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11:00 am Second Service with full Choir, Religious Education classes & Nursery; Coffee hour follows

Both services are basically the same.

Jan. 12 - "God of a Thousand Faces"

By special request from one of our members we will consider the Unitarian Universalist concept(s) of God in this morning’s sermon. Too often we leave topics of this sort to the 4^th or 5^th grade church school class. But regardless of where we fall on the spectrum of theistic understanding, it’s worth occasionally talking of our various understandings of God.

Speaker, Mike Harris is Vice President of the Joseph Priestley District Board of Directors and Chair of its Long Range Planning Committee. He will explore the challenges and opportunities facing Unitarian Universalism in our district. Discussion can follow.

Plan to be part of our annual fun and fund raiser on Friday, February 14 from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Fellowship. You are invited to donate services or goods, shop, or just join in the festivities. See the insert in this newsletter and keep an eye on the wall near the coffee.

But then, perhaps in this darkest period of the year, we need the break a longer holiday provides! Whatever. It was hard enough to change the first day from April to January a thousand years or so ago.

And this year our change in services will make the New Year really new for our fellowship. On January 5^th, we will have our last single service Sunday – at least till we reevaluate the matter in May. Beginning on January 12^th, our services will be Sunday mornings at 9 and 11. We hope this will make it possible for more people to come to our worship services every week, and that it will lead to larger shared worship services once we have expanded our fellowship facilities.

Religious education will fall primarily during the second service, but there will be a "one room schoolhouse" program for kids who come during the first service. There’ll be coffee hours at 10 and at Noon to cover the two services, with the weekly location for the Lunch Bunch gathering posted on the main door every Sunday before the early service begins. The choir will focus its efforts mainly on the second service, but there will be music leaders in the first service each Sunday, and the sermon will be roughly the same at both services.

There’s no doubt that we’ll need more help to make this program work, and all of us will probably breathe a sigh of relief when we can go back to one service every Sunday. But if we work at it together and make an effort to enjoy the process, we’ll manage to have fun during this time of change.

So pick a service on the 12^th and come along! We’ll need your presence and your participation. And the result will be a great New Year that will culminate in the dedication of our refurbished church buildings sometime in the Autumn!

See you in church on Sundays – and during the weeks as well!

• On January 8, 9, 11, and 15, UUFE members and close friends will be gathering for small potluck dinners around the area. In addition to fellowship, these dinners will provide an opportunity for everyone to weigh in on the building plans for expansion. Since our church represents much more than bricks and mortar, we’ll also discuss UUFE’s programs and services—what we’re doing right, what we need to improve, and what we might add. So expect a phone call very shortly inviting you to attend one of these important and sure-to-be-fun events.
• On Sunday January 12^th, UUFE reaches another milestone: we begin offering two services—one at 9:00 a.m., and one at 11:00 a.m. Please see the insert in this newsletter for all the details.
• The following Sunday, January 19^th, architect Jay Corvan and the building expansion committee will unveil the finalized plans for phases one and two. Their presentations will immediately follow both services—9:00 a.m. in the Religious Education wing, and 11:00 in the meeting hall.
• Then on Saturday January 25^th, we strongly encourage the entire congregation to attend a workshop from 9:00 a.m. to noon with UUA fundraising consultant Kami O’Keeffe. Kami will help the board, building expansion committee, and stewardship committee determine the financial feasibility of turning UUFE dreams into reality.

Whew, this certainly doesn’t feel like the dead of winter, does it? I look forward to seeing you often in the coming month and to tapping your opinions and advice.

Stay warm,

We'll meet at 11:00 on Thursday, the 23rd to discuss recent reads and chose a book we might all enjoy for a future critique. Bring a brown bag and the kettle will be a'boil.

The first Friday of January (and most months) there is a drumming circle on the RE porch at 7 PM. Some of the drummers have been taking lessons and are getting to be good leaders, so join us if you want to learn or just have fun. There are always extra instruments so stop by. Note: Anyone who has a drum or percussion instrument to donate that would be appropriate for this group please call Debra Hathaway (770-9057) to make arrangements.

Men from the Fellowship gather promptly at 11:30 on the first, third (and if a fifth) Wednesday of each month for lunch at the Easton Airport Cafe. There is no agenda!

Amy Eutsey is providing childcare at the Fellowship for any parents who want to go to Washington for this march. Please let her know if you want to use her help by calling her at 410-820-7971 no later than January 16th. (Thanks Amy!)

