“Sir, the odds of successfully navigating an Annual Budget are 3720 to 1!”…”Never tell us the odds.” More than ever, 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. Our annual budget drive continues only until May 4th this year – so let’s rise together to answer the call before us and get your pledge in soon before the drive ends! So far we are at 73% to our $490,000 pledge goal. Our Stewardship volunteers have reached out with calls & emails reach out this week, with a friendly reminder for those members and friends who have not made a pledge yet this year – to submit their financial support pledges before our HYPERdrive ends. Our annual budget, funded primarily through your generosity, allows us to be a community of inspiration, connection, and service to the wider galaxy. The Fellowship is sustained primarily by our pledges (roughly 80% 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 this past Easter Sunday, please see one of our Jedi masters’ personal testimonial on why pledging helps balance himself and the Fellowship: Budget drive testimonial 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. May the Fellowship be with you! Tim Davis Stewardship Trustee-at-Large padawan

Earlier this month, about 1/3 of our Sunday morning service attendees reported participating in the April 5th “Hands Off” protest here in Morristown. The time has now come for us to show up in defense of our democracy once again: at 12pm on Saturday, April 19th in Trenton. Join Rev. Sasha and your fellow MUUF members for “Rise Up”! And bring food to donate; this is a food drive as well as a rally! Unable to travel to Trenton to join us in our state capital? Consider participating in one of the other “Rise Up” rallies closer to you:

“I am one with the Fellowship, and the Fellowship is with me.” Our annual budget drive continues only until May 4th this year – so get your pledge in soon before the drive ends! So far we are at 64% to our $490,000 pledge goal. Our Stewardship volunteers will be using the force to reach out with their feelings this week, with a friendly reminder for those members and friends who have not made a pledge yet this year – to submit their financial support pledges before our HYPERdrive ends. Our annual budget, funded primarily through your generosity, allows us to be a community of inspiration, connection, and service to the wider galaxy. The Fellowship is sustained primarily by our pledges (roughly 80% 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 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. May the Fellowship be with you! Tim Davis Stewardship Trustee-at-Large padawan

UU THE STATEHOUSE: DAY OF LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY EDUCATION – Monday, May 5.  This day was created for those who may want to meet with legislators to discuss their concerns but may not feel comfortable doing so.  The group will assemble at or near the statehouse to learn how to do legislative advocacy, meet a member of the legislature, have lunch together, then attend a committee meeting.  I will post the link as soon as it is released – or you can see me April 27 during coffee hour if you are interested. ANNUAL MEETING ON MAY 31 to be held at UU Congregation at Washington Crossing.   This meeting will be hybrid.  The morning session will be the regular annual business meeting.  After the lunch break each task force will speak about their prioritized issues for the coming year and how they intersect.  As this is a major election year for NJ, all NJ UUs are encouraged to attend.  More information will be posted as it is released. FRIDAY ACTION HOUR – The next Friday Action Hour will be on April 18 at Noon.  As usual actions can be done at your leisure anytime after the docs are updated at Noon.  Additional details are available at bit.ly/1st-Fridays TRANSFORMING HEARTS COLLECTIVE TRAINING ON HOW TO BE AN ALLY TO THE LGBT+ COMMUNITY WITH AN EMPHASIS ON TRANS ISSUES.   This program consists of a series of webinars and discussions.  Planning is ongoing.  More information should be forthcoming shortly.  Will post when released. RALLY AT PHILADELPHIA FEDERAL COURT MAY 1 AGAINST CORE CIVIC – CoreCivic is challenging NJ state law prohibiting ICE detention centers in the Court of Appeals.  If you are interested in attending contact Charles at charles@uufaithaction.org TASK FORCES – At the present time there are four task forces: Environmental Justice, Criminal Justice, Reproductive Justice, and Immigration Justice.  Reps will be at coffee hour on April 27 to answer questions.

