Your Mortgage Prevention Capital Campaign has a lot to share! We’ve been a little quiet during the Annual Support Drive , but we wanted to share this update. In June 2023 you authorized us finish fundraising and to spend 4.8 million dollars for our Addition and related improvements. You did authorize up to $400,000 of that to be put into a mortgage. Then, last July 21, 2024,  we announced that we had less than $400,000 remaining to raise to prevent having a mortgage when our construction loan comes due in August 2026.   So we launched this “ Mortgage Prevention” phase, hoping for no mortgage at all.. The Gateways team managing this construction has just paid the final bills for the Addition, right within the budget you authorized.  We are done! The separate fundraising for the Solar Project is complete, fully funded at $180,000, with a combination of direct gifts and low-interest loans.  This budget includes a contingency. A contract is signed and we expect construction to start soon!  The money raised for the Solar Project included $15,700 already spent by Gateways to prepare the Addition for installation of solar panels. This amount has now been credited back to the Capital Campaign. As a result, and due to your continuing generosity, the remaining need to avoid a mortgage is now less than $335,000! What’s next?   We will continue contacting members and friends through this August for gifts and pledges towards the remaining need.  In September we will kick off a renewed effort to raise whatever still remains as of that date. We will start with an information session on September 21 st after the service, focused especially on newer members.  We are hoping to hold other exciting events in the Fall. We have had some Leadership changes:   Franklin has stepped down as Co-chair; Shari will continue through the end of the campaign. Please contact Shari or the main office to volunteer to help bring this home! We need a lot of help – planning events, contacting members for visits, making our communications as clear as we can –  but … We have a Campaign End Date!  The capital campaign will be winding up by December 31,  2025. Your pledge payments may continue past that date, but capital fundraising will come to a close. What if we don’t raise it all? If we don’t raise the amount needed to pay off the construction loan, repayment will have to come out of the Operating Budget, starting August 2026.  Options the Board will consider include extending the current loan for an additional year on an interest-only basis, or taking out a mortgage, in either case as of August 2026. Thank you! Mortgage Prevention Capital Campaign Team – Shari Loe, Chair; Laurent Comes, Tim Davis, Candice Donaldson, Helene Ferm, Paul Ferm, Rev. Sasha Ostrom

