Minister’s Message | May Services | Religious Exploration | Board Update | Annual Report | Photo Policy | Membership: Circle Supper |LGBTQIA Support | Stories with Soul | FUNDRAISING: | UUCB Auction | | Concerts for a Cause | Holiday Fair | WORKING FOR JUSTICE: | Immigrant Justice | Indigenous Awareness | MUUSAN | Charities with Soul | Art Gallery | Parish Messenger Deadline
Minister’s Message
An Invitation to Creativity …
For some reason (her name is Diane), I have been more “crafty” in the last year than I have been in quite some time.
My last project was a cajón (wooden box drum) that I made from a kit I was given for our anniversary. I follow instructions fairly well, generally speaking, so I thought the chances the drum itself would come together were fair. It did! I felt triumphant. However, when I looked at the pristine wood of the drum alongside the instructions, “Get paints. Be creative. Let your imagination run wild,” I froze a little. I don’t consider myself an artist. I feel clumsy with paint. I’m not very patient. Despite years of working on it, I am still very unforgiving of my own mistakes (and I make a lot of them). It’s easy to talk myself out of artistic endeavors and redirect attention to the creations I admire so greatly from “real artists.”
(In case you haven’t spotted it yet, this line of reasoning is absolute rubbish. I know this (do I ever!), but to my great consternation, it still inhibits my creativity.)
Creativity is our theme of reflection for May, and I hope we’ll be – well, creative – as we engage with it. I want to invite you (and me) to press the mute button for the month of May on the soundtrack of our inner art critics. What I’ve learned in the last several months of doing more artsy stuff (notice that I still have trouble calling it art), is that I enjoy it! Who knew that I would find such pleasure and relaxation bringing a frog face to life, painting a rock, or messing around with art supplies I haven’t kept on hand since I had to purchase them from my back-to-school lists as a kid? (PSA: they have WAY better art supplies now!)
Whatever your relationship with art is, we hope you’ll feel invited and encouraged to fully participate in reflecting (and experimenting) with creativity this month. There will be a couple of large collaborative coloring pages in the sanctuary—These are for ALL of us to color together – no age limits or restrictions! We also want to encourage you to be creative at home and in groups. Have a pack of paints you aren’t sure still work? Pull them out and give them some love! Remember that song you never finished writing all that time ago? Clear your throat, do some do-re-me’s, and give it another ago. Inspired by the poets you heard at Poetry Express? There are poems in your heart, too; let them out! Having coffee and conversation with friends? Make it a group art day. Be playful! Get messy! Risk letting someone else see, hear, or otherwise experience your creations!
Creativity can help us tap into our own potential, free us up when our thoughts get stuck, and bring dreams to life. This is beyond frivolous activity. It’s essential to life. It can help us connect with others, build empathy, and forge relationships across the greatest of differences. Oppressed individuals and communities have used resistance/justice art to send powerful messages the world is otherwise not receiving. Art can express our deepest longings, loves, and lamentations. It can reflect our ownhearts back to us in ways that move us to change harmful habits. Creativity holds potential to surprise the cynic and move the hardened heart to hope again. That’s a process I want to be engaged in more intentionally, mindfully, and frequently.
In the mythology of the Hebrew Bible, the creator of the universe speaks the world into being by first giving creation permission to become (i.e., “Let there be” … light, etc.). Let’s begin the month of May by giving ourselves permission to create, and by giving our artistic potential permission to become.
UUCB, Let there be ________!
Now, let’s be on the lookout to notice, enjoy, and celebrate all that our community dreams and brings to life.
Blessings,
Kharma
May Services: Creativity
May 7 — RE Sunday —Led by Toben Cooney-Callnan. Music by Nell Britton and the UUCB Pickup Choir.
Come celebrate the amazing students and teachers in our Religious Exploration Program.
May 14 – Owning Your Creativity—Led by Rev. Dr. Kharma Amos. Music by Nell Brtiton and the UUCB Choir.
Creativity is something we generally appreciate. Creation in the form of the known Universe(s) is pretty awe-inspiring. So are the artistic works of painters, poets, singers, sculptors, etc. — not to mention those gifted at making macaroni art with church kids. Rev. Kate Dean says, “Creativity is about magicking something into existence that was not there before.” That is something all of us are doing all the time, whether intentionally or not. What might it be like if we really owned our creative abilities or the potential good that we can help “magick” into the world? Let’s consider it together.
May 21 — Our Creative Nature—Led by Rev. Dr. Kharma Amos and some members of the Worship Committee. Music by Nell Britton and the UUCB Pickup Choir.
