Weekly News

April 2, 2025

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Welcome to Unitarian Universalist Society East

Email our office to receive a visitor packet or to find out more. We schedule several newcomer events throughout the year after Sunday services.

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Sunday Service: "Poetry & Joy as Acts of Resistance"

"Joy is an act of resistance." We hear this phrase a lot these days, and it serves as an important reminder that finding joy in the midst of turmoil is a powerful form of defiance and protest. There are many avenues to joy, and poetry is one of them. Today, in honor of National Poetry Month, several members of the congregation will share how they find joy and strength in poetry. Coordinators: Gina Campellone and Paula Baker.

Services at 9:00 and 11:00 A.M.

Sunday, April 6, 2025

Gathering music starts at 8:55 and 10:55 A.M.

Join the virtual service at 11:00 A.M. via our Zoom link:

Contact the Office for Zoom Link.

Or join by phone. Call 1-860-646-5151 Meeting ID 357 815 420#.

In Case You Missed It:

Click here for a Youtube link to our 3/30/25 service,

"The Truth About Trust"

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Stop & Shop Card Fundraiser

This Sunday after each service in the lobby

Do you do your grocery shopping at Stop & Shop? If so, here's an easy way to donate to UUSE without it costing you a cent! You can buy Stop & Shop gift cards at face value for $50, $100 or $250, use them to do your shopping, and five percent of the purchase price will go to UUSE! Buy one for yourself or purchase one as a gift. Cards will be sold in the lobby after each service this Sunday.

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Hands Off Rally

Saturday, April 5 from 3:00 to 6:00 P.M. at the State Capitol in Hartford

The Social Justice/Anti-Oppression Committee invites you to the Hands Off Rally. Co-sponsored by many organizations including Women's March, 50501 and others, this rally protests the current assault on our country, our Constitution, our government services and so much more. More information at https://handsoff2025.com/

If you would like to carpool, gather at UUSE at 2:30 P.M. Or contact Sid Soderholm.

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Coffeehouse

Saturday, April 5, 2025 at 6:00 P.M.

The Coffeehouse and Open Mic is held monthly on first Saturdays October through May. Musicians, Poets, and Storytellers share their talents. Performer signups start at 6:00 P.M. with 12 slots of 10 minutes each. Performances start at 6:30 P.M. Bring your dinner. Bring your friends. Bring your favorite beverage. We'll provide the coffee. A $5 suggested donation goes directly to UUSE. Coffeehouse is sponsored by the Music Committee.

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A Conversation on CT's Fiscal Roadblocks

Tuesday, April 8, 6:00 to 7:30 p.m.

Immanuel Congregational Church, 10 Woodland Street, Hartford

Join House Speaker Matt Ritter and members of the Hartford Legislative Delegation for this important conversation. This is a GHIAA and CT For All event to compel policy change on CT's path to passing a budget that invests in community needs. ASL & Spanish interpretation provided. Please register here.

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Ladies at Lunch

Our lunch in April will be in Marlborough. Join us Friday, April 11th at noon at Sadler's Ordinary, 61 N. Main Street. If you plan to attend, please RSVP to Sharon Huber - uuseoffice@uuse.org or 860-646-5151 by the afternoon of Thursday, the 10th. Hope to see you there!

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Author Event with S. J. Taylor

Sunday, April 13th, 1:00 P.M. at UUSE

New UUSE member, S. J. Taylor, is the author of Madsi the True, a children's fantasy book steeped in Norwegian folklore. She is also the author of "The Witch of Festa Falls" in the Being Ace anthology--a short story likewise steeped in Norwegian folklore and featuring Birga, who grows up to become the village witch in Madsi the True.

Ms. Taylor will read from Madsi the True and discuss her work Copies of all her books will be available for purchase. Proceeds will go to UUSE. This event is sponsored by the UUSE Children and Youth Ministry and Adult Religious Education Committees. For more information, contact the UUSE office at (860) 646-5151.