Join others from your community to demonstrate your hope for a peaceful solution to the current situation in Iraq. The walk will begin at Idlewild Park at 3:00 pm and proceed to Thompson Park at the corner of Washington and Dover Streets. There will be a brief rally with speakers and music before returning to Idlewild. Dan Higgins is one of the scheduled speakers for this event.

Dwayne Eutsey is now editing a monthly newsletter

Our Fellowship is beginning 2003 with an exciting flurry of activity. January 12^th we start two services, at 9 AM and 11 AM. I have been through this process before, in Newark, DE, and if history is any guide, most of us will be drawn into a deeper commitment to our spiritual community. It is so exciting to be able to reach out to the community and let them know we have room for them again. Most people need to feel comfortable physically before they can get comfortable mentally and emotionally. There were too many Sundays when children had to sit on their parent’s laps and couples could not sit together, much less families. The two services may feel emptier to us, because we miss the people at the other service, but to a newcomer it will feel good to be able to sit with their family. And those of us who miss each other will be willing to do the detail work of building expansion and juggling schedules because we want to be together again soon.

Children’s Religious Education will be provided at both services, with the 11 AM service being the more age specific classrooms (like we currently have at 10:30), and 9 AM being a mixed-age group (similar to our summer RE program) that meets on the RE porch. We will need two more teachers to make this work, so let me know if you are interested. I think the teachers so far have been having a good time with the information they share with the children, the cute things the children do and say, and the camaraderie of being part of a dynamic team. We will have a teacher’s meeting January 5^th after the service to solidify schedules and orient new teachers, so please join us on the RE porch if you are interested.

Also, January 12th there will be a games afternoon (tentatively 12:30 – 2:30) starting with a child-friendly potluck after the second service and continuing with board games (and outdoor games, weather permitting) and a children’s movie in the nursery. Anyone who likes to play games is welcome.

Tuesday, January 14^th we will have our monthly RE committee meeting at 3:30 PM. The agenda includes discussing a spring retreat for the whole fellowship, so stop by if you are interested.

February 2^nd we will have a Chinese New Year celebration between the services, so come at 10:15 AM and enjoy the festivities. Let me know if you have any decorations or expertise to share on this topic.

Also, please let me know if you would like me to extend a personal invitation or send an informational postcard to a family in our area. There will

be postcards available in the front lobby that briefly explain our children’s religious education options which you are encouraged to give to friends with children. Of course, we want any newcomer to feel welcome, but this is the RE column, so I am pushing my agenda here. The younger children are enjoying a curriculum called We Are Many, We Are One, while the older children are exploring World Religions and You, the Creator. Details are available on the RE bulletin board next to the nursery.

There’s a lot going on, and many opportunities for sharing and growth. Call anytime, 763-6508.

The Toy Exchange is chugging along on the RE porch. Several children have brought in 'very good condition' toys and either donated them or exchanged them for a different toy. Every few months toys will be given to a local charity. This seems like a good way to recyle and reuse old toys and involve the children directly. Donations are welcome and proceeds will go the next year's Heifer Project.

Remember to turn in your Guest at Your Table boxes - just drop them off in the office or hand them to the usher or greeter. Proceeds go to the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee - which does such good work all over the world. Take care, Mary Lou

The Children's Religious Education Social Action Project raised $300 this year making and selling snowflakes to collect money for The Heifer Project. Thanks to all of you and one couple who gave a family member a 'goat' for Christmas through us (actually two family members each got 'half a goat' - a hearty laugh that is worth the gift.) Three hundred dollars will buy two llamas, or two goats and a field of tree seedlings, or a water buffalo, a flock of chickens, and a duo of beehives. These animals and plants make a huge difference to the right recipients. Thanks to everyone who chipped in.

Dave Moore, a new member, has a great new idea. He would like to invite anyone who is interested in participating in a Song Circle.

This would be open to all musicians

and singers and would primarily be

folk songs done "campfire style."

Songs would be chosen from the book

"Rise Up Singing" or participants could bring other songs to share. He's open to a weeknight and would like to talk to others.

One of the newest members of our UU choir, Dave Moore has always enjoyed music. Besides singing, he also plays the guitar and would like to start a "song circle" here at our church. As Dave explains it, each person in the circle would have an opportunity to select a song, going around the circle until everyone has had a chance. There would be musical accompaniment, depending on the instruments members of the circle bring. The song circle would be open to all ages and abilities.

