Our newsletter is designed to keep our community informed in a clear and concise manner. We prioritize ease of use for our staff and readability for our readers. The newsletter always begins with the most important and timely information: information about this week’s services.. This is followed by news stories, organized with the most recent at the top. Older stories remain until they are replaced by new content, ensuring all community members have the opportunity to see them. We also highlight upcoming special events. We encourage community members to submit new and engaging content for the newsletter. If you would like your event or cause to receive greater prominence, please share details about its significance and include a clear call to action. All newsletter stories are archived on our website at muuf.org/news . This approach streamlines the process for our staff, saves time, and promotes transparency and trust within our community.

You are cordially invited to attend a FREE Endowment Luncheon and Workshop on S unday, March 9th, Noon – 1:30 pm in Chu Family Hall. An estate planning attorney and financial planner will provide an overview followed by Q&A. Why attend? You are a new parent and have questions about writing a Will You have a Will but named executors, beneficiaries and/or charitable gifts need updating You have special needs children or grandchildren Important documents like Power of Attorney and a Medical Care Directive need writing or updating Peace of mind that what you have planned is up-to-date Share with others your knowledge and experience RSVP by February 28th during Coffee Hour or via Endowment@MUUF.org. A final head count is needed for meal planning purposes. Look forward to see you there! Sponsored by the Endowment Committee: Janet Horst, Carolyn Schwartz, John Solu, Sandra Persichetti

The Age of Reason program is a comprehensive curriculum designed to cater to the unique developmental needs of 2nd and 3rd graders. This stage is characterized by a burgeoning sense of self and a growing desire for independence. Children begin to form their own opinions and ideas, and they start to question the world around them. The Age of Reason program celebrates this intellectual and emotional growth by providing a safe and supportive environment where children can explore their individuality and express themselves freely. Through a diverse range of activities such as art, family reflection exercises, poetry, mindful play, and engaging discussions about Unitarian Universalism, the program encourages children to think critically, ask questions, and develop their own unique perspectives. These activities not only stimulate intellectual curiosity but also foster emotional intelligence and social awareness. The curriculum also emphasizes the importance of family involvement. By encouraging children to reflect on their family experiences and share their thoughts and feelings with their loved ones, the program strengthens family bonds and creates a supportive network that nurtures children’s growth and development. The Age of Reason program culminates in the Flower Communion Service, a cherished Unitarian Universalist tradition that takes place on June 1st. This special ceremony honors children and celebrates their unique personalities and contributions to the community. Through ritual and symbolism, the Flower Communion Service provides a meaningful way for children to connect with their spiritual heritage and feel a sense of belonging within the Unitarian Universalist community. The Age of Reason for Grades 2 & 3 April 6th – May 18th

We need your help to make our upcoming Valentine’s Day event a success! Specifically, we need just a few volunteers to assist with setting up, serving coffee during the event, and cleaning up afterward. As an act of Fellowship hospitality, we’re asking for donations of cookies and other sweet treats. This event is a fundraiser for the Fellowship and allows our new space to continue being a safe haven for LGBTQ+ folks, those feeling alone on Valentine’s Day, and others seeking a good time. There are still tickets available for those who want to attend.  Your support would mean the world to us. If you’re able to help, please sign up by emailing Nick . And if you have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out. Thank you in advance for your generosity and support!

