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Special Notice:
Be sure to pick up the latest (blue cover) copy of the MUF Directory of Members & Friends. You will find them on a table in the Great Hall for the next few Sunday’s or you can pick one up from Deneise in the office. Happy New Year!
Happening this Week:
The Lunch Bunch
meets after service for lunch at a local restaurant and maybe something
else afterwards. See Don Price in the Great Hall if you would like to join the Lunch Bunch group.
TUESDAY , Choir Rehearsal, January 31 st , Youth/Children @ 5:15pm, Adult @ 6:15pm.
WEDNESDAY , Yoga Class Fundraiser, February 1 st, 6:00pm, Room 204.
Membership Committee Meeting, February 1 st, 7:00pm, Room 205.
Finance Committee Meeting, February 1 st, 7:00pm, Dining Room.
THURSDAY , Covenant Group – Maggie Kribs (closed), February 2 nd, 11am, Library.
Compassionate Communication Group 1 (closed), February 2 nd , 7:00pm, Room 205.
Men’s Group Consciousness Raising, February 2 nd , 7:30pm, Library
SATURDAY , Tai Chi Light, February 4 th, 9:30am, Terrace Room.
Dinners at 8 (closed), February 4 th , 4:00pm, Dining Room.
SUNDAY , Committee Leadership Training, February 5 th, 12:30am, Room 204.
Help/Volunteers Needed :
If you would like to volunteer in one of the following areas please be in touch with the listed contact or Deneise in the office at (973) 540-1177x203 or admin@muuf.org
Fundraising Committee can use your help with Black Maria Event - We are seeking four volunteers to work at the Black Maria Film and Video Festival on Saturday, February 25, here at MUF (please see event description under “Upcoming Events”).
- Two people are needed to work the front desk
- Two people will serve wine and soft beverages
We need two desk volunteers to take and sell tickets and two servers for wine and beverages. Desk volunteers would need to arrive at 4:15pm; servers would need to arrive at 5pm. All would work until approximately 7:30pm. To volunteer, please contact Deneise at admin@muuf.org or Dan Byrd at danielbyrd@verizon.net , or Muriel Thibaud at moom@aol.com . Thanks for considering helping out at this amazing event!
Social Justice Council has many ongoing projects and there is always a place for you to be a part of this important work. Please consider volunteering in one of the following ways:
- Community Soup Kitchen , 2 nd Tuesday’s of every month! – There are two ways you can help. 1) We need people who are willing to serve meals to the guests of the Community Soup Kitchen. Time commitment is 11am-1pm on the 2 nd Tuesday any designated month. OR 2) We need help preparing food for the day we will serve. Time commitment is 9:30am-1:30pm on the 2 nd Tuesday of any designated month. You will need to take a safe food handling class before volunteering for this role.
- Family Promise of Morris County’s Emergency Shelter (EX) Program – MUF will host again in early April! We have different volunteer opportunities ranging from a few hours to overnight. For more information or to volunteer please contact Bob Campbell at bobc2023@verizon.net
Membership & Welcoming - The Welcome Table needs two volunteers to greet first time visitors and other newcomers once a month before and after the Sunday service. Volunteers are especially needed for the 9am Service. This is a chance to meet the new people who are coming through our doors for the first time and to make them feel welcome. If interested, please contact Lorelei Harris at email to membership@muuf.org .
Nominating Committee - We are now looking for leaders for the following Fellowship positions for the year July 1, 2012 to June 30, 2013: Deadline for submissions is March 15 th, 2012. This is a wonderful opportunity to serve! Open Positions: Board of Trustees:
1) President-Elect - a one-year term, to be followed by a one-year term as President
2) Vice President of Program - a two-year term
3) Secretary – a two year term
Detailed information specifically about board job roles can be found on the MUF website. www.muuf.org/documents/BoardOffiicerRoles.rtf
The current Vice President, Administrative, Karen Burns Rutigliano, will serve another year. The Treasurer, Venkat Puranapanda, will serve another year and the Assistant Treasurer, Laurent Comes, will serve another year in this role before stepping up to treasurer in 2013. In addition, the current President-Elect, Tanya Van Order, will become President for the 2012-2013 term. Thank You, thank you to those who are serving on our current board and whose terms are finished in June, 2012– Paul Ferm, President; Linda Delap, VP Program; and Donna Templeton, Secretary.
Endowment Board of Trustees:
1) Two Members - three-year term
There are five members on this Committee, three other members have not have finished their terms in 2012.
Nominating Committee:
1) One member - three-year term
If you would like to apply for or make suggestions for candidates for any of these very important jobs, please see (or call) any member of the Nominating Committee: Don Preziosi, Beth Hayward, Lisa Schmitt, Norman Ng or Donna Best.