Join us as we explore other means to our creative nature .
May 28 — Can We Talk? Creative Conversations—Led by Rev. Dr. Kharma Amos & Board of Trustees & Committees. Music by Nell Brtiton and the UUCB Choir.
There can be no denying that truly civil discourse in our society is too rare. It seems there are endless “sides” on particular issues, and they don’t often come to any point of meeting or genuine dialogue. Yet, having conversations with one another is an essential component of collaboration and discovering solutions for our common problems. How might we be more creative in our conversations that they might be avenues of connection and forward movement?
Religious Exploration
It’s already that time of year! Each Spring, the children and youth in the UUCB Religious Exploration Program get a chance to take over the pulpit for Religious Exploration Sunday. RE Sunday is a great opportunity for children to learn about how worship services at UUCB are created. It is also a wonderful chance for other members of the congregation to get to see these brilliant children in action. This year’s RE Sunday theme is creativity and the service will be on May 7th. Join us in celebrating our children!
Toben Cooney-Callnan, Director of Religious Exploration
UUCB Board Update
What is lovelier than grass that is greening, buds that are popping, and bulbs that bring color and life to garden beds that looked dead only a month ago! I hope you’ve had a chance to admire the church’s ever-changing display of purple, yellow, and white blossoms as you approach the building on Middle Street, perhaps the daffodils poking up among the holly bushes on Pleasant Street, or even the lilac buds swelling in anticipation on the back side of the church. Thank Cuffy Chase and her faithful crew when you see them, and keep an eye out as the mix changes week by week.
It was in front of that display that the Board presented a check for $16,010 to Tedford
Housing’s interim director, Andrew Lardie. The Congregation’s gift will name a family room in Tedford’s new shelter in honor of Minister Emerita Sylvia Stocker, a strong advocate for the most vulnerable in our larger community. Many thanks to all whose generosity made this gift possible.
Spring also brings a reminder that the UUA General Assembly (GA) will meet June 21 – 25, 2023 online or in-person in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. UUCB can send up to five official delegates to this annual meeting of our faith, with full voting rights to represent the wishes of our local church. Those who have attended in the past note that the feeling of learning, working and worshipping in a diverse group of like-minded people is an experience not to be missed at least once; it’s an experience that often leads to a re-invigoration of one’s faith in practice. It’s also possible to attend all sessions online with no housing or transportation costs, or just the business meeting (and voting) with no cost at all, if “GA lite” might fit your schedule and pocketbook more easily. You can learn more here, or ask Rev. Kharma or a Board member.
I wish you a greening May, with gentle sun and just enough rain.
Cindy Parker,
for the Board of Trustees
It’s Annual Report Time
If you are the Chairperson(s) or the person(s) in charge of a committee, group, task force or the like, it’s time to think about your UUCB Annual Report for FY 2022-23. If you need a copy of last year’s report, please contact the Church Office.
Please consider including the following in your Annual Report:
- List committee members with year each person joined the committee/task force/group etc.
- Identify committee chair and indicate the year that person assumed leadership.
- State the charge to (purpose of) the committee.
- Describe the committee goals set for the past year.
- Summarize those goals accomplished and those still needing attention.
- Anticipate issues/changes that impact ongoing functioning of committee.
- Express appreciation when/where appropriate.
Once your report is completed you can……
- E-mail your report to the church office
- Mail it to UUCB, PO Box 129, Brunswick ME 04011
- Hand Deliver it to the Church Office Tue – Fri 10am-4pm
- Leave it in the mail box outside the church office.
All reports are due by Friday, May 26 to give the office staff time to prepare the Annual Report for the
Annual Congregational Meeting on June 11th.
Communications Committee
Photos Policy
The purpose of the Communications Committee is to promote effective communication both within the congregation and between the church and the outside community. The Communications Committee works to ensure that approved procedures and guidelines are followed in all internal and external communications, and makes recommendations for updates as needed.
We would like to share one of the Communication Policies that you should all know about.
Occasionally, we use photos in the Parish Messenger or on the UUCB webpage, UUCB Facebook page, or in the “This Week at UUCB” email. These pictures (mostly candid shots taken at services or events) can be used to make our church look like a fun and inviting place. Usually names are not printed along with the photo. The Communications Policy states that we can use personal photos unless a congregant OPTS OUT. Shirley is currently updating the database to include all those who want to Opt Out. SO…
If you do NOT want your picture to appear anywhere in publications or online, please contact Shirley at and tell her you would like to OPT OUT of allowing pictures on an any media.
