First Unitarian Society of Plainfield
WEEKLY ANNOUNCEMENTS
December 3, 2015
THIS SUNDAY
Worship: December 6 “A Season of Expectations” with Rev. Dr. Tracy
Sprowls This morning, we explore what John Buchens meant when he wrote: The
seasons may return with regularity, but these holidays do not simply celebrate the
cycles of time, Instead, they tell stories about unexpected turns in human history.
They express a form of faith that dares to reflect on human experiences being
upset. . . .”
First Sunday Explorers: 11:30-1 pm What the Dickens! Explore with
theater at FUSP. A theatrical reading of an original adaptation of A Christmas
Carol presented by the Impromptu Players. Discussion afterwards on the
relevance and resonance of this story today.
Next Sunday’s Worship
December 13, 2015
9:30 Family Service including decorating the FUSP tree
10:00 Worship “UUs and the Battle for Christmas,” Rev. Dr. Tracy
Sprowls & Gordon Rowan, Music Director.
Please join us for great music and some readings from the blog post called
“UUs and the Battle for Christmas” by Gail Forsyth-Vail. An
intergenerational morning of spirit and good-cheer. e
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MEETINGS
Open Membership Meeting, December 9,
7:30 pm, Youth Room
Rev. Tracy will be discussing the concepts of “Radical Hospitality.” Please
join the Membership Committee, learn about “Radical Hospitality” and
about getting involved with plans to increase FUSP membership. All are
welcome. If you have any questions, please contact Denise Soppas or Peter
Jones, co-chairs Membership Committee.
The Women's Alliance Book Group,Thursday,
December 10 at 7:30 at Barbara Van Savage's
home.
We will discuss "All the Light We Cannot See" by Anthony Doerr. The
books for January are "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland" and "Through
the Looking Glass" by Lewis Carroll. Please join us.
Women’s Alliance Meeting, December 12,
2015, 9:45 am, Stevens Room
We will have our annual Holiday Brunch. Bring a dish to share and a grab
bag gift ($10 or under).
Be prepared to discuss the following question: What do I intend to
accomplish in 2016? All women are welcome to attend!
Important Upcoming Dates:
April 9, 2016 – Women’s Alliance Fundraiser, Poetry and Music
June 11, 2016 – Women’s Alliance Garage Sale. Begin saving items for
this!
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FUSP BUDGET CHAT, SUNDAY, December 13,
2015, 11:15 am Sanctuary
Men’s Breakfast, SATURDAY, December 19, 2015, 9
am Stevens Room We will celebrate that holiday music and the
commercialization of Christmas will soon be over and we can plan the New
Year’s resolutions which we will not keep. Juice and coffee will be served.
Atheists, Agnostics, Dec. 21, 2015, 7:30 pm Stevens
Room
The topic for this meeting is “What is Big History” and the presenter is Rev.
Phil Passantino.
We look at the 14 billion year history of everything from the Big Bang to
today. It’s a big perspective that has a big effect on your spiritual outlook! If
you have any questions, please contact Pete Jones.
MISSION PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS
FIRST SUNDAY EXPLORERS, SUNDAY, December 6,
2015, Parish Hall, 11: 30-1 pm
This Sunday's exploration is a staged reading of an adaptation of the holiday
classic A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. What the Dickens! is about the
Lost Valley Community Theater Company of Tennessee getting snowed in on the
day of their big radio show of A Christmas Carol. Where will they find a Scrooge?
Written and directed by Westfield resident Wendy Connolly, this adaptation of A
Christmas Carol was written for this event when Rev. Tracy suggested “Let’s do
A Christmas Carol.” Short, sweet, family friendly and all roles played the
Impromptu Players, four local actors and friends (including our administrator
Sharon McGuire). Our Scrooge will be played by Fred Dennehy, the Scrooge in
Playhouse 22’s production of A Christmas Carol, now in its 20th year. Afterwards,
enjoy a discussion of why the original story, A Christmas Carol has such
endurance and what do we learn from it now.
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Project Hope Holiday Party for Plainfield Youth, Saturday
December 19, 2015
Seeking Donations and Volunteers
Project Hope is preparing for their 5th Annual Holiday Party for the youth of
the city of Plainfield. This year’s event will take place at the YWCA, 232 E.
Front Street in Plainfield, Dec. 19 from 3-6 pm. Project Hope has partnered
with some fantastic agencies this year (TEAM Endurance and the YWCA)
and we are looking for monetary donations and also donations of toys, gift
cards and prepared food. To make the event a success this year, we are also
looking for face painters, performers of all sorts (step teams, dancers,
martial artists, singers or any other talent!!!!)
If anyone is interested in lending a helping hand in any capacity, please call
Karen Hall at (908) 397-3480.
Drop off of toys, gift cards or checks can be made at FUSP
between the hours of 10-2 pm Monday thru Friday. Please make
out all checks to PROJECT HOPE. All donations, large or small,
are appreciated and very much needed to ensure that the kids
have a memorable party. It takes a village. . . Please contact Carl Heath
(ceheath@verizon.net (973) 327-2740 and let him know how you will help.
FOOD PANTRY:
Volunteers needed all three days.
Thursday, December 17, 8:30 am Unpacking our delivery
and organizing the groceries.
Friday, December 18, 12 noon. Bagging groceries.
Saturday, December 19, 2015, 9-1 pm
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CHRISTMAS DINNER, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2015
1:30-1:30 pm.
Here’s what we are asking of you this Christmas (feel fee to do any or all of
the following:
 Prepare that special side dish, dessert or sliced ham at
home-enough to feed at least 10-12 –and bring it to church on
Christmas morning.