Although Dave graduated from Oklahoma City University with a B.A. in English, most of the jobs he has held during the last 15 years have been computer-related and have involved designing computer-based training, user manuals and on-line help. Unfortunately for him, most of his jobs have entailed long commutes from a base on the Eastern Shore where he has lived for the last 10 years. For a while he commuted to a job at U.S. Customs headquarters in Washington, D.C. and, most recently, to Annapolis for Corel Corporation, a company that makes graphics and other software. However, due to recent layoffs, Dave is now "temporarily retired" and in the midst of a job search. In one of his last projects at Corel, Dave developed the online help and user manual for a product called "Corel DESIGNER", a technical illustration application.

Dave has two children with whom many in the Fellowship are already acquainted: Rebecca, a 6^th-grader at Easton Middle School, who plays the piano and oboe and is learning guitar; and Nathan, age 6, who enjoys soccer and is also learning to play the guitar. Dave also has an older daughter who is married and lives in Oklahoma. Dave will be visiting her family as well as his parents and many other relatives over Christmas.

No stranger to Unitarian Universalism, Dave attended UU services while living in Oklahoma City, primarily so his older daughter would be exposed to a liberal religious education. He was very impressed by the religious education program there and enjoyed participating in the discussion forums held before the regular church services. He also attended UU services while living in Massachusetts and 10 years ago attended services at the Easton Fellowship with his oldest daughter.

After the painful separation from his wife this summer Dave felt an immense void in his life which the Fellowship helped to fill. He states that he has never been much of a joiner but that he now feels ready to make a commitment to our Fellowship. I

(continued next column)

Jan 22: The Staff of Life: Bread and Beer night

Regular time: 7:00 to 9:00 pm

In today’s convenience culture, it is easy to purchase good bread and beer – yet some people prefer to go through the organic process of adding yeast to grain and make their own. We will enjoy the fruits of their labors while we discuss their reasons and the deeper spiritual implications behind their nourishing creations.

Leader: Laura Lathan

Jan 29: "Welcoming the Stranger" film discussion Special time: 6:00 to 9:00 pm.

Based on the UUA curriculum, "Film as Theological Text," the theme of this 2-part series is "Welcoming the Stranger". We will enjoy a light supper while viewing the films, followed by discussion. A donation for dinner and video rental will be requested. Questions raised in this series include: Who is the stranger? How do we experience the stranger in our midst? What is the role of stranger and host as they encounter each other? Film I: Chocolat.

Leader: Gail Woodall

If there is any question

of whether or not we are holding

a service on a Sunday morning,

tune in our local radio station,

WCEI 96.7 FM for an announcement.

For meetings during the week, please

call who ever is in charge.

Members and friends of our congregation experienced a number of joys as well as sorrows during the past month.

Following an initial concern about the nature of a tumor in her daughter-in-law’s leg, Nancy Kreuger is happy to report that the tumor was found to be benign. We are happy to hear that Alex Collins, one of our former members, is recovering nicely following a hip replacement. Also in the "recovering from surgery" category is Tineke Tan. Her progress following spinal surgery has been slow, but is going in the right direction.

Rene Bond’s friend Wayne is struggling with an on-again, off-again staph infection in his leg. Two members experienced losses of important people in their lives: Joe Thome’s aunt died and Len Janssen’s close friend, Lauren, after an extended bout with cancer.

We have completed and bound a notebook with the biographies of members that have been written for the Newsletter over the years. The book will be available on the shelf in the back of the meeting room for browsing. Please check to make sure that your biography is included. There will be a sheet of paper attached on which you may list your name if yours is missing and a sheet to write any information that you would like included as an update, such as a new child or grandchild, change in job, etc.

Much thanks to the musicians I've spoken to who have agreed to be available to lead hymn singing and play special music at 9am services. Any other musicians interested but not currently on the list, please contact me (Patty Rubin). Accompanists for hymns are still especially needed. I am also interested in auditioning potential accompanists who are not currently UUFE members or friends.

Monthly community sings lead by Ysaye Maria Barnwell, of Sweet Honey in the Rock, are presented by the Levine School of Music, in NW DC, Jane Lang Recital Hall. Everyone is welcome regardless of experience. No pre-registration is necessary – pay $5.00 at the door. 7-9 pm • Wednesday evenings: February 12, March 19 and Thursday, May 8. Cathy Miller is kindly offering a pre-sing dinner at her home in Silver Spring before the 2/12 session. Please contact Cathy or Patty if you are interested.

