Concord UU Calendar - All Church Events

This on-going Adult Enrichment group meets every week on Tuesday evenings for one hour of meditation including a reading. Come, sit, listen, and meditate with us.

An open circle for all ability levels.

Yoga is a multipurpose tool for improving a lifetime: the essence of Yoga is nonphysical inner development. To varying degrees for each individual, Yoga brings inner quiet, peace of mind, character strength, and spirituality. We each relate to it and its many physical and inner benefits in ways that suit our individual needs and personalities.

This Mindful Yoga program cultivates the abstract benefits. It encourages a quiet, mindful awareness while doing a full range of classical postures. Postures improve health through strengthening, purifying, and toning of the body, as well as of the nerve, and energy systems. Improved health, self-confidence, and a feeling of well-being, foster the inner results. Although the postures are a valuable tool, their improvement of the body is a byproduct, not the goal of Yoga practice.

Appropriate for a range of students, the approach is sufficiently safe, gentle, and even-paced for new students, while providing depth, variation, and practice options for experienced students.

Led by Beck Anamin
Meets Thursdays, weekly
An Adult Enrichment Program

The service offers a time for meditation, reflection, and renewal through music, brief words, and silence. Come sing, light a candle, and nurture your spirit during this nontraditional worship experience - and bring a friend! There will be a rehearsal from 6 to 6:45 pm for singers who would like to learn the harmonies to the chants we will sing.

We are also looking for instrumentalists interested in participating, but would need to know in advance who is able to come. For more information, please contact Rev. Michael Leuchtenberger at 603-410-4830 or michael@concorduu.org.

Come, come, whoever you are! Please join us for the Dances of Universal Peace @ Concord UU, an alternative worship service, held the third Sundays of each month from 7 - 9 PM. Mark your calendar with the following dates for the Dances of Universal Peace: February 19, March 18, April 15, May 20 and June 17, 2012.

The Dances of Universal Peace are based in mantras from many world religions. Walking practice, prayer, sound current vibration, and gentle full body movement create an atmosphere of heart centered peace. The Dances of Universal Peace are lead by Sarah-Elizabeth Whitcomb and Jane Jenaabi Finlay. We have musical support with guitar, harp, flute, recorder and drum. Bring your beginner self. All mantras and dance movements will be shared with interpretation.

The Chapel will be open a half hour prior to beginning in order to allow for centering time for the leaders and musicians. All are welcome to join us as we connect and create space together. Bring yourself, an open heart and a friend to the circle!

For more information please contact Sarah-Elizabeth Whitcomb at sarah_elizabeth@me.com or 603 365-0852 cell or Rev. Michael Leuchtenberger at michael@concorduu.org or 603 410-4830.

...Winds of May, that dance on the sea,
Dancing a ring-around in glee....

The Earth-Centered Spirituality Group invites you to join in a magical journey to the land of the Fay. We'll honor the fair folk and dance the Maypole, celebrating the beginning of summer and the growing season.

This is a rain or shine event. If it happens to be too wet for the grove, we'll be inside, Maypole and all.

As always, the ritual is followed by a pot-luck social hour. Stay and schmooze if you can.

For the first time, the Finance and Prudential Committees are recommending a "program budget" to be voted on at Annual Meeting. This is a big change, so we're providing two chances for you to have all your questions answered: May 6 and 13 after church. The Treasurer and representatives of Pru and Finance will present the budget, and answer any questions so you'll be prepared to vote at Annual Meeting on May 20.

All church members and friends are invited to attend our Annual Meeting in Fellowship Hall after the worship service. Members are eligible to vote on our 2012-13 budget and other important issues. Annual Meeting happens in lieu of our regular social hour, and a light lunch of bread, cheese and fruit will be served. Childcare will be available in Room 8/9.

Greetings from the Ethnic Diners, an Adult Enrichment opportunity. We meet the third Fridays of the month at 6 pm, September through June with the exception of December. The dinners are informal pot luck affairs. You’re invited to come with or without food & beverage. Join us for dinner and conversation at your convenience.

