In our upper elementary classroom, we created invitations for the kids to give to friends. The invitations were connected to bubbles with a play on words– “We are bubbling with excitement…” – Shared by Carrie D.

As the holiday season approaches, we look forward to offering a wonderful lineup of events and activities to celebrate the season and minister to our neighbors. Potential activities include a Thanksgiving Day Potluck, “Christmas at the Jail” collection, Winter Solstice Festival, Christmas Day Gathering, and New Year’s Eve Gathering. However, to proceed with any of these events, we will need at least 3 volunteers to come together to form a team to plan and lead! If you have a heart for service and a passion for bringing joy to our community, we invite you to join a team! Please visit the following form to learn more and sign up. Once a team has at least 3 volunteers, Rev. Sasha will connect you with one another for next steps. Thank you for your support and generosity!

We are thrilled to introduce the SoulCreations Gallery, an online space dedicated to showcasing the creative works of our congregation. Check it out here . As part of our participation in the SoulMatters program, each month we will explore a new spiritual theme through worship, children’s religious education classes, adult small groups, and our UUWriters and Creativity Matters classes. The SoulCreations Gallery is a place where you can share your artistic and written reflections on these themes. Whether it’s a video of a dance you’ve choreographed on the theme of “invitation”, an audio recording of music you’ve composed on the theme of “deep listening”, a skit you’ve written and acted out on the theme of “repair”, or slam poetry, children’s books, written reflections, drawings, paintings, short stories, sculptures, fabric art, graphic art, or short films you’ve created on any of the other SoulMatters themes—your creativity is welcome here! We invite all congregants to submit their work for inclusion in the gallery via  this form . This is a wonderful opportunity to not only show off your hard work but also to learn from one another’s reflections on our monthly themes. Let’s celebrate our creativity together!

There will be a Solar Loan Project Information Session will be on Tuesday, October 15th at 7pm on Zoom . Learn how our solar energy project will be funded and paid for (mostly by incentives). Your help is needed! The September 22nd presentation is available for you to view via YouTube .

The landscaping has been completed and looks fantastic! The accessories (soap dispensers, paper towel dispensers, etc.) have been installed in all of the bathrooms, the lighting is being finalized and the automatic front door opener has been installed. The Terrace Room wall impacted by construction has been painted and lots of other finishing touches are being completed.

Cinema Circles have been around since 2017 as a way for MUUF friends and members to discuss films in a group format. Starting this fall , we are rebooting the Circles with some possible variations for single subject themes (e.g. documentaries) as well as the more familiar varied subject format.  What is a Cinema Circle?  Like a book club, you (and other members of your circle) watch, when you independently find it convenient to do so, a movie that has been selected that is usually available from Netflix and the library.  Within the month you agree on a date to meet in person or on Zoom to discuss it with old and new MUUF friends who are part of your assigned circle. Why? Cinema Circles are part of the Fun aspects of the Adult Programs at the Fellowship which focuses on low and no cost options for our newest and current members to get involved with fun activities.  Other activities include Meals with UU Friends, Game Day, etc. What have we learned over the years?  Here’s what you told us in a recent survey: “It’s a good way to get to know people better, watch some great movies, share our reactions to the film and to look forward to our next gathering. “ “Discussing films and the socializing with fellow members” “Camaraderie! Also, meeting via Zoom. (I cannot travel after dark.)” “Sharing comments about films we have chosen as a group.” “Interesting movies and discussions with plenty of time to plan watching” “Get to know MUUF people better and check out movies I would never choose” How frequently are circles held? Most groups agree to meet once a month for about year and sometimes longer.   How many in a Group? 8-12 seems to work well. When do the monthly circles meet? When you register you can meet all the times you are available and we will make a best effort to fit you into a group that works for you.  Time of day may also be important to many so there is an option for that as well. A monthly commitment is not right for me at this time.  What else is available? Work and/or other commitments may make it difficult for some folks to commit to a circle at this time.  Please be aware that we will soon be evaluating other ways for you to participate in movie discussions.  If you have ideas or would like to help, please reach out to cinema@muuf.org.     Where do circles meet? The enrollment form provides an opportunity for you to indicate whether a Zoom-only group option is optimal for you.  The rest is up to the group.  Some groups only meet at the Fellowship for their discussions. Others in folks’ homes.  All have the option of hybrid meeting places.  (Zoom in the cold months, someone’s home or the Fellowship in other months). OK.  How do I join? Complete the registration form and we’ll form the circles and let me know what comes next.