Starting new traditions is exciting, but it takes a lot of work. When Franklin Heller proposed a Seder Service in Chu Family Hall, I was excited. I was excited to use the new space in a new way. I was excited to share a meal together. I was excited to provide hospitality to the entire congregation. I was excited for our Neighboring Faiths class to help with the service as part of their class. I was excited to take part of a Passover Seder as I love the story, the meal (especially the horseradish), the tradition, and the message. I was also slightly overwhelmed by the amount of work that it would take to pull off. There is Charoset to make, matzo balls to form, tables to set up, copies to make, and so much more. How could we do it on our own. We almost gave up. Luckily Donna Perch offered to help as well and the project was back on. Here small spart has lit the flame of an army that is coming together to put together and exciting service and hopefully a lasting tradition. Franklin, and Rev. Sasha, Beth Wilson, and Don Marks are working on the service with the help of our Neighboring Faiths class. The Green Aprons are helping with meal prep. Now Donna and several others are making Charoset. We have several of our young helpers coming on Saturday to roll SO MANY matzoh balls. There are volunteers helping to set up and take down 20 tables and chairs. And folks are donating many other items. With all that excitement and helping hands, it seems like we have everything under control. And we do, but we could always use more help. If you are excited about and want to help out, there are several ways for to still. We do still need some folks to help set up tables and chairs, and then to set those tables for the meal. We could us some help with meal prep on Saturday and on Sunday. We need folks to help with dishes and clean up. And we could use donations of Matzoh, Kosher Grape Juice, other side dishes and desserts. If you would like to be part of the preparation of this meal/service, please sign up . If your are planning on joining us on Sunday, we are excited for you to join us. Everyone is welcome to participate in the ritual reading, sing the songs, eat items from the Passover Plate, and share a light Passover meal. Please RSVP (not required) so we can get a headcount. But if you forget to RSVP, you are still welcome! Lastly, get in the spirit of the day by learning some of the songs we will be singing: Join is whatever way you can as we create a meaningful and lasting tradition here at the Fellowship!

As we wait for the spring weather to finally break the winter chills, the Children’s Faith Formation Team is thinking about Fall. On Sunday, April 5th, members of the team, teachers, volunteers, and parents met for a Planning Retreat. We discussed their goals for the programs, debriefed what has and has not worked, and made plans for the coming year. To begin, we asked what folks are hoping children get out of RE. Some responses were “Community,” “Being Seen and Safe,” and “Learning about our faith and values.” We also identified some growing edges in our programs, which included “clearer explanation of the long-term plan,” “creating more multi-age connections,” and “teacher spiritual care,” among others. This list gave some solid building blocks to great goals for next year. We also evaluated what each age group needed. As we discussed their developmental needs and milestones, our goals for each age group began to take shape. In the next couple of months, we will be working to refine and expand each goal. Pre-K – To help children become familiar with their environment, community, and classroom structure, while reinforcing positive values and behaviors. Lower Elementary – To foster a sense of belonging and purpose, engage with rituals, connect with the spiritual life of the congregation, and actively contribute to the broader community. Upper Elementary – To develop students into role models who actively inquire, think critically, act responsibly, apply values, take ownership, and expand their knowledge of history to contribute to the congregation. Middle School – To guide students through self-discovery and identity formation, offering a safe space for exploration. Help them understand external influences, encourage self-reflection, and equip them to make informed choices and build healthy relationships. Foster a positive self-identity for their future well-being. Top Three Survey Responses After a short break to check in on the little ones, we got to the business of forming a plan. The details of this plan are still being hammered out, but we laid a great foundation. The first part was to review a survey that went out to all the families and teachers on our lists. This included active families, former participants, visitors, teachers, and volunteers. We offered up seven religious education schedule options. These included current and past schedules, alternative ones like having RE every other week during the full service, and shortening the RE hour. After tabulating the scores of each option (The report of the survey can be found here ) and looking at all of the write-in responses, the folks in attendance had a clear favorite. Though there was no perfect schedule, the one that made the most sense was our current schedule with the Service at 10:00 am, Social (half) Hour at 11:00 am, and Religious Education Hour at 11:30. We then explored different options for class offerings within that schedule. We sought to address the growing edges we have identified. We took aim at all of our goals. We decided that we could not do all of that work within the time frame of that day. So we formed task forces, created to-do lists, and set deadlines. It is our hope to get back to you with more concrete information within the next few weeks. I want to take some time to thank everyone in attendance for offering their honest feedback, fresh ideas, and incredible teamwork. I particularly want to thank Sheila Battaglia, who hung out with our children while we had this discussion. We wouldn’t have been able to do it without her. And we want to thank all of you for your support as we continue to navigate these changing times so that we can foster another generation of kind, thoughtful, and justice-minded UUs.