The Finance Committee has released the Financial Status report as of January 31, 2025. The Income Statement shows the major income and expense lines for the Fellowship. The columns show: YTD (Year to Date) Actual expenses as of January 31st YTD Budget as of January 31st Full Year Budget The Balance section shows the following as of 1.31.25: Ops Budget Available Balance — this is the amount of cash on hand in the Operating Budget that does not have a restriction, such as Sunday Offering to be disbursed.  Ops Budget Pledges Receivable is the amount of pledges that have not been fulfilled as of 1.31.25.  Endowment shows the balance in the Endowment accounts net of funds allocated for grants.  DRWW Pledges Receivable is the pledges that have not been fulfilled as of 1.31.25. Construction Loan Balance is the amount of principal we owe on the loan. As of 1/31/2025 YTD Actual YTD Budget Full Year Budget Operating Budget Income Statement Total Donation Income 325,815.28 278,894.00 478,104.00 Total Fundraiser Income 36,247.13 18,666.655 32,000.00 Total Rental Income 34,219.55 36,855.05 63,180.00 Total Other Income 5,537.23 10,980.65 18,824.00 Total Revenue 401,819.19 345,396.35 592,108.00 Total Payroll and Benefits 226,727.38 228,314.28 391,396.00 Total Building Expenses 55,445.90 60,725.01 104,100.00 Total Other Expenses 58,285.90 60,709.24 104,073.00 Total Expenses 340,459.18 349,748.53 599,569.00 Net Income/(Loss) 61,360.01 (4,352.18) (7,461.00) Balances As of 1/31/25 Ops Budget Available Balance 119,435.80 Ops Budget Pledges Receivable 155,528.00 Endowment 572,355.00 as of 12/31/24 DRWW Pledges Receivable 1,483,583.00 Construction Loan Balance 1,753,000.00 Capital Campaign will continue to pay the monthly interest on the construction loan and has additional furniture and fixture purchases budgeted.

In today’s digital landscape, articles are a powerful tool for engaging with your audience and establishing yourself as a thought leader in your industry. However, with so much content available online, it can be challenging to create articles that stand out and capture readers’ attention. Here are some tips to help you write effective articles that are both informative and engaging: Provide New and Fresh Information: Strive to offer your readers something new and valuable. Avoid rehashing the same old topics that have been covered countless times before. Instead, focus on providing fresh insights, perspectives, and original research. Emphasize Relevance: Ensure that your articles are relevant to your target audience’s needs and interests. Address their pain points, answer their questions, and offer solutions to their problems. Use Multimedia Elements: Visuals such as images, videos, infographics, and charts can help break up the text and make your blog post more engaging. They can also help to illustrate your points and make your content more memorable. Craft a Compelling Title: Your blog post’s title is one of the first things readers will see, so make sure it’s captivating and accurately reflects the content of your post. Keep it concise and use action words to grab attention. Write in a Clear and Concise Style: Use simple language and avoid jargon,  technical terms, or abbreviations that your audience may not understand. Break up your content into short paragraphs to make it easier to read. Articles as Invitations: Articles can be effective ways to invite people to your events. For example, you could write an article about the benefits of attending your upcoming workshop or conference. If you have an article that you think would be a good fit for our website, you can submit it using the form on our website. Don’t forget to add a featured image to your article. Also, consider adding an excerpt of up to 55 words; this is your chance to entice readers! Both the featured image and excerpt will be used in the weekly news. If you don’t add an excerpt, the first 55 words of your article will be pulled automatically. If you have further questions, please feel free to to reach out to newsletter@muuf.org

The Nominating Committee (Laurent Comes, Chair; Craig Adams, Drew Hayes and Judie Romano) are working to find nominees for election to the open board (Treasurer-Assistant, VP Network, Trustee at large – strategic planning) and committee positions at the 2025 Annual Meeting. Please feel free to self-nominate or suggest another Member for these positions! The process is confidential. We need to have the slate completed within 30 days of the Annual Meeting, on June 1st. Below are the areas that have positions to be filled. All are for 3-year terms beginning July 1, 2025: Board of Trustees Treasurer-Assistant, VP Network, Trustee at large – strategic planning Finance Committee – 1 person Nominating Committee – 1 person For detailed information on these Committees and positions, please visit our website muuf.org/nominating . If you are interested in being considered for one of these positions, please contact anyone on the nominating committee. Email us at nominating@muuf.org . Candidates are selected through self-nomination and through conference by the committee.  It is up to the committee to review the list of possible candidates, and identify the members that are willing and most qualified to fulfill the responsibilities of the position. We hope to select individuals who possess the traits that are necessary to work as a leader and as a Board member, i.e. even tempered, analytical, willingness to speak up and/or step back as the need arises, good listener, or whatever is actually important to the role. We try to reflect the demographics of our Fellowship in our Board composition as well. Experience serving on a Fellowship committee or project is helpful, but we also consider non-MUUF experience.  And, of course, candidates must be members in good standing.

