We will also continue our support of girls in Africa trying to stay in school during their menstrual periods. Often these girls drop out and loose opportunities that education can provide. The cycle of poverty continues.

We need drivers to deliver our meals and cooks to help in the kitchen. These jobs take just a few hours on December 12. Contact Ellie von Wellsheim at ellie@mooncatcher.org or 518-859-5114. Thank you so much!

Dining for Dollars, a fundraiser for the people in New Orleans and the MoonCatcher Project, will be happening December 11th and 12th. I will be looking for cookie-bakers in anticipation of needing 1200 or more o your delicious confections. If you have baked before, look for an email from me soon. If this would be your first time to become a volunteer baker, please be sure to sign on the cookie-baker clipboard in the rear of the Great Hall. Thank you so much!

Dear UUSS community~

This month we’ve had a table on the chancel for worship each Sunday, as we’ve explored a larger theme of A Place at the Table. The table, as mentioned in this past Sunday’s service, was built by Everett Brewer, the grandfather of a friend of Robyn Salvin, who is a member of the Worship Team. This coming Sunday, the table will hold the bread that will be shared in a ritual of communion, a time of breaking bread together. Each of us has a part in widening our circle of inclusion, so that all have a place at the table within the congregation. Here are three things that you can do, whether you are a recent visitor, or a long-time member: 1. Say “hello” to folks you have yet to meet. Find out their name,their pronouns, (with thanks to the youth for leading this practice,) and something that brings them to UUSS. 2. Consider being part of the hospitality team by serving as a greeter, usher, or beverage server. Contact Bridget Almas if you are interested. balmas@gmail.com. 3. Go the extra mile, and offer to give someone a ride. There are several folks who would love to attend services who don’t have their own transportation.

For this Thanksgiving, we hope that everyone who wants to has a place to share a meal. There is a family in the congregation who has offered to welcome anyone who needs a place to be. Please let us know if that includes you. with care, and in faith~ Rev. Lynn and Rev. Wendy

Earth Circles UUSS welcomes you to celebrate the Winter Solstice at 6:45pm, Thursday, December 20^th in the Great Hall. 

Join us to sing, dance, drum and light candles in celebration of the journey back to center and the return of the light.  There will be a processional and calling the directions, poetry and stories.  Childcare is available for those easily distracted. The magic happens promptly at 7pm, please don’t be late. Bring a small flashlight (or phonelight); a drum or rattle if you have one; snack to share if you wish; and mittens, hat, or other warm item for the mitten tree donation if you can. All are invited to share in this original yet traditional UUSS Earth-centered service.

Our drum circles are time for joyful community.  This month we will drum our gratitude for blessings large and small.  All ages welcome.  Bring instruments to use and to share if you have them and finger food. There are extra instruments available but “found” or improvised ones work well too.

Do you want to organize an event during the holiday season? It could be an evening holiday party or an afternoon of merriment. Or maybe you think we need a bright, fun event in January when it’s cold, dark and snowy. If you would like to put your event planning skills to work and you have an idea for a fun event that the whole congregation might enjoy; the Fun For UUSS Team could help with your event idea! Email Linda Veraska at lindalvinvite@gmail.com.

Join the FUN for UUSS Team in the Dining Room, 2-5pm Saturday, December 15th! Come hand create gifts for the holidays, meet new people, and have fun! Multigenerational Craft Stations – All Welcome! Make Holiday Gifts and Wreaths from the Heart. Festive refreshments and music event are free. There will be a $5-10 suggested donation for wreath making. Contact Tess at theresa.healey@gmail.com to help!

The UUSS Caring Team is interesting in learning who is willing to be part of a Caring Network, a list of people who are occasionally contacted by a member of the Caring Team to respond to folks in our congregation who need a little extra help or connection (eg: a ride, a visit, a meal). CLICK HERE! to see a list of Caring options, and to check any boxes that feel like things you want to do to help. Also, if you find yourself in need of some help or connection, please contact Rev. Lynn or Rev. Wendy or a member of the Caring Team (Mike MacLaury, Carol Neff, Nancy Tobiessen, Karen Canfield, Lisa Temoshok, Kristin Cleveland).