I traveled to Hungary and the Transylvania region of Romania in September 2024. I had some personal reasons (visiting relatives, etc) but of interest to MUUF would be my visits to our Partner Church in Sinfalva (Cornesti, see map below) and my participation in the Fourth International Convocation of Unitarian Universalist Women and People of Progressive Faiths (“ICUUW Convo 2024”) meeting. Here is a brief description of my trip with some photos. I got to Budapest on Sunday 8/31. On Tuesday 9/3 I picked up Alison B. at Budapest airport. She is an American woman living in Athens and I had agreed to take her to Kolozsvar for the ICUUW meeting. On the way after a 3 hour drive we spent the night in Kocsord with Rev. Zsuzsanna Bartha. On Wednesday we arrived in Kolozsvar. My room was in Guesthouse 1568 , at the House of Religious Freedom, run by the Unitarian Church. I went to Sinfalva on Thursday morning, with Alison. We met Rev. Palfi and his wife Ildiko and we also went to Torocko (Rimetea) about 15 miles away which is a Unitarian village which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Sinfalva is in a great location halfway between Torocko and Torda. Thursday afternoon the International Convocation of UU Women (ICUUW) Fourth International Convocation of Unitarian Universalist Women and People of Progressive Faiths (“Convo 2024”) meeting started with a tour of the House of Religious Freedom. Then Friday, Saturday, and Sunday there was a pretty full program of events: ceremonies, talks, panel sessions, worship services, and meals of course. The events all took place in the large Unitarian church or the Unitarian high school next door. I won’t go into the events in detail, but here is a photo of the schedules posted on the walls. One event I would like to describe in particular, though, was the Chalice Lighters groups. Every participant was assigned a group which would meet three times, once each day, with the same people each time. The idea was to have an intimate space to discuss the experiences, learn from and bond with each other, etc. Well, a couple of months ago I was asked to lead the “Men’s Chalice Lighters” group. There were enough men to form a group, and I agreed. Friday evening we met for the first time, Bruce Knotts was there (very involved with UU UN Office, has been at MUUF multiple times), some other men who were accompanying their wives, and who should walk in but the Unitarian Bishop, the guy who has responsibility for 300 – 350 village churches. He said that since he was a man, he had been assigned to this group, and here he was. His name is Istvan Kovacs but he introduced himself as “Steve Smith” with a big smile. I assumed he was making a courtesy visit and he would bow out after a few minutes, but no, he stayed with us for the entire session and the next one and the third one too. It was a great honor and privilege to interact intimately with such a cultured, educated, thoughtful person. He didn’t just pontificate, but joined in the conversation with a lot of give and take. I now consider him a friend and I’ll be communicating with him in the coming year or two as Rev Palfi retires and his replacement is named, making sure that the replacement is aware of our relationship and hopefully wants to continue and grow it. Another outstandingly memorable event was the concert given by Ukranian women refugees in the Unitarian church. There is a Unitarian refugee support group called Gondviseles (Providence) which has had a big impact on many peoples’ lives. One of the women was actually a professional singer in Ukraine and was hired by the Kolozsvar opera. I’ve got some short video clips I have posted on the Partner Church Committee CC page. It was very moving. The ICUUW Convo finished Sunday around 2:00 after a final dinner, and I drove to Sinfalva again. On the way I dropped Alison off at the Torda Salt Mine which is now a quasi-theme park, underground. The timing worked out perfectly so that the MUUF Ingathering service which started at 10:00AM was 5:00 PM in Sinfalva. I was able to show the YouTube livestream on my laptop to about 10 people in Ildiko and Denes’ kitchen. You can actually just make out Sasha on my laptop.  I had many interesting experiences after that, driving back to Budapest, staying in Berettyoujfalu with Alison for three days, etc. but that’s not relevant to Partner Church.

