Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Pottstown

“What the New Year brings to you will depend a great deal on what you bring to the new year.” ~ Vern McLellan
The New Year usually brings a time of reflection about the year that just ended and the year that is just beginning. There were many things to be grateful for as we closed out 2022. Thanks to Monica Buckley and her merry band of elves (of all ages), there was a very successful craft ornament making day. The creations were proudly displayed in the fellowship on our two trees. And thanks to all who participated in decorating the trees. I also want to thank Miranda Van Horn for coordinating our Christmas Eve service and volunteering as choir director. And speaking of music, a great big thank you goes to our pianist, Carly Schell. It is great to see that people stay after the service to hear her beautiful closing music. She and her music are quite an asset to our Sunday Services.

It is also important to note that the success of the UUFP over the past year is due to the efforts of, well……, everyone. I realize that I tend to thank individuals who lead or accomplish unique things, however, it is the people behind the scenes that really keep the fellowship going. So, thanks to all who served as greeters for Sunday Services, brought food for coffee hour and potluck, washed the dishes and cleaned the kitchen after coffee hour, collected and took out the trash and recycling to the curb on Sundays (and brought the cans back on Mondays), drove individuals in need of rides, and did other random acts of kindness that kept our fellowship functioning and feeling like a family. While these tasks might not be glamorous, they are necessary and your efforts are greatly appreciated.

As we start 2023, there are two items that we will hopefully address quickly. The first is that we hope to fill the nursery/childcare position very soon. All candidates are being vetted by the “Mom Interview Team” comprised of Monica Buckley, Kim Kulp and Sue Merkel. Keep your fingers crossed that we find someone soon. The second item is that we need to obtain a new sign for the front lawn of our fellowship. Someone hit the pole on the corner of the property and it fell and destroyed our sign. We are filing a claim with our insurance so hopefully we will get some financial support to offset the cost of the replacement.

I close by putting out a request. If anyone is thinking that they would like to do just a little bit more for the fellowship, please think about joining a committee or maybe becoming a member of the board. New committee and board members are always appreciated because they bring fresh ideas and diverse perspectives. If you have any questions or want to discuss what it might entail, please reach out to the respective Committee Chair or me.

Wishing you all health and happiness for the New Year.
In gratitude,
Linda

“The holiday season is a perfect
time to reflect on our blessings and
seek out ways to make life better for
those around us.”~Terri Marshall

The holiday season is upon us and there are so many blessings to count within the UUFP Community. First, our new Communications Committee is doing an amazing job with getting the word out about us and our events on Social Media. If you are on Facebook or Instagram, I encourage you to follow UUFP and see the great work that Monica Buckley and Kim Kulp are doing. And if you are already following UUFP, invite your social media friends to follow us also. If you are not on social media but think you would like to, feel free to follow up with Monica and Kim on how to go about doing it.
Our second blessing is that we have had or will be having social events in addition to our weekly Sunday Services. Thanks go out to Kay and John Price for coordinating a bonfire in November. Twenty-four people, including lots of kids were in attendance and great fun was had by all. And speaking of kids, the fellowship (thanks again to Monica) will be hosting an ornament making event for children of all ages on December 3. This event is open to the local community, so please tell any friends that you think might be interested. The more the merrier!!
The last blessing that I want to mention here (because there are so many more that we have) is our Technology Committee and those who help to ensure that our Sunday Services are available and running smoothly via ZOOM and getting posted on our YouTube channel. I recently participated via ZOOM, and it was a very enjoyable experience. We have come a long way since our early days with this technology and thanks go out to Rick D., Erica D., Cassia D., Emily Q-M., and Justine B. for enabling this.
One final item for this message. The reason that I was participating via ZOOM was that I had contracted COVID. I was fully immunized, and my fourth shot was the bi-valent booster that included coverage for the Omicron variant. Yet, I still contracted it. Luckily, the vaccines did what they were supposed to do, and my case was mild. I am stating this because COVID is still out there. Oh, and let’s not forget that cases of flu are increasing. I state this not to scare people, but to remind people to stay vigilant. If you don’t feel well, stay home. You are one of the blessings of this community and we will be here for you when you feel better.
Wishing you all the joys of the season,

Linda K