Over 100 members of the Morristown UU Fellowship contributed in person, virtually and by e-mail to explore the idea of Welcoming, our first Open Question of the year. Several prompts encouraged participants in small dynamic groups to share their experiences of being welcomed, being welcoming and experiences that feel less welcoming. Facilitators summarized the shared wisdom on large notepads so that the shared wisdom could be seen in real time within the small groups as participants responded to the experiences, observations and suggestions being shared.  Many participants offered comments on the process. In general, the process comments reflected positive experiences interacting with people they hadn’t met or gotten to know, or even people they just hadn’t seen in a while. Some noted they were hearing things they had not personally thought about and appreciated the wide range of experience. There was an appreciation for the open invitation for the whole Fellowship to share in the Open Question conversation. Comments with suggestions for improvement were also offered, for example noting that the RE teachers found it difficult to engage since they were teaching during the live sessions.  There was overlap between the responses to the different prompts, as participants continued to mull over previous prompts or anticipate subsequent prompts during the sessions. Facilitators helped guide the sharing to offer all participants an opportunity to speak and to allow all of the prompts to be addressed.  Some strong themes bubbled up.  A search for personal and family spiritual development is what brought many participants through the door the first time. Connection to wisdom from the pulpit, connection to community within the worship service, connection to religious education (all ages) were all offered up as welcoming.  Participation in social justice groups, support groups and common interest groups were valued as well. The ability to explore the wisdom of different faith traditions felt welcoming to many of you. The freedom to express one’s own beliefs, traditions and questions was valued. There was a comment about the Fellowship being not churchy enough and one about being too churchy in response to the prompt about not feeling welcome. This is perhaps confirmation that we are truly Unitarian Universalists.  The power of interpersonal connection was the most strongly expressed measure of what makes us feel both welcomed and welcoming. And the lack of interpersonal connection was a common theme in feeling unwelcomed.  Being remembered the second time you came, having a name tag in the rack, and having someone sit next to you in the service made a difference.  Many described taking this feeling of welcome and passing it along by being a person who now says “Hi, it is good to see you” to the newcomer, or sits with them in the service, or hands them their new name tag from the rack when they come back again.  Several of you expressed an appreciation for an open but undemanding engagement when you were new. Many expressed the joy in the relationships you have here, whether months or decades long, that make this your spiritual home. It feels good to be seen and appreciated You shared the experience that a specific invitation to participate in our community strengthens the interpersonal connection. Specific invitations to participate in the life of the Fellowship both within our walls and externally through social justice work matter. Many of you reflected back on being invited to sing in the choir, or teach an RE class, or volunteer with one of our social justice teams and that welcome feeling of belonging .  Invitation made a difference to you, and many of you now actively engage new visitors, friends and members in the same way. From an invitation to chat over coffee after the service to inviting a new person to participate in a social justice activity, invitation matters. This theme was expanded to include indirect invitations. For instance, knowing how to reach out to groups and committees to volunteer time and energy is valuable. The ability to use the website to easily identify specific opportunities to participate matters. Easy access to opportunities to serve, and to information are welcoming. It feels good to be active in our community. The invitation to share thoughts around diversity led to exploration of the different ways diversity can be observed, appreciated and welcomed . There was recognition of the attention toward making the new Gateways addition welcoming for those who benefit from entry into the space without a single step up, a panel to open the door automatically and large gender-neutral private bathrooms. The repurposing of space to support those who don’t enjoy large crowds or loud noises was appreciated. There were observations that it felt welcoming to be able to express yourself in a safe space even when everyone in the conversation does not agree with your position on an issue. There was a recognition that we have an opportunity to be more welcoming to everyone who may not even know yet that they can find a spiritual home here. Opportunities to share who we are and what we are here to do with the wider community were suggested.  These included activities to bring our story to the community and activities to bring the community to us. There were also opportunities identified to expand our own appreciation of the many forms diversity can take, so we can understand the many forms welcoming diversity can take.  The Committee on Ministries, The Board and Rev. Sasha are grateful for the response to the First Open Question. The wisdom shared during the Open Questions is one source that will help guide the development of next year’s Vision of Ministry.  The current year Vision of Ministry goals center around Spiritual Development, Relationship and Communication, and Social Justice.

Did you know that there has been a 32% increase in unsheltered homelessness in Morris County YTD? And did you know that there are state-level resources available to help people access housing? Rev. Sasha learned both facts last Wednesday when joining other Morristown faith leaders for a meeting with Michael Callahan, Director of the Office of Homelessness Prevention for the NJ Department of Community Affairs, and Jillian Barrick, our Town Administrator for Morristown. They hope to activate faith community support for an upcoming state-funded effort here in our community. Called the “Sprint,” this 6-month rapid initiative seeks to house 25 chronically unsheltered individuals here in Morristown and strengthen community coordination. Working through Collaborative Support Programs of New Jersey (CSPNJ), faith communities are invited to support the Sprint in any way we are able, which might include: meals move-in kits volunteers donations non-judgmental listening hospitality circles fundraising events supply drives Faith leaders from several Morristown congregations attended the meeting, and there was strong interest in the room in joining together in this effort. Each congregation is free to decide for ourselves what kind of support we can provide. No congregation needs to do everything, but we are all encouraged to do something. How wonderful it would be if Morristown UU could be a part of this important community project! Rev. Sasha is looking for a team of 3-5 volunteers to coordinate our congregation’s participation in this interfaith effort. She anticipates that this work will last approximately 6 months, although there could be future opportunities if the Sprint is successful, as this is somewhat of a trial case for what could be a longer-term program here in Morristown. Because the effort begins in approximately 2-3 weeks, Sasha is especially looking for people who are prepared to help her rapidly assess what kind of support MUUF is able to offer and then organize our community to provide it. If you’re interested, please email Rev. Sasha.

