Rev. Sasha invites all congregants to schedule a 1-on-1 “Meet & Greet” appointment with her via ZCal to help her get to know you. She’s especially interested in connecting with newcomers to our community and younger families but welcomes everyone! To see the next 2 months of Rev. Sasha’s availability and to sign up, visit her ZCal . If no appointments are available, please check again in a few days for more openings.

As part of the Board’s efforts to facilitate connection, communication, and coordination between the Fellowship’s Board, Committee on Ministry, staff, and ministry teams, the Board hosts quarterly Network Meetings. Congregational leaders are invited to participate and pass on information shared during the meeting to their group members and beyond. On November 20th the Network convened its second quarterly meeting of the year, focused on Relationship Building and the idea that Community = Relationships. The meeting highlighted several key initiatives aimed at strengthening relationships and fostering community engagement. Reverend Sasha has been actively building connections with groups like The Folk Project, Gay Activist Alliance in Morris County (GAAMC), and the Morris Area Interfaith Clergy Council, the Morris Area New Jersey Together affiliate of the Industrial Areas Foundation, and local UU colleagues in the New Jersey cluster of the Unitarian Universalist Ministers Association, laying the groundwork for meaningful collaborations. Nick Wallwork shared updates on the Tending Congregational Life classes, which are helping participants develop a shared understanding of community building and a commitment to inclusivity. Kendall Martin provided insights into COM’s efforts to assist with interpersonal conflicts and gather input from members on this year’s Open Questions that guide the Fellowship’s future priorities and strategies, including, “what does it mean to be welcoming?”, “how are we called to use our new space?”, and “what is our mission?” For more information about this years open questions, please see the article in this Newsletter describing our Board Retreat and actions underway: Vision of Ministry and Open Questions at Morristown UU Fellowship. Carolyn Evans outlined the Welcoming Team’s initiatives to improve visitor engagement through systematic follow-ups and increased visibility at local fairs, while also supporting Reverend Sasha’s work with newcomers , such as the new monthly Newcomer Welcome gatherings, the twice-a-year Prospective Member Lunches, and the upcoming Starting Point Soul Matters class for newcomers.. During the discussions, members highlighted several successes, challenges, and opportunities for growth in community engagement. They emphasized the positive inclusion of children in services, the support shown to families, and the value of Welcome Ambassadors and the new Lay Pastoral Care Team in fostering post-service connections. Captioning and music enhancements were also noted as meaningful improvements. Members also offered ideas for areas of improvement, including managing communications, updating banners, streamlining tools like Signup Genius, and addressing the limitations of Realm. To strengthen the Fellowship’s broader role, participants suggested thinking deeply about the use of the new Chu Hall, inviting neighbors to events, and increasing volunteer collaborations with external organizations. Intentional efforts to build community were also raised, with ideas such as becoming a refuge for those seeking meaningful action in the wider community, prioritizing social justice through deeds, and enhancing personal outreach through direct contact. We need everyone’s help to live our values and help build the beloved community. Let’s continue to strengthen our connections so we can make a greater impact both within our Fellowship and beyond in our wider Community.

Thank you to those who have already expressed their interest in serving on the Search Team for our new Music Director. We’ve had several great candidates already! If you are considering putting your name in the hat for consideration and have not yet done so, please reach out to Rev. Sasha by the end of the day on Sunday to express your interest and share a little about yourself: your musical background, your thoughts on music programming here at MUUF, and any experience you have with committee work or hiring processes. Thank you for your interest!

Are you considering making the Morristown Unitarian Universalist Fellowship your spiritual home? Please join us in the Parlor at 12:30 p.m. on Sunday, November 24th (after the Newcomer Welcome) for our Prospective Member Lunch. If you are interested in becoming a member at Morristown UU and would like to learn about the rights, privileges, and responsibilities of Fellowship members and how to formally become a member, this lunch is for you! No commitment will be expected of you today; this meeting is purely informational. Please RSVP by contacting Rev. Sasha to ensure there will be enough food for everyone. We hope to see you there!