On Friday, April 4, 2025, a group of UUs and friends gathered to take a stance on the following issues: The effect of federal funding cuts to SNAP (food stamps) and CER (school meals) on NJ The codification of the Immigrant Trust Act, which is being stonewalled by NJ legislative leaders, needed to protect immigrants’ privacy rights. The protection of our civil rights to gather in protest. UUFANJ in conjunction with members of our coalition are urging Governor Murphy to conditionally veto the “inciting public brawl legislation”. If you want to add your voice, it is not too late to participate. Join us on the First Friday of the month OTHER: Option Green: “Sustainability Basics in the Home Through Solid Waste Management, Recycling, & Getting Food Smart” 4/16/2025 7:00 PM – 8:15 PM. For more information and to register go to O ption Green: Sustainability Basics in the Home (Hybrid) | East Brunswick Public Library An Immigration Education Event featuring Activist Ravi Ragbir at UU Montclair on April 19, 4-7 PM. Event is hybrid. UU the Statehouse – Legislative advocacy training at the State House Annex in Trenton. On May 5, 2025. More information to follow. LAST BUT NOT LEAST A REMINDER – UUFANJ ANNUAL MEETING on May 31, 2025, at Washington Crossing UU Congregation. Morning will be business meeting. Afternoon will be dedicated to the work of the task forces. Event will be hybrid. More information to follow.

On Saturday April, 4th, dozens of members of the Fellowship came out to stand up for our core values or Interdependence, Pluralism, Justice, Transformation, Generosity, and Equity. Rev. Sasha and our DRE, Nick shared encouragement and peace with the crowd. Despite the rain, it was truly an inspirational day. Thank you to the organizers, the Mayor and municipal staff of Morristown, and the thousands in attendance. Let us continue to fight for a better world. Here are Rev. Sasha’s and Nick’s remarks: SASHA : Hello neighbors. Take a good look around you. We’re gathered not just as individuals but as a living, breathing testament to the power of community. Look in one another’s faces. What do you see? I see determination. I see hope. I see love — love for our community and our country, the kind of love that calls us out into the streets to say “Hands off!” to those who mean to undermine our democracy. Do you feel the energy buzzing here? I feel it! There is a strength among us, brought into being through our passion. It flows from us and binds us together in one strong body. And it links us to those around the country joining with us right now in so many different places, but one movement. NICK : It is so good to be here today with you. I am so encouraged by the young people here today. My friends, take a look around and see their hope, their desperation, their wonder, their confusion, their energy. Little ones, I want to speak to you. It is up to us older generations to guide you, to encourage you, to learn from you, and to love you. For the Buddha reminds us to “care about our children. Every child is the little Buddha who helps their parents to grow up.” As this administration targets your education, your families, and who you are as people, because they want to instill fear and indoctrinate you with hate. It is up to you children to lead us. To say no to fear and yes to hope, no to selfishness and yes to community, no to hate and yes to love. SASHA : Let’s take a moment now to breathe in — breathe in the courage, the passion, and the resolve we all carry with us today. As we breathe in, we say “no” to all that undermines our democracy. As we breathe out, we say “yes” to our highest values. As a Unitarian Universalist minister, I frequently talk to my people about our highest values. For UUs, as we’re called, those values are justice, equity, transformation, pluralism, interdependence, and generosity. But I know these aren’t just Unitarian Universalist values. These are community values, ones I know so many of you here today cherish and are ready to fight for. These values call us, together, to defend the vision of a democracy with peace, liberty, and justice for ALL. NICK : We must stand together — young and old — to fight for our nation’s highest ideals. As a UU Religious Educator, I often work with people from different walks of life, but unified in the goal of making the world a better place. Unifying for shared goals requires us to celebrate our differences, even if they sometimes make us uneasy or confused. The people who sit in power in DC and on Wallstreet and in Silicon Valley want to use our differences to separate us — to divide and conquer us. But our differences can instead weave us together, stronger than before. As Maya Angelou said, “Diversity makes for a rich tapestry, and all threads are equal in value.” So we must embrace and fight for this beautiful tapestry! SASHA : Now, I invite you to take a moment and listen — just listen. Hear the breaths of those around you, this community that has shown up together to say “yes” to the power of the people. Hear the powerful “yes” in this crowd. “Yes,” we, together, are the force that pushes back against fear and oppression and ushers in the loving and just world that is our right. Breathe together, sharing in that “yes.” NICK : Let us now continue to breathe. Take a moment to close your eyes or gently lower your gaze. As you breathe in the picture those diverse threads that come together to make this beautiful tapestry. The larger it is, the more powerful we will become, and the harder it will be for them to destroy it. [SILENCE] SASHA : And let the people say, “Amen.” Amen!

