Events Calendar
We reopened Sunday Worship Services in person on September 12.  We are also streaming the service via ZOOM for those who are uncomfortable gathering in person or unable to be at church. Please note that because of the Covid pandemic, we will not be offering nursery care at the beginning of the church year, but hope to in the future.

If you would like to participate in our online service and are not on our email list, please send your email address to our Office Assistant Emily at buuc01506@gmail.com.

Upcoming Events​
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October Services* 

Sunday morning services are held at 10:30 am. 
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October 10: Justice? Just Us -  Worship leader: Gary Blanchard; Music: Gary Blanchard 
October 17: Borderland -  Worship leader: Rev. Craig M. Nowak; Music: BUUC choir 
October 24: Forgiveness, Revenge, or Karma - Worship leader: Roxann Smith; Music: Rick Condee, flute 
October 31: In Costume -  Worship leader: Rev. Craig M. Nowak; Music: Jared and Jessica Adams 

*A Note About Worship 
Currently we plan to hold hybrid services (in person and streaming) beginning September 12th. Information about attending in-person is included below. To stream the service (attend online) click the link that will be provided weekly via email.  If you are not on our email list but would like to be, please contact our Office Assistant Emily at buuc01566@gmail.com.​

Requirements for Attending InPerson Service at the BUUC
We are aware of the statistics concerning the Delta variant of the Covid virus and want to keep our members and friends safe, so with that in mind, we are implementing the following changes for the time being regarding returning to services in person:

• First of all, we hope that all who can receive the Covid vaccine have been vaccinated. But we are aware that vaccines do not guarantee complete protection. Therefore, we are requiring that everyone entering the building wear a facemask whenever there is more than one person inside.  This applies to any time before, during and after the service.
• The ushers will seat people as they come in to assure that there is personal distance maintained for single people as well as families or pods of people.  While it is unlikely to happen, we reserve the right to turn people away if we determine that we have reached full capacity for safety.
• We will not have coffee hour after the service and ask if people want to socialize that they do so outside the church.
• We are asking that people not bring food or drink into the sanctuary as eating or drinking requires removal of facemasks.
• We are working to set up streaming the service on Zoom for those who are uncomfortable attending the service in person.  
• Joys and Concerns will be read aloud by Rev. Craig or the Worship Leader during the service.
• Please email your joys and concerns to buuc01506@gmail.com with the subject line “Joys & Concerns” no later than 12:00pm on the Saturday before the service.
• We will not provide nursery care at the beginning of the church year but hope to add it at a future date.

Please be aware that the Executive Committee discussed returning to in-person services at great length.  We hope that with making the service available through streaming, most people will be able to take advantage of being at the Sunday service either in person or virtually.  

We understand that Covid has been difficult for all of us and we would all like to just put this virus behind us and return to “normal,” but that isn’t realistic at this point.  So, we have put together an approach that we hope will allow us to be together respecting the science of this virus and keeping people as safe and comfortable as possible. 

Remember too, that the changes being implemented are temporary. This is not a “new normal.” We will get through this challenging time together. 

Please contact any member of the Executive Committee with questions you have about resuming in-person services.  If you have questions about the Religious Exploration program, please contact Cara Wales at c.l.c.wales@gmail.com 

Thanks,
Barbara Hale, President, b.lambert.hale@gmail.com 
Rev. Craig Nowak, RevCraigNowak@comcast.net 
Gary Blanchard, garyblanchard@hughes.net 
Fritzi Foster, fritzifoster@yahoo.com 
Chris Keough-Huff, smurf111@charter.net 
Helena Paez, Hepamay@me.com 
Doug Smith, mecodoug@charter.net 
Sarah Swift, saswift114@gmail.com
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Food for Faith: Adult Religious Exploration 
Picture This: Bible Study Through Art (October 2021--March 2022) 
When:  Times and dates listed below
Where:  Via ZOOM
Long before social media influencers were a thing, there were images. Images have long been used as a means of com municating information and expressing ideas. Likewise, images also influence and can limit or expand what we know and how we think about the things depicted visually. In this program we will explore select Bible stories through images. We’ll examine things like what’s being communicated or omitted, ways in which an image reflects or deviates from the text, and what, if anything, else a given image helps us see or understand about the story depicted. Sessions will run approximately 45 minutes to 1 hour. 
Meeting Date/Time(s): 
Afternoon Group: First Wednesday of the month at 1:15pm 
10/6, 11/3, 12/7, 1/5, 2/2, 3/2 
Evening Group: First Tuesday of the month at 6:30pm 
10/5, 11/2, 12/1, 1/4, 2/1, 3/1 
Materials Needed: 
• Internet Connection: We will be meeting via Zoom. (If you need technical assistance accessing or using Zoom, please contact Rev. Craig to be connected to a BUUC member or friend who can help.) 
• Your imagination and an open mind 
Registration Required: 
Email Rev. Craig at 
revcraignowak@comcast.net to register.

BUUC Journaling Group 
When:  7 p.m. on the last Monday of the month
Where:  On ZOOM
Join us  at 7:00 on the last Monday of the month on Zoom for the BUUC Journaling Group. All are welcome. Please  email c.l.c.wales@gmail.com for more information. See you on October 25th!
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Vigil of Remembrance
When:  Tuesday, October 26 at 6 p.m.
Where:  The BUUC
A vigil in memory and honor of victims of domestic violence will be held at BUUC, Tuesday, October 26th at 6 p.m.  
The vigil, led by Rev. Craig, will include speakers from the community and a ritual to remember those who have lost their lives or been personally impacted by domestic violence. Please join us. 
October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month
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Aging As A Spiritual Practice
The continuation of the Adult Religious Education course is currently on hiatus.  Contact Cruger Johnson Phillips, cruger.johnson@gmail.com or Joanne Hamerly, jmh2ndchapter@gmail.com  for further information.