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Easter Egg Hunt

Easter Sunday, April 20th at 10:30 A.M.

Join CYM for an Easter Egg Hunt at 10:30 A.M. (before the 2nd service) on Easter Sunday in the back field. Open to all kids middle school age and under. Bring your Easter baskets and we'll see you there!

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OWL in Mississippi

Former UUSE members Wendy and Andy Pfrenger are raising money to bring much needed "Our Whole Lives" (OWL, the UUA's comprehensive sexuality curriculum) to Mississippi. Please consider donating in support of our former members and a very worthy cause.

Click here to learn more and donate to the campaign or look for the Our Whole Lives flyer in the main hallway and scan the QR code.

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A New Piece of Art Gifted To UUSE!

There's a new painting now hanging in the UUSE Program Room! This pastel painting, entitled "We Are One" and created by Eric Vogel, is a montage of hands. The nine vignettes of hands represent how we are a community of creative and compassionate people sharing the same values. The center vignette showing cupped hands holding a lighted candle is representative of our flaming chalice emitting light from the darkness that unites us all. We will hold a brief dedication ceremony for this painting prior to our Annual Meeting on May 18th.

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Summer-Themed Tag Sale

At this year's May Fair celebration, we'll be offering a summer-themed tag sale to raise money for our beloved UUSE.

We'll be offering anything related to summer: gardening tools and equipment, sports equipment, pool and patio items, outdoor games, bird feeders and bird baths, etc. Think "outside" and that's what we're looking for!

So, start that spring cleaning and put your items aside for our May 3rd tag sale! Contact Deb Gould or Sandy Karosi for more information.

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Romeos for Lunch

Perhaps you have not heard of our Romeos lunch group: (Retired Old Men Eating Out). We meet at noon on the 2nd Tuesday of each month for lunch and conversation at various local restaurants. If you are retired or simply have free time, feel welcome to participate. To be included on the email call list, contact Annie in the church office.

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Pastoral Friends

The Pastoral Friends Committee has a rotating chair throughout the year. Should you need pastoral care during the months of March and/or April, please contact Laurie Semprebon at uuseoffice@uuse.org.

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Ongoing Happenings at UUSE!

There’s Always Something Good Going On

• New! Adult Affirmation, 3rd Sundays at 1 P.M.
• Stop & Shop Gift Card sales after services on 1st Sundays
• Fair Trade Coffee/Tea/Chocolate sales after services on 2nd Sundays
• Yoga, every Wednesday at 10 A.M. All welcome! (9:30 A.M. on 3/26)
• Manchester Women's Singing Circle, every Thursday at 7 P.M.
• Book Lovers, 2nd Tuesdays at 3:30 P.M. in person and on Zoom.
• Women's Circle, 3rd Tuesdays at 7:00 P.M. (Zoom only December through March) Email Nora Alpers-Leon atuuseoffice@uuse.org for the Zoom link.
• Romeos, a monthly lunch for retired men on second Tuesdays - contact the UUSE office to be put on the email list.
• Ladies at Lunch, a monthly women's lunch typically on second Thursdays - advertised in the weekly eblasts.
• Buddhist Group, 1st Tuesdays at 7 P.M.
• God Talk, 4th Tuesdays at 4:30 P.M.
• Humanist Group, 3rd Tuesdays at 4:30 P.M.
• Science and Religion Discussion Group, 4th Thursdays at 4:30 P.M. April 24th - "Overpopulation" led by Heli Roy

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Our Mission

Unitarian Universalist Society East is a welcoming, open-minded spiritual community seeking truth and meaning in its many forms. We share responsibility for building a more equitable, peaceful, and sustainable world.

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UUSE Links and Information

• Monthly Newsletter • Website • Previous Sunday Services

 • Children & Youth Ministry • Facebook •

New England Region of the Unitarian Universalist Association

uuse.org • 860-646-5151

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