Membership
Circle Supper
Friday, May 5, Cinco de Mayo!
The next Circle Suppers will take place on Friday, May 5.These suppers, arranged by the Membership Committee, provide a great opportunity for both long-time and new members to get better acquainted in a comfortable small group setting of 6 to 8 people. Suppers are informal, “pot-luck” style with the host providing the main course and others bringing appetizers, sides and desserts. Beverages may be provided by both the hosts and guests.
We’ll be looking for both hosts and participants. A sign up sheet will be at the Visitor’s Table. For questions or to sign up to host or attend as a guest, contact Carol Drake, 973-983-0343, , or Anne Spencer, 207-443-3275,
It would be great if we could have a “family-friendly” Circle Supper. If you are interested in hosting a “family friendly” meal, please indicate on the sign up sheet.
In Support of LGBTQIA+
Trans and Gender Expansive Inclusion at UUCB: A Conversation
May 10th at 6:30 pm via Zoom
(https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83374871093)
Join us for a conversation about how we, as a spiritual community who strives to welcome all (as a key part of our mission), can become even more inclusive of trans and gender expansive people. In our current environment when so much anti-trans sentiment and legislation is being spread, it is all the more important that we are care-full and intentional as we welcome and affirm our trans siblings.
Language is one way that we can be explicit about our welcome, and the use of preferred pronouns is a pretty basic starting point for trans sensitivity and inclusion. We have new stickers available at the Visitor’s Table that will let you adorn your UUCB nametag with your pronoun preference. Even if you don’t feel as if you need to do that, your doing so can help others, for whom this is extremely important, know that we care.
On Wednesday, May 10th at 6:30 pm, Rev. Kharma and Toben will lead us in a conversation. Please come with your questions and open hearts. Our hope is that we can create brave space for learning and practice as we widen the circle. This conversation is being held via zoom in order to schedule it prior to the summer, and to increase access for as many as would like to be engaged.
Want to Support UUCB at Brunswick Pride?
This year will be the second annual LGBTQIA+ Pride Celebration in Brunswick on June 10th. If you’re interested in brainstorming with other UUCBers about how our congregation will be involved, please join us for an initial discussion on Thursday, May 4th, at 11:30 am at the church.
Stories with Soul
“Stories with Soul” was suspended at the start of the pandemic, and it is time to get it going again! This program was initiated in 2003 by Larry Lemmel and Bill Clark, and on April 8th of that year, Maryli Tiemann read the first story, “The Rotifer” by Mary Gavell.
As in previous years, Stories with Soul is open to the Greater Brunswick community on the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. One short, fictional story is read by one of the members of the group, after which a lively discussion takes place.
One of the written comments from that first year:
“We are truly thankful for being invited as members of the Brunswick community to participate in “Stories with Soul.” We have enjoyed the listening, reading, and reflecting upon the variety of stories from many times and places. It is perhaps the reflection and sharing of the group that most enhances the reading and thinking about life and issues of our world. Reading is a solitary activity; this group enlarges that activity in a very meaningful manner. As adults stories often leave our lives, but we never outgrow our need to interweave new stories in order to understand ourselves and others in increasingly complex times.”
The new convener of “Stories with Soul” will be Mike Michaud. He hopes to get the group started in September. Mike will be keeping a roster of those who want to do the reading. If you are interested in choosing a story and reading it to the group, please contact Mike at . If you prefer just to listen and take part in the discussion, that’s okay too.
FUNDRAISING
UUCB Auction
Concerts for a Cause
Ellis Paul’s 30th Anniversary Tour with Radoslav Lorković
Saturday, May 6 at 7:30 pm
Ellis Paul’s Anniversary Tour with Radoslav Lorković showcases songs from Paul’s forthcoming new album “55” . Paul is a popular singer-songwriter who is an astute storyteller, poetic and literate, with a stellar stage presence. Lorković is a Croatian born and classically trained folk and blues musician known in particular for his extraordinary flair on the piano and accordion.
Though some may refer to Paul as a folk singer, he is more, for lack of a better word, a singular storyteller, a musician whose words reach out from inside and yet also express the feelings, thoughts, and sensibilities that most people can relate to in one way or another, regardless of age or upbringing.
Paul’s songs have appeared in several blockbuster films (Me, Myself, and Irene; Shallow Hal, Hall Pass) and have been covered by award winning country artists (Sugarland, Kristian Bush, Jack Ingram). Through a steady succession of albums of his own – a remarkable 23 releases so far – and a constant touring presence around the world, Paul’s audience has grown into a loyal legion of fans. Along the way, he has picked up an impressive number of awards including the prestigious Kerrville New Folk Award, 15 Boston Music Awards, An Honorary Doctorate from the University of Maine, the 2019 International Acoustic Music Awards Artist of the Year, and most recently, his album, The Storyteller’s Suitcase, was named the 2019 NERFA Album of the Year. In 2014 Paul was inducted into the Maine Music Hall of Fame.
Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at the door. Students/Children $10. Available at the church office, Gulf of Maine Books, or online at https://ticketstripe.com/ellispaul
We would love to have some baked goods for intermission. You can sign up at the Concert Table after church services.
PORCH PARTY MAMAS
Saturday, June 10, 2023
The Porch Party Mamas are an engaging and magnetic Boston-area band of four female musicians who’ve developed a fun and moving blend of folk, country, Celtic, and blues repertoire. They play beautiful arrangements of lovely and whimsical songs featuring dynamic lead vocals and lush harmonies backed by virtuosic guitar, fiddle, accordion, piano, percussion, banjo, and bass playing.
Profits raised from this season’s concerts support the Brunswick Area Teen Center and Maine Family Planning.
Holiday Fair
Way You Can Help This Summer
UUCB will be abuzz with activity at our Holiday Fair on December 2.
It’s always a time of palpable energy and fun as we build community and connection as we create one of UUCB’s major fund raisers.
During the summer there are many things you can do to add to the success of the Holiday Fair. Here are just some.
Do you make jelly, pickles, and apple butter? You could set aside some jars for the Eats and Treats Table. Have a recipe so others could try?
Love to work with your hands? To the crocheters, woodworkers, sewists, quilters, potters, knitters , card makers, and all the many other creative folks at UUCB, your work is what makes the UUCB Crafts Table successful! Ornaments, toys, mug rugs, recipe holders, the ideas are endless. Remember people are always on the lookout for smaller items.
Do you have more fun creating together? Would you be willing to organize or teach a workshop? Great way to get to know others…and it will help the Fair.
Keep an eye out for contributions for the White Elephant Room. New this year is a Winter Holiday section for items you want to move along.
(Save until Fair time.)
Save your well-loved costume jewelry for the Jewelry Room. Want to join the Jewelry Sorting team? It’s fun, sociable, and needed. First, sortings are June 12 and July 10 at 1:00. Contact Lisa Durrell at
WORKING FOR JUSTICE
Immigrant Justice
Support for New Mainer Families Coming to the Brunswick Landing
Beginning in June, Greater Portland Family Promise of Portland https://www.gpfamilypromise.org will begin settling 60 families into 5 apartment buildings nowbeing built on the Brunswick Landing. Brunswick can expect to welcome 12 families each month beginning in June, and Family Promise is asking individual local faith communities to form teams of 4 to 6 people. Each team will mentor a new family under the supervision of Family Promise staff. If you are interested in joining a UUCB family support team working with Family Promise, please let Cathey Cyrus know. We will gather all those interested to think about how best to create those teams and connect them with Family Promise for orientation and training.
Mid Coast New Mainers Group (MCNMG), The Emergency Action Network (TEAN) and the town of Brunswick are meeting regularly with Family Promise to help prepare for their oversight work in Brunswick where they have never been active before. MCNMG, an all-volunteer group, does not have the capacity to provide and support the many mentor teams needed for 60 new families, but MCNMG will continue to provide and guide mentor teams supporting those families already arriving locally outside of the oversight of Family Promise. MCNMG is seeking volunteers to become part of those local family support teams as well as volunteers to provide help with transportation and other specific tasks. Please see Cathey Cyrus if you would like information about how to mentor with MNCMG.
Midcoast Literacy https://www.midcoastliteracy.org and Midcoast Hunger Prevention Program (MCHPP) https://www.mchpp.org are two community agencies already involved in supporting local new Mainers and are actively seeking new volunteers to increase their capacity to reach out to the anticipated 60 new families. If you are interested in tutoring or helping provide food for the families arriving this summer, please contact those agencies directly (see links above).
Indigenous Awareness
June 11 Congregational Vote on Resolution in Support of Tribal Sovereignty
Maine Unitarian Universalist Social Advocacy Network (MUUSAN) is asking individual Maine UU congregations to support of the MUUSAN resolution supporting Wabanaki tribal sovereignty. This congregational vote would add weight to the MUUSAN statement (see full text below). The UUCB vote on the resolution will occur at our June 11 Annual Meeting. UUCB Working for Justice Steering Group (WFJSG) has already discussed and voted to support the resolution and since then has offered presentations and resources to raise awareness in the wider congregation of the importance of sovereignty issue for Wabanaki Nations living in Maine.