The 2nd annual JPD music festival will be held at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Annapolis, Maryland, Saturday, February 22, 2003, 9:00 - 4:00 pm, for all interested and involved in UU musical and worship activities. The agenda includes two workshop sessions, a song reading session featuring JPD UU Composers, and opening and closing worship. Cost: $15 and includes drinks, snacks and lunch (late registration is $20 after February 14, 2003 and late registrants at the door can't be guaranteed lunch). Contact: Betsy Jo Angebranndt, Music Director, UUCA, bangebranndt@aol.com. Eight folks from UUFE (including some not in choir!) went to the Festival last year. We learned a lot and had a great time. Please let me know if you are interested in a car pool (a significant part of last year's fun. Bring your favorite car tapes!)

Patty Rubin

Our Youth group continues to meet each Thursday from 5:30 to 6:30 PM on the RE porch. Attendance averages 9 to 11 and a recent overnight saw 9 youth and 3 adults spending the night (although barely sleeping) in the sanctuary. There will be a Winter CON (weekend teen-led conference at area UU churches) January 10-12th at River Road UU Church that our youth can attend – this one is on spirituality – stay tuned for details.

The youth group has been exploring Paganism on the third Thursdays of each month. Most weeks we just hang out, check in about our lives, eat Cup a Noodles, and laugh a lot. This is an open group – new youth are always welcome. New advisors are always needed, also. There is local advisor training the first weekend in February and it is a fun way to serve. See Mary Lou if you might be interested.

Treasurer's Report:

George McManus reported that at 41% of the year we have spent 36% of the budget. He and Nancy Dimond are working on the Talbot Bank checking balance. It was clarified that George, Beth and Nancy Dimond are authorized to sign checks.

Mary Lou Keller reported that there are five new children registered. She has purchased new curricula and set up a bulletin board in the lobby. The children have attended the Renaissance Fair and participated in the Fall Festival. They will again make snowflake ornaments to benefit the Heifer Fund. The Toy Exchange has been set up and any proceeds will go to the Heifer Fund also.

Building Expansion Committee:

Prior to the Board meeting, a modified contract reflecting changes that were found to be necessary had been emailed to Board members who approved the contract with one abstention. Dick Doughty distributed plans and explained the modifications. The Committee will present the current plans to the congregation on December 15 immediately after the service and then will be available for questions and suggestions. We will have to hire a soil consultant, as we are required to have a septic reserve system. Cost will be $75 per hour with a n estimated total cost of $500 to $1400 depending on what is found; the Board voted to authorize a payment of up to $1500 for this from the Capital Fund. The Board then voted to authorize the Building Expansion Committee to pay up to $2,000 for miscellaneous expenses without having to obtain prior approval and to report back to the Board after the fact.

The Board voted to approve continuing our current arrangement for snow removal on an as-needed basis whenever the snow is 3" deep.

Music Director's Report:

Patty Rubin reported that we now have 18 people on the choir roster with average of 14 attending. She is projecting a need for space for 25 plus 5 more for the future expansion. The choir provided special music at two services in November and will do so in December as well. She stressed the need for a music committee and distributed guidelines for this committee.

Patty Rubin spoke to the timetable for support people, i.e. coffee set up, ushers and greeters. RE will have a multi-age program during the 9:00 service. On 3rd Sundays, coffee hour after the first service will be in the lobby or, weather permitting, outside so that the choir can hold practice. Signage will have to be changed and newspaper publicity arranged.

Stewardship Update:

Beth noted the importance of involving as many people in the congregation as possible in the canvass. A JPD fund-raising consultant, Kami O'Keeffe, will be coming here on January 24. She will meet with Jim and then with Board members as well as committee members and will also be available at the Sunday service on January 26. On January 8,9,11 and 15, there will be a series of small dinners with congregants to talk about our congregation, mission and expansion. The Building Committee will present finalized plans with a model on January 19. Training for Canvassers will be in early February with canvass taking place in late February and March.

UUA Membership Report:

Mary Young will send letters to three members who have been inactive, inviting them to return or to choose to be listed as Friends. The report on current membership is due to UUA in January.

Respectfully submitted,

Mary Young, Clerk