Click here  for a short report on my recent trip to Transylvania to attend the ICUUW (International Convocation of Unitarian Universalist Women) Convo 2024 meeting in Kolozsvár, Romania. While I was there I was able to visit Sinfalva twice, since it was only an hour away. On the second visit I was able to show Rev. Pálfi and his wife Ildikó and several other people the YouTube livestream of our Ingathering service, featuring Rev. Sasha in her first time in our pulpit. Here are some very short video clips of a choir of Ukranian refugee women who sang for us one night in the big Unitarian church in Kolozsvár. They are very short but give you a feel for the joy and energy and also pathos that imbued the performance. It was really extraordinary and powerful, a wonderful experience. Clip 7 in particular is a solo by a woman who was actually hired by the Kolozsvár opera company, singing a folk song that was the basis for Summertime. I think you can hear the echoes. Clip 1 Clip 2 Clip 3 Clip 4 Clip 5 Clip 6 Clip 7 Here are two videos about the Convo 2024 meeting. First, a 4-minute video in English  Next, a 1-minute video in Hungarian with sorta creepy Gothic music.

Our Postcard Campaign is Beginning! As shared at our June update meeting, the first in a series of 3 postcards inviting prospective new members to visit the Fellowship will be mailed in the coming days. This pilot promotional campaign targets registered Democrat and Independent voters who live within a 10-mile radius of the Fellowship, and who are parents of 5- to 14-year-old children. 1000 households will each receive 3 different postcards over the next several weeks. The postcard messages will also be 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. 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 warmFellowship welcome before, during, and after our Sunday services.Stay tuned for upcoming posts where we’ll share additional postcard messages.

UU Faith Action is addressing the illegal and inhumane treatment of inmates as practiced in NJ penal institutions. On October 1 at 6:00 PM the launch of a new report on the state of solitary confinement in NJ will be presented on Zoom.  For more information and/or to register go to  www.njpjw.org/2024report State of Solitary Confinement video

The finishing touches and landscaping are moving quickly! The painters are here this week to finish up in the new building and to paint the wall in the Terrace Room impacted by construction. A team headed up by Sergio Lopez, Paul Snellgrove and Sue Vnenchak will be painting the remainder of the Terrace Room. The landscapers have planted trees and shrubs in front, on the side and in back of the new building. Mulch and woodchips are being spread. The lighting in the Welcome Hall and Fellowship Hall is closer to being complete. Stage lighting is coming soon. The interior doors for the kitchen are installed, kitchen cabinets have been hung and the all important coffee station is set up! New building to old building Old building to new building Views between buildings! Ed on stage with lighting Newly installed lighting Kitchen cabinets Coffee Station Getting closer to a real kitchen! Side entrance landscaping Back property line landscaping Memorial garden side of parking lot landscaping Close up of trees around the property Paul Ferm and landscaping along back of building Front of building landscaping Retention basin in parking lot New steps to the Memorial Gardent A whole lot of woodchips! Various views of the landscaping Sergio has been painting and repairing the Library doors and the lighting in the Welcome Gallery is now installed.

Want to know what’s happening at MUUF? We’ve got you covered! For everyone: Weekly Newsletters: Catch up on past events, announcements, and reflections by visiting our website ( muuf.org ) and click “Members” on the menu in the upper right corner. Then, select “Newsletters” to browse archived editions. For Fellowship Members: Realm: Your Information Hub: Dive deeper with exclusive access to Board Minutes, reports, and more through our online system called Realm. Click here to explore archived files. You’ll need to log in (don’t worry, it’s easy!). Realm is also your one-stop shop for news, events, contact information, and much more. Stay Connected, Stay Informed: By staying informed, you can participate in exciting activities and be a part of building our beloved MUUF community. Have Questions? We’re Here to Help! If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to our administrator, Katy Julich , or chat with any member of the Board . We’re always happy to help!