WELCOME!
This Unitarian Universalist congregation is welcoming of all seekers
after truth, beauty, justice and compassion cherishing their diversity
of race, gender, sexual identity and orientation, religious background
and perspective on life.
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 Check
out our new page of resources we can use to help tell
others who we are and how to find us!
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HOW DO I?...
...Help others or receive help?
The Caring & Sharing Committee provides meals
for congregation members & friends in times
of need, helps arrange rides to Sunday services,
provides friendly visits to members, and more.
We are waiting to help! Call the office at 973-744-6276.
...Reserve space at UU Montclair?
Contact Donna Lauckner, Administrator, at (973)
744-6276, x.12 or by email.
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Minister's Column,
September 2010:
"From My Window"
by Rev. Charlie Ortman
The late comedienne and actor Gilda Radner wrote, "Life
is about not knowing, having to change, taking the moment and making
the best of it without knowing what's going to happen next."
In what I think was a rather forward-thinking move this past spring,
our Board of Trustees voted to change the hours of our Sunday morning
worship services. Beginning on September 12th, worship will begin
at 9:00 and 11:00 AM. This change may not seem like a big deal to
some of you, but to others it surely is. The first service has started
at 9:30 for the past 18 years! Why in the world would we want to
change it? Can such a change possibly improve anything? Our Board
is hoping that it can, and I hope so too.
The Board's thought was based on considerable input that it received
from you, the congregation, through the listening campaign that
took place this past year. Many of you said that you hoped for greater
opportunities to connect with others on Sunday mornings. You said
you were looking for opportunities to have new structures providing
brief but significant small-group experiences, spiritual explorations
and sometimes business meetings. From my perspective, having the
better part of an hour between services will also provide an opportunity
for visitors and newcomers to engage in orientation opportunities,
so that they can more easily have a better idea of what we are all
about. All of these seem like valuable objectives.
No one expected that we could make such a change seamlessly. The
expectation was and is though that we can make change, when that
change can serve and support our growth as a congregation. It really
is about taking the moment and making the best of it without knowing
what's going to happen next. Something ventured, something gained!
We can certainly hope so.
As we begin our new program year in September, I look forward to
exploring these and other new opportunities for growth and to working
with you on ironing out whatever kinks may come along with them.
And of course, I'm looking forward to launching our new season at
UU Montclair with all of you.
I'll see you at the "U." Please pray for peace and act
for justice,
Charlie Ortman
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