Thank you to the guests, musicians, staff, and volunteers who made the Service Auction Kickoff party unforgettable! Our new Gateways Center sparkled as guests mingled, feasted, danced, and began bidding on more than 100 meals and gatherings, handcrafted items, and services. But it’s not too late to join the fun. Bidding is now open online . Bid Now If you’re unfamiliar with the process, there are lots of helpful instructions on the Service Auction Webpage : Online bidding will end on Sunday, Nov 24, at noon . During coffee hour that day, we will have helpers to assist anyone having trouble with the online bidding process. We will notify hosts and auction winners of their auction results shortly after Thanksgiving.  Billing Statements will be distributed at that time. We will advise you on how you can pick up any physical items you have won and provide methods for paying your bill. If you still have questions or need assistance accessing the list of auction offerings, please reach out the the Service Auction Team .

The Board and Staff would like to thank Dan Reidy, Harry Harris, Hazel Bell, Suzie Harris, Rev. Joel Miller, and others who helped shepherd the project PR Jumpstart. This project was chosen by the Board using a procedure recommended by the Endowment Committee and represents the first Endowment Fund Allocation. The purpose of PR Jumpstart was to support our mission by reviewing and improving our internal and external public relations (PR) marketing tools. The PR Jumpstart team presented the results of their work to the congregation on May 23rd, 2024 with a PowerPoint presentation that can be found in our Realm Files . The PR Jumpstart Project team activities, with the support of a professional marketing consultant, included creating a resource library, updating our style guide, and running an initial marketing campaign. Outreach Postcard The new style guide includes an updated Fellowship logo that links us more closely with the UUA. The initial marketing campaign includes outreach to 1000 families within a 10-mile radius in the form of a postcard. In the future you will be seeing this content being sent from our staff and Communications team that Rev. Sasha is currently in the process of convening our new Communications Team. If you are someone with experience with modern communications, including especially church communications, and are interested in being considered for the team, please contact Rev. Sasha . Thank you PR Jumpstart team for providing us with tools to reach out to our wider community more regularly and more effectively and bringing your work here to a close!

This Sunday, December 8th, there will be a Special Congregational Meeting to vote on the proposed budget for the Solar Project immediately following service in the Meeting Room. The YouTube recording from the November 24th budget information session is available for viewing. If you are unable to attend the meeting on December 8th, please complete and return this proxy form .

VIEW CATALOG Our Service Auction is just days away. The Auction Team is excited to be sharing this very special evening with all of you. Tickets are $25 at the door. If you’re on the fence about this, here’s what Rev. Sasha shared recently:   “I’ve spoken with about 54 people in my 1-on-1s “meet and greets” so far, and I was struck by how many people mentioned that auction events played a big role when they were still new to MUUF in helping them meet people and build connections and community here.” Think of it as a fast-track to integrating into our community. We promise to meet you half-way. It’s the party that keeps on giving all year long! Here’s what you can expect: The Doors to the Gateway Center will open at 5pm. Enter through the new entrance to the Gateways Center and check in at the registration table where you will receive a list of our Auction items. You can also peruse the Catalog online . (We recommend viewing by selecting “Catalog List” and sorting by “Item” for the best experience. There is also a “Calendar” tab that gives monthly display of Events.   Raffle Prizes will be on display in Chu Hall . Tickets can be purchased on site. Winning raffle tickets will be pulled later in the evening. No need to be present to win.  Enjoy delicious food and beverages, and live music from some of your favorite Sunday morning musicians.   Our silent auction area opens at about 6:15.  Our generous congregants have offered more than 100 items , including many group events. There are even two large events planned for our new Chu Family Hall. And do not miss Rev. Sasha’s offer to change her hair color (for a price, of course). There’s something for everyone! Indulge in delectable desserts and continued socialization What happens after Saturday night? Bid sheets are put into our auction software and we will re-open the auction online by Tuesday , so that you may continue to bid throughout the week. On Sunday, Nov 24, we will offer a last chance to bid online at the Fellowship during coffee hour.   Helpers can assist anyone having trouble with the online bidding process. Our auction will end at noon on November 24. Hosts and auction winners will be notified of the results shortly after Thanksgiving . You’ll receive a bill and instructions for picking up your items and making payment. If you still have questions or need assistance accessing the list of auction offerings, please send a note to ServiceAuction@muuf.org .