Opportunities to Give
Souper Bowl of Caring, January 16 - February 5. Help collect money and food items for the hungry and hurting in our communities. Have all your Super Bowl guests bring non-perishable canned food items or donate dollars to score big points with those in need! All collections can then be brought to the Fellowship and marked, “Souper Bowl” and will then be donated to the Interfaith Food Pantry. If you are not having a party, you may still participate by dropping off food or money donations at MUF. Place food items in the boxes outside the kitchen by the basement door and place monetary donations in an envelope marked “Souper Bowl” in the safe in the copy room. For more information contact Donna Becker at writeme79@juno.com
Blood Drive , Sunday, April 15 th, 8am-1pm. Save the Date!
Upcoming Lifespan RE - Adult
Mindfulness & Meditation Class, Thursday, February 9 th for 12 weeks, 6:30-8:30pm - This is a 12 week class that will focus on beginning mindfulness practice and waking up to the present moment. Mindfulness allows one to see clearly, to understand ourselves and others better, so that we might live a more joyful, fulfilling life. Each class will include mindfulness practice, meditation, reading and sharing. Please order the book Beginning Mindfulness by Andrew Weiss and have it for the first class. The first class will be on February 9 th. Pre-registration is required as space is limited. Please contact Elaine Boucher to register at gratefulspirit33@yahoo.com .
Writing Room: Connecting Creatively with Yourself and Others, March 24 th, One of TWO Sessions - 10am-12:30pm OR 2-4:30pm. Facilitated by Ellen Schmidt, this is a time of guided writing and sharing through structured exercises and personal expression. Ellen is an experienced writer and facilitator who creates writing circles at Cornell University and in private practice at her home in Ithaca, NY. Don’t miss this opportunity to connect with personal and creative ideas, to relax ad “write from the heart” in a safe and supportive environment. This is a wonderful experience for family members to do together. Cost for the workshop is $30per person and registration deadline is March 20 th, 2012. For more information please contact, Kate McAteer at katemcateer@hotmail.com . To register please email katemcateer@hotmail.com indicating which session you prefer and send a check made out to MUF with “Writing Circle” in the memo line.
Upcoming MUF Events
Weekly Yoga with Hazel & Cintra, Wednesdays, November 2, 2011 – June 13, 2012, 6-7pm. Come create balance in your body (by developing strength and flexibility through asanas/postures & pranayama/breath control) and your mind (viameditation). Purchase a 10-class card for $100 or drop in and pay $12 per class. Space is limited so reserve your spot today by contacting Avianca Bouchdid at fundraising@muuf.org .
Committee Leadership Training (for Budgeting and Calendaring), Sunday, February 5 th, 12:30pm, Room 204. ALL Committee Chairs (or a committee liason) are asked and encouraged to attend this short meeting to learn about the process for budgeting and calendaring for 2012-2013. We will be giving out Budget Request Forms and Calendar Request Forms along with guidelines and deadlines. We promise not to keep you long, but promise this will be a helpful meeting. Please RSVP to Deneise by Friday, February 3 rd at admin@muuf.org to let her know if you will attend. For more information, contact Deneise in the office or at admin@muuf.org .
FOR THE LOVE OF ART, 2 nd Annual MUF Student Art Exhibit, Sunday, February 12 th, 2012. Attention All Students age 0-18….Start thinking about creative work you have done in the past, or new ideas for an artistic piece you would like to make for this upcoming exhibit. The exhibit is open to all MUF students, age 0-18, and will include work that is two-dimensional (paintings, sketches, collages, photographs, writing); three-dimensional (sculpture, pottery, glass, functional art) and performance (drama, music, readings). There will be a reception following the first service, with refreshments and an opportunity for the artists to discuss their work with MUF Members, Friends, and Visitors. This event is sponsored by the RE Council. For more information or to let Beth know you will be participating, please contact Beth Murphy at petalart@verizon.net. All artwork is due to the RE Library by Sunday, February 5 th.
31 st Annual Black Maria Film & Video Festival , February 25 th, 2012 . MUF will host two separate showings of this international juried competition and award tour. This traveling festival features work’s drawn from this year’s award winning films. The first showing is at 5:00pm and another at 7:30pm with an interlude of heavy hor d’oeuveres and wine in between. Tickets are on sale at the MUF box office on Sunday’s or by contacting Dan Byrd danielbyrd@verizon.net . Tickets prices are: One showing – in advance, $15; One showing – at the door, $20. Both showings and interlude – in advance, $30; Both showings and interlude – at the door, $35.
Outside Our Walls:
The Folk Project Minstrel Concert Series is now in residence at MUF. Folk concerts every Friday night.