​Announcements!

Capital Campaign
Capital Campaign The BUUC is currently running a Capital Campaign to repair exterior stability and to build a handicapped accessible bathroom in the basement including installation of a wheelchair lift, which will improve access to both levels of the building. If you would like to make a pledge, pledge forms are available at the church. If you would like to make a one-time donation simply submit a check with the notation “capital campaign”. Any and all amounts are appreciated! Another way to support this project is to volunteer your time on a fundraiser. Please see a committee member. Thank you for your support! ~ CC Members - Tim Boon, Kim Burdon and Amy Frisella.
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Volunteers Wanted for the Brookfield Ecumenical Food Pantry
​Do you have two hours a month to help out at the Food Pantry? The pantry is looking for volunteers to help distribute food to clients throughout the year. Hours of operation are from 9:30 am – 11:00 am on Wednesdays and Saturdays. The Food Pantry is located at St. Mary’s Church in Brookfield. It is a very hands-on way to help out the community. To learn more, contact me at sully-3@charter.net or at coffee hour. 
​~Donna Sullivan
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Planning an Event or Meeting at BUUC?
If you or your committee is planning an event at BUUC, please be sure to notify BUUC’s Office Assistant Emily Foster at buuc01506@gmail.com. She can check if the date, space and time you want is available and promote your event or meeting through the appropriate outlets used at BUUC (email, print, calendar, Facebook, Twitter). If you are the event/meeting host/chairperson, please arrive at the church before other attendees to ensure the space is ready (including lights and heat as needed). 
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​Scrapbook
​We purchased a scrapbook to document BUUC events. If you attend an event and take a photo please forward it to Debbie via email, Debbie@DebbieEnnis.com. Please write a brief line or two about the event, i.e. date, purpose, place, responsible committee. We also welcome newspaper articles about our church or our members, when the BUUC is mentioned. We would love to have this to look back on in future years. Thank you, Your Membership Committee

Ongoing Events
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STONE SOUP COMMUNITY LUNCHEON
Virtual Stone Soup (Through December 2021) Stone Soup luncheon and conversation will continue this church year but will continue to meet for the time being via Zoom until we can safely resume in person social gatherings at the church. 12:00pm on the first Wednesday of the month starting in October. A link to attend will be sent out via email to members and friends each month.

THE BUUC WOMEN'S ALLIANCE
During the church year (September through June,) second Wednesday each month at 7 pm at the BUUC or in a member’s home unless otherwise noted.
All women are welcome.  Contact Laurie Magnuson for more information. Please note that meetings are suspended while we are dealing with the Covid-19 crisis.
    The Women’s Alliance is open to all women in the community. This year we have some plans in the making.  We are also planning a fun day of health awareness and relaxation methods this spring and are happy to once again be presenting our Goods and Services Silent Auction at at date to be determined.
Please feel free to join us.  Contact Laurie Magnuson at LMagnuson@randolphproducts.com for more information. 

CHOIR REHEARSAL
Choir is on its summer break.  We will resume meeting Thursdays at 7:00 in August, hopefully, in person. 
If you are interested in joining choir,  have other musical skills to share, or any questions about the music program,  please get in touch with Music Director Lila M Farrar; lilamfarrar@gmail.com or 508 864 5978 .

BUUC BOOK DISCUSSION GROUP
Our regular meetings are on the second Tuesday of the month at 7:00 p.m.   This year we will be meeting via ZOOM.  If you would like to participate, please contact Barb Hale at b.lambert.hale@gmail.com.  Keep Reading!

November 9:  Poet Warrior, A Memoir by Joy Harjo
December 14:  Transcendent Kingdom by Yaa Gyasi 
January 11:  Officer Clemmons  by Francois Clemmons
February 8:  The Essex Serpent by Sarah Perry
March 8: The Splendid and the Vile by Eric Larson
April 12: The Good Lord Bird by James McBride
May 10:  All In: An Autobiography of Billie Jean King (if available) or Finding Freedom by Erin French
June 14:  Interior Chinatown by Charles Yu

​Everyone is welcome to join us for the BUUC Book Club.  We meet on the second Tuesday of the month at 7 pm via Zoom.  If  you have any questions or suggestions contact Barbara Hale at b.lambert.hale@gmail.com
Get reading!

Committee for Ecology & Social Action
CESA or the Committee for Ecology & Social Action is an extension of the Green Sanctuary Committee, which began in 2004.  The mission of a Green Sanctuary is to support an ongoing commitment to the Earth by striving to create sustainable lifestyle alternatives for our church, its members and the surrounding community.  The Brookfield Unitarian Universalist Church received Green Sanctuary Certification from the UU Ministry for the Earth on May 13, 2010.  As the Committee for Ecology & Social Action, we have seek to broaden the range of our activities as a more comprehensive social action committee. 
Meetings: CESA has no set meeting time during the Covid-19 crisis, please check Church Calendar or Events tabs at BUUC for dates/times when we are able to meet again. ​

Quiet Gathering in the Spirit of the Quakers
The Quiet Gathering will be resumed when it is possible to get together. For more information, contact Cruger Johnson Phillips, cruger.johnson@gmail.com. 
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​Sanctuary: LGBTQ Coffee House  
Currently postponed because of Covid-19 concerns
When:  Third Friday of the month, 7-9 p.m.
Where:  BUUC
A monthly coffee house for LGBTQ youth and their allies to gather, share, eat, and socialize in a safe and welcoming setting where all are accepted and welcomed. Bring your favorite snack to share and meet other youth. For more info, call 774-254-0843.
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