.
Our Monthly MESH Collection Montclair Emergency Services for the Homeless (MESH) is a local, faith-based organization dedicated to providing basic and essential services to Montclair’s most vulnerable homeless adults and families. When there is a month with 5 Sundays there will be just one Offering collection, and MESH will get the entire collec-tion. Our next 5th Sunday collection will be on August 30, 2020. Every penny received is used to buy food for the guests. No exceptions. Thank you so much to everyone who contributes to UUCM MESH via the UU collec-tion, donations in honor or memory of an event or person, or out of extreme generosity. Contact David Bron-stein ([email protected]) for more info.
Exploring BLUU Group
Have you heard of BLUU?? Black Lives of UU (BLUU) is for all people connected to Unitarian Universalism that identify* as Black. We invite you to join us for an Exploring BLUU Meeting on Fridays, July 17 & August 21, 2020 at 6:00 PM to learn more about the BLUU Collective, connect and support each other in our shared and unique experiences as UUs of Color. For those who do not identify as black or a person of color, we invite you to join the UUCM's Undoing Racism Committee and Allies for Ra-cial Equity group to empower and support members in dismantling systems of oppression through BLUU, DRUUMM (Diverse and Revolutionary UU Multicultural Ministries) and ARE (Allies for Racial Equi-ty). During this time of global challenge, groups like these are especially needed. Please contact Dana Moore at [email protected] for more info.
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Social Justice Coalition and MESH Volunteering From Teresa DeSousa and Johanna Foster, Co-Chairs, Social Justice Coalition
Thank you all for your continued support of our efforts to partner with the amazing folks at MESH (Montclair Emergency Services for the Homeless) in providing a weekly meal to our friends and neigh-bors in need. The SJC volunteer crew is carrying on in our coordination of ready-to-eat bags to supplement the weekly MESH dinner service. Here is how you can help in the weeks ahead! Sign up to be a shopper or a bagger of groceries using this required Google link: tinyurl.com/ybmufnea or email [email protected] for a volunteer slot. It is very important to remember that only folks who sign-up with us and are confirmed by our coordi-nating team may shop, deliver, or bag for groceries! We can NOT receive any unconfirmed gro-cery donations! Please be advised: We can NOT accept any non-scheduled grocery donations or deliveries any-where on the UUCM property under any circumstances! To clarify, this means any grocery do-nations or other packages that are left at the UUCM for this project, no matter how clearly la-beled, carefully prepared, or well-meaning in the delivery, will be rejected/discarded for health and safety reasons! The unscheduled delivery of such items to the UUCM endangers our staff and community members. Failure to follow these guidelines may result in the termination of the project. If you wish to donate groceries, we will happily provide you with a pre-approved list of items, and also schedule your drop-off during our once-a-week only drop-off time and location, which is Wednesday at 3:30 PM in Fletcher Hall. Again, please see the required sign-up sheet and one of our coordinators will contact you. All shoppers will be reimbursed (please send receipts to SJC Co-Chair, Teresa DeSousa at [email protected]). Also, so that all are safe, a reminder that all SJC volunteers who sign-up to shop, deliver or bag, must comply with State, Federal and Congregational guidelines by wearing a mask, gloves, and practicing social distancing. As always, thanks again to the MESH team for their on-going front line work, and for allowing the SJC to help contribute whatever additional support we can in these dire times. We are your Social Justice Coalition members: Kathryn Counsell, Teresa DeSousa, Johanna Foster, Roz Gohagan, Georgiana Hart, Peggy Hayden, Nick Lewis, Mike Mernin, Anne Sailer, David Sailer, Anneliese Scherfen, Peg Seip, Maria Towe To be in touch with us, please send an email to [email protected].
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CARE & CONNECTION
Care Team Ministry In this challenging time, the Care Team Ministry, together with the Membership Committee, is working to reach out to every family in the congregation. Our goal is to stay connected; to provide a contact to combat loneliness and isolation or to offer help by shopping for food or medicine for people who are unable to leave their homes. We offer information on how to stay connected with the congregation, help with accessing the weekly Sunday services and lessons on using Zoom, to participate in the virtual gatherings of various groups within the congregation, and Realm, to stay up-to-date with UUCM messages. You can also refer to the weekly eblast, sent as an email entitled “Coming Up @ UUCM: Virtual Meetings and Services”, for a partial list of the ways to stay connected.
We also want to encourage members to enter their birthdays into Realm. Your birth year will not be shared with anyone other than our staff and the members of the Care Team. The Care Team would like to use this information to send you a card.
Please reach out to us by email at [email protected] if there is any need we can help with or if you are interested in volunteering with this ministry. For pastoral care, contact Rev. Anya Sammler-Michael at [email protected] or Rev. Scott Sammler-Michael at [email protected].
Covenant Groups at UUCM Covenant Groups are small groups of members and friends of our congregation that gather monthly for spiritual, intellectual and emotional deepening. These groups help our friends and members build a sense of community at our congregation while em-powering each participant individually. Below are the groups that will be meeting this month via Zoom.