Morristown UU is thrilled to announce that our search for a new Music Director is now officially underway with the formation of our Music Director Search Team: David Horst (Chair) Paul Ferm (Exec Team representative) Tim Davis (Board representative) Beth Wilson (Interim Music Director) Mary Jo Reid Chris Ebneth Becki Tarby The team warmly welcomes feedback from Fellowship members and friends about the future of music at Morristown UU. To offer feedback , you may fill out our form or send the team an email at MusicSearch@muuf.org .

Feb 3, 6 pm: The Joys of February:  Come to GAAMC’s “Joys of February” to learn more historical information about the second month’s astrological signs, flowers, and stone. When did “Punxsutawney Phil,” and other prognosticator animals become significant in weather prediction, who is behind the history of Valentine’s Day, why is February Black History Month, and what are those born on February 29 called? Despite being the shortest month of the year, Super Bowl Sunday, as well as Presidents Day and Valentine’s Day make it one of the most celebratory! Refreshments are served, and attendees are asked for a small donation. Feb 10, 6 pm: Love & Relationships:  In celebration of the upcoming Valentine’s Day, we’ll be discussing our loves –past and present.  We’ll also talk what makes a good relationship and about dating and how it’s changed over the years. Refreshments are served, and attendees are asked for a small donation. Feb 17, 6 pm: Love Songs & Lullabies:  We know the connective power of music in life and love. There are all kinds of love so let’s explore! Join us, as we celebrate the songs that enrapture and give us solace. Be sure to listen with us and share your thoughts and memories! Submit your selections to info@gaamc.org by February 8 for inclusion in the program. Refreshments are served, and attendees are asked for a small donation. Feb 24, 6pm: 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 Thurs, Feb 20,  to Gordon Sauer at president@gaamc.org .

Inspired by Hazel’s Article “ Lifting Up Voices: Updating and Expanding Our Banned Books Collection ” and her tireless work putting together our library’s banned book section, I want to highlight banned books each week in the newsletter as well as in the Library. So please share some of your favorite banned books. To kick us off, I reached out to some of the banned books aficionados in my life. I asked them for some recommendations and they came through. So here are some of my families favorite banned books. -Megan’s Pick: The Perks of Being a Wallflower It’s very hard for me to make ONE banned book recommendation (come find me and talk to me about other banned or challenged books I love!), so I will share about T he Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky. I don’t always remember the details of books I read, but I remember how a book makes me feel, and when I read The Perks of Being a Wallflower as a teenager, I was moved. This book has been banned or challenged for being sexually explicit, LGBTQIA+ content, profanity and drug use. But, for me, this book was about grief and loss, trauma and pain, growth and repair, and love and connection. I wanted to get coffee with the main characters, not shun them for the real and hard life experiences laid on the pages of this book. If you know me personally, you know how passionate I am about books, and I try to read as many banned books as I can. My daughter and I have taken trips to our library for the purpose of picking out banned books to read, sometimes together. Reading banned books has helped me become a more understanding person, broadened my knowledge around many different experiences and perspectives, and simply helped me grow.  As a side note, for the fellow readers out there who track their books using the Goodreads app, I encourage you to check out StoryGraph and support a Black woman-owned business instead of Amazon. -Charlotte’s Picks I would personally recommend  Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter, I would also recommend Heartstopper, and Drama. -My Brother, Dan’s Pick: The Kite Runner The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini is a poignant and thought-provoking novel that delves into the complexities of human emotion and conflict, making it an invaluable read for understanding both personal and societal struggles. Set against the backdrop of Afghanistan’s political turmoil, the story explores the universal antagonism of racism, class division, the weight of childhood trauma, religious zealotry, and the scars left by war. Through the experiences of two childhood friends, readers are confronted with the complexity of friendship, loyalty, betrayal, redemption and the long-lasting impact of past actions, offering a powerful reflection on the intersection of personal identity and the broader socio-political landscape. The novel’s exploration of these themes transcends cultural boundaries, and should be required reading in every high school curriculum. -My Sister-in-law, Stacia’s Pick: Sold Sold , by Patricia McCormick, is a book that everyone should read. It is based on real-life situations and happenings. Even if something is scary or difficult to read, that does not mean that it should be removed from shelves or banned from a library, school, or community. McCormick has heavily researched the situation she writes about: “A 13-year-old [girl] leaves her poor mountain home in Nepal thinking that she is to work in the city as a maid only to find that she has been  Sold  into the sex slave trade in India and that there is no hope of escape” ( uniteagainstbookbans.org ).  Sold  is educational and based on situations that actually exist; banning the book does not make that go away. We need to read about situations like this in order to make change happen in the world. Nick’s Note: Stacia is the Librarian for the School of Education at St. John Fisher College and my go to resource for relevant children’s books. She suggest the book All the way to the Top that I shared for a Time for All Ages and inspired our kids passion for an accessible and inclusive Gateways Center. -My Pick: A Day in the Life of Marlon Bundo I love children’s books and I love passive aggressive comedy. I also love normalizing things that may seem different. So many of our children’s books highlight hetero-normative romances with princesses and other damsels in distress. But A Day in the Life of Marlon Bundo highlights a loving relationship between two male cartoon bunnies. It was written by Last Weekend tonight writer, Jill Twiss. It was a reaction to Vice President’s anti-gay views. So the book both shares a wonderful story for children while engaging in some light protest. And it’s pretty funny too.