Copies of the resolution and a fact sheet on tribal sovereignty (prepared by Maine Conservation Voters) will be available in the Fellowship Hall in the weeks leading up to the 6/11 vote. On Sunday, 5/21, immediately following the worship service (in front of the sanctuary), members of the Working for Justice Interest Group on Indigenous Concerns will be available to answer questions. Please take the time to become informed about this issue which is central to the wellbeing of the Wabanaki Nations in Maine.
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MUUSAN – Maine Unitarian Universalist State Advocacy Network
Resolution in Support of Tribal Sovereignty
(For vote during the June 11 UUCB Annual Meeting)
MUUSAN (Maine Unitarian Universalist State Advocacy Network) is a statewide advocacy and public policy network anchored in Unitarian Universalist faith and animated by its principles. We acknowledge that the land we now call Maine is the ancestral land of the Wabanaki Tribal Nations.
Our UU commitment to affirm and promote the inherent worth and dignity of all people calls us to address systemic oppression by advocating with and on behalf of people who are marginalized as a result of systemic racism and colonialism and responding to the need to interrupt disparities in Maine’s legal and economic systems.
MUUSAN stands with the Wabanaki Nations in affirming their Inherent Sovereignty.
In the 130th Maine Legislature, MUUSAN fully supported passage of legislation to restore Tribal Sovereignty in accordance with the 22 consensus recommendations of the Task Force on Changes to the Maine Indian Claims Settlement Implementing Act of 1980. As the Maine 131st Legislature convenes, MUUSAN reaffirms this support wholeheartedly. We urge the 131st Legislature to pass bills that implement any of these Task Force recommendations and are endorsed by the Wabanaki Alliance, and we urge the Governor to sign these bills into law.
We further urge Maine’s Congressional delegation to sponsor and support, US Congress to pass, and the President to sign legislation ensuring that the Wabanaki Tribal Nations in Maine are included by default in federal Indian legislation and have rights and benefits equal to the other federally recognized tribes.
MUUSAN stands with the Wabanaki Nations.
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May’s Charity with Soul: Tedford Housing
Tedford Housing, formerly Tedford Shelter, was founded in 1987 by the Brunswick Area Interfaith Council to provide emergency shelter for the area’s homeless adults. Our mission is to move people from homelessness to home. The organization was named for the individual who donated the building that housed the original shelter at 10 Pleasant Street in Brunswick, Maine.
Over the years, Tedford and its many community partners have risen to the challenges that face our homeless neighbors by opening a family shelter on Federal Street, offering homeless prevention services to those individuals and to families at-risk of becoming homeless, and adding 37 units of supportive housing for previously homeless individuals and families.
At the core of all of Tedford Housing’s programs and services is case management, ensuring every client we serve has access to all of the health, human and community services needed to address the challenges that created their housing emergency. Today, Tedford Housing finds itself serving more people in the community on an outreach basis than it does in its facilities. We have become a resource center for our homeless and at-risk neighbors, much more than a shelter with emergency beds.
Three ways to give:
- At uubrunswick.org, click “Donate Online” Choose the “Plate” option
- Text the amount of your donation to (855) 962-0440, and follow the prompts to complete your donation
- Mail a check to: PO Box 129, Brunswick ME 04011, Memo Line: “plate”
Habitat for Humanity
Fifteen UUCB Walkers are registered and ready to support Habitat for Humanity by participating in the annual Walk To Build on Sunday, May 7! Now we need YOU to support the Walkers and the work of Habitat by donating to one of the walkers or to Team UUCB.
Online donations can be made by going to the website https://habitat7rivers.org, clicking on the Spring Walk photo and following the prompts to select an individual walker or Team UUCB. One can also go directly to the Team UUCB website https://go.rallyup.com/sw2b23/t/teamuucb.
Offline donations can be made by writing a check payable to HFH/7RM with the name of the walker or Team UUCB in the memo line and giving the check to a walker; by leaving it with someone at the Habitat table in Fellowship Hall; or by sending it to: Habitat for Humanity 7 Rivers Maine, 126 Main Street, Topsham, ME 04086.
Art Gallery
May Artists: Our Children
The exhibit in May celebrates our children’s art. Please take time to look at the paintings and drawings created by our talented young artists. They had fun experimenting with color using wet on wet painting. Several children shared work that they made on their own.
Thank you to all of the artists who share their work with us!
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Deadline for Parish Messenger Articles
Deadline for June Parish Messenger is Saturday, May 20.