• Drop In Covenant Group meets weekly on Wednesday from 4:00 to 5:00 PM. Looking for spiritual connection in this time of distancing? This group creates con-nection through a chalice lighting, check-in and discussion. No commitment is required - drop-in any week. Open to High School Youth and Adults.
• New Member Covenant Group is for new members and visitors who wish to know the congregation bet-ter.
• Art and Soul welcomes anyone with a passion for the visual arts; anyone who finds spiritual connection and personal expression within the act of making, contemplating and/or discussing visual creation and ideas relating to it. Meeting: Third Thursday of the month, 7:30 PM
• The Poetry Covenant Group is open to those who enjoy reading poetry and sharing this love with others. After the reading of each poem there is an opportunity for a discussion of the offering. Bring your favor-ite poem to share with us and be prepared for a good time with this group. Meeting: Fourth Sunday of the month, 7:00 – 9:00 PM.
• The Monday Nighters, part of our Soul Matters Covenant Groups, meets monthly and considers the theme of the month and shares personal reflections of our respective life journeys relative to each theme. Meeting: First Monday at 7:30 PM led by Sarah Scalet.
Please consider signing up to engage in a Covenant Group at UUCM. Explore our existing Identity Covenant Groups by visiting: www.uumontclair.org/commuunity/covenant-groups/ or contact Claudia Sanders at [email protected] with any questions you may have.
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Our Coping Skills Group meets on the first Monday of the month from 6:30 to 8:00 PM. Our next meeting s will be on July 6 & August 3, 2020. Our coping skills are being challenged like never before as a result of the presence of COVID-19 in our community. Sheltering in-place sounds easy. But, it is not. For those who have lost jobs, have lost working hours at jobs, are part of families with children, are dealing with the Coronavirus among family and friends, and for those living alone, just to name a few situations, more stress than usual is now part of our everyday lives. The group will be facilitated by Dick Kessler. This is will not be a therapy or counseling group, but is a support group for all to share coping skills and strategies. Please contact Dick Kess-ler at [email protected] for more information and to receive a set of group guidelines that are will initially be used to guide the group.
The UUCM Dream Group meets on the second Monday of the month from 7:30 to 9:00 PM via Zoom. Our next meetings will be on July 13 & August 10, 2020. Are you interested in learning more about what your dreams can reveal about you and your life? Bring a brief written description of a recent or past dream to share. Feel free to bring in a snack as well (which is optional). Instructions for new members will be provided. Please contact Jerry Boutcher via Realm for more info.
The Senior Lunch Bunch meets on the second and fourth Wednesday of every month from Noon to 1:30 PM. Our next meetings will be on July 8 & 22 and August 12 & 26, 2020. Our meetings focus on simply sharing general conversation about things that we have done recently and things going on around us. Remember, all UUs and their friends are welcome; there are no age constraints on participation. For more information, con-tact Gary Sanderson via Realm.
The UUCM Men's Group welcomes everyone who identifies as male to share mutual support and discus-sions about our lives, triumphs, and struggles. During this time we will meet online via Zoom on the 2nd and 4th Thursdays at 7:30 PM. Our next meetings will be on July 9 & 23 and August 13 & 27, 2020. Due to sched-uling conflicts not all meetings can be hosted or moderated, but in light of the ongoing crisis all are welcome to gather weekly to receive and provide support. Email [email protected] for information.
Our UUCM Women’s Group meets on the second Friday of the month. Our next meetings will be on Friday, July 10 & August 14, 2020 from 7:00 to 9:00 PM. An email with the details will go out one week ahead. Please contact either Marcia Mandel or Maryann Ficker at [email protected] to get info or get on the email list. Come and enjoy the company and support of other women! Our intention is to be compassionate to one another by being responsive to each other's needs, maintaining and respecting each other's confidentiali-ty, while being responsible for our own needs.
Our Grief Support Group provides a caring and confidential environment that allows its members to share their experiences with others around their loss. We all experience losses throughout our lifetime, whether they are a loss of loved ones, others important to us, or important parts of our lives. The group is facilitated by an experienced group leader and participation guidelines are provided. The group meets on the third Monday of each month. Our next meetings will be on July 20 & August 17, 2020. Please contact Dick Kessler at [email protected] for info.
In normal times, the Crazy QUUilters meet in the Rotunda on the third Saturday of each month. During this challenging time we continue to stay connected through ZOOM on the third Saturday at 11:00 AM. Our next meetings will be on July 18 & August 15, 2020. Contact Arlene at [email protected] for more information. The work done by the Crazy QUUilters brings joy to the creators and the recipients. Among our current projects are lap quilts lovingly made for UUCM members as a warm reminder of our congregation’s thoughts and prayers. We have also decided to offer the companionship of our monthly meetings to other crafters. If you knit, crochet or do other hand work you are welcome to join us for about 4 hours of shared cre-ating. The workshop is open to all willing hands (previous experience not required).
Ongoing Groups at UUCM Below are our groups that meet on a regular basis and their upcoming meeting dates. All meetings this month will meet via Zoom.