Nov 6 Held By Love: A Post-Election Vigil When: Nov 6, 2024 4:30 pm Where: Beacon Unitarian Universalist Congregation in Summit Join us for Held By Love: A Post-Election Vigil sponsored by Beacon Unitarian Universalist Congregation in Summit, the Unitarian Universalist Congregation at Montclair, Morristown Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, and UU FaithAction NJ.  We will meet in person and online .  All are welcome for this time of music and readings – no matter the outcome – to reclaim all that is not on the ballot: our hope, our love, and our agency to act.

The opening party for the 2024 Service Auction will be held in the Chu Fellowship Hall on Saturday, November 16, from 5PM to 8PM. The $20 price (per person) for early-bird tickets ends November 10. The price then goes to $25 per ticket, which is still a bargain. Children under 18 are free. The Service Auction team will be selling tickets in the Terrace Room after Sunday’s service. You can also buy tickets at muuf.org using the “Give” tab or through Realm. If you need a ride to the party on November 16, email us at serviceauction@muuf.org. If you can’t make it, you may designate a proxy to place bids on your behalf for a donation of $20. Bidding for the service auction will start in-person during the kickoff party on November 16 and will continue online from November 18 – 24. There will be no bidding on Sunday, November 17, the dedication day for the Gateways Center. The online auction will end at noon on November 24, and the service auction team will be available to provide bidding help on Sunday morning, November 24, at the Fellowship.

The latest postcard mailing inviting prospective new members to visit the Fellowship is in the mail. As previously shared, this pilot promotional campaign targets neighbors with similar demographics to our congregation. This is the 2nd of 3 mailings targeting 1000 households. The postcard messages are also being shared on our public Facebook and Instagram pages. As a pilot, this campaign is aimed at helping this audience find our Fellowship and UU while providing us information on how we can best reach and welcome other demographic groups as well. Remember – we need your help in building our loving community and growing our Fellowship! You can do so in two important ways: Spread the word! Share the social media posts — or the postcard images themselves (see below) — with anyone you think might be interested in learning more about us. Welcome our visitors! Be on the lookout for newcomers and give them a warm Fellowship welcome before, during, and after our Sunday services. Stay tuned for one more post where we’ll share our final postcard message.

For the past week, the General Contractor has been working on the final “punch list” items. This included brick repair, hanging of plaques, and removing all of equipment. There are still a few small things that need to be wrapped up before the final cleaning of the building and turn over of the keys can take place. We hope that everyone is getting excited for the Grand Opening and Ribbon Cutting of the Gateways Center on November 17th following the worship service! Once the Certificate of Occupancy for the building is issued by Morris Township (anticipated to be received in the next two weeks), we will have the tables and chairs for Chu Hall delivered and begin getting ready for the big day! As we are getting ready, the building will remain closed until the live Service Auction Kickoff Party on Saturday, November 16th. We know that everyone is excited to be in the new building, but this is necessary for everyone’s safety. Last Saturday, 16 people (including four of our staff one of our Senior High youth) attended a two-hour training on use of the new kitchen equipment. There may be an additional training session next year, if you would like to be an approved kitchen user, please ask Sandra Persichetti or Diana Hart to add you to their invite list. Our sound contractor is completing the new A/V system in the Chu Hall and will be training our A/V volunteers. Please contact Alex West if you wish to be trained on the new system. Training on the new coffee maker Going over the controls of the convection oven Showing how to work the oven vent fan View of Chu Hall almost ready for the Ribbon Cutting! The Contractor has emptied out his office! Plaques hung in the Loe Family Courtyard of Compassion