In the month of March, $1,885 was distributed to our Sunday Plate organizations. The recipients of these funds were Black Lives Matter Morristown, Family Promise, Homeless Solutions, nourish.NJ and NJ Together. Thank you for your continued support!

The first virtual lecture is by my adored friend, Dr. Pamela Lightsey, Vice President of Academic and Student Affairs at Meadville.  Dr. Lightsey will share her wisdom from a recent study leave, in the form of her lecture, “Righting Our Intentions for This Era: A Womanist Perspective on Liberationist Solidarity.”  Time is Monday, April 14, at 7:30 Eastern and the link to register is below – or scan the QR Code.  Bring your thinking caps and your passion!  She never disappoints. Next up on April 29, explore the Digital Archives at Meadville with Sarah Levine , Assistant Director of Library and Archives.  Meadville has been digitizing its 175 years of UU History and Sarah is excited to share some of the most intriguing historical documents and histories, and also will  speak about how these materials can be accessed and used from afar.  Details to come. Finally, on May 6, tune in for “ Partners in Ministry: Supporting our Current and Future Religious Leaders .” Fellowship Member* President Elias Ortega will share insight from a recently completed a market research study conducted by Meadville into new offerings and strategies to better support and equip UU-grounded religious and lay leaders during this moment. Join the discussion and explore how you can be a part of sustaining this important work so that our mission continues to make a difference in Unitarian Universalist ministry and leadership to the world. * OK OK he’s kinda on leave but he still loves us!

“Pledge…or pledge not…there is no “I’ll get to it eventually”. Our annual budget drive continues only until May 4th this year – so get your pledge in soon before the drive ends! So far we are at 57% to our $490,000 pledge goal. Our Stewardship volunteers will be using the force to reach out with their feelings next week, with a friendly reminder for those members and friends who have not made a pledge yet this year – to submit their financial support pledges before our HYPERdrive ends. Our annual budget, funded primarily through your generosity, allows us to be a community of inspiration, connection, and service to the wider galaxy. The Fellowship is sustained primarily by our pledges (roughly 80% 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). Not a member yet? Stop by the Welcome table on Sunday to learn how you can support our mission. 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. May the Fellowship be with you! Tim Davis Stewardship Trustee-at-Large padawan