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Yes, you can still share remembrances at our virtual services. If you would
like to have the Sunday worship leader share your remembrance please
send it to [email protected] by Thursday at 10am.
If you would prefer not to have your concern read aloud, email your name,
address, phone number to [email protected] and explain
your situation or concern.
We lit a candle of sadness for Terrell Morris, nicknamed Snacky, a former employee of our congregation, a part time custodian. We just learned that Terrell died in February and while we don’t know much about the circumstances, we mourn this loss.
Petra Kershaw lit a candle for her daughter Cadie and her grandchildren who are moving to Missouri. This candle also shines for Petra, who will now have 1700 miles between her and these dear ones. May love help her cross that distance.
Kate Loysen Turek lit a candle of concern and healing for her brother, Andrew Loysen, who had spinal surgery. Posi-tive thoughts for a safe surgery. May Andrew’s wife Marisa and daughter Madeleine be well as they provide his care.
Pat Patrick lit a candle of sorrow for the passing of her friend, Doug McAndrew. Doug died of pneumonia on June 12, 2020. He was a dear friend whose eyes lit up when he saw you. Pat says, “I was so lucky to be in his orbit.” Please keep Doug and his loved ones in your thoughts, and cherish all your friendships.
This is a candle of Joy - It was a big week for Supreme Court Decisions - the first candle was lit in celebration of the Supreme Court Decision that strengthened the 1964 Civil Rights Act by applying the phrase, “because of sex,” to LGBTQIA persons, giving federal legal protection to transgender and gender queer Americans. A second candle is for the decision that ensured the continuation of DACA , ensuring that the dreamers can stay in the only home they’ve ever known, the USA (at least for the present.) For both of these decisions we celebrate!
Tom and Sue Parente lit a candle of joy - they were married in love 40 years ago on June 21 and they would like you to celebrate this beautiful event with them in spirit.
We lit a candle with houses of worship across the world, as we remembered World Refugee Day.
Dan and Leslie Silver mourn the passing of friend David Chapin, a Montclair native, who had introduced them to this congregation almost 30 years ago. He will be missed by many and loved in our hearts always.
We lit a candle to celebrate Pride and to honor all of the individuals in our congregation and beyond who risk to be their honest, full, beautiful selves. You are seen and we believe in you.
Peter Arian lit a candle of hope for Dave. Peter shared, “Dave is someone I got to know when he was a frequent MESH guest. We talk regularly and in our last conversation he told me he just received his stimulus check and did I need any money because he has some extra. I pray for him every day.”
Rae Dumont lit a candle of love for her stepdaughters, Caitlin and KC, and hopes it may shine a little light in the midst of their grief.
Wendy McNeil lit a candle for Herbie, her brother, her favorite relative. He has been in the hospital with COVID-19. Please hold Herbie and Wendy in your prayers.
Wayne Foti lit a candle for Larry Kramer, the Playwright Author, ACT Founder and AIDS activist who died on May 27, 2020, Wayne’s friend since the early1980s.” Hold Larry’s family in your thoughts and prayers.
We lit a candle for our congregation’s community minister, Rev. Jackie Lahey who serves as a hospice chaplain. She has continued to serve with grace as the demands on her time and energy have grown exponentially.
We lit a candle for the many members of our congregation that serve in the field of health care - nurses, doctors, counselors, psychologists and more who carry such a heavy burden. May they be well.
Deb Ellis & Hal Strelnick lit a candle of joy for Reine Duevi, who is healed from COVID-19 after 5 weeks of quarantine with them, and can now fully join their family.
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UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST CONGREGATION AT MONTCLAIR 67 Church Street, Montclair NJ 07042
SUMMER WORSHIP SCHEDULE SUNDAYS SERVICES WILL BE STREAMED LIVE AT 10:00 AM
AT WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/UUMONTCLAIR/LIVE
June 28, 2020
“Blessed Be the Fruits” UUCM Member Becca Kennedy Seibert Nast
July 5, 2020
“The Color of Law” Rev. Anya & Rev. Scott Sammler-Michael
July 12, 2020
“How to Light a Chalice” Rev. Robin Tanner and Rev. Emily Boggis of Beacon UU
Congregation in Summit
July 19, 2020
Sunday Worship Service Rev. Alison Miller and Stearns Matthews of Morristown
Unitarian Fellowship
July 26, 2020
“In This Together” Rev. Virginia Jarocha Earnst and Rev. Dr. Craig Rubano
from the UU Congregation of Monmouth County
August 2, 2020
“The Color Purple” UUCM Member Ghana Imani Hylton
August 9, 2020
“For All the Saints” Rev. Scott Sammler-Michael
August 16, 2020
“Post Hoc Ergo Propter Hoc”
UUCM Member Laura Anthony
August 23, 2020
“An Examined Faith” Rev. Scott Sammler-Michael
August 30, 2020
“A Living Faith” Rev. Anya Sammler-Michael
DATED MATERIAL ~ PLEASE EXPEDITE
