Rev. Dénes Pálfi, the minister at our Partner Church in Sinfalva, Romania (Transylvania) has retired. Rev. Pálfi has been the minister in Sinfalva for the entire duration of our Partner Church relationship, over 30 years. His temporary replacement is Rev. Mihály Bálint from the nearby town of Aranyosrákás. It will take a year or so before a permanenent replacement is named. In the meantime we will contact Rev. Bálint to maintain the relationship in the interim. Once a permanent replacement is named, the Partner Church Committee will create a Sunday Service to welcome him, hopefully with a live zoom session to meet him.

Jan 5, 6 pm : New Years: Since the beginning of the new year suggests a fresh start, a "do-over," another chance, many people make New Year's resolutions. Come join us as we discuss the traditions of New Year's, share our own personal success stories, and discuss the secrets to being successful in making those resolutions come true. There will be tasty goodies to enjoy and stories to exchange. A small donation is asked to contribute to our use of the Fellowship. And you're welcome to join a small group at a local diner afterward to continue the camaraderie! Jan 12, 6pm : Enneagrams: New Years is the time when people make resolutions to improve their lives. To expedite the process, come join us for a presentation about the Enneagram, a means of classifying people so that they will know not only what matters to them but also what matters to other people. Please bring your phone so that you can take the self-assessment test. There will be tasty goodies to enjoy and stories to exchange. A small donation is asked to contribute to our use of the Fellowship. And you're welcome to join a small group at a local diner afterward to continue the camaraderie! Jan 19, 6 pm : “Rustin”: In honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, we’ll be viewing and discussing the film “Rustin”- the story of the activist Bayard Rustin who devoted his life to the quest for racial equality and was a primary force behind the 1963 March on Washington. Rustin challenged authority and never apologized for who he was but was forgotten despite making history. The movie spotlights the man who, alongside Martin Luther King Jr., dared to imagine a different world and inspired a movement. There will be tasty goodies to enjoy and stories to exchange. A small donation is asked to contribute to our use of the Fellowship. And you're welcome to join a small group at a local diner afterward to continue the camaraderie! Jan 26, 6 pm : 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, Dec 19, to Gordon Sauer at president@gaamc.org.

Five reasons to read and discuss Here Comes the Sun : You are concerned about humanity’s future and need an infusion of hope. You’d like to know how renewable energy could contribute to peace and economic justice. You’re interested in solar and battery technology and deployment. You admire Bill McKibben, Naomi Klein, Elizabeth Kolbert, Kim Stanley Robinson, and/or Chris Hayes. You enjoy book discussions. Do any of those reasons connect for you? If so, join members of Green Earth Ministry in an online discussion on February 2, 7-8:30 pm. To obtain the Zoom information, RSVP here . Third Act, a climate activist organization, offers a discussion guide for Here Comes the Sun . Download it here . You might also enjoy watching The Light Won’t Dim , a 30-minute documentary exploring the promise and urgency of solar power in this time of climate crisis. The film reveals the obstacles and the unstoppable momentum of clean energy — a story of resilience, equity, and hope for the future. You can stream the film here or watch it below.

We will gather to work through a reflective, intentional, and hopeful process. The yearly compass guides participants in reviewing their last year, practicing gratitude and looking forward to the new year ahead. We will work as a group and independently and also able to share our thought and hopes for 2026. You'll leave feeling refreshed and positive for the year ahead! Light refreshments will be served. This is a service auction event ($20). You can pay at the door. Contact Brooke Donaldson.

You can pay by check or Realm. If you need help with Realm, call the office. Thank you from Your Service Auction Committee! Instructions for Service Auction Page: Click the above button to access the Service Auction website. From there, log in, then go to My Statement, then scroll down to Total Purchases, then Balance Due.

