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Kirtan Music and Mantra @UUSE Heart-Centered Kirtan returns to Manchester, CT Come chant, breathe, and reconnect through the joy of kirtan. Join us in Manchester, CT, where live music, mantra singing, and community come together in a shared spiritual practice. Upcoming Dates All sessions begin at 3pm in the UUSE sanctuary: · Sunday, September 21, 2025 · Sunday, February 22, 2026 · Sunday, March 22, 2026 · Sunday, May 17, 2026 Each gathering is led by Heart-Centered Kirtan , offering a powerful and inclusive group chanting experience in Connecticut. Save the dates and come sing with us, dance, do yoga, or just soak it in. What Is Kirtan? Kirtan is a form of chanting meditation rooted in Indian spiritual traditions. Through call-and-response singing of simple, repetitive mantras, participants are invited into a shared state of peace, energy, and connection. Whether you're looking for spiritual music events in CT, interested in meditative music, or simply want to try something new, kirtan offers a welcoming space for all. About Heart-Centered Kirtan Led by Libby Volckening , with Dan Thomas, Zach Gregory, and Chris Ball , Heart-Centered Kirtan weaves Sanskrit and Buddhist mantras into a blend of Western musical styles. Their Unitarian Universalist kirtan gatherings are known for being grounding, joyful, and openhearted. Since 2013, they’ve led kirtan across Connecticut and New England, bringing people together through the healing power of music and mantra. Learn more at heartcenteredkirtan.com What to Know Donation: $20 suggested (more or less is always OK—no one is turned away). All are welcome: No experience needed. Families are encouraged to attend. Scent-free space: Please avoid perfumes and essential oils. Seating: Chairs provided; bring a cushion if you prefer the floor. If you're searching for inclusive spiritual events in CT or want to explore community chanting , this is a great place to begin. < Previous Next >

fe03d180-e7ce-4690-99de-8efe452c61b0 < Back to Newsletter January Newsletter Article < Previous Article Next Article > Minister's Column Dear Ones: Our ministry theme for January is practicing resistance. I’m not surprised that our friends at Soul Matters (the independent UU resource hub that provides materials for our monthly themes) have landed on this theme at this time. Unitarian Universalists across the United States have been considering this theme in earnest since the 2024 national elections. As I have discussed elsewhere, the current administration in Washington, DC has engaged in many authoritarian actions (e.g., abducting and deporting people without due process, deploying federal troops to US cities, cutting the social safety net to pay for tax cuts for the nation’s wealthiest residents, freezing funds Congress has already appropriated, defunding universities, criticizing judges, firing federal employees without cause, using the Department of Justice to harass and attack political opponents, etc.). People of liberal faith abhor such actions. We recognize a profound threat to our time-honored democratic institutions, practices, and assumptions. We feel called to resist. So, I welcome practicing resistance as our theme for the month. Again, I am not surprised. Of course, Unitarian Universalists inherit a long tradition of practicing resistance to injustice. I intend to address pieces of that tradition—especially our tradition of resisting racism—in my January 18th service prior to Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. But before that, at our January 4th service, I want to address a way of practicing resistance that isn’t as familiar to me, what I call “direct aid.” The bottom line for me is that there is an increasing number of victims of the current federal administration’s policies, and they need help. Two victim groups that stand out to me are: 1) the families of immigrants who’ve experienced the abduction and deportation of a primary bread-winner; and 2) transgender people (or families with a transgender child) who are relocating from states with anti-trans laws to states whose laws are more supportive and protective of transgender people. There are certainly other victim groups. I am keenly aware of middle-income people and families who are losing access to affordable health insurance; and lower income people and families who are finding it increasingly difficult to make financial ends meet due to chaos in the economy. But given the kinds of requests I am getting on a fairly regular basis to support immigrant families; and given what I know is a long pipeline of transgender people who are seeking aid in relocating to Connecticut, I am increasingly led to the conclusion that our congregation has a role to play in providing direct aid. This is not quite intuitive for me. During my seminary years, I received training in how to work for social change—to not simply “give to the poor,” but to dismantle the root causes of poverty. While I’ve always seen the value in providing direct aid to people in need, I’ve nevertheless focused my energy and much of our congregation’s energy on the work of social change. That work certainly continues, but the victims of the current administration’s policies can’t wait for social change. They need direct aid now. Learning as a congregation to offer such aid feels to me like one of the salient ways we can practice resistance. More to come…. With love, care, and hope, Rev. Josh #JanuaryNewsletter Contact Information modified in accordance with UUSE Privacy Policies.

< To Upcoming Services Watch the eBlast for the next scheduled Solar Program Meet and Greet Solar Program Meet and Greet Between Services September 10, 10:00am - 12:30pm OOS Sermon YouTube

This highly acclaimed Montessori based program engages children using stories from many traditions and group “wonderings”. Children choose work activities, sing songs, and partake in a “Feast” (snack). < Back Spirit Play (4-5 yrs) This highly acclaimed Montessori based program engages children using stories from many traditions and group “wonderings”. Children choose work activities, sing songs, and partake in a “Feast” (snack). Previous Next

< To Upcoming Services Watch the eBlast for the next scheduled The UUSE Artisan Holiday Market UUSE Artisan Holiday Market 📅 Friday, Nov. 21, 2025 • 6–8:30 PM Friday Night Sneak Peek – $5 admission includes mulled apple cider and dessert. 📅 Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025 • 9 AM–3 PM Free Admission! UUSE Artisan Holiday Market 📅 Friday, Nov. 21, 2025 • 6–8:30 PM Friday Night Sneak Peek – $5 admission includes mulled apple cider and dessert. 📅 Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025 • 9 AM–3 PM Free Admission! OOS Sermon YouTube

55d70f18-c7af-4122-9544-f813c79f6d7e < Back to Newsletter January Newsletter Article < Previous Article Next Article > Newsletter Submissions Submit articles using newsletter@uuse.org or use this publicity form . Deadline for the Newsletter is the 20th of each month. #JanuaryNewsletter Contact Information modified in accordance with UUSE Privacy Policies.

