You’re warmly invited to join us for a Thanksgiving meal  on Thursday, November 27th at 2:00 PM  in Chu Family Hall ! Everyone is welcome—especially those who might not have a place to go for the holiday, and anyone who would like to spend a cozy, joyful afternoon with their Fellowship family. Come share in a simple, heartfelt meal, laughter, and gratitude as we celebrate together. The meal will be lovingly hosted by Nick, Sasha, and Alex . If you’d like to bring a dish to share, please let us know  by emailing staff@muuf.org . There is absolutely no expectation  to bring anything—just bring yourself and your spirit of thanks! To help us plan, please RSVP  below. We look forward to celebrating Thanksgiving together with warmth, community, and gratitude.

Next Sunday, November 9, we’ll gather for a relaxed and playful Community Sunday focused on games and connection!  Bring your favorite board, card, or party game to share—or enjoy one from our collection. We’re also looking for a few enthusiastic folks to lead  games! If you have a favorite you’d love to introduce and gather players for, please let Nick  know ahead of time. Come ready to laugh, play, and connect—it’s a perfect way to spend a Sunday together!

Are you passionate about creating meaningful opportunities for learning, connection, and community? The Adult Programs Committee invites you to join us as we plan and support programs for adults—including Small Groups, Religious Education, and other special events throughout the year. We’ll meet on the second Tuesday of each month at 7:30 PM on Zoom , beginning November 11 . Bring your ideas, creativity, and a spirit of teamwork as we help shape engaging experiences for our Fellowship’s adults. We are also looking for one or two people to chair the committee —a great opportunity to help guide our vision and collaborate closely with staff and volunteers. All are welcome—come be part of the team! If you want to join us, contact Nick.

The second annual Queer Holiday Market is just around the corner, and we're looking for vendors! We want to create a safe space to highlight the creative talents of the Queer Community. We are looking for folks to sell their handmade creations. We have space for 25 vendors and expect 200-300 people. Each 6’ ft table is $25 for the 4 hours. Proceeds benefit the work of the Fellowship to create a welcome and inclusive community. Please share with your friends and networks. You can use the attached graphic - it includes a QR code that links to the signup form. Any questions (or if you'd like to help out!) email: rachel@rachelkbarry.com .

Dennis Maurer will lead the MUUF Buddhist Sangha’s first Fall Insight Meditation Retreat in Chu Family Hall on Saturday, November 15, 2025 from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (A morning half-day option is available—just let us know when you arrive to check in at our welcome table that day.) Beginners and experienced meditators alike are welcome! Dennis has practiced, studied and taught meditation since 1973. His guiding teacher is Narayan Liebenson of the Cambridge Insight Meditation Center in Cambridge MA. Dennis has been practicing meditation and yoga since 1972. He lived and practiced and taught as a monk at the Integral Yoga Institute for eight years. He began practicing and studying Insight Meditation in 2000. His teachers include Narayan Liebenson and Michael Grady. Dennis has been teaching in the Insight tradition since 2006 and is the guiding teacher of the Insight Meditation Community of New Jersey. ( IMCNJ.org ) Insight meditation (“vipassana” in Pali), is the simple and direct practice of moment-to-moment mindfulness. Through careful and sustained observation, we experience for ourselves the ever-changing flow of the mind/body process. This awareness leads us to accept more fully the pleasure and pain, fear and joy, sadness and happiness that life inevitably brings. As insight deepens, we develop greater equanimity and peace. In the face of change, wisdom and compassion increasingly become the guiding principles of our lives. Please bring your own lunch; water and green tea will be available throughout the day. You may bring your own sitting equipment (cushions etc.), or use the chairs and cushions provided in the Hall. This retreat will provide an opportunity for extended silent group practice, with both sitting and walking meditation. We will conclude our silence at the end of the day with time to acknowledge our community and interconnection, to share our experiences, and to reflect on integrating mindfulness into our lives. For more information, please contact Amy Cartwright and Lisa Hatala at meditation@muuf.org . Please RSVP by November 13, 2025.

This will be an exciting night filled with fun and friends! Join us for the Service Auction Kickoff on Saturday, November 8th from 5 - 8pm. You can purchase tickets on the link below or buy them at the Service Auction table during coffee hour. You can view the final version of the catalog this Sunday. Questions? Contact serviceauction@muuf.org