Join us this Sunday at the Realm table during coffee hour, to be sure your contact information is up to date in our online Member directory. Never been on Realm? We can help, so you can be connected! Our Member accessible database in Realm helps our members to follow Fellowship announcements, join events, look up other members, and manage giving. If you already know how to log into Realm, please take a minute today to be sure your contact information is up to date – and we would also love to see a photo of you, and to know your birthday! (… even if it is just the year …) If you haven’t logged into Realm for a while (or can’t remember if you did) – we can help you get reconnected. Visit https://onrealm.org/MorristownUnita to sign up or sign in. Let’s be the Fellowship together – and let’s get connected!

We are on new terrain, but the work remains the same. Side With Love proclaims the power of love to end oppression and build a just and loving world where we all thrive. In this final week of 30 Days of Love, we honor Black History Month at a moment when this administration seeks to resegregate America and establish and enforce a global racial hierarchy. This week’s theme is a bold proclamation of sacred and revolutionary truth: there are Black people in the future. What becomes possible when we inhabit this prophecy of Black resilience and liberation in our lives today? These words from Interdisciplinary Artist and Cultural Producer Alisha B Wormsley are a declaration of resilience, commitment to solidarity, and insistence that victory is ours! It is a refusal to accept the erasure of Black existence, imagination, and liberation. It is a call to action for Unitarian Universalists and all people of faith and conscience to engage in the sacred work of co-creating a future where Black lives thrive.  At its core, “there are Black people in the future” disrupts all narratives of disposability, which sanction discrimination, inequity, injustice, and genocide. It offers instead a vision of boundless possibility. As a faith committed to justice and love, this theme challenges us to ask: What are we doing today to ensure a just and liberated future for Black people? Are we confronting the systems that perpetuate harm? Are we uplifting Black leadership, creativity, and wisdom? Are we actively dismantling white supremacy within and beyond our communities? Who must we be? What must we do? What transformation unfolds today if Black life and thriving are the promises of our future? What will you put into practice today to fulfill this promise? May we move forward with courage, faith, and unwavering love. The future is now, and Black liberation is the path to collective liberation. Let us build it together. In faith and solidarity, Nicole Pressley, UUA Organizing Strategy Director