The following is this years’ schedule of countries:

September: Vegetarian Local Fall Harvest, USA

October: India

November: Spain

January: China

February: Russia

March: Chile

April: Poland

May: Mexico

June: Syria

Any questions feel free to “ask Bob” at 228-6264.

group meets on the 1st Tuesday & 4th Wednesday of every month

Restorative Circles are designed to help people work through conflicts, new and old, and to restore or heal their relationships. Maybe you’ve been thinking about asking for a Circle, but are just not sure if it’s the right direction to go. What to do? Now, you can get a private consultation with a Restorative Circles facilitator, with no obligation or pressure to continue with a circle. Talk through your conflict, ask questions, learn more about the process, then decide what to do next. Facilitators meet twice a month at the church. If you drop by, one of us will be happy to meet privately with you. Just find us and come on in. Alternatively, send an email to circles@concorduu.org, and we’ll set up a time to call or meet with you.

If you do not receive Parish Notes by email, please plan to pick your copy up in the Parlor after church. Copies that are not picked up today will go in Monday's mail. Help us save postage and printing costs by signing up to receive Parish Notes by email - just let the office staff know.

Live and Let Live Farm is a horse rescue organization. Church school students and their families are encouraged to join us at the farm. If you have not yet participated, please make sure to go to their website to get the waiver forms. You can register for this by going to www.concorduu.org/volunteer.php or by emailing me at cheryl@concorduu.org.

A gathering for the families of Restorative Circles Facilitators, anyone who has attended an RC training, and any other church members who have an interest in the subject. We will gather for a brief review of the RC process, and practice a little deep listening while exploring ways to create stronger family and community relationships. Then we'll relax with a pot luck dinner and a fabulous dessert. A grilling assistant will be available for your meats and veggie burgers. Please Rsvp or send your questions to circles@concorduu.org.

Adult Enrichment: UU Common Read--Acts of Faith

Facilitated by Rev. Michael Leuchtenberger

Advance registration appreciated but not required

A Common Read invites participants to read and discuss the same book in a given period of time. A Common Read can build community in our congregations and our movement by giving diverse people a shared experience, shared language, and a basis for deep, meaningful conversations. Acts of Faith, published in 2008, has been selected as the 2011-12 Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) Common Read.

In his memoir, Acts of Faith, Eboo Patel shares his faith journey as an American

Muslim and the call to religious pluralism which led him to found the Interfaith

Youth Core (IFYC). Acts of Faith frankly discusses the appeal of religious fundamentalism to young people, observing that young people’s spiritual hunger entwines with their desire to make a mark on the world. Patel challenges those who believe in religious pluralism to support young people, providing what is needed to help them ground themselves in a faith that both fuels their deepest passions and feeds their cooperation across faiths to make the world a better place. Although Patel’s memoir focuses on young people, his call to interfaith understanding and respect through side-by-side service and justice making work resonates with adults of all ages and life stages.

We encourage participants to acquire a copy of Acts of Faith, and, if possible, read it before the class in May. If you are not able to complete the book, please come to class anyway! It is sure to be a lively and thought-provoking discussion.

--Bobbie Herron, Adult Enrichment Committee

Members of the Earth-Centered Spirituality Group are studying the book "Non-Violent Communication, a lanaguage of life," by Marshall Rosenberg.

Wouldn’t it be nice to have a relaxed, impromptu chat with fellow UUs, no agenda, no commitment, just fellowship? Well now you can! Starting April 3^rd, and for the rest of the church year, you are welcome to bring your lunch to church on any Tuesday at noon, and join the rest of us as we simply enjoy one another’s company. Our minister Rev. Michael Leuchtenberger suggested this idea, and I am all for it. You never know, there may even be homemade cookies to share! Hope to see you there. -Bobbie Herron, Adult Enrichment Committee