We’ve recently been working to update our Alcohol Policy, to make sure that everyone—whether you’re attending a Fellowship event, hosting a celebration, or renting our space—can enjoy responsibly while keeping things in full compliance with New Jersey law. What’s the policy all about? The goals are simple: Follow state alcohol laws Minimize risk when alcohol is served Encourage responsible enjoyment This applies to any event on Fellowship property (and even some off-site events) where alcohol is present, whether it’s a regular program, fundraiser, celebration, or private rental. Key highlights you should know: Only beer and wine are allowed; no hard liquor. Food and non-alcoholic drinks must always be available when alcohol is served. Permits are required if there’s an admission charge or fundraising involved (coordinated through Morris Township and the NJ ABC Board). BYOB is not allowed. Certified and insured bartenders only (no self-serve setups). 21+ only for anyone drinking or serving alcohol. Why this matters: This policy isn’t about restricting fun, it’s about protecting our community and ensuring our shared spaces stay safe, legal, and welcoming for everyone. By being mindful and following these simple guidelines, we can continue to host meaningful gatherings where everyone feels comfortable and cared for. If you’re planning an event and think alcohol might be part of it, just reach out to the Congregational Administrator early on to go over the details. Have questions about the Policy draft? Tim Davis will be at coffee hour this Sunday to chat and answer them before the Board votes on whether or not to adopt it at the next meeting on November 12th. The current Policy draft can be viewed here: Here’s to celebrating responsibly and keeping the spirit of community strong!

The only description that we have of the first service of the Morristown Unitarian Fellowship at 8:30 pm. Oct. 30, 1955 at the Morristown YMCA was that it was brief, included a business meeting and a social hour (In Fellowship parlance, the last meant coffee was served). The service was called a meeting, the naming practice used during the first year or two. While the topic is unknown—and the first recorded subject found so far is for the service on November 28—the person who gave it is known: Vincent Lewellyn Richards. In a newsletter article in a series on Fellowship history in late 1962 and 1963, Robert McCready described Richards as a lay minister. What that meant is not known and the only other record of Richards being involved as the main participant in a service came early in 1956 when he read a sermon from a famous Unitarian mnister, a practice in those early days before the Fellowship had its own minister. Born in Cardiff, Wales, Richards (May 10, 1917-May 2, 2004), was the son of Gwendolyn Lewellyn and believed to be the illegitimate son of Peter Dray, who died in Flanders during World War I. Vincent was adopted by David and Lydia Richards and took their surname. He enlisted in the British Army when he was 17 and at some point was stationed in Bermuda where he met New Jerseyan Wilda Townend about 1938, who was on the island on a senior high school trip with her father.. Later, he joined the Canadian Air Force and became a bomber navigator during World War II. Details of his service are not known but he visited her at least twice, and then while on leave, he flew to LaGuardia Airport and went to Wilda’s home in Arlington, N.J., where they were married on May, 13, 1944. Richards attended the University of Toronto and earned a degree in mechanical engineering and would go to work at the then Lever Brothers. Vincent and Wilda moved to Morristown. Besides serving on the steering committee that organized the Fellowship, he would join the building and equipment committee after its formation. The Richards’ association with the Fellowship would be short. Both joined on Jan. 8, 1956 and resigned in September. The couple separated and he took a job with the Dow Chemical Co., in Baton Rouge, La. They reconciled briefly but then Wilda filed for divorce on July 24, 1964 in Florida. Both remarried. Despite the moves, Vincent remained a Unitarian while living in Bergen County although for a while he was a member of to the Ethical Cultural Society, The newspaper, the Record, reported he would present a service for the society on May 30, 1976, titled “:Life Against Death” based on a book by Norman Brown. On May 13, 1977, his was among the signers of a petition that ran in the record urging Gov. Brendan Byrne to abolish the death penalty. By June 17 1983, he was a member of the Central Unitarian Church and was to give a poetry reading in a service that featured the thoughts of Thomas Merton and he was a member of that body when he died. Wilda joined the Broadmoor United Methodist Church in Baton Rouge, but continued to donate to the Unitarian Church in Baton Rouge, according to her daughter, Carol. Richards Tusa (who remains a Unitarian). This first sermon set the pattern for several years. Minister-led services were on Sunday evening as lacking its own minister, the Fellowship had to recruit those who had their own congregations. Sunday morning services were lay-led and sometimes featured panel discussions and sometimes, as in Richards’ second appearance, members read a sermon from a Unitarian minister.

Nov 3, 6 pm: Coming Out & LGBTQ+ History Come join us as we discuss coming out and learn about LGBTQ+ history. We’ll start with a discussion of what “coming out” means to us, followed by a sharing of our coming out stories. We’ll then discuss a LGBTQ+ history timeline and play an LGBTQ+ history game. Refreshments are served, and attendees are asked for a small donation. Nov 10, 6 pm: The Joys of November November is often known as the" transition" month - the time between fall and winter. It is the only month Shakespeare never mentioned in all his plays and sonnets. Margaret in Little Women called it "the most disagreeable month," but with its holidays and historical milestones, many long for the traditions and warmth of the time before the chill of the approaching winter. Come join us to kick off the holiday season! Refreshments are served, and attendees are asked for a small donation. Nov 17, 6 pm: “Disclosure” In this Netflix documentary, leading trans thinkers and creatives, including Laverne Cox, Lilly Wachowski, Yance Ford, Mj Rodriguez, Jamie Clayton, and Chaz Bono, share their reactions and resistance to some of Hollywood’s most beloved moments. Director Sam Feder invites viewers to confront unexamined assumptions and shows how what once captured the American imagination now elicit new feelings. Join us for the film with a discussion to follow, facilitated by Sherri Rase. Refreshments are served, and attendees are asked for a small donation. Nov 24, 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, Nov 21, to Gordon Sauer at president@gaamc.org .