Hey Bingo Babes! Remember the dazzling nights, the hilarious calls, and those sweet, sweet Bingo wins? Well, get ready to dust off your dabbers because Very Gerry is back to help us KICK OFF PRIDE MONTH with a night of unforgettable Drag Bingo! That’s right, on  Saturday, May 31st , get ready for a campy and crazy 90-minute experience with the internationally known  Very Gerry ! Expect four rounds of thrilling Bingo with fabulous  PRIZES  up for grabs. Gerry will keep the energy high with plenty of  AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION ,  LIVE VOCALS , and, of course, those wonderfully  CORNY JOKES  we all secretly love! But wait, there’s more glamour to behold! Joining Very Gerry on stage will be the incredible talents of  CRYSTAL LITE ,  SUMMER EVE SLAYER , and  SABRINA SLAYER , with  DJ E  spinning the tunes to keep the party going all night long! Here are all the dazzling details: Date:  Saturday, May 31st Time:  7:00 PM Doors Open (Please note: Doors to the main showroom will not open until 7:00 PM sharp!) Location:  Morristown Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, 21 Normandy Heights Rd, Morristown, NJ 07960 Ticket Options to Snatch Up: $25 VIP:  Treat yourself like royalty with 1 Bingo card, premium seating, and a photo opportunity! VIP bracelets will be distributed at check-in on a first-come, first-served basis at designated VIP tables (maximum 8 per table). $15 Single Pringle/GA:  Grab your general admission ticket, which includes 1 Bingo card. Seats are first-come, first-served in the designated GA seating area (maximum 8 per table). And because we at the Fellowship are think you all are so fabulous, we’ll be providing  complimentary coffee, tea, and desserts ! Feel free to bring your own outside food (just note that refrigeration isn’t available). Important Note:  This is an 18+ event, and please be aware that there are no refunds unless the performance is cancelled by Very Gerry Entertainment. You know how much fun these nights are, so don’t miss out on this fantastic way to kick off Pride Month with laughter, dazzling performances, and maybe even a little bit of luck! Ready to secure your spot? Tickets are available now ! We can’t wait to see your fabulous faces on May 31st! -Your Friends at the Morristown Unitarian Universalist Fellowship Get Your Tickets!

The Sunday Plate distribution for April was $1,442. The recipient organizations are UU Side With Love, Black Lives UU, RAMP – Refugee Assistance Morris Partners, UU Ministry For Earth. Thank you for your continued generosity!

Would you like another reminder about all the exciting things we have going on at the Fellowship? Sign up for a weekly email on Friday filled with all the events that the Fellowship has to offer. Fill out the Newsletter Sign Up Form and Check off “Weekly Events Update”. You can also select to receive and update on Sunday Moring with links to that days Service. #mc_embed_signup{background:#fff; false;clear:left; font:14px Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; width: 600px;} /* Add your own Mailchimp form style overrides in your site stylesheet or in this style block. We recommend moving this block and the preceding CSS link to the HEAD of your HTML file. */ Subscribe * indicates required Email Address * First Name Last Name Phone Number Other Email Updates Sunday Updates – A Sunday email about that say’s service. Weekly Events Update – An email on Fridays of only events. Youth and Children’ News – Occasional email about Youth and Children Programs. (function($) {window.fnames = new Array(); window.ftypes = new Array();fnames[0]='EMAIL';ftypes[0]='email';fnames[1]='FNAME';ftypes[1]='text';fnames[2]='LNAME';ftypes[2]='text';fnames[4]='PHONE';ftypes[4]='phone';fnames[3]='ADDRESS';ftypes[3]='address';fnames[5]='BIRTHDAY';ftypes[5]='birthday';}(jQuery));var $mcj = jQuery.noConflict(true);