Tom, Alasdair and I are gratified that our above-named service on March 30, 2025 was so well-received. By popular demand, we offer the following bibliography and list of sources that we relied on for this service and also for its predecessor, Uncomfortable Liberty: The Legacy of Enslavement in Morris County. We also offer materials for further reading, listening or viewing, some courtesy of Tom Perch. Resources for children and youth are listed separately. For Adults: March 30th, 2025 Service : Alexander, Michelle. The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Color-Blindness. New Press (2010) Blackmon, Douglas A. Slavery by Another Name: The Re-Enslavement of Black Americans from the Civil War to World War II. Random House (New York: 2008) Hurston, Zora Neale. Barracoon: The Story of the Last “Black Cargo.” Harper-Collins (New York: 2018). Litwack, Leon F. Been In the Storm So Long: The Aftermath of Slavery. Random House (New York: 1980). Litwack, Leon F. Trouble in Mind: Black Southerners in the Age of Jim Crow. Knopf (New York: 1998) Raines, Ben. The Last Slave Ship: The True Story of How Clotilda Was Found, Her Descendants, and an Extraordinary Reckoning. Simon & Schuster (New York: 2022). Rothstein, Richard. Color of Law: A Forgotten History of How Our Government Segregated America. Norton (2018). Walker, Alice. In Search of our Mother’s Gardens. Harcourt, Brace, Jovanovich(New Yor: 1967) Wilkerson, Isabel. The Warmth of Other Suns; The Epic Story of America’s Great Migration. Random House (New York: 2010). Yetman, Norman R., Ed. Voices From Slavery: 100 Authentic Slave Narratives. 2nd Edition. Holt, Rhinehart & Winston (Garden City, New YorK: 2000). California Reparations Task Force – Executive Summary Hammer Museum forum discussion California Reparations Task Force New Jersey Reparations Council Health Equity Public Session As well as other videos under the New Jersey Institute for Social Justice (NJISJ) New Jersey Reparations Council: History of Slavery in New Jersey NJRC Public Safety and Justice Public Session NJRC Democracy Committee Public Session NJRC Economic Justice Public Session NJRC Environmental Justice Public Session NJRC Public Safety and Justice Public Session NJRC Segregation in New Jersey Public Session NY Times series: Nice White Parents Nikole Hannah-Jones | Modern Day Segregation Princeton University Study; White ex-cons chosen over blacks. CNN/Money (New York, June 2005) Sanford Heisler Sharp McKnight. People With Criminal Records “Need Not Apply”: Criminal Background Checks and Race Discrimination (April 7, 2017). For Children: All books in this section are available for loan from Shari. Happy to provide more information. Rodman, Bella. Lions in the Way. Follett (1966). Fictionalized story of school integration in the South from childrens’ perspective. Intermediate. Taylor, Mildred. The Logan Family Saga. Series of 9 books, fictionalized stories of the author’s family’s life in Mississippi from around 1900 to 1965. Titles, in suggested reading order. Most are appropriate for 3rd grade through upper middle school, though All the Days Past is more of an adult story. The Land Sep-2001 Song of the Trees 1975 Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry Oct-1976 (1977 Newberry Award) Let the Circle Be Unbroken Jan-1981 The Friendship Oct-1987 The Road to Memphis Jun-1990 Mississippi Bridge Oct-1990 (short story) The Well Jan-1995 All the Days Past, All the Days to Come Jan-2020 The Gold Cadillac – novella/short story falling after Road to Memphis Yates, Elizabeth. Amos Fortune, Free Man . Multiple editions; originally published 1950. Newberry Award, 1951. (Biographical novel based on the life of Amos Fortune, captured in Africa around 1725 and sold in New England) March 5, 2023 Service: Gigantino, James J. The Ragged Road to Abolition: Slavery and Freedom in New Jersey 1775-1865 . University of Pennsylvania Press (Philadelphia: 2015). Greene, Lorenzo J. The Negro in Colonial New England: 1630-1776 . Columbia University Press (New York: 1942). Mitros, David. Jacob Green and the Slavery Debate in Revolutionary Morris County, New Jersey . Morris County Heritage Commission (1993). Mitros, David. Slave Records of Morris County , New Jersey: 1756-1841. Morris County Heritage Commission (Morristown, NJ 1991, 2002) Further reading: Heath, Sam. The 1619 Project vs. The 1776 Project, in Age of Awareness , September 20, 2020. Hannah-Jones, Nikole. The 1619 Project ; many forms; initially published in The New York Times Magazine in August, 2019. 1776 Report: responsive works created by a commission appointed by then-President Donald J. Trump to respond to The 1619 Project to increase “patriotic education , initially released January 18, 2021. Additional suggestions from Tom Perch: 20th And 21st Century History Half American: The Heroic story of African Americans Fighting World War II at Home and Abroad , Matthew Delmont Just Mercy , Bryan Stevenson The Defender, How the Legendary Black Newspaper Changed America , Ethan Michaeli Devil in the Grove, Thurgood Marshall, the Groveland Boys and the Dawn of a New America , Gilbert King I Never Had it Made, An Autobiography of Jackie Robinson Evicted: Property and Profit in the American City , Matthew Desmond Franchise : The Golden Arches in Black America , Marcia Chatelain Slavery and Reconstruction Master, Slave, Husband, Wife: An Epic Journey From Slavery to Freedom , Ilyon Woo Barracoon, The Story of the Last Black Cargo , Zora Neal Hurston Redemption, The Last Battle of the Civil War , Nicholas Lemann A Short History of Reconstruction , Eric Foner Slaves in the Family , Edward Ball Stony the Road: Reconstruction, White Supremacy and the rise of Jim Crow , Henry Louis Gates New England Bound, Slavery and Colonization in Early America , Wendy Warren Never Caught, The Washingtons’ Relentless Pursuit of Their Runaway Slave, Ona Judge , Erica Armstrong Dunbar