Church Life newsletter - Social Activities

The Foreword - Our Monthly Newsletter
(Part Two:  Social - listing all social activities, group meetings, volunteer projects and community outreach; or visit our entire  monthly newsletter)

Welcome to Sunday Worship!

Greeters:  Thanks to all who greet on Sunday mornings. A smile and a handshake is always a welcome way to start the day.  Look for the sign-up sheet on the Church Life bulletin board in the Lobby. – Carol Joyce

ADULT CHOIR  Rehearsal continues on Thursdays at 7:15 pm. We meet in the choir room (last room on the right upstairs in the RE wing). If you are a newcomer and have any questions, don't hesitate to call me at 822-2257. Please raise your voice in joyful song with us this year! - Marie Zak, Music Director

Meet UU in the kitchen...  Everybody loves Coffee Hour! But we need help to make it happen every week. It takes about 45 minutes to set up before the service and some clean-up time after our fellowship (we’re usually done by 12:45pm, if not sooner). You won’t miss the service or your own time to mingle. Please sign up to help us one Sunday soon ~ on the clipboard at the mug table, or by contacting Marie Evans (636-5770 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ).
Food donations are always welcome! If you can't give time, we welcome donations of sweet or savory snacks. Just drop them off on your way in. - Marie Evans

Welcoming Circle:  Do you want to help out, but never seem to be able to get to church early enough to be a greeter or coffee hour host? Your Membership Committee is looking for a few friendly people to help meet & greet newcomers after the service. Please see JoAnn Shafer to volunteer.

Welcoming People with Disabilities Learn about promoting equality and access for UU's with disabilities. Visit the website – www.equualaccess.org.

Transportation:  There are several people we know of, and this list will probably grow, that need rides to church on Sundays and perhaps to other church activities. We would like to form a list of people who are able to provide rides. If our list of drivers is big enough, no one will have to worry about finding an alternate when they are not available. If you would like to be added to the list of committee volunteers and/or have questions, please contact Suzanne Christ, chair of the Caring for One Another Committee.

Our Sunday church services are 10:30am.
You can see the topics & other activities listed in our monthly calendar. Childcare is provided on Sundays as well as religious education for youth. 

The Committee on Ministry would like to make our congregation aware that several members have allergies to perfumes/colognes. As a welcoming congregation, we would like to see our members make a conscientious effort to avoid wearing scents at church and church functions so our allergic members can worship and enjoy programs with their fellow congregants. Thank you for your time and consideration. - Committee on Ministry

Member Services
     I hope that everyone will find our church a place for inspiration, inquiry, discovery, reflection, understanding, sharing, and creative expression. If I don’t know you yet, please say hello and introduce yourself — I am looking forward to getting to know all of you! Please read on for more news about programming as well as some simple requests.  –Hella Jacob, ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it )

Name Tags
Did you notice the Name Tag Boards have been moved from the chapel into the foyer? Hopefully you will find their new location convenient and will remember to wear your name-tag when you’re at church! Yes, even if you think everyone knows you — first time visitors won’t know your name, and even for the rest of us, it is such a great help! Name tags build community. Thank you :-)
Move on up
Have you noticed how the front pews often remain empty while it is getting crowded in the back? If you arrive early and have been with us for a while, please consider moving up a few pews. Newer people will naturally feel less conspicuous in the back, while they’re getting to know us and our worship customs.

UU World
Thank you for donating your old issues of UU World, so that we can give them as reading material to new visitors who do not yet have their own subscriptions. Please bring any old issues to the first coat-room or put them in my mailbox.

"What Moves Us:  Unitarian Universalist Theology" Our next meeting is on Jan. 9 (7:30-9pm, James Reeb room). You may still join our program even if you have not been a regular! This workshop introduces Charles Chauncy’s Theology of Spiritual Renewal and attempts to present historical knowledge from our liberal faith tradition about views on the need for both reason and emotion to live spiritually transformed, moral lives.
    Charles Chauncy (1705-1787) was a Congregational clergyman in Boston, and one of the most influential clergymen of his time in New England. He was minister at First Church in Boston (“Old Brick”) for sixty years and gained a reputation for opposing what he believed was emotionalism during the “Great Awakening” of Jonathan Edwards. Called the ‘historical progenitor” of American Unitarianism in David Robinson’s 1984 book, The Unitarians and The Universalists, Chauncy refused to accept emotional conviction as the sole criterion and foundation for religious faith. The human mind, he insisted, must also give assent to the written word of God, and human behavior toward self and others must also be transformed. His rigorous use of reasoning to find, analyze, and explain the fundamental human elements entailed in spiritual experience is his legacy to us. Can Chauncy’s legacy help us construct a Unitarian Universalist Theology of Spiritual Renewal relevant to our lives today? We will generally meet on the 2nd Monday of each month trhough June. ~Hella Jacob & Diane Bofinger.

Cakes for the Queen of Heaven II: Women of the Bible
Our fourth meeting will take place on January 28 at 2pm (Living Room) and its topic will be “The Virgin Mary.” Together we'll examine the image that has been created of Mother Mary and the effects of that image on women. All women are welcome to join this adult Faith Development program created specifically for U.U. women. ~Hella Jacob & Jeanine Moyer

Mini-Orientations for Newcomers Some Sundays 11:45-12:15 PM. Are you relatively new here and just trying to figure out what we’re all about? I’ll be showing a twelve-minute DVD with an overview of Unitarian Universalist history, theology, worship experience, religious education, social justice, and inclusiveness. I will also be happy to answer any questions you may have and give you a tour of our building. We will meet in the “Living Room” (the room near the stairs). Look for me on February 5 and 19.

Unitarian Universalism 101 – A Message to Visitors, Newcomers & Fellow Explorers:
    If you have come to feel that this church may be the place for you and you would like to explore the possibilities that are open to you at UUCA, please join us in a UU 101 class, which takes place every few months or so. Build new and lasting friendships with your fellow searchers.  It will be a wonderful adventure where you can ask those burning questions and find new pathways to growth—spiritually, emotionally and socially. We offer this program several times throughout the year.

   In two sessions, the group will share the story of their own life journeys in small groups.  It has been our experience that deep and lasting friendships evolve from this sharing. We will also discover how contemporary Unitarian Universalism grew out of ancient roots and how a Christian sect became a modern, liberal inter-faith spirituality.

What does a day in the life of the UU Church of Amherst look like?  How can you become involved?  How can you connect with like-minded friends?   

   We strongly recommend taking this class prior to committingto membership at our church.    All are welcome. Childcare can be provided for those who need it. If you are interested in attending, please call the Director of Member Services at 903-7508. You may also e-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .We offer this program several times throughout the year. We will schedule to meet your needs. - Rev. Tim Ashton and Hella Jacob

Join us on Facebook! Why?
* It's easy and fun!
* To get the word out about our Nurturing Community of Diverse Beliefs, especially to younger people. 
* To see our Wall, Info, Discussions, Photos, Video, and Events. 

* To keep in contact with everyone throughout the week.

How?
1.) If you don’t have one already, create a Facebook account. Go to www.facebook.com. To sign up for facebook, you’ll need an email address and a password.
2.) Join our Group. Search (at the top of the News Feed page) for “Unitarian Universalist Church of Amherst,” or click on the link above.

 Church Staff

Our staff includes:

Seminarian:  Michelle George

Chair, Board of Trustees:  Ted Lightfoot ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it )

Director of Religious Education (Interim):  Victoria Crago ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it )

Caretaker:  Amanda Free

Church Website Volunteers / contact:  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ,  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it