Please register to join a few Meadville Lombard alumni on  Tuesday, May 13 at 6:30pm CT  for  Poets, Poetry, and Presence:  An Evening with MLTS Alums . This is an exciting opportunity to showcase just a few of MLTS talented graduates. It’s a night of illuminating poetry and discussion, hosted by Marketing & Comms Officer, Chloë Westerfield. Featured Alums Rev. Dr. David Breeden David Breeden is a poet, practical theologian, and former Senior Minister of the First Unitarian Society of Minneapolis. A long-time public intellectual, he holds an MFA from the Iowa Writers’ Workshop, a PhD from the Center for Writers at the University of Southern Mississippi, and an MDiv from Meadville Lombard. His work explores the intersections of spirituality, aesthetics, and the human condition. He has published dozens of books, including translations, fiction, theology, and, mostly, poetry.   Rev. Alix Klingerber Rev. Alix is a UU minister, spiritual director, and published poet. Alix leads creative writing workshops, and works 1-on-1 with people to help them develop their own spiritual life and creative practices. She lives in Melrose, MA with her family, 2 cats, and a ridiculous dog named Cricket.

In 2017, I became an ambassador for Days For Girls, a non- profit started by a woman in Ca. who visited Africa and learned that most menstruating girls miss school when they have their periods and many drop-out. Period products are unaffordable, hard to get in rural communities and there is stigma attached with menstruation. As an ambassador, my goal was to educate and give access to period kits that contain washable product , cost about $10 to make and last about 3 years. My childhood friend, Darcy, and I had sponsored girls through Compassion International, another NGO that helps children go to school by providing uniforms and supplies. We ventured together to Togo and Ghana, to meet the girls we were sponsoring. We brought along with us (50) period kits made by a DFG group in NC. We first went to the village in Togo, where we met our girls, their families and met the village elders to ask if we could do an education session and gift the girls and women in the community with the kits. The response was so overwhelmingly well received, we did the education the very next day to teens and nursing mothers. Darcy and I were so thrilled at the response, we researched a DFG kit making headquarters in Ghana and traveled there to purchase another (50) kits to do another education at a church after Sunday services. The whole community stayed, men and boys, elders and girls, to see these two outsiders, white women from the USA, give a talk and share the kits. What came out of our trip was we met with Compassion International in Accra, Ghana, and shared the DFG educational experiences in the villages. We connected the leaders of the two NGO’s and planted the seed that they might join forces to create sewing groups in these communities. This would not only provide the menstrual kits it would potentially provide income to the women, who would be trained to make the kits.  We went back to Togo and bought sewing machines and sergers for the village there to start them off. I am happy to report there are now (8) sewing centers making the DFG kits in Togo. I am so pleased that my dream of starting a kit making group has come to fruition here at MUUF. We meet here the 4th Monday of each month. We have had 3 sessions with 10-12 participants. Sarah Zadorozyj, who I met at the Union DFG group, generously shares her sewing machines and knowledge to help our group learn the many steps that go into making the kits. We work with the other NJ based groups to put together (50) kits to send to DFG to distribute where needed and also have sent kits to women’s shelter in Nj and NY. We are happy to receive financial donations to keep up our work as well as fabric, cotton and flannel. Join Me in This Important Work

May 5, 6 pm: Tech for Seniors:  As we age, more and more of us live alone. And, as we age we become more prone to little annoyances such as misplacing the keys or straining to hear the television. We also lose flexibility and strength, making us susceptible to life-threatening falls. This evening we will be exploring ways to make better use of tech gadgetry to help us age in place with grace. We’ll discuss health tracking devices, sound-enhancing speakers, tags for locating misplaced items, and computerized personal assistants. May 12 , 6 pm: The Joys of May:  As the warming days of spring lovingly blanket us, we look to the traditions of the “lusty month of May” from Cinco de Mayo to Mother’s Day to Memorial Day.  May is the time when the flowers prepared by the April showers burst forth – lily of the valley the official one, while forsythia, daffodils, lilacs, hyacinths, crocuses, and tulips bedazzle the eye everywhere one looks! Many significant events occurred during past Mays, and people will be entertained and informed about “Lucky Lindy,” Charles Lindbergh’s historic flight from New York to Paris, Amelia Earhart’s attempt to cross the Atlantic, the founding of the women’s services, the origin of Mother’s Day celebrations, and Memorial Day.  This is Mental Health Awareness Month, and it is significant that 50% of the LGBTQ community are affected annually. May 19 , 6 pm: Movie night: Different for Girls : Paul and Karl were childhood friends in school.  Twenty years later they meet by accident, but they’ve changed. Paul has become a rowdy character, while Karl, who’s now a transgender woman, prefers a life of organized tranquility. Can they reignite their friendship? This 1996 English film stars Rupert Graves and Stephen Mackintosh. Refreshments are served, and attendees are asked for a small donation at each meeting. May 26 , 6pm: Memorial Day at the Florham Park Diner : Enjoy good fun & food at a reasonable price!  We’ll meet at the restaurant located at 182 Ridgedale Ave in Florham Park .  Please rsvp by Friday, May 23,  to Gordon Sauer at president@gaamc.org .