This year, our church has offered lots of support to Merrimack Valley Day Care Services. As we left the Valentine’s Day project, one sweet little boy asked us to return so that he’d have a gift for his mom on Mothers’ Day. Can you join our Mothers’ Day project? We’ll go with small clay pots and paints for decorating them. We’ll have pansies for planting in the pots. Cards will be made as well. I’d be happy to take any donated supplies for the cards – paper, stickers, doilies, glue, glitter….whatever you think will make a lovely card. I’d be even happier to have you join us. This project is perfect for older kids who can help with the artwork. You can sign up at www.concorduu.org/volunteer.php. Thanks so much, ~Cheryl Bourassa, Volunteer Coordinator

“Putting Neighbor into the Hood”
Rev. Michael Leuchtenberger

Last year’s “Love Your Neighbor” rallies were powerful public affirmations of our commitment to welcoming new neighbors to our “hoods” - the places we live. Yet, loving our neighbor, new or established, calls for more than rallies. To love our neighbors, we need to know our neighbors, spend time with our neighbors, and create relationships that turn the “hood” in to a neighborhood.

Dinner starts at 6:00, we'll be here at 5:30 to cook/prep.

All those interested in honing their skills in designing and leading worship are invited to Worship 101 on Saturday, May 19, from 9am to noon. The session will cover such things as the difference between a lecture and a sermon, the creation and submission of the order of service, paying attention to transitions, and how to write for public speaking.

Anyone leading one of our summer services is strongly encouraged to participate in this workshop but all are invited to attend.

Suggested reading before the workshop is Worship That Works: Theory and Practice for Unitarian Universalists by Wayne Arnason and Kathleen Rolenz. The book is available in our library or can be purchased for $15 from Rev. Michael Leuchtenberger.

Rev. Michael Leuchtenberger will be leading the workshop. Please RSVP to michael@concorduu.org by May 16, 2012.

RE Annual Meeting during class time

Interested in learning more about the Concord UU church?

Attend the next session of Pathway to Membership. These two sessions will be an opportunity for you to learn more about this church and how we practice our faith, and allow you to make connections with members and non-members alike. By attending, you are not making any commitment to join the church. While we encourage membership, we do not want anyone to rush into a decision until it feels right.

You may register for this class at the Membership Table or by calling the church office or emailing at membership@concorduu.org. Lunch will be provided and please let us know if you need child care.

Interested in learning more about the Concord UU church?

Attend the next session of Pathway to Membership. These two sessions will be an opportunity for you to learn more about this church and how we practice our faith, and allow you to make connections with members and non-members alike. By attending, you are not making any commitment to join the church. While we encourage membership, we do not want anyone to rush into a decision until it feels right.

You may register for this class at the Membership Table or by calling the church office or emailing at membership@concorduu.org. Lunch will be provided and please let us know if you need child care.

Our church is the third church to commit to participating in the Family Promise homeless support program. Everyone who can help with Family Promise in any way is invited to attend a community meeting at Wesley Methodist Church.

“Music Sunday: The Rhythm of Life,” Jane Pauley & Abby Charbeneau
Our lives are made up of many rhythms - as we move through it we find that our days are filled with many different types of rhythm - intricate and simple, fast and slow. Music Sunday will celebrate all of the varied rhythms of our lives when guest musicians David Tonkin, guitar, Don Williams, bass, and John Faggiano, percussion, join Abby Charbeneau on keyboard and the choir to celebrate the many rhythms that make up our lives.

“This I Believe,” Coming of Age Youth
Join our Coming of Age Youth as they share their personal credos in their own unique ways. Expect the unexpected! This is a Service for All Ages.

“When We Listen,” Rev. Michael Leuchtenberger
When we listen, good things happen. Debates turn into dialog, conflicts are transformed, and the need for help will be noticed. Yet listening takes time. Listening takes practice. And listening requires kindness and compassion.

“Good Enough,” Rev. Michael Leuchtenberger
Finding the perfect answer is appealing – for school tests as in life. Yet finding the perfect answer can mean missing the right answer. Satisfaction and happiness depend on knowing when to say “good enough.” Not the perfect blurb, but “good enough.”