NNED ePac - MAY 2013

NEWS RELEASE BANGOR, ME - (April 26, 2013) - On March 24, 2013, a wonderful event took place at the Unitarian Universalist Society of Bangor (UUSB) - the 3rd annual Festival of UU Choirs. Participating in this year's event were the choirs of UUSB, led by director Nancy Lewis; the Unitarian Universalist Church of Belfast, led by director Lila Nation; the Unitarian Universalist Church of Waterville, led by director Harry Vayo; and the Unitarian Universalist Church of Ellsworth, led by co-choir director Marta Rieman. This was Ellsworth's second year at the Festival; Bangor, Belfast, and Waterville have participated all three years.

This joyous event is an opportunity for Maine UU churches to gather, foster connections, and present a wonderful evening of song-and in the process it has proven to be an exceptional evening's entertainment. Each individual choir sang two or three pieces, and then all four choirs for a total of nearly 60 singers joined together to present four numbers. Accompaniment included piano, flute, African drums, and hammered dulcimer.

UUSB music director, Nancy Lewis, has been the guiding force behind organizing the event over the past three years. She tells us, "The "Festival of Choirs" is intended to bring together regional UU choirs of varying sizes to both make great music, and to get to know each other better. It has opened new communication channels with the music folks, and allowed us to work with music otherwise not possible with just one choir."

The UUSB congregation hosted a dinner for all the choir participants before the event giving everyone a chance to network and get to know each other. Donations received will go to benefit the youth of the Bangor, Ellsworth, and Belfast churches who will be participating in a mission trip to Guatemala in 2014 as part of the "Safe Passages" program, which helps children in the slums of Guatemala City. It is hoped that in the future even more Maine UU choirs will be able to participate in the Festival of UU Choirs!

Contact: Laurie Cartier

UUSB Marketing Committee

marketing@uubangor.org; www.uubangor.org

NNED Facebook

Like our Facebook page ~ Enjoy photos taken from this year's Annual Spring Conference & Annual Meeting in Portsmouth, NH.

We honored Rev. Karen Brammer after worship at South Church on Friday night. As previously announced, Karen leaves the NNED on May 31.

Visit us on Facebook often for news and announcements from us and NNED congregations.

UU Small Group Ministry Institute 2013 at Murray Grove, NJ ~Sponsored by the UU Small Group Ministry Network & the Central East Regional Group

Monday, July 22 - Friday, July 26

New and experienced program organizers, ministers, religious educators, and congregational leaders will learn about and practice Small Group Ministry through shared experiences, hands-on workshops, presentations, daily group sessions, and networking. Commuter options available.

Questions or comments, please contact Rev. Helen Zidowecki at office@smallgroupministry.net or by phone: 207-582-5308.

Information

Registration

Flyer

We're doing things differently this year, so this week be sure to look for our new BRIDGE CONNECTIONS BROCHURE to come in the mail to your congregation! Alert whoever receives the mail at your congregation, too- then give the brochure to whoever works with youth that are high school seniors -or- leaving their home congregation for the first time. Here is a picture of the brochure.

The Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) sponsored Bridge Connections Program helps youth transitioning ("bridging") into young adulthood to connect up in the fall with Unitarian Universalist (UU) faith communities and campus groups where they go to college, get their own apartment, or start a new job. Encourage your high school senior aged youth to fill out the secure, online Bridge Connections form NOW.

Making the connection is easy! This year we are sending to all certified congregations a brochure that explains the program and has tear-off bookmarks that you can pass out. Other options include bringing a laptop to a youth group meeting, handing them a smartphone, or giving them the printable form (PDF) to complete and mail in to the UUA.

Get more information and links to Bridge Connections resources on the Blue Boat blog post titled "Be a Bridge Keeper for Youth Faith"

Thanks so much for your commitment to bridging UU youth and new young adults!

Deborah Neisel-Sanders, Office Administrator

Youth & Young Adult Ministries
dsanders@uua.org

UU Justice Action News

May issue of Justice Action (Just Act) News is now live:

http://org.salsalabs.com/o/1272/t/0/blastContent.jsp?email_blast_KEY=1274041!

"...all will be well, and all will be well, and every manner of thing will be well." -- Julian of Norwich

Audra Friend

Program Coordinator, Office for Congregational Advocacy & Witness, Multicultural Growth & Witness

Unitarian Universalist Association

www.uua.org/socialjustice

UUCollegeSocialJustice The Unitarian Universalist Service Committee is seeking an Associate for Youth and Young Adult Programs. This is a regular full-time position located within the UU College of Social Justice, a partnership between the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee (UUSC) and the Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations (UUA).