If you want to know what an organization values, read what its publications write about and what its members talk about. And in the first newsletters, there was a strong emphasis on reporting about the Fellowship’s people, who they were and what they were doing, Although the January 1956 newsletter is missing, those for December 1955 and February and March 1956 are consistent—official events are covered. But activities of people—including some who did not join—often received more space. There were exceptions: Monroe Husbands’ address at the first exploration meeting on Oct. 18, 1955 received detailed coverage and plans were outlined for the Sunday School curriculum in that first publication. But the December 1955 issue also featured thumbnail sketches about each of 10 members of the Fellowship steering committee, which guided the organization until an election was held on Jan. 26, 1956. There were accounts of how many Fellowship members—not really members as of the December newsletter They would sign December 18) —were also members of the Masterwork Chorus. An account of the activities of the local League of Women Voters chapter was published and the names of the several of its members who were Fellowship founders. The February newsletter reported a poll in which 30 members voted they would prefer Sunday morning worship starting in March while 24 voted “no”, preferring to keep the Sunday evening slot for services. But there was a longer discussion of members participation in the Morris County Mental Health Association, reports of three individuals winning honors and the elections of another three (who did not join) to posts with other organizations, along with an account of what were labeled “Miscellaneous Newsmakers”. And there was a complete list of committees with the names of all committee members under the headline “Do You Have an Appointment” [to a committee presumably]—twenty nine out of the first 52 members did (and at this point, several were yet to sign) And Eleanor Mason was also organizing a group to visited the United Stations—something she would do until her death in 2014. The March newsletter noted the Fellowship’s recent incorporation but gave more space to the promotion of members in their jobs and members speaking engagements. It devoted even more copy to the Morristown Committee on Public Education, recently organized by Fellowship founder, Dan Weggeland, and it would be part of a decades-long commitment to supporting the Morristown public schools. Longer bios were given for founding members Marsh Steiding, and Robert and Eveyln McCready. There were more notes about members activities, new babies, and other organizations our members had joined. And oh yes, there was a note about the first annual meeting to be held on March 15. That was noted on three of eight pages of the edition. But there were only 15 words for each insertion. The fact that tickets were on sale for the Masterwork Chorus’ upcoming performance of the Bach B-Minor Mass was given 26 words.

We are thrilled to announce a vibrant new initiative at the Morristown Unitarian Universalist Fellowship: Chalice Camp . As a community, we often ask ourselves how we can better live our values and serve the families in our local area. Chalice Camp is our answer. It is a joyful, values-based summer experience designed specifically for children entering grades 1–5 , and we can't wait to see our grounds filled with the energy of young seekers. What Makes Chalice Camp Different? Chalice Camp is focused through the Unitarian Universalist lens . Our goal is to create a "beloved community" for a week (or three!), where children don't just play—they grow. Our curriculum balances high-energy fun with intentional reflection: Themed Discussions:  Grounded in equity, justice, and compassion. Social Justice:  Age-appropriate activities that empower kids to make a positive difference. Creative Expression:  Daily arts, crafts, and music. Mindfulness:  Reflection circles and breathing exercises to build confidence and self-awareness. Nature Play:  Utilizing our beautiful Fellowship grounds for outdoor exploration and games. A Space Where Every Child Belongs In keeping with our radical welcome, we have designed Chalice Camp to be a sanctuary for all children. We are proud to highlight that this program is: LGBTQ+ Affirming:  A safe, celebratory space for all families and gender identities. Neurodivergent Friendly:  We provide quiet zones, visual schedules, and sensory-friendly spaces to ensure every child feels comfortable. Economically Accessible:  Through tiered pricing and financial assistance, we ensure that cost is never a barrier to joining our community. How You Can Help As we launch this new initiative, we invite you to help us spread the word! Whether you have grandchildren, neighbors, or friends looking for a summer program that aligns with their progressive values, let them know that there is a place for them here. "Love is the spirit of this fellowship, and service is its law."  By opening our doors to the wider community through Chalice Camp, we are putting those words into direct action. Registration will open in February. Continue to check muuf.org/camp for more information.

A huge thank you to those who helped at and shopped at the Gifts of Conscience Fair. In spite of the snow it was very successful and the vendors were very pleased with the event. We are living into our values and putting the beautiful Chu Hall space to work for social justice causes. Thanks especially to the vendors and those volunteers that went above and beyond - Rachel Barry, Barry Bontempo, Jeanne Craft, Tim Davis, Helene Ferm, Diana Hart, Steve Parker, Don Preziosi, and Carol Todd. And to all the brave souls who actually showed up to shop and learn about our local social justice partners!! Thanks also to the Junior High Youth and their teachers and parents for a successful bake sale to go towards “Mortgage Prevention!” What a great crew! And lastly congratulations to Margaret Malishchak who won the raffle basket. She is a long time Fellowship member and Glass4Good vendor who donates all her profits to worthy causes. Woohoo!

