Simplify, Simplify, Simplify 
Speaker: Reverend Dave Farrington
Thoreau famously said, “Our life is frittered away by detail. Simplify, simplify, simplify! Well, what would he think of Black Friday and our commercial treatment of Christmas today? Join me as we walk through the world of Thoreau and Emerson and critique the “simplicity” of the world in which we live.
Scrooge and Dickensian Dharma
Speaker: Miranda Van Horn
Lay Leader: CJ Rhoads
In the Preface to A Christmas Carol, Charles Dickens wrote, “I have endeavored in this Ghostly little book, to raise the Ghost of an Idea, which shall not put my readers out of humour with themselves, with each other, with the season, or with me. May it haunt their houses pleasantly….” In this service we offer a telling of this famous and beloved story and show how it also has become, for some Western Buddhists, a holiday “gem” in their trove of mindfulness practices and teachings.
Just in time for holiday shopping!
Please join the Book Club on December 13 at noon at iCreate Cafe 130 King Street, in Pottstown to discuss our pick of the month: Sweetness #9 by Stephan Eirik Clark. Clark takes a satirical look at over two decades of food wars, family life and American culture.
The main character, David Leveraux, is a flavor chemist who starts his career in 1973 at a company whose new product is an artificial sweetener called Sweetness #9.
His job is to test the product on lab rats and monkeys and monitor the health effects. He reports a lot of side effects that are covered up by the company.
Sweetness #9 soon becomes the artificial sweetener used in diet drinks, and many other foods, and is also marketed in little packets for use in coffee and tea. When Leveraux sees Americans overcome by the symptoms he found in the lab animals — like obesity, rage, depression — he feels personally responsible for not having blown the whistle on the manufacturer.
On October 26 the congregation held a meeting to discuss several options dealing with the Board of Directors, the minister, and the finances. Board President Linda Pallay presided.
Here are the highlights:
-The congregation voted to have Jon Dreazen serve as both Secretary and Acting Treasurer.
-They also confirmed asking Sharon Harvey to become our official bookkeeper and office person. (Sharon had previously volunteered to do this when she found out, at the town meeting two weeks ago, that there was a need.)
-There was also detailed discussion of our finances. Out of several options Linda outlined to the congregation regarding the future, Reverend Dave noted that he most preferred option #6, which would allow him to continue at 2/3 time until June (albeit with a slight modification to his salary package). The congregation voted overwhelmingly for option #6.
-We held a mini-pledge drive during the meeting to increase our pledge income.
Please consult the meeting minutes for more details.
The Bonfire and weenie roast held at the Fellowship on Saturday, October 25 was a smashing success. Great food, singing that could wake the dead, and s’mores were the big hits of the night. Thanks to Jon Price for the great fire, Kay and Ginnie and everyone else who planned it, Marianne who played the guitar, and everyone else for coming out and joining the fun.
The book club is meeting at UUFP at 5:00 on October 24th and then traveling to Hibachi Supreme Grill and Buffet, 260 Upland Sq. Drive, Pottstown to discuss the Snow Leopard over dinner! Everyone is invited!!!
Book Club to meet 9/13 @ UUFP in the library from 2-4 pm. All are welcome.
Over the summer the book club is reading the first of a series mystery novels by Judith Campbell, a UU community Minister. The book is: A Deadly Mission, which is part of the Olympia Brown Mission Mystery series.
Labor of Love
Lay Leader: Mary Ryan
Coordinator: Jon Price
Members and friends will once more gather to conclude our summer and prepare for the coming season by cleaning, weeding, painting and otherwise sprucing up our building and grounds.
All help is appreciated!