224af6d3-8557-463a-94bb-b88f3359b50b < Back Nominating and Leadership Development Committee Prepares list of nominees for Society offices to present for vote at annual meeting; fills vacancies; identifies and nurtures leaders. Updated October 9, 2025 at 2:21:22 PM

< To Upcoming Services Watch the eBlast for the next scheduled Climate Café with Deb Dauphinais Climate Café with Deb Dauphinais 1:00PM We'll have a presentation by our own Deb Dauphinais, a certified professional rated dive educator for over 30 years. She cares deeply about our oceans and the waters off New England and will include her stories of marine encounters. Click here for more information. The program will also be available on Zoom and a link will be provided. Sponsored by the Sustainable Living Committee. Climate Caf é with Deb Dauphinais 1:00PM We'll have a presentation by our own Deb Dauphinais, a certified professional rated dive educator for over 30 years. She cares deeply about our oceans and the waters off New England and will include her stories of marine encounters. Click here for more information. The program will also be available on Zoom and a link will be provided. Sponsored by the Sustainable Living Committee. OOS Sermon YouTube

< To Upcoming Services Watch the eBlast for the next scheduled Community of the Earth The congregation is invited to view a new art show collaborative entitled, “The Community of Earth.” Families are welcome. refreshments will be served. “Mahjabeen “ is one of a series of portraits I’m working on of world religious leaders that I met at a conference on Star Island last summer. The conference was on Cross-cultural Conversations, and this resonated with me as an important and necessary component of our Community of Earth. That is what inspired me to coordinate this themed exhibit and to ask all of the artists to express their own interpretation of the Community of Earth. Jane Penfield OOS Sermon YouTube

< To Upcoming Services Watch the eBlast for the next scheduled New World Trio Concert New World Trio Concert Join us at UUSE Sunday, January 11th at 3:00 PM for a chamber music program with Anhared Stowe, violin; Peter Zay, cello; and David Ballena, piano. The program will feature three remarkable pieces by great composers of the 19th, 20th, and 21st centuries -- Rachmaninoff, Hagen and Shostakovich. Suggested donation $20 to benefit UUSE. Join us at UUSE Sunday, January 11th at 3:00 PM . for a chamber music program with Anhared Stowe, violin; Peter Zay, cello; and David Ballena, piano. The program will feature three remarkable pieces by great composers of the 19th, 20th, and 21st centuries -- Rachmaninoff, Hagen and Shostakovich. Suggested donation $20 to benefit UUSE. OOS Sermon YouTube

< To Upcoming Services Watch the eBlast for the next scheduled African Safari African Safari Friday, September 12, 2025 at 7:00 P.M. at UUSE Have you ever dreamed of going on an African safari? Here's your next best opportunity! All are welcome to attend a free wildlife slideshow and discussion at UUSE led by Laurel Hennebury on September 12th at 7:00 P.M. #eBlast-09-10 African Safari Friday, September 12, 2025 at 7:00 P.M. at UUSE Have you ever dreamed of going on an African safari? Here's your next best opportunity! All are welcome to attend a free wildlife slideshow and discussion at UUSE led by Laurel Hennebury on September 12th at 7:00 P.M. #eBlast -09-10 OOS Sermon YouTube

< To Upcoming Services Watch the eBlast for the next scheduled Hosts Needed for UUSE Community Harvest Suppers Hosts Needed for UUSE Community Harvest Suppers The Membership Committee is planning more potlucks at the homes of UUSE members/friends this fall. But we need hosts! If you would like to host a "Community Harvest Supper" at your home sometime in October or early November, please contact Sue Myers or Carole Boster via email or phone by September 15 and let them know the date and time for your event and how many guests you can accommodate. They'll send you back a quick questionnaire to gather further details for the sign-up sheet. Hosts are asked to provide a main dish; guests will bring appetizers, sides, desserts, etc. We'll have sign-up sheets in the lobby after each service in late September. Questions? Ask Sue Myers or Carole Boster. #eBlast-09-10 Hosts Needed for UUSE Community Harvest Suppers The Membership Committee is planning more potlucks at the homes of UUSE members/friends this fall. But we need hosts! If you would like to host a "Community Harvest Supper" at your home sometime in October or early November, please contact Sue Myers or Carole Boster via email or phone by September 15 and let them know the date and time for your event and how many guests you can accommodate. They'll send you back a quick questionnaire to gather further details for the sign-up sheet. Hosts are asked to provide a main dish; guests will bring appetizers, sides, desserts, etc. We'll have sign-up sheets in the lobby after each service in late September. Questions? Ask Sue Myers or Carole Boster . #eBlast -09-10 OOS Sermon YouTube