 Volunteer 1 or 2 hours of your time that day to setup, serve or
cleanup (we serve from 11:30 am until 1:30 pm with 1 hour on each
side for setup and clean up
 Donate Money to the Food Pantry (check made out to FUSP with
“food pantry” in the memo section)
 Donate food certificates to the food pantry (See your food
certificate/supermarket card salesperson on Sunday)
 Call Cass Cochrane (732-574-0059) or email
(cassbass@verizon.net) and let her know what you will do to help.
The Food Pantry will supply what you don’t so PLEASE we need to
know in advance what you will bring to the table.
THANKS!
PS. ANOTHER THING YOU CAN DO
Bring in new or gently used winter hats, scarves or gloves
(children and adults) to be given away to our dinner guests. Bring
them Christmas morning when you bring your dish OR drop them off
in the administrator Sharon’s office.
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SUPPORTING OUR MISSION
FUNDRAISERS
SUPPORT FUSP BY SHOPPING ON AMAZON
Please remember to support FUSP when buying on Amazon. FUSP gets a
percentage of each purchase when you follow this link to Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/?&tag=fusporg20&creative=397553&camp=211173&link_code=ur1&adid=0BE0RHQWKY8HPWA
K4WPX
The link is also on the FUSP website.
SUPERMARKET CARDS
Available Every Sunday and an Important Fundraiser
Supermarket Cards are sold every Sunday after services in the Parish Hall
by the stage. For every card you buy, FUSP gets 5% of your check and the
store gets 95%. FUSP gets $4,000/year this way.
If everyone who shopped in these stores used our cards, FUSP would
collect $8 to 10,000/year.
The high end stores do NOT have gift card for non-profits.
As you know, FUSP has been draining our endowment fund over the past 5 years for
income shortfall in revenue vs. expenses. This extra effort could be a way to raise money
for FUSP without spending more for food with a modest extra effort of buying cards.
We have cards for Shoprite, Stop & Shop and very soon ACME.
Acme has 3 stores within the area of FUSP members:
South Plainfield on Oak Tree Rd, just off Park Ave, formerly A&P
Clark on Raritan Rd, in 1000s formerly A&P
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Existing Acme in Middlesex
See Sandy, Ralph or Lynette who will sell Acme within a week or two.
SERVICE AUCTION
SANDY’S HOLIDAY EGG NOG
Its Holiday season and time for egg nog. Sandy Kaplan is still accepting
orders for his brandy based (approximately 18% alcohol) egg nog. Just let
him know how many quarts, at $25 each, you want and send a check to
FUSP marked “Service Auction”.
SOUP SEASON:
DELIVERY OF VEGAN FEAST FOR $35 Donation to FUSP
Black bean soup, rice, chips and salsa, salad, and wine, beer or cider. A
vegan feast delivered. Hey, if you bought this feast, let Melissa know about
a week ahead for delivery. If you missed out, and you want a black
bean soup feast, Melissa will make you one with a week's notice
and a $35 donation to FUSP. Contact Melissa at melissa@obester.com
or (908) 432-4134.
Looking for something unique? Sylvia
Walker holiday gifts!
Sylvia Walker will make holiday gifts for you to order. These
include mugs, calendars, T-shirts, puzzles and mouse pads. The
following are prices before shipping and handling charges from the
producer. The shipping will be divided among the orders
received. Twenty percent (20%) of the price before shipping
will be donated to FUSP. Gifts can be made with my photos of
birds, wild land animals, scenes or flowers or with your own photos that
are e-mailed to me provided they are of good resolution.
Mugs $16.25, Calendars $21.25 - $25, Mouse Pads $12.50 - $17.50, Tshirts $21.25 - $26.25, Puzzles (8X10, 48 piece) $31.25
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BOOKTABLE
A new order has arrived for the Welcome and Book Table.
Ten new books plus the Common read “Just Mercy” for $15.00. The themed
socks are here for $12. Pick yours up on the next three Sundays.
PLUS mugs, tote bags and jewelry that make great gifts.
GROWING OUR MEMBERSHIP THROUGH RADICAL
HOSPITALITY
GREETERS WANTED
The welcome we give others and the way others receive it—is a key
ingredient to growing our membership.
Outside Greeters are needed to invite people (friends, members and
guests)
into our sanctuary on Sunday mornings.
Inside Greeters make our visitors welcome after the service - introducing
them to FUSP and our community.
If you would like to assist the membership committee by
welcoming visitors, please contact Denise Soppas
(Dsoppas@aol.com)
THEME MINISTRY
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE A PEOPLE OF
EXPECTATION?
December Theme exercise: Try this exercise this month to go deeper
with the theme of expectation. Want to share how you did with the exercise
during a Sunday service? Please let Rev. Tracy know and we will make it
happen!
Please email her at revtsj@fusp.org
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Solstice fire rituals. Christmas advent wreaths and calendars. Hanukkah
candles. This is the season of ritual -- rituals of preparation and expectation
to be exact. Expecting and trusting the light to return is no easy task. It’s
one thing to intellectually believe that the dark always gives way to the
light; it’s quite another to feel it in your bones.
All religions say this task is much easier with ritual, and with rituals done
together. So this month, recruit your family or circle of friends and engage
one of the winter rituals of expectation. Here are a few links to help you
decide which might be right for you:
Hanukkah: http://tinyurl.com/prkve8s
Advent: http://adventforatheists.weebly.com/
Solstice: http://tinyurl.com/pdty2tm
Kwanzaa: http://www.officialkwanzaawebsite.org/celebrating.shtml
UU Family Christmas rituals:http://tinyurl.com/ob2ld8a
Remember, this is a creative task. Be sure to adapt the ritual (unless you are
celebrating Kwanzaa; see link above) to fit your unique circumstances and
beliefs.
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