A Bit of Social Justice was on the calendar for the Morristown Unitarian Fellowship in December 1955. It has already been noted in this newsletter the Fellowship collected mittens for a mitten tree at its first Christmas celebration on Dec. 17, 1955, for distribution to needy individuals. That event was promoted by the first newsletter issued earlier in the month, which also carried a message about a more serious issued under the headline “Don’t Just Sit There”. The article read: “A prominent social worker in Morristown recently married, He is highly respected and has many friends in town. including two on our Steering Committee. He his wife are unable to find a place to live; they hesitate to inquire about apartments because they have reason to believe they are not welcome tenants. When they inquire about houses, they are quoted prices a thousand or more dollars higher than most. Why is this so? They are Negroes.” Judy Deutsch was the contact person and the story, written by her husband Marshal, noted unnamed couple wanted an apartment with a minimum of three rooms and rent of up to $110 a month or if they could find a house, they could afford one for up to $13,000. A review of Morris County helps put this in perspective, including the restrictive deeds that involved the Fellowship property and others in area of Millionaires’ Row. Moreover, the bias was not just about blacks. When my first wife’s family moved to Madison in the early 1950s, she recounted there were families that would not let their children play with her because they were Italian. But it was only a few years later that barbers in Madison were being picketed and subject to state legal action because they would not cut black men’s hair. All the barbers mentioned in the local newspapers during the height of the protests in 1964 were Italian. The December newsletter does not name the couple. But the February issue gave some very clear clues asking, “Is Paul L. Cooper, newly elected president of the New Jersey State Council of Urban Leagues related to our own Dru Cooper?” The answer was yes. Interestingly enough, the Coopers were noted in a set of three paragraphs that reported the activity of individuals who did not join the Fellowship. And that included the Coopers. The Coopers housing status appears to be reflected in the 1954 and 1955 Morristown directory which showed he was living at the YMCA, where the Fellowship began meeting on Oct. 18, 1955. By 1957, Paul and Drucilla were shown on Van Beuren Road, Morris Township, where they presumably found something affordable and where houses today typically sell for more than $2 million, often much more. Paul Lawrence Cooper (March 15, 1921-Sep. 22, 1997), who was born in Hallsville, Texas, and died in Morristown, came to Morristown from Columbus, Ohio, moving from one Urban League Job to another. Dru was his wife, Drucilla Hunter (May 13, 1922-April 11, 2007), who was born in Kentucky and died in Summit. They married in September 1955 in Madison. In May 1955, Cooper was involved in a hearing a substandard housing in Madison based on a report conducted by 21 student volunteers at St Elizabeth’s college.The group had conducted similar surveys in 1955 for Boonton and Morristown, with the Madison study requested by the town’s mayor Alfred Smith in January. The Cooper later divorced and Paul moved on from the Urban League. His obituary noted he spent 15 years as a psychiatric social worker for the Elizabeth school district. Along the way, he entered local polities ss the Republican nominee for the seat in Morristown’s second ward, which was held by long-time Democratic councilman William “Butch” Barber, who faced a primary fight that night. Cooper’s campaign issues included the need for more police and better training with one position having a familiar ring. “He pointed to arrest of local men that angered the black community,” reported Daily Record of June 2, 1991. Barber trounced Cooper by a vote of 381 to 143.

The yearly compass guides participants in reviewing their last year, practicing gratitude and looking forward to the new year ahead. Instead of the tired resolutions, learn from your mistakes, celebrate your victories, and set out a path you want to walk on. We will gather as a group and work independently and also be able to share our thoughts and hope for 2026. You’ll leave feeling refreshed and positive for the year ahead! Light refreshments will be served. This is a service auction event ($20) Contact Brooke Donaldson.

At our most recent meeting, it was suggested that the Endowment Committee provide information to help our members think about end-of-life issues.  Two books that might be helpful are “The Good Death” and “Being Immortal”.   In addition, we have requested from the Funeral Consumer Alliance “Before I Go, You Should Know”. This is a workbook/guide to record things your survivors need to know to be able to handle your estate and carry on.  (The pdf, which can be updated as needed, is attached.) Also, please be aware that there is a memorial book in the library in which you can honor past members with your memories of them. And as a personal note:  I realize that dealing with death is a sensitive issue, but one which I hope will lead to deep thought about how you wish to be remembered.  I have been a member of the Fellowship for about 50 years.  I’ve been involved with women’s groups, social justice issues, fun activities, work projects, and on and on.  The many friendships I’ve made over the years have been such a blessing! My hope is that our donations will ensure that the Fellowship remains the strong institution it has always been. Although most of us can’t make such a generous donation, we are grateful to Geri Silk for her recent bequest in the amount of $70,000 to the fund. Gifts in any amount are gratefully received, particularly those given in honor of special events such as birthdays, marriages, graduations, etc. I’ve attached a form you can use if you wish to make a deferred gift to the Endowment Committee.  Elizabeth Bain