The EarthAware environmental group at Morristown United Methodist Church invites us to a plant-based potluck and screening of the film American River on Sunday, Nov. 2, at 11:45. This event is free, and registration is not required, but you are encouraged to bring a plant-based meal to share as you watch the film. AMERICAN RIVER is a documentary film that follows Mary Bruno and guide Carl Alderson on a 4-day, 80-mile adventure down the Passaic River from its pristine source in a wildlife refuge to its toxic mouth in Newark Bay. The river’s extraordinary history, geology and ecology are revealed as the kayakers navigate challenges, travel through urban landscapes and head towards the industrial disaster that poisoned the Passaic for the past 60 years. Along the way, the filmmakers engage residents, historians and advocates in candid conversations that bring insight, urgency and a sense of wonder to the story. The Passaic is an archetype for thousands of rivers across America facing similar reckonings. From paradise to Superfund, the film is a unique blend of personal memoir, adventure, history and science. It runs about 90 minutes.

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who helped make last Sunday’s Trunk or Treat such a wonderful success! From the beautifully decorated trunks to the fun games and activities, your creativity and enthusiasm made the event truly special. It was inspiring to see the effort each of you put into creating an inviting and festive atmosphere for families and children. We also want to extend a special thank you to Mutual Morris for leading the cookie decorating activity before the Trunk or Treat. It was a fun and creative way for children and families to get into the festive spirit, and it set the tone for a joyful afternoon. Your time, energy, and creativity added an extra layer of excitement to the event and helped make the day even more memorable. The trunks themselves were amazing—each one unique, colorful, and full of imagination. It was a delight to watch guests explore and enjoy the different themes, and the laughter and excitement in the air reflected the care and thoughtfulness behind every display. The games and activities added another layer of fun, engaging children and adults alike and helping everyone feel connected and included. Beyond the fun, Trunk or Treat was a wonderful way to welcome the wider community into our building. Many families attended for the first time, and your efforts created a warm and welcoming environment that showcased the best of our Fellowship spirit. We are so grateful to everyone who participated—whether by decorating a trunk, running a game, helping with setup or cleanup, or simply sharing your energy and enthusiasm. Events like this succeed because of the dedication and generosity of our volunteers. Thank you for helping make this year’s Trunk or Treat a memorable, fun-filled day! —Nick

Strategy was the main topic of discussion at the UUFANJ Fall Conference on October 18, 2025. There are two fronts to the battle we are facing. One is visible – rallies and marches. One not so much – legislative action. Both require large scale participation. Both are equally important. The latter was focal point of the conference. UUFANJ has been working with a coalition of 35+ secular and faith-based organizations to put together THE PEOPLE’S AGENDA. The coalition will focus on getting seven agreed upon bills passed and signed into law during the Lame Duck session – by the end of December. There will be a virtual press conference on November 13 to introduce The People’s Agenda to the public. Bills on the agenda are: (Bill summaries quoted from LegiScan) IMMIGRANT TRUST ACT: Establishes protections for immigrants interacting with government agencies. JOHN R. LEWIS VOTING RIGHTS ACT OF NJ : Protects against voter intimidation, discrimination, and suppression. CLIMATE SUPERFUND ACT : Holds large fossil fuel companies liable for damages caused by climate change. GENDER AFFIRMING CARE PROTECTIONS : Protects patients and providers accessing and providing legally protected health care activities and establishes the right of residents to legally protected health care services restricted in other states. REPRODUCTIVE HEALTHCARE INSURANCE COVERAGE : Requires health insurance and Medicaid coverage for family planning and reproductive health care services and prohibits adverse actions by medical malpractice insurers in relation to performance of legally protected health care services. REHABILITATIVE RELEASE/SECOND LOOK : Provides for rehabilitative release for certain incarcerated persons. ( Complex, stringent requirements. ) USE OF FORCE POLICY : Requires the Attorney General to review use of force policy at least every two years. (S2348/A4175) To accomplish these goals the coalition will be organizing rallies, engaging in hallway and committee lobbying, visiting legislators at district offices, and organizing/participating in phone/email campaigns. Training and support will be provided. First and Third Friday Action Hours will be very important and may increase in frequency if needed. Every act, no matter how small, has an impact. Do whatever you can to get out the vote and continue to demand that you be heard. We are powerful when we work together. I am going to end up where Rev. Charles began. He requested that each of us consider three questions then share our answers. May these three questions help guide your actions: What is it that keeps you up at night? What are your UU values calling you to do at this moment? What is your honest hope for achievable change in the near future?