Stop by the back of the Great Hall after services to jot a note or email your contribution to Christine Bernard at: seteachr@nycap.rr.com. Finally, many have asked about a retirement gift. We will be collecting money to help Gary pursue her other passions: gardening and travel! If you’d like to contribute to the book and/or the gift, come see us in the back of the Great Hall after services in November. We’ll be collecting memories and money until Sunday, December 2nd.

Please join us after the service on Sunday, Nov 11 to help keep this place lookin’ good! First thing will be to get the gardens tidy for a long winter rest. If that is well in hand, we may spread out to a few other areas. We have tools on hand, or come with your own. Bring the whole family – stay as long or as little as you like. Bring a bag lunch if you wish, we will have some cider and snacks set out in the dining room right after the service. (Stay tuned for schedule change in case of unfavorable weather.) Thanks! Randy Jennings, Building & Grounds Chair ROJennings@aol.com

All high school aged youth are invited to join Rev. Lynn for games and fun from 12:15. All parents of high-school aged youth are invited to join Rev. Wendy for a circle of connection and support. Questions? Rev. Wendy revwendy@uuschenectady.org

A second 7/8 OWL parent/guardian orientation has been added to the schedule for those who were unable to make it to the earlier one; this one is scheduled for Thursday, November 8, at 7 pm, in the 7/8 OWL classroom, under the church offices. Parent/Guardian attendance at 7/8 OWL orientations is required for your child to participate. If you didn’t attend the earlier orientation, please be sure to attend this one! RSVP to dlre@uuschenectady.org or (607) 435-2803.

In response to so much harm in the world, Schenectady Clergy Against Hate (SCAH) says, “No to hatred. No to violence. No to fearing one another.” At the core of all our faith traditions is a movement to bring more love, more justice, more compassion, and more understanding to the world. We invite the community to join together to acknowledge both the gratitude of our lives, the complex grief of the history of the Thanksgiving holiday and how the legacy of those stories continues to perpetuate harm and division. We can be the remedy to the sickness of hatred. We are all called to be kind, to be respectful, and to build connections grounded in compassion and love. The service begins at 6p with celebration and community building time to follow over refreshments at 7p. All are welcome and spread the word with your friends, family and neighbors!

Islamic Center of the Capital District

21 Lansing Road North, Schenectady, NY 12304

This November we will weave the theme, “A Place at the Table” throughout worship. On Nov. 18th, the multi-generational service will include a time to break bread together. If baking and serving bread is part of hospitality for you, and you are willing to bake a ‘loaf’ of bread or two and share a bit about what hospitality means to you, please let us know. If you are interested in baking bread and would prefer not to speak or have shared in recent years, we hope you’ll bake a loaf or two so that we have abundance of bread to share. Of course, hospitality means that we will need some breads that are nut-free, gluten-free, and/or vegan. Please RSVP to Rev. Lynn if you’d like to participate. revlynn@uuschenectady.org

OCTOBER 24, 7-8pm in the Great Hall UUSS
Join Earth Circles as we drum together and listen to spooky tales from celebrated storyteller, Barbara Chepaitis (who promises to give us nightmares). Bring drums and rattles; some will be available. Cider and conversation follow.

Do you have a high school youth who is active in the UUSS Youth Group and is (or will be) at least 15 years old by July 19, 2019 Are they interested in advocacy, direct service, and leadership skills development? Are they interested in traveling to Guatemala and working with youth there? If the answer is yes, you must come to an informational meeting to learn more about the trip. Meeting dates are: Monday, 10/1 6:30-8:30 pm and Thursday, 10/11 6:30-8:30 pm. Please respond to seejennyrun@hotmail.com to let Jen know you’ll be coming.

Do you want to serve on a team to help increase engagement in our beloved congregation through music? Check out the Music Team! Our first meeting of the new church year is next Sunday, Sept. 23, at 5:00 pm. The team will meet in the Fireplace Room at church. Pizza will be provided. Attendees can bring a salad or dessert if they wish. Please join us to help plan Revels and to explore how music can build connections and enrich worship at UUSS. It is very important that you RSVP to Gary at ggriffiths1739@gmail.com.