The holiday season is upon us! This month, Morristown UU and some of our community partners have a ton of great ways for us all to gather, reflect, celebrate, and care for our wider world together. [PAST] DEC 6 @ 2PM: Holiday Movie & Cookie Exchange Take a break from the holiday rush and join us for an afternoon of cozy fun, sweet treats, and classic holiday cheer! We’ll be showing a much-loved Christmas movie featuring some very familiar puppet friends who bring laughter and heart to a timeless tale of kindness, redemption, and holiday spirit. RSVP [PAST] UNTIL DEC 7 @ 11:30 AM: Holiday Collection for Morris County Correctional Facility During this winter holiday, we will be collecting items for the Morris County Correctional Facility. This year we have been asked to provide men's white crew neck t-shirts and women's white underwear and bras. Items will be collected until 11:30 am on Sunday, December 7th. After this date we will no longer be accepting donations. [PAST] DEC 13 @ 1PM: Queer Holiday Makers Market Looking for the perfect holiday gifts? Come to our Queer Holiday Maker’s Market and discover unique, handmade treasures from LGBTQ+ artists and makers! From art and crafts to one-of-a-kind gifts, this is your chance to shop small, shop local, and shop queer while supporting creativity and community. BUY TICKETS [PAST] DEC 14 @ 10AM: Blue Christmas Service Does the holiday season sometimes feel frantic or heavy? Join us for this Advent service in which we’ll practice the spiritual art of waiting: waiting for the holidays, waiting for the return of light, and waiting for hope. [PAST] DEC 14 @ 11AM: Gifts of Conscience Fair A Holiday Market featuring local and global non-profit vendors and community partners including: PeaceWorks, House with Heart, Mayamam Weavers, Willow Faith Art, Sharing Foundation , Seeds to Sew , Robin Lennon, Morris Mutual, and Days for Girls. Also featuring: Junior High Bake Sale and Basket Raffle! DEC 15 @ 6PM: Songs of the Holidays with GAAMC The Holidays are great for remembering memories and making new ones, and what connects us to memories more than music? Rumor has it that in addition to playing videos of favorites, we may be tuning up our pipes and raising our voices in song.  Feel free to join us in conjuring the Holiday Spirit! [CANCELED] DEC 19 @ 7PM: Folk Project Holiday Benefit Concert The Folk Project’s annual Holiday Concert, presented in support of the Fellowship, offers a wonderful opportunity for our two communities to come together during this special time of year. We’ll feature rising star Allison Strong and some of the finest Folk Project performers and enjoy caroling, holiday decorations, and a groaning table of goodies. DEC 20 @ 10AM: Gender Inclusive Holiday Clothing Swap Sponsored by the NJ Queer & Trans Makers Market and Morristown UU. Celebrate the season with a clothing swap that’s welcoming to all genders, bodies, and styles! [CANCELED] DEC 20 @ 4PM: Winter Solstice Fair Join us for a family‑friendly Winter Solstice Fair featuring seasonal treats, songs, crafts, and activities to honor the Longest Night. We’re also seeking volunteers to lead short activities or host treat and activity tables. DEC 21 @ 10AM: Winter Solstice Service Celebrate the Winter Solstice with a festive earth‑centered service to honor the darkness and the return of the light. Our service will feature a fun and interactive theatrical rendition of the story of the Oak King and the Holly King. DEC 24 @ 5PM: Christmas Eve Family Service Join us for a joyful, no‑rehearsal Christmas pageant for all ages where everyone can join in the story. You’re invited to come dressed up as a shepherd, an angel, a wise one, or a barnyard animal of your choice. We will also have costumes available for you to pick up when you arrive. DEC 24 @ 8PM: Christmas Eve Lessons & Carols Service Join us for our later Christmas Eve service, which explores the Christmas story with ancient and contemporary readings and some of your favorite carols. We will conclude the service with a candlelit “Silent Night”. DEC 28 @ 10AM: A Very Merry Holiday Hymn Sing Service Before the New Year arrives, join us for one last festive morning of singing winter and holiday favorites. Let’s lift our voices together and ring out the old year with song!