The Music Director Search Team is excited to announce that we have found our new Music Director! Victoria Lotkowictz begins her work with us this Thursday, May 1st and will officially begin leading music in services in a few weeks. Victoria comes to us with over 20 years of experience in sacred music and music education. As Music Director at St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church for nearly a decade, she has curated and led liturgical music that fosters meaningful worship experiences. She has directed choirs, collaborated with clergy and musicians, arranged music, and provided accompaniment on piano and organ. In addition, her private teaching studio, Lessons by Victoria, has allowed her to nurture students, organize recitals, and compose original works tailored to their needs. Her work extends beyond performance to music education, administration, and digital engagement. Additionally, her background in social media management and event planning can support our broader community engagement efforts. We are excited to welcome her as our new Music Director! The Search Committee was impressed by Victoria’s musical and conducting talents, and we are excited that she will be joining us as our new Music Director!

“It’s a wrap!” Join us on May the Fourth after service for our wrap party luncheon in Chu Hall – to celebrate the end of our Annual Pledge Drive. If you have already submitted your pledge – our Alliance  truly  thanks you for your generosity, and invite you to our “ May the 4th be with you ” luncheon after service celebration for members and friends that have supported us this year through pledging. If you haven’t gotten your pledge in – please pledge before the drive ends! So far we are at 80% to our $490,000 pledge goal and have one week left to meet our goal (with 103 households out of 173 that have pledged during this drive), so that we can implement the updated UUA-recommended salaries, maintain our buidlings and grounds, and continue to maintain & expand our vital programming. The Fellowship is sustained primarily by our pledges (over three-quarters of our funding comes from members and friends like you, through our Annual Pledge Drive), so we all truly count on the support of every individual and family. We ask that you make a written pledge during our April Annual Pledge Drive by either filling out and  returning a pledge card at the Fellowship  (these are collected by Katy Julich, our office administrator), or  click this link to pledge on-line  and enter your annual pledge in the giving menu (which can even allow you to use automatic monthly payments). Are you new to the ways of the Fellowship? One of our young apprentices prepared a video that helps explain how our annual pledge drive supports us:  MUUF Pledge Drive 2025 video And if you missed our service on Easter Sunday, please see one of our Jedi masters’ personal testimonial on why pledging helps balance himself and the Fellowship:  Budget drive testimonial Remember, our hurting world needs strong and courageous Unitarian Universalist communities like ours, offering a powerful ministry to a world crying out for love and justice. Let’s rise together to answer the call before us and get your pledge in this week! And remember… “the Fellowship will be with you…always…if we get our pledges in…” Tim Davis Stewardship Trustee-at-Large padawan

The Transylvanian Unitarian High School Choir of Kolozsvar is touring the USA. Kolozsvar is about 90 minutes drive from our Partner Church in Sinfalva. Here is the entire schedule . I was privileged to attend the performance at Shelter Rock UU on Long Island. It was a wonderful event. Such a joy to see these lovely young people, and hear them singing in seven languages. Here is the program of the performance . The performance was recorded. This link will take you to 1:40 , the song One by U2 mashed up with a Hungarian folk song Erdöerdö, see p. 12 of the program. The previous song at 1:36:45 is also very enjoyable, “ Bring Me Little Water, Silvy ” by Lead Belly, particularly charming with a Hungarian accent and complex handclapping.